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Pelican vs. Swan — What's the Difference?

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 9, 2024
Pelicans are large waterbirds known for their distinctive pouches, while swans are recognized for their graceful appearance and long necks.
Pelican vs. Swan — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Pelican and Swan

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Key Differences

Pelicans are distinguished by their large bill and throat pouch used for catching fish, which is a key aspect of their feeding behavior. Whereas swans are noted for their elongated necks and are often associated with beauty and grace, playing a significant role in various cultural and literary contexts.
Pelicans are predominantly coastal birds that prefer salty or brackish waters, engaging in group fishing tactics. On the other hand, swans are more adaptable, inhabiting both freshwater and saltwater environments, often seen gliding majestically on lakes and ponds.
While pelicans have a more robust and heavy-set body, aiding in their plunge-diving fishing method, swans possess a sleek and streamlined form that allows for graceful swimming.
Pelicans are known for their social behavior, often found in flocks, and have a more gregarious nature. Swans, however, while they can be seen in groups, are more territorial and are often celebrated for their monogamous relationships that can last a lifetime.
Despite both being waterbirds, pelicans and swans have different flight characteristics. Pelicans are strong fliers with the ability to soar on thermals, whereas swans are powerful with their slow, rhythmic wingbeats and can travel long distances when migrating.
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Comparison Chart

Habitat

Coastal, prefers salty or brackish water
Freshwater and saltwater, lakes and ponds

Appearance

Large bill and throat pouch, robust body
Elongated neck, sleek and streamlined form

Behavior

Social, gregarious, group fishing
Territorial, monogamous, graceful swimming

Feeding

Plunge-diving for fish
Subsisting on aquatic vegetation and small animals

Flight

Strong, soars on thermals
Powerful, rhythmic wingbeats, migratory

Compare with Definitions

Pelican

Large waterbird with a distinctive throat pouch.
The pelican used its large bill to scoop fish from the water.

Swan

Elegantly long-necked waterbird, symbolizing grace.
The swan glided across the lake, its neck curved gracefully.

Pelican

Found in coastal and brackish water habitats.
We spotted a flock of pelicans near the lagoon.

Swan

Powerful flight capabilities, with slow, rhythmic wingbeats.
A flock of swans took off from the water, their wings beating slowly and powerfully.

Pelican

Social and gregarious in nature.
The noisy pelicans gathered in large flocks along the shore.

Swan

Inhabits both freshwater and saltwater environments.
Swans can be found in a variety of water bodies, from lakes to coastal bays.

Pelican

Engages in group fishing tactics.
A group of pelicans worked together to herd fish into shallow waters.

Swan

Often seen in pairs or small groups, known for monogamous pairs.
The pair of swans has returned to the same pond every year.

Pelican

Capable of impressive flight, including soaring on thermals.
We watched pelicans soaring high above the sea, riding the thermal currents.

Swan

Feeds on aquatic vegetation and small animals.
The swan dipped its head underwater to graze on aquatic plants.

Pelican

Pelicans are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before swallowing.

Swan

Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus Cygnus. The swans' closest relatives include the geese and ducks.

Pelican

Any of various large, web-footed birds of the genus Pelecanus primarily of tropical and warm regions, having a long straight bill from which hangs a distensible pouch of skin used for catching and holding fish.

Swan

A large waterbird with a long flexible neck, short legs, webbed feet, a broad bill, and typically all-white plumage.

Pelican

Any of various seabirds of the family Pelecanidae, having a long bill with a distendable pouch.

Swan

Move about or go somewhere in a casual, irresponsible, or ostentatious way
Swanning around Europe nowadays are we?

Pelican

A native or resident of the American state of Louisiana.

Swan

Any of various large waterbirds of the genera Cygnus and Coscoroba of the family Anatidae, having webbed feet, a long slender neck, and usually white plumage.

Pelican

A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation.

Swan

Swan See Cygnus.

Pelican

(dentistry) A set of forceps used to force overcrowded teeth apart.

Swan

To travel around from place to place
"Swanning around Europe nowadays, are we?" (Jeffrey Archer).

Pelican

Any large webfooted bird of the genus Pelecanus, of which about a dozen species are known. They have an enormous bill, to the lower edge of which is attached a pouch in which captured fishes are temporarily stored.

Swan

To declare; swear. Used in the phrase I swan as an interjection. See Note at vum.

Pelican

A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation.

Swan

Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus (bird family: Anatidae), most of which have white plumage.

Pelican

Large long-winged warm-water seabird having a large bill with a distensible pouch for fish

Swan

(figuratively) One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.

Swan

(heraldry) This bird used as a heraldic charge, sometimes with a crown around its neck (e. g. the arms of Buckinghamshire).

Swan

(intransitive) To travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or pretentiously casual way.

Swan

To declare (chiefly in first-person present constructions).

Swan

Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus, Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygninæ. They have a large and strong beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song, especially at the time of its death.

Swan

Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon.

Swan

The constellation Cygnus.

Swan

To declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true;
Before God I swear I am innocent

Swan

Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment;
The gypsies roamed the woods
Roving vagabonds
The wandering Jew
The cattle roam across the prairie
The laborers drift from one town to the next
They rolled from town to town

Swan

Sweep majestically;
Airplanes were swanning over the mountains

Common Curiosities

Are swans or pelicans more social?

Pelicans are more social and gregarious, often seen in large flocks.

How do pelicans and swans adapt to their habitats?

Pelicans prefer coastal waters and use group tactics for fishing, whereas swans are adaptable to various water environments and feed on vegetation.

Can both pelicans and swans fly?

Yes, both are capable fliers, but they exhibit different flying patterns and capabilities.

Which bird is known for its monogamous relationships?

Swans are celebrated for forming lifelong monogamous pairs.

What is the primary habitat of a pelican?

Pelicans are primarily found in coastal and brackish waters.

What do swans typically eat?

Swans feed on aquatic vegetation and small aquatic animals.

What symbolizes a swan in many cultures?

Swans symbolize beauty, grace, and love in various cultural contexts.

Do swans migrate?

Yes, many swan species migrate seasonally over long distances.

What distinguishes a pelican's feeding behavior from a swan's?

Pelicans dive to catch fish, while swans graze on aquatic vegetation.

Why are swans often associated with romance?

Swans are associated with romance due to their beautiful, graceful appearance and lifelong pair bonds.

How do pelicans catch their food?

Pelicans use their large bill and pouch to scoop fish from the water.

Are pelicans or swans larger?

Both birds can be quite large, but pelicans generally have a bulkier appearance due to their large bill and pouch.

How do pelicans and swans differ in flight?

Pelicans are known for soaring on thermals, while swans have powerful, slow wingbeats.

Is the pelican bill unique among birds?

Yes, the pelican's bill is unique for its large size and the attached throat pouch.

How do pelicans socialize compared to swans?

Pelicans socialize in large flocks and engage in cooperative fishing, while swans are more territorial and form strong pair bonds.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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