What Pelicans Eat in Virginia

1. What do pelicans typically eat in Virginia?

Pelicans in Virginia are almost exclusively fish-eaters. Their diet centers on small, schooling fish such as Atlantic menhaden, bay anchovies, mullet, and silversides. They occasionally eat crustaceans like shrimp or crabs, but fish make up over 90% of their intake. The exact mix depends on what's abundant in their current feeding grounds.

2. How can you identify a pelican's feeding behavior?

Watch for pelicans flying low over the water, then abruptly diving headfirst. Unlike brown pelicans, American white pelicans (less common in Virginia) feed by scooping fish while swimming. Both species use their expandable throat pouch to drain water before swallowing. A sudden plunge with wings folded back is a clear sign of a brown pelican on the hunt. Check out ourpelican identification guidefor more tips.

3. When and where do pelicans feed in Virginia?

Pelicans feed most actively during early morning and late afternoon. They are year-round residents in Virginia's coastal areas, but numbers peak from early spring through fall. Prime feeding spots include the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and the barrier islands. Look for them over shallow waters where fish school near the surface. TheVirginia wildlife hubhas more on peak seasons.

4. What fish species do pelicans prefer in Virginia waters?

Atlantic menhaden are the top prey for pelicans along Virginia's coast. They also target bay anchovies, striped mullet, and Atlantic silversides. In tidal creeks and inlets, they may take spot and croaker. Pelicans adjust their diet based on local abundance, so observing what fishermen are catching can clue you into what pelicans might be eating. For a deeper dive, see ourpelican diet page.

See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.

5. How do pelicans catch their food?

Brown pelicans dive from heights of up to 60 feet, tucking their heads and twisting to plunge into the water. They surface with a pouch full of fish and water, then tip their bill down to drain and swallow. White pelicans use a cooperative surface-scooping method, herding fish into shallows. Both techniques are adapted to Virginia's shallow coastal feeding grounds.

6. What should you look for to spot pelicans feeding?

Start with flocks of gulls or terns diving; pelicans often follow the same bait balls. Listen for the splash of a dive. Pelicans also perch on pilings and piers between feeds. A practical field note: if you see a line of pelicans flying low over the water in the same direction, they are likely heading to a feeding site. Check the tides; feeding often peaks during incoming or outgoing tides when fish are moving.