When do pelicans leave Maryland?

Most Brown Pelicans have left Maryland by early December, when reports fall below half their usual rate.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Maryland?

The Brown Pelican is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 2.7% of Maryland checklists.

Brown Pelican · Pelecanus occidentalis

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Maryland?

Photo: Henrik Kibak, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Brown Pelicans arrive in Maryland in mid May, peak in the second week of August (2.7% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular pelicans in Maryland.

When to look

First arrivalsMay 15-21mid May

Common byMay 15-21mid May

PeakAug 8-14the second week of August

Most gone byDec 1-7early December

Best: the second week of August. First arrivals mid May; most are gone by early December. Peak: on about 2.7% of Maryland checklists.

Janrare
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Apruncommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decuncommon

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

Pelicans in Maryland, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Brown Pelican	May 15-21	May 15-21	Aug 8-14	Dec 1-7	2.7%

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 Maryland 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 Maryland

Best counties for Brown Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Worcester CountyBest the second week of August · 619 checklists that week, 44,596 in all44%
St. Mary's CountyBest early November · 257 checklists that week, 20,572 in all25%
Somerset CountyBest mid July · 80 checklists that week, 9,451 in all17%
Queen Anne's CountyBest late July · 562 checklists that week, 26,875 in all7.5%
Dorchester CountyBest the second week of September · 337 checklists that week, 26,161 in all6.2%
Calvert CountyBest mid November · 634 checklists that week, 43,807 in all4.9%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Maryland?: Brown Pelicans arrive in Maryland in mid May, peak in the second week of August (2.7% of checklists), and most are gone by early December. They are the only regular pelicans in Maryland.
When do pelicans leave Maryland?: Most Brown Pelicans have left Maryland by early December, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Maryland?: The Brown Pelican is reported most often in the second week of August, on about 2.7% of Maryland checklists.