Our neighbourhood is full of amazing wildlife! Here is some information about the songbirds that frequent Country Hills and the North Central Calgary area.
House finches
The careless tune of the house finch is a sure sign spring has arrived in Calgary. House finches originate in the Eastern United States, but a failed business venture saw many of them released on Long Island, New York. The birds have made their way West and were first spotted in Calgary back in the 1970s. The colourful males have red tops while it’s easy to mistake the brown females for female house sparrows. House finches generally do not migrate, but like some birds, they may change their surroundings during winter. In Country Hills you can often spot them in fruit trees or along gutters.
House sparrows
Unlike many species of native sparrows, house sparrows are considered an invasive species in Alberta and have no legal protection. They’re easy to spot, particularly males with their bold brown caps and black bibs. The social and gregarious nature of house sparrows, plus eons of cohabiting with humans have made them a very successful species. Their loud chatter and bossy ways make them easy to spot at the bird feeder. House sparrows live year round in Calgary.
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Black-capped chickadees
Calgary’s municipal bird, the black-capped chickadee, is a cheerful chirper easily recognized by their calls. You’ve probably heard a “chick-a-dee-dee!” or “cheeeeeese-bur-ger!” wherever mature trees are found. Highly intelligent, sociable and curious, chickadees love visiting bird feeders and are known land on an outstretched palm filled with seeds. Chickadees live year round in Calgary and if you visit natural parks like the Weaselhead, you may see the other two species found in Alberta—the boreal chickadee and the mountain chickadee.
