Differences between Falcon and Pelican

Falcon and Pelican are two classes of birds that belong to the Falconidae and Pelecanidae families respectively.

Falcons are birds of prey. They are known for their agility and sharp vision. They have superior hunting skills, characterized by quick identification, chase, and capture. Their back, head, and wings are bluish grey, while their neck and belly are white with greyish black markings. The skin around the beak, the legs, and feet are yellow. The beak of Falcons is sharply bent at the tip, where they also have a sharp tooth that helps in killing the prey. The talons on the feet are long, sharp, and curved. The Falcon family includes about 40 species.

A symbol of wisdom, Pelican is a water bird with broad wings and a long neck. It is characterised by its unique bill, which has a gular pouch near the neck. The bird uses the pouch to scoop up its feed. A Pelican also has wide wings, short tail, and short legs. Its family consists of eight species, which can be either white or brown in appearance.

Where are Falcon and Pelican found?

Falcons live everywhere where they can find food. They flourish near coastlines, but can be found in river valleys, mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests too. They exist in all parts of the world, except Antarctica.

Pelicans are generally found near rivers, lakes, and coastlines. While the American White Pelicans prefer freshwater, the Brown Pelicans live near the coasts. Although native to Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts, Pelicans are lately found across the world, apart from Antarctica.

What do Falcon and Pelican eat?

Falcons are carnivores and chiefly eat other birds, pigeons being their favorite. They prey on birds like doves, gulls, ducks, bats, and waterfowl. Falcons are capable of seizing birds in mid-air. They sometimes also eat fish, frogs, squirrels, mice, and insects.

Pelicans are chiefly carnivores and fish is their staple food. The Brown Pelicans dive into water to catch their prey. However, other species make formations to force groups of fish into shallow waters so that they can be scooped up with their bill. Pelicans also eat other animals like turtles, shrimps, crustaceans, lobsters, crabs, lizards, and frogs. They have also been seen eating smaller birds.

Here are a few pointers about the eating patterns between Falcon and Pelican

• Both Falcon and Pelican eat Fish.
• Both Falcon and Pelican eat Frogs.
• Both Falcon and Pelican eat Lizards.
• Both Falcon and Pelican eat Snakes.
• Both Falcon and Pelican eat Turtles.
• Both Falcon and Pelican eat Squirrels.
• Gophers are commonly eaten by Falcon while Pelican do not eat Gophers.
• Baby Ducks are consumed by both Falconand Pelican.
• Mice are eaten by both Falcon and Pelican.

Size of Falcon and Pelican?

When it comes to size, Falcons are usually 15-60 centimeters long. Their wingspan could be 74-120 centimeters.. Pelicans are large birds. They are generally 4.1-4.3 feet tall with a wingspan of 9-10 feet.

The average weight of Falcons is 1.5-3.3 pounds. The male birds weigh 0.73-2.20 pounds, while the females weigh 1.5-3.3 pounds. The Gyrfalcon is the heaviest of all species. It weighs 3.3 pounds. while The average weight of Pelicans is 22-26 pounds. The male birds are larger and weigh more than the females. Dalmatian Pelicans are the largest among all species. They weigh about 30 pounds.

Where do Falcon and Pelican nest?

Falcons do not build their nests. They use tree holes, ledges in cliffs, or discarded nests of other birds to lay their eggs. Both partners engage in incubating the eggs, which hatch in 29-32 days. The young birds will be able to fly when they are about six weeks old. Nevertheless, they stay under their parents’ care till they are about 10 weeks old.

The nesting habit of Pelicans depend on the species and geography. Nests could be constructed on sand, soil, or depressions on flat sites. The birds use grass, feathers, and sticks to pack the nests. In the wild, Pelicans build their nests beneath trees and shrubs. In places like Florida, they are also observed to build nests on mango trees. The birds lay up to four bluish white eggs at a time and hatch them for a month. They incubate the eggs using their feet. The young ones fledge when they are around 10 weeks old although they leave the nest to join the group when they are 17-28 days old.

How long do Falcon and Pelican live?

The average lifespan of Falcons is 13 years, although they may live up to 16-20 years in the wild. Many birds die young due to malnutrition. Several adults are also recorded to be dying early because of habitat loss, DDT poisoning, airplane accidents, and environmental issues.

Pelicans can live for 15-25 years in the wild. The oldest living Pelican as in 2022 is 62 years old and lives at the Wellington Zoo, Australia.

Are Falcon or Pelican migratory birds?

Not all Falcons migrate. Peregrines from Alaska and Greenland migrate to USA and South America during winters. The Amur Falcon migrates in winter from Russia and China to India and South Africa. Most other species remain in their habitats throughout the year if the climate is favorable.

Pelicans prefer warmer climates. Therefore, in winters they migrate from northern Europe and North America. However, Pelicans living in warmer regions of Asia and Africa rarely migrate or only travel small distances.

Do Falcon and Pelican fly in flocks?

A group of Falcons is called a cast or cauldron. Falcons are solitary birds. They live, hunt, and migrate alone. They socialize only in the breeding season.

A flock of Pelicans is called a squadron, scoop, or pod. Pelicans are sociable birds that live and migrate in groups. The American White Pelicans also work together to capture fish. Pelicans are also known to breed in groups and build their nests in colonies.

Are Falcon or Pelican protected?

Falcons are protected across the world under various laws like Migratory Bird Act, Wildlife Conservation Act, and the International CITES treaty. The vulnerable species are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The White and Brown Pelicans are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other conservation laws in the USA. Endangered species are protected in European countries like Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece and parts of Asia.

Are Falcon or Pelican endangered?

Falcons are not endangered. The American Peregrine was classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act in 1970. However, it was removed from the list in 1999. The existence of the bird was threatened owing to DDT poisoning. However, the banning of DDT together with other recovery projects have saved the species from becoming extinct.

Not all species of Pelicans are endangered. Brown Pelicans were on the verge of extinction in the USA due to exposure to pollutants. However, the banning of DDT has helped a thrive in their population since 1985. Brown Pelicans face threat in the Gulf coast due to the oil spill. Across the world, increased urbanization and destruction of habitat is posing danger to the population of Pelicans. Plastic and other wastes in rivers and seas are causing injuries to the Pelicans’ pouch that is used to scoop up fish and other aquatic animals.

Can Falcon and Pelican fly?

Falcons are splendid flyers. They have thin, tapered wings that help them to cut down drag and fly in high speeds. With sharp eyesight, the birds can dive at speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour to capture their prey. The average flying speed of Peregrine Falcons, the fastest animal in the world, is 242 miles an hour. Falcons are solitary travelers that fly about 15,500 miles each year. Amur falcons are the longest migratory birds in the world. They fly over 13,600 miles at a stretch.

Pelicans are brilliant flyers. With their broad wings and the help of thermals, they can reach an altitude of 10,000 feet or more. They fly in groups through U and V formations to travel long distances. During migration, they travel 61-101 miles a day. The Great White Pelican is known to travel long distances and over massive seas for several days at a stretch.

Can Falcon and Pelican swim?

Falcons do not swim. The structure of their body and feet are not ideal for swimming. However, some Falcon species dive into water to catch the prey.

Pelicans are water birds. They have webbed feet and are splendid swimmers. Some Pelican species even swim underwater to capture their prey.

Mating patterns among Falcon and Pelican

Falcons start mating when they are about two years old. The male performs courtship displays in the air to attract the female. He also fetches preys for the female, who in turn shows her acceptance by perching in a suitable spot. The female typically lays three to four eggs, which are around two inches long and pink or brownish in color. Both partners take turns to incubate the eggs. After the eggs hatch, the female usually sits on the young ones to keep them warm while the male gets food for her. The partners protect the young ones by attacking anything that intimidates them.

Pelicans start mating when they are three to five years old. Adult Pelicans grow a horn on tip of the bill besides gaining colorful plumage every breeding season. They usually breed in large colonies and in small islands where there is no fear of predators. The male bird protects the nest site for about three weeks before courtship. The bird also engages with other males in chasing the female. The breeding ground for North American White Pelicans are lake islands in north-central and western parts of North America. Similarly, Brown Pelicans breed at the tropical and subtropical coasts of Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

When is the mating season for Falcon and Pelican ?

Falcons are lonely birds that come together only during mating. The mating season depends on the location. It is generally March-July.

The breeding season depends on the species and the location of the Pelican birds. North American White Pelicans breed during April-June, while the Australian Pelicans breed from winter until the beginning of spring. Brown Pelicans usually breed during March-April.

Do Falcon and Pelican mate for life?

Falcons are monogamous and mate for life. They also tend to use the same nest every breeding season.

Pelicans are monogamous only during the particular breeding season. They change partners every season.

How do Falcon and Pelican sleep?

Falcons are active during the day, although they may take occasional naps. They sleep during the night while standing on one leg and resting their head on their back.

Pelicans roost in groups to stay safe from predators and preserve body heat during winters. They usually sleep while standing on both legs or by lying on their bellies.

Can Falcon and Pelican be eaten?

Falcons were eaten in the past in some cultures like Hare and Strait. They ate the bird meat by boiling, frying, or roasting. However, consumption of Falcons is no longer permitted by stringent conservation laws.

In general, Pelicans are not eaten by humans. The birds have an oily and unpleasant flavor that make them uneatable. However, there have been instances in the past when American White Pelicans had been roasted, boiled, and eaten. Africans are also known to consume Pelicans by marinating them with salt for a few days.

Can you hunt Falcon or Pelican?

Hunting of Falcons was widespread for sport, falconry, feathers, skin, and meat. Although hunting has reduced due to strict laws, falconry is still practiced in countries like United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Austria.

Pelicans are not victims to largescale hunting. Several countries have conservation laws to prevent hunting. Nevertheless, the US Fish and Wildlife Service allows licensed hunting during the Pelican breeding season.

Can you feed Falcon or Pelican?

It is illegal to feed wild birds in many countries. However, in countries like the USA, one can own and feed Falcons. The birds are carnivores and should be fed insects, rodents, and ground meat.

Feeding wild animals and birds in public places is not permitted in places like USA, Singapore, and Dubai. In captivity, Pelicans are fed fish, shrimps, and crabs.