A pelican is a large water bird with a distinctive pouch under the beak, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae.
Pelicans are large birds with enormous, pouched bills. Pelicans swim well with their short, strong legs and their feet with all four toes webbed.The tail is short and square. The wings are long. A layer of special fibers deep in the breast muscles can hold the wings rigidly horizontal for gliding and soaring. Thus they can exploit thermals to commute long distances to feeding areas.
Pelicans rub the backs of their heads on their preen glands to pick up its oily secretion, which they transfer to their plumage to waterproof it.