American White Pelican
Photo Copyright Larry Dalton and Laura Romin
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4
State (S-rank): S3
Utah Wildlife Action Plan status
- SGCN
External links
Species range
American White Pelicans are widespread across the inland freshwater bodies of North America. They breed in the summer season in the northern parts of central and western North America and winter in southern United States, Mexico and into northern Central America. In Utah, the only known breeding colonies are located in the northern portions of the state, specifically within the Utah Lake/Great Salt Lake ecological complex (Knopf 1979). During spring migration, the breeding season, and fall staging and migration periods, American White Pelicans can be observed foraging at many reservoirs and waterways throughout the state.
Habitat
Hayward et al. (1976) wrote: "The White Pelican occupies somewhat barren islands for resting and nesting and feeds on fish from freshwater bodies nearby." Behle (1981) said that in northeastern Utah this species occurs as a "transient at larger bodies of water." Walters and Sorensen (1983) listed breeding habitats in Utah as "barren islands", "lakes, reservoirs, ponds and sewage lagoons (open water)", and "marshes and wet hummocks", the latter two categories of habitats being utilized in migration as well.
Ecology
American White Pelicans are primarily found in freshwater habitats. They breed on islands and peninsulas, nesting colonies are more sparsely vegetated and open. Pelicans feed primarily on fish and forage collectively driving fish into shallower water and simultaneously dip their bills to scoop up the fish.
Threats or limiting factors
Major threats to American White Pelicans are from direct persecution due to conflicts with other resources like fisheries. Specific to Utah’s breeding population threats are mostly to the security of the nesting colonies. While the colonies are on protected islands managed for wildlife, the lake levels of the Great Salt Lake have allowed land bridges to access the nesting colonies (VanTatenhove 2024). Land predators, and other disturbances cause nesting colony failure.