Birds of Cap-aux-Meules

265 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Cap-aux-Meules (Quebec) since 2010, across 165,547 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, American Herring Gull and Blue Jay.

The records split between backyard birds (59%) and waterbirds (39%), so a feeder in Cap-aux-Meules sees the familiar American Crow, Blue Jay and American Goldfinch, while American Herring Gull and others turn up on nearby water.

17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Hen Harrier.

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 8.2 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.

Souris, 74 mi to the south, has fewer species on record (211 against 265). Birds logged far more often around Cap-aux-Meules than there include Fox Sparrow, Black Guillemot, Gadwall and Northern Pintail.

Daylight runs from 15 h 57 min at midsummer to 8 h 27 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:20 AM in mid-April and 5:10 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• American Goldfinch

  Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• Savannah Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Souris74 mi south · 211 species
• Inverness84 mi south · 161 species
• Ingonish85 mi south-east · 212 species
• Three Rivers89 mi south · 176 species
• Montague92 mi south-west · 170 species
• Mabou94 mi south · 158 species