Birds of Bearspaw
What has actually been seen around Bearspaw: 265 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 265 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 290,751 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-billed Magpie
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 3,622 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Bearspaw
265 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Bearspaw (Alberta) since 2010, across 290,751 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee and Common Raven.
Bearspaw is backyard-bird country: 73% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Raven and American Robin make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
25 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.
Records peak in May and are lowest in January — about 7.0 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.
Crossfield, 24 mi to the north-east, has fewer species on record (173 against 265). Birds logged far more often around Bearspaw than there include Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch, Northern Flicker and Downy Woodpecker.
At about 3,622 ft above sea level, Bearspaw sits higher than most places in Alberta. Spring arrives a little later with height, and feeders matter more in cold snaps — keep a supply of high-fat food going through late winter and early spring.
Daylight runs from 16 h 34 min at midsummer to 7 h 54 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:44 AM in mid-April and 5:21 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Bearspaw
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 18,304 |
| 2 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 17,109 |
| 3 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 11,531 |
| 4 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 10,610 |
| 5 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 10,467 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 10,339 |
| 7 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 10,043 |
| 8 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 9,761 |
| 9 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 8,780 |
| 10 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 8,207 |
| 11 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 7,731 |
| 12 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 7,111 |
| 13 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 4,679 |
| 14 | Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida | 4,527 |
| 15 | Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor | 4,491 |
| 16 | Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula | 4,369 |
| 17 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 4,246 |
| 18 | Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum | 4,057 |
| 19 | American WigeonMareca americana | 3,968 |
| 20 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 3,918 |
Records by month
What to put out in Bearspaw
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- Common Raven
Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- House Finch
Black-oil sunflower · Hulled sunflower · Nyjer
Seasonal bird notes for Alberta
What's arriving, what to feed and when to clean feeders, written for Canadian backyards. One email a month at most.
Nearby places
Frequently asked
What birds visit backyards in Bearspaw?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Bearspaw are Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Raven, American Robin and American Crow, based on 290,751 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Bearspaw?
265 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Bearspaw?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 5:21 AM.
Sources
- GBIF occurrence search (birds, class Aves, 2010 onward)
- GeoNames gazetteer (place, population, elevation)
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.