Species profile
About this species
The Pink-backed Pelican is a medium-sized pelican found across sub-Saharan Africa & parts of southern Arabia. It has a greyish-white plumage with a distinctive pinkish hue on its back & rump, along with a pale yellow pouch beneath its bill. It is one of the smaller pelican species & is commonly found in freshwater & coastal wetland environments.
The Pink-backed Pelican inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps & coastal lagoons across sub-Saharan Africa. It favours areas with tall trees nearby for nesting & roosting, & is often found in proximity to large wetlands & slow-moving waterways.
Where to photograph
Where our trips feature this species
You can photograph Pink-backed Pelican with us in Greece.
These departures are part of our Europe programme.
In the field, Alison Jenkins helps guests make the most of these encounters.
Field notes
Photography notes
Early morning light is ideal for photography, offering warm tones & calm water surfaces for reflections. The breeding season, which varies by region but often falls between October & April in East Africa, provides excellent opportunities to photograph nesting & courtship behaviour.
Position yourself near nesting colonies at the edge of wetlands to capture social behaviour & interactions between birds. Use a telephoto lens of at least 400mm to photograph birds in flight or fishing without disturbing them. Shoot from a low angle near the waterline to achieve flattering reflections & a clean background.
Available holidays
Trips featuring Pink-backed Pelican
The holidays below are pulled from the same species relationship, so the guide stays tied to live departures rather than becoming a static article.