Name: American white pelican
Species: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Popular and common variants / subspecies / other names: Brown pelican
Geographic distribution: The American white pelican is found in central Canada, the central and western United States, and Mexico. Species of pelicans are found on all continents except Antarctica.
Environment: Pelicans live by inland and coastal bodies of water.
Physical description: Large water birds with long, pouched bills, pelicans measure an average of 60 inches long; the beak alone measures approximately 12 inches. A pelican’s wingspan averages about 105 inches, and the birds weigh an average of 15.5 pounds. These birds have short legs and tails, and webbed feet.
Interesting facts: Pelicans live in colonies and are social birds. In fact, white pelicans often fish in groups, cooperating by herding a school of fish into one area and then catching their food together. The pelican scoops water and its prey up together in its bill, but must drain the throat pouch before swallowing the fish. The American white pelican catches its food while swimming, but some other pelican species dive for fish.
Myths, folklore, and cultural associations: Pelican hatchlings were once thought to wound their mother’s breast then drink blood from it, possibly a misunderstanding of the chick’s action of throwing itself against the pouch to push the food up past the mother’s bill. This led to the Christian use of the pelican as a symbol of atonement and self-sacrifice. Folklore once said that pelicans killed their young, then brought them back to life with the blood fed to them, and thus the pelican was also used as a symbol of resurrection. The pelican can also stand as a symbol of Christ, whom Christians believe shed his blood and sacrificed himself to redeem humankind, and was then resurrected. Due to their tendency to nest in colonies, pelicans have been considered symbols of good parenting.
The pelican was representative of the fourth of the five stages of alchemy, an ancient science of transmutation of basic elements into gold and to discover the secret of eternal life (an allegory of refining the self and spirit to attain perfection). Again, it is the legend of piercing its own breast to feed its young that sources this association. In the fourth stage of the alchemical process, the practitioner must delve inward to forge a connection with his own soul and spiritual energy, figuratively breaking himself open in order to allow the newly refined spiritual self to emerge.
Because of these associations, the pelican is connected more broadly with spiritual growth and devotion in general than with earthly matters.
Omens and divinatory meaning: The pelican reminds you of many things, among them the need to give selflessly to others. Have you been miserly lately? Have you been jealously hoarding your time, your energy, or your resources when people around you desperately need them? The pelican teaches you that sharing can enrich you instead of making you the poorer for your action.
The pelican also encourages you to examine your parenting style. Are you giving too much of yourself? Not giving enough? Symbolically sacrificing yourself for your children also denies you your right to have a life of your own. On the other hand, withholding too much from children can deprive them of the structure and support they need to grow. Balance is the key to a strong, healthy relationship between parent and child. If you do not have children, look at your relationships with your pets or close friends.
Associated energies: Devotion, self-sacrifice, charity, strong parenting
Associated seasons: Spring, summer, fall
Element associations: Air, water
Color associations: White, brown, black, yellow