Birds of Watrous
What has actually been seen around Watrous: 214 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 214 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 14,920 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- House Sparrow
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 1,782 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 16.7 h / 7.8 h
What the records say about Watrous
214 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Watrous (Saskatchewan) since 2010, across 14,920 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee and Red-breasted Nuthatch.
Watrous is backyard-bird country: 82% 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-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
18 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Merlin.
Records peak in May and are lowest in December — about 3.1 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.
Lanigan, 22 mi to the north-east, has fewer species on record (138 against 214). Birds logged far more often around Watrous than there include House Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and Eurasian Collared-Dove.
At about 1,782 ft above sea level, Watrous 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 6:07 AM in mid-April and 4:43 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Watrous
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 914 |
| 2 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 694 |
| 3 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 560 |
| 4 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 521 |
| 5 | Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto | 495 |
| 6 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 495 |
| 7 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 425 |
| 8 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 410 |
| 9 | Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus | 404 |
| 10 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 403 |
| 11 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 377 |
| 12 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 366 |
| 13 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 355 |
| 14 | Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia | 348 |
| 15 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 249 |
| 16 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 249 |
| 17 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 239 |
| 18 | Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus | 220 |
| 19 | Purple FinchHaemorhous purpureus | 204 |
| 20 | Purple MartinProgne subis | 193 |
Records by month
What to put out in Watrous
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-breasted Nuthatch
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Peanut hearts
- Downy Woodpecker
Suet · Shelled peanuts · Black-oil sunflower
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Sunflower
- 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 Watrous?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Watrous are House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and Eurasian Collared-Dove, based on 14,920 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Watrous?
214 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Watrous?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 4:43 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.