1. Dalmatian pelican – Pelecanus crispus
The Dalmatian pelican is a large bird with a body length of 160-180 cm and a weight of 9-12 kg. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is white, the bottom of the body is white, on the back of the head and back of the neck – twisted feathers, crop is yellow, leather bag under the beak is orange, the beak and legs are gray.
The Dalmatian pelican is common in Southern Europe, Asia and Africa. In Ukraine, it nests in the south, in the Danube floodplains and on the lakes of the Crimea.
The curly pelican is a sedentary bird. It lives in coastal forests near fish-rich bodies of water. The Dalmatian pelican nests on tall trees, sometimes on rocks. The nest is built of branches, reeds and moss. There are 2-3 eggs in the clutch of the Dalmatian pelican. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 30-35 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The Dalmatian pelican feeds on fish as well as small animals such as frogs, crayfish, and shellfish. The Dalmatian pelican catches fish by diving into the water with an open beak.
The Dalmatian pelican is a rare species and is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine in the status of "Vulnerable".
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko