Birds of Nanoose Bay
What has actually been seen around Nanoose Bay: 265 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 265 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 384,844 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Robin
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 144 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.3 h / 8.2 h
What the records say about Nanoose Bay
265 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Nanoose Bay (British Columbia) since 2010, across 384,844 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Dark-eyed Junco.
The records split between backyard birds (58%) and waterbirds (36%), so a feeder in Nanoose Bay sees the familiar American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Dark-eyed Junco, while Mallard and others turn up on nearby water.
22 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle and Turkey Vulture.
Records peak in April and are lowest in November — about 2.4 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.
Fairwinds, 3 mi to the east, has fewer species on record (238 against 265).
Daylight runs from 16 h 15 min at midsummer to 8 h 11 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:26 AM in mid-April and 5:10 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Nanoose Bay
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 11,388 |
| 2 | Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescens | 11,248 |
| 3 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 11,189 |
| 4 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 11,136 |
| 5 | Spotted TowheePipilo maculatus | 11,135 |
| 6 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 9,871 |
| 7 | Anna's HummingbirdCalypte anna | 9,634 |
| 8 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 9,537 |
| 9 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 8,997 |
| 10 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 8,754 |
| 11 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 8,602 |
| 12 | Glaucous-winged GullLarus glaucescens | 8,007 |
| 13 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 7,950 |
| 14 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 7,243 |
| 15 | Great Blue HeronArdea herodias | 6,341 |
| 16 | White-crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrys | 6,179 |
| 17 | Common MerganserMergus merganser | 5,359 |
| 18 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 5,257 |
| 19 | American WigeonMareca americana | 5,024 |
| 20 | BuffleheadBucephala albeola | 4,985 |
Records by month
What to put out in Nanoose Bay
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- Dark-eyed Junco
White proso millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Spotted Towhee
Millet · Sunflower chips
- Northern Flicker
Suet · Peanut hearts
- Anna's Hummingbird
Sugar water: 1 part sugar to 4 parts water
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 Nanoose Bay?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Nanoose Bay are American Robin, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee and Northern Flicker, based on 384,844 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Nanoose Bay?
265 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Nanoose Bay?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 5:10 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.