British Columbia · 50.11°N

Birds of Merritt

What has actually been seen around Merritt: 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: 21,078 since 2010
Most recorded bird: Common Raven
Busiest month: May
Elevation: 1,946 ft
Daylight, June / December: 16.4 h / 8.1 h

What the records say about Merritt

204 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Merritt (British Columbia) since 2010, across 21,078 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Common Raven, American Robin and American Crow.

Merritt is backyard-bird country: 81% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Common Raven, American Robin, American Crow and European Starling make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

23 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel and Bald Eagle.

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 26.4 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.

Lower Nicola, 5 mi to the north-west, has fewer species on record (190 against 204).

At about 1,946 ft above sea level, Merritt 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 24 min at midsummer to 8 h 3 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:11 AM in mid-April and 4:52 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Merritt

#	Bird	Records
1	Common RavenCorvus corax	771
2	American RobinTurdus migratorius	756
3	American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos	712
4	European StarlingSturnus vulgaris	606
5	Northern FlickerColaptes auratus	600
6	Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto	504
7	Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis	486
8	Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata	449
9	Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis	442
10	House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus	432
11	House SparrowPasser domesticus	426
12	MallardAnas platyrhynchos	399
13	Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus	396
14	Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus	385
15	Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina	382
16	Mountain ChickadeePoecile gambeli	378
17	Song SparrowMelospiza melodia	366
18	Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis	361
19	Western MeadowlarkSturnella neglecta	341
20	Pine SiskinSpinus pinus	308

Records by month

What to put out in Merritt

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

Common Raven
Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
European Starling
Suet · Cracked corn
Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Sunflower

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 Merritt?

The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Merritt are Common Raven, American Robin, American Crow, European Starling and Northern Flicker, based on 21,078 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Merritt?

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 Merritt?

Observation records peak in May and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:52 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.