 Consumption of other birds by pelicans is rare , although great white pelicans have been observed swallowing pigeons in St. James 's Park in London . Spokeswoman for the Royal Parks Louise Wood opined that feeding on other birds is more likely with captive pelicans that live in a semi @-@ urban environment and are in constant close contact with humans . However , in the Western Cape region of South Africa , biologist Marta de Ponte recorded the same species eating Cape gannet chicks on Malgas Island as well as Cape cormorants , crowned cormorants , kelp gulls , greater crested terns and African penguins on Dassen Island and elsewhere . Brown pelicans have been reported preying on young common murres in California as well as the eggs and nestlings of cattle egrets and nestling great egrets in Baja California , Mexico . 
