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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
At least three birds — two brown pelicans and a laughing gull — were killed by the oil spill, and the Coast Guard spotted at least nine other birds clearly suffering from the spill.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 20 May 2024
Unfortunately, brown pelicans are showing up around the Bay Area in poor condition.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 3 June 2024
The California brown pelican was listed as an endangered species decades ago after the spread of the chemical DDT caused the shells of their eggs to thin.
—Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2024
Outside of the schools, the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center released 10 brown pelicans at Corona del Mar Beach.
—Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register, 31 May 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1780, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near brown pelican
Cite this Entry
“Brown pelican.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20pelican. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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