Birds of Hay River

212 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Hay River (Northwest Territories) since 2010, across 16,687 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie and Black-capped Chickadee.

The records split between backyard birds (56%) and waterbirds (36%), so a feeder in Hay River sees the familiar Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie and Black-capped Chickadee, while Ring-billed Gull and others turn up on nearby water.

14 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, American Kestrel and Hen Harrier.

Records peak in May and are lowest in March — about 20.4 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.

Behchokǫ̀, 137 mi to the north, has fewer species on record (131 against 212). Birds logged far more often around Hay River than there include Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Hairy Woodpecker and Pine Grosbeak.

Daylight runs from 19 h 12 min at midsummer to 5 h 36 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:26 AM in mid-April and 4:08 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• Common Raven

  Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Black-billed Magpie

  Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• White-throated Sparrow

  Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn

• Behchokǫ̀137 mi north · 131 species
• Fort Smith145 mi east · 159 species
• High Level165 mi south · 127 species
• Fort Simpson197 mi north-west · 195 species
• Fort Chipewyan218 mi south-east · 189 species
• Manning277 mi south · 107 species