A pelican is a large water bird with an enormous pouch of stretchy skin hanging beneath its long beak. This pouch works like a fishing net: when a pelican spots fish swimming below, it dives down and scoops them up in its pouch, which can hold up to three gallons of water. After catching its meal, the pelican drains out the water and swallows the fish whole.

Pelicans are surprisingly big birds, with some species having wingspans of nearly ten feet, wider than most people are tall. They often fly in graceful V-formations along coastlines, gliding on air currents with hardly a flap of their wings. Despite their size, pelicans are excellent fliers and can soar for hours.

You'll find pelicans near oceans, lakes, and rivers on every continent except Antarctica. Brown pelicans, common along American coasts, are dramatic hunters that plunge into the water from heights of 60 feet or more. White pelicans, often seen on inland lakes, prefer to fish cooperatively, working together in groups to herd fish into shallow water where they're easier to catch.