brown pelican

noun

: a pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) of American coasts that has a brownish body and a chiefly white or white with yellow head

Examples of brown pelican in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Look out for brown pelicans, tricolor herons, reddish egrets, wood storks, and many other unique species. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 23 June 2026 Fall through spring is the best time to see migratory white pelicans and nesting brown pelicans. Usa Today Network, USA Today, 10 June 2026 Furthermore, the very fish populations that brown pelicans depend on are harmed by the pollution. Shannon Book, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 May 2026 For a special treat, hire a charter and head out to Queen Bess Island to see thousands of nesting brown pelicans, as well as tri-colored herons, great egrets, royal terns, and the elusive roseate spoonbill. Kristy Christiansen, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for brown pelican

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brown pelican was in 1780

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Cite this Entry

“Brown pelican.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20pelican. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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