Birds in Nova Scotia

Explore 163 species found in this region.

Visiting in April? Look out for Barn Swallow and Chipping Sparrow arriving this month, and Eurasian Wigeon and Glaucous Gull depart for the season.

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Great Blue Heron
Great Blue HeronLargest · 137cm
Ranges from the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (7cm) to the Great Blue Heron (137cm)40 families represented

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Showing 123 of 163 species

ResidentLives here year-roundBreedingVisits to breed in warmer monthsNon-breedingVisits outside breeding seasonPassagePasses through during migrationCommonly spottedReported on most outingsUncommonly spottedPresent but not always seenRarely spottedFew sightings each year
Alder Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher

Empidonax alnorumLC

BreedingUncommonly spotted

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Bittern

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosusLC

PassageRarely spotted

May–Jun

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Black Duck

American Black Duck

Anas rubripesLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Crow

American Crow

Corvus brachyrhynchosLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plover

Pluvialis dominicaLC

PassageRarely spotted

Aug–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Herring Gull

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Redstart

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticillaLC

BreedingUncommonly spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
American Robin

American Robin

Turdus migratoriusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

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American Tree Sparrow

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arboreaLC

Non-breedingUncommonly spotted

Nov–Apr

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Arctic Tern

Arctic Tern

Sterna paradisaeaLC

BreedingRarely spotted

May–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Atlantic Puffin

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arcticaVU

PassageRarely spotted

Jun–Aug

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Baird's Sandpiper

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdiiLC

PassageRarely spotted

Aug–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Haliaeetus leucocephalusLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbulaLC

ResidentRarely spotted

May–Dec

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rusticaLC

BreedingUncommonly spotted

Apr–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Barred Owl

Barred Owl

Strix variaLC

ResidentRarely spotted

Dec–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castaneaLC

BreedingRarely spotted

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black Guillemot

Black Guillemot

Cepphus grylleLC

ResidentUncommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-throated Blue Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescensLC

BreedingRarely spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virensLC

BreedingUncommonly spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blackpoll Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striataNT

BreedingUncommonly spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blue Jay

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristataLC

ResidentCommonly spotted

Year-round

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitariusLC

BreedingUncommonly spotted

May–Oct

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
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