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 Photography
- May 23 2025 Photo Challenge - All BC Birds! (128)
- May 23 2025 Bird Challenge: Current Bird List (6)
- May 08 A Few Funky Chickens, Ptarmigan and Grouse... (1)
- Jan 01 2024 Photo Challenge - All BC Birds! (209)
- Dec 17 2024 Bird Challenge: Current Bird List (11)
- Dec 11 Red-tailed Hawk with strange field marking... (4)
- Oct 21 Birds from the Land Down Under (1)
- Aug 29 Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Willows Beach) (1)
Birder's Corner
- Nov 29 Rob Butler at Outer Shores Lodge, Bamfield, ... (1)
- Sep 18 Rookie Backyard Bird Lover (2)
- Aug 13 american white pelican (1)
- May 05 OWL Open House May 4 & 5 2024 (2)
- Feb 17 Birdhouse (1)
- Nov 02 East Sooke Buffet (1)
Birding in the News
May 02, 2025 | e-KNOW.ca
May 10, 2025 | Times Colonist
May 12, 2025 | Fernie BC News
May Birding Tips
Spring migration is at it's peak! Go birding! Late May to early June is the best time to discover rare species as migrating birds may overshoot their breeding areas.
- Migrating passerines can be found from mountain top to sea shore. They will announce their presence by both song and calls.
- Abundant food source locations will offer the best viewing opportunities. Look for flowering plants and budding trees--places where insects may be active.
- During the day, watch for raptors soaring as they move north.
- For the best birding, start in the early morning twilight to enjoy the dawn chorus.
- On a cool early morning, find a location that faces east; birds will flock here to warm up and feed.
- Watch weather reports; an overnight change in weather might trigger a migration fallout.
Birds to watch for: warblers, flycatchers, kingbirds, buntings, swifts, grosbeaks, tanagers, shorebirds
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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