Why birders flock north

Home Story Why birders flock north

Each spring, millions of birds migrate to the Northwest Territories to feed, breed, and raise their young, making it one of the most remarkable places for birdwatching in Canada. They join hardy resident species that thrive year-round, creating a landscape alive with wings and song. With more than 280 species recorded, the NWT is a paradise for birdwatchers. From Arctic islands to boreal forests, birders can spot everything from rare cranes to tundra owls in one of the wildest birding destinations.

Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is best known for its Wood Bison, but its most celebrated residents are Whooping Cranes. Once nearly extinct, “whoopers” have rebounded thanks to protected breeding grounds in the park. Today, more than 500 make the 4,000-kilometre (2,500-mile) journey twice each year between the park and their wintering grounds in Texas.

The park’s nesting area is a Wetland of International Significance, a maze of shallow ponds that provide ideal habitat for breeding. Standing nearly 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall, Whooping Cranes are the tallest birds in North America, easily recognized by their bugling calls. A pair has recently been spotted nesting at the Salt Plains near Fort Smith, and the community now celebrates the annual Northern Whooping Crane Festival each August.

A Sandhill Crane int he Northwest terrtiroies. A breeding ground for Sandhill crane. NWT great for briding — Sandhill Crane

Far more common than their endangered cousins, the Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes return to the Northwest Territories each spring in the hundreds of thousands. Known to the Inuvialuit as Tatiggat, these tall, grey birds with red crowns are famous for their elegant mating dances and trumpeting calls that can carry more than a kilometre.

They’re often seen in wetlands and marshes around Hay River, Fort Smith, Inuvik, and sometimes along the Tłı̨chǫ Highway and Ingraham Trail. A reliable spot is Chan Lake Territorial Park near Fort Providence, where they gather alongside other waterfowl.

The official bird of the NWT, the gyrfalcon, is the largest falcon in the world. These powerful hunters breed on the Barrenlands and Arctic islands, and often remain in the North through winter. Diving at incredible speeds, they prey on ptarmigan, hares, and waterfowl, a thrilling sight for birders lucky enough to encounter them.

Among the best-loved Northern birds is the ptarmigan, a small, fuzzy-footed game bird sometimes affectionately called a “chicken” for its clumsy flight. In winter, ptarmigan are pure white, blending into snowy landscapes, while in summer they turn mottled brown and nearly vanish into the tundra. Their croaking calls are often heard near Yellowknife, where they gather to feed on willows and birdseed.

Every spring, vast flocks of snow geese arrive to nest in the Mackenzie Delta and Arctic Islands. Banks Island – where Aulavik National Park is located – hosts colonies of nearly 250,000 birds. Their bright white bodies and black wingtips fill the sky, each goose standing close to a metre (3 feet) tall with a wingspan of 1.5 metres (5 feet). These migrations are among the most dramatic spectacles of Northern birdlife.

The Thick-billed Murre, the largest living auk, summers in the Cape Parry Migratory Bird Sanctuary near Paulatuk. Black-and-white like puffins, these seabirds nest on steep cliffs, laying a single egg. When the chick is only a few weeks old, it dives into the sea and swims south alongside its father, beginning life in Arctic waters.

One of the most striking birds in the Arctic is the King Eider. Males in breeding plumage display black bodies, pale breasts, and vividly coloured heads marked with orange, green, and blue. Vast flocks, known as Kingalik in Inuvialuktun, breed along the Northwest Passage. Banks Island alone hosts about 100,000. The community of Ulukhaktok welcomes their return each spring with the Kingalik Jamboree.

With wingspans reaching nearly 3 metres (9 feet), enormous bills, and distinctive throat pouches, White Pelicans are among the most impressive birds in the North. Each adult consumes up to 2 kilograms (4 pounds) of fish per day. They nest in the hundreds on mid-stream islands at the Slave River Rapids near Fort Smith, where fast-moving water protects them from predators and provides abundant fishing grounds.

Perhaps the North’s most iconic predator, the Snowy Owl patrols the tundra year-round. With wingspans up to 1.5 metres (4.5 feet) and brilliant white plumage, they are unmistakable. Their diet includes lemmings, hares, and even small foxes. In summer they roam as far north as the High Arctic islands, nesting on open tundra where birders may spot them soaring low over the landscape.

The Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world, with grey wings, black legs, a black cap, and a bright orange bill shaped like a carrot. Their harsh croaking call often gives them away as they fish the waters of Great Slave Lake, where they frequently nest on islands. With only about 50,000 worldwide, they are a prized sighting for birders.

The largest of all loon species, the Yellow-billed Loon resembles the common loon but with a heavier body and distinctive yellow beak. These rare Arctic divers migrate from northern oceans each summer to breed around tundra lakes of the Barrenlands. With a global population of only about 10,000, spotting one is a rare privilege for birders visiting the Northwest Territories.

Once numbering in the millions, Eskimo Curlews bred across the Barrenlands but were decimated by hunting on their migration routes. Today, they may be extinct, with the last confirmed sighting in the NWT dating back to 1963. With mottled brown plumage, long legs, and a downward-curved bill, they remain part of the region’s ornithological lore. Occasional unconfirmed sightings keep hope alive among birders.

Whether watching pelicans fish in the Slave River, cranes trumpet overhead, or owls hunt across the tundra, every season reveals new bird species and unforgettable displays. Book a guided birding tour in the Northwest Territories to experience some of the wildest and most rewarding birdwatching in Canada.

For wildlife lovers, birding is just the beginning. From pelicans and owls to bison, caribou, and even polar bears, the Northwest Territories is home to an incredible range of species. Ready to expand your Northern bucklist? Learn more about the North’s most iconic animals.

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