Birdwatching / #ExploreNB / Tourism New Brunswick

Don’t forget your binoculars.

Many species of birds live in and migrate to New Brunswick's wilds and cities, making birdwatching here fascinating. Take it slow. Wait patiently, and remain in the moment. You will be rewarded with great sightings, and maybe even a “lifer”—a bird you see for the first time.

If you’re new to birdwatching, just enjoy what you see on your strolls—you will spot something beautiful. And if you’re a seasoned birder, grab your binoculars, field guide, notebook, and camera, and step quietly into our nature. Our shores and marshes are rich in nutrients that provide food and shelter to breeding and migratory birds. And our varied ecosystems (from forest to mountain to seaside) attract a great diversity of species—birds of prey like bald eagles and ospreys, shorebirds like plovers, and countless varieties of warblers and ducks.

Especially watch for New Brunswick’s provincial bird—the small, tame, and acrobatic Black-capped chickadee. The Great Blue Heron is often seen standing or walking slowly in shallow water, river estuaries and lagoons. Flocks of semipalmated sandpipers flying together is a sight to behold. In the summer they crowd the Bay of Fundy mudflats to feed before continuing their migration; one of the best places to experience this wonder is Johnson's Mills Shorebird Reserve and Mary’s Point Shorebird Centre. Grand Manan is also a prime bird watching spot—near Machias Seal Island you’re likely to spot that most interesting and colourful of birds, the puffin. One of the best ways to get closer to pelagic birds is to book a whale-watching tour. Keep your camera at hand!