<Pelecaniformes are expert fishers, using specialized diving and fishing techniques to catch their prey with remarkable efficiency. Their methods vary among families but are all highly adapted to aquatic hunting.>
  • Include pelicans, cormorants, gannets, and their relatives.
  • Master aquatic hunting with efficient, precise techniques.
  • Use adaptations tailored for water environments and prey capture.
Pelecaniformes
Pelicans

Pelicans: Aerial Precision and Pouch Fishing

Pelicans are masters of both aerial fishing and surface scooping. They often fish in groups, corralling fish into tight schools before scooping them up with their expandable throat pouch.
  • Use cooperative group fishing to herd fish.
  • Employ an expandable throat pouch for scooping prey.
  • Some species perform dramatic plunge-dives to catch fish.
Pelicans use an expandable throat pouch to scoop fish from the water.
Pelicans use their throat pouch to scoop up fish, often hunting in groups.

Cormorants: Expert Underwater Pursuers

Cormorants are exceptional underwater hunters. They use their powerful, webbed feet to propel themselves beneath the surface, pursuing fish with agility. Their feathers are less waterproof, which helps them dive more efficiently by reducing buoyancy.
  • Propelled by strong, webbed feet for underwater swimming.
  • Dive deep to chase and capture fish with hooked bills.
  • Less waterproof feathers aid in diving efficiency.
Cormorants use strong webbed feet for underwater propulsion.
Cormorants have feathers that absorb water, reducing buoyancy for better diving.

Gannets: High-Speed Plunge Divers

Gannets are among the most dramatic divers. They spot fish schools from great heights and then perform high-speed plunge dives, sometimes penetrating as deep as 30 meters. Their bodies are streamlined, and they possess air sacs in the face and chest to cushion impacts.
  • Detect prey from heights before diving.
  • Perform high-speed, deep plunge dives.
  • Have air sacs for shock absorption during impact.
Gannets capture prey through high-speed plunge dives.
Gannets have air sacs that cushion the impact of their dives.

Mutualism and Group Hunting

Some Pelecaniformes species engage in cooperative hunting, working in groups to corrall schools of fish, thereby increasing each member's fishing success. This social behavior is most notably seen in pelicans but also occurs in some cormorants.
  • Use group tactics to herd and capture fish more efficiently.
  • Benefit from increased food intake through cooperation.
  • Display complex social interactions during feeding.
Group hunting increases overall fishing success for pelican groups.
Pelicans are known for cooperative group fishing.

Conclusion

Pelecaniformes exhibit some of the most specialized and efficient diving and fishing strategies in the bird world, making them remarkable aquatic hunters.
  • Pelicans use expandable throat pouches and often fish cooperatively.
  • Cormorants pursue prey underwater with strong, webbed feet and unique feather adaptations.
  • Gannets execute high-speed plunge dives, equipped with air sacs for shock absorption.