The Delta Marsh is one of the largest freshwater marshes in the world. Located on the southern end of Lake Manitoba (50° 11’N, 98° 23’W), the marsh spans some 21,853 hectares (54,000 acres). Delta Marsh is internationally recognized as an ecologically important wetland. In 1982, it was identified as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention and was named a Manitoba Heritage Marsh in 1988. In 1999, The Delta Marsh was designated an Important Bird Area, a habitat essential for breeding and migratory birds by Birds Studies Canada and the Canadian Nature Federation. The marsh is an important stop-over site for migrating songbirds and waterbirds, and supports some of the highest breeding densities of Yellow Warblers and Baltimore Orioles in North America. A total of 307 species of birds has been recorded in the area covered by this checklist, of which breeding has been confirmed for 136 species, 49 species are of accidental occurence and two have been extirpated.

In addition to its recognition as an ecologically important area, it is also known for its long history of ornithological research. In 1938, James Ford Bell and Aldo Leopold founded what is now knows as the Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station to study waterfowl and wetland ecology. Beginning with H. Albert Hochbaum, this station has facilitated research projects by graduate students, visiting professors, and professional biologists on many aspects of the ecology and management of waterfowl and wetlands.

In 1966, the Delta Marsh Field Station (University of Manitoba) was created on the estate of Donald Bain, a well-known Winnipeg businessman. The field station has been the site of an on-going research program since 1974 on songbird breeding ecology and behavior by Professor Spencer Sealy and his students from the University of Manitoba. Many other researchers from outside the university have also conducted songbird research there.

The Delta Marsh Bird Observatory was established in 1995 to monitor songbird migration through daily banding and observation during spring and fall migrations. The bird observatory is part of the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network coordinated by Bird Studies Canada. An average of 7,500 birds are banded per year, making Delta Marsh Bird Observatory one of the busiest banding stations in Canada.

The Delta Marsh Birding Festival was initiated in 1999 to showcase the case to the birding community. The festival is an annual event held in mid-May during the peak songbird migration period. It features guided tours, guest speakers, and special events centered around Delta Marsh and Portage la Prairie. For more information about the Birding Festival, contact the station manager at the Delta Marsh Field Station (University of Manitoba) at (204) 857-8637.

This checklist was assembled from the observations and research activities from the above organizations, as well as observation from casual birders. The checklist is designed to serve as a guide to the occurrence and abundance of bird species in and around the Delta Marsh area. The area includes many habitats: open lake and large bays, sand beach, dune-ridge forest, marsh edge willow stands, wet sedge meadows, phragmites and cattail stands, grasslands, aspen parkland, oak forest, cropland, and grazing pastures. Common names of birds and taxonomic order follow the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American birds, 7th edition, 1998.

Best birding periods

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– Types of migrating birds

Birding is best during spring migration when the largest concentration and diversity of birds occur over a short period of time. This is also the time when many accidental species, such as Yellow-throated Warbler, have been spotted. The peak of songbird migration in spring occurs through most of May. However, warblers are usually most abundant during the third week of May. In the fall, warblers are commonly seen from the last half of August through the beginning of September.

– Waterfowl
Birding is best during late summer to fall and for a brief time during spring migration. In spring, migrating and breeding waterfowl can be seen during April and May, but become difficult to see and absent during the breeding season in June and early July. Accidentals, such as Garganey, have been found in spring. August through October is the best time to see large numbers of waterfowl as the marsh is an important staging area. Many more accidentals have been seen during this period, such as King Eider and Harlequin Duck.

– Shorebirds
The best time for birding is during “fall migration”, mid-July to early September. Shorebirds are also present for a brief time in spring during the second half of May. The best locations to see shorebirds are the self-guided interpretive trail at the Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station, and along the Assiniboine River Diversion and its entrance to Lake Manitoba.

If you are interested in breeding birds for profit, you can look out for more information in one of our posts.

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Traditional calendar seasons do not always apply to birds in migration. For example, in an average year, many late shorebirds in spring migration are still present in the Delta Marsh area in early June. Similarly, early fall migrants of many species appear in July. Seasonal designations used here are as follows:

Seasons
Spring	March – May
Summer	June – August
Fall	September – November
Winter	December – February

Species abundance
A = abundant	Seen on all visits to the preferred habitat within the proper season. Often occurs in large numbers.
C = common	Seen on a majority of visits to the referred habitat within the proper season. Numbers may vary.
U = uncommon	Present every year in the preferred habitat within the proper season, but occurs in low numbers and often difficult to find.
R = rare	Present every year, but in very low numbers.
O = occasional	Present less than once every year.
Acc = accidental	Only a few records. “Accidental” indicates the season of occurrence is unknown.

Seasonal and other status
Name in regular print	Winter, summer or permanent resident (141 species)
Name in italics	Strictly migratory species (167 species, including accidentals)
*	Species known to have bred between 1938 and 1985 (126 species)
+	Species known to have bred between 1985 and 1999 (87 species)
?	Species suspected to have bred between 1985 and 1999 (8 species)
E	Extirpated species (2 species)

Common name (Status)	Species abundance in season
	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Loons – Gaviidae
Red-throated Loon	Accidental
Common loon	R	O	R
Grebes – Podicipedidae
Pied-billed Grebe*	C	U	C
Horned Grebe*	U	U	R
Red-necked Grebe*	U	U	U
Eared Grebe*	U	O	R
Western Grebe*+	C	C	U
Clark’s Grebe+	R	R	O
Pelicans – Pelicanidae
American White Pelican*	C	C	C
Cormorants – Phalacrocoracidae
Double-crested Cormorant*	C	C	C
Herons – Ardeidae
American Bittern*?	C	C	C
Least Bittern*	O	O	O
Great Blue Heron	C	U	C
Great Egret	O	O	O
Snowy Egret	Accidental
Little Blue Heron	Accidental
Tricolored Heron	Accidental
Cattle Egret	Accidental
Green Heron	O	O
Black-crowned Night-Heron*	C	C	C
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Accidental
Ibis – Threskiornithidae
White-faced Ibis	Accidental
Vultures – Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture	O		O
Geese, Ducks and Swans – Anatidae
Greater White-fronted Goose	O		R
Snow Goose	A	O	A
Ross’s Goose	R		R
Canada Goose*+	A	C	A	O
Brant			Accidental
Trumpeter Swan		Accidental
Tundra Swan	A	R	C
Wood Duck*+	R	U	R
Gadwall*+	C	C	C
Eurasion Wigeon	Accidental
American Wigeon*	C	U	C
American Black Duck	R	U	R
Mallard*+	A	C	A	O
Blue-winged Teal*+	C	C	C
Cinnamon Teal		Accidental	Accidental
Northern Shoveler*+	C	C	U
Garganey	Accidental
Green-winged Teal*+	C	C	C
Canvasback*+	C	C	C
Redhead*+	C	C	C
Ring-necked Duck	C	R	U
Greater Scaup	R		U
Lesser Scaup*	A	U	A
King Eider			Accidental
Harlequin Duck			Accidental
Surf Scoter			Accidental
White-winged Scoter*	R	O	R
Black Scoter			Accidental
Oldsquaw			Accidental
Bufflehead	C	R	U
Common Goldeneye*	C	U	U
Barrow’s Goldeneye	C	R	U
Hooded Merganser*	R	R	R
Common Merganser*	C		U
Red-breasted Merganser	C		C
Ruddy Duck*	C	C	A
Hawks – Accipitridae
Osprey	R	R	R
Bald Eagle+	U	U	U	O
Northern Harrier*+	C	C	C
Sharp-shinned Hawk	C	U	C
Cooper’s Hawk*	U	R	U
Northern Goshawk	R		U	O
Broad-winged Hawk*	U	R	U
Swainson’s Hawk	O	O	O
Red-tailed Hawk*?	C	C	C
Rough-legged Hawk	U		U	O
Golden Eagle	R		R	O
Falcons – Falconidae
American Kestrel*+	C	U	U
Merlin	U	R	U	O
Peregrine Falcon	R	O	R
Gyrfalcon	O			O
Prairie Falcon	O	O	R
Pheasants and Grouse – Phasianidae
Gray Partridge*	U	R	U	U
Ring-necked Pheasant	O	O	O	O
Ruffed Grouse*	R	R	R	R
Spruce Grouse	Accidental
Sharp-tailed Grouse*	U	U	U	U
Greater Prairie-Chicken**	Extirpated
Rails – Rallidae
Yellow Rail*	O	O
King Rail	Accidental
Virginia Rail*	U	U
Sora*+	C	C	C
American Coot*+	A	C	A
Cranes – Gruidae
Sandhill Crane	U	R	U
Plovers – Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover	U	U	U
American Golden-Plover	R	R	R
Semipalmated Plover	U	U	U
Piping Plover*+	R	R
Killdeer*+	C	C	C
Stilts and Avocets – Recurvirostridae
Black-necked Stilt	Accidental
American Avocet*+	O	O	O
Sandpipers – Scolopacidae
Greater Yellowlegs	C	U	C
Lesser Yellowlegs	C	U	C
Solitary Sandpiper	U	U	U
Willet*?	U	U	R
Spotted Sandpiper*	U	U	U
Upland Sandpiper*	R	R
Whimbrel	O
Hudsonian Godwit	R	R	R
Marbled Godwit*+	U	U	U
Ruddy Turnstone	R	R	R
Red Knot	O	O	O
Sanderling	C	C	U
Semipalmated Sandpiper	C	C	U
Least Sandpiper	C	C	U
White-rumped Sandpiper	R	R	R
Baird’s Sandpiper	R	R	R
Pectoral Sandpiper	U	U	U
Dunlin	U	R	R
Stilt Sandpiper	R	U	R
Buff-breasted Sandpiper		O
Short-billed Dowitcher	U	U	U
Long-billed Dowitcher	R	R	R
Common Snipe*+	U	U	U
American Woodcock+	R	R
Wilson’s Phalarope*+	U	U	R
Red-necked Phalarope	O	O	O
Red Phalarope	Accidental
Gulls and Terns – Laridae
Pomarine Jaeger		Accidental
Parasitic Jaeger			Accidental
Franklin’s Gull*	A	C	C
Bonaparte’s Gull	U	C	C
Ring-billed Gull*	A	C	A
California Gull	Accidental
Herring Gull*	U	U	U
Glaucous Gull	Accidental
Sabine’s Gull	Accidental
Caspian Tern*	U	U	U
Common Tern*	R	R	U
Arctic Tern	Accidental
Forster’s Tern*	C	C	U
Black Tern*	U	U	U
Doves – Columbidae
Rock Dove*	R	R	R	R
Mourning Dove*	C	C	C	O
Cuckoos – Cuculidae
Black-billed Cuckoo*	R	U	R
Owls – Strigidae
Eastern Screech-Owl*	O	O	O	O
Great Horned Owl*	U	U	U	U
Snowy Owl	R		R	U
Northern Hawk Owl	O		O	O
Burrowing Owl*	Extirpated
Long-eared Owl*	R	R	R
Short-eared Owl*+	R	R	R	O
Boreal Owl				O
Northern Saw-whet Owl	R	R	R
Nightjars – Caprimulgidae
Common Nighthawk	U	U	R
Whip-poor-will*	O	O	O
Swifts – Apodidae
Chimney Swift*	O	O	O
Hummingbirds – Trochilidae
Ruby-throated Hummingbird*+	U	U	U
Kingfishers – Alcedinidae
Belted Kingfisher+	U	U	U
Woodpeckers – Picidae
Red-headed Woodpecker	R	R	R
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Accidental
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	U	O	U
Downy Woodpecker*+	C	C	C	C
Hairy Woodpecker*+	C	C	C	C
Northern Flicker*	C	U	C
Pileated Woodpecker	O			O
Flycatchers – Tyrannidae
Olive-sided Flycatcher	O		O
Western Wood-Pewee+	R	R
Eastern Wood-Pewee*+	U	U
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	R		R
Alder Flycatcher*+	U	U	R
Willow Flycatcher	O	O
Least Flycatcher*+	A	A	U
Eastern Phoebe*+	U	U
Say’s Phoebe	Accidental
Great Crested Flycatcher*+	U	U	U
Western Kingbird*+	U	U	U
Eastern Kingbird*+	C	C	U
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Accidental
Shrikes – Laniidae
Loggerhead Shrike*	U	R
Northern Shrike	O		O	O
Vireos – Vireonidae
Yellow-throated Vireo+	R	R	R
Blue-headed Vireo	U	R	U
Warbling Vireo*+	C	C	U
Philadelphia Vireo	U	R	R
Red-eyed Vireo*+	C	U	R
Jays and Crows – Corvidae
Gray Jay	Accidental
Stellar’s Jay	Accidental
Blue Jay*+	U	U	U	U
Clark’s Nutcracker	Accidental
Black-billed Magpie*+	R	R	R	R
American Crow*+	R	R	R	R
Common Raven?	R	R	R	R
Larks – Alaudidae
Horned Lark*	C	O	R	O
Swallows – Hirundinidae
Purple Martin*+	U	C	U
Tree Swallow*+	C	A	R
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	O	O	O
Bank Swallow*	C	A	R
Cliff Swallow*+	U	U	O
Barn Swallow*+	C	C	U
Chickadees – Paridae
Black-capped Chickadee*+	U	R	U	U
Boreal Chickadee			O	O
Nuthatches – Sittidae
Red-breasted Nuthatch	R	R	U	O
White-breasted Nuthatch*+	U	R	R	U
Creepers – Certhiidae
Brown Creeper	R		R	O
Wrens – Troglodytidae
Rock Wren	Accidental
Carolina Wren	Accidental
House Wren*+	C	C	U
Winter Wren	O		O
Sedge Wren*+	C	U	O
Marsh Wren*+	C	U	U
Kinglets – Regulidae
Golden-crowned Kinglet	U		U
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	C		C
Thrushes – Turdidae
Eastern Bluebird+	O	O	O
Mountain Bluebird	O
Townsend’s Solitaire				Accidental
Veery*+	R	R
Gray-cheeked Thrush	U		R
Swainson’s Thrush+	C	R	U
Hermit Thrush	C		U
Wood Thrush	O
American Robin*+	C	C	C	O
Mimic Thrushes – Mimidae
Gray Catbird*+	C	C	U
Northern Mockingbird*	O	O
Sage Thrasher		Accidental
Brown Thrasher*+	U	U	R	O
Starlings – Sturnidae
European Starling*+	O	O	O	O
Pipits – Motacillidae
American Pipit	R		R
Sprague’s Pipit*	R	R
Waxwings – Bombycillidae
Bohemian Waxwing	R		O	U
Cedar Waxwing*+	C	C	U	O
Warblers – Parulidae
Blue-winged Warbler			Accidental
Golden-winged Warbler	R	R	O
Tennessee Warbler	C	C	U
Orange-crowned Warbler	U	O	R
Nashville Warbler	U	O	O
Northern Parula	O	O
Yellow Warbler*+	A	A	O
Chestnut-sided Warbler	R	R	O
Magnolia Warbler	U	U	R
Cape May Warbler	R	R	R
Black-throated Blue Warbler	O		O
Yellow-rumped Warbler	C	U	C
Black-throated Green Warbler	R	R	R
Blackburnian Warbler	R	R	R
Palm Warbler	U	R	R
Bay-breasted Warbler*	R	R	R
Blackpoll Warbler	U	U	U
Black-and-white Warbler	U	U	R
American Redstart?	C	C	U
Prothonotary Warbler	Accidental
Worm-eating Warbler	Accidental
Ovenbird	U	R	R
Northern Waterthrush	U	U	U
Connecticut Warbler	R	R	R
Mourning Warbler	U	R	R
Common Yellowthroat*+	C	C	U
Wilson’s Warbler	U	R	R
Canada Warbler	R	R	R
Tanagers – Thraupidae
Summer Tanager	Accidental
Scarlet Tanager	O	O
Western Tanager	Accidental
Sparrows – Emberizidae
Eastern Towhee	R	O	R
American Tree Sparrow	U		R
Chipping Sparrow+	U	U	R
Clay-colored Sparrow*+	U	C	R
Vesper Sparrow*	R	R	R
Lark Sparrow*	O
Lark Bunting	Accidental
Savannah Sparrow*+	C	C	C
Grasshopper Sparrow	Accidental
Baird’s Sparrow	O
Le Conte’s Sparrow*+	R	R	R
Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow?	R	R	R
Fox Sparrow	U		U
Song Sparrow*+	C	C	R
Lincoln’s Sparrow	U	O	U
Swamp Sparrow+	U	R	U
White-throated Sparrow	C	R	C	O
Harris’ Sparrow	R		R
White-crowned Sparrow	R		R
Dark-eyed Junco	C		C	O
Lapland Longspur	U		U	O
Smith’s Longspur	R		R
Chestnut-collared Longspur*+	R	R
Snow Bunting	C		C	C
Grosbeaks – Cardinalidae
Northern Cardinal	Accidental
Rose-breasted Grosbeak*+	U	R	U
Black-headed Grosbeak	Accidental
Lazuli Bunting	Accidental
Indigo Bunting	O	O
Dickcissel	Accidental
Blackbirds – Icteridae
Bobolink*+	U	U
Red-winged Blackbird*+	A	A	R	O
Western Meadowlark*+	U	R	U
Yellow-headed Blackbird*+	A	A	R	O
Rusty Blackbird	R		R	O
Brewer’s Blackbird*+	U	U	U	O
Common Grackle*+	U	U	U	O
Brown-headed Cowbird*+	C	C	R
Orchard Oriole*+	U	U	O
Baltimore Oriole*+	C	C	O
Finches – Fringillidae
Pine Grosbeak	R		R	R
Purple Finch	R	R	R	O
Red Crossbill	O	O	O	O
White-winged Crossbill	O			O
Common Redpoll	C		C	C
Hoary Redpoll	R		R	R
Pine Siskin*?	U	U	U	U
American Goldfinch*+	U	C	U	O
Evening Grosbeak	U	O	U	U
Old World Sparrows – Passeridae
House Sparrow*+	U	U	U	U