Bird Word: Aberrant

Aberrant: something that is unusual or abnormal

A bird that is aberrant is one that is unusual or abnormal, one that has strayed from its normal range or habitat.

If a Pelican landed in my swimming pool I would say this is rather unusual, though I have had a Little Pied Cormorant and a White Faced Heron investigate the pool and check it out for frogs and fish.

Frogs, yes, fish, no. That was also somewhat aberrant behaviour. On the part of the birds, not the frogs.

For more in these series of articles check out the Glossary of Birding Words.

Australian Pelican