When do pelicans leave Wyoming?

Most American White Pelicans have left Wyoming by early October, 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 Wyoming?

The American White Pelican is reported most often in late April, on about 9.6% of Wyoming checklists.

American White Pelican · Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

When Do Pelicans Arrive in Wyoming?

Photo: Craig K, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

American White Pelicans reach Wyoming in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in late April (9.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular pelicans in Wyoming.

When to look

First arrivalsMar 15-21mid March

Common byApr 8-14the second week of April

PeakApr 22-30late April

Most gone byOct 1-7early October

Best: late April. First arrivals mid March; most are gone by early October. Peak: on about 9.6% of Wyoming checklists.

Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Maruncommon
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Junpeak season
Julpeak season
Augpeak season
Seppeak season
Octcommon
Novrare
Decnot usually seen

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

Pelicans in Wyoming, species by species

Species	First arrivals	Common by	Peak	Most gone by	Peak %
American White Pelican	Mar 15-21	Apr 8-14	Apr 22-30	Oct 1-7	9.6%

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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming

Best counties for American White Pelican

Share of checklists at the peak

Natrona CountyBest the second week of August · 135 checklists that week, 5,810 in all36%
Platte CountyBest the second week of September · 19 checklists that week, 1,645 in all32%
Goshen CountyBest the second week of September · 27 checklists that week, 1,920 in all25%
Lincoln CountyBest mid April · 31 checklists that week, 3,169 in all23%
Carbon CountyBest the second week of November · 42 checklists that week, 6,429 in all23%
Uinta CountyBest the second week of June · 73 checklists that week, 1,881 in all21%

Common questions

When do pelicans arrive in Wyoming?: American White Pelicans reach Wyoming in mid March, are common by the second week of April, peak in late April (9.6% of checklists), and most are gone by early October. They are the only regular pelicans in Wyoming.
When do pelicans leave Wyoming?: Most American White Pelicans have left Wyoming by early October, 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 Wyoming?: The American White Pelican is reported most often in late April, on about 9.6% of Wyoming checklists.