What Is a Pelican's Pouch For?

Step 1 of 5

Catching a fish by grabbing at it hardly ever works.

A fish darts sideways the instant something comes at it. A narrow beak has to be aimed exactly, and it usually misses.

Step 2 of 5

So the pelican takes the water as well.

The lower beak spreads wide and the skin between it opens into a bag. It scoops fish and sea together and closes on the lot.

Step 3 of 5

That is a great deal of water to be holding.

A full pouch takes about eleven litres — nearly three times what the pelican's own stomach could ever hold. It cannot swallow that.

Step 4 of 5

So it squeezes the water out first.

It tips the beak down and presses the pouch against its chest. The water runs out at the edges over about a minute, and the fish stay inside.

Step 5 of 5

The pouch does a few other jobs too.

It is thin and full of blood vessels, so fluttering it in the heat cools the bird down. Parents also carry water in it for chicks.

Other birds know exactly what a full pouch means. Gulls will stand on a pelican's head and try to steal from it while it drains.