When do pelicans leave Wisconsin?

Most American White Pelicans have left Wisconsin by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.

When is the best time to see pelicans in Wisconsin?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in early May, on about 8.6% of Wisconsin checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Wisconsin?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans reach Wisconsin in mid March, are common by early April, peak in early May (8.6% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular pelicans in Wisconsin.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byApr 1-7early April

PeakMay 1-7early May

Most gone bySep 15-21mid September

Best: early May. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by mid September. Peak: on about 8.6% of Wisconsin checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Sepcommon
Octuncommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

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

Pelicans in Wisconsin, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Mar 15-21	Apr 1-7	May 1-7	Sep 15-21	8.6%

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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Dodge CountyBest the second week of August · 811 checklists that week, 34,980 in all48%
Brown CountyBest the second week of May · 1683 checklists that week, 36,306 in all46%
Trempealeau CountyBest the second week of October · 135 checklists that week, 6,201 in all40%
Pepin CountyBest the second week of September · 16 checklists that week, 929 in all37%
Winnebago CountyBest late April · 941 checklists that week, 26,460 in all36%
Calumet CountyBest the second week of May · 959 checklists that week, 12,359 in all31%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Wisconsin?: American White Pelicans reach Wisconsin in mid March, are common by early April, peak in early May (8.6% of checklists), and most are gone by mid September. They are the only regular pelicans in Wisconsin.
When do pelicans leave Wisconsin?: Most American White Pelicans have left Wisconsin by mid September, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until the second week of November.
When is the best time to see pelicans in Wisconsin?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in early May, on about 8.6% of Wisconsin checklists.