How much water can a pelicans beak hold?
It is not actually the beak that holds water, but the flexible pouch beneath it. Pelicans use this pouch to capture both water and prey. Once it’s full, they drain the pouch of water and consume what remains. How much water this pouch can hold depends on the type of pelican. The beak pouches of Brown Pelicans (“Pelecanus occidentalis,” native to North America) and While Pelicans (“Pelecanus erythrorhynchos,” also found in Central America), for example, can hold up to 3 gallons (11.4 liters) of water, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park website, nationalzoo.si.edu, and whozoo.org. The Australian Pelican (“Pelecanus conspicillatus”), said to have the longest beak of any bird in the world, can hold up to 3.4 gallons (13 liters) of water, according to the Australian Museum Online, www.amonline.net.au. A pelican’s pouch is an essential part of its anatomy. The birds routinely perform exercises, such as stretching and turning the pouch inside out, to keep it flexible.
