Birding in British Columbia
A hub for birding information for British Columbia, Canada. Featuring Rare Bird Alerts, directory to nature clubs and online birding groups, birding forums, and more.
Rare Bird Alert
Where to go?
British Columbia is a vast and diverse natural region of Canada located on the Pacific Flyway that hosts many world renowned birding locations.
From offshore pelagics to high alpine plateau, from temperate rainforests to pocket deserts, from coastal bays and inlets to rolling prairie, British Columbia has it all.
Choose where to go based in the species you wish to see !
Visitor Information
Recommended Binoculars
Nikon Monarchs (Nikon M7 or Nikon M5) are a popular choice among birders as they offer a good balance between quality optics and price. The M7 is waterproof and protects the bins better from water, dust/sand, bumps and knocks. Get the M5s if you mostly bird in fair weather and on easy trails.
8x42 magnification is the sweet spot for most birders, as more magnification is not better. If you have sharp eyes and really steady hands, you can try 10x42 to get that extra zoom. When increasing magnificaiton, you sacrifice field of view so there is a trade off.
Bird ID & Location Help
- Sep 21 Two birds hor ID help please! (2)
- Sep 21 Gull or Tern (with photos this time!) (3)
- Sep 09 Non-Breding Caspian Tern or Bonaparte's Gull... (3)
- Jul 19 birding sites between Kelowna and Vancouver (2)
- Jun 21 Question re Red-naped Sapsucker (1)
- May 25 Golden or Bald Eagle? (5)
- May 21 3 unknown birds in the mountains (4)
- Mar 28 Leucistic Purple Finch? (1)
Bird Photography
- Nov 28 2023 BC Birding Challenge! (268)
- Nov 25 Northern Pygmy Owl (6)
- Nov 04 2023 Bird Challenge - Current Bird List (13)
- Mar 26 Great horned owls Vancouver Island. (1)
- Jan 01 2022 BC Birding Photo Challenge! :) (188)
- Jan 01 2022 BC Photo Challenge: Current Bird List (16)
- Dec 31 2022 Birding BC Video Challenge (87)
- Dec 12 Regent Bowerbird (Australia) (1)
Birder's Corner
- Nov 02 East Sooke Buffet (1)
- Sep 09 Black capped Chickadees Nesting? (1)
- Sep 09 Rookie Backyard Bird Lover (1)
- Aug 27 Where have the juncos gone? (3)
- Jun 24 A junco brought me here (3)
- Jun 23 Vancouver island (1)
Birding in the News
Nov 22, 2023 | Capital Daily
Nov 26, 2023 | Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Nov 04, 2023 | Goldstream News Gazette
Oct 31, 2023 | Coast Reporter
Nov 09, 2023 | Times Colonist
November Birding Tips
Arrival of most wintering species.
- Most species have moved down off the mountains into to lower areas in search of food and a warmer climate. Fewer species occupy the upper forests at this time of year.
- Similar species may join mixed flocks and flock together. Look for a rare bird mixed with common species.
- Good places to search include berry bushes and trees. Check Aspens, Arbutus, Blackberry and other fruiting plants.
- Check harvested farm fields, mud flats, estuaries, and the sea shore for wintering shorebirds, raptors, sparrows, and other passerines.
- At dusk, listen for owls calling in or near forested areas
- Check and watch activity around bird feeders. Birds will be hungry in the morning hours and some develop feeding patterns based on the availability of food in a location.
- Scan along the tree-tops and along fence rows for a perched raptor, owl, or shrike.
- Scan lakes, bays, and open water for a variety of waterfowl species.
- On a stormy day, check grass fields for gulls
Good time to go out birding as leaves have fallen for most trees making birds more visible.
Recommended Bird Finding Guide Books for BC
The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition Essential field guide for identifying our North American Birds.
Good clear colour plates with notes and key details to help with bird identification.
Field Guide to North American Birds
Best-selling North American bird field guide is the most up-to-date guide on the market.
Compact, good colour plates and many rare species covered in this bird identification book.
Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding
Bird Identification Challenges and How to Approach Them
A great resource for learning advanced identification skills! Not intended for beginners but invaluable as you learn to identify more birds.
Birding in British Columbia is an online magazine and community message board produced and maintained by K. Slagboom | About
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