Birdwatching
Alberta is the only place in North America where the prairie, boreal forest and mountain ecosystems coexist. As a result, the province is a haven for indigenous and migratory birds. From the northern nesting grounds of the endangered whooping cranes and summer home of the rare trumpeter swans to the protected burrowing owls in central Alberta and hundreds of golden eagles migrating across our southern border, get ready for birdwatching opportunities of a lifetime.
Getting Started
Many of our provincial parks offer birdwatching vacation opportunities for independent travelers and for those wishing to join a guided interpretive program. Looking for a particular bird? For a list of more than 400 species of birds found in Alberta, get the Royal Alberta Museum’s Official List of Alberta Birds.
Did You Know?
The great horned owl is our official provincial bird. It is a year round resident and can be found in forests, open woods and river valleys everywhere in Alberta except for the mountains.
Birdwatching by Season
Springtime is prime time, especially for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl on the staging areas of our central and northern lakes. Summertime is for songbirds and guided interpretive programs. In the autumn, head to some of our southern parks and natural areas to watch a myriad of species—such as the magnificent trumpeter swans and golden eagles—migrate to their winter habitats. In the winter, Alberta birds of prey such as the pygmy owl and sharp-shinned hawk overwinter in the Banff townsite area now because of the abundance of sparrows, chickadees and nuthatches.
Alberta Central - Some of the best birding in the province
Beaverhill Natural Area contains the shore of Beaverhill Lake and the Dekker and Pelican Islands. Located near the town of Tofield, the area is internationally renowned as a resting area for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds. More than 250 species call this area home. It is an excellent area to view not only waterfowl and shore birds but birds of prey such as northern goshawks and the rare peregrine falcons. Be sure to pay a visit to the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, which is open from May to October. The rest of the area is open year round. For more information, call the Tofield office at 780-662-3269.
Jessie Lake is the heart of Bonnyville's wetlands. The area offers viewing of more than 230 species including osprey, bald and golden eagles. There are over 10 km of walking tails. You'll find four viewing towers and platforms along the self-guided Jesse Lake Trail that spans the lake. Make it an eco holiday—camp, hike, paddle, and view the wildlife. The town of Bonnyville celebrates its centennial in 2007.
Cold Lake Provincial Park is home to one of the largest lakes in Alberta, which makes it an important breeding ground for numerous waterfowl, including colonial nesting birds such as the western grebe. The park is inhabited by many perching birds, particularly wood warablers, sparrows, flycatchers and thrushes. More than 200 species have been catalogued.
Lacombe’s Ellis Bird Farm is a conservation haven for mountain bluebirds, tree swallows and other native cavity-nesting birds. This working farm also boasts the world’s largest outdoor collection of bluebird nest boxes. A summer visit is a must and it’s free. Mountain bluebird observation and banding tours are available in June and July.
While it is best known for the American white pelican, the Lakeland/Lac La Biche area offers plenty of opportunity to observe some of the rest of the 230 species spotted here including bald eagles, ospreys, long-eared owls, grosbeaks and hairy woodpeckers.
