Birds to See in Nova Scotia in November
130 bird species on our list for Nova Scotia are recorded regularly in November
Of these, the most often recorded are American Crow, Blue Jay, American Herring Gull, Song Sparrow and Common Starling. New this month: Goldeneye, Iceland Gull, American Tree Sparrow and Common Redpoll and 11 more.
On the move in November
GBIF · NovArriving
At their peak
Ring-billed GullBusiest month of the year · All year
Bonaparte's GullBusiest month of the year · Jul–Mar
Red-throated LoonBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
Hooded MerganserBusiest month of the year · All year
Snow BuntingBusiest month of the year · Oct–Mar
Orange-crowned WarblerBusiest month of the year · Oct–Apr
From Nova Scotia’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 130 birds in November
130 birds
American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchosResidentCommon41–53 cmRecorded all year · 6.93% in Nov
Blue JayCyanocitta cristataResidentCommon25–30 cmRecorded all year · 5.17% in Nov
American Herring GullLarus smithsonianusResidentCommon53–65 cmRecorded all year · 4.97% in Nov
Song SparrowMelospiza melodiaResidentCommon12–17 cmRecorded all year · 3.66% in Nov
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 3.56% in Nov
American Black DuckAnas rubripesResidentCommon54–59 cmRecorded all year · 2.90% in Nov
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.78% in Nov
Mourning DoveZenaida macrouraResidentCommon23–34 cmRecorded all year · 2.59% in Nov- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensisWinter visitorCommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 2.15% in Nov
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Nov
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 2.04% in Nov
Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Nov
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusResidentCommon70–102 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Nov
American RobinTurdus migratoriusSummer visitorCommon20–28 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Nov
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 1.87% in Nov
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.76% in Nov
White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensisResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.32% in Nov
Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescensResidentCommon14–18 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Nov
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 1.14% in Nov
Northern FlickerColaptes auratusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Nov
Common LoonGavia immerResidentCommon66–91 cmRecorded all year · 1.05% in Nov
EiderSomateria mollissimaResidentCommon50–71 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Nov
Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosusResidentCommon18–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.99% in Nov
Red-breasted MerganserMergus serratorWinter visitorCommon52–58 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.83% in Nov
Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensisWinter visitorCommon45–65 cmRecorded all year · 0.80% in Nov
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Nov- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphiaWinter visitorCommon28–38 cmRegularly Jul–Mar · 0.73% in Nov
- Red-throated LoonGavia stellataWinter visitorCommon53–69 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.69% in Nov
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusWinter visitorCommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Nov
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalisWinter visitorCommon37–60 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.62% in Nov
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataWinter visitorCommon48–60 cmRecorded all year · 0.60% in Nov
Northern GannetMorus bassanusSummer visitorCommon87–100 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.54% in Nov- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisWinter visitorCommon15–18 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.54% in Nov
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Nov
Great Blue HeronArdea herodiasSummer visitorCommon91–137 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.48% in Nov
Iceland GullLarus glaucoidesWinter visitorCommon52–60 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.46% in Nov
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaWinter visitorCommon14–17 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.43% in Nov
Common MerganserMergus merganserWinter visitorCommon58–68 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Nov
Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusSummer visitorCommon17–23 cmRegularly Feb–Dec · 0.40% in Nov
Common GrackleQuiscalus quisculaSummer visitorCommon28–34 cmRegularly Mar–Nov · 0.39% in Nov
GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaWinter visitorCommon40–51 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.37% in Nov
Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Dec · 0.37% in Nov
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaPassage migrantCommon29–40 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.36% in Nov
Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgianaSummer visitorCommon12–15 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.35% in Nov
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusWinter visitorCommon11–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Nov
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaSummer visitorCommon27–30 cmRegularly May–Feb · 0.34% in Nov
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatusWinter visitorUncommon24–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.33% in Nov
Turkey VultureCathartes auraResidentUncommon62–81 cmRecorded all year · 0.32% in Nov
Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaResidentUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.31% in Nov
Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatusResidentUncommon40–49 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Nov
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumSummer visitorCommon15–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.27% in Nov
Northern PintailAnas acutaWinter visitorUncommon59–76 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.23% in Nov
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentUncommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Nov
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisWinter visitorUncommon16–20 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.22% in Nov
Horned GrebePodiceps auritusWinter visitorUncommon31–38 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.21% in Nov
Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellusResidentCommon41–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Nov- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataWinter visitorUncommon11–14 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.20% in Nov
Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegenaWinter visitorUncommon40–50 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.19% in Nov
Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottosResidentUncommon21–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Nov
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorCommon24–33 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Nov
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.18% in Nov
DunlinCalidris alpinaWinter visitorUncommon16–22 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.18% in Nov
Greater ScaupAythya marilaWinter visitorCommon39–56 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.18% in Nov
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboWinter visitorUncommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Nov
Baltimore OrioleIcterus galbulaResidentUncommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Nov
SanderlingCalidris albaWinter visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.15% in Nov
Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.14% in Nov
Cattle EgretArdea ibisPassage migrantUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.13% in Nov
Ruby-crowned KingletCorthylio calendulaSummer visitorCommon9–11 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.12% in Nov
RazorbillAlca tordaResidentUncommon38–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Nov
Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisWinter visitorUncommon35–43 cmRegularly Oct–Jun · 0.12% in Nov
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusWinter visitorUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.12% in Nov
GadwallMareca streperaResidentUncommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.12% in Nov
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–Mar · 0.10% in Nov
White-rumped SandpiperCalidris fuscicollisPassage migrantUncommon15–18 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.10% in Nov
Chipping SparrowSpizella passerinaSummer visitorUncommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusWinter visitorUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Nov
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusWinter visitorUncommon38–44 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Nov
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorUncommon42–51 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.09% in Nov
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusWinter visitorUncommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Nov
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusSummer visitorCommon14–18 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.09% in Nov
Wood DuckAix sponsaResidentUncommon47–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Nov
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataResidentUncommon44–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Nov
Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podicepsSummer visitorUncommon31–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Nov
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Nov
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaWinter visitorUncommon15–19 cmRegularly Oct–Jul · 0.07% in Nov
Common RedpollAcanthis flammeaWinter visitorUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.07% in Nov
Barred OwlStrix variaResidentUncommon43–50 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Nov
Great White EgretArdea albaSummer visitorUncommon80–104 cmRegularly Apr–Jan · 0.06% in Nov
Palm WarblerSetophaga palmarumSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.06% in Nov
Snow GooseAnser caerulescensWinter visitorRare69–84 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.05% in Nov
Purple SandpiperCalidris maritimaWinter visitorUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Nov–May · 0.04% in Nov
Sandhill CraneAntigone canadensisSummer visitorRare80–122 cmRegularly Mar–Dec · 0.04% in Nov
Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifronsPassage migrantRare64–81 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.04% in Nov
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–Feb · 0.04% in Nov
Little AukAlle alleWinter visitorUncommon18–21 cmRegularly Nov–Feb · 0.04% in Nov
DickcisselSpiza americanaWinter visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Aug–Feb · 0.04% in Nov
Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsiiPassage migrantRare53–76 cmRegularly Oct–Dec · 0.03% in Nov
Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapillaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.03% in Nov
Great Horned OwlBubo virginianusResidentUncommon46–63 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallidaWinter visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Sep–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
Eastern BluebirdSialia sialisResidentUncommon16–21 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Nov
Short-eared OwlAsio flammeusWinter visitorUncommon34–43 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
Marsh WrenCistothorus palustrisResidentRare10–14 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.03% in Nov
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosPassage migrantUncommon19–23 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.03% in Nov
Rough-legged HawkButeo lagopusWinter visitorUncommon46–59 cmRegularly Oct–Apr · 0.03% in Nov
Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolniiSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Nov
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusPassage migrantUncommon46–51 cmRegularly Jul–Dec · 0.02% in Nov
Brent GooseBranta berniclaPassage migrantUncommon55–66 cmRegularly Oct–May · 0.02% in Nov
Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchusWinter visitorRare60–75 cmRegularly Oct–Mar · 0.02% in Nov
Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusWinter visitorUncommon52–71 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.02% in Nov
White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysWinter visitorUncommon15–16 cmRegularly Sep–May · 0.02% in Nov
House FinchHaemorhous mexicanusResidentRare13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.02% in Nov
Great ShearwaterArdenna gravisPassage migrantUncommon43–51 cmRegularly Jun–Nov · 0.02% in Nov
Long-billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Sep–Dec · 0.02% in Nov
Hudsonian GodwitLimosa haemasticaPassage migrantUncommon36–42 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.02% in Nov
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWinter visitorUncommon40–47 cmRegularly Nov–Mar · 0.02% in Nov
Lark SparrowChondestes grammacusPassage migrantRare15–17 cmRegularly Aug–Jan · 0.02% in Nov
Little EgretEgretta garzettaPassage migrantRare55–65 cmRegularly Nov · 0.02% in Nov
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusResidentRare25–30 cmRegularly Nov–Jan · 0.02% in Nov
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusWinter visitorUncommon62–68 cmRegularly Nov–Apr · 0.01% in Nov
Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalisPassage migrantRare20–24 cmRegularly Sep–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaPassage migrantUncommon24–28 cmRegularly Aug–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
FulmarFulmarus glacialisSummer visitorRare45–50 cmRegularly May–Nov · 0.01% in Nov
White-winged DoveZenaida asiaticaPassage migrantRare27–30 cmRegularly Nov · 0.01% in Nov
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorRare41–46 cmRegularly May–Dec · 0.01% in Nov
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicusWinter visitorUncommon17–21 cmRegularly Sep–Jul · 0.01% in Nov
American BitternBotaurus lentiginosusSummer visitorUncommon58–85 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.00% in Nov
Grey PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusPassage migrantUncommon20–22 cmRegularly Jul–Nov · 0.00% in Nov
Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusResidentRare21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.00% in Nov
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