pelican
noun
pel·i·can
ˈpe-li-kən 
: any of a genus (Pelecanus) of large web-footed fish-eating birds with a very large bill and distensible gular pouch
Examples of pelican in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Enjoy a balmy day in the soft sands of Miami Beach while listening to the crash of the ocean waves and the squeaking pelicans.
—
Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
Around 40 percent of Peru’s pelicans and 17 percent of Europe’s Sandwich terns died in a matter of months, and researchers have identified the virus in hundreds of wild bird species, Wille says.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Instead, the public is asked to report any injured or dead pelicans.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 11 May 2024
The organization urges individuals who find a pelican in need of care to contact IBR's Bird HelpLine at 866-SOS-BIRD (866-767-2473) or their local animal control office.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Chen Liu of Vista explained that many in Friday’s crowd are on a first-name basis, gradually getting to know each other over decades spent leaning on the rail, chatting days away even when the only thing biting is the pelican roosting on the rail down by the bait shop.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2024
Mahito meets a woman named Kiriko, who saves him from a flock of vicious pelicans and shows him how to skin and carve a fish.
—Moeko Fujii, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
Chandor said there seem to be other fish, not just anchovies, massing off the coast because harbor officials have seen upticks in dolphins and pelicans in recent weeks too.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Pelican nesting process takes months Because pelicans are susceptible to disturbances, both Hat and Gunnison islands have been closed off to the public.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 7 May 2024
Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
Around 40 percent of Peru’s pelicans and 17 percent of Europe’s Sandwich terns died in a matter of months, and researchers have identified the virus in hundreds of wild bird species, Wille says.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 May 2024
Instead, the public is asked to report any injured or dead pelicans.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 11 May 2024
The organization urges individuals who find a pelican in need of care to contact IBR's Bird HelpLine at 866-SOS-BIRD (866-767-2473) or their local animal control office.
—Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024
Chen Liu of Vista explained that many in Friday’s crowd are on a first-name basis, gradually getting to know each other over decades spent leaning on the rail, chatting days away even when the only thing biting is the pelican roosting on the rail down by the bait shop.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2024
Mahito meets a woman named Kiriko, who saves him from a flock of vicious pelicans and shows him how to skin and carve a fish.
—Moeko Fujii, The New Yorker, 2 May 2024
Chandor said there seem to be other fish, not just anchovies, massing off the coast because harbor officials have seen upticks in dolphins and pelicans in recent weeks too.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Pelican nesting process takes months Because pelicans are susceptible to disturbances, both Hat and Gunnison islands have been closed off to the public.
—Helena Wegner, Sacramento Bee, 7 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pelican.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pelican
Cite this Entry
“Pelican.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelican. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pelican
noun
pel·i·can
ˈpel-i-kən
: any of a genus of large web-footed birds with a very large bill having a pouch on the lower part used to scoop in fish for food
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