How to Identify Pelican in South Dakota

American White Pelicans are among the largest waterbirds in North America. They measure 50 to 70 inches in length with a wingspan of 8 to 10 feet. Males are substantially larger than females. When swimming, they sit very high in the water and appear almost impossibly long. Their massive bill can exceed 11 inches and is pale yellowish in breeding birds. The throat pouch, which hangs from the lower bill, is less conspicuous than in Brown Pelicans but still visible when they dive or engage in social displays. Their overall bulk makes them hard to miss once you locate them on a lake.

American White Pelicans have white bodies with black flight feathers visible on their wings. Their bill and facial skin are pale yellow or orange during breeding season and dull yellowish the rest of the year. Brown Pelicans, by contrast, have dark gray or brown bodies with a white head and pale yellowish neck. Brown Pelicans are significantly smaller, about half the size of American White Pelicans. Brown Pelicans are coastal birds found in marine habitats; vagrant individuals appear in South Dakota only extremely rarely. If you see a pelican on an inland lake or reservoir in South Dakota, it will almost certainly be an American White Pelican.

Start with the unmistakable silhouette: a very large waterbird with a massive bill and a bulbous throat pouch hanging below. An American White Pelican at rest on water shows a pure white body with bright black wingtips that extend beyond the tail. The head is white with a long, straight bill that is pale yellow or orange in breeding birds. During spring and early summer breeding season, breeding birds develop an ornamental knob on the bill and bright orange facial skin around the eye. The feet are webbed and pale blue or green. On the water, they sit upright and high, with the body held at a steep angle. In flight, their enormous wingspans are absolutely distinctive, and they show strong contrast between white bodies and black primary feathers.

Males are 10 to 15 percent larger than females overall, with longer bills and stouter bodies. Both sexes display white plumage with black flight feathers. Breeding males develop brighter orange facial skin and a larger knob on the bill compared to females. During the non-breeding season, the differences become less apparent. In the field, distinguishing sex by sight is challenging without extensive experience, and both males and females are readily identified as American White Pelicans using the major field marks described above.

Young pelicans lack the brilliant white plumage of adults. Juveniles and first-year birds show dusky brown or gray coloring on the back and wings, with white undersides and white bellies that contrast sharply with darker upperparts. The head is pale or whitish but not as pure white as an adult. The bill and facial skin are pale and lack the bright orange of breeding adults. Young pelicans retain these features until they reach maturity at approximately three years of age. Even young birds are enormous compared to other waterbirds and maintain the characteristic shape and posture that makes them recognizable as pelicans.

American White Pelicans are largely silent birds. They make low croaks, grunts, and hisses primarily during breeding season, especially when defending nesting colonies. Outside the breeding season or on lakes where they do not nest, pelicans communicate mostly through bill clattering and body posturing. The sound of bill clattering, a loud clapping or rattling, occurs during courtship displays and social interactions in the colony. On larger lakes and reservoirs where pelicans congregate to feed but do not breed, you are unlikely to hear much sound beyond occasional low grunts or splashing as they feed. The lack of distinctive calls means identification relies heavily on visual features and behavior.

American White Pelicans fish cooperatively in groups, often forming lines or semicircles to corral fish toward shallow water where they can dip their bills and scoop prey. This coordinated feeding behavior is distinctive and is rarely seen in other waterbirds. Pelicans also spend long periods resting on shore or sandbars, often in compact groups, with heads tucked back and bills resting on their breasts. On water, they sit very upright and high, riding high enough that you can see daylight between their bodies and the surface. They take off with difficulty, requiring a running start across the water surface and several wingbeats to become airborne. Once aloft, they are powerful fliers that soar on thermals and can cover vast distances efficiently. The labored takeoff and graceful soaring are both characteristic behaviors.

The vast majority of American White Pelicans depart South Dakota by late August or early September as they migrate south to winter habitat on coastal areas and inland reservoirs in the southern United States and Mexico. Rare stragglers occasionally linger into October, and occasional winter records exist, particularly in years when water remains open and unfrozen. From November through March, pelicans are extremely rare in South Dakota. Migration picks up again in March, with spring migrants arriving in increasing numbers through April and May. The peak time to see pelicans in the state is April through June, when breeding populations gather on selected lakes and reservoirs.

American White Pelicans prefer large lakes, reservoirs, and river systems where they can find fish and navigate easily given their size. South Dakota's major bodies of water, including the Missouri River impoundments, large natural lakes, and reservoirs in the eastern and central parts of the state, receive regular visits from pelicans during the migration and breeding season. Look along open shorelines with minimal vegetation, sandbars, and shallow coves where pelicans rest and feed. They avoid small ponds and areas with dense emergent vegetation. Binoculars and a spotting scope improve your chances of locating distant pelicans and examining field marks clearly. Early morning and late afternoon are often the most productive times to observe pelicans, as they are most active in feeding during these periods.