Birds of Strathmore
What has actually been seen around Strathmore: 228 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 228 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 44,309 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-billed Magpie
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 3,202 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.6 h / 7.9 h
What the records say about Strathmore
228 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Strathmore (Alberta) since 2010, across 44,309 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-billed Magpie, Mallard and Canada Goose.
Water shapes this list. 47% of records near Strathmore 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. Black-billed Magpie is still the most logged backyard bird.
20 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Swainson's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and Hen Harrier.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 18.6 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.
Irricana, 21 mi to the north-west, has fewer species on record (223 against 228).
At about 3,202 ft above sea level, Strathmore 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 33 min at midsummer to 7 h 54 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:40 AM in mid-April and 5:18 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Strathmore
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 2,091 |
| 2 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,607 |
| 3 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,437 |
| 4 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,358 |
| 5 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,282 |
| 6 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 1,135 |
| 7 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 988 |
| 8 | American CootFulica americana | 945 |
| 9 | Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata | 945 |
| 10 | Lesser ScaupAythya affinis | 927 |
| 11 | GadwallMareca strepera | 866 |
| 12 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 852 |
| 13 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 819 |
| 14 | KilldeerCharadrius vociferus | 770 |
| 15 | American WigeonMareca americana | 721 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 707 |
| 17 | Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus | 697 |
| 18 | Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis | 679 |
| 19 | Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoni | 652 |
| 20 | Blue-winged TealSpatula discors | 644 |
Records by month
What to put out in Strathmore
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
- House Sparrow
Millet · Cracked corn
- European Starling
Suet · Cracked corn
- Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
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 Strathmore?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Strathmore are Black-billed Magpie, House Sparrow, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird and American Robin, based on 44,309 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Strathmore?
228 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Strathmore?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:18 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.