WhenToBird

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Ohio?

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

American White Pelicans mostly pass through Ohio: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (4.5% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular pelicans in Ohio.

When to look

First arrivalsApr 15-21mid April
Common byApr 22-30late April
PeakMay 8-14the second week of May
Most gone byMay 22-31late May

Best: the second week of May. First arrivals mid April; most are gone by late May. Peak: on about 4.5% of Ohio checklists.

  1. Jannot usually seen
  2. Febrare
  3. Maruncommon
  4. Aprcommon
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Jununcommon
  7. Julrare
  8. Augrare
  9. Sepuncommon
  10. Octuncommon
  11. Novrare
  12. Decnot usually seen

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

Pelicans in Ohio, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
American White PelicanApr 15-21Apr 22-30May 8-14May 22-314.5%
0%2%4%6%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 Ohio 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 Ohio

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Mercer CountyBest mid September · 25 checklists that week, 2,091 in all43%
  2. Auglaize CountyBest early April · 50 checklists that week, 2,068 in all18%
  3. Shelby CountyBest early April · 41 checklists that week, 1,659 in all15%
  4. Lucas CountyBest mid May · 16140 checklists that week, 152,906 in all13%
  5. Sandusky CountyBest early June · 227 checklists that week, 14,537 in all11%
  6. Clark CountyBest mid March · 353 checklists that week, 14,637 in all9.9%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Ohio?
American White Pelicans mostly pass through Ohio: the first show up in mid April, they are common by late April, peak in the second week of May (4.5% of checklists), and most are gone by late May. They are the only regular pelicans in Ohio.
When do pelicans leave Ohio?
Most American White Pelicans have left Ohio by late May, when reports fall below half their usual rate.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Ohio?
The American White Pelican is reported most often in the second week of May, on about 4.5% of Ohio checklists.