| Photo Information |
| Copyright: lambriana peleka (lambriana) (12) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2012-01-22 |
| Categories: Birds |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2012-01-22 11:15 |
| Viewed: 2736 |
| Points: 0 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys (meaning “axe” and applied to birds that cut wood with their bills or beaks) is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae.
Pelicans swim well with their short, strong legs and their feet with all four toes webbed (as in all birds placed in the order Pelecaniformes). The tail is short and square, with 20 to 24 feathers. The wings are long and have the unusually large number of 30 to 35 secondary flight feathers. 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 over 150 km (93 mi) to feeding areas.
Pelicans rub the backs of their heads on their preen glands to pick up their oily secretion, which they transfer to their plumage to waterproof it.
[source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican ] |
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
