The bald eagle is Canada’s largest bird of prey. Their wings span more than 2m, their height measures about 76cm and their weight is 7 kg. Other prominent physical characteristics include a blackish body, white head, and yellow bill. This bird is a hunter and scavenger, assisted by a massive beak, sharp talons, spikes on their oversized feet and excellent vision – eagles can see four times further than people.
The chickadee has conspicuous markings. Its body is grey above with a white underside shading to light brown flanks and a long grey tail. This small bird has a black head with white cheeks and a black throat patch. During the coldest winter days, the chickadee can often be observed emerging from its roost singing its signature “chickadee-dee-dee,” from which it got its name.
Woodpeckers have unique anatomy features that allow birds to excavate wood. Their straight, chisel shaped bill, formed of strong bone overlaid with a hard covering, is broad to spread the force of pecking. A covering of feathers keeps pieces of wood and dust out of their nostrils. The downy woodpecker is the species most common in Canada and is known as an excellent tree climber.
These large and powerful birds are identifiable by their prominent ear tufts. Another notable characteristic of the owl is its enormous yellow eyes. The colour of the owl varies from dark browns and greys but all are mottled and streaked with a white throat. This bird is an excellent nocturnal hunter, preferring medium sized mammals, such as rabbits, and smaller birds.
The grey jay is a bird of a thousand names. Until just recently, its official name was Canada jay as its range is mostly Canadian. Its other names include Whiskey Jack, wis-ka-chon, venison hawk, grease bird, lumberjack, and meat bird, which refers to the bird’s petty thievery habits and taste for carrion. In search of food, this little bird will appear at the camps of lumberman, trappers, hunters, and farmers.
This large bird of prey is recognizable by its brick red tail and unique patagial marks on the under wing. Like all hawks, this species is a deadly predator that uses sharp talons as weapons. Relying on its eyesight, which is about eight times more powerful than human sight, the hawk can spot the slightest movement of prey on the ground below. The red tailed hawk is known as an aggressive bird that defends its territory.
This chicken like bird thrives in a forest thrives in a forest with dense undergrowth and scattered clearings. Most notable about the grouse is the drumming mating call of the male bird. The male grouse will cup his wings and rapidly beat them against the air, usually while standing on a log. This is to warn away other males and attract females.
The hummingbird family consists of the smallest birds, which are named after the signature humming sound made by their tiny wings. A notable characteristic of the hummingbird is its capability of rapid forward flight but also its capability to remain stationary and fly backwards for short distances. The rufous species is described as feisty and is identifiable by the abrupt high pitched call and various squealing noises.
The steller's jay is a handsome bird with bright blue colouring, as its name would suggest. But perhaps more notable than vivid blue markings, is the little bird’s voice. At times it seems that the steller's jay will break into song just for the pleasure of making noise. Their most characteristic sound is an unrelenting cold scream, but they have a variety of other calls. The steller's jay has a sweet warbling and a mellow whistle that is quite musical.
This large, robust falcon is actually designated as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The falcon has suffered a decline in population due partly to the use of pesticides. The falcon, a true predator, specializes in direct pursuit in the open. Hunting from the skies of tundra, river valleys and moors, the falcon dives down on its prey. The top speed of its dives is estimated over 300 km/h.