Pelicans

Pelicans are a genus of large water birds comprising the family Pelecanidae. 

They are characterized by a long beak and large throat pouch used in catching prey and draining water from the scooped up contents before swallowing. 

They have predominantly pale plumage, the exceptions being the Brown and Peruvian Pelicans. The bills, pouches and bare facial skin of all species become brightly colored before the breeding season. 

The eight living pelican species are :


Each shown of commonly found Pelican stamps and my favorites...

• Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

Brown Pelicans are well known for Plunge diving - for feeding on fish in deeper waters . In the shallow parts they use their bills and throat pouches as dip net just like the other pelicans.

• Peruvian Pelican (Pelecanus thagus)

Airmail stamp showing the Pelican on the right side corner ....

• Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

from the 1996 Fauna set from Laos .

• Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)

The Pelican from 1960 Set from French Somali Coast.

• American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

The American white Pelican breeds in the wetlands throughout North America.

This beautiful stamp from the 1956 Cuban Bird stamp set .

• Great White Pelican(Pelecanus onocrotalus)

This wonderful stamp from Bahawalpur 1945 is an early example of the White Pelican on stamp .

• Dalmatian Pelican(Pelecanus crispus)

Dalmatian Pelicans on the Romanian Delta Danube 1984 - who are seen raising their young in this favorite complex network of watercourses and shallow lakes and lagoons.

There is a water lily in the 2nd stamp - which fills the water and forms a beautiful carpet .

• Australian Pelican(Pelecanus conspicillatus)

This bird is shown flying over Lake Eyre .

Australia - 2011 Birdlife stamp - featuring the Australian Pelican.