Alberta · 53.35°N

Birds of Vermilion

What has actually been seen around Vermilion: 216 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 216 within 6 mi
Observation records: 13,763 since 2010
Most recorded bird: Black-capped Chickadee
Busiest month: May
Elevation: 2,024 ft
Daylight, June / December: 17 h / 7.5 h

What the records say about Vermilion

216 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Vermilion (Alberta) since 2010, across 13,763 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-capped Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie and Mallard.

The records split between backyard birds (56%) and waterbirds (38%), so a feeder in Vermilion sees the familiar Black-capped Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie and American Crow, while Mallard and others turn up on nearby water.

20 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk and Hen Harrier.

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 46.2 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.

Mannville, 13 mi to the west, has fewer species on record (154 against 216). Birds logged far more often around Vermilion than there include Red-eyed Vireo and Purple Martin.

At about 2,024 ft above sea level, Vermilion 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 1 min at midsummer to 7 h 30 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:25 AM in mid-April and 4:54 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Vermilion

#	Bird	Records
1	Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus	573
2	Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia	473
3	MallardAnas platyrhynchos	396
4	American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos	387
5	Canada GooseBranta canadensis	385
6	Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus	313
7	American RobinTurdus migratorius	297
8	Common RavenCorvus corax	275
9	House SparrowPasser domesticus	264
10	Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor	228
11	BuffleheadBucephala albeola	217
12	Blue-winged TealSpatula discors	205
13	Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis	195
14	Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata	194
15	Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida	192
16	Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia	187
17	Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens	181
18	Song SparrowMelospiza melodia	180
19	American CootFulica americana	170
20	Blue JayCyanocitta cristata	163

Records by month

What to put out in Vermilion

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

Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
Common Raven
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 Vermilion?

The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Vermilion are Black-capped Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Red-winged Blackbird and American Robin, based on 13,763 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Vermilion?

216 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).

When is the best month for birds in Vermilion?

Observation records peak in May and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:54 AM.

Sources

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.