Resident birds

Year-round residents: Despite the long, harsh winters, a few hardy species remain in Wapusk National Park and the surrounding area year round. One of those species is the willow ptarmigan, one of the most entertaining species inside the park. The males undergo a full-body molt producing snowy white feathers in the winter and an elaborate combination of reds and browns in the summer. During the pre-breeding season, males will perform a variety of courtship struts and territorial fights to claim the best breeding areas.

The common raven plays a key role in the traditions and stories of Indigenous people in the region. Many of these stories stem from the raven’s curious and social behaviour around humans. Common ravens have tailed people around the Northern Hemisphere for centuries following humans in hopes of a quick meal. Ravens are opportunistic foragers and successful scavengers, often eating the remains and scraps from other wildlife and are often seen following above predators waiting for their next meal.

The Canada jay is a widespread resident of North America’s boreal and subalpine forests. This species is well known to occupy climatically hostile biomes by hoarding and stashing foods to survive the long winter months. Canada jay’s will eat just about anything, from berries to small animals. They preserve food for the harsh winter by “gluing” small food items to trees and lichens using copious amounts of sticky saliva from enlarged salivary glands. The oldest Canada jay on record was at least 17 years old. This bird was first banded in 1985 and recaptured in 2002 in Colorado.