 The diet of pelicans usually consists of fish , which can be up to 30 cm ( 1 ft ) long , but amphibians , turtles , crustaceans and occasionally birds are also eaten . Aquatic prey is most commonly taken at or near the water surface . In deep water , white pelicans often fish alone . Nearer the shore , several will encircle schools of small fish or form a line to drive them into the shallows , beating their wings on the water surface and then scooping up the prey . They catch multiple small fish by expanding the throat pouch , which must be drained above the water surface before swallowing . This operation takes up to a minute , during which time other seabirds may steal the fish . 
