"A wonderful bird is the pelican, its beak can hold more than its belly can" (anon.)

These particular Great White Pelican (also called Eastern Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus) live just in front of Buckingham Palace, London

Grandad pelican said to the twins, "Did I tell you of the time I swallowed a pigeon?"

"He says he swallowed a pigeon!"

"Look it up on the internet, -- it was in all the newspapers. Pelican in St James' Park swallows pigeon alive. Children were shocked.  I've looked this ill ever since."

"How did you swallow it? Did it fit in your beak? We thought you were just a different breed of pelican with your different eyes, face and feet colours."  "No. I used to look just like you."

"Eating pigeon can really make you ill"

(This is actually an American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. The protrusions on the bill grow in breeding season)

"But I can still stand on one leg for five minutes."

(Left: Great White/Eastern White from Europe/Africa/Asia; right American White)

Australian Pelican

Pink-backed Pelican