Pelican

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(axe-bill). A voracious water-bird, large and strong-billed. The female is supplied with a pouch for supplying itself and young with water and food. Symbol of desolation. Original sometimes translated “cormorant” (Lev. 11:18¹⁸And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, (Leviticus 11:18); Deut. 14:17¹⁷And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, (Deuteronomy 14:17); Psa. 102:6⁶I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. (Psalm 102:6); Isa. 34:11¹¹But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. (Isaiah 34:11)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

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Pelecanus Crispus

The Hebrew word is qaath, and this is said to be derived from a verb signifying “to vomit.” The pelican has a peculiar habit in feeding its young that seems to have suggested this name. It goes into the sea and catches a number of fishes which it stows away in its lower beak, the underside of which is capable of being distended like a large pouch. Then it flies away inland with its burden, for which purpose it is provided with enormous wings. On the land it presses its beak against its breast, and the fish are thrown out for the young birds.

The Psalmist said, “I am like a pelican of the wilderness,” which refers to the bird sitting solitary for hours as it digests its stock of fish. It was an unclean bird (Lev. 11:18¹⁸And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, (Leviticus 11:18); Deut. 14:17¹⁷And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, (Deuteronomy 14:17); Psa. 102:6⁶I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. (Psalm 102:6)). In two other passages the same Hebrew word is in the AV translated “CORMORANT,” where it should be “pelican” (Isa. 34:11¹¹But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. (Isaiah 34:11); Zeph. 2:14¹⁴And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. (Zephaniah 2:14)). The Pelicanus graculus and the P. crispus are known in Palestine.

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Pelicans in Sengal