Birds Maps

This page provides downloadable ‘occupany maps’ for several common bird species in the Coastal Douglas Biogeoclimatic Zone of British Columbia. Details of mapping techniques and potential applications of these maps can be found in:

» Birds as indicators of ecological integrity and human influence (APB Conference presentation) (Schuster and Arcese, 2013)
» Using bird species community occurrence to prioritize forests for old growth restoration (Schuster and Arcese, 2013)
» Species distribution models: Ecological explanation and protection across space and time (Elith and Leathwick, 2009)
» Modelling regional-scale habitat of forest birds when land management guidelines are needed but information is limited (Beaudry et al., 2008)
» Replacing underperforming protected areas achieves better conservation outcomes (Fuller et al., 2010)
» Environmentally biased fragmentation of oak savannah habitat on southeastern Vancouver Island, Canada (Vellend et al., 2008)

Species	Habitat	Link to Map	Further Information
American goldfinch	Open agricultural fields with shrubs such as orchards and hedgerows.
American robin	Any open woodland habitats including coniferous, deciduous forests and suburban areas.
bald eagle	Areas near lakes, rivers, marshes and coasts with an unobstructed view of surroundings and prominent trees for roosting/nesting
barn swallow	Any open habitats. Closely associated with man-made structures (especially when nesting).
Bewick’s wren	Dry, brushy areas from field thickets to openings in coniferous forests.
brown-headed cowbird	Open or patchy woodlands.
brown creeper	Mature forests with wet, shaded areas.
chestnut-backed chickadee	Dense, moist forests often of oaks, pines, and Douglas fir.
chipping sparrow	Open woodlands and/or woodland edges with grassy understory
common raven	Mountainous terrains including coniferous forests, arid brushlands, to tundra.
dark-eyed junco	Open woodland with coniferous or mixed wood patches.
European starling	Human settlements such as buildings, agricultural fields, and suburban woodlands.
fox sparrow	Dense brushy scrubs
golden-crowned kinglet	Mature coniferous woods such as spruce and hemlock. Usually high in the trees.
Hammond’s flycatcher	Coniferous and mixed forests. Perch high in tall trees.
hairy woodpecker	Mature forests.
house finch	Any patchy, brushy wooded areas. Almost always in small flocks.
house sparrow	Ubiquitous; open habitats including farmland and man-made structures. Commonly seen in a flock.
house wren	Thick brushy habitats with openings and grassy patches.
Macgillivray’s warbler	Openings of mixed deciduous forests with think, brushy understory.
Northwestern crow	Coastal coniferous forests and beach and shorelines from Kodiak Island, Alaska, to Puget Sound, Washington.
Northern flicker	Wooded areas with openings, forest edges, suburbs.
Northern rough-winged swallow	Open habitats with vertical surfaces and close to rivers and streams.
orange-crowned warbler	Dense brushy, weedy habitats within woodlands, particularly alder and willow thickets.
olive-sided flycatcher	Boreal forests and their edges/openings. Always perches at the most conspicuous spot to forage.
pine_siskin	Open coniferous and mixed forests; might visit parks, orchards and suburban woodlands.
pileated woodpecker	Mature hardwood and coniferous forests.
Pacific-slope flycatcher	Moist, shaded coniferous and deciduous forests.
purple finch	Patchy, woody brushes and mixed deciduous forest. Do not prefer buildings.
red-breasted nuthatch	Coniferous, mixed, and deciduous forests.
rufous hummingbird	Open coniferous forests, riparian woods.
red-winged blackbird	Wet, marshy or brushy habitats.
savannah sparrow	Open grassy/weedy habitats; less common in brushy areas.
song sparrow	Brushy areas near water.
spotted towhee	Open habitats with brushy undergrowth
Swainson’s thrush	Mature mixed forests.
Townsend’s warbler	Mature coniferous forests.
tree swallow	Open fields that are near water.
varied thrush	Coniferous forests; winters in damp shaded woods.
violet-green swallow	Open woodlands that are near water.
warbling vireo	Woodlands near water, particularly large cottonwood and aspen trees.
white-crowned sparrow	Patchy brushy areas.
Western tanager	Coniferous and deciduous forests.
Wilson’s warbler	Extensive brushy forests with dense understory, usually near water.
winter/Pacific wren	Damp, shaded areas of coniferous forests.
yellow-rumped warbler	Open coniferous forests and their edges.
yellow warbler	Wet, brushy areas such as willow thickets.