When do pelicans leave Arkansas?

Most American White Pelicans have left Arkansas by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Arkansas?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 6.6% of Arkansas checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Arkansas?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans are winter birds in Arkansas: the first arrive in mid July, they are common by mid August, peak in the second week of November (6.6% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular pelicans in Arkansas.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 15-21mid July

Common byAug 15-21mid August

PeakNov 8-14the second week of November

Most gone byApr 8-14the second week of April

Best: the second week of November. First arrivals mid July; most are gone by the second week of April. Peak: on about 6.6% of Arkansas checklists.

Janpeak season
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Mayrare
Junrare
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Pelicans in Arkansas, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Jul 15-21	Aug 15-21	Nov 8-14	Apr 8-14	6.6%

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Yell CountyBest the second week of December · 27 checklists that week, 2,585 in all65%
Hempstead CountyBest the second week of January · 14 checklists that week, 827 in all48%
Chicot CountyBest mid February · 11 checklists that week, 348 in all46%
Jackson CountyBest the second week of October · 14 checklists that week, 386 in all40%
Jefferson CountyBest the second week of December · 222 checklists that week, 11,132 in all36%
Lafayette CountyBest late October · 13 checklists that week, 352 in all32%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Arkansas?: American White Pelicans are winter birds in Arkansas: the first arrive in mid July, they are common by mid August, peak in the second week of November (6.6% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of April. They are the only regular pelicans in Arkansas.
When do pelicans leave Arkansas?: Most American White Pelicans have left Arkansas by the second week of April, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late April.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Arkansas?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in the second week of November, on about 6.6% of Arkansas checklists.