When do pelicans leave Arizona?

Most American White Pelicans have left Arizona by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late March.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Arizona?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in late November, on about 3.3% of Arizona checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Arizona?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans are winter birds in Arizona: they arrive in early October, peak in late November (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March. They are the only regular pelicans in Arizona.

When to look

First arrivalsOct 1-7early October

Common byOct 1-7early October

PeakNov 22-30late November

Most gone byMar 15-21mid March

Best: late November. First arrivals early October; most are gone by mid March. Peak: on about 3.3% of Arizona checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Apruncommon
Mayrare
Junrare
Julrare
Augrare
Sepuncommon
Octcommon
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Pelicans in Arizona, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Nov 22-30	Mar 15-21	3.3%

American White Pelican

Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Arizona that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Arizona

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Gila CountyBest the second week of March · 292 checklists that week, 14,834 in all11%
Yuma CountyBest late January · 581 checklists that week, 14,687 in all11%
Maricopa CountyBest late November · 7764 checklists that week, 269,896 in all9.9%
La Paz CountyBest the second week of February · 255 checklists that week, 7,279 in all9.1%
Mohave CountyBest mid December · 341 checklists that week, 18,083 in all7.9%
Graham CountyBest the second week of April · 205 checklists that week, 9,876 in all7.2%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Arizona?: American White Pelicans are winter birds in Arizona: they arrive in early October, peak in late November (3.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid March. They are the only regular pelicans in Arizona.
When do pelicans leave Arizona?: Most American White Pelicans have left Arizona by mid March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late March.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Arizona?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in late November, on about 3.3% of Arizona checklists.