Birds of Thurso
What has actually been seen around Thurso: 235 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 235 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 84,541 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Crow
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 180 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.7 h / 8.7 h
What the records say about Thurso
235 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Thurso (Quebec) since 2010, across 84,541 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, Canada Goose and Song Sparrow.
The records split between backyard birds (59%) and waterbirds (34%), so a feeder in Thurso sees the familiar American Crow, Song Sparrow and Black-capped Chickadee, while Canada Goose and others turn up on nearby water.
21 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Bald Eagle, Turkey Vulture and Hen Harrier.
Records peak in May and are lowest in February — about 56.9 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.
Wendover, 6 mi to the east, has more species on record (249 against 235).
Daylight runs from 15 h 42 min at midsummer to 8 h 41 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:17 AM in mid-April and 5:11 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Thurso
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 2,615 |
| 2 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 2,579 |
| 3 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 2,358 |
| 4 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 2,220 |
| 5 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 2,164 |
| 6 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 2,136 |
| 7 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 2,079 |
| 8 | Great Blue HeronArdea herodias | 2,037 |
| 9 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 1,898 |
| 10 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 1,802 |
| 11 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 1,775 |
| 12 | Wood DuckAix sponsa | 1,689 |
| 13 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 1,502 |
| 14 | Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus | 1,448 |
| 15 | Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps | 1,431 |
| 16 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 1,418 |
| 17 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,327 |
| 18 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 1,307 |
| 19 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 1,303 |
| 20 | Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus | 1,252 |
Records by month
What to put out in Thurso
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
- Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Blue Jay
Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Quebec
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 Thurso?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Thurso are American Crow, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird and American Robin, based on 84,541 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Thurso?
235 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Thurso?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in February. Sunrise in late June is around 5:11 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.