Emperor Penguin vs Great White Pelican

Aptenodytes forsteri compared with Pelecanus onocrotalus

Key Differences

Emperor Penguin is Near Threatened while Great White Pelican is Not Evaluated.
Emperor Penguin is 4.0x heavier than Great White Pelican.
Great White Pelican lives longer (30 years vs 20 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Emperor Penguin	Great White Pelican
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Aves (นก)	Aves (นก)
Order	Sphenisciformes (Penguins)	Pelecaniformes (อันดับนกกระทุง)
Family	Spheniscidae (Penguins)	Pelecanidae
Genus	Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)	Pelecanus
Species	Aptenodytes forsteri	Pelecanus onocrotalus

Evolutionary Relationship

Emperor Penguin and Great White Pelican share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (นก)

ดู: Class: Aves

Conservation Status

Emperor Penguin

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~595.0K

Trend: Stable →

Great White Pelican

NE — Not Evaluated

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Emperor Penguin	Great White Pelican
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	20 years	30 years
Average Length	1.1 m	1.6 m
Average Weight	40.0 kg	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Emperor Penguin

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Great White Pelican

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Found across Europe (9 countries).

Emperor Penguin

The world's largest penguin, emperor penguins stand up to 1.2 meters and weigh 45 kg, inhabiting the Antarctic continent in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They breed in midwinter darkness at temperatures below -60°C, with males incubating single eggs on their feet under a brood pouch for 65 days while females are at sea. Their huddling behavior — cycling individuals through the warm center of thousands-strong groups — is a masterclass in cooperative survival.

Great White Pelican

One of the world's largest pelicans, great white pelicans have wingspans reaching 3.6 meters and inhabit shallow lakes and wetlands across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Social birds breeding in large colonies and foraging cooperatively — groups of pelicans corral fish into shallow water before scooping them in their expandable throat pouches. Their pouches can hold up to 13 liters of water. Listed as Least Concern globally with stable populations.