Birds of Penhold
What has actually been seen around Penhold: 203 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 203 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 32,296 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Mallard
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 2,936 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.8 h / 7.7 h
What the records say about Penhold
203 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Penhold (Alberta) since 2010, across 32,296 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Mallard, Canada Goose and American Coot.
Water shapes this list. 66% of records near Penhold are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Mallard, Canada Goose and American Coot lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Red-winged Blackbird is still the most logged backyard bird.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle and Hen Harrier.
Records peak in May and are lowest in January — about 330.0 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.
Springbrook, 3 mi to the north, has more species on record (221 against 203).
At about 2,936 ft above sea level, Penhold 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 46 min at midsummer to 7 h 43 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:40 AM in mid-April and 5:13 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Penhold
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,519 |
| 2 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,473 |
| 3 | American CootFulica americana | 1,160 |
| 4 | Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata | 1,097 |
| 5 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 1,058 |
| 6 | Blue-winged TealSpatula discors | 1,009 |
| 7 | Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus | 907 |
| 8 | GadwallMareca strepera | 810 |
| 9 | Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis | 783 |
| 10 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 694 |
| 11 | Lesser ScaupAythya affinis | 691 |
| 12 | Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis | 681 |
| 13 | Black-necked GrebePodiceps nigricollis | 656 |
| 14 | Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor | 653 |
| 15 | RedheadAythya americana | 653 |
| 16 | Eurasian TealAnas crecca | 648 |
| 17 | American AvocetRecurvirostra americana | 645 |
| 18 | KilldeerCharadrius vociferus | 629 |
| 19 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 569 |
| 20 | Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan | 568 |
Records by month
What to put out in Penhold
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
- Yellow-headed Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Black-oil sunflower
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- Savannah Sparrow
Millet · Cracked corn
- Tree Swallow
Crushed eggshells in spring
- 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 Penhold?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Penhold are Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, American Crow, Savannah Sparrow and Tree Swallow, based on 32,296 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Penhold?
203 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Penhold?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in January. 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.