Birds of Swan Hills

75 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Swan Hills (Alberta) since 2010, across 271 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco and Common Raven.

Swan Hills is backyard-bird country: 83% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. American Robin, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Raven and American Crow make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

7 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Osprey, Bald Eagle and Broad-winged Hawk.

Whitecourt, 41 mi to the south, has more species on record (165 against 75).

At about 3,737 ft above sea level, Swan Hills 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 19 min at midsummer to 7 h 14 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:41 AM in mid-April and 5:03 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Dark-eyed Junco

  White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Common Raven

  Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Peanut hearts

• Pine Siskin

  Nyjer · Hulled sunflower

• Whitecourt41 mi south · 165 species
• Slave Lake46 mi north-east · 211 species
• Mayerthorpe54 mi south · 87 species
• Barrhead57 mi south-east · 134 species
• Fox Creek60 mi west · 139 species
• High Prairie65 mi north-west · 72 species