Best Time to See Pelicans in the US
April, March and December is the best time to see pelicans in the United States. This is a national picture built from 150,886 verified iNaturalist observations across 44 states, showing when and where pelicans are most active.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself.
150,886 verified observations of pelicans in the US, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When pelicans are recorded in the US
Peak month
April
15,267 records (10.1% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 13,994 | 9.3% |
| February | 12,276 | 8.1% |
| Marchpeak | 14,536 | 9.6% |
| Aprilpeak | 15,267 | 10.1% |
| May | 13,415 | 8.9% |
| June | 11,590 | 7.7% |
| July | 10,165 | 6.7% |
| August | 10,288 | 6.8% |
| September | 10,672 | 7.1% |
| October | 11,269 | 7.5% |
| November | 13,086 | 8.7% |
| Decemberpeak | 14,328 | 9.5% |
Pelicans you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Brown Pelican | 93,385 |
| American White Pelican | 57,240 |
| Great White Pelican | 7 |
Across the country, pelicans sightings peak in April, when 15,267 of the 150,886 annual observations are logged, about 10.1% of the national total. Nationwide activity stays high through April, March and December.
The best states to see pelicans by recorded sightings are California (64,481), Florida (26,078), Texas (23,421), Oregon (3,736) and Colorado (3,429). Each state page below breaks the year down month by month for that state.
The pelicans you are most likely to encounter nationwide are Brown Pelican, American White Pelican and Great White Pelican, the most-recorded species across all states combined.
Best states to see pelicans
- pelicans in California64,481 sightings, peak September
- pelicans in Florida26,078 sightings, peak March
- pelicans in Texas23,421 sightings, peak January
- pelicans in Oregon3,736 sightings, peak August
- pelicans in Colorado3,429 sightings, peak April
- pelicans in South Carolina3,175 sightings, peak December
- pelicans in North Carolina2,719 sightings, peak June
- pelicans in Alabama2,329 sightings, peak April
- pelicans in Louisiana2,233 sightings, peak January
- pelicans in Illinois2,201 sightings, peak April
- pelicans in Minnesota1,938 sightings, peak April
- pelicans in Virginia1,415 sightings, peak March
- pelicans in Georgia1,271 sightings, peak March
- pelicans in Arizona1,049 sightings, peak January
- pelicans in Ohio952 sightings, peak May
Most-recorded pelicans species nationwide
- Brown Pelican93,385 records
- American White Pelican57,240 records
- Great White Pelican7 records
Plan your pelican trip in California
Start with live tours near California, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near California
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main pelican viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near California
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best pelican viewing area in California.
Viator
Broader backupBook a pelican tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see pelicans in the US?+
April is the single best month nationwide, with the broader peak running through April, March and December, based on 150,886 verified observations across 44 states.
Which states are best for seeing pelicans?+
By recorded sightings, the top states are California, Florida and Texas. California leads with 64,481 verified observations.
How many pelicans sightings are recorded in the US each year?+
About 150,886 verified pelicans observations are logged on iNaturalist across 44 states with enough data to chart a seasonal pattern.
What kinds of pelicans live in the US?+
The most-recorded species nationwide are Brown Pelican, American White Pelican and Great White Pelican, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.