Birds of Melville

136 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Melville (Saskatchewan) since 2010, across 926 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and Red-winged Blackbird.

Melville is backyard-bird country: 68% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-winged Blackbird and Common Raven make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

13 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk, Merlin and Bald Eagle.

Grenfell, 35 mi to the south, has fewer species on record (106 against 136).

At about 1,801 ft above sea level, Melville 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 32 min at midsummer to 7 h 56 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 5:58 AM in mid-April and 4:36 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• House Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower

• Common Raven

  Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Common Grackle

  Cracked corn · Sunflower

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Grenfell35 mi south · 106 species
• Esterhazy36 mi south-east · 118 species
• Fort Qu'Appelle45 mi west · 221 species
• Indian Head46 mi south-west · 148 species
• Langenburg47 mi east · 99 species
• Canora52 mi north · 89 species