The pelican (Pelecanus) belongs to the Pelecanidae family, it is an aquatic bird that differs from the rest of the other birds by its huge beak and the large bag (inflatable skin bag) that serves as a network to capture and immobilize their prey. It lives on the shores of the seas, on the banks of rivers, lakes of warm regions and it stands out for its great ability to fly for long hours.

There are several species of pelicans, which include:

• Australian
• Frowning
• White american.
• Brown.
• Vulgar or common.
• Malay or eastern.
• Pink or gray.
• Peruvian.
• Crispus.
• Thagus.
• Occidentalis.
• Onocrotalus.
• Erythrorhynchos.

Features:

• The males are larger than the females, which makes it possible to differentiate them when they are in a group.
• These birds can arrive in spite of 4 to 10 kilograms.
• They can reach 1 meter in height and more.
• They have a perfect view..
• The color of your pen varies (white, light gray or dark gray).
• They use different sounds to communicate with each other.
• Its legs have webbed fingers with a membrane, which allows them to swim and move easily in the water.
• Its wings are long and wide, with two airbags under the skin that allow it to fly and float in the water.
• They can live between 15 to 25 years.

A very curious fact of the pelican is that they have the ability to drink salt water and transform it into fresh water to stay hydrateds.

Feeding.

They feed on fish, including crustaceans, such as: shrimp and crabs, small turtles, amphibians, squid and in some cases even small birds. Many species do it in a group making a semicircle and moving their fins, so that the fish move to shallow areas. Then they introduce their heads in the water and find their food. Other species they throw themselves from the air to grab their food.

How they reproduce.

Pelicans are monogamous and have different forms of reproduction depending on the species. Those that nest on the ground come together in group (the males) to chase a female. If we talk about the pelican that nests in the trees, the males climb the branches and begin to call the female so that she can select a male.

In general, they place between two and six eggs and both sexes are encangada of the incubation (lasts approximately one month). The puppies are fed by regurgitation (process by which pelicans "females and males" expel through the mouth different substances that were lodged in the stomach or esophagus, without the need to vomit or make an effort). At 6-8 weeks, they are much more independent and at 10-12 weeks they are plucked.

Three weeks later, the puppies of several pelicans gather in groups and the males are responsible for feeding their children alone; At 6-8 weeks, they are more independent and between 10 and 12 begin to develop and will continue to live with their parents, but they will feed alone themselves and reach sexual maturity after completing 3 or 4 years.

These birds are affected by various parasites such as:

• Bird lice: They are present in the sacks of all species of pelicans.

• Mosquito Culex pipiens: Carrier of avian malaria.

• The leeches: Stick to the cloaca and sometimes inside the bag.