American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin, JF, 1789

Pelecanidae — Pelicans

American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, is a pelican of North America in the family Pelecanidae and order Pelecaniformes. It breeds in inland parts of south-western and central Canada and the western and southern United States, and in the non-breeding season it moves to inland southern USA and north-west Central America. It nests in colonies on islands in remote brackish and freshwater lakes. In breeding plumage it develops a horn on the upper bill, a feature not shared by the other pelican species.

Order
Pelecaniformes
Family
Pelecanidae — Pelicans
Breeding range
North America: inland sc British Columbia and ne Alberta to wc Ontario (sw, sc Canada) to c California and Texas (sw, sc USA)
Nonbreeding range
inland s USA to nw Central America
American White Pelican
© Wildreturn · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Tours where you can spot this bird

22 tours in Canada 21, Mexico 1

Canada – Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour: September 9 – 18, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour: September 9 – 18, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 10 days

A ten-day Saskatchewan migration tour combining Saskatoon-area wetlands and parks with Prince Albert National Park and Last Mountain Lake....

From CAD 3,650 Next: Sep 9, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Late-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 24 – 29, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Late-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 24 – 29, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 6 days

A six-day late-summer Saskatchewan birding circuit timed for early migration, with wetlands, prairie and Saskatoon-area parks on the route....

From CAD 1,850 Next: Aug 24, 2026
Laguna La Mancha Coastal Birding Tour
Laguna La Mancha Coastal Birding Tour
Mexico / Actopan Private tour

A private birding outing at Laguna La Mancha & Centro de Investigaciones Costeras with Veracruz biologist and local guide Gustavo Contreras,...

Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12-29, 2027
Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12-29, 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 18 days

An 18-day self-drive grand tour across southern Saskatchewan, linking boreal forest, major lakes, prairie parks and river valleys during the...

From CAD 15,900
Canada – Saskatchewan Spring Birding Grand Tour: May 11–17, 2027
Canada – Saskatchewan Spring Birding Grand Tour: May 11–17, 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 7 days

A seven-day self-drive spring journey from Saskatoon through Saskatchewan wetlands, prairie and grassland parks during the migration and bre...

From CAD 5,850
Tobin Lake Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Melfort or Nipawin – Forest and River birds 2026
Tobin Lake Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Melfort or Nipawin – Forest and River birds 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2 days

A private two-day self-drive birding tour through the Tobin Lake and Saskatchewan River valley region, focused on forest and river birds....

From CAD 1,450
Quill Lakes Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw or Regina – 2 great options for finding birds at Canada’s largest saline lake
Quill Lakes Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Moose Jaw or Regina – 2 great options for finding birds at Canada’s largest saline lake
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8h

An eight-hour private self-drive tour from Saskatoon to the Quill Lakes, focused on waterbirds and seasonal shorebird concentrations around ...

From CAD 740
Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour 2026
Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 7h

A seven-hour private self-drive outing from Saskatoon to photograph American White Pelicans gathering before their southward migration....

From CAD 490
Meadow Lake Park Birding Tour from Saskatoon, North Battleford or Cold Lake – Forest birds 2026
Meadow Lake Park Birding Tour from Saskatoon, North Battleford or Cold Lake – Forest birds 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2 days

A private two-day self-drive exploration of Meadow Lake Provincial Park, searching boreal forest and wetland habitats for northern birds....

From CAD 1,290
Ferry Birding Tour – 4 hours with awesome river birds
Ferry Birding Tour – 4 hours with awesome river birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 4h

A four-hour self-drive circuit north of Saskatoon, crossing the South Saskatchewan River by two ferries and birding wooded shorelines....

From CAD 250
Eastern Saskatchewan Birding Tour June 3 – 11, 2027 – from Saskatoon, Canada
Eastern Saskatchewan Birding Tour June 3 – 11, 2027 – from Saskatoon, Canada
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 9 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 50
Duck Mountain Park Tour from Saskatoon or Regina or Yorkton: 3 exciting days birding Saskatchewan’s eastern forests
Duck Mountain Park Tour from Saskatoon or Regina or Yorkton: 3 exciting days birding Saskatchewan’s eastern forests
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days

A private three-day self-drive tour from Saskatoon to Duck Mountain Provincial Park, combining eastern forest, lake and wetland birding with...

From CAD 2,590
Carrot River Birding Tour – Quest for Whip-poor-wills, Chimney Swifts and Golden-winged Warblers 2027
Carrot River Birding Tour – Quest for Whip-poor-wills, Chimney Swifts and Golden-winged Warblers 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3 days

A three-day self-drive birding journey into northeastern Saskatchewan, searching forest and river-valley habitats for eastern specialities....

From CAD 2,890
Canada – Saskatchewan Mid-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 3–10, 2027
Canada – Saskatchewan Mid-Summer Birding Grand Tour: August 3–10, 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8 days

An eight-day self-drive tour linking Saskatchewan wetlands, prairie, river valleys and the Great Sand Hills as young birds and early migrant...

From CAD 4,750
Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12 – 26, 2026
Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12 – 26, 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 15 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 50
Canada – Southwest Saskatchewan Birding Tour: July 9–16, 2027
Canada – Southwest Saskatchewan Birding Tour: July 9–16, 2027
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 8 days

An eight-day self-drive route through southwest Saskatchewan, combining major shorebird lakes, Cypress Hills, open prairie and Grasslands Na...

From CAD 5,580
Buffalo Pound Park 2026 – Great Birding Day Tour from Moose Jaw, Regina, Swift Current or Saskatoon
Buffalo Pound Park 2026 – Great Birding Day Tour from Moose Jaw, Regina, Swift Current or Saskatoon
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 1 day

A private full-day self-drive tour through Buffalo Pound Provincial Park, combining lake, marsh, woodland and prairie birding....

From CAD 690
Blackstrap Lake Birdwatching and Bird Photography Tour – 3 hours with spectacular water birds
Blackstrap Lake Birdwatching and Bird Photography Tour – 3 hours with spectacular water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 3h

A three-hour self-drive tour of Blackstrap Lake and nearby prairie wetlands, using roadside stops for waterbirds, marsh species and photogra...

From CAD 250
Prairie Lakes Birding and Photography Tour – 4 hours with spectacular water birds
Prairie Lakes Birding and Photography Tour – 4 hours with spectacular water birds
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 4h

A four-hour self-drive tour of bird-rich prairie lakes near Saskatoon, visiting deep water, shallow ponds and marsh edges for waterbirds and...

From CAD 250
Weir Birding and Walking Tour in Saskatoon’s river valley 2026
Weir Birding and Walking Tour in Saskatoon’s river valley 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2h

A private two-hour walk beside Saskatoon’s weir, using a spotting scope for river birds before exploring the wooded riverbank for songbird...

From CAD 130
Saskatoon Riverbank Guided Bird Walk – visit Saskatoon’s best bird-rich habitat in 2026
Saskatoon Riverbank Guided Bird Walk – visit Saskatoon’s best bird-rich habitat in 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2h

A two-hour guided walk through Saskatoon riverbank habitat, looking and listening for songbirds, waterbirds and seasonal migrants....

From CAD 65
Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Regina or Prince Albert – Best Forest birds in 2026
Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour from Saskatoon, Regina or Prince Albert – Best Forest birds in 2026
Canada / Saskatoon Private tour 2 days

Tours Niche: Birdwatching Tours and Bird Photography Tours Tours Region: Saskatchewan, Canada Tours Duration: Half-Day, Full-Day, and Multi-...

From CAD 690