A single pelican is called…….
a pelican, of course.
A group of pelicans is called…….
A pod.*
Notice the cormorant to the right in the last photo. I think he’s hilarious. I guess he figures that if the pelicans find fish, he will too.
*A pod is the most commonly referenced collective noun. Do you know of any others? Respond in the comment section for bonus Saturday points!
And have a Happy Six Word Saturday.
Zebra's Child 
I seem to recall a group of Pelicans can be called a squadron. I can understand that having photographed them flying in formation.
love the idea of a squadron of them!
There’s probably another collective noun for a group of them fishing. If there isn’t there should be.
Ah – there isn’t but that is probably due to another interesting fact: White Pelicans fish like ducks – ducking down in the water to catch fish. But brown pelicans fly, glide, and then drop like a stone in a dive to catch fish. Stay tuned for amazing photos………. 🙂
I had forgotten about brown Pelicans diving into the water. I was thinking of a group of white Pelicans swimming along, fishing.
Well…… here’s a hint for another collective noun: how they fish.
I had already considered a Trawl of Pelicans and a Driftnet of Pelicans. But as you say, they only apply to American White Pelicans.
Hint: HOW do they catch the fish?
A Scoop of Pelicans?
Yes, it’s quite descriptive!
It makes sense, as they are quite hefty: 30 lbs with a 9 foot wing span!
Yes indeed! One of the additional collective nouns in squadron. One bonus point: 😀
That cormorant looks like a subversive (sic) submarine in the wake of the pod or squadron (as a German speaker, I am fascinated with English collective nouns).
He does – I hadn’t looked at him that way. Yes – German just keeps adding on clarifying descriptive words to the base word. Drove me crazy in trying to learn German for singing lieder. But very accurate. 😉 Do you know one of the collective nouns for peacocks? It’s “an ostentation of peacocks,” which is amazingly appropriate.
I like that. But I thought it was ‘a pride of peacocks’. Both seem to sum them up quite well!
“A pride of peacocks” is definitely more common, and certainly fits. But there is just something about “ostentation” that is perfect. I’ve had the chance to observe many, many peacocks. They are really quite stupid animals, (thus the term ‘pea brain’) but strut around as if they are the most important being in the world. Ostentation just seems to fit. They are, however, beautiful.
Do you have the book? I often use the collective nouns on my Portuguese blog, and they are so brilliant. Not come across a pod of pelicans yet though!
I used to have the book, but I don’t know if it survived the move. If not, I’ll have to order it again. It’s called “An Exultation of Larks,” which of course is the collective noun for larks. 🙂
Nice photos. The cormorants are comical to watch.
They are indeed, in all forms – swimming, sunning their wings to dry, just standing there in pairs or rows to dry off…….. all punctuated by their bring orange beaks.
I have a friend who is very clever at thinking up new, entirely plausible, and utterly hilarious collective nouns. It’s a skill I rather envy.
Please ask her to come up with an original one for pelicans. All the obvious ones are used already, although only “squadron” as been offered in the comments so far…….
YES! Another bonus point. 😀 Personally I like a Pod of Pelicans because of the alliteration, with squadron my second favorite. But scoop is one other. The next common collective noun is a reference to the unique bottom of a pelican’s bill………..?
I like ‘ a pod of pelican’. But I like ‘a convent of penguins’ even more!
Yes. I think a “colony of penguins” is the most common, but I also like “a tuxedo of penguins.” It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it is certainly descriptive!