The Peruvian pelican, scientifically named the Pelecanus thagus, is one of the members of the pelican type of birds, commonly found in Southern America regions. Given that they are the biggest birds of the sea in Peru, this is where they derive their name from. These pelicans are very similar to the Brown pelicans, and were thought to be related to the brown pelicans. However, they were categorized on their own by virtue of their bigger size and weight than the other pelicans. For a long time, the Peruvian pelicans were a large producer of fertilizer from their droppings rich in nutrients such as urates, oxalates and phosphates. Sadly though, their populations saw a huge decline due to human activities including hunting and destruction of their habitats for construction and other human activities.

Just like other pelicans, the Peruvian pelican is a large bird, and it has a characteristic pouch on its bill. They are found in most continents, except in places with extreme cold weather. Peruvian pelicans are dark in colour and they have a white band running from the tip of the beak to the top of the head and sides of its neck. They possess elongated and clumped feathers on top of their heads. During the breeding season, the number of eggs slept on and hatched together is usually three, and the gestation period runs for about a month and one week. After the chicks are hutched, they are taken care of by their parents for up to three months.

Peruvian pelicans eat different types of small fish, and it gets the fish by diving into the water, just like the brown pelicans. The other foods that form the diet of Peruvian pelicans include frogs and other amphibians, other small birds and small sea animals. To catch their prey, they widen their pouch and scoop the prey. Afterwards though, they have to drain off the water collected in the process of scooping the fish from the water before they are able to consume. This process may last one minute. In the course of draining their pouch, pelicans have suffered by losing their catch to other sea animals and birds. They have adapted to this phenomenon, and are also known to sometimes steal fish and other food from other birds of the sea.

The Peruvian pelicans usually get their food by diving fast into the sea, unlike the white pelicans which are known to fish in a group. This method of diving into the water is typical of the Peruvian pelicans and the brown pelicans alone.

Like other pelicans, the Peruvian pelicans are social, usually living communally. Different species of pelicans have different methods of copulation, especially when it comes to attracting the attention of the females. White pelicans engage in an intricate show, while the other species, particularly those that nest in trees simply call out for the females. After getting a mate, breeding starts, and takes place for up to ten days. Thereafter, eggs are laid.