Birds of Cow Bay
What has actually been seen around Cow Bay: 346 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 346 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 494,619 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Crow
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 135 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.6 h / 8.8 h
What the records say about Cow Bay
346 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Cow Bay (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 494,619 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, American Herring Gull and Song Sparrow.
The records split between backyard birds (55%) and waterbirds (39%), so a feeder in Cow Bay sees the familiar American Crow, Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee, while American Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
22 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Osprey and Hen Harrier.
Records peak in September and are lowest in February — about 4.0 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.
Eastern Passage, 3 mi to the west, has more species on record (352 against 346).
Daylight runs from 15 h 34 min at midsummer to 8 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:31 AM in mid-April and 5:27 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Cow Bay
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 23,427 |
| 2 | American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus | 21,576 |
| 3 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 20,417 |
| 4 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 17,685 |
| 5 | American Black DuckAnas rubripes | 17,388 |
| 6 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 14,394 |
| 7 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 13,151 |
| 8 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 12,846 |
| 9 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 12,125 |
| 10 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 11,482 |
| 11 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 10,868 |
| 12 | Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus | 9,853 |
| 13 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 9,798 |
| 14 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 9,795 |
| 15 | Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus | 9,740 |
| 16 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 9,207 |
| 17 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 6,686 |
| 18 | Yellow-rumped WarblerSetophaga coronata | 6,519 |
| 19 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 6,483 |
| 20 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 6,432 |
Records by month
What to put out in Cow Bay
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
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil 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 Cow Bay?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Cow Bay are American Crow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch and Blue Jay, based on 494,619 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Cow Bay?
346 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Cow Bay?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:27 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.