Birds of Canada

Canada is home to millions of migrating birds that return to our lakes and forests each spring to nest and reproduce, before returning south in the fall. Many birds of Canada are also year round residents, coping with our harsh winters and deep snow cover.

Complete list of Canadian birds

This list includes 426 recognized Canadian bird species. but a few new species may visit our country each year. The list does not include, for example, the Eurasian wigeon although they are increasingly frequent visitors to our lakes. This page makes a great checklist for the ambitious bird watcher! Read more

Endangered Birds in Canada (COSEWIC)

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) meets at least once a year to assess the status of wildlife species. Since 2004, COSEWIC submits its annual report to the federal Minister of the Environment in late summer. The annual report includes all assessment results for wildlife species that have been assessed, and the birds listed on this page are updated annually. Read more

Owls In Canada

Everyone loves these elusive nocturnal hunters, so we’ve added a page with information and photos on all sixteen Canadian owl species. Read more

Winter Birds In Canada

Birdwatchers are people who enjoy a challenge, and birding Canada in the winter definitely qualifies! Birds may be few and far between in places, but the joy of spotting one after trudging through the snow for hours is more than worth the effort. For those hardy birders who want to tackle Canada in the winter, we’ve prepared a list of birds that huddle through our northern climate. Read more

Bird Migration

Canada is home to millions of migrating birds that return to our lakes and forests each spring to nest and reproduce, before returning south in the fall. Approximately 327 bird species regularly occur in the Boreal Forest– that’s nearly 50% of the species found in the U.S. and Canada. Read more 

How Do Birds Know When To Migrate?

In the spring, the pre-migratory state is characterized by a change in neural centers in the lower part of the brain controlling hunger so that the bird gains weight by overeating. This increased energy income, as much as 40% more than during other times of the year, is stored as large fat deposits under the skin, in flight muscles, and in the abdominal cavity. Small perching birds like sparrows and warblers gain about 1 to 1.5 g per day, and this increased appetite continues over a period of about two weeks prior to migration. Read more