Wood Buffalo National Park is located in northeastern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada. Spanning 44,807 km2, it is the largest national park in Canada and one of the largest in the world. The park was established in 1922 to protect the last remaining herds of wood bison in Canada. Its large size and diverse landscapes make it an important habitat for many bird species.
Overview of Birds in Wood Buffalo National Park
Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in Wood Buffalo National Park. The park provides breeding habitat for over 100 of these species. Due to the park’s size, habitats range from open grasslands to dense boreal forests to expansive wetlands. This diversity of habitats allows many different bird species to thrive in the park.
Some of the major bird habitats in Wood Buffalo National Park include:
- Boreal forest – Spruce, pine, fir, and aspen forests support species like gray jay, boreal chickadee, Cape May warbler, bay-breasted warbler, and ruby-crowned kinglet.
- Rivers and streams – Major waterways like the Peace and Athabasca Rivers provide habitat for species like bald eagle, osprey, harlequin duck, and rusty blackbird.
- Wetlands – Vast marshes, ponds, and lakes support waterfowl like tundra swan, American wigeon, lesser scaup, and trumpeter swan.
- Grasslands – Open meadows and prairies support species like Savannah sparrow, Baird’s sparrow, Sprague’s pipit, and chestnut-collared longspur.
The variety of habitats allows the park to support an impressive diversity of bird species throughout the year as different species migrate through in spring and fall. The major habitats and the birds likely to be found in each are explored in more detail below.
Boreal Forest Birds
The majority of Wood Buffalo National Park is covered in boreal forest, dominated by tree species like black spruce, white spruce, jack pine, lodge pole pine, trembling aspen and balsam poplar. The dense coniferous forests provide excellent habitat for many boreal specialty bird species. Some of the most common forest-dwelling species include:
Bird Species | Description |
---|---|
Gray Jay | A year-round boreal resident that is very tame and often associates with campers and hikers. |
Boreal Chickadee | A tiny year-round boreal chickadee with a black cap and bib. |
Ruby-crowned Kinglet | A tiny songbird that flits actively in treetops. Males have a striking red crest. |
Cape May Warbler | A brightly colored warbler species that breeds in mature spruce forests. |
Bay-breasted Warbler | A warbler with a distinctive face pattern and rusty flanks. |
Yellow-rumped Warbler | A common warbler that shows bright yellow rump patches in flight. |
In addition to numerous small songbirds, larger species like sharp-tailed grouse, spruce grouse, great gray owl and northern hawk owl inhabit the park’s coniferous and mixed forests. The forests come alive each spring with the songs of returning warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other migratory songbirds.
prime forests for boreal birds
Some of the best areas to observe boreal forest birds include:
- Birch Mountains – spruce and pine forests with a mix of wetlands and rivers
- Caribou Mountains – mature spruce forests as well as alpine tundra
- Little Buffalo River area – mix of boreal forest and willow thicket habitat
Wetland Birds
After the boreal forest, wetlands are the most extensive habitat in Wood Buffalo National Park. The Peace-Athabasca Delta contains one of the world’s largest freshwater deltas and provides vital nesting habitat for millions of migratory waterbirds. Other wetland habitats include shallow open marshes, ponds, lakes, and sluggish streams. Some key wetland species include:
Bird Species | Description |
---|---|
Tundra Swan | A large white waterfowl species that breeds in the marshy portions of the delta. |
American Wigeon | Small dabbling duck that nests commonly in the park’s wetlands. |
Lesser Scaup | A diving duck that breeds on forest ponds and larger lakes. |
Rusty Blackbird | A wetland songbird species that has declined significantly in recent decades. |
Sora | A highly secretive marsh bird that breeds in dense wetland vegetation. |
Many other waterfowl and marsh birds breed in the park including trumpeter swan, canvasback, redhead, common loon, and pied-billed grebe. Shorebirds like spotted sandpiper, Wilson’s snipe, and greater yellowlegs feed along muddy shorelines and marshes. Overall, Wood Buffalo’s wetlands provide essential nesting habitat for millions of waterfowl and waterbirds each summer.
Key wetland birding areas
Some hotspots for wetland birding include:
- Peace-Athabasca Delta – vast delta with mix of marshes, lakes, and riparian habitat.
- Lake Claire – large shallow lake with extensive reedbeds.
- Salt Plains – barren salt flats dotted with shallow marshy ponds.
Grassland Birds
While forests and wetlands dominate, Wood Buffalo also includes some rare patches of open grasslands and prairies. Grassland species have declined dramatically across North America due to habitat loss, so the park’s grasslands provide important breeding habitat for many threatened birds. Typical grassland species include:
Bird Species | Description |
---|---|
Sprague’s Pipit | A heavily declining grassland songbird species that breeds in open meadows. |
Baird’s Sparrow | A flighty sparrow species that nests in grassy areas with shrubs. |
Chestnut-collared Longspur | A prairie songbird species with a chestnut-colored neck band. |
Short-eared Owl | A ground-nesting owl species found in open grassy meadows. |
The park’s grassland birds rely on proper grazing and wildfire cycles to maintain their open habitat. Careful park management will be required to protect these threatened species into the future.
Top grassland birding spots
Some areas to spot grassland species are:
- Luscar Flats – extensive montane meadows and prairie
- Caribou Pass Area – alpine meadows with pockets of grassland habitat
Riparian Birds
The Peace, Athabasca and Slave Rivers flow through portions of Wood Buffalo National Park, along with smaller waterways like the Little Buffalo River. The river valleys and riparian areas along these watercourses provide important habitat for unique bird species. Typical riparian nesting species include:
Bird Species | Description |
---|---|
Harlequin Duck | A striking duck species that nests along fast-moving mountain rivers and streams. |
Bald Eagle | One of Wood Buffalo’s most iconic bird species. Nests and roosts along rivers. |
Osprey | A fish-eating raptor that nests prominently on snags near rivers and lakes. |
Bank Swallow | A small swallow that nests in colonies in eroded riverbanks. |
In addition to nesting species, the rivers provide migratory stopover habitat for species like common goldeneye, common merganser, belted kingfisher, spotted sandpiper, and rusty blackbird.
Key river birding spots
Some of the best areas to see riparian bird species include:
- Little Buffalo River – A smaller river valley with excellent riparian and wetland habitat.
- Peace Point – Meeting place of Peace and Slave Rivers with unique habitat.
Raptors
With its diversity of habitats, Wood Buffalo is home to a wide array of hawks, eagles, falcons, and other birds of prey. Some of the park’s notable raptor species include:
- Bald Eagle – Nests prominently along rivers and lakes where they hunt for fish.
- Osprey – Often seen diving for fish in rivers.
- Northern Harrier – Nests and hunts over open marshes and grasslands.
- Red-tailed Hawk – A common buteo that soars over open country looking for small mammals.
- Peregrine Falcon – A powerful falcon that preys on waterfowl and shorebirds.
- Northern Goshawk – An accipiter that hunts in forests taking birds and small mammals.
- Golden Eagle – A huge raptor sometimes observed in the park’s western mountain ranges.
In total, over 20 raptor species have been recorded in the park. Good areas to watch for birds of prey include major river corridors, wetland edges, and forest openings.
Other Notable Species
In addition to the major habitat-based groups above, Wood Buffalo provides home to many other noteworthy bird species, including:
- Sandhill Crane – A large gray crane that stops in Wood Buffalo on migration and some occasionally breed.
- Whooping Crane – Endangered cranes that migrate through the park in spring and fall.
- Gyrfalcon – The largest falcon sometimes preys on waterfowl that overwinter in the park.
- Snowy Owl – Irruptive winter visitor to open areas that prey on small mammals.
- Rusty Blackbird – A species of conservation concern that breeds in wooded wetlands.
- Evening Grosbeak – An erratic winter finch visitor drawn by seed crops.
The enormous size and habitat diversity of Wood Buffalo National Park allows it to support an impressive variety of northern bird species. The populations of many species that are declining elsewhere remain healthy within the protected sanctuary of the park.
Best Times to Go Birding in Wood Buffalo National Park
Here is an overview of the birding seasons in Wood Buffalo National Park:
- Spring Migration (May) – Many northern songbirds pass through on their way to boreal breeding grounds. Early waterfowl migrants also on the move.
- Nesting Season (June) – Resident boreal and wetland species are settled on breeding territories and active. Warbler songs ring out through the forests.
- Fall Migration (August – September) – Mass movements of waterfowl and songbirds heading south. Hawk migration peaks.
- Winter (November – March) – Some lingering waterfowl, raptors, finches, and a few northern specialties like gray jay and boreal chickadee.
For the most diversity, late May through early September provides the best birding. But unique northern species can be found year-round in the park.
Tips for Birding in Wood Buffalo
Here are some useful tips for birding in Wood Buffalo National Park:
- Pack warm clothing and rain gear – weather can be unpredictable with cold temperatures even in summer.
- Get out early – dawn bird activity can be excellent.
- Use hiking trails to access key habitats like riparian areas.
- Scan open areas like marshes and grasslands for raptors.
- Listen for hard-to-see species like sparrows and warblers.
- Join a birding tour to access remote areas like the Peace-Athabasca Delta.
- Consider renting or bringing a boat to get out on the water.
- Pack a spotting scope for viewing distant waterfowl.
Conclusion
With boreal forests, vast wetlands, rugged mountains, and major river corridors, Wood Buffalo National Park provides important breeding and migratory habitat for a tremendous diversity of northern bird species. Over 200 species have been recorded in the park. Getting out to explore the park’s trails, waterways and varied landscapes provides an excellent opportunity to experience a range of northern birds not easily seen elsewhere. From tiny colorful warblers flitting through the spruce forests to massive white pelicans soaring over wetlands, Wood Buffalo’s birds are one of the park’s biggest attractions.