WhenToBird

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in North Dakota?

Adult American White Pelican
Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans reach North Dakota in early April, are common by mid April, peak in mid June (16% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular pelicans in North Dakota.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 1-7early April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakJun 15-21mid June
Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: mid June. First arrivals early April; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 16% of North Dakota checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febnot usually seen
  3. Marnot usually seen
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Junpeak season
  7. Julpeak season
  8. Augpeak season
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Pelicans in North Dakota, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American White PelicanApr 1-7Apr 15-21Jun 15-21Oct 1-716%
0%5%10%15%20%American White PelicanJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • 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 Dakota 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 Dakota

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Logan CountyBest mid May · 42 checklists that week, 443 in all56%
  2. Dickey CountyBest mid July · 14 checklists that week, 360 in all55%
  3. Sargent CountyBest the second week of August · 22 checklists that week, 894 in all55%
  4. Griggs CountyBest early August · 11 checklists that week, 372 in all55%
  5. Dunn CountyBest mid August · 18 checklists that week, 661 in all45%
  6. Hettinger CountyBest early October · 10 checklists that week, 400 in all45%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in North Dakota?
American White Pelicans reach North Dakota in early April, are common by mid April, peak in mid June (16% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular pelicans in North Dakota.
When do pelicans leave North Dakota?
Most American White Pelicans have left North Dakota by early October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early November.
When is the best time to see pelicans in North Dakota?
The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid June, on about 16% of North Dakota checklists.