A bird watcher’s paradise
Bird watching is an essential activity on the south end of Vancouver Island!
The Salish Sea is on the “Pacific flyway” for many different bird species. Birds that spend all or part of their life cycle in the region include the bald eagle, harlequin duck, pigeon guillemot, rhinoceros auklet, common murre, red-necked phalarope, osprey and turkey vulture. There are also many gull and duck species, and a wide range of intertidal and shorebirds including the black turnstone, surfbird, black oystercatcher, and so on. It’s an ornithologist’s dream!
Our knowledgeable and passionate marine naturalists are eager to introduce you to our feathered neighbours. Just in case you aren’t able to join us here in Victoria, here’s a quick guide to some of the most often seen marine birds in the region. From the comfort of your own home, you can experience the biodiversity of one of our marine adventures.
Thank you for being a part of the Eagle Wing Tours adventure…enjoy!
Foot-Propelled Diving Birds
Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Brandt’s Cormorant
Gavia immer
Common Loon
Phalacrocorax auritus
Double-Crested Cormorant
Gavia pacifica
Pacific Loon
Phalacrocorax pelagicus
Pelagic Cormorant
Raptors
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Bald Eagle
Pandion haliaetus
Osprey
Falco peregrinus
Peregrine Falcon
Cathartes aura
Turkey Vulture
Shorebirds
Ceryle alcyon
Belted Kingfisher
Haematopus bachmani
Black Oystercatcher
Arenaria melanocephala
Black Turnstone
Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown Pelican
Ardea herodias
Great Blue Heron
Phalaropus lobatu
Red-Necked Phalarope
