When do pelicans leave Montana?

Most American White Pelicans have left Montana by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Montana?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid August, on about 9.3% of Montana checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Montana?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans reach Montana in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid August (9.3% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular pelicans in Montana.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakAug 15-21mid August

Most gone byOct 8-14the second week of October

Best: mid August. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by the second week of October. Peak: on about 9.3% of Montana checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Pelicans in Montana, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	Aug 15-21	Oct 8-14	9.3%

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 Montana 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 Montana

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Broadwater CountyBest late August · 114 checklists that week, 2,470 in all53%
Teton CountyBest the second week of September · 59 checklists that week, 2,579 in all51%
Sheridan CountyBest early August · 19 checklists that week, 2,316 in all43%
Cascade CountyBest the second week of September · 344 checklists that week, 16,190 in all41%
McCone CountyBest late August · 15 checklists that week, 537 in all39%
Madison CountyBest mid April · 133 checklists that week, 7,008 in all36%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Montana?: American White Pelicans reach Montana in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in mid August (9.3% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of October. They are the only regular pelicans in Montana.
When do pelicans leave Montana?: Most American White Pelicans have left Montana by the second week of October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Montana?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid August, on about 9.3% of Montana checklists.