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ALBERTA
Plants and Animals

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Plants and Animals

Plants

In Central and Northern Alberta, the arrival of spring is heralded by the early flowering of a variety of the common man's herb, Pulsatilla patens. This member of the buttercup family can bloom as early as March, but April is the normal flowering time. Other early bloomers on the prairie are Thermopsis rhombifolia, also called 'golden bean' or 'buffalo bean', and Rosa acicularis, a variety of the wild rose. The Rosa acicularis, which grows from Quebec to British Columbia, was chosen by schoolchildren in 1930 as the official flower of Alberta.

Rosa acicularis of wild rose, official flower of Alberta Rosa acicularis of wild rose, official flower of Alberta Photo: Qwert1234 CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

Members of the sunflower family bloom on the prairie in the summer months between July and September. The southern and central-eastern parts of Alberta are covered by short prairie grass, which withers during the summer and is then 'replaced' by hardy perennials such as Ratibida columnifera or 'Mexican hat', a fine jet species and sage. Both the lemon yellow honey clover and the white honey clover are found in Southern and Central Alberta. The trees in the parkland of Central Alberta, deciduous trees such as aspen, poplar and willow, grow in bushes on the hills. North of the North Saskatchewan River, forests dominate the landscape over thousands of square kilometers. American aspen, balsam poplar, and paper birch are the primary large deciduous species. Evergreen conifers include shrub, Rocky Mountain scots pine, twirled, white spruce, black spruce and the deciduous conifer Larix laricina or tamarack.

Larix laricina or tamarack in fall outfitLarix laricina or tamarack in fall outfitPhoto: Linda Baird-White in het publiek domein

Other trees and conifers typical of Alberta: Larix lyallii or 'alpine larch', Pinus flexilis or 'limber pine', ash gray pine, balsam fir, Douglas fir, Engelmann fir, Rocky Mountin maple, feather maple or California maple, American red maple, Rocky Mountain juniper, American larch, American or American black poplar, Western American balsam poplar, American white pine. Watch out for the common 'poison ivy', touching this plant can be enough for successively unbearable itching, inflammation and ulcers.

Poison ivy or 'poison ivy'Poison ivyPhoto: Public domain

Animals

Alberta's four landscape types (mountains, arctic forests, parklands and prairies) are home to many different types of animals. There are not many places in the world with such a wide variety of wildlife as Alberta. Alberta has about 587 species, including 10 amphibians, 93 mammals, 411 birds, 8 reptiles and 65 fish. In addition, some 20,000 insect species still walk, crawl and fly around Alberta. British Columbia is the only province in Canada with a higher number of mammal species. Alberta's 'national' animal is the bighorn sheep.

Bighorn Sheep, the 'national' animal of Alberta Bighorn Sheep, the 'national' animal of Alberta Photo: Jon Sullivan in the public domain

The southern and central prairie regions were once fully owned by millions of wood bison, a subspecies of American bison. The bison population was rapidly being decimated and threatened with extinction from the beginning of colonization. At the moment the bison is doing reasonably well again.

Forest BisonForest BisonPhoto: CanadianEman CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

Alberta is home to a number of large carnivores, including the grizzly and blackbear in the mountains and wooded areas. The smaller carnivores of the dog and cat family include coyotes, wolves, foxes (including the rare kit fox), bobcat, Canadian lynx, and cougars. Other small predators include wolverine, river otter or North American otter, weasel, fishing marten, silver badger or American badger, black-footed bunzing, mink or American mink, and striped skunk or skunk. Large herbivorous mammals are found throughout the province, moose, mule deer, elk, white-tailed deer, woodland caribou in forested areas, gaffbuck on the prairies of southern Alberta, bighorn sheep and snow goats live in the Rocky Mountains.

Rabbits, porcupines (including the primeval sun or North American porcupine), raccoons, beavers (including the Canadian beaver), squirrels (including the American red squirrel, red-tailed chipmunk) and many types of rodents, including the American hare, mountain cottontail, North American flute bunny, jackrabbit, the musk or bisamrat, the gray marmot, woodchuck, yellow-bellied marmot and the rare Ordinary Kangaroo sacrifice from the cheek-bag mouse family scattered throughout the province. Alberta has only one venomous snake in its territory, the prairie rattlesnake.

In Central and Northern Alberta, migratory birds find nesting sites in the spring. In addition to the Canadian crane or prairie crane, large numbers of ducks, geese, swans and pelicans nest on or near the many lakes. Eagles, hawks, owls and crows also benefit from this and there is also a great variety of seed and insect-eating birds. Rivers and lakes are full of pike, broad-mouthed, American yellow bass, rainbow trout, brook trout, among others. red-throated trout, fathead minnow, brook or river trout, spotted omberfish and sturgeon. The Salvelinus confluentus or 'bull trout' is Alberta's provincial fish.

Salvelinus confluentus of 'bull trout ', provincial symbol of Alberta

Salvelinus confluentus of 'bull trout ', provincial symbol of AlbertaPhoto: Bart Gammet in the public domain

A selection of the many butterfly species: thistle butterfly, mourning cloak, atalanta (also known as admiral or number butterfly), small fire butterfly, monarch butterfly, variegated tadpole, black-headed tadpole and small cabbage white.

A selection of the bat species: big brown bat, red bat, gray bat, small brown bat and a number of species from the smooth-nosed family.

A selection of amphibians and reptiles: long-toed salamander, tiger salamander, forest frog, western ornamental turtle, red-sided garter snake and western hook-nosed snake.

What is special is that Alberta has been completely free of the brown rat, being the only province in Canada and one of the few places in the world anyway. Successive governments have worked on this since the early 1950s, and with great success until a few years ago. However, a colony of brown rats was found in a landfill in Medine Hat in 2012, and again in 2014.

Southeast of Drumheller, UNESCO established Dinosaur Provincial Park in 1955. This World Heritage area contains the richest fossil beds in the world. More than 300 important discoveries have been made here.

T-Rex in Drumheller, AlbertaT-Rex in Drumheller, AlbertaPhoto: Kevstan CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

Elk Island National Park is home to large mammals such as the wapiti, the steppe bison and the endangered forest bison. Wood Buffalo National Park is Canada's largest national park and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983 because rare animals like the wood bison live there. Peregrine falcons and the bald eagle also live here and it is the only stable natural breeding ground in the world for the rare trumpet crane.

Trumpeter CraneTrumpeter CranePhoto: Rod CC 2.0 Generic no changes made

Waterton Lakes National Park has the richest wildlife of all Canadian parks, from bears to bighorn sheep and from waterfowl to sapwoods.

Banff National Park (6,640 km2), Canada's oldest national park, is home to many animal species in their natural environment: mountain goats, big horn sheep, deer, black bears, grizzly bears and wapiti. A special appearance is the American nutcracker. The lower slopes are covered with dense forests of pine, silver fir, and some Douglas fir. At higher altitudes, the species are supplanted by pine trees and the Engelmann spruce. At an altitude of 2,135 meters there is a semi-arctic climate where many colorful alpine flowers still bloom. Around Banff Cave & Basin, an area with many hot springs, a snail species lives in the hot water that is only found here, the Physella johnsoni or Banff Springs snail.

Physella johnsoni or Banff Springs snail, unique in Alberta but also in the world Physella johnsoni or Banff Springs snail, unique in AlbertaPhoto: Paulmkgordon CC 2.5 Generic no changes made

The flora in Banff and Jasper National Park includes 996 species of vascular plants (trees, grasses and flowers), 407 lichens, 243 mosses and 53 liverworts.

Saskatoon Island Provincial Park is one of the nesting areas of the rare trumpeter swan.

Nesting trumpet swanNesting trumpet swanPhoto: public domain

McLennan in western Alberta is known as the 'Bird Capital of the World' as it is here that three major migration routes converge around Kimiwan Lake, namely Mississippi, Pacific and Central. About 27,000 beach birds and 250,000 water birds converge here, more than 200 different species have been spotted here.

Below is an extensive overview of breeding and migratory birds observed in Alberta:

DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS
American wigeonwhistling swansmall winnerruddy thorntail
American pochardGreat Canada Goosecockade sawbeakBrent Goose
American Scoterlarge pochardwhite-fronted gooseshoveler
American Black DuckGreat merganserking eiderwigeon
Blue-winged TealGreat Scotergadwallsnow goose
goldeneyeharlequin duckTufted Ducktopper
Spectacled Sea Ducklong-tailed duckmiddle mergansertrumpet swan
buffalo-headed duckIcelandic goldeneyepintailwild duck
Summer duckcinnamon tealring-billed duckteal
eiderSmall Canada GooseRoss' goosesummer translation

Male GargeneyMale GargeneyPhoto: Dick Daniels CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

PARTRIDES, PHASANTS, TURKEYS, HOVERS
Blue Grouseturkeypartridge or field henfan fowl
forest grousecollar grousePrairie FowlWhite-tailed Grouse
pheasantMarsh GrouseSpiny-tailed Grouse

White-tailed SnowgrouseWhite-tailed SnowgrousePhoto: Footwarrior CC 3.0 Generisk no changes made

DIVERS, GREENS, CORMORANTS, PELICANS
Clark's GrebeEared CormorantCrested DiverRed-throated Diver
Fat-billed GrebeBlack-necked GrebePacific pearl diverwhite pelican
Yellow-billed DiverIce Diverred-necked grebegooseneck grebe

Swan-necked GrebeSwan-necked GrebePhoto: Frank Schulenburg CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

ROERDOMPEN, HERONS, IBISES
American Blue Herongreen heronCattle EgretWhite-bellied Heron
American Little EgretGreat Egretquackwhite-faced ibis
Yellow-crowned night heronLittle Blue HeronNorth American Bittern

North American BitternNorth American BitternPhoto: Walter Siegmund CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

BIRDS OF PREPARATION, VULTURES
American SparrowhawkCooper's SparrowhawkRed-headed Vulturemerlin
American KestrelGyrfalconRed-tailed Hawkgolden eagle
Bald eaglehawkred rough-legged hawkosprey
Hen harrierprairie buzzardrough-legged hawk
broad-winged hawkprairie falconPeregrine Falcon

Coopers sparrowhawkCoopers SparrowhawkPhoto: Cephas CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

RAILS, COATS, CRANES, PLEASURES
American cootsoraralAmerican Golden Ploverkilldeerplevier
Canadian craneTrumpeter CraneAmerican Kentish PloverMongolian plover
yellow ralVirginia-ralAsian Golden PloverPrairie Plover
craneRinged PloverPiping Ploversilver plover

Great Ringed PloverGreat Ringed PloverPhoto: Dick Daniels CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

BEACH RUNNERS, SNIPES, CHAPTERS
American Avocetblonde riderbig gray snipred godwit
American Black-winged StiltBonapartes Sandpiperknot sandpiperRed-throated Sandpiper
Alaska Randlopervariegated sandpiperruffred phalarope
American Woodland Ridersurf runnerLittle Yellow-legged RiderSiberian Sandpiper
yellow ralthree-toed sandpiperlittle gray snipturnstone
American Woodcockeskimo curlewlittle sandpiperstilt sandpiper
American sandpiperstriped sandpipersmallest sandpiperwillet
American snipegray phalaropecurved sandpiperblack rider
American curlewgray sandpiperSpoon-billed Sandpiperblack turnstone
Baird's sandpiperlarge phalaropemarble godwit
Bartrams riderGreat Yellow-legged Riderwhimbrel

Eskimo curlewEskimo curlewPhoto: Cephas CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

GULLS, STERNS, FIGHTERS
Little Terngreat black-backed gullsmallest hunterThayer's gull
Bering Gullivory gullmiddle huntercommon tern
KittiwakeKamchatka centuryarctic ternfork-tailed gull
Little GullLittle Mayorprairie gullherring gull
Forsters sternlittle huntergiant ternblack tern
Franklin's Gulllittle black-headed gullRing-billed Gull
great mayorlesser black-backed gullStorm Gull

Grand MayorGrand MayorPhoto: Sowls Art in the public domain

ALKEN, PIGEONS, COOKIES
Asiatic Marble Alkrock pigeonwhite-winged terror pigeonBlack-billed Guillemot
band-tailed pigeonweeping pigeonSilver Alk
Yellow-billed CuckooCollared Doveblack guillemot

Yellow-billed CuckooYellow-billed CuckooPhoto: Factumquintus CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

OWLS
American Eagle OwlLapland Owllong-eared owlShort-eared Owl
striped tawny owlNorth American Scops Owlrough-legged owlWestern Screech Owl
burrowing owlEastern Screech Owlsnowy owlsaw owl
Barn OwlPonderosa Scowl's OwlEurasian hawk

American Eagle Owl, 'national' bird of Alberta American Eagle Owl, 'national' bird of AlbertaPhoto: Brendan Lally CC 2.0 Generic no changes made

SWALLOWS, HUMMINGBIRDS, KINGFISHES
American nightjarPied Common Swiftpoorwillwhippoorwill
Anna's Hummingbirdcallio hummingbirdRuby-throated Hummingbirdblack swift
band kingfisherCosta's hummingbirdruddy hummingbirdBlack-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated HummingbirdRuby-throated HummingbirdPhoto: Jeffreyw CC 2.0 Generic no changes made

SWALLOWS, HUMMINGBIRDS, KINGFISHES
American three-toed woodpeckeryellow-bellied woodpeckerNorth American Helmet Woodpeckerblack-backed woodpecker
mountain sapwoodgolden ground woodpeckerRed-bellied Woodpecker
Down Woodpeckerhair woodpeckerRed-headed Woodpecker
acorn woodpeckerLewis' woodpeckerRed-necked Woodpecker

North American helmeted woodpeckerNorth American helmeted woodpeckerPhoto: Cephas CC 3.0 Unported no changes made

PAIRING BIRDS
wormwood tyrantCassin's buntingcat birdred-necked bunting
American Tree CreeperCassin's rosefinchkeepred-throated bluebird
American Wood ThrushCassins vireoKentucky singerRed-crowned Cock
American MagpieCedar WaxwingGreat Gray Shrikered-eyed vireo
American Gold RoosterConnecticut singerlittle fairy tyrantred-eared bunting
Great Gray Shrikepine ice creamking tyrantRed-tailed Bunting
American cliff swallowpine warblercurved-billed thrushRed Mockingbird
American crowdickcisselcrossbillmourning singer
American bullheaddwarf thrushlazuligorssavannah bunting
American rosefinchElzenfeetiranLecontes buntingSays phoebe
American Redstartepaulet starlingLincolns buntingsnow bunting
American Rock Winter KingGambels titLouisianatangarespruce tyrant
Arkansas King's Tyrantyellow-breasted vireomagnolia pendantspruce piewie
evening fat beakYellow-breasted Warblermangrove warblerspruce warbler
evening buntingYellow-Jawed Meadow StarlingMcCowns Ice Buntingmockingbird
Baird's buntingyellow-throated warblerMexican Redhammergrasshopper thorn
Baltimoretroepialyellow headed groupialswamp buntingSteller's Jay
Redpollyellow-rumped warblerswamp wrenbeach lark
mountain hedge sparrowScarlet WarblerMonk Warblerscrub tyrant
mountain bluebirdyellow black-throated warblersparrow buntingWheatear
mountain solitairespotted towieNashville singerTennis singer
mountain spot thrushregular mask singerNelson's White-tailed BuntingTiger Warbler
Birch Feather Tyrantcommon ravenNorth American rough-winged martintundra dragons
blue jayCommon StarlingNorth American dipperTownsends singer
blue black-throated warblershiny gravelNorthern House Wrenveery
blue-gray mosquito trapGold Kruingorsarctic water thrushfield bunting
Blue-throated Bluebirdgold ice creamriver tyrantfork-tailed king tyrant
Blue-winged WarblerGray-headed Warblersand martinwestern forest view
pale buntinggray-crowned mountain finchEast American Wrenwillow flycatcher
bobolink or rice troepialgray-cheeked thrushOrpheusvireoWilson's singer
barn swallowgray juncooven birdwhiteband crossbill
variegated ice buntingGray NutcrackerPacific water pipitWhite-breasted Nuthatch
pied thrushgray black-throated warblerpalm warblerWhitefish Meadow Starling
colorful singergreen vocalsthereWaxwingWhite-throated Sparrow
tree martingreen swallowPhiladelphiavireoWhite-crowned Gingers
Brewers buntinggreen-tailed towiephoebewhite-rumped redpoll
Brewers troopialgreat crested tyrantPinyongaaisinging bunting
Glasses singerhook beakprairiegorssay winter king
glasses vireoHermit Thrushprairie beepersummer tangare
brown-headed cowbirdHermit Warblerpurple buntingSwallowtail King's Tyrant
Bullocks troopialHudson Titpurple swallowblack troopial
cactus pot thrushhouse sparrowred cardinalblack-throated bunting
Canadian NuthatchIce Buntingrust flank warblerBlack-headed Cardinal
Canadian taiga jayindigogorsRobin CardinalBlack-headed Warbler
Canadian singerchestnut backEuropean Robinblack-crowned goose
Carolina Wrenchestnut warblerred-sidedowieBlack Wing Tangare

Canadian long jayCanadian long jayPhoto: Mdf CC 3.0 Unported no changes made


Sources

Canada
Cambium

Canada
Lonely Planet

Hempstead, Andrew / Calgary
Avalon Travel

Hempstead, Andrew / Edmonton & Northern Alberta
Avalon Travel

Pashby, Christie / Frommer's Alberta
Wiley

Struijk, Aad / West-Canada
Elmar

Teuschl, Karl / Canada-West : Rocky Mountains, Vancouver
Uitgeverij Unieboek/Het Spectrum BV

Veldt, Marc / Canada
Gottmer/Becht

Wagner, Heike / West- Canada
Lannoo

Wikipedia

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated May 2023
Copyright: Team The World of Info