Saskatchewan · 51.65°N

Birds of Foam Lake

What has actually been seen around Foam Lake: 191 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.

Species on record: 191 within 6 mi
Observation records: 3,816 since 2010
Most recorded bird: Red-winged Blackbird
Busiest month: May
Elevation: 1,811 ft
Daylight, June / December: 16.7 h / 7.8 h

What the records say about Foam Lake

191 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Foam Lake (Saskatchewan) since 2010, across 3,816 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Red-winged Blackbird, American Crow and Clay-colored Sparrow.

Water shapes this list. 41% of records near Foam Lake are ducks, geese, gulls, waders, herons and other waterbirds — Canada Goose, American Coot and Mallard lead them — which points to coast, estuary, river or open water within range. Red-winged Blackbird is still the most logged backyard bird.

17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk, Hen Harrier and Merlin.

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 211.0 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.

Wadena, 24 mi to the north-west, has fewer species on record (153 against 191). Birds logged far more often around Foam Lake than there include American Wigeon.

At about 1,811 ft above sea level, Foam Lake sits higher than most places in Saskatchewan. Spring arrives a little later with height, and feeders matter more in cold snaps — keep a supply of high-fat food going through late winter and early spring.

Daylight runs from 16 h 40 min at midsummer to 7 h 48 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:00 AM in mid-April and 4:35 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Most recorded birds near Foam Lake

#	Bird	Records
1	Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus	125
2	American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos	122
3	Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida	93
4	Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia	92
5	Canada GooseBranta canadensis	90
6	American CootFulica americana	89
7	MallardAnas platyrhynchos	88
8	Song SparrowMelospiza melodia	81
9	Yellow WarblerSetophaga petechia	81
10	American RobinTurdus migratorius	80
11	Blue-winged TealSpatula discors	78
12	Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus	72
13	Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata	70
14	Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis	67
15	Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater	63
16	House SparrowPasser domesticus	63
17	KilldeerCharadrius vociferus	57
18	Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan	54
19	SoraPorzana carolina	52
20	GadwallMareca strepera	51

Records by month

What to put out in Foam Lake

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

Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
Black-billed Magpie
Suet · Peanuts · Cracked corn
Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
Yellow Warbler
None — plant native willow and dogwood thickets
American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

Seasonal bird notes for Saskatchewan

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 Foam Lake?

The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Foam Lake are Red-winged Blackbird, American Crow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie and Song Sparrow, based on 3,816 public records since 2010.

How many bird species have been seen near Foam Lake?

191 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).

When is the best month for birds in Foam Lake?

Observation records peak in May and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 4:35 AM.

Sources

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.