American White Pelican

(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Conservation Status
American White Pelican
Photo by Lynn Rubey
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N4 - Apparently Secure

S3B - Vulnerable Breeding

 
  Minnesota

Special Concern

Species in Greatest Conservation Need

 
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

 

 
     
 

Size

 
 

54 to 60 in length

108 wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Large, shallow bodies of water

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Migration

 
 

Early April to early June and late August to mid-November

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

 

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common migrant, uncommon breeder

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Pelecaniformes (pelicans, herons, ibises, and allies)  
 

Family

Pelecanidae (pelicans)  
 

Genus

Pelecanus (pelicans)  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Brian S

 
    American White Pelican      
 

Nancy Falkum

 
 

New KWD sign w/ American Pelicans up high on the left.

 
    Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit      
 

Blujean Clunis

 
 

Large flock on a very windy day, maybe 200

 
    American White Pelican   American White Pelican  
           
    American White Pelican      
 

Ramona Abrego

 
 

Fishing

 
    American White Pelican   American White Pelican  
           
    American White Pelican   American White Pelican  
 

Norm & Peg Dibble

 
 

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.

  American White Pelican  
 

Lynn Rubey

 
  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.   American White Pelican  
           
  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.   American White Pelican  
 

Christa Rittberg

 
    American White Pelican   American White Pelican  
 

Gerrene

 
  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.   American White Pelican  
           
    American White Pelican   American White Pelican  
 

Kirk Nelson

 
 

Pelicans on Albert Lea Lake

 
    American White Pelican   American White Pelican  
 

Bill Reynolds

 
    American White Pelican      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
American White Pelican
Ed McVicker
  American White Pelican  
American White Pelican
JMC Nature Photos
  American White Pelican  
American White Pelican
Joshua Mayer
  American White Pelican  
 
About

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

 
Pelicans
Craig A. Mullenbach
  Pelicans  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

Holly Potter

 
  American White Pellican 01
Holly Potter
 
   
       
  American White Pellican 02
Holly Potter
 
   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  The American White Pelican (Pelecanidae: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
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)
Mark Vance
 
   
 
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
5342 Clark Rd #144
Sarasota, Fl 34233

The Celery Fields - Sarasota, Florida Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/groups/218447...

 
  American White Pelicans (Pelecanidae: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on Parade
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
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
Frank Wimberley
 
   
 
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
The State Journal-Register
 
   
 
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.

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
  Christina Hill
5/4/2023

Location: Hinds Lake, Minnesota

Saw 3 in a line. First time this season on the lake.

 
  Brian S
7/14/2022

Location: Fish Hook Lake near Park Rapids

 

American White Pelican  
  Nancy Falkum
4/10/2022

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

New KWD sign w/ American Pelicans up high on the left.

Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit  
  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

 
  Blujean Clunis
3/29/2021

Location: In Chisago City, MN on pond near Wallmark Lake

Large flock on a very windy day, maybe 200

American White Pelican  
  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 

 
  DK
10/16/2019

Location: Edina, MN

Floating on Lake Cornelia in Edina.

 
  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.

American White Pelican  
  Ramona Abrego
6/6/2019

Location: Becker County

Fishing

American White Pelican  
  Holly Potter
6/26/2018
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.

American White Pelican  
  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.

American White Pelican  
  Kirk Nelson
5/23/2015

Location: Myre-Big Island State Park, Freeborn County

Pelicans on Albert Lea Lake

American White Pelican  
  Bill Reynolds
6/15/2008
Location: Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Marshall Co MN American White Pelican  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created:

Last Updated:

© MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved.

About Us

Privacy Policy

Contact Us