When do pelicans leave New Mexico?

Most American White Pelicans have left New Mexico by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.

When is the best time to see pelicans in New Mexico?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in early October, on about 2.1% of New Mexico checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in New Mexico?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans are winter birds in New Mexico: they arrive in the second week of July, peak in early October (2.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular pelicans in New Mexico.

When to look

First arrivalsJul 8-14the second week of July

Common byJul 8-14the second week of July

PeakOct 1-7early October

Most gone byMay 8-14the second week of May

Best: early October. First arrivals the second week of July; most are gone by the second week of May. Peak: on about 2.1% of New Mexico checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Mayuncommon
Jununcommon
Juluncommon
Augcommon
Seppeak season
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Deccommon

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

Pelicans in New Mexico, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Jul 8-14	Jul 8-14	Oct 1-7	May 8-14	2.1%

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 New Mexico 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 New Mexico

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Colfax CountyBest the second week of September · 154 checklists that week, 8,053 in all28%
De Baca CountyBest the second week of October · 65 checklists that week, 2,203 in all23%
Eddy CountyBest the second week of January · 238 checklists that week, 11,011 in all20%
Sierra CountyBest mid October · 254 checklists that week, 13,458 in all18%
Socorro CountyBest late September · 528 checklists that week, 33,508 in all12%
Chaves CountyBest the second week of September · 93 checklists that week, 5,298 in all11%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in New Mexico?: American White Pelicans are winter birds in New Mexico: they arrive in the second week of July, peak in early October (2.1% of checklists), and most are gone by the second week of May. They are the only regular pelicans in New Mexico.
When do pelicans leave New Mexico?: Most American White Pelicans have left New Mexico by the second week of May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see pelicans in New Mexico?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in early October, on about 2.1% of New Mexico checklists.