A common but very patchily distributed species, with (usually large) breeding colonies in Eurasia from eastern Europe to Kazakhstan,
and a few in Africa. Wintering birds occur in much of sub-Saharan Africa also NW India and Bangladesh, many African breeders do not migrate.
Vagrancy to other parts of Europe is quite common, and whilst often considered
escapes in the past, especially in the UK, there is no reason, and much evidence, as to why these birds are not genuine vagrants. The acceptance of Dalmatian Pelican to the British
List, a bird that was "tracked" across Europe, indicates that such vagrancy is easily possible.
Taken Ethiopia Nov. 2011
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