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

Marine life thrives around the islands — 27 species of whales and dolphins live or pass through the area, along with elephant seals, harbor seals, sea lions, California brown pelicans and rare seabirds like the Scripps’ murrelet. — Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 23 Sep. 2026

This week, hundreds of brown pelicans, California gulls and sandpipers rested along the shoreline as waves rolled in. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above