Birds of Fernie
What has actually been seen around Fernie: 215 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 215 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 74,802 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 3,268 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.3 h / 8.2 h
What the records say about Fernie
215 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Fernie (British Columbia) since 2010, across 74,802 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow and American Robin.
Fernie is backyard-bird country: 84% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, American Robin and Northern Flicker make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
19 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk and Merlin.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 6.8 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.
Sparwood, 18 mi to the north-east, has fewer species on record (169 against 215). Birds logged far more often around Fernie than there include Song Sparrow, House Finch, Hooded Merganser and Barrow's Goldeneye.
At about 3,268 ft above sea level, Fernie sits higher than most places in British Columbia. 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 17 min at midsummer to 8 h 9 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:50 AM in mid-April and 5:32 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Fernie
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 4,046 |
| 2 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 3,846 |
| 3 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 3,720 |
| 4 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 3,229 |
| 5 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 2,893 |
| 6 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 2,495 |
| 7 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 2,426 |
| 8 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 2,194 |
| 9 | Pine SiskinSpinus pinus | 2,032 |
| 10 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 1,867 |
| 11 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 1,840 |
| 12 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 1,830 |
| 13 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 1,685 |
| 14 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,448 |
| 15 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,409 |
| 16 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 1,308 |
| 17 | Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula | 1,303 |
| 18 | Steller's JayCyanocitta stelleri | 1,210 |
| 19 | Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor | 1,177 |
| 20 | Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata | 1,144 |
Records by month
What to put out in Fernie
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
- Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Dark-eyed Junco
White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
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 Fernie?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Fernie are Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, American Robin, Northern Flicker and Song Sparrow, based on 74,802 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Fernie?
215 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Fernie?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:32 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.