American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
5.6 kg
About This Species
Look for these large white pelicans with striking black wingtips, foraging cooperatively in coordinated groups on lakes and shallow wetlands, herding fish into shallow water rather than diving for them. Large soaring flocks riding thermals overhead are a dramatic sight during migration. Spring and fall migration periods, along with summer breeding colonies on inland lakes, offer the most reliable viewing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Keep at least 50 to 100 metres from breeding colonies, since these birds are highly sensitive to disturbance at nest sites and can abandon eggs or young if flushed repeatedly.
- Migratory bird protections apply across its North American range, with nesting colonies frequently given additional protected status, so treat colony sites as off-limits to close approach.
- Observe foraging or loafing groups away from colonies from a similar respectful distance using binoculars rather than approaching directly.
LCAvesPelecaniformesPelecanidae
Seasonal Activity
2,099,682 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Family
- Pelecanidae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 5.6 kg
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.