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Glite Dictionary
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

9.9
A large white bird with black wing feathers and a long beak that eats fish
  • noun
  • /pəˈlɛkənəs ˌɛrɪθrəˈrɪŋkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pelícano blanco
  • During migration, thousands of Pelecanus erythrorhynchos stop at inland lakes to feed and rest.

Examples

  • A group of Pelecanus erythrorhynchos soared gracefully above the lake, searching for fish.

  • The distinctive black flight feathers make Pelecanus erythrorhynchos easy to identify in the wild.

  • The Pelecanus erythrorhynchos is often seen gliding over lakes.

  • Have you ever spotted a Pelecanus erythrorhynchos in the wild?

  • A group of Pelecanus erythrorhynchos soared gracefully above the lake, searching for fish.

  • During migration, thousands of Pelecanus erythrorhynchos stop at inland lakes to feed and rest.

  • The distinctive black flight feathers make Pelecanus erythrorhynchos easy to identify in the wild.

Synonyms

pelican
vsPelecanus erythrorhynchos
23 2.4

A large water bird with a long beak and a pouch for catching fish

is specific to one North American species with white plumage and black wing feathers
white pelican
vsPelecanus erythrorhynchos
  • US
1 3.2

A very large white water bird that has black wing tips and a long beak

is the formal scientific name for that exact species
Pelecanus
vsPelecanus erythrorhynchos
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of large water birds with long beaks and a throat pouch

is narrower naming one specific North American species rather than the genus

Surface Forms

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos singular
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos plural

Morphology

Pelecanus + erythrorhynchos

The first constituent 'Pelecanus' clearly signals a pelican genus, so a learner who knows that can infer the MWE refers to a type of pelican. However, 'erythrorhynchos' has no dictionary entry here and contains specialized Greek/Latin roots that a B1 learner is unlikely to know, so the specific descriptive meaning of the species name is not derivable without specialist knowledge.

Etymology

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos comes from old Greek words: Pelecanus means 'pelican' and erythrorhynchos means 'red beak'. The second part points to the bird's orange-red bill in breeding season, so the name helps you remember this American white pelican.