American white pelican

Pelecanus erythrohynchos

Bald eagles may be the symbol of our country, but they’re pretty small compared to white pelicans. At 108 inches, a pelican’s wingspan is nearly two feet wider than even a large bald eagle.

Pelicans are also probably better anglers, too. They need to be, since each of their chicks can eat up to 150 pounds of fish before the little bird is 9 weeks old. With a three-gallon bill, adult pelicans are capable of capturing fairly large fish, then carrying it for miles if needed. They can weight more than even a large tom wild turkeys yet have been recorded to fly as high as 3,000 feet.

While fish make up most of their diet, there are some instances of pelicans eating turtles, frogs tadpoles and one online video clip shows one simply gobbling down a pigeon walking near a sidewalk at a park.

Pelicans are found on every continent except Antarctica. While most pelicans in Kansas are spring or fall migrants, some birds spend the summer at reservoirs or large wetlands such as Cheyenne Bottoms of the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

Sometimes it seems they fly just because they enjoy the experience. Watching a flock of 50 or more, high on the wind currents circling around and around is one of the neatest natural sights in the outdoors.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 4:35 PM with the headline "American white pelican."