Brightening your day are the vibrant red birds, so ensure you acquaint yourself with all the red-feathered avian creatures you can discern.
Alberta has been graced with the presence of 11 distinct species of red birds, each leaving their mark. Among them, 7 species are officially acknowledged on state checklists as regularly occurring, while an additional 4 species are deemed rare or accidental.
This informative guide shall serve as your aid in identifying the various red bird species inhabiting Alberta, as indicated by avibase. Some of these feathered beings undertake remarkable migrations, while others choose to call this place their home throughout the year.
To facilitate your identification process, a printable bird identification worksheet tailored for Alberta is at your disposal, enabling you to recognize every avian visitor to your backyard.
Dominating the red bird population in Alberta is the House Finch, which exhibits its resplendent hues during both summer and winter. The Common Redpoll is more commonly sighted in the winter months, while several species find solace in the warm summer days of Alberta. Continue reading to unravel the opportune moments for spotting these vibrantly hued red birds.
The 11 Red Birds in Alberta are as follows:
1. House Finch
Male House Finches are characterized by their crimson heads and breasts, while females display brown-streaked plumage. These finches grace Alberta’s landscape all year long, making appearances in parks, farms, forest edges, and backyard feeders. Their convivial nature manifests in their tendency to gather in boisterous groups, impossible to ignore.
Attracting House Finches to your backyard can be achieved by offering black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds through tube feeders or platform feeders.
2. Common Redpoll
Common Redpolls, a winter phenomenon in Alberta, can be observed between October and May, with rare sightings during the summer months. These birds don red foreheads and pinkish breasts, complemented by brown and white tones on the rest of their bodies.
During winter, Common Redpolls exhibit a remarkable survival tactic by burrowing into the snow, seeking warmth during the night. Astonishingly, they consume up to 42% of their body weight daily and have the capacity to store up to 2 grams of seeds within their stretchable esophagus.
Weedy fields and catkins in trees serve as their preferred foraging grounds, but they also find solace in feeders containing small seeds like nyjer or thistle.
3. Pine Grosbeak
Remaining residents of Alberta year-round, Pine Grosbeaks predominantly grace the southern regions of the province during the winter. These finches, larger than their counterparts, boast red plumage in males, accompanied by gray wings and tail adorned with two white wingbars. Females display a gray coloration with dull orange heads and rumps.
Pine Grosbeaks typically inhabit Canadian territories, with occasional sightings along the US border, in the mountainous west, and the Sierra Nevada of California. Their habitat consists of pine, spruce, and fir forests, where they feast on seeds, fruit, and buds. In the summer, they occasionally indulge in insects.
To entice Pine Grosbeaks to your vicinity, furnish black oil sunflower seed feeders or suet feeders.
4. White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills, while not overly common, offer delightful encounters throughout the year in Alberta. These finches possess unique crossed beaks, with males exhibiting red feathers accompanied by black wings and tails adorned with two white wingbars. Females, on the other hand, display yellow and brown tones alongside two white wingbars.
Forests in Canada, Alaska, and the northern US states host White-winged Crossbills. They primarily inhabit spruce forests, indulging in a diet consisting of seeds. Remarkably, these birds are known to breed at any time of the year, as long as an ample food supply is available.
Their presence is often heralded by the resounding chorus of their large flocks.
5. Purple Finch
Purple Finches grace the Alberta landscape during the summer, with their prevalence peaking between April and October. While most migrate for the winter, a few remain steadfast throughout the year.
Similar in appearance to House Finches, Purple Finches possess reddish-purple heads and breasts, with more brown hues adorning their backs and wings. Breeding in Canada and overwintering in the eastern states, they can be observed year-round along the northeastern coast and Pacific coast.
Evergreen forests serve as their favored hunting grounds, where they indulge in seeds, buds, nectar, and berries. The provision of black oil sunflower seeds will entice them to your feeders.
6. Red Crossbill
While relatively rare, Red Crossbills can be sighted year-round in Alberta. Males exhibit red plumage accompanied by darker wings and tails, while females display a combination of yellow and brown tones.
Red Crossbills are found in northern and western states throughout the year, with their presence in eastern states confined to the winter season. Their diet primarily comprises conifer seeds, and they navigate from tree to tree in flocks, utilizing their powerful beaks to break open unopened cones. Additionally, they frequent coniferous forests and roadsides in search of grit during the mornings.
7. Cassin’s Finch
Cassin’s Finches can be observed year-round in the southwest region of Alberta, with summer marking their peak activity period. These finches exhibit a striking combination of a red crown, rosy pink head, red breasts, whiteish bellies, and brown backs and wings.
Their preferred foraging grounds are the mountain forests of western states, where they scour for seeds in flocks. While not as common in backyards as House or Purple Finches, they may be attracted with sunflower seed feeders, particularly during winter, or by cultivating fruiting shrubs such as cotoneaster, mulberries, firethorn, grapes, and apples.
8. Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinals, though considered accidental visitors to Alberta, have been spotted in Edmonton and Calgary. The resplendent males boast red heads, bodies, and tails, adorned with black accents around their faces. In a dazzling display, even the females exhibit a remarkable appearance with their sharp brown crests, brown plumage, and red highlights.
Eastern and southern states serve as the primary habitat for Northern Cardinals. During the breeding season, they exhibit an intriguing behavior of defending their territories by occasionally attacking their reflections.
To attract more Northern Cardinals to your backyard, offer sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, and milo through large tube feeders, hoppers, platform feeders, or scatter food on the ground.
9. Scarlet Tanager
Although classified as accidental species in Alberta, Scarlet Tanagers have been spotted in Red Deer and Glenmore Reservoir in Calgary. These striking birds typically breed in Eastern US states and southern Canada, but their range rarely extends as far west as Alberta.
Scarlet Tanagers captivate observers with their bright red plumage, complemented by black wings and tails in males, while females exhibit yellow tones with darker wings and tails.
Their preferred breeding grounds are the eastern forests, from where they embark on migration to South America. Their lofty perch high in the forest canopy often makes spotting them a challenge.
To attract more Scarlet Tanagers, consider planting berry plants such as blackberries, raspberries, huckleberries, juneberries, serviceberries, mulberries, strawberries, and chokeberries.
10. Summer Tanager
Summer Tanagers, classified as accidental species in Alberta, have been occasionally sighted in Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park, albeit infrequently in recent years. These tanagers display vibrant red plumage in males and yellow tones in females.
During the breeding season, they inhabit southern and eastern states before embarking on migration to Central and South America for the winter months. Thriving in open woodlands, Summer Tanagers exhibit remarkable hunting prowess by catching and dispatching bees and wasps mid-flight. They remove the stingers before consuming their prey.
To attract more Summer Tanagers to your backyard, consider incorporating berry bushes and fruit trees into your landscaping.
11. Painted Bunting
Painted Buntings, though extremely rare in Alberta, hold the distinction of being classified as accidental species by the Alberta Bird Record Committee. Males flaunt a stunning patchwork of predominantly red coloring, accompanied by bright blue heads, green wings, and backs. Females display a vibrant yellow-green hue.
Breeding primarily in a few states within the south-central and southeastern regions of the US, Painted Buntings migrate to Central America, southern Florida, and select Caribbean islands under the cover of darkness.
Semi-open habitats serve as their preferred territory, where they forage for seeds and insects during the breeding season.
To attract Painted Buntings to your yard, consider incorporating low, dense vegetation and feeders filled with white millet or black oil sunflower seeds.
Frequency of Red Bird Sightings in Alberta during Summer and Winter
For insights into the frequency of red bird sightings in Alberta during summer and winter, checklists compiled by the state serve as an invaluable resource. These lists detail the most commonly recorded red birds in Alberta on ebird checklists, enabling enthusiasts to track their presence.
Common Red Birds in Alberta during Summer:
– House Finch: 11.9%
– Purple Finch: 4.2%
– White-winged Crossbill: 1.6%
– Red Crossbill: 0.6%
– Cassin’s Finch: 0.5%
– Pine Grosbeak: 0.2%
– Common Redpoll: 0.1%
– Northern Cardinal: <0.1%
– Summer Tanager: <0.1%
– Scarlet Tanager: <0.1%
Common Red Birds in Alberta during Winter:
– Common Redpoll: 19.8%
– House Finch: 17.0%
– Pine Grosbeak: 11.9%
– White-winged Crossbill: 5.5%
– Red Crossbill: 1.4%
– Purple Finch: 0.1%
– Northern Cardinal: 0.1%
– Cassin’s Finch: <0.1%