VAGRANCY RECORDS OF THE GREAT WHITE PELICAN PELECANUS ONOCROTALUS LINNAEUS, 1758 (AVES, PELECANIFORMES, PELECANIDAE) IN SOUTHERN INDIA

Abstract

Vagrancy is a less contrived part in the context of bird migration; thus, observing the vagrancy pattern of immigrants helps to discover changes in distribution, range shifting, and range expansion of the bird species. It is critical to look after the determinants and patterns of vagrancy for effective conservation measures for all migratory bird species, including threatened pelican species, since their inland migration routes are understudied in India. Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Pelecaniformes, Pelecanidae) is one of the winter visitors to India, but its wintering range in India is not addressed adequately. This communication provides documentation of the sighting of a Great White Pelican at Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, one of the Important Bird Areas in Andhra Pradesh, India, and briefly highlights the less-noticed vagrancy phenomenon of this species in the states of southern India.