Birds of Rankin Inlet

84 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Rankin Inlet (Nunavut) since 2010, across 2,998 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Herring Gull, Snow Bunting and Common Raven.

Water shapes this list. 58% of records near Rankin Inlet are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — American Herring Gull, Sandhill Crane and Tundra Swan lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Snow Bunting is still the most logged backyard bird.

8 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Rough-legged Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle.

Records peak in June and are lowest in March — about 402.7 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.

Arviat, 134 mi to the south-west, has fewer species on record (63 against 84). Birds logged far more often around Rankin Inlet than there include Common Raven, Rough-legged Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon and Glaucous Gull.

Daylight runs from 20 h 12 min at midsummer to 4 h 48 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 5:44 AM in mid-April and 3:03 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• Snow Bunting

  Cracked corn · Millet (scattered on open ground or snow)

• Common Raven

  Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Horned Lark

  Cracked corn · Millet (on bare ground)

• White-crowned Sparrow

  Millet · Sunflower chips

• Lapland Longspur

  Cracked corn · Millet (on bare open ground)

• Savannah Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• Arviat134 mi south-west · 63 species
• Baker Lake160 mi north-west · 59 species
• Churchill288 mi south · 231 species
• Coral Harbour290 mi east · 32 species
• Naujaat309 mi north-east · 43 species
• Gjoa Haven416 mi north · 59 species