Alberta supports a diverse range of birds shaped by its grasslands, wetlands, boreal forests, foothills, and Rocky Mountain landscapes, as well as its position along important interior migration routes. This page brings together bird guides focused on species found in the province, including local bird groups and visual identification resources to support field identification throughout the year.
6 Hummingbirds in Alberta: Common and Rare Species
Alberta supports a small but distinctive group of hummingbirds. Ruby-throated, Rufous, and Calliope Hummingbirds form the core breeding species, each associated with different parts of the province ranging from boreal mixedwood forests and parkland to foothill woodlands and Rocky Mountain meadows. In recent years, several western hummingbirds that were once considered exceptional in Alberta, including Black-chinned and Anna’s Hummingbirds, have appeared with increasing regularity in southern parts of the province, particularly around gardens and backyard feeders during late summer and fall. This guide highlights the hummingbirds most likely to be encountered in Alberta and explains how to identify them across… Read more
12 Woodpeckers in Alberta: ID, Distribution, and Seasonality
Alberta supports a diverse group of woodpeckers that occupy a wide range of habitats across the province. These include eight regularly breeding species and four additional woodpeckers that occur irregularly but with increasing frequency, one of which has recently been documented nesting in Alberta. This guide outlines the identification, regional distribution, and seasonal patterns of woodpeckers across the province, helping you understand where and when to find them. Read more
9 Hawks in Alberta: Identification and Regional Occurrence
Alberta supports nine species of hawks, reflecting the province’s strong contrast between open prairie, wetlands, forested regions, and major migration corridors along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. These include a core group of broad-winged, open-country buteos and forest-adapted accipiters, along with the Northern Harrier, a distinctive species whose structure and hunting behavior differ markedly from other hawks. This guide provides identification notes and province-specific context on habitat use, regional distribution, and seasonal occurrence for hawks found in Alberta. Read more
14 Owls in Alberta (with Pictures and ID Guide)
Alberta is home to a diverse range of owls, with 14 species found across the province’s varied landscapes. These include a core group of widespread resident owls, several species closely tied to boreal forests, grasslands, or parkland, and a smaller set of irregular, nomadic, or accidental visitors that appear only under specific conditions. This guide provides identification notes and Alberta-specific context on habitat use, distribution, and seasonal occurrence for owls recorded in the province. Read more
