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Welcome to the BC’s Best Bird Competition, 2025! After crowning last year’s Champion, the Anna’s Hummingbird, we’ve let it take a rest to find out which Songbird is best. We’ve got 32 of the chirpiest tweeters here for you to put head to beak. Whether you pick your favourite through singing ability, perfect plumage or beautiful behaviors, your vote is needed to keep your favourites in the competition. Read on to see the matchups, then cast your votes at the form on the bottom of the page. May the best bird win!

Click Here or Scroll to the bottom of this page to cast your vote!

 

With the Dark-eyed Junco, you’ve probably recognized these tiny little birds from hopping along the ground pecking at scattered leaves. Interestingly, these grey-brown birds also nest along the dirt, normally in places where tree roots are entangled. They build their nest by carefully weaving together layers of thin grasses, twigs, or pine needles then insulating the nest with mosses, soft grasses or ferns. They are pretty resourceful!

Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser, XC878339. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/878339. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Pacific Wrens have an incredible array of short trilling vocalizations. They can sing 50 different phrases within 10 seconds; that’s almost 20 times faster than a human! Males will build an assortment of nests, in crevices, holes and other cavities, allowing their new mate to choose the one to their liking to rear their young. During the cold winter months, Pacific Wrens have been observed to bundle together in nest boxes to preserve warmth! You will typically find them in old-growth forests, however, during the spring and fall salmon migration, you will find Pacific Wrens near riverways, caching in on the abundance of insects!

Sunny Tseng, XC729504. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/729504. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Purple Finch has been described as a ‘sparrow dipped in raspberry juice’. They have large beaks that are well suited for cracking seeds, but they also love drinking nectar from flowers. Purple finches are known for rich, warbling songs, and they love doing impressions of other birds songs. They’ll weave them into their own calls.

Doug Hynes, XC935606. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/935606. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Bushtits may be small and drab, but nothing about them is ordinary. First of all, they use spider webs and vegetation to make long hanging sac-like nests which camouflage perfectly into the trees. They were also one of the first species described to have “nest helpers”. Some nests will have 3 adults, typically 1 female and 2 males, all equally caring for the babies inside. Talk about cool.

Ted Floyd, XC215758. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/215758. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

March Wrens can be found in wetland habitats and infamously known for their splayed legs poised on the reeds and stalks of marsh vegetation. Unlike other wrens’ songs, the Marsh Wren’s short trills are quick and buzzy. These notes are about 1 second long and can continue emanating through the shrubs for a straight 20 minutes. Male Marsh Wrens are infamous for creating multiple nests within the weeds, off the ground, for the sole purposes of courtship.

Manuel Oudard, XC840735. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/840735. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Brown Creeper is one of a kind. As the only tree creeper in North America, Brown Creepers can be seen creeping up along the trunks of trees searching for invertebrates hidden in the bark. Once they reach the top of a tree, they’ll fly back down to the base of a different trunk and start the climb again. Despite this unique behaviour, these birds are amazing at camouflage and their high pitched vocalizations makes them really hard to spot.

Ray Cooke, XC919551. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/919551. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Black Capped Chickadee makes a birder out of all of us with their easy to identify “Chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call. They use this call to alert flock mates of nearby food, their movements, and approaching predators. But this is just one call in their repertoire, the Black Capped Chickadee language is one of the most complex bird languages in the world. Lucky for us, these non-migratory birds stick around all year, allowing us to eaves drop on their fascinating conversations year round. They’ve even evolved to enter regulated periods of hypothermia to survive cold winter nighttime temperatures.

Thomas Magarian, XC544963. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/544963. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Lincoln’s Sparrow has a sweet, jumbling song unique among sparrows. Secretive hiders, they are more often found close to the ground foraging in between bushes and grasses than up high. They were named by famous bird researcher James Audobon after his companion Thomas Lincoln. Lincoln was the only researcher able to capture on of these sneaky little sparrows for study, so it got named after him.

Doug Hynes, XC613394. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/613394. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Western Wood-Peewee is a darting flycatcher whose song sounds just like thier name. Beyond singing, they’ll clack their beaks together to make a percussive sound used to scare predators and nest invaders.

Thomas Magarian, XC546142. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/546142. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Named as Canada’s bird by Canadian Geographic, and rightfully so, the Canada Jay is smart, fierce and loyal. Mating pairs breed for life and are rarely seen apart. These smarties are quick to learn new food sources and travel together scanning their territory searching for food. Despite their size, Canada Jays are a major predator of the Northern Boreal Forests – preying on everything from larval amphibians to small mammals. But they don’t just eat the food they find, they cache most of it away, storing it on tree branches to sustain themselves during cold winters.

Andrew Spencer, XC28872. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/28872. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Red-winged Blackbirds are one of the most highly polygynous birds in the world. It is common for up to 15 females to all nest within the same breeding territory of one male, but research has shown that not all the young are fathered by that same male. Talk about scan-da-lous. Nonetheless, Red-winged Blackbirds are fierce and loyal parents who will dive bomb potential threats approaching their nests to keep their babies safe. Females will also help fight off predators attacking the nests of other Red-winged Blackbirds.

Alán Palacios, XC872175. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/872175. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Meet the American Dipper, who happens to be North American’s only aquatic songbird. These small, but sturdy birds can be found around streams and rivers where they can not only dive under the water but also walk along the riverbed underwater to forage for tasty fish eggs or invertebrates. Although they’re about the size of an American Robin, these unique birds have mighty strength!

Ian Cruickshank, XC332721. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/332721. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Ruby-crowned Kinglets may be small, but they’re bursting with energy and personality! These little birds zip through the trees, flitting around as they search for food. While their namesake ruby crown can be elusive—since females don’t have one and males often keep theirs tucked away—it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled. During breeding season, you may be lucky to catch a glimpse of a male showing off his vibrant crown while singing to impress a potential mate. Keep a watchful eye for this small yet captivating bird.

Brian Cox, XC939195. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/939195. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Spotted Towhees can be found running around and foraging, kicking through fallen leaves to find food (this is called double-scratching!). Their brilliant burnt orange chest contrasts with their spotted black head and back, allowing them to blend in with the ground vegetation. While walking through the Burnaby Lake Regional Park, you can hear their classic trill through the shrubbery. Although their calls and songs are typically quite simple, during the breeding season, they will spend almost 90% of every morning singing to attract a partner!

Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser, XC972216. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/972216. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The White-crowned Sparrow is found all over North America, has abundant populations, and is quite easy to find and monitor everywhere. What’s more to love? Nothing according to scientists. These elegant birds have captured the minds of scientists, making them the best studied songbird. Most of what we know about development of song throughout a bird’s life and the variations of song across regions is thanks to these birds and this research.

Joseph Morlan, XC552982. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/552982. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Varied Thrush is a captivating bird that can be found year-round along the Pacific Northwest coast. In the summer, this bird primarily feeds on insects, but as these become less available in the winter, the Varied Thrush adapts by switching to seeds and berries. Typically found lower in the forest, the Varied Thrush thrives in the understory and on the forest floor. The population of Varied Thrushes is slowly declining, likely due to habitat loss caused by forest fragmentation and the challenges posed by urban environments.

AUDEVARD Aurélien, XC750454. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/750454. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Yellow Warbler is a striking bird, easily recognized by its bright yellow plumage and cheerful, whistling song. During the warmer months, it is one of the most commonly heard warblers, filling the air with its melodic tunes. These lively birds primarily feed on insects, which means you won’t spot them at your backyard feeder. Instead, look for them perched atop small trees or near streams. The Yellow Warblers that breed in North America are migratory, but interestingly, several resident populations can be found further south, adding to the species’ widespread appeal.

Sunny Tseng, XC749764. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/749764. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

With their vibrant black, yellow, and red plumage, male Western Tanagers are easily one of the most beautiful songbirds in BC. Their beauty is thanks to good old chemistry. Western Tanagers take rare purple pigments from the insects they eat and deposit it into their feathers giving them that bright red colour. Despite their bright colouration, these secretive birds are hard to spot, often hiding in shady forested areas.

Thomas Magarian, XC441367. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/441367. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Violet-green Swallows hunt for insects high above lakes and streams. They are stunning aerial acrobats, and are incredibly speedy. A Violet-green swallow can fly nearly as fast as a Peregrine Falcon when travelling. With it’s flashy green and purple colouring, it’s almost like the Lamborghini of songbirds.

Richard E. Webster, XC611748. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/611748. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

In terms of summer glow ups, no one does it quite like the male American Goldfinch. The bright yellow breeding plumage of males is a striking contrast to their duller non-breeding colours. This contrast in breeding vs non-breeding plumage is one of the most drastic of all finches. Males achieve that bright colouration from the pigments they obtain through their diet. For females looking to chose a mate the math is simple: the most brightly coloured males are the healthiest and most skilled foragers which equals stronger and healthier babies.

Thomas Ryder Payne, XC914387. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/914387. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

This bird needs no introduction. The American Robin is easily recognized in our green spaces with their bright orange chests and loud melodic songs. When it comes to foraging, these birds are a jack of all trades and will switch up their foraging strategy depending on the target food. You might see them sitting in waiting in the grass, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting earthworms passing by, or hopping through shrubs searching for invertebrates and fruits. American Robins also have long complex flight patterns they use to catch flying insects right out of the air. All of these tools have helped them survive in diverse and changing habitats.

Brian Cox, XC938991. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/938991. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Purple Martin’s are the largest species of swallow in North America. Harder to find in the West than the East, they are known for breeding in the Lower Mainland. They’re excellent flyers, both eating and drinking on the wing rather than landing for a bite.

David Tattersley, XC803554. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/803554. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Move over hummingbirds, there is another sweet tooth in town. Cedar Waxwings are one of the biggest frugivores in North America – they eat more fruit than pretty much any other bird. They even breed later in the year than most birds to coincide with the abundance of ripe summer fruit. But fruit isn’t just an important food source for Cedar Waxwings, it also plays an important role in courtship. Mates will pass a piece fruit back and forth when pairing up. Juveniles have also been seen to practice this behaviour with flock mates. How sweet.

Simon Elliott, XC597191. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/597191. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

With their elegant plumage, Evening Grosbeaks are just as interesting as they look! This songbird doesn’t have a typical ‘song’ as most others do, instead of having a specific melody to attract a mate, these birds use a regular series of simple chirps and tweets. Evening Grosbeaks also have an ‘Irregular’ migration cycle, they migrate depending on food available, if there isn’t a lot they migrate elsewhere, these cycles have been observed to happen every 2-3 years in eastern areas.

Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser, XC878339. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/878339. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Pine Siskins are motivated by one thing – food. Unlike most species whose migrations are influenced by weather and time of year, the movements of these seed eaters are influenced by the availability of food. This makes predicting their locations really challenging. They may be present in one area one winter but not the next, and may even stay in favourable food abundant winter grounds to breed.

Whitney Neufeld-Kaiser, XC941263. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/941263. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

House Finches are known for their vibrant ‘red’ plumage. Did you know they get this red colour from the pigments that are found in the food they consume during their molt? If a finch doesn’t eat enough berries, they can have a yellowy or even orange hew in their plumage. Females tend to pick the male finches with the reddest feathers, so the male finches have a lot of berries to eat to not get left out during mating season.

Matthew L. Brady, XC875451. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/875451. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

As one of the most widespread songbirds of North America, Song Sparrows are found coast to coast, down to Mexico and up to Southern Alaska. Not just widespread, Song Sparrows’s have an incredible amount of diversity among their populations, making up 24 subspecies across North America. Individual birds throughout these populations can vary 150% in body mass, and demonstrate quite different vocal repertoires. However, wherever you are, you will always be able to recognize the male Song Sparrow by their distinct, melodic song.

Laura Stewart, XC445656. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/445656. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The name Tree Swallow may not tell you anything about where to find this bird, but it will tell you everything about where they nest. This species has taken the easy approach to nesting, occupying abandoned tree cavities created by woodpeckers and other species. However, once their babies fledge, these birds take to the skies of open fields, meadows, and marshes, catching flying insects midair.

Thomas Magarian, XC354703. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/354703. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

An icon of Canada’s boreal forests, Red-breasted Nuthatches are easily identified climbing down tree trunks head first searching for insects or seed caches they’ve stored throughout the year. These birds are the definition of type-A parents, refusing to use old nest cavities or even nest boxes to nest. Instead, these nuthatches will excavate new cavities in tree snags every year and smear fresh conifer resin around the entrance to protect against predators and nest competitors. Nothing but the best for their little ones.

Sunny Tseng, XC753117. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/753117. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Nobody has a beak quite like a Red Crossbill, and if they do, you should be concerned. Red Crossbills are specialized to feed on seeds in conifer cones and they use their weird misaligned beaks to pull those seeds out. These birds are true nomads and are found across the globe – from North America to Eurasia and all the way to Northern Africa.

Lars Edenius, XC901928. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/901928. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Savannah Sparrows are one of the most common songbirds in North America, and can be found just about anywhere. Tell them apart from other sparrows by looking for the yellow mark between their eye and beak. There are many subspecies of this sparrow, as they tend to return to the place they were born to breed, leading to regional differences.

Patrice Mathieu, XC782409. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/782409. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

The Northern Shrike is the songbird other songbirds fear. Not content with seeds and nuts, the shrike is a deadly predator, eating small mammals and other songbirds. They are well known for their trait of saving meals for later by impaling them on barbed wire and thorns. They may be ‘butcher birds’, but both males and females sing year round and they’ll often work in the songs of other birds into thier own.

Andrew Spencer, XC91968. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/91968. Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0

Schedule:
Round 1: March 17-24

Round 2: March 25-31

Round 3: April 1-7

Round 4: April 8-14

Finals: April 15-21