Winter Visitors

Note: Bird species that are normally here only in the summer, or on migration, but which occasionally overwinter here in small numbers, are listed on the Overwintering Species Page.

The following species visit Calgary in the winter months.  Some are common and others are rarely seen.  This list does not include accidentals (birds whose range does not include Calgary and which have been seen here only a few times) and does not include year-round birds.

Frequency:

  • A = Abundant (Over 500)
  • C = Common (101 to 500)
  • FC = Fairly Common (26 to 100)
  • S = Scarce (1-25)
  • R = Rare – irregular occurrence, in low numbers, and not necessarily in every year
  • E = Erratic – numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year

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Greater Scaup – R

Long-tailed Duck – R (also R on migration)

Northern Goshawk – S (and R summer resident)

Red-tailed Hawk (Harlan’s morph) – S   (Red-tailed Hawks are common from late March to November; Harlan’s morph from October to early April.)

Rough-legged Hawk – FC to S

Gyrfalcon – R

Prairie Falcon – S

Snowy Owl – S to R

Northern Hawk-Owl – R

Northern Pygmy-Owl – R

Boreal Owl – S

American Three-toed Woodpecker – S

Black-backed Woodpecker – R

Northern Shrike – FC

Mountain Chickadee – R

Brown Creeper – S

American Dipper – R

Townsend’s Solitaire – S

Bohemian Waxwing – FC to A

Snow Bunting – E, S

Pine Grosbeak – E

Red Crossbill – R (irregular, mostly winter)

White-winged Crossbill – FC (irregular, mostly winter)

Common Redpoll – E (can be FC)

Hoary Redpoll – R

Evening Grosbeak – R

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Source: Bird Date and Location Guide compiled by Gus Yaki