When do pelicans leave Iowa?

American White Pelicans never fully leave Iowa: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late April, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.6% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Iowa?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 16% of Iowa checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Iowa?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans are in Iowa all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in the second week of April (16% of checklists), and fall back by late April. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 2.6% of checklists. They are the only regular pelicans in Iowa.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 15-21mid March

PeakApr 8-14the second week of April

Fall back byApr 22-30late April

FewestFeb 8-14the second week of February

Best: the second week of April. Here all year; numbers build from mid March and fall back by late April. Peak: on about 16% of Iowa checklists.

Januncommon
Febuncommon
Marpeak season
Aprpeak season
Maycommon
Jununcommon
Julcommon
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Deccommon

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

Pelicans in Iowa, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Mar 15-21	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	Apr 22-30	16%

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 Iowa 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 Iowa

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Marion CountyBest late September · 93 checklists that week, 3,389 in all63%
Kossuth CountyBest late August · 13 checklists that week, 628 in all63%
Jackson CountyBest mid April · 59 checklists that week, 1,765 in all56%
Louisa CountyBest mid April · 53 checklists that week, 1,639 in all49%
Clinton CountyBest the second week of July · 13 checklists that week, 1,160 in all49%
Mahaska CountyBest late September · 24 checklists that week, 912 in all48%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Iowa?: American White Pelicans are in Iowa all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from mid March, peak in the second week of April (16% of checklists), and fall back by late April. In the quietest week (the second week of February) they are still on about 2.6% of checklists. They are the only regular pelicans in Iowa.
When do pelicans leave Iowa?: American White Pelicans never fully leave Iowa: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by late April, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.6% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Iowa?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in the second week of April, on about 16% of Iowa checklists.