WhenToBird

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Kentucky?

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

American White Pelicans are winter birds in Kentucky: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in mid November (2.4% of checklists), and most are gone by early May. They are the only regular pelicans in Kentucky.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 8-14the second week of September
Common bySep 8-14the second week of September
PeakNov 15-21mid November
Most gone byMay 1-7early May

Best: mid November. First arrivals the second week of September; most are gone by early May. Peak: on about 2.4% of Kentucky checklists.

  1. Janpeak season
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Mayuncommon
  6. Junrare
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novpeak season
  12. Deccommon

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

Pelicans in Kentucky, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American White PelicanSep 8-14Sep 8-14Nov 15-21May 1-72.4%
0%1%2%3%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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Livingston CountyBest early January · 28 checklists that week, 1,092 in all63%
  2. Lyon CountyBest late November · 37 checklists that week, 2,125 in all53%
  3. Trigg CountyBest late November · 34 checklists that week, 2,683 in all35%
  4. Calloway CountyBest the second week of November · 23 checklists that week, 2,825 in all32%
  5. Marshall CountyBest mid November · 95 checklists that week, 7,392 in all29%
  6. Gallatin CountyBest late March · 11 checklists that week, 470 in all22%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Kentucky?
American White Pelicans are winter birds in Kentucky: they arrive in the second week of September, peak in mid November (2.4% of checklists), and most are gone by early May. They are the only regular pelicans in Kentucky.
When do pelicans leave Kentucky?
Most American White Pelicans have left Kentucky by early May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Kentucky?
The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid November, on about 2.4% of Kentucky checklists.