WhenToBird

Brown Pelican · Pelecanus occidentalis

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Delaware?

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

Brown Pelicans reach Delaware in the second week of May, are common by late May, peak in mid July (8.5% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular pelicans in Delaware.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 8-14the second week of May
Common byMay 22-31late May
PeakJul 15-21mid July
Most gone byNov 8-14the second week of November

Best: mid July. First arrivals the second week of May; most are gone by the second week of November. Peak: on about 8.5% of Delaware checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marrare
  4. Aprrare
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Juncommon
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novuncommon
  12. Decrare

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

Pelicans in Delaware, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Brown PelicanMay 8-14May 22-31Jul 15-21Nov 8-148.5%
0%5%10%Brown PelicanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Brown 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 Delaware 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 Delaware

Best counties for Brown Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Sussex CountyBest mid July · 1282 checklists that week, 91,027 in all18%
  2. Kent CountyBest late July · 913 checklists that week, 36,693 in all1.0%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Delaware?
Brown Pelicans reach Delaware in the second week of May, are common by late May, peak in mid July (8.5% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of November. They are the only regular pelicans in Delaware.
When do pelicans leave Delaware?
Most Brown Pelicans have left Delaware by the second week of November, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Delaware?
The Brown Pelican is reported most often in mid July, on about 8.5% of Delaware checklists.