American White Pelican Wrestling Fish

Some wildlife moments look calm until you notice the struggle. This American White Pelican proved that a “simple” fish can turn into a full-on wrestling match.

I photographed this sequence at the Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam in Oklahoma, showing an American White Pelican wrestling fish at the surface while using its gular pouch to control and reposition the catch before swallowing it.

American White Pelican wrestling fish at the surface

Pelicans have that oversized bill and pouch for a reason. In this case, the fish kept sliding and twisting at the worst possible moment, right at the surface where waves and current can help the fish break loose.

The pelican stayed low in the water and kept the fish pinned near the center of the bill. When it lost leverage, it opened the pouch and reset the grip instead of trying to swallow too early.

How the gular pouch helps an American White Pelican eat

What stood out to me was the “work” happening inside that pouch. The bird wasn’t just holding the fish. It was actively repositioning it.

You can see the pelican use small head moves and slight bill angles to shift the fish into a better orientation. The goal is simple: line the fish up so it can go down cleanly.

The moment the fish finally turns the right way

Once the fish rotated into a swallow-friendly position, the pelican’s body language changed. The bird looked more settled, and the movements got more deliberate.

This is the part I love about action sequences. The final swallow is the payoff, but the in-between frames are where the real story lives.

Wildlife Notes

• Species: American White Pelican
• Behavior shown: Surface feeding and fish handling. The bird uses its gular pouch to control a slippery catch and reposition it before swallowing.
• What I noticed: The pelican did not rush. It kept adjusting the fish and only committed to swallowing once the fish was lined up well.
• Habitat context: Lock and dam water can be choppy and unpredictable, especially near current seams. That surface movement can make fish handling harder, even for a bird built for it.
• ID cues in these photos: Bright white body, large orange bill and pouch, and a yellow area around the eye.

Photography Notes

This sequence was all about speed and reach.

• Camera: Canon EOS R5 Mark II
• Lens: Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
• Settings: f/9, 1/3200 sec, ISO 6400, 800 mm, +1/3 EV

That 1/3200 sec shutter speed froze the splashes and the quick head movements. ISO 6400 is a lot, but it is the trade I will take every time when the action is fast. The +1/3 EV helped keep the pelican’s white feathers bright without looking dull.

At 800 mm, framing gets tight in a hurry. I tried to keep the bird’s eye sharp and leave just enough room for the bill and the water action.

Closing

This pelican could have lost that fish a few times, and it never panicked. It just kept working the problem, inch by inch, until the fish finally went down.

That’s the kind of behavior I go out hoping to see, not because it is rare, but because it shows how skilled these birds really are.

Related Posts:

• Ring-billed Gull Grabs Fish in Front of Pelican
• American White Pelican Pouch During a Gular Stretch
• Pelican Gular Stretch in Flight (Slow Motion Video)