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| What is a Bird | Species in Quebec | About the data | About the text | Birds differ from other animals by a few easily definable characteristics, almost all of which have been dictated by flight. Firstly, birds, and only birds, have feathers. Whether or not a bird species has retained the ability to fly, the body architecture of all bird species is remarkably similar. In order to fly, a bird must overcome two basic limitations: reduction of weight and increase of power; most of the adaptations undergone in this class of animals have been in response to these limitations. The bones of birds are hollow and light, making it easy for them to become airborne, yet strategically reinforced, to withstand the stress of landing, hopping and running. These superlight bones are then powered by massive flight muscles attached to the sternum, or breastbone.
How many species are there in Quebec? There are approximately 240 species of nesting birds (birds that build nests and breed) in Quebec. Some are year-round occupants in this province and others are migratory birds which only spend part of the year here. Below is listed a selection of breeding birds that are either common to Quebec or of particular interest for bird-lovers. For a complete list of bird species of Quebec, by family, click here. Also, if you are interested in learning more about the birds of Quebec, consult the beautiful Atlas of Breeding Birds of Quebec published in 1996 by the Province of Quebec Society for the Protection of Birds, the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Association Québecoise des groupes d'Ornithologues. A camera, text or globe icon next to a species' name indicates a link to a photo, description or distribution map of that species. |
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The data presented in this section has been made available courtesy of the Canadian Wildlife Service. Not all of Quebec was surveyed for this data, only the area of Quebec below the 50th parallel. Therefore the range maps indicate the presence of the birds in southern Quebec only. The area was divided into 10 by 10km squares and volunteers were sent into each square to determine which birds were present and breeding. Data collection was carried out over 5 years, between 1984 and 1989, and the information gathered was incorporated into the Breeding Bird Atlas of Quebec. In this section, we present the distribution data for 50 Quebec birds of interest. The texts on individual birds were written by Jake Vander Zanden. |
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