American White Pelican Population Analysis
American White Pelican has surged: up 229% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
About the American White Pelican
The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) is a North American member of the Pelicans (Pelecanidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the wetland birds.
- Size
- 41.5–71 in long (105–180 cm) — a very large waterbird (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Marshes, ponds, lakeshores and other freshwater wetlands.
- Diet
- Aquatic invertebrates, small fish, frogs and plant matter.
- Range
- Recorded on 415 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 22 states, most concentrated in the Great Basin.
- Family
- Pelecanidae · Wetland birds
Notable American White Pelican TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
American White Pelican has surged in surveyed states: up 229% on the route-weighted index since 1969.
American White Pelican Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, American White Pelican is projected to rise about 29% by 2030 — from 0.67 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.87 (95% range 0.53–1.2). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±36.2%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the American White Pelican Is Detected
BBS routes recording American White Pelican, sized by most recent count.
American White Pelican Population Trend by State
American White Pelican Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
American White Pelican Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it up about 229% since 1969.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.