Common Name: Brown Pelican, Eastern Brown Pelican
Scientific Name: Pelecanus occidentalis

Year Adopted as State Bird: 1958
Range in State: Year-round along the Gulf Coast
Shared With Other States: None

Though officially designated as the state bird in 1958, the initial designation only specified the pelican as Louisiana's state bird, so the legislature amended the designation in 1966 to clarify that the brown pelican was the official symbol, thus avoiding any confusion with the American white pelican, which is also found in Louisiana in winter.

In 2013, the NBA team in New Orleans was renamed to the Pelicans in honor of this amazing aquatic bird.

Photo – Brown Pelican © cuatrok77