Birds of Amherst
What has actually been seen around Amherst: 251 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 251 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 82,011 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Crow
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 66 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.7 h / 8.7 h
What the records say about Amherst
251 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Amherst (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 82,011 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee.
Amherst is backyard-bird country: 64% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. American Crow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and Red-winged Blackbird make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
21 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Hen Harrier and Osprey.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 11.9 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.
Sackville, 9 mi to the north-west, has more species on record (270 against 251).
Daylight runs from 15 h 44 min at midsummer to 8 h 40 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:32 AM in mid-April and 5:26 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Amherst
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 3,623 |
| 2 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 3,100 |
| 3 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 2,814 |
| 4 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 2,426 |
| 5 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 2,400 |
| 6 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 2,256 |
| 7 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 2,153 |
| 8 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 2,118 |
| 9 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,929 |
| 10 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 1,792 |
| 11 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 1,735 |
| 12 | Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris | 1,623 |
| 13 | Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana | 1,588 |
| 14 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 1,559 |
| 15 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 1,484 |
| 16 | American Black DuckAnas rubripes | 1,480 |
| 17 | Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas | 1,416 |
| 18 | Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor | 1,408 |
| 19 | Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia | 1,385 |
| 20 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,258 |
Records by month
What to put out in Amherst
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
- Blue Jay
Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
Seasonal bird notes for Nova Scotia
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 Amherst?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Amherst are American Crow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird and Blue Jay, based on 82,011 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Amherst?
251 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Amherst?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:26 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.