American white pelicans are large waterbirds that are found in inland and coastal wetlands across North America. They are one of only two pelican species that occur in the Western Hemisphere. American white pelicans breed in colonies in lakes, reservoirs, lagoons, and islands during the spring and summer months. They migrate south for the winter, congregating in coastal estuaries, bays, and lakes with productive fishing grounds. The range of the American white pelican extends across much of the central and western United States and Canada, with scattered populations along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
Breeding Range
American white pelicans breed primarily in the interior regions of North America. Their breeding range centers around the northern Great Plains in the United States and south-central Canada. The main breeding areas extend from central Alberta and Saskatchewan south through Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and west-central Wisconsin. Significant numbers also breed around the Great Lakes region, including northern Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, Michigan, and southern Ontario. Along the West Coast, sizable breeding colonies occur at Malheur Lake in southeastern Oregon and Honey Lake in northeastern California. Additional scattered breeding sites have been documented from inland lakes in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
During the breeding season, American white pelicans seek out shallow freshwater lakes and wetlands with protection from disturbance and ample food supplies. Islands provide ideal nesting habitat, as they allow colonies to be relatively isolated from mainland predators. The pelicans often co-nest in mixed colonies with other colonial waterbirds like gulls, terns, cormorants, and herons. Major nesting sites support anywhere from several dozen to many thousands of breeding pairs of pelicans.
Wintering Range
The winter range of American white pelicans includes coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic Coast, as well as lakes, reservoirs, and river systems across the southern United States and Mexico. Many pelicans that breed in the northern interior migrate south through the Central Flyway over the Great Plains or down the Mississippi River valley. Key wintering sites along the Gulf Coast include Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, and marshes and estuaries in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Some pelicans also winter along the southern Atlantic Coast from Florida to the Carolinas, particularly around coastal lakes and lagoons.
Across the southern United States, American white pelicans winter on lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and seasonal wetlands across the southern Great Plains, the Mississippi Valley, and the Southwest. In the West, large concentrations winter at sites like the Salton Sea in California and the Laguna Salada in Baja California. Many pelicans also winter in wetlands across central and western Mexico.
Range Map
Here is a range map for the American white pelican:
Image source: Wikipedia
Key Characteristics of Breeding Range
The core breeding range of the American white pelican centers around the prairie pothole region of the northern Great Plains in the United States and Canada. This region contains millions of small wetlands left behind by retreating glaciers, providing excellent habitat for breeding waterbirds. The pelicans nest predominantly on islands in freshwater lakes and wetlands within this region of the northern interior, where ample food supplies exist and breeding colonies can be protected from mainland predators.
Key characteristics of their breeding range include:
- Shallow freshwater lakes and marshes with islands for nesting
- Lowland prairie regions with high density of wetland habitats
- Areas with minimal human disturbance and persecution
- Sufficient food supplies, primarily fish, amphibians, and crayfish
- Nesting colonies usually contain dozens to thousands of breeding pairs
- Often nest alongside other colonial waterbirds for added protection
Key Characteristics of Wintering Range
In winter, American white pelicans seek out productive estuaries, lagoons, lakes, and wetlands with abundant fish populations. The key characteristics of their wintering range include:
- Coastal marine habitats like estuaries, bays, lagoons
- Large inland lakes with plenty of shallow areas for feeding
- Rivers and seasonal wetlands with concentrated fish populations
- Areas free from extreme cold temperatures or heavy freezing
- Sufficient food supplies, allowing pelicans to feed in large groups
- Nighttime communal roosting sites on sandbars or islands
- Reduced competition with breeding waterbirds for food resources
The combination of mild climate and abundant food resources along the Gulf Coast and other southern wetlands makes these areas ideal for overwintering American white pelicans.
Distribution Maps by Season
Here are distribution maps showing where American white pelicans occur during the breeding season and winter:
Breeding Season Distribution
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Winter Season Distribution
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The maps illustrate how the pelicans primarily breed in the northern prairies and Great Lakes region during summer, then shift south along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts for winter as inland waters freeze over.
Key Breeding Locations
Some of the most significant breeding colonies of American white pelicans occur at the following locations:
- Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota
- Marsh Lake, Minnesota
- Gunnison Island, Great Salt Lake, Utah
- Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Montana
- Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan
- Stum Lake, British Columbia
- Malheur Lake, Oregon
- Honey Lake, California
- Pyramid Lake, Nevada
These sites all host thousands of nesting American white pelicans each summer, and are important to maintaining healthy breeding populations.
Key Wintering Sites
Some of the major wintering sites for American white pelicans include:
- Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas
- Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
- Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia
- Laguna Madre, Texas
- Salton Sea, California
- Laguna Salada, Baja California
- Louisiana coastal wetlands
- Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana
- Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California
These coastal wetlands, large inland lakes, and river deltas provide important winter habitat for thousands of migrating American white pelicans each year.
Population Status and Trends
Here is an overview of the population status and trends for American white pelicans:
Population Estimate | Around 107,000 breeding adults estimated in 2014 |
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Population Trend | Increasing over past 50 years |
Threats & Conservation Status | Not globally threatened, but some regional populations remain endangered from habitat loss and disturbance. Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. |
Key Breeding Sites | Chase Lake NWR, ND; Marsh Lake, MN; Gunnison Island, UT; Malheur Lake, OR |
Key Wintering Sites | Aransas NWR, TX; Salton Sea, CA; Laguna Madre, TX; Louisiana coastal wetlands |
Overall the American white pelican population appears healthy and stable across much of its breeding range, though regional declines have occurred in places like California and Nevada. Ongoing protection at key breeding colonies and wintering sites is important for the continued success of this species.
Range Expansion
In recent decades, American white pelicans have undergone an expansion of their breeding range eastward into the Great Lakes region. Historically they did not nest in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan. But starting in the 1970s, pelicans began nesting on islands in lakes Ontario and Erie, and by 2000 all three states had breeding colonies established. This range expansion is believed to be linked to the increase in available nesting habitat, such as newly created islands, wetland restoration, and the pelicans’ adaptability to nesting around human recreation. The additional breeding sites appear to be contributing to overall population growth of the species across North America.
Migratory Connectivity
Research using satellite tracking and band return data has shed light on the migratory connectivity of American white pelicans – that is, linking their specific breeding and wintering sites across North America. One study found that pelicans breeding at Marsh Lake in Minnesota primarily wintered along the Gulf Coast, while those from Malheur Lake, Oregon migrated to the Pacific Coast. Despite mixing during migration, juveniles exhibited strong site fidelity to return to their natal breeding colony location in subsequent years. This highlights the importance of conserving wetlands across an interconnected network spanning the pelicans’ entire range.
Conclusion
In summary, American white pelicans primarily breed in prairie wetlands of the northern interior United States and Canada, especially concentrated around the Great Plains region. Their key wintering areas are along the Gulf and Pacific Coasts, as well as inland lakes and wetlands across the southern United States and Mexico. Though their population appears stable, they face ongoing threats from habitat degradation and human disturbance. Conserving their vital breeding colonies and maintaining adequate food resources along migration routes and wintering grounds will be key to ensuring the continued success of American white pelicans across North America.