The Mykonos pelican, Petros, became the island’s beloved official mascot after a fisherman rescued a wounded pelican, and the bird charmed locals and visitors for decades. This guide covers the story of Petros, his New York trip and the Tinos custody battle, today’s resident pelicans and where to see them in Mykonos Town.
The pelican is a charming symbol of the Mykonos travel guide, complementing the Mykonos Town guide. The sections below cover it in full.
Who is Petros the pelican of Mykonos?
Petros is the famous pelican mascot of Mykonos. a local fisherman found a wounded pelican off the island, nursed it back to health, and it stayed, named Petros by the locals and becoming the island’s official mascot. The friendly bird charmed residents and visitors for decades, becoming a beloved symbol of Mykonos.
Petros the pelican is one of the most beloved symbols of Mykonos, a charming piece of the island’s character beyond its beaches and nightlife. The story began, when a Mykonian fisherman discovered an injured pelican off the island after a storm. The islanders nursed the bird back to health, and when it recovered and could have flown away, it chose to stay, perhaps unsurprisingly given the love and attention it received on the beautiful Aegean island. The locals affectionately named it Petros, originally as a joke, and the pelican became the official mascot of Mykonos. With its large size, distinctive appearance and friendly, sociable nature, Petros wandered the harbour and the lanes of Mykonos Town, posing for photographs and delighting residents and the growing numbers of visitors for decades. The pelican became so iconic that it remains a cherished emblem of the island to this day. Petros’s story is a fond part of Mykonian folklore, set out alongside the guide to things to do. His adventures became legendary.
What adventures did Petros the pelican have?
Petros had colourful adventures, including a trip to New York City in the 1970s for a film, where he famously wandered off to explore the avenues alone. His most famous escapade was flying to neighbouring Tinos, sparking a custody battle that became the first court case in Greece over the ownership of a bird, which Mykonos won.
Petros the pelican lived a remarkably eventful life that added to his legend. He was a well-travelled and curious bird: during the 1970s, Petros even travelled to New York City for a film shoot, and true to his independent spirit, he famously went missing from the studios, only to be discovered out walking along the city avenues on his own self-guided tour, before being found taking a nap between parked cars. His most famous escapade, however, happened closer to home. One day the restless pelican decided to fly across to the neighbouring island of Tinos, whose residents considered his visit a voluntary migration and decided to keep him for themselves. This sparked an extraordinary dispute: Petros’s alleged entrapment in Tinos became the only court case in Greek history disputing the custody of a bird. When the authorities ruled in favour of Mykonos, the pelican was returned home, and the overjoyed Mykonians threw him a celebration with music, dancing and a public feast. These adventures cemented his fame, set out alongside the guide to Tinos. The original Petros’s story has a poignant end.
What happened to the original Petros?
The original Petros died in December, hit by a car after nearly 30 years as the island’s mascot. The grieving Mykonians did not stay without a pelican: a mate named Irene had been donated to the island, and new pelicans took up residence, one honorifically named Petros, continuing the tradition that survives today.
After almost three decades as the cherished mascot of Mykonos, the original Petros met a sad end in December, when he was hit and killed by a car in the town, a loss deeply felt by the islanders who had loved him for so long. Yet the Mykonians were not left entirely without their beloved pelican. Over the years, more pelicans had been brought to the island: notably, a female pelican named Irene had been donated to Mykonos, reportedly by Jackie Onassis, so that Petros could have a suitable mate, which meant that when Petros died, the island already had a pelican to carry on. Following his death, new pelicans took up residence around the main town of Mykonos, and one of them was honorifically given the name Petros, ensuring the tradition and the name lived on. In this way the legacy of the original Petros has continued unbroken, with the pelicans remaining a fixture of Mykonos Town. The story shows how dear the bird is to the island’s identity, set out alongside the guide to the history. You can still see pelicans today.
Where can you see the pelicans in Mykonos today?
You can still see the resident pelicans wandering Mykonos Town today, often around the Old Port, the waterfront, the harbour and the lanes near Little Venice and the fish market. Descendants and successors of Petros continue the tradition, strolling among visitors and cafes. They are a charming sight, but admire them respectfully without crowding or feeding them improperly.
The tradition of the Mykonos pelican lives on, and visitors today can still spot the resident pelicans, successors to the famous Petros, around Mykonos Town. The birds are most often seen wandering the waterfront and harbour area, around the Old Port, near the fish market, along the lanes of the Chora and around the Little Venice and Alefkandra area, where they stroll nonchalantly among the cafes, tavernas and visitors, often pausing to pose for photographs much as the original Petros did. Encountering one of these large, characterful birds up close is a delightful and quintessentially Mykonian experience, and they have become a favourite photo subject and a living emblem of the island. When you do see a pelican, enjoy the moment and take your photos, but treat the bird with respect: do not crowd, chase or stress it, and avoid feeding it inappropriate food, leaving its care to the locals who look after it. Spotting a pelican adds a charming touch to a wander through town, set out alongside the guides to Little Venice and the Old Port. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Why did the pelican become the mascot of Mykonos?
The pelican became the mascot of Mykonos because the original Petros, rescued, chose to stay and charmed the whole island with his friendly, characterful presence, wandering the harbour and posing for photos. His fame, colourful adventures and the islanders’ affection turned him into a beloved official symbol, a tradition kept alive by his successors ever since.
The story of how the pelican became the enduring mascot of Mykonos is a tale of affection and serendipity. It began with the original Petros, the wounded pelican found and nursed back to health by a local fisherman, who, once recovered, chose not to fly away but to remain on the island among the people who had cared for him. What turned a stray bird into a cherished symbol was Petros’s own character and the islanders’ love for him: large, striking and remarkably sociable, he wandered the harbour, the fish market and the lanes of Mykonos Town, mingling with locals and visitors, posing for countless photographs, and becoming a familiar, much-loved fixture of daily life over nearly three decades. His fame spread with his colourful adventures, from his trip to New York to the famous custody battle with Tinos that he, and Mykonos, won. The deep public affection was clear when the islanders fought to bring him back from Tinos and threw him a feast on his return. This bond made the pelican an official emblem of the island, and after Petros died, successors carried on the role, keeping the beloved tradition alive to this day, set out alongside the guide to Mykonos Town. A few tips help you enjoy seeing them.
What tips help for seeing the Mykonos pelicans?
To see the Mykonos pelicans, explore the waterfront, Old Port, fish market and Little Venice area of Mykonos Town, especially in the cooler morning and evening. Watch quietly, photograph respectfully without using flash or crowding, never chase or stress the bird, and do not feed it inappropriate food, leaving its care to the locals who look after it.
A few simple tips help you spot and enjoy the resident pelicans of Mykonos while treating them well. To find them, wander the waterfront and harbour area of Mykonos Town, particularly around the Old Port, the fish market where they are often fed scraps by fishermen, and the lanes and squares near Little Venice and Alefkandra, where the pelicans like to roam among the cafes and tavernas; they move around, so a relaxed stroll through these areas in the cooler morning or early evening gives the best chance of an encounter. When you do meet a pelican, enjoy the moment and take photos, as they are famously photogenic and often unbothered by people, but do so respectfully: keep a sensible distance, avoid sudden movements, do not use flash close up, and never chase, grab or crowd the bird, which can stress it. Resist the urge to feed it, as inappropriate human food can harm the pelican, and leave its feeding and care to the locals and fishermen who look after it. Supervise children around the large bird. Treating the pelican with respect ensures these beloved island residents stay healthy and the tradition endures, set out alongside the guide to photography spots. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bird is the Mykonos pelican?
The Mykonos pelican is a large white pelican, a big water bird with a long bill and pouch, known for its striking appearance and sociable nature. The original, Petros, was rescued, and the resident pelicans that succeed him still wander Mykonos Town today as the island’s beloved living mascot.
Who is Petros the pelican of Mykonos?
Petros is the famous pelican mascot of Mykonos. a local fisherman found a wounded pelican off the island, nursed it back to health, and it stayed, named Petros by the locals and becoming the island’s official mascot. The friendly bird charmed residents and visitors for decades as a beloved symbol of Mykonos.
Is the Mykonos pelican still alive?
The original Petros died after being hit by a car, but the tradition lives on. New pelicans, including one honorifically named Petros, took up residence in Mykonos Town, so you can still see resident pelicans wandering the waterfront and lanes today, continuing the much-loved mascot tradition started.
Where can you see pelicans in Mykonos?
You can see the resident pelicans wandering Mykonos Town, often around the Old Port, the waterfront, the harbour, the fish market and the lanes near Little Venice. Successors to the famous Petros stroll among the cafes and visitors. Admire and photograph them respectfully, without crowding, chasing or feeding them improperly.