Pelicans in Florida in March

Yes, March is one of the best months to see pelicans in Florida. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 3,954 of the 26,078 sightings logged across the year (15.2%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Brown Pelican photographed in FloridaGreat White Pelican photographed in FloridaBrown Pelican photographed in Florida
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for pelicans in Florida

15.2%

of yearly sightings

3,954

records in March

#1

busiest month of 12

26,078

verified records a year

February 13.4%, March 15.2%, April 9.7%. Busiest month is March at 15.2%.

Best months: March, January, December

26,078 verified observations of pelicans in Florida, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When pelicans are recorded in Florida

Peak month

March

3,954 records (15.2% of the year)

Quietest month

September

789 records

MonthObservationsShare
Januarypeak3,87114.8%
February3,50213.4%
Marchpeak3,95415.2%
April2,5429.7%
May1,6036.1%
June1,2915%
July8403.2%
August7943%
September7893%
October1,1524.4%
November2,0988%
Decemberpeak3,64214%

Pelicans you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Brown Pelican21,338
American White Pelican4,692
Great White Pelican6

In Florida, March carries 15.2% of the year's pelicans sightings, about 6.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is rising from February (13.4%) into March, and it heads toward April (9.7%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so March is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The pelicans most often recorded in Florida are Brown Pelican, American White Pelican and Great White Pelican. Those counts are annual totals rather than a March split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in March itself.

Which pelicans you are most likely to see

  • Brown Pelican21,338 records
  • American White Pelican4,692 records
  • Great White Pelican6 records
Plan your tripBig Cypress National Preserve

Plan your pelican trip in Florida

Start with live tours near Big Cypress National Preserve, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see pelicans in Florida in March?+

Yes. March accounts for 3,954 of the 26,078 verified pelicans sightings logged in Florida across the year, which is 15.2% of the annual total.

Is March a good time to see pelicans in Florida?+

March is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of March, January and December.

What month is best for pelicans in Florida?+

March is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through March, January and December, based on 26,078 verified observations.

Which pelicans are you most likely to see in Florida?+

The most-recorded species in Florida are Brown Pelican, American White Pelican and Great White Pelican, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.