Pelecanus crispus
Silhouette: Oscar G. Miranda · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), also known as the curly-headed pelican, is the largest member of the pelican family and among the heaviest flying birds in the world. With a wingspan typically ranging between 2.7 and 3.2 metres (8 ft 10 in and 10 ft 6 in), it ranks among the largest soaring birds. These pelicans are known for their graceful flight and often travel in synchronised flocks. With a range spanning across much of Central Eurasia, from the eastern Mediterranean in the west to the Taiwan Strait in the east, and from the Persian Gulf in the south to Siberia in the north, it is a short-to-medium-distance migrant between breeding and overwintering areas.
As with other pelicans, its diet is mainly fish, and the males are larger than the females. Its curly nape feathers, grey legs and silvery-white plumage are distinguishing features, and the wings appear solid grey in flight. The adults acquire a drabber plumage in winter, however, making them look more similar to the great white pelican. Its harsh vocalizations become more pronounced during the mating season. It breeds across the Palearctic from southeastern Europe to Russia, India and China in swamps and shallow lakes. It usually returns to traditional breeding sites, where it is less social than other pelican species. Its nests are crude heaps of vegetation, which are placed on islands or dense mats of vegetation.
The species' numbers dramatically declined during the 20th century, partly due to land use, disturbance and poaching activities. The core population survives in Russia, but in its Mongolian range, it is critically endangered. Removal of power lines to prevent bird strike or electrocution and constructing nesting platforms or rafts have reversed declines locally. Wikipedia →
Alarm call0:08
Romania · 2014
© Marco Dragonetti · XC331137 · CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Dalmatian Pelican sighting in Taipei on a given day, based on 310 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 123rd most-seen of the 266 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Dalmatian Pelican in Taipei on a given day, against under 5% in February to December, the lowest months. That is one of Taipei's driest months, with about 95 mm of rain against 270 mm in June.
6th of 7
Of the 7 cities where we can rate Dalmatian Pelican sightings, Taipei ranks 6th at under 5%. The best odds are in Izmir (Turkey, about 30%), Rajkot (India, about 20%) and Karachi (Pakistan, about 10%).
Same order: Pelecaniformes
The closest relatives of the Dalmatian Pelican that you can see in Taipei (order Pelecaniformes, Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies) are Little Egret (about 50%), Black-crowned Night Heron (about 50%) and Malayan Night Heron (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Dalmatian Pelican is recorded against all the birds logged in Taipei (310 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
