Boreal Forest of Canada

The largest intact forest in North America.
5B
birds migrate south from the Boreal each year
12%
of world’s land-based carbon reserves are here
100M
acres of proposed Indigenous-led protected lands

The Boreal Forest—North America’s bird nursery—is one of the largest intact forests left on Earth. Stretching from Alaska to Labrador, it provides nesting grounds and migratory stopovers for nearly half of the common bird species found in North America. Caribou, bears, wolves, lynxes, wolverines, and countless other species thrive here in numbers rarely seen elsewhere.

North America’s Boreal Forest also captures and stores enormous amounts of carbon, especially within its soils, peatlands, and permafrost. It is home to a quarter of the world’s wetlands, with millions of lakes—including some of the largest and most pristine on Earth—and the longest free-flowing rivers remaining on the continent.

Indigenous Nations are responsible for the most ambitious plans to preserve these Boreal lands. Audubon is working to elevate and provide support for important initiatives such as Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas and Indigenous Guardians across Canada. 

Boreal Forest News

Remember that Audubon depends on your support to do the conservation work that we do.
Common Tern with a fish
Summer Birding Adventure
October 01, 2024 — My first bird camp experience
Keynote presentation at Esri Conference 2024
Exploring the Intersection of Storytelling and GIS
September 05, 2024 — Key Takeaways from the 2024 Esri User Conference
Seal River Watershed IPCA Sign
One of the World's Largest Remaining Intact Watersheds Needs Your Help
August 20, 2024
graphic of three polar bears and info for Tawich in the City event
Tawich in the City
August 12, 2024 — An Event Celebrating Canada's Great Inland Sea on Sept. 25 at 7pm
Pink-footed Shearwater flying over the sea.
Canadian Governments and Indigenous Nations Create the Great Bear Sea Agreement
June 26, 2024 — Audubon applauds this giant step to permanently protect a globally important marine ecosystem.
Resources and Downloads
Birding in the Boreal?
Download our checklist before you go and see how many species you can find.
Data, Facts, and Figures
Download our reports and factsheets to learn more about the birds and people of the Boreal
See it, hear it, protect it
Watch one of our videos to learn more about fascinating boreal birds and how to help protect them
Where exactly is the Boreal?
Explore our maps to better understand the vast landscapes we are working in across Canada
Stay Informed
To stay informed on Audubon's Boreal Conservation work, sign up for updates today!
Iconic Birds of the Boreal Forest
! Priority Bird
Canada Warbler
Wood Warblers
Blackburnian Warbler
Wood Warblers
Blackpoll Warbler
Wood Warblers
Blue-headed Vireo
Vireos
Black Scoter
Ducks and Geese
Surf Scoter
Ducks and Geese
Canada Jay
Crows, Magpies, Jays
White-winged Crossbill
Finches
Cape May Warbler
Wood Warblers
Connecticut Warbler
Wood Warblers
Boreal Chickadee
Chickadees and Titmice
Wilson's Warbler
Wood Warblers
Evening Grosbeak
Finches
Rusty Blackbird
Blackbirds and Orioles
Swainson's Thrush
Thrushes
Golden-crowned Sparrow
New World Sparrows
White-throated Sparrow
New World Sparrows
American Tree Sparrow
New World Sparrows
Harris's Sparrow
New World Sparrows
Long-tailed Duck
Ducks and Geese
! Priority Bird
Brant
Ducks and Geese
Common Loon
Loons
Merlin
Falcons
Great Gray Owl
Owls
Boreal Owl
Owls
Black-backed Woodpecker
Woodpeckers
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Woodpeckers
! Priority Bird
Spruce Grouse
Pheasants and Grouse
Lesser Yellowlegs
Sandpipers
! Priority Bird
Hudsonian Godwit
Sandpipers