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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Alberta

Our list for Alberta has 196 bird species recorded regularly there: 20 residents, 105 summer visitors, 29 winter visitors, 39 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors

The list comes from 7.5 million birdwatchers' records from 2019–2024, shared through the eBird Observation Dataset on GBIF. A bird is listed when it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years and has a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur here than are listed; the months show when it is recorded most years.

Species on our list
196
In October
121
Common
76
Busiest month
May

What's special about Alberta

vs Canada

The birds recorded far more often here than across Canada, as a share of all bird records. These are the ones Alberta is worth visiting for.

  1. Franklin's GullFranklin's Gull10×Summer visitor · 1.7% of records here, 0.16% across Canada
  2. American AvocetAmerican Avocet8.5×Summer visitor · 0.53% of records here, 0.06% across Canada
  3. Black-necked GrebeBlack-necked Grebe8.0×Summer visitor · 0.48% of records here, 0.06% across Canada
  4. Clay-colored SparrowClay-colored Sparrow7.2×Summer visitor · 1.4% of records here, 0.19% across Canada
  5. Marbled GodwitMarbled Godwit6.8×Summer visitor · 0.27% of records here, 0.04% across Canada
  6. Wilson's PhalaropeWilson's Phalarope6.8×Summer visitor · 0.34% of records here, 0.05% across Canada
  7. Cinnamon TealCinnamon Teal6.8×Summer visitor · 0.31% of records here, 0.05% across Canada
  8. Grey PartridgeGrey Partridge6.3×Winter visitor · 0.25% of records here, 0.04% across Canada

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Common RavenCommon Raven4.07%
  2. MallardMallard3.92%
  3. Canada GooseCanada Goose3.70%
  4. Blue JayBlue Jay3.18%
  5. Ring-billed GullRing-billed Gull2.98%
  6. Northern FlickerNorthern Flicker2.85%

Arriving now

  1. Rough-legged HawkRough-legged HawkWinter visitorSep 0.02% → Oct 0.50%
  2. Bohemian WaxwingBohemian WaxwingWinter visitorSep 0.03% → Oct 0.38%
  3. Common RedpollCommon RedpollWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.22%
  4. Snow BuntingSnow BuntingWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.13%
  5. Greater ScaupGreater ScaupWinter visitorSep 0.02% → Oct 0.10%
  6. Pacific LoonPacific LoonPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.07%

Share of all bird records in Alberta in October, 2019–2024. “Arriving now” are the birds whose share rises most from last month. Each month links to that month’s page.

Near you this week

The birds most likely around your town or postcode right now, from the same records, for a square about 9 km across.

The bird calendar for Alberta

Month by month

When each bird is around, through the year. The darker the square, the closer that month is to the bird’s busiest. Filter by summer or winter visitors to see the seasons turn over.

The year in Alberta

Records by month
Bird records in Alberta by month, 2019–2024
January258,963
February230,031
March345,219
April829,397
May1,776,893
June1,183,234
July709,058
August702,165
September595,606
October438,170
November249,003
December221,639

May has the most records (1.8 million). Records follow birdwatchers as well as birds: a busy month means more people out looking, as well as more birds passing through.

By family

12 of 28
All 28 families in Alberta

How common

More of Canada

All of Canada

All 196 birds, A to Z

Show all 196 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Alberta known for?

Compared with the rest of Canada, Alberta stands out for Franklin's Gull, American Avocet, Black-necked Grebe and Clay-colored Sparrow. Each is recorded at least 7.2 times as often here as across Canada, as a share of all bird records (2019–2024).

How many birds are on Birdfact's list for Alberta?

196 species, each recorded regularly in Alberta (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 20 residents, 105 summer visitors, 29 winter visitors, 39 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Alberta, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Alberta in October?

121 species on our list for Alberta are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Common Raven, Mallard, Canada Goose, Blue Jay and Ring-billed Gull.

What are the most common birds in Alberta?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in Alberta are Common Raven, House Sparrow, Canada Goose, Downy Woodpecker and Mallard.

Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made

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