Home & Habitat Jounal

Last updated: October 24th, 2025
Updated species count and added a few birds to the list

A living journal of every feathered visitor spotted from our little patch of land.

This evolving backyard birding life list record documents the species that I have encountered in or from my backyard – whether they landed at the pond, perched in a nearby tree, sang beyond the fence, or soared overhead.

Using the Merlin Bird ID app, careful observation, and lots of time spent outdoors, I have tracked and photographed each sighting as best I can.

Symbols used:

L = Lifer (first-time sighting)
H = Heard only (confirmed with Merlin Bird ID app, or clear vocal ID)
FO = Flying Overhead
SFY = Saw From Yard (but not physically in the yard)

Birds I could not positively identify are listed at the bottom, with photos (if applicable) and notes.

YEARLY SPECIES TOTALS

Click on the year to see the full list and photos

2025: 51 + 2 unidentified (and counting) – The year began slowly, and activity dipped again in mid-summer. Numbers picked up during spring and autumn migration, especially after the pond was completed.
2024: 46 – First year of backyard birding – full of surprises, particularly during the spring and autumn migrations.

Backyard bird counts began November 17th, 2023, when we moved to our house. We started rewilding the yard in spring 2024, and it’s been incredible to watch how quickly the birds responded to even the earliest changes. Activity really picked up after we finished the pond in spring 2025 – suddenly our little patch of land was a hotspot for visitors.

BLACKBIRDS

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus *H

CARACARAS AND FALCONS

Merlin Falco columbarius

CARDINALS, PIRANGA TANAGERS AND ALLIES

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus *L

CHICKADEES AND TITMICE

Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus

Black-capped Chickadee hanging onto branches of cedar tree — Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadee perched on top of sunflower head, with sunflower seed in mouth — **Black-capped Chickadee**

Black-capped Chickadee perched on Maple tree — **Black-capped Chickadee**

CRANES

Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis *FO

CREEPERS

Brown Creeper Certhia americana *H

DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS

Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons *FO
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos *FO
Snow Goose Anser caerulescens *FO
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus *FO

FRINGILLINE AND CARDUELINE FINCHES AND ALLIES

American Goldfinch Spinus tristis *L
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus *H
Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus *L
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera *SFY *L

House Finch sitting on branches of Cedar Tree — House Finch

Leucistic House Finch sits at bird feeder

GULLS, TERNS, AND SKIMMERS

California Gull Larus californicus *FO
Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan *FO
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis *FO

HAWKS, KITES, EAGLES, AND ALLIES

American Goshawk Astur atricapillus * FO *L
Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii *L
Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni *FO

Cooper's Hawk standing on one leg on a wooden fence

Cooper's Hawk perched on a wooden fence looking right

Cooper's Hawk on a wooden fence, wings spread about to fly

HUMMINGBIRDS

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

Ruby-throated hummingbird mid flight — Ruby-throated Hummingbird

IBISES AND SPOONBILLS

White-faced Ibis Threskiornithidae *L *FO

JAYS AND CROWS

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos *FO
Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Common Raven Corvus corax

Black-billed Magpie perched on Maple Tree — Black-billed Magpie

Blue Jay taking a bath in wildlife pond — **Blue Jay**

Blue Jay facing camera taking a bath in wildlife pond — **Blue Jay**

Blue Jay on rock after taking a bath in wildlife pond — **Blue Jay**

KINGLETS

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa *L
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula *L

Ruby-crowned Kinglet facing camera, perched on branch with green foliage in background — Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet perched on branch with green foliage in background — Ruby-crowned Kinglet

NUTHATCHES

Red-Breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
White-Breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis *L

Red-Breasted Nuthatch on oak tree — **Red-Breasted Nuthatch**

White-Breasted Nuthatch on bird feeder — White-breasted Nuthatch

OLD WORLD SPARROWS

House Sparrow Passer domesticus

House Sparrow perched on fern crown — House Sparrow

House Sparrow perched on old stick — House Sparrow

House Sparrow perched in apple tree — House Sparrow

PELICANS

Pelican Pelecanus *FO

PIGEONS AND DOVES

Rock Pigeon Columba livia *SFY

SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES, AND ALLIES

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria *H

STARLINGS

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris *H

THRUSHES

American Robin Turdus migratorius
Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus *L
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus *L
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus *L

American Robin facing camera with a beak full of worms

American Robin perched on large wooden stump in garden. Green foliage from corn and tomatoes seen — American Robin

American Robin with beak-full of green moss

American Robin with beak-full of green moss in wildlife pond

American Robin with beak-full of moss in wildlife pond

American Robin with beak-full of green moss on log next to wildlife pond

Hermit Thrush among green foliage — Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush in oak tree — Swainson’s Thrush

TOWHEES & SPARROWS

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum *L
Info: This is the first record of a Grasshopper Sparrow in the Edmonton eBird county, and the most northernly confirmed record in Canada!
Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii *L
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys *L
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis

Chipping Sparrow amongst the maple leaves

Chipping Sparrow on log with green foilage in background

Chipping sparrow perched on maple tree branch

Chipping Sparrow perched on twig in front of oak tree

Chipping Sparrow on rock in wildlife pond about to take a drink

Dark-eyed Junco on sand — **Dark-eyed Junco**

Dark-eyed Junco on sand alongside wildlife pond. sand grains are floating in the air — **Dark-eyed Junco**

Dark-eyed Junco on wooden fence — Dark-eyed Junco

Grasshopper Sparrow on soil — Grasshopper Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow on log near pond — Lincoln’s Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow in soil amongst the shadows. Illuminated by daylight coming through fence — White-crowned Sparrow

TYPICAL OWLS

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus *H

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS

Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum *L
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe *L
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus *L

Eastern Phoebe perched on oak tree — Eastern Pheobe

Least Flycatcher on branch across wildlife pond — Least Flycatcher

VIREOS

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus *L
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus *L

WAXWINGS

Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Bohemian Waxwing perched on mountain ash tree — Bohemian Waxwing

Bohemian Waxwing perched on mountain ash tree looking at berries — Bohemian Waxwing

Bohemian Waxwing perched on mountain ash tree with berry in beak — Bohemian Waxwing

WOOD-WARBLERS

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla *L
Black Polled Warbler Setophaga striata *L
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia *L
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla *L
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis *H *L
Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata *L
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla *L
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum *L
Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina *L
Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla *L
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata *L
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia

Orange-crowned Warbler perched on an oak tree eating

Ovenbird on cement blocks in the shadows — Ovenbird

Wilson's Warbler on stepping stone — Wilson’s Warbler

WOODPECKERS AND ALLIES

Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus

Pileated Woodpecker on large wooden tree stump — Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker on apple tree — Northern Flicker

WRENS

Northern House Wren Troglodytes aedon *L
Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis *L

UNIDENTIFIED BIRDS

The following birds are ones that I have encountered, but have not been able to fully identify. These are the best images I managed to capture before they flew off. If you recognize any of them, I would love your help in confirming their ID. Thank you!

Unidentified bird #1 – Taken August 22nd, 2024 in Edmonton, Alberta

Some birds have remained just out of reach – whether evading my camera, staying too distant for a clear view, or appearing under the cover of night, making identification tricky. Here are the species I believe that I have encountered but have not been able to confirm with certainty:

Owl – Flew into our yard at night. Completely silent in flight. Smaller, brown. Possibly a Northern saw-whet Owl
Dove – On power line in alley. Very light in colouring, nearly white. Possibly a Eurasian Collared-Dove

WANT TO START YOUR OWN BACKYARD BIRD LIST?

Here are the tools and resources that help me keep track and attract more species to our yard.

Merlin Bird ID app (for sound and visual ID)
eBird.org
Birds of Alberta – By Chris Fisher and John Acorn
A notes app or pocket notebook to quickly jot down sightings while outside, which I later add to my detailed “Yard Birds” spreadsheet for tracking. This helps me stay organized and also makes it easy to submit observations to eBird

INFORMATION
FO = Flying Overhead
H = Heard
L = Lifer
SFY = Saw From Yard

BACKYARD BIRDING LIFE LIST