WhenToBird

2 pelican species in California

When Do Pelicans Arrive in California?

Adult male Brown Pelican
Photo: Henrik Kibak, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Brown Pelicans and American White Pelicans are the pelicans you are most likely to see in California. Brown Pelicans are in California all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from early July, peak in mid August (16% of checklists), and fall back by early December. In the quietest week (late March) they are still on about 4.3% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildJul 1-7early July
PeakAug 15-21mid August
Fall back byDec 1-7early December
FewestMar 22-31late March

Best: mid August. Here all year; numbers build from early July and fall back by early December. Peak: on about 16% of California checklists.

  1. Jancommon
  2. Febuncommon
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Apruncommon
  5. Maycommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Seppeak season
  10. Octpeak season
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Pelicans in California, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Brown PelicanJul 1-7Jul 1-7Aug 15-21Dec 1-716%
American White Pelicanall year–Nov 15-21–6.5%
0%5%10%15%20%Brown PelicanAmerican White PelicanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Brown Pelican
  • 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 California 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 California

Best counties for Brown Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Monterey CountyBest mid November · 2987 checklists that week, 132,505 in all50%
  2. Del Norte CountyBest early September · 426 checklists that week, 16,363 in all39%
  3. San Francisco CountyBest mid July · 2042 checklists that week, 130,018 in all38%
  4. San Luis Obispo CountyBest the second week of August · 2076 checklists that week, 124,667 in all34%
  5. Humboldt CountyBest the second week of August · 1460 checklists that week, 95,963 in all33%
  6. San Mateo CountyBest late August · 3373 checklists that week, 148,781 in all33%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in California?
Brown Pelicans are in California all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from early July, peak in mid August (16% of checklists), and fall back by early December. In the quietest week (late March) they are still on about 4.3% of checklists.
When do pelicans leave California?
Brown Pelicans never fully leave California: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early December, but some are still reported in every week, about 4.3% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see pelicans in California?
The Brown Pelican is reported most often in mid August, on about 16% of California checklists.
Which pelicans are in California?
Brown Pelican and American White Pelican are reported regularly; the Brown Pelican is the most common.