Pelicans & Jacanas

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Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) - A pair feeding in shallow water in Yala National Park.

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) - Lives on large tanks and lagoons mainly in the dry zone, but can be seen in the Viharamahadevi Park pond and Beira Lake in Colombo. (1)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) - Feeds in shallow water and often in large flocks. The light-coloured Pelicans are adults and the brown are juveniles. (1)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) - Drying off in the company of cormorants.

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) - Cormorants and Pelicans In Viharamahadevi Park.

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis) - Drying and preening after fishing in a pond.

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) - In breeding plumage, walking on a lily-pad and showing off its big feet. Long tail grows in breeding season. The females are bigger than the males. Can swim and walk on water plants. Found on weed-covered water of the low country. (1)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) - In breeding plumage, walking on a lily-pad and showing off its big feet. Long tail grows in breeding season. The females are bigger than the males. Can swim and walk on water plants. Found on weed-covered water of the low country. (1)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).

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Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus)

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus).

Sri Lanka. So much more than you can see in a lifetime.

Bird References
1. Harrison J. A Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 2nd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011.
2. Henry G.M. A Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka, 3rd edn. Colombo: Oxford University Press; 1998.