Birds of Spirit River
What has actually been seen around Spirit River: 59 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 59 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 361 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-billed Magpie
- Busiest month
- July
- Elevation
- 2,021 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 17.6 h / 7 h
What the records say about Spirit River
59 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Spirit River (Alberta) since 2010, across 361 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow and Blue Jay.
Spirit River is backyard-bird country: 81% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow, Blue Jay and Black-capped Chickadee make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
5 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk, Hen Harrier and Rough-legged Buzzard. A hawk that hunts feeder birds is among them, so set feeders about 10 feet from shrubs: close enough for cover, far enough that a cat can't ambush from it.
Records peak in July and are lowest in February — about 101.0 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.
Fairview, 26 mi to the north-east, has more species on record (128 against 59). Birds logged far more often around Spirit River than there include Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow and Blue Jay.
At about 2,021 ft above sea level, Spirit River 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 17 h 34 min at midsummer to 6 h 60 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:52 AM in mid-April and 5:09 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Spirit River
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 38 |
| 2 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 33 |
| 3 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 21 |
| 4 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 20 |
| 5 | Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis | 15 |
| 6 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 14 |
| 7 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 14 |
| 8 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 13 |
| 9 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 13 |
| 10 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 12 |
| 11 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 12 |
| 12 | American WigeonMareca americana | 9 |
| 13 | Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus | 9 |
| 14 | Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus | 9 |
| 15 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 7 |
| 16 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 7 |
| 17 | BuffleheadBucephala albeola | 6 |
| 18 | Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia | 6 |
| 19 | Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus | 5 |
| 20 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 5 |
Records by month
What to put out in Spirit River
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
- House Sparrow
Millet · Cracked corn
- Blue Jay
Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-oil sunflower · Shelled peanuts · Suet
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
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 Spirit River?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Spirit River are Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch, based on 361 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Spirit River?
59 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Spirit River?
Observation records peak in July and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:09 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.