When do pelicans leave Nevada?

American White Pelicans never fully leave Nevada: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.8% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Nevada?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid August, on about 7.6% of Nevada checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Nevada?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans are in Nevada all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of July, peak in mid August (7.6% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (the second week of December) they are still on about 2.8% of checklists. They are the only regular pelicans in Nevada.

When to look

Numbers buildJul 8-14the second week of July

PeakAug 15-21mid August

Fall back bySep 15-21mid September

FewestDec 8-14the second week of December

Best: mid August. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of July and fall back by mid September. Peak: on about 7.6% of Nevada checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novcommon
Deccommon

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

Pelicans in Nevada, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Jul 8-14	Jul 8-14	Aug 15-21	Sep 15-21	7.6%

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 Nevada 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 Nevada

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Churchill CountyBest early September · 59 checklists that week, 3,104 in all42%
Lyon CountyBest early September · 67 checklists that week, 3,229 in all33%
Pershing CountyBest early August · 18 checklists that week, 1,407 in all23%
Lincoln CountyBest early April · 98 checklists that week, 3,842 in all19%
Washoe CountyBest early August · 646 checklists that week, 53,497 in all18%
Storey CountyBest late June · 22 checklists that week, 1,593 in all16%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Nevada?: American White Pelicans are in Nevada all year, but most are here in summer: numbers build from the second week of July, peak in mid August (7.6% of checklists), and fall back by mid September. In the quietest week (the second week of December) they are still on about 2.8% of checklists. They are the only regular pelicans in Nevada.
When do pelicans leave Nevada?: American White Pelicans never fully leave Nevada: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid September, but some are still reported in every week, about 2.8% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Nevada?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid August, on about 7.6% of Nevada checklists.