American White Pelican
(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
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Size |
54″ to 60″ in length 108″ wingspan |
Voice |
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Similar Species |
Habitat |
Large, shallow bodies of water |
Ecology |
Migration |
Early April to early June and late August to mid-November |
Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
Occurrence |
Common migrant, uncommon breeder |
Maps |
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
Taxonomy |
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Class |
Aves (birds) |
Order |
Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons, ibises, and allies) |
Family |
Pelecanidae (pelicans) |
Genus |
Pelecanus (pelicans) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Pelecanus erythrorhynchus |
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Visitor Photos |
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Dan W. Andree |
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Trumpeter Swans, Geese and American White Pelican... A pretty calm scene. However a little later on when most were on shore preening and resting a large bobcat bolted out fast and furious in pursuit of the trumpeter swans. Things were no longer calm. Took place at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. |
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American White Pelican... This pelican was at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. 9-20-24. It was the only pelican. It is so light colored it almost looks albino but it has black outer wings but it has them folded under out of sight. First pelican I seen at that pond area. I believe it may be an American White Pelican. Seemed healthy it spent a lot of time preening, then went out in the pond and dunked its head and neck underwater feeding. Seemed to get along just fine with swans, geese and ducks etc. I decided to check the pond out one more time before Waterfowl Hunting Season opened up which it just did today. |
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American White Pelican Preening... It spent a lot of time preening or grooming its feathers. Can see a little of the black outer wing. A good sized and interesting bird. I haven’t seen one in my area before probably migrating. |
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Brian S |
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Nancy Falkum |
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New KWD sign w/ American Pelicans up high on the left. |
Blujean Clunis |
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| Large flock on a very windy day, maybe 200 |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Fishing |
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Norm & Peg Dibble |
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Great White Pelican migration over our house October 2015. Wish I had a bigger lens on at that time. I saw them coming from up north circling as they got closer and closer. I took many photos and films. We happened to see them a week or more earlier north of us on a small lake in Albertville and assumed it was probably the same flock. |
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Lynn Rubey |
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A breeding American White Pelican landing in waters near Madison, Mn. the black flight feathers ( black primary and secondary remiges) are visible when the wings are spread and in flight. |
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| A breeding American White Pelican, their breeding horn on their bill is shed after they have mated and laid their eggs. During breeding season the bill above and the throat sac below as well as the iris, the bare skin around the eye and the feet are a vivid orange color. |
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Christa Rittberg |
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Gerrene |
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I saw these birds on my lake for the first time. I finally figured out what they were and they are beautiful. I live in Rockford Township in MN on Lake Crawford. I hope they stay around. |
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Kirk Nelson |
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| Pelicans on Albert Lea Lake |
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Bill Reynolds |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
American White Pelican |
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American White Pelican |
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American White Pelican |
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About
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
Pelicans |
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Visitor Videos |
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Holly Potter |
American White Pellican 01 |
American White Pellican 02 |
Other Videos |
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The American White Pelican (Pelecanidae: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
About
Uploaded on Dec 25, 2009 A brief contemplative look at the American White Pelican, which is a species common to some large fresh water lakes and marshes in the upper midwest of the United States. Specimens shown here were photographed in North Dakota during the summer of 2009. |
White Pelicans at Ackerman Park - (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
About
Uploaded on Jan 21, 2012 White Pelicans at Ackerman Park - By: Mark H. Vance Be sure to check out of all Mark's bird videos on his channel page - http://www.youtube.com/markinsrq5 Please subscribe if you like birds, many more great videos to come! Thanks Mark Vance The Celery Fields - Sarasota, Florida Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/groups/218447... |
American White Pelicans (Pelecanidae: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on Parade |
About
Uploaded on Jul 23, 2009 Photographed at Kellys Slough NWR, North Dakota (23 July 2009). "A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill can hold more than his belly can..." --Dixon Lanier Merritt |
America White Pelicans |
About
Uploaded on Sep 26, 2009 A large squadron of migrating American White Pelicans over Heber Springs, AR was a beautiful sight. These seabirds grow to over 30 pounds and can have wing spans of over 9 feet. |
American white pelicans |
About
Uploaded on Apr 6, 2011 American white pelicans fish together to music of Tchaikovsky. Pelicans numbering in the hundreds are making a migratory stopover on Lake Springfield. |
Visitor Sightings |
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Dan W. Andree |
Location: Norman Co. Mn. This pelican was at a pond in Norman Co. Mn. 9-20-24. It was the only pelican. It is so light colored it almost looks albino but it has black outer wings but it has them folded under out of sight. |
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First pelican I seen at that pond area. I believe it may be an American White Pelican. Seemed healthy it spent a lot of time preening, then went out in the pond and dunked its head and neck underwater feeding. Seemed to get along just fine with swans, geese and ducks etc. I decided to check the pond out one more time before Waterfowl Hunting Season opened up which it just did today. |
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| Christina Hill 5/4/2023 |
Location: Hinds Lake, Minnesota Saw 3 in a line. First time this season on the lake. |
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| Brian S 7/14/2022 |
Location: Fish Hook Lake near Park Rapids
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| Nancy Falkum 4/10/2022 |
Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit New KWD sign w/ American Pelicans up high on the left. |
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| BigFootMN 10/11/2021 |
Location: Westwood Hills Nature Center, St. Louis Park, MN Spotted on the lake; large flock; confirmed by local photographer with very long lens |
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| Blujean Clunis 3/29/2021 |
Location: In Chisago City, MN on pond near Wallmark Lake Large flock on a very windy day, maybe 200 |
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| Jessica St George 5/27/2020 |
Location: Oakdale MN Saw one bird flying over a residential area that has a swamp and pond nearby. It was flying south around 7pm. It freaked me out. … it was a mating white American pelican. Black feathers on wings |
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| DK 10/16/2019 |
Location: Edina, MN Floating on Lake Cornelia in Edina. |
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| Lynn Rubey 6/11/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A breeding American White Pelican, their breeding horn on their bill is shed after they have mated and laid their eggs. During breeding season the bill above and the throat sac below as well as the iris, the bare skin around the eye and the feet are a vivid orange color. |
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| Ramona Abrego 6/6/2019 |
Location: Becker County Fishing |
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Holly Potter |
Location: Backus, MN | |
| Gerrene 6/3/2017 |
Location: Lake Crawford, Rockford Township, MN I saw these birds on my lake for the first time. I finally figured out what they were and they are beautiful. I live in Rockford Township in MN on Lake Crawford. I hope they stay around. |
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| Norm & Peg Dibble October 2015 |
Location: Maple Grove, MN Great White Pelican migration over our house October 2015. Wish I had a bigger lens on at that time. I saw them coming from up north circling as they got closer and closer. I took many photos and films. We happened to see them a week or more earlier north of us on a small lake in Albertville and assumed it was probably the same flock. |
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| Kirk Nelson 5/23/2015 |
Location: Myre-Big Island State Park, Freeborn County Pelicans on Albert Lea Lake |
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| Bill Reynolds 6/15/2008 |
Location: Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall Co MN | |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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