American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

The American White Pelican is one of the largest birds found in South Dakota.  They are migrants through most of the state, but do nest in some of the northeastern counties.   Unlike their cousins, the Brown Pelican, American White Pelicans do not plunge dive, but feed by dipping their large pouched bill into the water and scooping up fish.  Note the raised bump on the top of the beak (shown in bird to the right) is only present during the breeding season.

Habitat: Lakes, marshes, rivers.  Nests on isolated islands and sandbars, may feed many miles from nesting site. 

Diet: Mostly fish, also salamanders and crustaceans. 

Behavior: Feeds by dipping bill into the water and scooping up prey.  They will often forage together in groups, lining up and driving prey fish to shallower waters for easier capture.

Nesting: May through August

Breeding Map: Breeding bird survey map

Song: Mostly silent.

Migration: Winters along Gulf Coast, California, and Mexico.  

Similar Species: Brown Pelican

Status: Due to habitat loss and disturbance at nesting colonies, populations declined substantially up through the middle part of the 20th century.  Numbers have increased in the past few decades.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, American White Pelican

2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - American White Pelican"

3) eNature.com: American White Pelican

Photo Information: April 19th, 2003 -- Madison Waterfowl Production Area -- Terry L. Sohl

Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution American White Pelican photos.