BIRDING SITES OF NOVA SCOTIA
  DIGBY COUNTY
SITE CHECKLIST -- BRIER ISLAND


This web page, an aid to travel and vacation planning
within Digby County in Nova Scotia,
supports and augments the
Birding Sites of Nova Scotia guidebook.

BIRD SPECIES OF BRIER ISLAND, NOVA SCOTIA

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DATE(s)            ___________________________________________________

WEATHER        ___________________________________________________

OBSERVER(s)  ___________________________________________________

                        ___________________________________________________

                        ___________________________________________________

                        ___________________________________________________


Legend
  

R     -   Resident, occurring year round.

M     -   Migrant, occurring in spring and/or fall.

N     -   Confirmed breeder.

(N)   -   Unconfirmed breeder.

(F)   -   Former breeder: Used to breed on Brier Island but hasn't for many years.

W    -   Winters.

S     -   Summer.

V     -   Visitor.

*      -   Single observer sighting.

E     -   Introduced species.

 

c      -   common:          Observed every year on Brier Island. Usually in good numbers.

u     -   uncommon:       Observed almost every year on Brier Island. Usually in low numbers.

i       -   irruptive:           Observed some years on Brier Island. May be in good numbers.

r      -   rare:                 Observed some years on Brier Island. Usually in low numbers.

x      -   extirpated:        Used to be resident on Brier Island but hasn't been seen for many years.

e      -   exceptional (number of sightings).

p     -   breeds only on Peters Island.

 

Number of Species: 346

(In addition, 5 species are single observer sightings)

 

Format for records:

        e.g. NMc = Confirmed breeder/Common migrant; We = Winters/exceptional


 

WHISTLING-DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND DUCKS

____Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor - *

____Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons - Ve(1)

____Snow Goose Chen caerulescens - Mi

____Canada Goose Branta canadensis - Nc, Mc

____Brant Branta bernicla - Wu, Mc

____Mute Swan Cygnus olor - Ee(1)

____Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus - Vr

____Wood Duck Aix sponsa - Sr, Mr

____Gadwall Anas strepera - Mu

____American Wigeon Anas americana - Mu

____American Black Duck Anas rubripes - Nc, R

____Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - (N), Wr

____Blue-winged Teal Anas discors - Nu, Mc

____Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata - Mu

____Northern Pintail Anas acuta - Mu

____Green-winged Teal Anas crecca - (N), Wr

____Redhead Aythya americana - Ve(2)

____Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris - Mu

____Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - Ve(1)

____Greater Scaup Aythya marila - Mc

____Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis - Mu

____King Eider Somateria spectabilis - Sr, Mr

____Common Eider Somateria mollissima - Nc, R

____Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus - Mu

____Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata - Mc

____White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca - Mc

____Black Scoter Melanitta nigra - Mc

____Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis - Mc

____Bufflehead Bucephala albeola - Mu

____Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula - Mc

____Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica - Ve(3)

____Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus - Mc, We(1)

____Common Merganser Mergus merganser - Mc

____Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator - (F), Wc

____Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis - Ve(2)

 

PARTRIDGE, PHEASANTS, AND GROUSE

____Gray Partridge Perdix perdix - E(1)

____Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus - Nc, E

____Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus - Nc, R

____Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis - (F), Ve

 

LOONS

____Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata - Wc, Mc

____Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica - Ve(2)

____Common Loon Gavia immer - Wc, Mc

 

GREBES

____Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps - Mr

____Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus - Wc

____Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena - Mc, Wc

 

FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS

____Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis - Mu, Wc

____Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea - Ve(4)

____Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis - Mc

____Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus - Mc

____Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus - Mu, Su

 

STORM-PETRELS

____Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus - Mc

____Leach’s Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa - (F)Sc, Mc

 

TROPICBIRDS

____White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus - Ve(5)

GANNETS

____Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - Su, Mc, Wu

 

PELICANS

____Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis - V(2)

 

CORMORANTS

____Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus - Nc, Wr

____Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - Nr, Rc

 

BITTERNS AND HERONS

____American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus - Mr, We(1)

____Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis - Ve(1)

____Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias - (F), Mc

____Great Egret Ardea alba - Vr

____Snowy Egret Egretta thula - Vr

____Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea - Vr

____Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor - Ve(2)

____Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - Vr

____Green Heron Butorides virescens - Sr, Mu

____Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax - Mu

____Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea - Mr

 

IBISES

____White Ibis Eudocimus albus - Ve(1)

____Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus - Ve(1)

 

VULTURES

____  Black Vulture Coragyps atratus - Ve(2)

____Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura - Rc

 

OSPREY

____Osprey Pandion haliaetus - Mc

 

KITES, HAWKS, AND EAGLES

____Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus - *

____Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis - Ve(4)

____Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus - Mc

____Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus - Nr, Mu

____Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus - (N), Mc

____Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii - Mr

____Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis - Nr, Mu

____Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus - Mu

____Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus - Ne, Mc

____Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni - Ve(3)

____Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis - Mc

____Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus - Mc, Wu

____Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos - Mr

 

FALCONS

____American Kestrel Falco sparverius - Mc

____Merlin Falco columbarius - Mc

____Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus - We(6)

____Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus - Mc

 

RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS

____Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris - Ve(2)

____Virginia Rail Rallus limicola - Mr

____Sora Porzana carolina - Mr

____Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Mr

____American Coot Fulica americana - Ve(1)

 

LIMPKIN

____Limpkin Aramus guarauna - Ve(1)

 

CRANES

____Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis - Ve(3)

 

PLOVERS

____Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola - Mc

____American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica - Mu

____Wilson’s Plover Charadrius wilsonia - Ve(1)

____Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus - Mc

____Piping Plover Charadrius melodus - Mu

____Killdeer Charadrius vociferus - Nu, Mc

 

SANDPIPERS AND PHALAROPES

____American Avocet Recurvirostra americana - Ve(1)

____Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia - Nu, Mc

____Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria - Mr

____Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca - Mc

____Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus - Mc

____Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes - Mc

____Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda - Mr

____Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus - Mc

____Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus - Ve(1)

____Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica - Mu

____Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres - Mc

____Red Knot Calidris canutus - Mu

____Sanderling Calidris alba - Mc

____Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla - Mc

____Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri - Mr

____Little Stint Calidris minuta - Ve(1)

____Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla - Mc

____White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis - Mc

____Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii - Mu

____Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos - Mu

____Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima - Wc

____Dunlin Calidris alpina - Mc

____Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea - Ve(1)

____Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus - Mr

____Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis - Mr

____Ruff Philomachus pugnax - Ve(3)

____Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus - Mc

____Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus - Ve(3)

____Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata - Mc

____American Woodcock Scolopax minor - Nu, Mu

____Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor - Mr

____Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus - Mc

____Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria - Mc

 

GULLS, TERNS, AND SKIMMERS

____Laughing Gull Larus atricilla - (N)pe(1), Mu

____Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan - Ve(2)

____Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus - Mu

____Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia - Mu

____Mew Gull Larus canus - Ve(3)

____Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis - Mu

____Herring Gull Larus argentatus - Nc, R

____Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri - Ve(2)

____Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides - Wc

____Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus - Mr

____Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus - Wu

____Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus - Nc, R

____Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla - Mc, Wc

____Sabine's Gull Xema sabini - Ve(2)

____Caspian Tern Sterna caspia - Ve(5)

____Royal Tern Sterna maxima - Ve(3)

____Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis - Ve(1)

____Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii - (F), S

____Common Tern Sterna hirundo - (F), S

____Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea - (F), S

____Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri - Ve(1)

_____Least Tern Sterna antillarum - *

____Black Tern Chlidonias niger - Mr

____Black Skimmer Rynchops niger - Ve(2)

 

SKUAS AND JAEGERS

____Great Skua Catharacta skua - Ve(2)

____South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki - Mu

____Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus - Mc

____Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus - Mc

____Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus - Ve(3)

 

AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS

____Dovekie Alle alle - Wc

____Common Murre Uria aalge - Wu

____Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia - Wc

____Razorbill Alca torda - Wc

____Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle - Nc, Mc, Wc

____Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - Mc

 

DOVES

____Rock Pigeon Columba livia - Nc, R

____White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica - Ve(2)

____Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura - Nc, R

 

CUCKOOS

____Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus - Mr

____Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus - Mr

 

OWLS

____Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus - Nu, R

____Snowy Owl Bubo scandiaca - Wu

____Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula - Ve(3)

____Barred Owl Strix varia - Mr

____Long-eared Owl Asio otus - (N), Mu

____Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus - Mu

____Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus - Ve(2)

____Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus - (N), Mc

 

GOATSUCKERS

____Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor - Mu

____Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis - Ve(1)

____Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus - Mu

 

SWIFTS

____Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica - Mc

 

HUMMINGBIRDS

____Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris - (N), Mc

 

KINGFISHERS

____Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon - Nu, Mc

 

WOODPECKERS

____Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Mr

____Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus - Ve(7)

____Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius - Mu

____Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens - Mu

____Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus - Mu

____American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis - *

____Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus - Mr

____Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus - Nu, Mc

____Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus - Ve(2)

 

FLYCATCHERS AND KINGBIRDS

____Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi - Mu

____Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens - Mc

____Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris - (N), Mc

____Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens - Ve(3)

____Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum - Nc, Mc

____Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii - Ve(1)

____Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus - Mc

____Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe - Mc

____Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya - Ve(2)

____Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus - Mu

____Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis - Mu

____Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus - Mc

____Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus -Ve(2)

 

SHRIKES

____Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus - Ve(5)

____Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor - Wc

 

VIREOS

____White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus - Mr

____Bell’s Vireo Vireo belli - *

____Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons - Mr

____Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius - Mc

____Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus - Mr

____Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus - Mu

____Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus - Mc

 

CORVIDS

____Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis - Ne, Vr

____Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata - Nu , RMc

____Black-billed Magpie Pica pica - Ve(1)

____Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula - Ve(1)

____American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos - RNc

____Common Raven Corvus corax - RNc

 

LARKS

____Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris - Wc, Mc

 

MARTINS AND SWALLOWS

____Purple Martin Progne subis - Mr

____Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor - Nc, Mc

____Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis - Mr

____Bank Swallow Riparia riparia - (F), Mc

____Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota - (F), Mu

____Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica - Nu, Mc

 

TITMICE

____Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus - Nc, Mc

____Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus - Nu, Mc

 

NUTHATCHES

____Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis - (N), Mc

____White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis - Mr

 

CREEPERS

____Brown Creeper Certhia americana - Mc

 

WRENS

____Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus - Ve(1)

____House Wren Troglodytes aedon - Mu

____Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - Nu, Mc

____Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis - Ve(2)

____Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris - Ve(4)

 

KINGLETS

____Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa - Nc, Mc

____Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula - Mc

 

GNATCATCHERS

____Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea - Mu

 

THRUSHES

____Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Ve(3)

____Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis - Nu, Mu

____Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi - Ve(1)

____Veery Catharus fuscescens - Mc

____Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus - Mr

____Bicknell's Thrush Catharus bicknelli - Ve(1)

____Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus - Nc, Mc

____Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus - Nr, Mc

____Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina - Mr

____American Robin Turdus migratorius - Nc, Mc

 

STARLINGS

____European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - Nc, R

 

MIMICS

____Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis - Nc, Mc

____Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos - Ne, Mu

____Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum - We, Mu

 

PIPITS

____American Pipit Anthus rubescens - Wc, Mc

 

WAXWINGS

____Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus - Ve(3)

____Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum - Nc, Mc

 

WARBLERS

____Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus - Mr

____Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera - Mr

____Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina - Mu

____Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata - Mu

____Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla - (N), Mc

____Northern Parula Parula americana - (N), Mc

____Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia - Nc, Mc

____Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica - Mc

____Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia - Nc, Mc

____Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina - Mc

____Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens - Mc

____Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata - Nc, Mc

____Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens - Ve(1)

____Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens - Nc, Mc

____Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca - Mc

____Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica - Mr

____Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus - Mr

____Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor - Mu

____Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum - Mc

____Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea - Mc

____Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata - Nu, Mc

____Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea - Ve(2)

____Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia - Nu, Mc

____American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla - Nc, Mc

____Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea - Ve(4)

____Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus - Ve(2)

____Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus - Mc

____Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis - Mc

____Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla - Ve(3)

____Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus - Ve(2)

____Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis - Ve(2)

____Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia - Mc

____Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas - Nc, Mc

____Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina - Ve(4)

____Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla - Mc

____Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis - Mc

____Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens - Mi

 

SPARROWS AND ALLIES

____Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus - We, Mr

____American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea - Wc, Mc

____Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina - Nu, Mc

____Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida - Mr

____Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla - Mr

____Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus - Mu

____Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus - Mr

____Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli - Ve(1)

____Lark Bunting Calamospiza melanocorys - Ve(4)

____Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis - Nc, Mc

____Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum - Ve(3)

____Nelson's Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni - Mr

____Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritimus - Ve(1)

____Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca - Mc

____Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia - Nc, RMc

____Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii - Mc

____Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana - Nu, Mc

____White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis - Nc, Mc

____White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys - Mc

____Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis - Nc, Mc

____Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus - Mc

____Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis - Wc, Mc

 

CARDINALS AND ALLIES

____Summer Tanager Piranga rubra - Mr

____Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea - Mu

____Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana - Ve(2)

____Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis - Nu, Mu

____Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus - Mc

____Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea - Mr

____Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea - (F), Mi

____Dickcissel Spiza americana - Mu

 

BLACKBIRDS AND ALLIES

____Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus - (F), Mc

____Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus - Nu, Mc

____Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna - Mu

____Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus - Ve(6)

____Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus - Mu

____Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus - Ve(2)

____Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula - Nc, Mc

____Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater - Nu, Mu

____Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius - Mu

____Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula - Mc

 

FINCHES

____Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator - Wi

____Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus - Nu, Mc

____House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus - Me

____Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra - Mu

____White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera - Mc

____Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea - Wc, Mu

____Hoary Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni - Ve(2)

____Pine Siskin Spinus pinus - Wi, Mu

____American Goldfinch Spinus tristis - Nc, Mc

____Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus - Wi, Mr

 

OLD WORLD SPARROWS

____House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Nu, R

 

 

COMMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compiled by:        Lance Laviolette – 24 May, 2010

Assisted by:         Eric L. Mills


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