Photo: Manjith Kainickara / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of North America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a member of the Pelecanidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 5.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Pelecanidae Pelicans
- Genus Pelecanus
- Species erythrorhynchos
Where it lives
Inland south-central British Columbia and northeastern Alberta to west-central Ontario (southwestern, south-central Canada) to central California and Texas (southwestern, south-central USA)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.6 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Pelecanidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American White Pelican hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The American White Pelican is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a member of the Pelecanidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA inland sc British Columbia and ne Alberta to wc Ontario (sw, sc Canada) to c California and Texas (sw, sc USA).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.6 kg, with a wing length of about 56.1 cm and a tail of around 14.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American White Pelican?
The American White Pelican is a very large bird that weighs around 5.6 kg.
Where does the American White Pelican live?
The American White Pelican is found across North America with a range covering NA inland sc British Columbia and ne Alberta to wc Ontario (sw, sc Canada) to c California and Texas (sw, sc USA), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American White Pelican belong to?
The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) belongs to the Pelecanidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the American White Pelican eat?
The American White Pelican hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the American White Pelican migrate?
The American White Pelican is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the American White Pelican endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American White Pelican make?
1 real field recording of the American White Pelican can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American White Pelican's range?
The American White Pelican has a mapped global range of about 1.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Pelecanidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Near Threatened
More in Herons, Pelicans & Ibises
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern