Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Spot-billed pelican
‹ PreviousAvian GalleryNext ›

Spot-billed pelican

by Ajit Huilgol

Gallery: AvianPosted November 27, 2012454 views4 comments
The Spot-billed Pelican is one of 3 species of pelicans found in India. This bird is relatively small compared to the other two (the Dalmatian and the Great White Pelicans), but is still a large bird, at about 5 feet long! The overall grey plumage and the spots on the upper bill are diagnostic. We have large colonies in a sanctuary near Bangalore, India, and the colony sizes have increased in the past few years, to everyone's pleasant surprise. They build large nests and breed around Feb-March.
The species name comes from the Philippines, but they have been extinct in that country since 1960 or so!
Species:Spot-billed pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)
Location: Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Karnataka, India
Equip: Canon 1D Mlll, Canon 300 f2.8
Specs: ISO 250, f5.6, 1/1000s, hand-held from a boat on the River Cauvery

Thank you for taking the time out to look, and for your comments/critiques.

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Richard Ditch on November 27, 2012 at 4:04 PM
I didn't know there were that many species there and I've never heard of this one. The bill spotting is certainly an interesting feature and I hope you can show us a close up view of it at some point.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on November 27, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Nice one Ajit. :smile: I like the wings stretched out like this. thanks for sharing.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Hackley on November 28, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Interesting to see the color difference. I like the approach shot with the wings spread out so you can see the feather patterns, well done.
Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments
Comment posted by Ron Dudley on November 28, 2012 at 7:36 PM
A wonderful landing posture, Ajit and what an intriguing pelican species. I too have never heard of it. Nice photo and I appreciate the background you shared in your text. I agree with Rich - it would be interesting to see a close up of that bill one day...
Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments