请输入您要查询的百科知识:

 

词条 Pink-backed pelican
释义

  1. Description

  2. Habitat and breeding

  3. Diet

  4. References

  5. External links

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2013}}{{Use British English|date=May 2014}}{{speciesbox
| name = Pink-backed pelican
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = [1]
| image = Pink backed pelican side view.jpg
| genus = Pelecanus
| species = rufescens
| authority = Gmelin, 1789
}}

The pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) is a bird of the pelican family. It is a resident breeder in the swamps and shallow lakes of Africa, southern Arabia, southern India and is apparently extirpated in Madagascar.

Description

It is a relatively small pelican, although by no means is it a small bird. Its length is from {{convert|125|to|155|cm|in|abbr=on}}, wingspan is {{convert|2.15|-|2.9|m|ft|abbr=on}} and body mass is from {{convert|4|to|7|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The bill is {{convert|30|to|38|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length.[2][3] The plumage is grey and white, with a pinkish hue on the back occasionally apparent (never in the deep pink of a flamingo). The top of the bill is yellow and the pouch is usually greyish. Breeding adults have long feather plumes on the head.

It shares its habitat with the great white pelican, which is generally larger and has white instead of greyish plumage.

Habitat and breeding

The pink-backed pelican is found in a range of aquatic habitats, but prefers quiet backwaters with shallow water, avoiding steep, vegetated lake banks. It prefers for freshwater lakes, swamps, large slow-flowing rivers, and seasonal pools but also frequents reservoirs, seasonally flooded land and flood-plains near river mouths. It may occur on alkaline and saline lakes and lagoons, and can sometimes be found along the coast in bays and estuaries (although seldom on open seashore). The species tends to roost and breed in trees (e.g. mangroves), but will also roost on sandy islands, cliffs, coral reefs and sand-dunes.

Nesting trees have many nests built close together. These nests are re-used every year until the trees collapse, although the birds will normally remain in the area. The species nests colonially in trees, reeds or low bushes along waterfronts as well as (less often) on the ground on sandy islands and in mangroves.

Its nest is a large heap of sticks and may be 10–50 m above the ground. The female lays two to three large white eggs and later the chicks feed by plunging their heads deep into the adult’s pouch and taking the partially digested regurgitated fish.

Diet

Food is usually fish (of any size up to 450 g, usually in the 80-290 g range) and amphibians, and is usually obtained by fishing in groups. Among the fish preyed upon are cichlids like Haplochromis and Tilapia.

References

1. ^{{IUCN|id=22697595 |title=Pelecanus rufescens |assessor=BirdLife International |assessor-link=BirdLife International |version=2013.2 |year=2012 |accessdate=26 November 2013}}
2. ^  (2011).
3. ^  (2011).

External links

  • Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens at BirdLife International
  • Pinkbacked Pelican in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
{{Pelecaniformes}}{{Taxonbar|from=Q527830}}

6 : Pelecanus|Birds of Madagascar|Birds of the Middle East|Birds of Africa|Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa|Birds described in 1789

随便看

 

开放百科全书收录14589846条英语、德语、日语等多语种百科知识,基本涵盖了大多数领域的百科知识,是一部内容自由、开放的电子版国际百科全书。

 

Copyright © 2023 OENC.NET All Rights Reserved
京ICP备2021023879号 更新时间:2024/11/12 10:23:26