Pelicans are large waterbirds that are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are 8 living species of pelicans that inhabit a wide variety of aquatic habitats including coastlines, rivers, lakes, and marshes. Pelicans are found on all continents except Antarctica. The most widespread species is the Brown Pelican which occurs in North America, the Caribbean, and along both coasts of South America. The American White Pelican inhabits inland lakes and rivers throughout much of North America. Other species have more restricted ranges such as the Pink-backed Pelican of Africa and the Spot-billed Pelican of southern Asia. Pelicans occupy diverse habitats ranging from freshwater to marine ecosystems, including estuaries, mangrove forests, offshore islands, and open coasts. Their worldwide distribution reflects an ability to thrive in areas rich in fish, their primary prey source. Examining in detail where different pelican species occur provides insight into the habitats and resources these large, social birds need to survive.
Where Brown Pelicans Are Found
The Brown Pelican has the largest range of any pelican species, occurring on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts of North and South America. In North America, breeding populations are found from Maryland to Venezuela on the Atlantic Coast and from British Columbia to Chile on the Pacific Coast. Brown Pelicans are also found throughout the Caribbean and along the entire Gulf of Mexico coast. Important breeding sites occur in Florida, Louisiana, and several offshore islands. After breeding, northern populations migrate south along the coasts to spend winters from the Carolinas to Brazil on the Atlantic and from southern California to Peru on the Pacific. The widespread distribution of Brown Pelicans reflects suitable habitat across their broad geographic range, mainly along protected marine shorelines with abundant fish populations. Their range extends inland along rivers and lakes during migration and dispersal but remains primarily concentrated along coastlines year-round.
Atlantic Coast
On the Atlantic Coast, breeding sites extend from Maryland to Venezuela. Highest numbers breed in the Florida Keys, Louisiana’s coastal islands, the Bahamas, Cuba, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Important wintering grounds stretch along the entire U.S. Gulf and southeast Atlantic coasts south to Brazil.
Pacific Coast
Brown Pelicans are found year-round on the Pacific Coast from southern British Columbia to south-central Chile, including the Galapagos Islands. Mainland breeding sites range from southern California south to Panama. Large concentrations winter from central California through Central America.
Gulf of Mexico
Nearly all Gulf Coast shorelines support breeding, wintering, or migrating Brown Pelicans. Texas hosts important colonies on barrier islands and offshore oil rigs. Mexico’s Gulf islands are also significant breeding sites. Winter range extends throughout the Gulf from Alabama to the Yucatan.
Where American White Pelicans Are Found
The American White Pelican inhabits freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, and estuaries across much of North America. Their breeding range extends throughout the inland U.S. and southern Canada from British Columbia to Ontario east to Wyoming and south to California and Baja California. Highest nesting densities occur in prairie wetlands from North Dakota south through the upper Midwest. Winter populations shift towards the southern U.S. from California and the Gulf Coast to Florida. American White Pelicans forage mainly on inland waterways and are absent from open coastlines unlike their Brown Pelican cousins. They are considered short-distance migrants that move primarily between breeding and wintering grounds within North America. Their range centers on nutrient-rich wetlands across the continent’s interior where fish populations support nesting colonies.
Breeding Range
American White Pelicans breed across the western half of North America east to Minnesota and Louisiana. Highest densities occur in prairie pothole wetlands from North Dakota to southern Alberta. Other significant nesting sites include lakes throughout the Intermountain West and the Central Valley of California.
Wintering Range
From September to April, most American White Pelicans winter in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico. Large concentrations occur along the Gulf Coast from Florida through Texas and on inland reservoirs. Flocks also winter along the Pacific Coast from southern California to Baja California. Small numbers may remain through winter across the southernmost breeding range.
Where Pink-backed Pelicans Are Found
The Pink-backed Pelican is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa in freshwater lakes and seasonal floodplains. Their range stretches from Senegal and Chad east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. The largest populations breed around the great lakes of East Africa including Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi. Pink-backed Pelicans forage mainly on inland bodies of water across tropical open woodlands and grasslands rather than along ocean coastlines. Their distribution across the continent aligns with major fish-producing lakes and wetlands.
East Africa
In East Africa, Pink-backed Pelicans concentrate around the African Great Lakes including Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi during the breeding season. Flocks disperse more widely across smaller wetlands and floodplains during non-breeding periods.
West Africa
Scattered breeding populations occur at inland deltas and seasonal wetlands from Senegal to Chad. The largest concentrations are found around Nigeria’s Lake Chad and Mali’s Inner Niger Delta. These pelicans move across the broader Sahel region as habitat conditions change.
Southern Africa
Southern African breeding strongholds are centered around the Okavango Delta system and other large wetlands in Botswana and Namibia. Pelicans disperse widely across smaller inland waters during non-breeding periods including man-made reservoirs and ponds.
Where Spot-billed Pelicans Are Found
Spot-billed Pelicans occur from Pakistan and Sri Lanka east across southern Asia to China, Taiwan, and Japan. Breeding populations center around southern India and Cambodia’s Tonle Sap wetlands. Pelicans disperse more widely across the region during non-breeding periods. Their range extends inland along large lowland rivers and freshwater lakes. Coastal populations are mainly restricted to deltas, estuaries, and shallow sheltered bays unlike most other pelican species. Their distribution corresponds to major floodplain rivers and lakes where fish concentrations are highest.
Indian Subcontinent
On the Indian subcontinent, largest breeding concentrations occur at wetlands in northern India and Assam, Nepal’s Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, and Sri Lanka’s northern dry zone. Monsoon-flooded habitats across the region attract dispersing flocks during non-breeding periods.
Southeast Asia
Spot-billed pelicans are abundant around Cambodia’s Tonle Sap lake and Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Scattered breeding sites extend south through Malaysia and Indonesia. Pelicans frequent shallow estuaries and coastal lakes across the region when not nesting.
East Asia
In China, Spot-billed pelicans breed mainly on Hainan Island and eastern coastal provinces. Pelagic flocks disperse north to major rivers and lakes during summer across eastern China, including the Yangtze floodplain. Winter migrants reach south to Taiwan.
Comparison of Habitats
Pelicans occupy a diverse range of aquatic habitats across their global distribution. The following table compares key habitat features used by different pelican species:
| Species | Key Habitats |
|---|---|
| Brown Pelican | Coastlines, islands, estuaries |
| American White Pelican | Inland lakes, rivers, wetlands |
| Pink-backed Pelican | African rift valley lakes, floodplains, deltas |
| Spot-billed Pelican | Large Asian rivers, lakes, deltas |
This comparison shows that while all pelicans rely on wetlands and aquatic habitats, some species are centered on marine shorelines (Brown), others on inland waters (American White and Pink-backed), and estuarine zones (Spot-billed). This aligns with differences in preferred foods from coastal marine fish to river and lake fishes across the pelican family.
Conclusion
Pelicans demonstrate a diverse yet selective range of aquatic habitats across their global distribution. Preferred habitats offer key features like abundant fish populations, protection from disturbance, and nesting sites. While capable of long-distance travel, most pelicans show fidelity to breeding and wintering ranges, migrating along established routes. Their ranges reflect an adaptability to thrive across temperate marine coasts as well as tropical inland waters. Examining in detail where each species occurs and under what conditions provides insights into how pelicans utilize different aquatic ecosystems across the world.
