The American white pelican is a magnificent bird that roams over a vast area of the Americas during the summer months. With a long bill and a well-developed throat sac, the American white pelican is an excellent fisher.

However, it is not suitable for storing food. When in flight, the head is retracted, the neck is bent against the back, and the feet are stretched backwards.

The two wings are drummed slowly and forcefully, allowing the pelican to soar and glide back and forth in the air using rising thermals. Unlike eagles, they do not fly as high. The neck of the American white pelican often curves into an "S" shape when swimming, and it makes a raspy call from time to time.

The American white pelican primarily inhabits lakes, rivers, and coastal and swampy areas, and they usually live in flocks. They are good fliers, good swimmers, and can walk well on the ground. They feed mainly on fish and dive straight into the water from high altitudes when feeding.

Their soaring ability is due to their outstretched feathers that allow them to climb upward with the help of wind and rising warm air currents. Soaring and hovering in the air, many American white pelicans look like they are performing an aerial ballet when they fly together.

The American White Pelican's 2.7-meter wingspan and weight of about 7 kg keep its wing loading low, according to aircraft designers.

When the American white pelican feeds, it swims with its mouth open to catch fish and pockets the catch into its throat sac. Sometimes in groups, they form long lines and beat the water with their powerful wings, making a loud noise that drives the fish closer to the shore, then feeding on them.

They often live in flocks, spending most of their days on the shore sunbathing or patiently grooming their feathers. Pelicans are sharp-eyed and good swimmers and flyers. Even when flying high in the sky, fish in the water cannot escape their eyes.

If a flock of pelicans finds a school of fish, they will form a straight line or a semi-circle to encircle it and drive it to a shallow place on the river bank, then open their mouths and move forward with the water, claiming the fish and water as their own.

The Brown Pelican is the national bird of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the state bird of Louisiana, USA. It is the smallest member of the pelican family. It is a strong and relaxed flyer, often flying in flocks, and is a very good swimmer, but not a diver. Similar to the American white pelican, it also swims with its mouth open to catch fish and pockets the fish it catches into its throat sac.

The Australian pelican, also known as the Australian goose, is a large roaming bird with the longest bill of any bird. Its pale pink bill can be up to 49 cm long. It has a chunky body, a long slender neck, black eyes, yellow eye rings, and white feathers.

Unlike the American white pelican, it is awkward on land and spends most of its time on the shore sunbathing or grooming its feathers, except for swimming. It may appear to be lazy, but it is a magnificent swimmer.

Male American white pelicans are slightly larger than females. Juveniles are virtually indistinguishable from adults, having a monotone white plumage with a brown underside ripple on the head, neck, and upper wings. They are easily confused with the white pelican, only smaller and with slightly darker plumage.