When do pelicans leave Mississippi?

The Brown Pelican does not leave Mississippi: it is reported all year, from 8.5% of checklists in the second week of June to 18% in mid January.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Mississippi?

The Brown Pelican is reported most often in mid January, on about 18% of Mississippi checklists.

Which pelicans are in Mississippi?

Brown Pelican and American White Pelican are reported regularly; the Brown Pelican is the most common.

2 pelican species in Mississippi

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Mississippi?

Photo: Henrik Kibak, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Brown Pelicans and American White Pelicans are the pelicans you are most likely to see in Mississippi. The Brown Pelican is in Mississippi all year. It turns up on about 18% of checklists at its peak (mid January) and on 8.5% in its quietest week (the second week of June).

When to look

PresentAll year

Peak weekJan 15-21mid January

Quietest weekJun 8-14the second week of June

Best: mid January. Here all year. Peak: on about 18% of Mississippi checklists.

Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julcommon
Augcommon
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novcommon
Decpeak season

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

Pelicans in Mississippi, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Brown Pelican	all year	–	Jan 15-21	–	18%
American White Pelican	Jun 15-21	Jul 1-7	Nov 22-30	May 8-14	7.4%

Brown Pelican
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi

Best counties for Brown Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Harrison CountyBest mid December · 354 checklists that week, 22,824 in all47%
Hancock CountyBest late January · 251 checklists that week, 7,194 in all42%
Jackson CountyBest mid January · 817 checklists that week, 36,440 in all35%
Panola CountyBest mid March · 26 checklists that week, 1,311 in all15%
Lowndes CountyBest the second week of May · 184 checklists that week, 7,795 in all1.3%
Madison CountyBest the second week of August · 62 checklists that week, 6,285 in all1.2%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Mississippi?: The Brown Pelican is in Mississippi all year. It turns up on about 18% of checklists at its peak (mid January) and on 8.5% in its quietest week (the second week of June).
When do pelicans leave Mississippi?: The Brown Pelican does not leave Mississippi: it is reported all year, from 8.5% of checklists in the second week of June to 18% in mid January.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Mississippi?: The Brown Pelican is reported most often in mid January, on about 18% of Mississippi checklists.
Which pelicans are in Mississippi?: Brown Pelican and American White Pelican are reported regularly; the Brown Pelican is the most common.