Do all pelicans migrate?
When Do Pelicans Migrate?
Why do pelicans migrate?
Where do pelicans go for the winter?
How do pelicans migrate?
Pelican Migration FAQs
Pelicans are instantly recognizable with their large beaks and massive webbed feet. There are only eight species of pelicans, though they are found on every continent except the Arctic and Antarctica. Pelicans are really huge birds, the spotted and great white pelicans can have a wingspan of up to 3.5m, but do pelicans migrate?
Some pelican species are partially migratory, including the American white, brown, great white, and Dalmatian pelicans. However, not all colonies migrate. Some choose to stay in place year-round, while others only migrate short distances.
Migrating pelicans are an incredible sight as they usually fly in flocks, forming a “V” or line as they soar through the sky. Pelicans are huge birds. In terms of wingspan, the Great White Pelican is second only to the Wandering Albatross at 3.6m and 3.7m (so only about 10cm!)
Pelican migration remains poorly understood, partly because they have such a wide range and partly because different groups, or pods, have different migratory behaviors. Read on to learn more about the migratory behavior of this truly huge water bird!
Small flock of brown pelicans flying in formation
Do all pelicans migrate?
Of the eight pelican species, only four are partially migratory. Some populations of these pelicans only travel short distances. The main goal of migration is to find a warmer, food-rich environment, and most pelicans don’t migrate beyond where they need to find it.
Pelican migration patterns and behavior vary by group or pod. For example, some clusters migrate greater distances than others despite being in similar locations.
American White Pelican: Commonly migratory, from Alberta, Northwest Territories, Washington State, Ontario, California, and other parts of North America to the Gulf of Mexico, southern California, Florida, and Panama. Some may rarely end up in Colombia. American white pelicans in Texas and Central America rarely migrate.
Dalmatian Pelicans: Usually migratory, but populations in warmer regions do not migrate very far. Some colonies migrated from northernmost Russia and Northeastern Europe to the Middle East, Nepal and India. Mongol colonies travel to China and India. The migratory behavior of the Dalmatian pelican is sporadic, unpredictable and complex.
Dalmatian pelicans are commonly migratory, but not usually over long distances
Brown Pelican: Sometimes migratory, along the coast from as far north as New Jersey and British Columbia to northern Chile and the Galapagos Islands. Brown pelican migration is complex and unpredictable. Some brown pelicans on the Atlantic side head north rather than south in winter, probably in search of fish.
Great White Pelican: Usually migratory. African population is resident. Eastern European populations sometimes migrate to North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Some extend as far south as Bali. Likewise, the migratory behavior and routes of great white pelicans appear complex and unpredictable.
Pink-backed Pelican: Non-immigrant residents of Africa, India and Arabia.
Australian Pelicans: They are not usually migratory, but they do travel within the range of Australia, New Guinea, Fiji, Indonesia and the islands of the South Pacific.
Peruvian Pelicans: Non-immigrant residents of Peru, Ecuador and Chile.
Spot-billed Pelican: Nonimmigrant residents of South Asia, India and Indonesia.
Australian Pelicans Don’t Usually Migrate
When Do Pelicans Migrate?
Migratory species and pelicans usually migrate at the end of the typical breeding season which begins around April or May. In late summer, usually September and October, the migrating pelicans start heading south.
Some pelican colonies, or groups of pelicans, are known for their erratic migratory behavior. Instead of following a regular clock or calendar like most birds migrate, they migrate earlier, some years, and some years later.
Why do pelicans migrate?
Pelicans are specially adapted to temperate and subtropical environments, so they prefer to migrate to warmer regions during the winter. This is why almost all northern European and North American pelicans are migratory, whereas southern species in Africa and Asia migrate rarely or over short distances.
Pelicans also migrate in search of food. Brown pelicans, for example, sometimes migrate north rather than south, possibly because their preferred fish are more abundant in winter.
Brown pelicans migrate north more often than south
Where do pelicans go for the winter?
Pelicans travel to warmer, more food-rich environments in winter. Despite being large, hardy birds, pelicans generally dislike cold winters, and almost all northern populations are migratory. Populations in the south are usually resident or settled, such as Texas and Florida in Central America, the Americas and Africa, South Asia, Australia, and the Oceanian islands in other parts of the world.
this American White Pelican Migrate to different locations depending on where they bread. For example, those that breed east of the Rocky Mountains travel south to the Gulf of Mexico. On the west side of the Rocky Mountains, pelicans tend to migrate to the Pacific coast.
brown pelican Also tends to follow the eastern or western coastlines of the United States. Some ended up in Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, while others ended up in eastern Mexico, the West Indies, Venezuela, and Colombia.
great white pelican migration From Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Russia, to East Africa and South Asia. Some East Asian colonies flew to Indonesia. The wide distribution of great white pelicans means their migration routes remain somewhat mysterious.
spotted pelican Tend to breed in Eastern Europe or Central Asia and Russia. Eastern European populations often migrate to the Mediterranean, while Central Asian and Russian populations typically migrate to the Indian subcontinent, Iran, and Iraq. Some pelicans found themselves further south in India.
When migrating, pelicans usually don’t cover the entire distance in one go. Instead, they kept several stops, where some pelicans may have stayed longer than others, giving the impression that they were lost.
What environment do pelicans like?
Pelicans are freshwater or coastal water birds, but they tend to avoid the open sea. Their preferred habitats are lagoons, lakes, coastal beaches, swamps or other wetlands.
Great White Pelican Landing
How do pelicans migrate?
Pelicans have huge wingspans that allow them to soar effortlessly, making migration a relatively easy task. They usually fly in “V” formation, which reduces energy consumption and aids navigation. Birds towards the rear of the formation take advantage of the slipstream, which makes flight easier. When the birds in front get tired, they switch roles.
Pelicans don’t make the entire journey in one sitting — they take breaks to replenish their energy reserves with food and water. While they may be capable of long nonstop flights, it’s not their preference!
A flock of American white pelicans migrating in flight
Pelican Migration FAQs
Can pelicans survive the winter?
Pelicans don’t usually overwinter in cold conditions — most species in northern latitudes migrate annually. Pelicans are hardy, though, and they can certainly withstand freezing temperatures if need be. Pelicans that stay further north may make late migrations when they encounter very cold weather. Some brown pelican colonies have been known to migrate as late as December!
Do brown pelicans migrate?
Brown pelicans do migrate, some traveling great distances along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from New Jersey and British Columbia as far south as Chile and Venezuela. However, large groups of brown pelicans are found along most of the route, and some do not return to the same locations each year. Additionally, some brown pelicans actually move slightly northward during the winter, possibly due to increased fish density. For this reason, they are sometimes called dispersal rather than migratory.
Do Australian Pelicans Migrate?
Australian pelicans do not migrate in the traditional sense, but they do spread widely throughout their range. Australian pelicans have a wide distribution across thousands of miles across Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Pacific islands, allowing them to fly long distances in search of food. Also, they may travel year-round rather than at the end of the traditional breeding season.
Expert Q&A
question
Why do I see pelicans flying north and south on the same day all year round in San Diego?
The BirdFact team
There could be a number of reasons, starting with being closer to spring and the pelicans you see are non-breeding populations heading to some of their favorite fishing spots in flocks.
In San Diego, March through May is usually low tide for pelicans, as many will breed offshore in their habitat. August to October is usually the peak time for pelican sightings, as breeding is over and winter numbers usually drop again.
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