The Birds of Winter in
      Nova Scotia   

Courtesy of CSI: Life

Dovekie - photo © 2005 by Blake Maybank

Dovekie - photo © by Blake Maybank

This site focuses on the joys of Winter Birding in Nova Scotia, Canada.  This winter's bird list is
compared with those from previous winters, and links are also provided
to winter bird list compilations in other areas. 

Winter

Additionally, on a separate web page, there are winter birding
life lists totals for various of the province's birders. 

PAGE NAVIGATION:

NOVA SCOTIA WINTER BIRD SIGHTINGS TABLE

Nova Scotia Christmas Bird Counts

Individual Birders' Nova Scotia Winter Totals
Other Winter Bird List Pages:

Other Provinces, east to west:
Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Québec
Ontario
 Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Alberta
British Columbia

Other Areas:
Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Ottawa / Gatineau region
Iceland
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Also home weather instruments.
In Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
Click HERE or call (888) 660-6529

"The Birding Sites of Nova Scotia"

N.S. WINTER BIRD LIST

LAST UPDATED  13 February 2012

2011/2012 PROVINCE-WIDE SPECIES TOTAL = 195

Running Total for the First Week:
Dec. 01 = 107
Dec. 02 = 129
Dec. 03 = 143
Dec. 04 = 146
Dec. 05 = 148
Dec. 06 = 149
Dec. 07 = 150

February 2012 "Depths Of Winter List" = 139

Nova Scotia Winter Birding Warning


The table below lists the species sighted somewhere in the province of Nova Scotia
in the months of December through February, between 2006 and 2012. 
The left-most column shows the species sighted during the current winter season, 2011/2012.

For the detailed sightings for the decade 1996 - 2006 click HERE.

 Detailed information regarding the rarities (status, location, etc.) is available
on the NS-RBA web site.  Sign-up information is on the site.

Core Species (which are seen every winter, or are elusive winter resident species) have a YELLOW backdrop.
Nova Scotia's Core List  =  147 Species
Species not seen every winter have an ORANGE backdrop
Species for which there are <10 records for N.S. in all seasons have a PINK backdrop.
Species seen during February (the "Depths of Winter List") are marked as *X*
 
Note: The Species List has NOT been updated to the latest AOU taxonomic order.


Nova Scotia Provincial Flag


Winter of:
 Number
of winters
each species
occurred
1996 - 2006
 Year(s) of
occurence
for species
noted
only
pre-1996
BIRD SPECIES 2011/
2012		 2010/
2011
 2009/
2010
 2008/
2009
 2007/
2008 		2006/
2007
Red-throated Loon *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Pacific Loon




X
 1
Common Loon *X* *X* X
 *X* *X*
 *X* 10
Pied-billed Grebe *X* X
 X
 *X* X
 X
 10
Horned Grebe *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Eared Grebe





0
 1992
Red-necked Grebe *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Northern Fulmar X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Manx Shearwater


X



small shearwater sp.





1
Cory's Shearwater
 X






Great/Cory's Shearwater


X
 X
 X

Great Shearwater
 X
X


7
Sooty Shearwater
 X


X
1
Leach's Storm-Petrel





3
Northern Gannet *X* X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Brown Pelican





3
Great Cormorant *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Double-crested Cormorant *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Magnificent Frigatebird



X


American Bittern
X
 X
 X
X
 3
Great Blue Heron *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
white egret sp.
X





Great Egret
 X

X
 X
 X
 5
Snowy Egret
X





Little Blue Heron





2
Tricolored Heron





0
 1975
Cattle Egret




X
 2
Green Heron


X

0
Black-crowned Night-Heron

X


3
Yellow-cr. Night-Heron





1
Glossy Ibis




X
 0
Black Vulture


*X* X
 X
 4
Turkey Vulture *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Fulvous Whistling-Duck





0
 1976
Greylag Goose
*X*



0
Pink-footed Goose
 X
 X



1
Gr. White-fronted Goose X
 X
*X*

5
Canada Goose *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Cackling Goose
 X
 X
X
 X
2
Snow Goose
 X
 X
 X
 *X* *X* X
 5
Brant *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Mute Swan





2
Tundra Swan
X
X

1
Trumpeter Swan




X
 0
Wood Duck *X* *X* X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Green-winged Teal *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Eurasian Teal
*x*



1
American Black Duck *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Mallard *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Northern Pintail *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Blue-winged Teal X
 X
 X
 *X* X
 X
 4
Northern Shoveler X
X
 X
 *X* *X* 10
Gadwall *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
American Wigeon *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Eurasian Wigeon *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Canvasback
 X

*X*
X
 4
Redhead
 *X* *X* X
 X
 X
 *X* 5
Ring-necked Duck *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Greater Scaup *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Lesser Scaup *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Tufted Duck x Scaup hybrid
 x






Tufted Duck *X* *X* X
 *X*
X
 10
Common Eider *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
King Eider X
 X
 X
 *X*

7
Harlequin Duck *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Long-tailed Duck
*X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Black Scoter *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Surf Scoter *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
White-winged Scoter *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Common Goldeneye *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Barrow's Goldeneye *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Bufflehead *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Hooded Merganser *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Common Merganser *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Red-breasted Merganser *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Ruddy Duck X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 10
Osprey


X

0
Bald Eagle *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Northern Harrier *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Cooper's Hawk X

*X* X
 *X* 7
Northern Goshawk *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Red-shouldered Hawk





3
Broad-winged Hawk *X* *X* X
 *X* X
 X
 7
Red-tailed Hawk *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Rough-legged Hawk *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Golden Eagle
X

*X*
6
Eurasian Kestrel





0
 1988
American Kestrel *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Merlin *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Gyrfalcon
X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 7
Peregrine Falcon *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Gray Partridge

X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Ring-necked Pheasant *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Spruce Grouse *X* X
 X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Willow Ptarmigan





0
 1969
Ruffed Grouse *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Purple Gallinule





1
Common Gallinule
 *X*




0
 1980
American Coot *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Sandhill Crane
 *X* *X* X
X
 *X* 2
Yellow Rail





0
 1904 &  1966
Clapper Rail





0
 5 records
Virginia Rail


X
 X
2
Sora
X
X

0
American Avocet





0
Northern Lapwing
X



0
 8 records
Black-bellied Plover *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
American Golden-Plover




X
 0
Semipalmated Plover


X

2
Killdeer *X* *X* X
 *X* X
 *X* 10
Greater Yellowlegs X
 *X* X
 X
X
 8
Lesser Yellowlegs X

X
X
 8
Willet



X
2
Spotted Sandpiper

X


1
Whimbrel





1
Upland Sandpiper





2
Marbled Godwit





1
Bar-tailed Godwit





1
Ruddy Turnstone *X* *X* X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Red Knot *X* *X*
X
 X
 *X* 10
Sanderling *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Semi/Western Sandpiper


X
X
 9
Least Sandpiper





0
 1976
Baird's Sandpiper





1
White-rumped Sandpiper

X

X
 10
Pectoral Sandpiper
X



0
 1979
Purple Sandpiper *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Stilt Sandpiper





1
Dunlin *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Ruff





1
Short-billed Dowitcher




X
 2
Long-billed Dowitcher
 *X*
X
 X
X
 4
Wilson's Snipe X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* X
 10
American Woodcock
*X* X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Red-necked Phalarope

X


0
Red Phalarope





2
Great Skua X




1
Pomarine Jaeger X
X

X
 4
Parasitic Jaeger

X


4
jaeger sp.
X



0
Laughing Gull
X
X

3
Franklin's Gull





0
 1991
Little Gull
X
 X

X
 4
Black-headed Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Bonaparte's Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Ring-billed Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Mew (Common) Gull X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Herring Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Iceland Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Thayer's Gull

X
X
7
Lesser Black-backed Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Glaucous Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Great Black-backed Gull *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Slaty-backed Gull





1
Sabine's Gull





0
 1977  & 1978
Ivory Gull


*X* X
5
Ross's Gull





0
 1995
Black-legged Kittiwake *X* X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
large tern species





1
Caspian Tern





1
tern species
 X


X
-
Common Tern




X
 1
Forster's Tern


*X*
X
 5
Black Tern





0
 1966
Black Skimmer





1
Dovekie *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Common Murre X
 X
 X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Thick-billed Murre X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Razorbill *X* X
 X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Black Guillemot *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Atlantic Puffin X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 10
cuckoo sp.





1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo




X
 0
Chimney Swift





1
Band-tailed Pigeon





0
 1981
Rock Pigeon
 *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
White-winged Dove
 X


*X*
 X
 2
Mourning Dove *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Barn Owl





0
 4 records
Great Horned Owl *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Snowy Owl *X* X
 X
 *X* X
 *X* 10
Barred Owl *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Long-eared Owl X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Short-eared Owl *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Northern Hawk-Owl
X



1
Northern Saw-whet Owl X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Boreal Owl


X

2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird




X
 0
hummingbird sp.


X



Belted Kingfisher *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Red-headed Woodpecker
 *X*

*X*

4
Red-bellied Woodpecker *X* X
 X
 *X* *X* X
 9
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
 *X*

X
 *X* *X* 5
Downy Woodpecker *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Hairy Woodpecker *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Black-backed Woodpecker *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Three-toed Woodpecker




X
 3
Northern Flicker *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Pileated Woodpecker *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Dusky Flycatcher





1
Empidomax flycatcher sp.

X
X


(Dusky/Least) Flycatcher
X




1
Eastern Phoebe
X
X
X
 4
Say's Phoebe
 X
 X


X
 1
Ash-throated Flycatcher





1
Eastern Kingbird





1
Western Kingbird
 X
X
 X

2
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher





0
 1984
Northern Shrike *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Loggerhead Shrike





0
 3 records
Brown Shrike





1
White-eyed Vireo



X
1
Bell's Vireo




X
 1
Red-eyed Vireo





2
Blue-headed Vireo
 X




5
Gray Jay X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Blue Jay *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Eurasian Jackdaw





0
 1984 / 85
American Crow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Fish Crow





0
 1966 & 1967
Common Raven *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Horned Lark *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Barn Swallow





1
Tree Swallow X




5
Cliff Swallow





0
 1948
Black-capped Chickadee *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Boreal Chickadee *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
White-breasted Nuthatch *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Brown Creeper *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Carolina Wren
*X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 2
House Wren X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 6
Winter Wren X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 10
Sedge Wren





0
 1982
Marsh Wren X
X
 X

8
Golden-crowned Kinglet *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Ruby-crowned Kinglet X
 *X* X
 X
 *X* *X* 10
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
 X
 X

X
4
Northern Wheatear





2
Eastern Bluebird *X* *X* X


4
Mountain Bluebird
 X




2
Townsend's Solitaire
*X*

*X*
4
Veery





1
Swainson's Thrush





1
Hermit Thrush *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Wood Thrush





0
 1967 / 68
Fieldfare



X
0
 1994
Redwing




X
 0
American Robin *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Varied Thrush *X* *X* X
 *X* *X*
4
Gray Catbird X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 8
Northern Mockingbird *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Brown Thrasher *X* *X* X
 *X* X
 *X* 8
American Pipit *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Bohemian Waxwing *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Cedar Waxwing *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
European Starling *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Blue-winged Warbler





1
Orange-crowned Warbler X
 *X* X
 *X* X
 X
 10
Tennessee Warbler





0
 1983
Northern Parula
 X
X
X
4
Nashville Warbler
X
X
X
 10
Yellow Warbler
 X




0
 1964
Magnolia Warbler





4
Cape May Warbler
X



2
Black-throated Blue Warbler





3
Yellow-rumped Warbler *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
"Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler





1
Townsend's Warbler





0
 1993
Hermit Warbler


X

0
 1994 / 95
Black-throated Gray Warbler





0
 1984
Black-throated Green Warbler





3
Yellow-throated Warbler X
 X
 X
*X* X
 6
Pine Warbler *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Prairie Warbler
X
 X


1
Palm Warbler X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 10
Bay-breasted Warbler





1
Blackpoll Warbler
X



3
Black-and-white Warbler
 X
 *X* X
 X
 X
 X
 6
American Redstart
X



1
Ovenbird
 X
 X


X
 5
Northern Waterthrush





2
MacGillivray's Warbler





1
Common Yellowthroat X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 10
Hooded Warbler





0
 1976
Wilson's Warbler X



X
 6
Yellow-breasted Chat *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* X
 10
Summer Tanager X
 X
X

3
Scarlet Tanager





2
Western Tanager




*X* 4
Eastern Towhee *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Spotted Towhee

X


0
American Tree Sparrow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Chipping Sparrow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Clay-colored Sparrow
X
 X
 X
 *X* *X* 4
Field Sparrow X
 *X*

X
 *X* 7
Vesper Sparrow



X
 *X* 5
Lark Sparrow
*X*
X
*X* 7
Lark Bunting





0
 1959 & 1968
Savannah Sparrow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
"Ipswich" Sparrow
 *x*
 x
 x
 *x* x
 *x* 10
Grasshopper Sparrow X
X
 X
 X
2
Le Conte's Sparrow


X

1
Nelson's Sparrow





6
Salt-marsh Sparrow





1
Seaside Sparrow





2
Fox Sparrow *X* X
 X
 *X* *X* X
 10
Song Sparrow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Lincoln's Sparrow
 X
 X
 X
 X
 X
 *X* 7
Swamp Sparrow X
 *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
White-throated Sparrow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Harris's Sparrow




*X* 1
White-crowned Sparrow
*X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Golden-crowned Sparrow


*X*
X
 2
Dark-eyed Junco *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Lapland Longspur *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Snow Bunting *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Northern Cardinal *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

X
 *X*

4
Black-headed Grosbeak





1
Hybrid RBxBH Grosbeak



X


Blue Grosbeak





1
Indigo Bunting
 X
X
 X
 X
 X
 2
Painted Bunting


X
X
 4
Dickcissel *X* *X* X
 *X* X
 *X* 10
Bobolink
X



0
 1969 & 1973
Red-winged Blackbird *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Yellow-headed Blackbird
X


*X* 4
Eastern Meadowlark *X* *X* X
 X
 *X* X
 10
Western Meadowlark





0
 1982
Rusty Blackbird *X* *X* X
 *X* *X*
9
Brewer's Blackbird


X

1
Great-tailed Grackle





0
 1983 / 84
Common Grackle *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Brown-headed Cowbird *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Orchard Oriole





0
Baltimore Oriole *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Bullock's Oriole



*X*
2
Brambling





0
 1989
Chaffinch





1
Pine Grosbeak *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Purple Finch *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
House Finch *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Red Crossbill
*X* X
 *X* *X* X
 10
White-winged Crossbill *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* X
 10
Common Redpoll *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* X
 10
Hoary Redpoll
*X*
X
 *X*
5
Pine Siskin *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
American Goldfinch *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
Evening Grosbeak *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
House Sparrow *X* *X* X
 *X* *X* *X* 10
SINGLE WINTER TOTALS
 195
 198
 187
 205
 191
 205
 Ave = 195
 36 pre-1996 species
DEPTHS OF WINTER LIST 139
 147
 XXX
 152
 143
 151
 Ave = 149
NOVA SCOTIA CUMULATIVE
WINTER SPECIES TOTAL  =  336

Winter Single Season Average = 195 species  (14 seasons)
 (Totals do not include "Ipswich" Sparrow,
Eurasian Teal, or Audubon's Warbler)
 Nova Scotia Provincial Flag

Please e-mail any additions or corrections to this list to:

Blake Maybank

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