Outdoor Adventure

Bird Bingo: Abbotsford Bird Trail

May 13, 2023

Look up, stay grounded! With a variety of unique and common birds that can be found in our great outdoors, Abbotsford is thrilled to be part of the BC Bird Trail. Birding is an engaging pursuit that you can do anywhere. Whether you’re in the comfort of your backyard or at Willband Creek for an afternoon stroll, all you need to do is pay attention to your surroundings!

In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, Tourism Abbotsford has created a Bird Bingo card for all outdoor enthusiasts and anyone else looking to kickstart their birdwatching journey. All you have to do is connect 5 squares and tell us where you spotted the bird, and you’ll be automatically entered in a draw to win a BC Bird Trail prize.

Don’t know where to start? No problem, we’ve got you covered! Below is a list of all the birds you will need to find, with suggestions on where to start your “Abbots-bird” bingo journey.

You can also check out Abbotsford’s birdwatching itinerary on the BC Bird Trail website by clicking here.

Image by Daniel Irons via eBird

The American Coot is a chicken-like bird that acts like a duck. Their bodies are grey, with black heads and white bills. These bird can be found foraging anywhere near water. Try searching for these birds at Willband Creek or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Karl Krueger via eBird

The American Wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a short bill and a round head. They can be found in lakes and wetlands, typically in flocks. Check out Willband Creek Park or Matsqui Regional Park to find this bird!

Image by Kyle Blaney via eBird

Anna’s Hummingbirds are grey and green overall, without any rufous or orange marks on the body. They can be found in suburban yards and gardens. Try putting out a sugar-water feeder in your backyard to find this bird!

Image by Mason Maron via eBird

The Bald Eagle has a blackish-brown body with a white head and tail. They scavenge near bodies of water and soar high in solitude. Look for this bird at Sumas Mountain Regional Park or flying high across Abbotsford!

Image by Mason Maron via eBird

The Barn Swallow is large and colourful, easily identified by its long-forked tail and dark rump. These birds typically nest close to human habitation or under a dock. Try looking for the Barn Swallow at Willband Creek.

Image by Scott Martin via eBird

Black-Capped Chickadees are tiny, plump, and big-headed! They have grey bodies, and heads with black caps, white cheeks, and black throats. They are easy to attract to feeders, sunflowers, and peanuts – so put out a birdfeeder in your backyard to find this bird!

Image by Jonathan Eckerson via eBird

Brewer’s Blackbirds are black with a green sheen on their bodies and purple heads. They typically forage by walking on the ground. Try looking for this bird walking along parking lots, golf courses, or roadside!

Image by Liron Gertsman via eBird

Buffleheads are small diving ducks, with large heads and small gray bills. In the winter, they can be found in bays, reservoirs, or lakes. In the summer, they can be found in forests as they nest in cavities. Try looking for this duck at Mill Lake Park or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Paul Fenwick via eBird

Bushtits are tiny, long-tailed, and grey-bodied. These birds are constantly in motion and moving quickly through bushes and trees. They can be found in woodlands and forests, so try looking for these birds at Fishtrap Creek or Maclure Park!

Image by Max McCarthy via eBird

The Canada Goose is brown with a black neck and white chinstrap. These large geese can be found in any open or wetland habitat. Listen for loud honking calls and find these birds at Mill Lake Park, Willband Creek, or even (sometimes) at the Seven Oaks Mall Parking Lot!

Image by Evan Lipton via eBird

The Downy Woodpecker are widespread, and nearly identical to the larger Hairy Woodpecker. However, these birds have shorter bills and small black markings on their white outer tail.  They can be found in any wooden habitat, so try finding the Downy Woodpecker at Maclure Park or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Matt Davis via eBird

European Starlings are stocky black birds with short tails, triangular wings, and long-pointed bills. These birds can be aggressive but can be found in flocks in the sky or open habitats (often closer to people). Look for these birds at Matsqui Regional Park or Mill Lake Park.

Image by Daniel Grossi via eBird

The Great Blue Heron is a large brownish bird with a yellow-orange bill and short back plumes on their heads. They can be found in almost any wetland habitat, so try looking for these birds at Willband Creek or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Daniel Grossi via eBird

The House Finch vary in different shades of red, yellow, or orange depending on their gender. Males can be found with red on their heads, whereas females are generally gray-brown. These birds can be found along open woods and brushy field edges. Look for this bird at Willband Creek or Sumas Mountain Regional Park!

Image by Christoph Moning via eBird

Mallards are large ducks that can be found in ponds and parks. Male mallards have a green head and yellow bill, whereas female mallards are brown with orange and black spots on their bill. Try looking for these ducks at Mill Lake Park or Maclure Park!

Image by Christoph Moning via eBird

The Marsh Wren is easily identified based on their habitat. They have dark-brown bodies, with white on their necks and face, and black-and-white stripes in their wings. They can be found in marshes or occasionally move to wet fields, so try searching for this bird at Willband Creek or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Christoph Moning via eBird

Red-Winged Blackbirds, true to their name, are glossy black birds with red wings. They often visit feeders and breed in marshes and wet fields. These birds have a distinctive song, especially when they migrate in the spring! Look for these birds at Mill Lake Park or Willband Creek.

Image by Pierre Martin via eBird

The Ruddy Duck is small and compact with a fan-shaped tail and brown body. Male Ruddy Ducks can be easily found with their baby-blue bills. They are often in groups, bobbing their heads in pods and bays. Find these ducks at Mill Lake Park or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Andrew Spencer via eBird

Short-Billed Gulls have white heads and grey bodies. They breed in wetlands, meadows, and beaches – and do not frequent large urban areas like other gulls. Search for these birds at Willband Creek or Fishtrap Creek.

Image by Jeff Maw via eBird

The Steller’s Jay is a black and blue bird with a crest. They can be found in small groups in coniferous forests and they also visit feeders and picnic areas. These birds have a loud and harsh call. Try searching for Steller’s Jay at Mill Lake Park or Sumas Mountain Regional Park!

Image by Frank Lehman via eBird

The Trumpeter Swan is a huge white bird, with a long neck and an all-black bill. They forage in shallow and vegetated wetlands, often reaching underwater for food. They are often in pairs or family groups, so try looking for this bird at Mill Lake Park or Fishtrap Creek!

Image by Joshua Covill via eBird

Violet-Green Swallows are relatively small, with a white face, turquoise-green underparts, and a purple rump. They can be found in open habitats, meadows, or ponds. Find this swallow at Mill Lake Park or Sumas Mountain Regional Park.

Image by Simon Boivin via eBird

The Western Tanagers are bright yellow with black backs and red heads. They live in open woods and often stay hidden in the canopy. Try looking for this bird at Fishtrap Creek or Sumas Mountain Regional Park.

Image by Ezra Staengl via eBird

Yellow-Rumped Warblers, when their colours start to show in the spring, have a charcoal body and yellow rump. These birds can be found in shrubs and trees in fields, parks, or residential areas. Look for this bird at Fishtrap Creek or Sumas Mountain Regional Park!

If you’re starting your birdwatching journey with our Bird Bingo, don’t forget to use #ExploreAbbotsford or #AbbotsBird so we can see all your awesome posts!

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