Vote for Edmonton's City Bird!
More than 300 bird species have been recorded in Edmonton. Some live here year-round, while others just visit when migrating to and from their breeding territory.
Help us choose a bird to represent our city, raise awareness about how important urban wildlife and biodiversity is, and to celebrate Edmonton's birds! The Edmonton Nature Club consulted hundreds of local naturalists and members of the public to narrow the list of candidates down to six great choices. These birds are all found in many Edmonton neighbourhoods and natural areas throughout the year.
Everyone in the Edmonton area, of any age, is invited to cast one vote, in each of the voting rounds, to help choose Edmonton's City Bird. The voting link is at the bottom of this page. The vote is anonymous, we do not collect your information.
The first round of votes between the top 6 birds will conclude on December 31. The top 3 birds, as determined in the first round of voting, will then be opened for a second round of voting until March 31.
More than 300 bird species have been recorded in Edmonton. Some live here year-round, while others just visit when migrating to and from their breeding territory.
Help us choose a bird to represent our city, raise awareness about how important urban wildlife and biodiversity is, and to celebrate Edmonton's birds! The Edmonton Nature Club consulted hundreds of local naturalists and members of the public to narrow the list of candidates down to six great choices. These birds are all found in many Edmonton neighbourhoods and natural areas throughout the year.
Everyone in the Edmonton area, of any age, is invited to cast one vote, in each of the voting rounds, to help choose Edmonton's City Bird. The voting link is at the bottom of this page. The vote is anonymous, we do not collect your information.
The first round of votes between the top 6 birds will conclude on December 31. The top 3 birds, as determined in the first round of voting, will then be opened for a second round of voting until March 31.
In no particular order the candidates are:
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Blue Jay
This common bird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, gray, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems, and have tight family bonds. The birds lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully with family. They use a very wide variety of vocalizations to communicate. Blue Jays are also excellent mimics and may scare off other birds with a hawk call, or by meowing like a cat. The black markings across the face, nape, and throat vary extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another. The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is actually brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feathers. Learn more about the Blue Jay . Blue Jay photo - Ethan Denton |
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Downy Woodpecker
Edmonton's smallest woodpecker is very common throughout the city, most often associated with deciduous trees. Our Christmas Bird Count holds the Canadian record with a total of 568 Downy Woodpeckers counted (Dec 2015). Mature males have a small red patch on the back of the head. Woodpeckers don’t sing songs, but they drum loudly against pieces of wood or metal to announce their presence to competitors and potential mates. Like some of the other candidate species, Downy Woodpeckers are cavity nesters. Dead trees and limbs provide opportunities to feed on insects and to find suitable nest sites. Both male and female excavate the nest hole, a job that takes 1 to 3 weeks. Cavities are 6-12 inches deep and widen toward the bottom to make room for eggs and the incubating bird. The cavity is lined only with wood chips. Learn more about the Downy Woodpecker . Downy Woodpecker photo - Eamon Riordan-Short |
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Red-breasted Nuthatch
A little bundle of energy, these small birds often travel with chickadees and make excited, nasal sounding, "yank-yank" calls. They move quickly, often downward on tree trunks, while searching the bark for hidden insects. The nuthatch may be seen around coniferous trees. In fall and winter, when insects are difficult to find, they eat conifer seeds, including seeds they cached earlier in the year. The birds may be more numerous in Edmonton when cone crops are abundant. Look for them creeping down a tree or darting through the bundle of cones on a tree top. The Red-breasted Nuthatch chips out a nest hole in a tree, collects resin from coniferous trees and plasters it around the entrance. The sticky substance may help to keep out unwanted visitors. The nuthatch avoids the resin by diving directly through the hole. Learn more about the Red-breasted Nuthatch . Red-breasted Nuthatch photo - Wayne Oakes |
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Black-billed Magpie
These clever, entertaining birds are found throughout western North America. A talkative bird, they often sit conspicuously in the open, making them easy to hear and see. The striking black and white pattern shows hints of iridescent blue or green in the black feathers. Here in Edmonton, we have a version referred to the Ghost Magpie (photo), which, through a genetic mutation, exhibit imperfect albinism. The amount of black pigmentation is much lower than in normal Black-billed Magpies, giving a distinct white-grey colouring. Surprisingly, their eyes are pale blue. Royal Alberta Museum ornithologist Jocelyn Hudon says the phenomenon is highly unusual. The prevalence of the pale coloured birds in Edmonton likely traces back to a single magpie that displayed the mutation many years ago. Over time, more birds have taken on the distinct quality or have carried the mutation. They have all the personality of a regular Black-billed Magpie. Learn more about the Black-billed Magpie . Black-billed Magpie photo - Gerald Romanchuk / "Ghost" Magpie photo - Don Delaney |
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Boreal Chickadee
Boreal Chickadees prefer coniferous trees and are slightly smaller than the more common Black-capped Chickadees. Boreal Chickadees have cinnamon-coloured flanks and a brown cap that contrasts well with the black throat. These agile little foragers restlessly hunt for insects among limbs and branches, with frequent acrobatic turns while perched, sometimes hovering to glean prey from tips of branches. Like most chickadees, the Boreal Chickadee hides food regularly. Known as caching, this habit assists their survival in harsh winter conditions. These caches may contain insect larvae as well as tree seeds from evergreen cones. Learn more about the Boreal Chickadee . Boreal Chickadee photo - Chris Rees |
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Northern Saw-whet Owl
A tiny owl which hunts at night feeding mostly on mice as well as some moths and other insects. During daylight they roost in dense vegetation, typically just above eye level and near the trunk in evergreen trees. If you are lucky enough to see one, take care not to disturb it so it doesn't become prey to a larger bird! It’s hard to see a Northern Saw-whet Owl, but you may hear them on quiet nights from January to May as males are giving their toot-toot-toot call which is similar to a truck's backup beeper. Some year-round resident males or pairs seem to maintain territories throughout the year. More of these owls pass through Edmonton during migration, stopping to rest and feed. Learn more about the Northern Saw-whet Owl . Northern Saw-whet Owl photo - Tony LePrieur |