Page 408 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

SHEARWATERS AND PETRELS/CORMORANTS AND PELICANS
Family Procellariidae Species Oceanites oceanicus Family Procellariidae Species Oceanodroma castro
Wilson’s Storm-petrel Madeiran Storm-petrel
Abundant in Antarctic seas,Wilson’s Storm-petrels Very like Leach’s Petrel (see p.69), the Madeiran
rarely stray north of the equator.They remain well Storm-petrel is distinguished with difficulty by its
out at sea, sometimes with Storm Petrels (see p.68), broader white rump, extending well
feeding on floating offal and sometimes approaching around the sides, and less forked
fishing vessels or following ships.The white rump is tail. It is an entirely marine bird
very broad, the upperwing has a pale band but the except when visiting nesting
underwing is all-dark.The long wings and legs give colonies at night; it is rather
a particularly buoyant action. solitary at sea and does not follow
OCCURRENCE Very rare off NW Europe in late ships. It breeds in burrows and
summer. crevices on rocky islands.
VOICE Silent. OCCURRENCE Breeds off
Portugal and in
Madeira; rare at
sea north of this
range.
VOICE Cooing
purrs and squeaky
notes from burrow
long legs pale band
at night. on inner
wings

Length 16–18cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7in) Wingspan 38–42cm (15–16 1 ⁄2in) Length 19–21cm (7 1 ⁄2 –8 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 43–46cm (17–18in)

Family Pelecanidae Species Pelecanus onocrotalus Family Pelecanidae Species Pelecanus crispus
White Pelican Dalmatian Pelican
Huge and contrasted black and white,the White Pelican Globally rare and endangered, the Dalmatian Pelican
is rose-pink in summer (the juvenile is duller). It has is one of the world’s largest birds. Its obvious pelican
an orange-yellow bill pouch and a dark eye in a patch form, greyish head and body, reddish bill pouch in
of pink. Overhead it shows black trailing edges and tips summer, and dull wings (with no sharp black and
to the wings, like a White Stork (see p.85), but it lacks white contrast) identify it. Close views reveal a pale
the stork’s long legs and slender neck. Flocks circle eye in a whitish area (dark on pink on the White
and soar in a more coordinated fashion than storks. Pelican). In flight, it is a magnificent sight, soaring
OCCURRENCE Breeds in Balkans and E Europe, on effortlessly in warm air.
large lakes and marshes. OCCURRENCE Breeds in Greece and Danube Delta,
VOICE Various grunts at nest. on large reedy lakes and swamps.
pale eye in
dark eye in VOICE Silent. whitish
pink area orange- area
yellow bill reddish bill
pouch ADULT pouch
greyish body
(juvenile duller)
black
under-
wings
ADULT

Length 1.4–1.75m (4 1 ⁄2 –5 3 ⁄4ft) Wingspan 2.45–2.95m (8–9 3 ⁄4ft) Length 1.6–1.8m (5 1 ⁄4 –6ft) Wingspan 2.7–3.2m (8 3 ⁄4 –10ft)
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