When do pelicans leave North Carolina?

Brown Pelicans never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early December, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.

When is the best time to see pelicans in North Carolina?

The Brown Pelican is reported most often in late October, on about 8.3% of North Carolina checklists.

Which pelicans are in North Carolina?

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

2 pelican species in North Carolina

When Do Pelicans Arrive in North Carolina?

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 North Carolina. Brown Pelicans are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from early October, peak in late October (8.3% of checklists), and fall back by early December. In the quietest week (early May) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists.

When to look

Numbers buildOct 1-7early October

PeakOct 22-31late October

Fall back byDec 1-7early December

FewestMay 1-7early May

Best: late October. Here all year; numbers build from early October and fall back by early December. Peak: on about 8.3% of North Carolina checklists.

Janpeak season
Febcommon
Marcommon
Aprcommon
Maycommon
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Pelicans in North Carolina, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
Brown Pelican	Oct 1-7	Oct 1-7	Oct 22-31	Dec 1-7	8.3%
American White Pelican	Oct 8-14	Oct 8-14	Oct 22-31	Mar 1-7	1.9%

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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Best counties for Brown Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Carteret CountyBest late October · 661 checklists that week, 27,746 in all54%
Dare CountyBest late August · 2135 checklists that week, 83,121 in all47%
Hyde CountyBest late September · 134 checklists that week, 8,350 in all44%
New Hanover CountyBest mid December · 621 checklists that week, 33,362 in all42%
Brunswick CountyBest early August · 614 checklists that week, 29,668 in all40%
Onslow CountyBest early August · 114 checklists that week, 8,231 in all38%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in North Carolina?: Brown Pelicans are in North Carolina all year, but most are here in fall: numbers build from early October, peak in late October (8.3% of checklists), and fall back by early December. In the quietest week (early May) they are still on about 3.2% of checklists.
When do pelicans leave North Carolina?: Brown Pelicans never fully leave North Carolina: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by early December, but some are still reported in every week, about 3.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see pelicans in North Carolina?: The Brown Pelican is reported most often in late October, on about 8.3% of North Carolina checklists.
Which pelicans are in North Carolina?: Brown Pelican and American White Pelican are reported regularly; the Brown Pelican is the most common.