Types of Pelicans in Georgia
Georgia hosts two pelican species: the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican. The American White is a seasonal visitor on inland lakes, while the Brown Pelican is a year-round coastal resident. Start by checking the coast for Brown Pelicans and larger inland reservoirs for white ones.
Georgia hosts two pelican species: the American White Pelican and the Brown Pelican. The American White is a seasonal visitor on inland lakes, while the Brown Pelican is a year-round coastal resident. Start by checking the coast for Brown Pelicans and larger inland reservoirs for white ones.
1. What are the two types of pelicans found in Georgia?
Georgia’s pelicans fall into two species: the **American White Pelican** and the **Brown Pelican**. The American White is a large, mostly white bird that visits during migration and winter. The Brown Pelican is smaller, darker, and lives along the coast year-round. Both are unmistakable with their large bills and throat pouches.
2. How can you identify an American White Pelican in Georgia?
American White Pelicans are massive white birds with black flight feathers visible in flight. They have a yellow-orange bill and pouch. In Georgia, look for them on large freshwater lakes and reservoirs like Lake Seminole, Lake Lanier, and the Altamaha River. They are most common from late fall through early spring. Unlike Brown Pelicans, they often feed cooperatively in groups, herding fish.
3. How can you identify a Brown Pelican in Georgia?
Brown Pelicans are smaller, with a gray-brown body, white head, and a dark belly. They have a grayish bill. In Georgia, they are found along the entire coast, especially on barrier islands like Tybee Island, Jekyll Island, and Cumberland Island. Look for them diving headfirst into the water for fish. They are present year-round but are easiest to see in summer during nesting season.
See ourPelicans typesfor the next step.
4. How do you tell the difference between American White and Brown Pelicans?
The simplest way is by color: American Whites are mostly white with black wingtips; Brown Pelicans are gray-brown. Size also helps – White Pelicans are larger (50-70 inch wingspan) than Brown (60-80 inch wingspan, but actually Brown are slightly smaller). Behavior differs too: Whites feed by scooping fish from the surface while swimming; Browns plunge-dive from the air. If you're on the coast, it's almost always a Brown Pelican; inland, it's a White.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
5. Where are the best places to spot pelicans in Georgia?
For **Brown Pelicans**, head to coastal spots like the Savannah River delta, **Tybee Island**, **Jekyll Island**’s driftwood beach, or **Cumberland Island**’s marshes. For **American White Pelicans**, try inland reservoirs: **Lake Seminole** (southwest), **Lake Lanier** (north), or the **Altamaha River** corridor. Both species also congregate at the **Okefenokee Swamp** occasionally. Check ourGeorgia wildlife pagefor more hotspot details.
6. When is the best time of year to see each pelican species?
Brown Pelicans are present year-round on the coast, but nesting season (March-August) offers the best viewing as they gather in colonies. American White Pelicans are migratory: best odds from October through April. During spring and fall migration, you might see them stop over at larger lakes. Winter is prime for inland sightings. For the most reliable viewing, visit coastal rookeries in summer for Brown Pelicans or inland reservoirs in winter for White Pelicans.