The objective of this website is to provide photos and general information about birds on Vancouver Island and related topics to entertain, inspire and educate viewers - especially those who are unable to get out and enjoy the birds in real life. Every attempt has been made to make sure the information is as accurate as possible, but before using any of this information please cross-check with reliable references or experts in the field. Just a reminder that copyright laws apply to all photos, but permission is usually provided free of charge to educational and conservation programs.

Vancouver Island is the largest island on the west coast of North America. It measures 460 km from the southern tip of Victoria to the northern tip of Cape Scott and averages about 80 kilometers wide. Rugged fiords and gorgeous sandy beaches are found on both the Salish Sea and Pacific Ocean costlines while forested mountains punctuated by jagged peaks typify the spine of the island. The varied geology provides a variety of habitats suitable for many different birds.

Thanks to the mild currents of the Pacific and its location on the Pacific flyway, Vancouver Island attracts more than its share of avian species and is the birding hotspot of Canada. Approximately a 100 species are year-round residents and the population is augmented in the summer by breeders from the south and the return of northern breeders in the winter. Regular migration stop-overs during the  spring and fall are also considered to be Vancouver Island birds. 

Vancouver Island's location is also an excellent landing spot for vagrant birds that have strayed voluntarily or by the force of nature from their normal habitats.  Some of these birds can come from as far as Asia or Europe and often follow the coastline rather than tackle the dense forests and peaks of the coastal mountains. Vancouver Island just happens to be enroute and is a convenient place to rest and refuel. Some of these birds only stay for a few hours while others stay for several weeks. To date there have been approximately 200 vagrant species recorded, but who knows how many haven't been seen or have been seen but not recorded.

 

CONTENTS

1. For rare and uncommon birds click VAGRANT BIRDS 
2. For birds found mainly offshore click PELAGIC BIRDS 
3. For Bald Eagle and bird activity during salmon spawn click SALMON SEASON 
4. For birds that migrate here for the winter click WINTER MIGRANTS 
5. For birds that stop during their migration to rest and refuel click - MIGRATION STOPOVERS photos uploaded
6. For birds that migrate here for the summer click - SUMMER MIGRANTS photos uploaded
7. For bird stories and reports click - JOURNALS (new)
UNDER CONSIDERATION 
8. BIRDING HOTSPOTS ... 
9. WHITE RAVENS ...24
10. SPECIES FOCUS ... 
11. COLOUR VARIATIONS - moulting, leucism, morphs
12. more ... 
 

NOTICE BOARD
 

DEC. 17, 2025 - BOOKS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT:

VICTORIA - Munro's & Ivy (Bolen & Tanners are out of stock)
DUNCAN - Volume 1 Books
LADYSMITH - Boundless Books
NANAIMO - Chapters
NANOOSE BAY - Springford Market
PARKSVILLE - (Fireside & Sea and Summit appear to be out of stock)
QUALICUM - Mulberrybush
BOWSER - Salish Sea Market
COMOX - Blue Heron Books 
COURTENAY - Laughing Oyster
CAMPBELL RIVER - Save On Foods (Coho appears to be  out of stock)

 *check the bookstore website for current book availability

DEC. 17, 2025 - BOOKS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT:

VICTORIA - Munro's. Bolen, Ivy's, Tanners
DUNCAN - Volume 1 Books
LADYSMITH - Boundless Books
NANAIMO - Chapters
NANOOSE BAY - Springford Market
PARKSVILLE - Sea & Summit, (Fireside appears to be out of stock)
QUALICUM - Mulberrybush
BOWSER - Salish Sea Market
COURTENAY - Laughing Oyster
COMOX - Blue Heron
CAMPBELL RIVER - Coho Books, Save On Foods
 

 Jan. 22, 2026 - Books currently available at:

VICTORIA - Ivy's Bookshop (Oak Bay)
LADYSMITH - Boundless Books
NANAIMO - Chapters
NANOOSE BAY - Springford Farm Market
PARKSVILLE - Fireside Books, Sea & Summit Books
QUALICUM BEACH - Mulberrybush Books
BOWSER - Salish Sea Market
COURTENAY - Laughing Oyster
COMOX - Blue Heron 

Dec. 17, 2025 - BOOKS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT:

This book is currently out of print, but used copies may be available at stores that sell used books. There have been regular requests for this book but not enough to warrant a reprint. 

RARE and UNCOMMON BIRD REPORT 

For comprehensive rare bird alerts, google BC rare bird alert or click https://bcbirdalert.blogspot.com/. This report only covers the birds that I have had the pleasure of seeing.

Jan. 19, 2026
The female SUMMER TANAGER reported last week in Campbell River from Jan. 14 - 16 may be the same one that is currently in Qualicum Beach (Jan. 17 - 21). The very kind homeowner has graciously allowed visitors to view the bird in her garden, and I had the pleasure of viewing the perky vagrant on Jan. 19. It proved to be very obliging, flying in with the local feeding flock and fearlessly monopolizing the feeding tray just 6 m from me. Acording to the BC Rare Bird Alert, this is the 13th record for BC.

The Summer Tanager is a southern bird found mainly in the southeast of the US during the summer nesting season. The male is a bright strawberry red and the females a mustard yellow. It specializes in consuming bees and wasps, but will also eat berries and fruits. The Summer Tanager in Qualicum Beach seems to be enjoying its winter diet of birdseed and nuts. During the winter it migrates south as far as mid South America. 

below - Dec. 27, 2025 - The Whimbrel normally migrates southward for the winter, but it is not unusual for a bird or two to join our local shorebirds to brave the island's winter. So far, there has only been one hardy individual reported during the winter on Vancouver Island, and it is the one at Deep Bay. It has been hanging out with the local Black-bellied Plovers, Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones, and Dunlin. It remains to be seen if stays for the entire winter.

below - THe Yellow-rumped Warler is neither rare nor uncommon on Vancouver Island except during the winter. Vancouver Island is at the northern tip of the Yellow-rumped Warbler's winter range, and there always seems to be a few reported for the annual Christmas Bird Counts. They are usually fairly scarce unless there is a very mild winter. I can remember a fair number wintering at Swan Lake many years ago. The bird below was the only warbler in the company of a group of Chestnut-backed Chickadees at Morningstar Pond today (Jan. 21, 2026)

below - CANVASBACK DUCKS are reported every year on Vancouver Island, but they are few and far between. The pair below was found at at Morningstar Pond on Dec. 26 and 27, but they were gone on Dec. 28. Vancouver Island is at the northern tip of the duck's normal winter range which extends down the Pacific coast to the southern US.

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