Alberta is a landlocked province within Canada, bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the North-West Territories to the north, and the U.S. state of Montana to the south. The northern part of the province is largely boreal forest, leading into the Great Plains in the south-east. The south-west portion of the province is generally temperate coniferous forest, bordered by the Rocky Mountains. These different ecosystems, along with the border formed by the Rocky Mountains, contribute to the diversity of birds in the province. Notably, several "eastern" and "western" pairs can be seen in Alberta, such as the eastern bluebird and western bluebird. The Central Flyway passes through Alberta, along with a portion of the Prairie Pothole Region, contributing to the variety of bird species which breed in, or migrate through, the province.
Unless otherwise noted, the information provided is from the Official List of the Birds of Alberta, produced by the Alberta Bird Record Committee, which contains 438 species as of April 2023. Of these, 125 are accidentals, eight were introduced to Alberta, one species is extinct, and another is possibly extinct. This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following tags are used to describe some categories of occurrence.
(A) Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Alberta (B) Breeding - a species that currently breeds or has bred in Alberta (E) Extinct - a recent species that no longer exists (Ex) Extirpated - a species that no longer occurs in Alberta, but populations still exist elsewhere (I) Introduced - a species that has been introduced to Alberta by the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water.
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Tundra bean-goose, Anser serrirostris (A) Brant, Branta bernicla (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (B) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (B) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa (B) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (B) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (B) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (B) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (B) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (B) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck, Anas rubripes (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (B) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (B) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (B) Redhead, Aythya americana (B) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (B) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (B) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (A) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (A) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (B) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (B) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (B) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (A) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (B) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (B) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (B) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (B) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (B) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (B) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (B)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (B) (I) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus (B) Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis (B) Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (B) Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus (A) White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (B) Greater sage-grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus (B) Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus (B) Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (B) Greater prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex) Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (B)(I) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (B) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (B) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (B) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (B) Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (B) Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii (B)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. They have strong flight muscles, allowing them to take off almost vertically and fly for long distances.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (B) (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A) Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (B) (I) Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica (A) Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (B)
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.
Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (A) Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (B)
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically coloured to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (B) Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (B)
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (B) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (A) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (A) (Possibly breeding) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis (A)
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A) Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (B) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (A) Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (A) Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (A) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (B) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (B) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus (A) Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Many species occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (B) Sora, Porzana carolina (B) Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (A) American coot, Fulica americana (B) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (B)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged birds who fly with their distinctive long necks outstretched. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". The breeding grounds for the only wild population of whooping cranes is in Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (B) Common crane, Grus grus (A) Whooping crane, Grus americana (B)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (B) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (B)
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (A) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (B) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (B) Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (B) Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A) Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (B) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (B) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (Possibly extinct) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (B) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa haemastica (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (B) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala (A) Red knot, Calidris canutus Surfbird, Calidris virgata (A) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (A) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima (A) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta (A) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (Possibly breeding) White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (B) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus American woodcock, Scolopax minor (A) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (B) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia (B) Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (B) Wandering tattler, Tringa incana (A) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (B) Willet, Tringa semipalmata (B) Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus (A) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (B) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (B) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (B) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae