Close-up of a Pink Backed Pelican at Wingham Wildlife Park

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The pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) is a bird of the pelican family. It is a resident breeder in swamps and shallow lakes of Africa, southern Arabia, southern India and is apparently extirpated in Madagascar. This is a relatively small pelican though by no means a small bird. Length is from 125 to 155 cm (49 to 61 in), wingspan is – m (– ft) and body mass if from 4 to 7 kg ( to lb). The bill is 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in) in length. 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 habitat with the great white pelican which is generally larger and has white instead of greyish plumage.

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Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Wingham Wildlife Park 2008 Ltd, Rusham Road, Wingham, Kent, CT3 1JL.
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: backed, beak, bill, close-, head, kent, neck, park, pelecanus, pelican, pink, rufescens, wildlife, wingham