Great White Pelican
Scientific Name 
Pelecanus onocrotalus
Arabic Name 
البجعة البيضاء الكبيرة
Kuwaiti name 
300.0 cm
175.0 cm
Least Concern
Similar species 

In Kuwait


Rare disperser in all seasons in very small numbers. Many breeding colonies have declined; nesting birds are very vulnerable to human disturbance.
Where in Kuwait 
Has bred on Bubiyan with last recorded nesting in 1923, but has been occasionally recorded in and around Jahra Bay.
In the world 
The biggest population is found across Africa. In the Middle East it is found in large inland wetlands and shallow coastal lagoons and it nests colonially in reeds. There is a large breeding population in the Basra marshes of Iraq. The species is entirely piscivorous, preferentially taking fish of between 300 and 600 g in weight.
Local threats 
Habitat destruction.