WhenToBird

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Minnesota?

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

American White Pelicans reach Minnesota in late March, are common by early April, peak in mid April (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular pelicans in Minnesota.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 22-31late March
Common byApr 1-7early April
PeakApr 15-21mid April
Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: mid April. First arrivals late March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 7.3% of Minnesota checklists.

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

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

Pelicans in Minnesota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American White PelicanMar 22-31Apr 1-7Apr 15-21Oct 15-217.3%
0%5%10%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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Grant CountyBest the second week of June · 70 checklists that week, 2,168 in all64%
  2. Big Stone CountyBest late July · 101 checklists that week, 2,678 in all58%
  3. Lac qui Parle CountyBest mid June · 53 checklists that week, 3,681 in all56%
  4. Le Sueur CountyBest mid August · 99 checklists that week, 5,034 in all53%
  5. Chippewa CountyBest the second week of August · 37 checklists that week, 1,298 in all49%
  6. Houston CountyBest early November · 96 checklists that week, 4,754 in all48%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Minnesota?
American White Pelicans reach Minnesota in late March, are common by early April, peak in mid April (7.3% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular pelicans in Minnesota.
When do pelicans leave Minnesota?
Most American White Pelicans have left Minnesota by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until mid November.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Minnesota?
The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid April, on about 7.3% of Minnesota checklists.