CANADA

To the east, our itinerary to the Canadian Maritime provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia showcase a combination of seabirds and tundra and forest species. The rugged cliffs of Newfoundland at sites like Cape St. Mary's and Witless Bay host huge gatherings of seabirds, from closely packed Northern Gannets to hundreds of thousands of Atlantic Puffins, murres, and Razorbills swirling above their nesting sites. The lush boreal and mixed forests of Nova Scotia are home to a delightful array of passerines and boreal specialties, from Boreal Chickadee and Spruce Grouse to Black-backed Woodpecker and a vibrant array of breeding eastern warblers.

In spring, a big draw is the chance to experience the migration spectacle at Point Pelee, one of North America's top birding hotspots, where flocks of brilliantly colored warblers, orioles, and tanagers descend on Lake Erie's shores, and we can regularly find rarer gems like Prothonotary Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler.

Farther to the west, a summertime visit to Alberta brings us to the spectacular Canadian Rockies for Harlequin Duck, Lewis's Woodpecker, American Dipper, and Western Tanager amid towering peaks. From the mountains, we can then sweep out onto the prairies for Long-billed Curlew, Ferruginous Hawk, and Chestnut-collared Longspur, with pronghorns and badgers as companions. It's western North American birding at some of its finest.

Winter has its own special attractions for Canadian birding. In particular, a visit to Alberta during the colder months is a fantastic way to see those legendary northern owls--Great Gray, Snowy, Northern Hawk Owl-- in one of the most reliable areas for these birds, plus it offers the chance for irruptive finches (Pine Grosbeaks, redpolls, crossbills) and other boreal specialties.

Each region offers dramatic scenery, rich cultural experiences, and the chance to savor Canada's wild beauty and hospitality, making every visit here an unforgettable birding adventure.

Photo credit: Our thanks to guide Doug Gochfeld for the lovely image of a Snowy Owl at the top of this page.

We offer many USA birding tours, too!