The name covers several large fish-eating seabirds: in older literature
塘鹅 often means pelican, but in modern ornithology it's also used for gannets (
鲣鸟 jiānniǎo) and boobies. The standard modern term for pelican is
鹈鹕 (tíhú);
塘鹅 is more colloquial and regional.