A marine pelican, Pelicanus occidentalis, with a greyish-brown body and a white head and neck, found off the west coast of North and South America and in the Caribbean and off adjacent coasts.
Origin
Late 18th century. Compare French pélican brun.
Definition of brown pelican in US English:
brown pelican
noun
A marine pelican, Pelicanus occidentalis, with a greyish-brown body and a white head and neck, found off the west coast of North and South America and in the Caribbean and off adjacent coasts.