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PLATE 17: PELICANS, TROPICBIRD AND FRIGATEBIRDS
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus wv
L: 140–175. W: 270–330. Large with huge wingspan. Adult white with contrasting, solid black
flight feathers below, but body tinged yellowish-rosy in breeding plumage (Dalmatian Pelican has
greyish underwing, and body appears greyish-white). At close range note short, shaggy crest
on nape (in breeding season), dark eye surrounded by naked rosy skin, fleshy-yellow legs and
pointed forehead feathers where they meet the culmen; these latter characters are also useful
when separating immature from similar Dalmatian Pelican. Immature Great White Pelican has
clearly darker grey-brown upperparts than the grey-buff Dalmatian. Flight consists of a few slow
wingbeats followed by a glide; flocks often fly in regular lines, or circle in formation. Habitat Large
inland wetlands and shallow coastal lagoons; nests colonially in reeds. Note Has bred Kuwait;
passage hatched, some winter S Turkey southwards; rare Oman; vagrant Bahrain, UAE.Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens V
L: 130. W: 265–290. Smaller than Great White Pelican (hard to judge without comparison). Adult
duller and greyer than other pelicans with darkish curly crest on nape. In flight, shows dull
greyish flight feathers below (bleaching paler), separated from whitish-grey or pinkish-rufous
underwing-coverts by whitish translucent band through centre of wing (pattern similar to
Dalmatian Pelican). Flanks, back and rump have pink tinge in breeding season. At close range
told from Dalmatian Pelican by black markings around dark eye and pale legs. Immature brownish
above and on tail, whitish below; in flight broad white rump narrows into white band up centre of
mantle, almost to base of neck, framed by brownish shoulders and wing-coverts. Never shows solid
black flight feathers below as in Great White Pelican. Habitat Coastal waters and shores; nests in
mangroves and on sandy islands. Note Some dispersal as hatched; vagrant Oman.Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus V
L: 150. W: 310–345. Resembles Great White Pelican but told in flight by greyish underwing with
pale band through centre and greyish-white body (in Great White, flight feathers below solidly
black, and white body tinged with yellowish-rosy). At close range note nape feathers curl upwards
(drooping in Great White), pale eye (dark in Great White) and grey legs; also shape of bare skin
around eye and of feathers where they meet the culmen useful at all ages. Immature dirty white
below, pale grey-buff above (similar Great White is dark grey-brown above). Habitat As Great
White Pelican; nests in reeds and trees. Note Partial migrant; vagrant Kuwait, Oman, UAE.Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus MB
L: 48 (plus 50cm tail). W: 105. Unlikely to be confused with any other seabird in the Middle East.
Plump-bodied, white with exceptionally long, white tail-streamers and conspicuous red bill; the
white plumage is relieved by a black eye-stripe, black outer primaries and narrow black barring on
upperparts and coverts. Juvenile (which lacks tail-streamers), has black-tipped tail, yellowish bill
and blackish collar. Flight is a useful character: direct with fast wingbeats and interspersed with
glides on horizontally held wings, usually fairly high. Will settle on sea. Voice Shrill, rapid rasping
notes. Habitat Maritime; nests colonially on rocky mainland or island cliffs, or rocky slopes on
islands. Note Occurs at sea in hatched area throughout year; vagrant Kuwait.Great Frigatebird Fregata minor V
L: 93. W: 218. Large, dark, piratical seabird with long, narrow wings and long, deeply forked tail
(often held closed). Very difficult to separate from Lesser Frigatebird but note absence of white on
axillaries, at all ages; adult male is all black and thus most easily distinguished. See Lesser Frigatebird
for further differences. Soars and glides majestically, with only an occasional deep wingbeat. Does
not settle on sea. Habitat Maritime but may drift inland or be driven onshore by tropical storms.
Note Vagrant Oman, Socotra.Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel V
L: 75. W: 185. Smaller than but otherwise very similar in structure and flight to Great Frigatebird, and
unless good views of the underwing are obtained most frigatebirds in the field cannot be identified.
White extending onto axillaries is the most useful field feature at all ages. Female has black
head, which when seen from below contrasts with white on breast (white chin, throat and breast
in Great Frigatebird). Juvenile often shows black mottling on lower white breast whereas in Great
Frigatebird the white breast-patch is neater. Does not settle on sea. Habitat Maritime but may drift
inland or be driven onshore by tropical storms. Note Vagrant Gulf of Aqaba, Oman, Yemen.