Weatherman Jacobs attacked by pelican

TODAY weather presenter Steve Jacobs has been attacked by a pelican during a live cross from Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

Jacobs was at first startled as the pelican, named Marnie, jumped towards him while he was introducing a weather bulletin at around 7am.

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The large adult water bird returned to its zookeeper for a feed but minutes later Marnie launched into a full-blown attack of Jacobs from behind, pinning him to a wall and pecking repeatedly at his backside.

"Let me go," Jacobs cried out before the zookeeper pulled the bird away.

The Nine Network presenter broke into a fit of laughter after the harmless pecking and joked that he would be "mentally scarred" by the incident.

"Its beak can fit more than its belly can, I'll tell you what," he said.

TODAY host Karl Stefanovic quipped from the studio: "It's not the first time you've been pinched in the butt by a bird," he said.