BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
American White Pelican
| Scientific Name: | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin, 1789 | ||||||||||
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| English Name: | American White Pelican | ||||||||||
| Classification / Taxonomy | |||||||||||
| Scientific Name - Concept Reference: | American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/. | ||||||||||
| Classification Level: | Species | ||||||||||
| Species Group: | Vertebrate Animal | ||||||||||
| Species Code: | B-AWPE | ||||||||||
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| Conservation Status / Legal Designation | |||||||||||
| Global Status: | G4 (Apr 2016) | ||||||||||
| Provincial Status: | S1B (Mar 2022) | ||||||||||
| BC List: | Red | ||||||||||
| Provincial FRPA list: | Y (Jun 2006) | ||||||||||
| Provincial Wildlife Act: | Endangered | ||||||||||
| COSEWIC Status: | Not at Risk (May 1987) | ||||||||||
| SARA Schedule: | |||||||||||
| General Status Canada: | 3 - Sensitive (2005) | ||||||||||
| Migratory Bird Convention Act: | |||||||||||
| Ecology & Life History | |||||||||||
| General Description: | |||||||||||
| Subspecies Comments: | No subspecies of the American White Pelican are recognized (Evans and Knopf 1993, Cannings 1998). | ||||||||||
| Identification Comments: | One of the largest birds in North America, this mostly white bird is 150 to 188 cm in length (wingspan of 240 to 300 cm), with black wingtips and a long, orangey-pink pouched bill (Godfrey 1986). The bill has a conspicuous gular pouch that is used to hold captured fish and sieve them from water. During the breeding season an upright horny plate grows on the top portion of the culmen. Feet and legs are a bright orange; bare skin found around the eyes is orange and eyelids are red. Adult males and females are similar in appearance; females are noticeably smaller in size. Immatures are similar to adults; however, feathers are typically more greyish and bill and feet duller. | ||||||||||
| Global Reproduction Comments: | Egg laying occurs May-July in Texas, late April-June (mainly before June) in Utah. In Canada, nesting begins in May or June; hatching in the first nests sometimes precedes initiation of the last clutches. In Manitoba, flocks first flew over colony sites 34-38 days before hatching. Clutch size is commonly 2, but pairs rarely fledge more than one young. Incubation, by both adults, averages 31-32 days, Young are tended by adults, leave nest in about 21-28 days, join other young in group, fledge at 9-10 weeks, and attain sexual maturity usually at 3 years. Mortality of eggs and chicks generally is high. Female generally does not renest following clutch loss. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Reproduction Comments: | American White Pelicans are colonial breeders, with nesting generally synchronized across an entire colony (Baicich and Harrison 1997). Pelican colonies are often mixed with nesting Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), as is the case at Stum Lake with approximately 10 nesting cormorant pairs (Fraser et al. 1999). Pelican courtship begins shortly after birds arrive at the nesting island. In British Columbia, nest building is typically initiated within 3 or 4 days after pelicans arrive at the nesting colony (Campbell et al. 1990). During courtship, the female "bows" to the male by raising her breast. The male responds by approaching closely, expands his pouch, extends his neck over the female and sways his head. Pairs may also perform a strutting walk, often joined by other pelicans. Both adults build the nest over a period of 3-5 days (Baicich and Harrison 1997). The nest is typically a shallow, scraped depression 0.6 - 0.9 m across, rimmed with dirt and rubbish, or with stems, branches, wood bits and fine material. In British Columbia, clutches are laid between early May and late July, peaking during the second and third weeks of May (Dunbar 1984). Clutch size ranges from 1 - 4 eggs, with an average clutch size of 1.95 in years with no disturbance, and 1.69 in years with disturbance (Dunbar 1984). Although a mode of two eggs is laid, only 1% of nests are likely to fledge two young, since the second-hatched chick is killed either directly by the elder sibling or indirectly through starvation (Evans 1996). Incubation period is 29-36 days and is done by both sexes (Baicich and Harrison 1997). Adults brood young for 15-18 days and are fed mostly a liquefied diet of regurgitated fish matter. Most young in British Columbia are hatched by late June and are fledged by late July to early August (Campbell et al. 1990). Mobile young pelicans form overnight creches (close aggregations of juveniles) beginning at about 17 days of age, after which both parents begin leaving the nest at the same time to forage (Evans 1984). Creching is thought to provide both thermoregulatory (i.e. reduce resting metabolic rate by at least 16% at 10 degrees C) and antipredator advantages to young juveniles (Evans 1984). Young typically fledge at 7-10 weeks of age (Baicich and Harrison 1997). The mean productivity of the Stum Lake breeding colony since monitoring began is 0.62 pre-fledged young per nest, however, the annual productivity varied considerably, from lows of zero in 1960 and 2001 to highs of 1.48 pre-fledged young per nest in 1992 (VanSpall et al. 2005). | ||||||||||
| Global Ecology Comments: | Gregarious. Significant predators at various breeding sites include gulls, coyotes, and probably large corvids and other mammals. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Ecology Comments: | Pelicans actively forage at various lake and streams after sunset and into the early morning hours. During the late morning and afternoon pelicans are either flying from one site to another or are loafing at specific sites that afford protection from potential predators. | ||||||||||
| Migration Characteristics: (Global / Provincial) | |||||||||||
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Nonmigrant: Local Migrant: Distant Migrant: Within Borders Migrant: |
Y / N N / Y Y / N na / N |
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| Global Migration Comments: | Most are long-distance migrants; resident along Gulf coast of Texas and Tamaulipas (Johnsgard 1993). Migration corridors are mostly inland. Winter range of breeders from North Dakota and Saskatchewan includes the western Gulf coast; some birds from Saskatchewan have been recovered on the Pacific coast of Mexico and El Salvador; most breeders from western Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and British Columbia winter in California and western Mexico (see Johnsgard 1993). Maximum distance between nesting site and breeding season foraging area can be 100 to 300 kilometers (Low et al. 1950, Marshall and Giles 1953, Lingle and Sloan 1980; also see Johnsgard 1993). |
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| Provincial Mobility & Migration Comments: | American White Pelicans exhibit a very strong fidelity to breeding sites, returning to the same nesting islands annually (Evans and Knopf 1993). Human or natural disturbance at nesting colonies during the previous year typically does not deter birds from returning the following year. Between 1973 and 2002, 66 leg bands and 18 patagial markers were recovered or resighted, mostly from Washington (20%), Stum Lake (18%), California (17%), Oregon (14%) and other locations in British Columbia (11%). Smaller percentages of the returns were from Mexico (8%) and Idaho (6%)(VanSpall et al. 2005). Pelicans are highly mobile (up to 50 km/hr) and efficient flyers (gliding, soaring, flight formations) allowing them to shift foraging sites to take advantage of temporarily abundant food supplies (Evans and Knopf 1993). Pelicans routinely fly 50-165 km from their nesting islands to feed at outlying foraging lakes (Johnson and Sloan 1978, Evans and Knopf 1993, Derby and Lovvorn 1997, Harper et al. 2004). American White Pelicans have large home ranges. In British Columbia, the home range of 4 male pelicans monitored for one or two years during the breeding season ranged from 188 and 6800 km2, based on the minimum convex polygon method (Harper et al. 2004). | ||||||||||
| Habitats: (Type / Subtype / Dependence) |
Lakes / Lake / Obligate
Lakes / Pond/Open Water / Obligate Ocean / Intertidal Marine / Facultative - occasional use Ocean / Sheltered Waters - Marine / Facultative - occasional use Ocean / Subtidal Marine / Facultative - occasional use Other Unique Habitats / Beach / Facultative - occasional use Stream/River / Stream/River / Facultative - occasional use Wetland / Marsh / Facultative - occasional use |
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| Global Habitat Comments: | Habitat includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, bays, and open marshes, sometimes inshore marine habitats. Pelicans rest/roost on islands and peninsulas. Nests usually are on islands or peninsulas (natural or dredge spoils) in brackish or freshwater lakes, or on ephemeral islands in shallower wetlands as in the northern Great Plains or on the Texas coast (knopf and Evans 2004). Eggs are laid on the ground in a slight depression or on a mound of earth and debris 24-36 inches across, 15-20 inches high (Terres 1980), usually on low flat, or gently sloping terrain. Nest sites usually are in open areas but often near vegetation, driftwood, or large rocks (Spendelow and Patton 1988). Habitats used in winter are mainly coastal but also include also inland waters such as the Salton Sea and some rivers with open water (Knopf and Evans 2004). Suitable sand bars and similar sites for roosting or loafing are important components of winter habitat (Knopf and Evans 2004). | ||||||||||
| Provincial Habitat Comments: | BREEDING - Nests are built on islands in lakes with little natural or human disturbance (Evans and Knopf 1993). Nesting islands are typically flat, with little vegetation or large ground debris present due to physical disturbance by pelicans and high soil acidity from guano. Prey fish populations are not necessarily present at nesting lakes, but stable water levels are important to maintain productive nesting habitats. Rising water levels can result in flooding of nest sites, and falling water levels can reduce the effectiveness of the water barrier that is used as security from terrestrial predators. The only breeding colony in British Columbia is located at Stum Lake on the Fraser Plateau, a shallow (mean depth of 2.5 m), slightly alkaline (pH=8.6), 900 ha lake at 1220 m elevation (Campbell et al. 1990). Nesting occurs at variable levels on four different islands at Stum Lake (Dunbar 1984, Campbell et al. 1990, Harper and Steciw 2000). Three of the four islands are unforested and very sparsely vegetated, but one contains well-spaced spruce and birch trees. These nesting islands are located 80 to 600 m from shore, are low in profile (up to 6.7 m in height), and range in size from 90 to 1000 m2. Nests are generally closely spaced and situated on flat areas, often adjacent to dead trees, logs and rocks (Dunbar 1984). Most nests are made from mounds of dirt, sticks, reeds and debris, although occasionally shallow depressions in sand are used (Campbell et al. 1990). The nests are loosely lined with feathers, twigs, fish bones or small stones. FORAGING - American White Pelicans forage in slow-moving streams and rivers, lakes, permanent or semi-permanent marshes, reservoirs and, to a limited extent during migration, coastal bays, estuaries, and near-shore marine sites (Johnsgard 1993). Foraging waters range from nutrient-rich to nutrient-poor, muddy to clear, with various shorelines of mud, sand, gravel, and rock (Evans and Knopf 1993). In British Columbia, pelicans forage in shallows along the shorelines of lakes, at creek mouths, in shallow open water in the middle of lakes, and in streams (Dunbar 1984, Harper and VanSpall 2001, Harper et al. 2004). Stream foraging, which was only observed in the spring, is thought to be associated with the spawning activities of coarse fish such as longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus). Inlets and outlet streams are a significant component of pelican foraging habitat, not only because their deltas are often used as loafing habitat, but also because these streams provide foraging opportunities, particularly when fish are spawning. In British Columbia, the average elevation of 19 main foraging lakes is 1004 m above sea level (Harper and Steciw 2000). Puntzi Lake is the largest of these foraging lakes with a surface area of 1706 ha. The other foraging lakes are much smaller, and are relatively similar in size, averaging 321 ha in surface area and 4 m in depth (Harper and Steciw 2000). Most of these lakes are fairly alkaline in nature with 8 of 11 having pH readings from 8.5 to 9.2. Loafing areas are important as stopovers for flights from foraging lakes to the nesting colony where pelicans rest, preen and wait for favourable flight conditions. In British Columbia, the most commonly used loafing sites are sand bars and mud flat islands at the deltas of major inlets and floating vegetation along the marshy edges of shallow lakes (Harper and Steciw 2000). Deadfall, partly submerged logs, and shorelines are also used for loafing (Wood 1990). | ||||||||||
| Food Habits: |
Piscivore: Adult, Immature
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| Global Food Habits Comments: | Diet includes mainly fishes of little commercial value (e.g., carp, perch, catfish, suckers, sticklebacks, minnows) (Terres 1980), also locally trout, centrarchids, tiger salamanders, or crayfishes. Locally, tiger salamanders may be important as food for chicks. Foraging often occurs in shallow water. Pelicans sometimes forage cooperatively, forming a semicircle and herding fishes. | ||||||||||
| Provincial Food Habits Comments: | American White Pelicans are considered to be foraging generalists, feeding on a variety of different fish species over their North American range (Lingle and Sloan 1980, Evans and Knopf 1993, Findholt and Anderson 1995b, reviewed in Harper 1999). Foraging success at British Columbia lakes averaged 0.58 captures bird-1 min-1 for actively foraging pelicans. Prey-capture rates among different lakes varied from 0.18 to 0.87 captures bird-1 min-1 but these differences were not statistically significant (Harper et al 2004). Species commonly found at foraging lakes included Northern Squawfish (Ptychocheilus oregonensis), Longnose Suckers (Catostomus catostomus), Lake Chub (Couesius plumbeus), Redside Shiners and Peamouth (Harper et al. 2004). Based on direct observation of creek spawning, Longnose Suckers were the primary prey of creekmouth foraging pelicans at Nulki, Tzenzaicut and Bouchie Lakes early in the breeding season (May-June). Minnow-trap, beach seine and gillnet sampling indicated Lake Chub were the primary prey of pelicans foraging in shallow waters of Pantage Lake and Owen Lake (only along the shoreline). Gillnet and minnow trap sampling at Tachick Lake indicated potential prey species at shoreline foraging areas were dominated by Northern Squawfish, Peamouth and Rainbow Trout, but also included Redside Shiners and Longnose Suckers. Lake Chub and other minnow species were pursued in shallow waters either near the shoreline of deeper lakes, or in the middle of very shallow lakes. Based on ground observations and beach-seining, pelicans at Owen Lake foraged on Lake Chub in shallow water very close to the shoreline. At Pantage Lake minnow-trapping and gillnetting indicated the primary prey species available was Lake Chub, although Longnose Suckers are also present in smaller numbers. In Pantage Creek beach-seining indicated Northern Squawfish were the most abundant fish in an area used by foraging pelicans. Pelicans at Nulki Lake were observed foraging for Longnose Suckers at the mouth of Corkscrew Creek in late June 2000. Near the end of July pelicans no longer foraged at the creekmouth at Nulki Lake but foraged in shallow waters at the west end of the lake. Similar shoreline foraging was observed at the same time in Tachick Lake. Lakes where pelicans were observed foraging at the mouths of streams on spawning Longnose Suckers included Tanilkul Lake (late May), Bouchie Lake (late May), Tzenzaicut Lake (mid-June). Lakes where pelicans were observed foraging within the lake itself (either near the shoreline in deeper lakes or in the middle of very shallow lakes) included Owen Lake, 130 Mile Lake, Chilcotin Lake (July and August), Alkali Lake (early May and late June), Pantage Lake (July and August), Anahim and Abuntlet Lake (July and August). | ||||||||||
| Global Phenology: |
Circadian: Adult, Immature
Diurnal: Adult, Immature |
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| Global Phenology Comments: | Feeding activity generally peaks in morning and late afternoon or evening. In some areas, foraging occurs at night as well as diurnally (McMahon and Evans 1992). | ||||||||||
| Provincial Phenology: (1st half of month/ 2nd half of month) |
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| Provincial Phenology Comments: | Most pelicans arrive on the Fraser Plateau in mid April; earliest arrival 10 March (Campbell et al. 1990). Pelicans leave for their wintering grounds in California and Mexico between from September to mid October (Dunbar 1984, Campbell et al. 1990, Harper et al. 2004). | ||||||||||
| Colonial Breeder: | Y | ||||||||||
| Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): | 158/ / 7500 | ||||||||||
| Elevation (m) (min / max): |
Global:
Provincial: 0 / 1220 |
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| Distribution | |||||||||||
| Endemic: | N | ||||||||||
| Global Range Comment: | Nesting occurs locally in south-central British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and southwestern Ontario south through northern California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota; also on the central coast of Texas and sporadically in east-central Mexico (Tamaulipas) and central Durango, Mexico (Johnsgard 1993, Knopf and Evans 2004). During the nonbreeding season the range includes Florida, Gulf of Mexico coast south to northern Yucatan Peninsula, and central California south to southern Baja California and through western mainland Mexico to Nicaragua (AOU 1983, Knopf and Evans 2004). In North America, the highest winter density occurs in southern Texas (Root 1988); other important areas include the Gulf coast and Everglades region of Florida. In summer, white pelicans sometimes wander north of the usual range. Coded range extent refers to breeding range. |
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| Authors / Contributors | |||||||||||
| Global Information Author: | Hammerson, G. | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Dec 03, 2008 | ||||||||||
| Provincial Information Author: | W. Harper | ||||||||||
| Last Updated: | Mar 15, 2008 | ||||||||||
| References and Related Literature | |||||||||||
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp. |
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Baicich, P.J., and C.J.O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs and nestlings of North American birds. Second edition. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. 347pp. |
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Blood, D.A. 1993. American White Pelican. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp. |
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Bunnell, F.L. et al. 1981. Effects of disturbance on the productivity and numbers of White Pelicans in British Columbia - observations and models. Colonial Waterbirds 4:2-11. |
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Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I.McT. Cowan, J.M. Cooper, G. Kaiser, and M.C.E. McNall. 1990. The Birds of British Columbia, Vol. 1. Nonpasserines: Introduction, Loons through Waterfowl. Royal B.C. Mus. in association with Environ. Can., Can. Wildl. Serv. 514pp. |
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Crivelli, A. J., and R. W. Schreiber. 1984. Status of the Pelecanidae. Biological Conservation 30:147-156. |
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Derby, C.E., and J.R. Lovvorn. 1997. Predation on fish by cormorants and pelicans in a cold-water river: a field and modeling study. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 54:1480-1493. |
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Doran, P.J., et al. 1999. American white pelican, (Pelicanus erythrorhynchos). In E.M. Larsen and N. Nordstrom, ed. Management Recommendations for Washington's Priority Species, Volume IV: Birds [Online]. Available on the internet at: http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/hab/phs/vol4/amwpelic.htm |
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Dorr, B., et al. 2002. Sexual dimorphism in culmen length as a tool to determine the sex of individual American White Pelicans. In Symposium on the biology and conservation of American White Pelicans, Pacific Seabird Group 29th Annual Meeting, Santa Barbara, CA. (abstract only). |
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Dunbar, D.L. 1984. The breeding ecology and management of white pelicans at Stum Lake, B.C. Fish and Wildl. Rep. No. R-6., B.C. Minist. Environ., Surrey. 85pp. |
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Ealey, D. 1979. The distribution, foraging behaviour, and allied activities of the white pelican in the Athabasca Oil Sands area. Prepared for the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program by Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service. AOSERP Report 83. 70pp. |
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Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1992. Birds in Jeopardy: the Imperiled and Extinct Birds of the United States and Canada, Including Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 259 pp. |
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Evans, R. M., and K. J. Cash. 1985. Early spring flights of American white pelicans: timing and functional role in attracting others to the breeding colony. Condor 87:252-255. |
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Evans, R. M., and K. J. Cash. 1985. Early spring flights of American white pelicans: timing and functional role in attracting others to the breeding colony. Condor 87:252-255. |
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Evans, R.M. 1984. Some causal and functional correlates of creching in young White Pelicans. Canadian Journal of Zoology 62:814-819. |
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Evans, R.M. 1996. Hatching asynchrony and survival of insurance offspring in an obligate brood reducing species, the American White Pelican. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology 39:203-209. |
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Evans, R.M. and F.L. Knopf. 1993. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). In A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The Birds of North America, No. 57. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, DC. |
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Findholt, S. L., and K. L. Diem. 1988. Status and distribution of American white pelican nesting colonies in Wyoming: an update. Great Basin Nat. 48:285-289. |
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Findholt, S.L., and S.H. Anderson. 1995. Diet and prey use patterns of the American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) nesting at Pathfinder Reservoir, Wyoming. Colonial Waterbirds 18:58-68. |
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Findholt, S.L., and S.H. Anderson. 1995b. Foraging areas and feeding habitat selection of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) nesting at Pathfinder Reservoir, Wyoming. Colonial Waterbirds 18:47-57. |
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Fraser, D.F., W.L. Harper, S.G. Cannings, and J.M. Cooper. 1999. Rare birds of British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch and Resour. Inventory Branch, Victoria, BC. 244pp. |
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Godfrey, W.E. 1986. The Birds of Canada, rev. ed. Natl. Mus. Can., Ottawa, ON. 595pp. |
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Harper, W.L. 1999b. Proposal and study design for maintaining foraging habitat for the American White Pelican in British Columbia. Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and the BC Ministry of Environment, Land and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 23pp. |
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Harper, W.L. 2004. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos). Accounts and Measures for Managing Identified Wildlife - Accounts V. 2004. Forest and Range Practices Act, Victoria, BC. |
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Harper, W.L., and J. Steciw. 2000. American White Pelican foraging lakes in British Columbia: surveys and preliminary management recommendations. Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC, and the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 97pp. |
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Harper, W.L., and K. VanSpall. 2001. Foraging ecology of the American White Pelican in British Columbia: two year progress report - 2000. HCTF report by Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and the BC Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 97pp. |
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Harper, W.L., and K. VanSpall. 2002. Foraging ecology of the American White Pelican in British Columbia: year three progress report - 2001. HCTF report by Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. 34pp. |
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Harper, W.L., and K. VanSpall. 2004. Foraging ecology of endangered American White Pelicans in British Columbia. Abstract and poster presentation. T.D. Hooper, ed. Proceedings of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference. March 2-6, 2004, Victoria BC. 1p. |
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Harper, W.L., K. VanSpall, and J. Steciw. 2004. Foraging ecology of the American White Pelican in British Columbia: final summary report (1999-2002). HCTF report by Osiris Wildlife Consulting, Victoria, BC and Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Williams Lake, BC. 248pp. |
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Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio. |
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Johnsgard, P. A. 1993. Cormorants, darters, and pelicans of the world. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, D.C. xiv + 445 pp. |
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Johnsgard, P.A. 1993. Cormorants, darters, and pelicans of the world. Smithsonian Institute Press, Washington, D.C. xiv + 445pp. |
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Johnson, R.F.Jr., and Sloan, N.F. 1978. White Pelican production and survival of young at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. Wilson Bulletin 90(3):346-352. |
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King, D.T., et al. 1998. Two capture techniques for American White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons. Colonial Waterbirds 21:258-260. |
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Kuiken, T., et al. 1998. An epidemic of Newcastle disease in double-crested cormorants from Saskatchewan. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 34:457-471. |
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Lingle, G. R., and N. F. Sloan. 1980. Food habits of white pelicans during 1976 and 1977 at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. Wilson Bulletin 92:123-125. |
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Lingle, G.R. and N.F. Sloan. 1980. Food habits of white pelicans during 1976 and 1977 at Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North Dakota. Wilson Bulletin 92:123-125. |
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Low, J. B., L. Kay, and D. I. Rasmussen. 1950. Recent observations on the white pelican on Gunnison Island, Great Salt Lake, Utah. Auk 67:345-356. |
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Marshall, D. B., and L. W. Giles. 1953. Recent observations of birds of Anaho Island, Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Condor 55:105-116. |
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McMahon, B.F. and R.M. Evans. 1992. Nocturnal foraging in the American White Pelican. Condor 94(1):101-109. |
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McMahon, B.F., and R.M. Evans. 1992. Nocturnal foraging in the American White Pelican. Condor 94(1):101-109. |
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McMahon, B.F., and R.M. Evans. 1992b. Foraging strategies of American White Pelicans. Behaviour 120:69-89. |
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Munro, J.A. 1930. Miscellaneous notes on some British Columbia birds. Condor 32:65-68. |
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Munro, J.A., and I.McT. Cowan. 1947. A review of the bird fauna of British Columbia. B.C. Prov. Mus. Spec. Publ. No. 2, Victoria. |
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O'Malley, J.B.E., and R.M. Evans. 1982. Flock formation in White Pelicans. Canadian Journal of Zoology 60:1024-1031. |
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O'Malley, J.B.E., and R.M. Evans. 1984. Activity of American White Pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, at a traditional foraging area in Manitoba. Canadian Field-Naturalist 98:451-457. |
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Pelican Files. 2002. A total of 1905 records from all years up to 2002 based on all sources including aerial and ground surveys and credible observation counts from the public. Wildlife Branch, Ministry of Environment, Williams Lake, BC. |
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Racey, K. 1933. White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) in British Columbia. Auk 50:205. |
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Resource Inventory Committee. 1998. Standards for components of British Columbia's Biodiversity: Inventory Methods for Colonial-Nesting Freshwater Birds: Eared Grebe, Red-Necked Grebe, Western Grebe, American White Pelican, and Great Blue Heron, No. 8, version 2.0. British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC. |
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Roberts, A. 1987. Feeding lakes of White Pelicans on the Fraser Plateau. Unpublished report prepared for the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC 8pp. |
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Spendelow, J. A. and S. R. Patton. 1988. National Atlas of Coastal Waterbird Colonies in the Contiguous United States: 1976-1982. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Biological Report 88(5). x + 326 pp. |
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Steciw, J. 1999. Results of aerial surveys of pelican foraging lakes in 1999. Species Inventory Files, Ministry of Environment, Williams Lake, BC. |
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United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1984. Guidelines for the management of the American white pelican. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, OR. |
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VanSpall, K., J. Steciw, and J.A. Young. 2005. Fifty years of American White Pelican breeding at Stum Lake, British Columbia. Waterbirds. 58(sp1):18-22 |
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Vermeer, K. 1970. Distribution and size of colonies of White Pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, in Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology 48:1029-1032. |
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Wood, M.D. 1990. Summer foraging distribution and habitat use of White Pelicans on the Fraser Plateau, B.C. Tech. Rep., B.C. Environ., Fish and Wildl., Williams Lake. viii+155pp. |
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Wood, M.D. 1991. Summer foraging distribution and habitat use of White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on the Fraser Plateau, British Columbia. Unpublished report, BISC 498. Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC. 40pp. |
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2008. Species Summary: Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Apr 22, 2026).