When do pelicans leave South Dakota?

Most American White Pelicans have left South Dakota by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.

When is the best time to see pelicans in South Dakota?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid April, on about 12% of South Dakota checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in South Dakota?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans reach South Dakota in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid April (12% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular pelicans in South Dakota.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byMar 22-31late March

PeakApr 15-21mid April

Most gone byOct 15-21mid October

Best: mid April. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by mid October. Peak: on about 12% of South Dakota checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Juncommon
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octcommon
Novuncommon
Decrare

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

Pelicans in South Dakota, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Mar 15-21	Mar 22-31	Apr 15-21	Oct 15-21	12%

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 South 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 South Dakota

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Day CountyBest the second week of June · 23 checklists that week, 794 in all77%
Hamlin CountyBest late May · 13 checklists that week, 314 in all70%
Kingsbury CountyBest late May · 12 checklists that week, 300 in all56%
Lake CountyBest mid August · 14 checklists that week, 653 in all53%
Aurora CountyBest mid August · 11 checklists that week, 348 in all44%
Edmunds CountyBest late June · 13 checklists that week, 466 in all43%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in South Dakota?: American White Pelicans reach South Dakota in mid March, are common by late March, peak in mid April (12% of checklists), and most are gone by mid October. They are the only regular pelicans in South Dakota.
When do pelicans leave South Dakota?: Most American White Pelicans have left South Dakota by mid October, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until late November.
When is the best time to see pelicans in South Dakota?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in mid April, on about 12% of South Dakota checklists.