Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Florida Placida White Pelican Island
AO Edited

White Pelican Island

Every winter, this tiny islet on Florida’s Gulf Coast is swarmed by some of the largest birds on the continent.

Placida, Florida

Added By
Luke Fater
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
A white pelican with a bump on its bill is pictured here standing next to the brown pelican, a state symbol, which are often only a third the size of white pelicans.   Courtesy of Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach VCB
A white pelican soaring over Gasparilla Sound at sunset.   Instagram User @bebebarcus
Unlike the much smaller brown pelicans, white pelicans prefer to live and migrate in large groups.   Instagram user @Unpatterned
Unlike the much smaller brown pelicans, white pelicans prefer to live and migrate in large groups.   Instagram user @Unpatterned
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

People flock to Florida for the weather, sandy beaches, protected wildlife habitats, and world-class seafood. For many of the same reasons, thousands of white pelicans from as far away as Western Canada also descend upon Florida’s shallow waterways every fall. The original “snowbirds” can be spotted along both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, but nowhere in greater numbers than Gasparilla Sound.

While it may not look like much, a tiny islet within the sound aptly named White Pelican Island becomes home to one of the largest populations of white pelicans in the southeastern United States from around Thanksgiving to Easter. And for a bird of this size, it’s truly something to behold: White pelicans have the largest wingspan of any bird in North America, an impressive nine feet. They are also one of the heaviest flying birds on earth, weighing up to 20 pounds (not to be confused with brown pelicans, which are about a third their size). Their feeding technique is also something of a spectacle, a group effort wherein adults form a circle and flap their wings against the water to herd fish into the center where feeding pelicans can easily pluck them from the surface. 

This mid-winter escape from colder climes is also when the white pelicans take to breeding. Courtship is built around displays of graceful circular flights, strutting, bowing, and jabbing, as well as a distinct bump that emerges atop their elongated bills. The females will lay one to three eggs in a depression before both parents incubate the eggs with their large webbed feet. Typically only one bird will survive of the hatchlings, which will then fledge at only 10 weeks old—just in time for the long return flight north. 

Related Tags

Beaches Water Wildlife Islands Birds

Know Before You Go

While conservation laws forbid human visitation, White Pelican Island and its seasonal occupants can be witnessed at a distance by water. A number of operators facilitate tours by boat and kayak, though if you wish to go it alone, locals recommend launching your kayak from Placida Park and paddling to the big birds’ winter home. 

Fair warning: this will be quite a distance to paddle, so be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks as well as binoculars to get the best possible look at these majestic gliders. And also remember that the pelicans are only in Gasparilla Sound from late fall to early spring. Outside that window, the pelicans could be anywhere between here and the Northern Territories.

Community Contributors

Added By

lukefater

Edited By

colleencourtney c93b920e

  • colleencourtney c93b920e

Published

April 24, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
White Pelican Island
6499 Gasparilla Road
Placida, Florida, 33946
United States
26.833442, -82.269015
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Historical Cabbage Key Water Tower

Captiva, Florida

miles away

Radioactive Fountain of Youth

Punta Gorda, Florida

miles away

End of the Line Mural

Punta Gorda, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Florida

Florida

United States

Places 435
Stories 47

Nearby Places

Historical Cabbage Key Water Tower

Captiva, Florida

miles away

Radioactive Fountain of Youth

Punta Gorda, Florida

miles away

End of the Line Mural

Punta Gorda, Florida

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Florida

Florida

United States

Places 435
Stories 47

Related Stories and Lists

Adventure Meets Serenity: Top Places to Recharge and Explore

List

Sponsored by GMC Terrain

18 Unexpected Natural Wonders in Florida

List

Sponsored by VISIT FLORIDA

Related Places

  • Puffins thrive off the coast of Maine thanks to a 1970s effort called Project Puffin.

    Rockland, Maine

    Project Puffin Visitor Center

    Learn about the history and hopeful future of Maine’s nesting birds at this interactive Audubon facility.

  • Sunset on Waites Island.

    Waites Island, South Carolina

    Waites Island

    A wildlife-filled oasis just off the coast of Myrtle Beach.

  • Playa Arena Blanca

    Luba, Equatorial Guinea

    Playa de Arena Blanca

    During the dry season, this white-sand beach hosts thousands of breeding butterflies.

  • The Cenntennial Walk - a boradwalk that overloks Pelican Island.  Each new NWR get’s its name inscribed in a chronological boardwalk.

    Vero Beach, Florida

    Pelican Island

    This small island was the first National Wildlife Refuge ever created in the United States.

  • Aerial view of “The Donut.”

    Lincolnshire, England

    The Outer Trial Bank

    "The Donut" was built as part of an expensive, ill-fated engineering endeavor.

  • Ursula Island

    Puerto Princesa, Philippines

    Ursula Island

    This tiny island protects a number of rare bird species by only allowing visitors to set foot on the beach.

  • Blue Zebra chalet

    Salima, Malawi

    Nankoma Island

    The ideal location for an immersive ecological experience.

  • A beach on the island with distinctive rock formations.

    Malpe, India

    Thonsepar

    These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.