When do pelicans leave Tennessee?

Most American White Pelicans have left Tennessee by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early April.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Tennessee?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in early December, on about 3.6% of Tennessee checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Tennessee?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans are winter birds in Tennessee: they arrive in late September, peak in early December (3.6% of checklists), and most are gone by late March. They are the only regular pelicans in Tennessee.

When to look

First arrivalsSep 22-30late September

Common bySep 22-30late September

PeakDec 1-7early December

Most gone byMar 22-31late March

Best: early December. First arrivals late September; most are gone by late March. Peak: on about 3.6% of Tennessee checklists.

Jancommon
Febcommon
Marcommon
Apruncommon
Mayrare
Junrare
Juluncommon
Auguncommon
Sepuncommon
Octpeak season
Novpeak season
Decpeak season

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

Pelicans in Tennessee, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Sep 22-30	Sep 22-30	Dec 1-7	Mar 22-31	3.6%

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Houston CountyBest the second week of November · 21 checklists that week, 1,234 in all87%
Humphreys CountyBest late October · 233 checklists that week, 5,858 in all54%
Lake CountyBest late October · 123 checklists that week, 5,235 in all53%
Benton CountyBest late October · 87 checklists that week, 2,202 in all53%
Henry CountyBest early November · 147 checklists that week, 5,668 in all45%
Meigs CountyBest late November · 166 checklists that week, 4,866 in all41%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Tennessee?: American White Pelicans are winter birds in Tennessee: they arrive in late September, peak in early December (3.6% of checklists), and most are gone by late March. They are the only regular pelicans in Tennessee.
When do pelicans leave Tennessee?: Most American White Pelicans have left Tennessee by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early April.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Tennessee?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in early December, on about 3.6% of Tennessee checklists.