Birds of Yarmouth
What has actually been seen around Yarmouth: 320 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 320 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 240,898 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Herring Gull
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 85 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.5 h / 8.9 h
What the records say about Yarmouth
320 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) since 2010, across 240,898 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Herring Gull, American Crow and Song Sparrow.
The records split between backyard birds (55%) and waterbirds (38%), so a feeder in Yarmouth sees the familiar American Crow, Song Sparrow and European Starling, while American Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.
22 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Hen Harrier and American Kestrel.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 2.5 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.
Barrington, 33 mi to the south-east, has fewer species on record (269 against 320). Birds logged far more often around Yarmouth than there include Common Pheasant, Savannah Sparrow, Killdeer and Common Goldeneye.
Daylight runs from 15 h 28 min at midsummer to 8 h 54 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:43 AM in mid-April and 5:41 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Yarmouth
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus | 13,054 |
| 2 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 10,973 |
| 3 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 10,209 |
| 4 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 8,230 |
| 5 | Great Black-backed GullLarus marinus | 7,517 |
| 6 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 6,938 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 6,739 |
| 8 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 6,012 |
| 9 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 5,984 |
| 10 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 5,744 |
| 11 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 5,031 |
| 12 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 4,993 |
| 13 | Common EiderSomateria mollissima | 4,705 |
| 14 | Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus | 4,545 |
| 15 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 4,285 |
| 16 | American Black DuckAnas rubripes | 3,872 |
| 17 | Common LoonGavia immer | 3,848 |
| 18 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 3,571 |
| 19 | Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia | 3,236 |
| 20 | Great Blue HeronArdea herodias | 3,232 |
Records by month
What to put out in Yarmouth
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
- European Starling
Suet · Cracked corn
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower
- 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 Yarmouth?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Yarmouth are American Crow, Song Sparrow, European Starling, Black-capped Chickadee and American Goldfinch, based on 240,898 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Yarmouth?
320 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Yarmouth?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:41 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.