Birds

This page features articles and video presentations about Alberta's birds. See our Featured Species page for information on other species.

The Birds of Alberta, A Century Ago

5 July 2024

BY JOHN ACORN, FAUVE BLANCHARD, & MELANIE MULLIN

Learn about the history of birding and ornithology in Alberta through the work of Sidney Stansell.

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In the Field with Hybrid Flickers

5 July 2024

BY COREY SCOBIE

Learn about the research done in Alberta examining the hybridization of two northern flicker subspecies.

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A Grebe in Need

5 July 2024

BY NICK CARTER

Alberta’s grebes are a small but diverse family with some species facing population declines.

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Rufous hummingbirds nest along Alberta’s foothills (and to the west) and winter in southern Mexico. TONY LEPRIEUR

The Amazing Migration of Neotropical Birds

22 April 2024

Witness the amazing migration of neotropical birds from Central and South America to their nesting grounds right here in Alberta!

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Geese were one of the main groups affected by avian flu. This Canada goose is infected and exhibits a weak neck and clouded eye. CLIVE SHAUPMEYER

Avian Influenza: A New Chapter in an Old Book

22 April 2024

In 2022, nature surprised us with a dramatic change in the impact of avian influenza. What happened, and what comes next?

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Bohemian waxwings are infamous for flying into windows after eating fermented berries. LEO DE GROOT

Four Ways to Help Your Backyard Birds

22 April 2024

Four practical tips to create a safe and welcoming space for urban birds in your own backyard.

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Spring is in the Air – Breeding Birds in Alberta

11 April 2024

Recorded Presentation
Speaker: Jan Wijmenga
Host: Nature Alberta

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Stansell’s List

11 February 2024

A 1923 manuscript, Birds of Alberta, has recently come to light, describing the birdlife of Alberta a century ago.

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This glossy ibis was seen in Camrose County. IAN WALLIS

Five New Firsts in Alberta Bird Sightings

19 January 2024

Alberta’s official bird record gained five first-time species sightings last year!

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Early Motus results have shown that bank swallows can travel over 2,000 km in four days, which works out to an average flying speed of almost 30 km/h. MARK PECK

Motus: The Latest Advance in Tracking Bird Migration

19 January 2024

New technology, new insight — Motus is a tiny revolution in tracking bird migration.

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