Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spot-billed Pelican
Pelecanus philippensis
Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is a member of the Pelecanidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Pelecanidae Pelicans
- Genus Pelecanus
- Species philippensis
Where it lives
Inland southeastern India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and (?) Sumatra; extinct Philippines
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Pelecanidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spot-billed Pelican hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Spot-billed Pelican is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) is a member of the Pelecanidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR inland se India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and (?) Sumatra; extinct Philippines.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5 kg, with a wing length of about 56.3 cm and a tail of around 17.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.4 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spot-billed Pelican?
The Spot-billed Pelican is a very large bird that weighs around 5 kg.
Where does the Spot-billed Pelican live?
The Spot-billed Pelican is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR inland se India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and (?) Sumatra; extinct Philippines, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Spot-billed Pelican belong to?
The Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) belongs to the Pelecanidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Spot-billed Pelican eat?
The Spot-billed Pelican hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Spot-billed Pelican migrate?
The Spot-billed Pelican is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spot-billed Pelican endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Spot-billed Pelican's range?
The Spot-billed Pelican has a mapped global range of about 1.4 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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