birds of Prey in  Canada, owls, falcons and more

* Birds Of Prey in Canada:


Birds incubation time, nesting, clutch of eggs, migration and interesting facts.

A link to other Birds of Canada .

Nature Parks and Trails with CPS co-ordinates

Hummingbirds in Canada - canadian-gardening.ca


Birds of Prey in Canada!
Owls, Eagles, Falcons, Vultures, Shrikes and Kites that call Canada home.



   Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus):


• Nesting: Nests on cliffs or rocky outcrops in open landscapes such as prairies or deserts.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 3-5 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 29-32 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: Prairie Falcons are among the fastest birds in level flight, capable of reaching speeds over 60 miles per hour.

   Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus):


• Nesting: Nests on cliffs, tall buildings, or other high structures.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 2-4 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 29-32 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: Peregrine Falcons are renowned for their high-speed dives, or "stoops," which can reach speeds over 240 miles per hour, making them the fastest animals on the planet.

   American Kestrel (Falco sparverius):


• Nesting: Nests in cavities, often using old woodpecker holes or nest boxes.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 4-6 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 27-31 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: American Kestrels are the smallest falcons in North America, often seen perched on wires or poles scanning for prey.

   Merlin (Falco columbarius):


• Nesting: Nests in trees or on cliffs, often reusing old crow or raptor nests.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 3-6 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 28-32 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: Merlins are agile hunters known for their swift flight and ability to capture small birds in mid-air.

   Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus):


• Nesting: Nests on cliffs or rocky outcrops in Arctic or subarctic regions.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 3-5 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 35-36 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: Gyrfalcons are the largest falcons in the world, with some individuals having plumage that ranges from pure white to dark gray.

   Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa):


• Nesting: Great Grey Owls typically nest in large trees, often choosing coniferous forests with dense foliage for their nesting sites. They may also utilize abandoned nests of other large birds, such as hawks or crows.
• Clutch of Eggs: Female Great Grey Owls typically lay a clutch of 2 to 5 eggs, although clutch size can vary depending on factors such as food availability and environmental conditions.
• Incubation Time: The incubation period for Great Grey Owl eggs usually lasts around 28 to 30 days.
• Migration: Great Grey Owls are not known for long-distance migration in search of suitable hunting grounds or territories.
• Interesting Facts: : Silent Flight: Great Grey Owls possess specialized feathers that allow them to fly almost silently, enabling them to hunt stealthily without alerting their prey.
Facial Disk: Like other owl species, Great Grey Owls have a facial disk, a specialized arrangement of feathers around their face that helps to funnel sound towards their ears, enhancing their exceptional hearing abilities.
Large Size: Great Grey Owls are one of the largest owl species in the world, with a wingspan that can exceed 5 feet (1.5 meters) and a height of up to 33 inches (84 centimeters).

   Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus):


• Nesting: Nests in a variety of habitats including forests, deserts, and urban areas, often using abandoned nests of other large birds.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 1-5 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 28-35 days.
• Migration: : Generally non-migratory, with some populations moving short distances in response to food availability.
• Interesting Facts: Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable predators known for their large size, distinctive ear tufts and deep hooting calls.

   Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus):


• Nesting: Nests on the ground in Arctic tundra habitats, often on elevated sites.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 3-11 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 32-34 days.
• Migration: Nomadic, with movements influenced by prey availability.
• Interesting Facts: Snowy Owls have thick plumage adapted for insulation against cold temperatures, and they are among the few owls that are active during the day.

   Barred Owl (Strix varia):


• Nesting: Nests in forests, often using tree cavities or old nests of other large birds.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 2-4 eggs in a clutch
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 28-33 days.
• Migration: Generally non-migratory, with some individuals dispersing short distances after the breeding season.
• Interesting Facts: Barred Owls have distinctive "who-cooks-for-you" calls that are often heard in their forest habitats.

   Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus):


• Nesting: Nests in dense forests, often using tree cavities or old woodpecker nests.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 3-7 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 21-28 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: Northern Saw-whet Owls are named for their distinctive "sawing" call, which sounds like the sharpening of a saw blade.

   Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus):


• Nesting: Nests on the ground in open habitats such as grasslands or marshes.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 4-7 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 21-28 days.
• Migration: Migratory, with some populations traveling long distances.
• Interesting Facts: Short-eared Owls are diurnal hunters, often seen flying low over fields or marshes in search of prey.

   Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia):


• Nesting: Nests in burrows dug in the ground, often reusing abandoned burrows of mammals such as prairie dogs.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 4-9 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 28-30 days.
• Migration: Some populations migrate, while others are resident.
• Interesting Facts: Burrowing Owls are one of the few owl species that are active during the day and they are known for their habit of perching near their burrows during daylight hours.

   Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma):


• Nesting: Nests in tree cavities or old woodpecker nests in forests.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 3-7 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 28-30 days.
• Migration: Generally non-migratory, with some individuals dispersing short distances after the breeding season.
• Interesting Facts: Northern Pygmy Owls are one of the smallest owl species in North America, but they are fierce predators capable of capturing prey larger than themselves.

   Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula):


• Nesting: Nests in tree cavities in boreal forests or taiga habitats.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 5-10 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 25-30 days.
• Migration: Nomadic, with movements influenced by prey availability.
• Interesting Facts: Northern Hawk Owls are diurnal hunters, actively hunting during daylight hours, and they have distinctive facial disks similar to other owl species.

   American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus):


• Nesting: Nests in dense vegetation in marshes or wetlands.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 3-5 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 24-28 days.
• Migration: Migratory, traveling long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
• Interesting Facts: American Bitterns are masters of camouflage, often standing motionless with their plumage blending seamlessly with their surroundings, making them difficult to spot.

   Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax):


• Nesting: Nests in colonies in trees or shrubs near bodies of water.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 3-5 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 24-26 days.
• Migration: Migratory, traveling long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
• Interesting Facts: Black-crowned Night Herons are nocturnal hunters, often seen foraging for fish, crustaceans, and insects under the cover of darkness.

   Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura):


• Nesting: Nests in secluded locations such as caves, hollow trees, or abandoned buildings.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 1-3 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 38-41 days.
• Migration: Migratory, traveling long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
• Interesting Facts: Turkey Vultures have an excellent sense of smell, allowing them to locate carrion from great distances, even while soaring high in the sky.

   Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis):


• Nesting: Nests in shrubs or low trees in open habitats such as tundra or grasslands.
• Clutch of Eggs: Typically lays 4-8 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 14-17 days.
• Migration: Migratory, traveling long distances between breeding and wintering grounds.
• Interesting Facts: Northern Shrikes are often called "butcher birds" because they impale their prey on thorns or barbed wire fences to store for later consumption.

   American Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus):


• Nesting: Nests in tall trees in wooded habitats near water.
• Clutch of Eggs: Usually lays 2 eggs in a clutch.
• Incubation Time: Eggs are incubated for about 28-30 days.
• Migration: Long-distance migrant, traveling from North America to South America for the winter.
• Interesting Facts: American Swallow-tailed Kites are graceful aerial hunters, often seen catching insects or small vertebrates in flight.

Birds of Prey in Canada

Some HAWKs soar over my yard while others like 0WLS will just sit on the branches and watch me walk around.
One time I was tried to take a picture of an owl for weeks - I couldn't find any.
One day I had a feeling that something from outside was watching me and "yes - it was an owl" :)
It was at night night time and it just sat there and watched me.
The "OSPREY" are easy to find - I just look for large nests on top of Hydro and Telephone poles.

. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
. Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)
. Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
. Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
. Merlin (Falco columbarius)
. Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
. Barred Owl (Strix varia)
. Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)
. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
. Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
. Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis)
. American Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
. Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)

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