Birds of Grand Forks
What has actually been seen around Grand Forks: 204 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 204 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 18,640 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Robin
- Busiest month
- June
- Elevation
- 1,686 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.2 h / 8.2 h
What the records say about Grand Forks
204 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Grand Forks (British Columbia) since 2010, across 18,640 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Robin, Northern Flicker and American Crow.
Grand Forks is backyard-bird country: 76% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. American Robin, Northern Flicker, American Crow and Black-capped Chickadee make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
19 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk.
Records peak in June and are lowest in January — about 18.5 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.
Christina Lake, 10 mi to the east, has fewer species on record (185 against 204). Birds logged far more often around Grand Forks than there include European Starling, American Coot, House Sparrow and Black-chinned Hummingbird.
At about 1,686 ft above sea level, Grand Forks 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 13 min at midsummer to 8 h 13 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:04 AM in mid-April and 4:48 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Grand Forks
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 638 |
| 2 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 637 |
| 3 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 567 |
| 4 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 515 |
| 5 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 503 |
| 6 | Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus | 415 |
| 7 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 383 |
| 8 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 382 |
| 9 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 381 |
| 10 | Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassina | 364 |
| 11 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 348 |
| 12 | Pine SiskinSpinus pinus | 342 |
| 13 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 330 |
| 14 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 325 |
| 15 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 320 |
| 16 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 303 |
| 17 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 303 |
| 18 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 263 |
| 19 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 252 |
| 20 | Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum | 248 |
Records by month
What to put out in Grand Forks
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Spotted Towhee
Millet · Sunflower chips
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 Grand Forks?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Grand Forks are American Robin, Northern Flicker, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and Song Sparrow, based on 18,640 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Grand Forks?
204 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Grand Forks?
Observation records peak in June and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 4:48 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.