Sooty Grouse
One of the most incredible birds you can find on The BC Bird Trail is the Sooty Grouse. You’re most likely to come across them at higher elevations, like hiking in Squamish or Whistler on the Sea to Sky Bird Trail.
If you’re lucky, you might just catch a male doing its eye-catching display, where air sacs on the sides of the male’s throat inflate, showing off bright yellow patches surrounded by a ring of white feathers.
Active Seasons
Year-round.
How/where to find
Primarily an alpine species, keep an eye out when on the trail at higher elevations.
You can find the Sooty Grouse primarily in along the western coast of the province. Some of the best locations include the Central Vancouver Island, Vancouver Island North, Fraser Valley, South Fraser, Sea to Sky, and Langford Bird Trails. The Vancouver North Shore, Vancouver, Sooke and Southern Gulf Islands Outposts are also an excellent place to search for these ground-dwelling birds.
Recent Observations
Data provided by eBird
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.
Photo by Ivan_Yim / Shutterstock
Find the Sooty Grouse on the bird trail
Sointula and Alert Bay
To visit these smaller island communities on Malcolm and Cormorant Islands, take a 25-45 minute BC Ferries sailing from Port McNeill. Sointula is a quaint and unique community on Malcolm Island, that embraces its Finnish heritage, offering a serene coastal setting, cultural experiences, and outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Alert Bay…
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Delta
The City of Delta is composed of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta – three distinct communities that welcome an incredible diversity of migratory birds, from snow geese to the western sandpiper, year-round.
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Langford
The traditional territories of the Coast Salish, specifically Esquimalt, Songhees, Scia’new, and W̱SÁNEĆ people represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat First Nations.
Inset from the southern tip of Vancouver Island, this outdoor lover’s paradise just 15 kilometres from Downtown Victoria. Named “BC’s Best Community 2021” by Maclean’s Magazine, Langford’s popular downtown core is surrounded by lush, green hills chock-full of hiking trails and lookouts with local wildlife around every turn. Though many small private lakes dot the…
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Port McNeill
Port McNeill is Vancouver Island North’s second-largest community, and is celebrated for its stunning coastal views, outdoor recreational opportunities, and as a starting point for eco-adventures and whale-watching tours. From Port McNeill, a scenic drive by highway and logging road leads to Cape Scott Provincial Park and the North Coast Trail. Or head a few…
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Sooke
The District of Sooke occupies the unceded traditional territories of the T’Sou-ke and Scia’new Nations. Central to Sooke’s history, we recognize the ongoing presence, influence and rights of these Nations within the community. It is with tremendous gratitude that we have the honour to call these lands home.
A short drive from Victoria or a peaceful ferry ride from Vancouver, Sooke, located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, offers an enchanting birdwatching experience. Surrounded by a tapestry of coastal landscapes, including ocean shores, estuaries, woodlands, and lush marshlands, Sooke provides an ideal habitat for a diverse range of bird species. Nestled within…
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Central Vancouver Island
The traditional land of the Coast Salish people including the Quw’utsun, Halalt, Stz’uminus, Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, K’ómoks, and Qualicum First Nations
A short drive from Victoria or serene ferry sailing from Vancouver, Central Vancouver Island is home to diverse ocean, estuary, riverside, marshland, forest, and alpine habitats – a wide variety of birding hot spots, all nestled safely along the Strait of Georgia. Never far from farm-fresh dining and locally-roasted coffee, birders can plan a route…
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Squamish
Protected by the Stawamus Chief Mountain, and populated by the continent’s highest concentration of wintering bald eagles, Squamish provides spectacular 360-degree views of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and old-growth forests. The recently-UNESCO-designated Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Reserve encompasses the fjord, its islands, and the extensive nature surrounding it.
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Vancouver
The City of Vancouver acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Just a stone’s throw away from the city’s bustling urban life, Vancouver offers a captivating birdwatching adventure. With an array of diverse ecosystems, including ocean fronts, estuaries, parks, and forests, Vancouver provides a plethora of birding hotspots. From the iconic Stanley Park to the serene shores of English Bay, the gardens at Queen Elizabeth Park…
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Parksville Qualicum Beach
Parksville Qualicum Beach is a charming collection of 14 unique communities – all epitomizing the relaxing Vancouver Island lifestyle. The sandy beaches of this region are truly remarkable, spanning as wide as 1 kilometre at low tide. Stick to the scenic coastline for plentiful pelagic birding opportunities, then relax and recharge your batteries with the…
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Nanaimo
Nanaimo, The Harbour City, is a central hub and major ferry port on Vancouver Island. While the Old City Quarter and Commercial Street are full of retail shops and restaurants, a quick drive out of the city presents beautiful outdoor experiences and opportunities to view cedar waxwings, sparrows, hawks, and waterfowl.
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Vancouver’s North Shore
We gratefully acknowledge that we all work, live and play on the traditional, shared and unceded territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Peoples. We acknowledge and express deep gratitude to these peoples, on whose territory that the Vancouver’s North Shore Tourism Association Operates.
Just a short drive from Vancouver or a serene ferry journey from Victoria, Vancouver’s North Shore in British Columbia offers an exciting birdwatching experience. Nestled within the diverse ecosystems of ocean, estuary, riverside, marshland, forest, and alpine habitats, this region provides a rich array of birding hotspots along the scenic Strait of Georgia. The local…
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Harrison River Valley
Not only do the sandy beaches of Harrison Lake, thirty-two kilometres north of Chilliwack, inspire some of the most dynamic outdoor adventure opportunities in the province, but they also provide a unique habitat for migratory birds and birders alike.
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Fraser Valley
The traditional territories of the Sts’ailes, Seabird Island, Sq’ewá:lxw, Cheam, Douglas, Leq’a:mel, Samahquam, Sq’ewlets, Skatin and Stó:lō Coast Salish Peoples, as well as the Katzie, Kwantlen, Matsqui, Semiahmoo, Semá:th, and Mathxwí First Nations.
The Fraser Valley Bird Trail ushers birders along on a riverside tour of some of the province’s richest birding regions. Composed of four unique communities, this trail stretches from the Township of Langley in the west, through the Fraser River cities of Abbotsford and Chilliwack to the Village of Harrison Hot Springs at the southern…
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Sea to Sky
The traditional and unceded shared territory of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Lilwat7úl (Lil’wat) Nations.
Regarded as one of the world’s best road trip routes, Highway 99 stretches 377 kilometers from the US border northeast to Cache Creek, BC. But it’s at the northern tip of Howe Sound, in view of the towering Stawamus Chief Mountain, that the Sea to Sky corridor of this coastal route earns its namesake. As…
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Cowichan
Located between Victoria and Nanaimo, Cowichan takes its name from “Quw’utsun,” the name given to the valley by its original inhabitants, the Quw’utsun people. It is rooted in the Hul’q’umi’num word “shquw’utsun” which directly translated means “to warm one’s back in the sun. Look out for turkey vultures in the spring and summer, trumpeter swans in…
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Vancouver Island North
GILAKAS’LA. Our Vancouver Island North communities are located on the traditional territory of the Kwakwakaʼwakw people, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial.
The Northern tip of Vancouver Island is home to some of the most exceptional bird watching opportunities on the Pacific Coast. This ecologically diverse region, with ancient coastal rainforests, rocky islets, and expansive estuaries, supports a wide range of bird species. While the sheltered waters of the Broughton Archipelago serve as an excellent winter habitat…
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Port Alice
The Village of Port Alice is a picturesque community built on a mountainside affording excellent views of Neroutsos Inlet from every vantage point. It is accessed via a short, scenic drive on a newly paved section of highway 30. The community is a gateway to the wild west coast where visitors can explore further via…
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Port Hardy
Port Hardy is located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and as a gateway to the stunning wilderness of Vancouver Island. It is the northernmost point of the Island Highway 19, site of the regional airport and the starting point for the BC Ferries Inside Passage…
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Chilliwack
34 kilometres northeast of Abbotsford, Chilliwack is one of the province’s most popular outdoor destinations, boasting an assortment of parks, nature reserves, and farm-fresh eateries. This agricultural region is home to farm birds like red-tailed hawks and harriers and is also a great spot for cedar waxwings.
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Whistler
With glaciated mountains at either side, it’s not hard to see why Whistler has been called the Valley of Dreams. The alpine home of countless bird species, including some higher-altitude specialties like Canada Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Ruffed & Sooty Grouse. Golden-eared visitors might also listen for the high pitched call of the local hoary…
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Surrey
Surrey is a big city full of people, farmland, and birds. The shores of Boundary Bay full of endless amounts of marine life, while nearby rivers and farmland ecosystems provide bird-friendly habitats all year round. Since the 1980s Surrey has seen an immigration boom create an incredibly diverse city, with more than 30% of local…
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Abbotsford
Renowned for its airshow, planes aren’t the only sights in the skies above Abbotsford – look out for hawks around the farms and airfield, as well as swamp sparrows and elusive American bittern. 45 km east of Langley, this cultivated city weaves an eclectic tale of agriculture, community, and natural environment.
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South Fraser
The traditional territories of the scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and other Coast Salish Peoples.
The mouth of the mighty Fraser River empties into the Salish Sea and all around lie some of the most diverse waterways and marshlands in the province. Just a short 15 km drive from downtown Vancouver, the South Fraser Trail begins in Richmond with a series of important locations along the Pacific Flyway. Neighbouring Delta…
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Richmond
The heart of the Pacific Flyway, and a central hub to travellers throughout BC, Richmond’s diverse communities and spectacular waterfront vistas are home to a plethora of migratory birds.
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Langley
From the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo and Matsqui First Nations who have lived in the region for centuries, to the Fort Langley National Historic Site, the Township of Langley is rich in local traditions. A one hour drive east of Vancouver, take in beautiful riverside and lagoon bird watching opportunities, keeping an eye out for kingfishers…
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Southern Gulf Islands
We are grateful to live on and visit the Southern Gulf Islands and acknowledge that the lands and waters that encompass these islands have been home to Indigenous peoples since time immemorial, part of the traditional unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations and Hul’quimi’num Treaty Group.
Easily accessible from Victoria or Vancouver via a serene ferry ride, the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia offer a captivating birdwatching escapade. Encompassing a rich tapestry of coastal, forested, and shoreline habitats, these islands are a haven for bird enthusiasts. From the diverse ocean and estuarine landscapes to lush marshlands and serene woodlands, the…
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