Birds of Pincher Creek
What has actually been seen around Pincher Creek: 241 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 241 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 32,802 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-billed Magpie
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 3,776 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.3 h / 8.2 h
What the records say about Pincher Creek
241 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Pincher Creek (Alberta) since 2010, across 32,802 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven and European Starling.
Pincher Creek is backyard-bird country: 68% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, European Starling and American Robin make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
21 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Swainson's Hawk.
Records peak in May and are lowest in December — about 6.1 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.
Blairmore, 23 mi to the west, has fewer species on record (205 against 241). Birds logged far more often around Pincher Creek than there include European Starling, Eurasian Collared-Dove, House Sparrow and Bald Eagle.
At about 3,776 ft above sea level, Pincher Creek 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 17 min at midsummer to 8 h 9 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:45 AM in mid-April and 5:28 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Pincher Creek
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 1,506 |
| 2 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 1,454 |
| 3 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,153 |
| 4 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,148 |
| 5 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 972 |
| 6 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 958 |
| 7 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 904 |
| 8 | Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 881 |
| 9 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 782 |
| 10 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 683 |
| 11 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 683 |
| 12 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 638 |
| 13 | Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis | 624 |
| 14 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 622 |
| 15 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 531 |
| 16 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 494 |
| 17 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 488 |
| 18 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 456 |
| 19 | Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor | 437 |
| 20 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 405 |
Records by month
What to put out in Pincher Creek
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
- Common Raven
Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- European Starling
Suet · Cracked corn
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
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 Pincher Creek?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Pincher Creek are Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, European Starling, American Robin and Black-capped Chickadee, based on 32,802 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Pincher Creek?
241 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Pincher Creek?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 5:28 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.