Vancouver Birds

Cyanocitta stelleri (Steller's jay)

El arrendajo de Steller o chara crestada es una especie de ave paseriforme de la familia de los córvidos de vivo color azulado ampliamente distribuido por Norteamérica y Centroamérica.vThe harsh ‘jay jay jay’ call of the Steller’s Jay is heard year-round in Vancouver especially in autumn and winter when jays are most numerous. The blue back, wings and sides and black head with a crest is unmistakeable. Jays build twig nests hidden away in shrubs and trees. They eat insects and nuts, take other birds eggs, and readily come to feeders supplied with peanuts or sunflower seeds. 

SONG SPARROW

 Song sparrows live up to their name with a loud regular song in spring and summer. Shrubs and forest edges are its haunt and it readily visits bird feeders. Nests are small compact grass lined cups hidden from sight in shrubs. Song sparrows are common to gardens and parks. 

DARK-EYED JUNCO

Dark-eyed Juncos are present year round in Vancouver but are most abundant in fall and winter. Juncos are sparrow-sized birds with conspicuous white outer tail feathers that are visible when the birds fly. The diet is mostly seeds that they eat on the ground.

NORTHERN FLICKER

 The flicker gets its name from its ‘flicka-flicka-flicka’ call. In spring, it drums on roof flashing, hard wood or any other surface that resonates loudly. Northern Flickers are woodpeckers identified by their orange under wing and tail. They are widespread year-round denizens of the city where they inhabit gardens, suburban streets and forests. Flickers eat ants that they hunt along the ground and insect larvae found in snags. Their nest is built in holes in trees that they excavate using their bills. 

HOUSE FINCH

 Melodious is probably a word to describe the song of the House Finch. It is a year round and widespread resident in Vancouver gardens and parks. The male is either red or orange on the head and breast while the female is streaked with brown feathers. Nests are small cups of twigs and grasses built in shrubs. Finches are mostly seed eaters and take readily to bird feeders in gardens. 

ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD

The Anna’s Hummingbird is a recent and increasingly common backyard bird in Vancouver. Nests are built on the ends of branches between mid winter until late summer. Hummingbirds take readily to hummingbird feeders and flowers such as Oregon grape, fuschia, and crocossmia.