Australian Pelican

Description:

A large waterbird of Australia, one of seven species found throughout the world. Characterised by the elongated beak with pouch (usually a pink colour in these birds) beautiful white body, neck & head feathers with black wing tips, short tail, short thick set legs and feet webbed usually a grey blue colour, eyes have a yellow ring around them. Call is a deep croak or grunt. In flight and when landing on water or paddling on water surface these birds are very graceful but on land they appear awkward and tend to waddle. Feeds on fish and will often congregate around places where people are fishing and cleaning caught fish to eat scraps.

Habitat:

Found throughout Australia both in coastal environments and on inland lakes and waterways. This one on inland waterway in what was once a sheep station and is now national park estate.