Birds of Dominion
What has actually been seen around Dominion: 261 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 261 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 41,699 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- September
- Elevation
- 13 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.8 h / 8.6 h
What the records say about Dominion
261 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Dominion (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 41,699 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Herring Gull, American Black Duck and American Crow.
Water shapes this list. 67% of records near Dominion are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — American Herring Gull, American Black Duck and Great Black-backed Gull lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. American Crow is still the most logged backyard bird.
18 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle and Hen Harrier.
Records peak in September and are lowest in June — about 2.7 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.
Reserve Mines, 3 mi to the south, has more species on record (268 against 261).
Daylight runs from 15 h 47 min at midsummer to 8 h 37 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:15 AM in mid-April and 5:07 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Dominion
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus | 3,083 |
| 2 | American Black DuckAnas rubripes | 2,379 |
| 3 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 2,369 |
| 4 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 1,763 |
| 5 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,722 |
| 6 | Iceland GullLarus glaucoides | 1,572 |
| 7 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,298 |
| 8 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,209 |
| 9 | American WigeonMareca americana | 1,191 |
| 10 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 1,084 |
| 11 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 979 |
| 12 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 961 |
| 13 | Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus | 832 |
| 14 | Greater ScaupAythya marila | 826 |
| 15 | BuffleheadBucephala albeola | 825 |
| 16 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 660 |
| 17 | Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator | 592 |
| 18 | Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis | 590 |
| 19 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 570 |
| 20 | Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula | 565 |
Records by month
What to put out in Dominion
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- European Starling
Suet · Cracked corn
- Rock Pigeon
None recommended — flocks crowd out other feeder birds
- Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- Common Raven
Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower
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 Dominion?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Dominion are American Crow, European Starling, Rock Pigeon, Song Sparrow and Common Raven, based on 41,699 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Dominion?
261 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Dominion?
Observation records peak in September and are lowest in June. Sunrise in late June is around 5:07 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.