Canada Ramsar wetland
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
250 bird species recorded; the most in May.
Unknown author Unknown author or not provided · Public domain
This month here
92 species in January.100 species in February.116 species in March.169 species in April.222 species in May.188 species in June.183 species in July.178 species in August.179 species in September.145 species in October.117 species in November.98 species in December.
The birds you are most likely to see in the month you choose, those that come for the season first. It opens on today's month.
NT
NT
- Resident all year
- Summer visitor comes to breed
- Winter visitor comes for the winter
- Passage migrant in spring and autumn
In numbers
250 species, counted.
Our own rating, from the records only: species (50 points), threatened species (20), migrants (20) and protected status — Ramsar, IBA, SPA, observatory (10).
- 250Speciesrecorded more than once
- 172Migrantssummer, winter or passage visitors
- 7ThreatenedVulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered (IUCN)
- 109,163Recordsopen records within 6 km
- 533 mAltitudeabove the sea
- 15Raptors
- 8Owls
- 24Waders
- 14Gulls & seabirds
- 33Ducks & geese
- 13Herons, ibises & grebes
- 1Storks & cranes
- 113Songbirds
- 29Other birds
From open records (eBird and others, through GBIF, licensed for any use). More birdwatchers mean more records: a quiet place may have more birds than it shows.
The checklist
All 250 species.
By group, with the year in twelve cells: the darker the cell, the more often the bird is recorded that month.
Raptors15 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Red-tailed HawkButeo jamaicensis
- Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalus
- OspreyPandion haliaetus
- Turkey VultureCathartes aura
- Hen HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Falco sparveriusFalco sparverius
- Rough-legged BuzzardButeo lagopus
- MerlinFalco columbarius
- Accipiter striatusAccipiter striatus
- Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinus
- Swainson's HawkButeo swainsoni
- Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos
- Falco atricapillusFalco atricapillus
- Prairie FalconFalco mexicanus
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
Owls8 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great Horned OwlBubo virginianus
- Glaucidium gnomaGlaucidium gnoma
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
- Northern Saw-Whet OwlAegolius acadicus
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Western Screech-owlMegascops kennicottii
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacusVU
- Long-eared OwlAsio otus
Waders24 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- KilldeerCharadrius vociferusNT
- Spotted SandpiperActitis macularius
- Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaNT
- Wilson's PhalaropePhalaropus tricolor
- Long-billed dowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusNT
- Solitary SandpiperTringa solitaria
- Lesser yellowlegsTringa flavipesVU
- American AvocetRecurvirostra americana
- Black-necked StiltHimantopus mexicanus
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaNT
- Red-necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatus
- Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotos
- DunlinCalidris alpinaNT
- Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaNT
- Long-billed CurlewNumenius americanus
- Baird's SandpiperCalidris bairdii
- Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus
- Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusNT
- Western SandpiperCalidris mauri
- Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresNT
- Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaVU
- SanderlingCalidris alba
- WilletTringa semipalmata
Gulls & seabirds14 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Black TernChlidonias niger
- Forster's TernSterna forsteri
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- California GullLarus californicus
- American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus
- Common LoonGavia immer
- Common TernSterna hirundo
- Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
- Short-billed GullLarus brachyrhynchus
- Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus
- Pacific LoonGavia pacifica
- Sabine's GullXema sabini
- Franklin's GullLeucophaeus pipixcan
Ducks & geese33 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Canada GooseBranta canadensis
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris
- Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula
- American WigeonMareca americana
- GadwallMareca strepera
- Trumpeter SwanCygnus buccinator
- Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera
- BuffleheadBucephala albeola
- Eurasian TealAnas crecca
- RedheadAythya americana
- Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata
- Blue-winged TealSpatula discors
- Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- GoosanderMergus merganser
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Bewick's SwanCygnus columbianus
- Barrow's GoldeneyeBucephala islandica
- Snow gooseAnser caerulescens
- Eurasian WigeonMareca penelope
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- Greater ScaupAythya marila
- Harlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicus
- Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii
- Cairina moschataCairina moschata
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
- Ross's GooseAnser rossii
- White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi
- Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
Herons, ibises & grebes13 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Great Blue HeronArdea herodias
- Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocorax auritus
- Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps
- American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos
- Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena
- American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus
- Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalis
- Horned GrebePodiceps auritusVU
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Great White EgretArdea alba
- Plegadis chihiPlegadis chihi
- Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax
- Clark's GrebeAechmophorus clarkii
Storks & cranes1 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis
Songbirds113 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Song SparrowMelospiza melodia
- American RobinTurdus migratorius
- Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus
- Agelaius phoeniceusAgelaius phoeniceus
- Northern RavenCorvus corax
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- Mangrove WarblerSetophaga petechia
- American GoldfinchSpinus tristis
- American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos
- Common YellowthroatGeothlypis trichas
- Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis
- Black-billed MagpiePica hudsonia
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
- Pine SiskinSpinus pinus
- Barn swallowHirundo rustica
- Violet-green SwallowTachycineta thalassina
- Eastern KingbirdTyrannus tyrannus
- Western Wood-PeweeContopus sordidulus
- Northern Rough-winged SwallowStelgidopteryx serripennis
- House finchHaemorhous mexicanus
- Yellow-headed BlackbirdXanthocephalus xanthocephalus
- Least FlycatcherEmpidonax minimus
- Grey CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Warbling VireoVireo gilvus
- Brown-headed CowbirdMolothrus ater
- Myrtle WarblerSetophaga coronata
- Junco hyemalisJunco hyemalis
- Black-headed GrosbeakPheucticus melanocephalus
- Pipilo maculatusPipilo maculatus
- Red-eyed VireoVireo olivaceus
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Nashville WarblerLeiothlypis ruficapilla
- Chestnut-backed ChickadeePoecile rufescens
- American Cliff SwallowPetrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Western TanagerPiranga ludoviciana
- Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina
- Brewer's BlackbirdEuphagus cyanocephalusNT
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Bullock's OrioleIcterus bullockii
- Swainson's ThrushCatharus ustulatus
- Willow FlycatcherEmpidonax traillii
- Steller's JayCyanocitta stelleri
- Golden-crowned KingletRegulus satrapa
- Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondii
- Vireo cassiniiVireo cassinii
- Troglodytes pacificusTroglodytes pacificus
- Blue JayCyanocitta cristata
- White-crowned sparrowZonotrichia leucophrys
- Townsend's SolitaireMyadestes townsendi
- Sand MartinRiparia riparia
- Brown CreeperCerthia americana
- Ruby-crowned KingletRegulus calendula
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- Northern ShrikeLanius borealis
- Northern WaterthrushParkesia noveboracensis
- Sturnella neglectaSturnella neglecta
- Lazuli BuntingPasserina amoena
- Empidonax difficilisEmpidonax difficilis
- Orange-crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celata
- Evening GrosbeakHesperiphona vespertinaVU
- Lincoln's SparrowMelospiza lincolnii
- MacGillivray's WarblerGeothlypis tolmiei
- Mountain BluebirdSialia currucoides
- Say's phoebeSayornis saya
- Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusilla
- Varied ThrushIxoreus naevius
- American Dusky FlycatcherEmpidonax oberholseri
- American DipperCinclus mexicanus
- Clay-colored SparrowSpizella pallida
- Common crossbillLoxia curvirostra
- BobolinkDolichonyx oryzivorusNT
- House SparrowPasser domesticus
- VeeryCatharus fuscescens
- Buff-bellied PipitAnthus rubescens
- Western KingbirdTyrannus verticalis
- American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea
- Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulus
- Townsend's WarblerSetophaga townsendi
- Vesper SparrowPooecetes gramineus
- Common RedpollAcanthis flammea
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
- Northern House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Cassin's FinchHaemorhous cassinii
- Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperi
- Yellow-breasted ChatIcteria virens
- Mountain ChickadeePoecile gambeli
- White-winged CrossbillLoxia leucoptera
- Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleator
- Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatus
- Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalis
- Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorum
- Clark's NutcrackerNucifraga columbiana
- Western BluebirdSialia mexicana
- Red Fox SparrowPasserella iliaca
- Shore LarkEremophila alpestris
- Canada JayPerisoreus canadensis
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Lark SparrowChondestes grammacus
- American Yellow WarblerSetophaga aestiva
- Swamp SparrowMelospiza georgiana
- Sage ThrasherOreoscoptes montanus
- White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis
- OvenbirdSeiurus aurocapilla
- Rose-breasted GrosbeakPheucticus ludovicianus
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusVU
- Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianusNT
- Golden-crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapilla
- Winter WrenTroglodytes hiemalis
- Tennessee WarblerLeiothlypis peregrina
- Black-and-white WarblerMniotilta varia
- Harris's SparrowZonotrichia querulaNT
- Northern MockingbirdMimus polyglottos
Other birds29 species
JFMAMJJASOND
- Yellow-shafted FlickerColaptes auratus
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- SoraPorzana carolina
- Belted KingfisherMegaceryle alcyon
- American CootFulica americana
- Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto
- Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens
- Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufusNT
- Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Sphyrapicus nuchalisSphyrapicus nuchalis
- Vaux's SwiftChaetura vauxi
- Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus
- Black-chinned HummingbirdArchilochus alexandri
- Virginia RailRallus limicola
- Rock DoveColumba livia
- Wild TurkeyMeleagris gallopavo
- Ruffed GrouseBonasa umbellus
- Calliope HummingbirdSelasphorus calliope
- Common PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- American Black SwiftCypseloides nigerVU
- California QuailCallipepla californica
- Common NighthawkChordeiles minor
- Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewis
- Dendragapus obscurusDendragapus obscurus
- Picoides dorsalisPicoides dorsalis
- Black-backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticus
- Costa's HummingbirdCalypte costae
- White-throated swiftAeronautes saxatalis
- Spruce GrouseCanachites canadensis
Monthly presence relative to all bird records that month, so a busy month does not inflate every species.
When to go
The most species in May.
Species recorded in each month, with the usual temperature and rain.
- Jan-5°/-12°93 mm
- Feb-4°/-13°64 mm
- Mar0°/-8°92 mm
- Apr6°/-3°65 mm
- May14°/3°69 mm
- Jun18°/7°80 mm
- Jul23°/11°29 mm
- Aug23°/10°24 mm
- Sep18°/5°39 mm
- Oct8°/-1°73 mm
- Nov0°/-7°110 mm
- Dec-5°/-13°104 mm
- Bar: species recorded that month.
- Temperature: average maximum / minimum (NASA, 1991–2020).
- Rain: monthly total.
The place
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area.
Protected area of British Columbia, Canada
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area is a wetland of international importance (Ramsar) in Canada, 533 m above the sea.
250 bird species have been recorded here more than once, in 109,163 open records.
The most recorded are the Song Sparrow, the Yellow-shafted Flicker and the American Robin.
109 species come for the summer, 58 for the winter and 5 only pass through.
7 are threatened worldwide, including Evening Grosbeak, American Black Swift and Horned Grebe.
The most species are recorded in May.
Get there and watch
- Arrow Mountain RV Parkcampsite · 6.6 km · 5 within 10 km
- Ramada Hotel Crestonplace to stay · 6.8 km · 11 within 10 km
- Crestonnearest town · 9.5 km in a straight line
- Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC)nearest airport with scheduled flights · 76 km in a straight lineCar hire at YXC airport (Cranbrook)Discover Cars · sponsored link↗
Plan the visit
A guided walk, a bed nearby, a car.
Some links above are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what the data on this page says.
From above
The place and its surroundings.
The satellite image of the 6 × 6 km around the place, with the bird hides, towers and trails that OpenStreetMap shows.
Around, in OpenStreetMap
- 2observation towers within 6 km
- 2viewpoints within 5 km
- 4car parks within 3 km
- 5campsites within 10 kmArrow Mountain RV Park, Pair-A-Dice RV Campground, Scotty's RV Park & Campground and 2 more
- 11places to stay within 10 kmRamada Hotel Creston, Mountain View Inn, The Valley View Motel and 8 more
- bird hides within 6 km
- marked trails within 4 km
- visitor centres within 6 km
- restaurants and cafés within 3 km
Counted in OpenStreetMap, the map anyone can edit. A low number may just mean nobody has mapped it yet.
In our other atlases
Around Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area.
The lakes, beaches, islands, rivers and mountains around this place, and its night sky, in the family's atlases.
Peakyas21 mountains within 25 kmCreston Mountain · 9.4 kmMount Bohan · 16 kmSteeple Mountain · 18 kmStein Mountain · 21 kmItalian Peak · 24 kmBlue Joe Mountain · 24 kmMount Burnett · 24 kmMount Cowley · 24 km
Lakeyas2 lakes within 15 kmLeach Lake3.1 km² · 3.0 kmDuck Lake12 km² · 8.9 km
Darkskyas1 dark-sky places within 30 kmKootenay LakeBortle 2 · 19 km
Figures from the sister sites' databases (Wikidata, HydroATLAS, GeoNames, OpenStreetMap). Links open when each site is online.
Other places nearby.
Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area
Canada
- 81Birdyas Score
- 250Species
- 172Migrants
- 7Threatened
Where these figures come from
| Name and type | Wikidata (Q5184621) · CC0 |
|---|---|
| Birds | 109,163 open bird records within 6 km (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY 4.0 only; mostly eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) |
| See these records | gbif.org |
| Species | GBIF Backbone Taxonomy · CC BY 4.0; Wikidata (CC0); Wikimedia Commons |
| Altitude | Copernicus DEM GLO-30 · © DLR e.V., © Airbus Defence and Space GmbH, Copernicus/ESA |
| Temperature and rain | NASA POWER (CERES SYN1deg, 2001–2020; MERRA-2) |
| What is around | © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL |
| Images | EOX Sentinel-2 cloudless 2016 · CC BY 4.0; Wikimedia Commons |
| Sister atlases | Peakyas, Lakeyas, Darkskyas, Riveryas |
Every figure is an average, an estimate or a count from a public dataset. Licences and methods: data sources.
The family
Do you prefer beaches, lakes, mountains, waterfalls, islands, rivers, canyons, caves, dark skies, viewpoints, birdwatching or forests?
Same idea, other landscapes: field atlases built on open data, in seven languages.
beaches
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Every river from source to sea: the journey, the flow and the basin in numbers.Visit 
canyons
Every canyon cut to scale: depth to the floor, rim and floor temperatures, trails and viewpoints.Visit 
caves
Every cave with its real depth and length: the rock above, the temperature inside all year, and how to visit.Visit dark skies
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viewpoints
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birdwatching
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