WhenToBird

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Colorado?

Adult American White Pelican
Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans reach Colorado in early March, are common by late March, peak in late April (15% of checklists), and most are gone by mid November. They are the only regular pelicans in Colorado.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 1-7early March
Common byMar 22-31late March
PeakApr 22-30late April
Most gone byNov 15-21mid November

Best: late April. First arrivals early March; most are gone by mid November. Peak: on about 15% of Colorado checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julcommon
  8. Augcommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Decuncommon

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

Pelicans in Colorado, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American White PelicanMar 1-7Mar 22-31Apr 22-30Nov 15-2115%
0%5%10%15%20%American White PelicanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Colorado 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 Colorado

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Washington CountyBest late July · 58 checklists that week, 2,511 in all71%
  2. Morgan CountyBest late September · 179 checklists that week, 5,181 in all55%
  3. Broomfield CountyBest late August · 646 checklists that week, 16,139 in all48%
  4. Sedgwick CountyBest mid September · 38 checklists that week, 1,168 in all46%
  5. Kiowa CountyBest the second week of July · 52 checklists that week, 3,854 in all46%
  6. Logan CountyBest late September · 52 checklists that week, 4,117 in all46%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Colorado?
American White Pelicans reach Colorado in early March, are common by late March, peak in late April (15% of checklists), and most are gone by mid November. They are the only regular pelicans in Colorado.
When do pelicans leave Colorado?
Most American White Pelicans have left Colorado by mid November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of December.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Colorado?
The American White Pelican is reported most often in late April, on about 15% of Colorado checklists.