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.
The Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary, designated as one of Alberta’s Special Places, is the ideal place to take a trail walk with the whole family and spot waterfowl, grouse and birds of prey.Other areas of interest close to Edmonton include:
• Whitemud Creek Ravine
• Wagner Natural Area
• Elk Island National Park
• Beaverhill Bird Observatory
• Miquelon Lake Provincial Park
• Wabamun Lake
