In reality , it often presses this onto its chest to fully empty the pouch .
The legends of self - wounding and the provision of blood may have arisen because of the impression a pelican sometimes gives that it is stabbing itself with its bill .
In reality , pelican often presses this onto pelican 's chest to fully empty the pouch .
The legends of self - wounding and the provision of blood may have arisen because of the impression a pelican sometimes gives that it is stabbing itself with its bill .