Birds of East Sooke
What has actually been seen around East Sooke: 299 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 299 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 525,851 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 171 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.1 h / 8.3 h
What the records say about East Sooke
299 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of East Sooke (British Columbia) since 2010, across 525,851 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin and Spotted Towhee.
East Sooke is backyard-bird country: 65% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Spotted Towhee and Anna's Hummingbird make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
25 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk.
Records peak in September and are lowest in February — about 5.5 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.
Metchosin, 7 mi to the east, has more species on record (330 against 299).
Daylight runs from 16 h 6 min at midsummer to 8 h 19 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:26 AM in mid-April and 5:12 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near East Sooke
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescens | 14,401 |
| 2 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 14,050 |
| 3 | Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus | 13,745 |
| 4 | Anna's HummingbirdCalypte anna | 13,276 |
| 5 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 13,206 |
| 6 | Glaucous-winged GullLarus glaucescens | 13,074 |
| 7 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 11,987 |
| 8 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 10,987 |
| 9 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 10,888 |
| 10 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 10,332 |
| 11 | Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificus | 9,770 |
| 12 | White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys | 9,355 |
| 13 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 9,086 |
| 14 | Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa | 7,779 |
| 15 | California QuailCallipepla californica | 7,733 |
| 16 | Steller's JayCyanocitta stelleri | 7,636 |
| 17 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 7,572 |
| 18 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 7,464 |
| 19 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 7,408 |
| 20 | Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon | 7,085 |
Records by month
What to put out in East Sooke
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Spotted Towhee
Millet · Sunflower chips
- Anna's Hummingbird
Sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
- Dark-eyed Junco
White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
Seasonal bird notes for British Columbia
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 East Sooke?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of East Sooke are Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Anna's Hummingbird and Dark-eyed Junco, based on 525,851 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near East Sooke?
299 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in East Sooke?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:12 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.