Birds of Drumheller
What has actually been seen around Drumheller: 222 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 222 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 54,585 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 2,254 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Drumheller
222 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Drumheller (Alberta) since 2010, across 54,585 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow and American Robin.
Drumheller is backyard-bird country: 86% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, American Robin and Downy Woodpecker make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
21 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Great Horned Owl.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 7.5 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.
Three Hills, 29 mi to the north-west, has fewer species on record (122 against 222). Birds logged far more often around Drumheller than there include Yellow Warbler, American Goldfinch, Hairy Woodpecker and Gray Catbird.
At about 2,254 ft above sea level, Drumheller 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 38 min at midsummer to 7 h 50 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:37 AM in mid-April and 5:13 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Drumheller
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 3,576 |
| 2 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 2,703 |
| 3 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 2,499 |
| 4 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 2,476 |
| 5 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 2,174 |
| 6 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 2,072 |
| 7 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 1,897 |
| 8 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 1,790 |
| 9 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 1,527 |
| 10 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 1,470 |
| 11 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 1,465 |
| 12 | Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum | 1,179 |
| 13 | Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia | 1,065 |
| 14 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 1,055 |
| 15 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,001 |
| 16 | Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus | 966 |
| 17 | Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 852 |
| 18 | Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis | 831 |
| 19 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 824 |
| 20 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 812 |
Records by month
What to put out in Drumheller
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- House Sparrow
Millet · Cracked corn
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Downy Woodpecker
Suet · Shelled peanuts · Black-oil sunflower
- White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-oil sunflower · Shelled peanuts · Suet
- Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
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 Drumheller?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Drumheller are Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, American Robin, Downy Woodpecker and White-breasted Nuthatch, based on 54,585 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Drumheller?
222 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Drumheller?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:13 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.