Birds
Great White Pelican
Pelecanus onocrotalus · Pelican comun
A huge white waterbird with a yellow throat pouch, breeding in colonies in the Danube Delta.
At a glance
- Status in Romania
- Summer visitor
- Habitat
- Wetland
- Activity
- Morning · Daytime
- Diet
- Fish, often caught by groups swimming together and herding fish into shallow water.
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Photography difficulty
- Moderate
Identification
Very large, white with a pinkish tinge in the breeding season, black flight feathers and a long bill with a yellow-orange pouch.
Habitat
Large shallow lakes, lagoons and deltas with plenty of fish.
Distribution
Breeds in south-eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. In Romania it breeds mainly in the Danube Delta.
Approximate range in Romania
When it is active
Morning · Daytime
Diet
Fish, often caught by groups swimming together and herding fish into shallow water.
Behaviour
Highly social. Flocks fly in lines or V-formations and soar on thermals.
Seasonality in Romania
- JanUnknown
- FebUnknown
- MarUnknown
- AprPresentMigration*
- MayPresentBreeding*
- JunPresentBreeding*
- JulPresentBreeding*
- AugPresentBreeding*
- SepPresentMigration*
- OctUnknown
- NovUnknown
- DecUnknown
Existing monthly estimates are retained for reference, but have not yet been verified against a Romanian source and are excluded from seasonal filters. Unconfirmed months do not imply absence. * Event timing retained from the earlier entry, not yet source-verified.
Breeding
Nests in dense colonies on reed islands. Colonies are very sensitive to disturbance.
How to find it
Open water in the Danube Delta in spring and summer, ideally with a licensed boat guide.
Photography
General guidance based on the species’ behaviour, not a report of Nick’s personal field experience.
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Ethics
- Keep well away from breeding colonies; follow the Danube Delta reserve rules.
Practical starting points, not fixed rules.