Take flight to Vancouver’s North Shore to get close to our feathered friends with a bit of bird watching or birding! Vancouver’s North Shore’s natural landscape is home to a wild and varied wealth of wildlife. All four seasons you can find a variety of birds.
Maplewood Flats Conservation Area
Over 230 species recorded.
Great for waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors.
Flat, easy trails and a bird blind overlooking the mudflats.
Forest birds like Pacific wrens, varied thrushes, and owls.
Great in spring/summer for nesting warblers and woodpeckers.
Bonus: suspension bridge views!
Watch for American dippers along the river.
Migrant songbirds in spring.
Good mix of forest and river habitats.
Grouse Mountain (Alpine Birding)
Higher elevation species like Clark’s nutcracker, gray jays, and varied thrush.
Good birding around the Skyride and hiking trails.
Whyte Lake Trail – West Vancouver
Great for spring and early summer warblers.
Forested trail with quieter conditions = better chance of sightings.
Shorebirds, gulls, herons, and ducks.
Look for bald eagles and ospreys near the water.
Spring (April–June): Prime migration season. Best time for warblers, vireos, and flycatchers.
Summer: Good for nesting species in alpine areas and forested parks.
Fall (August–October): Shorebird and waterfowl migration—check Maplewood Flats and Ambleside.
Winter: Look for loons, grebes, ducks, and possibly northern owls at lower elevations.
Bring binoculars and a field guide or app (Merlin, eBird).
Use eBird to track sightings in real time: eBird Hotspots on the North Shore
Be mindful of tides when birding coastal areas.
