Challenge

North American Backyard Birds

Q: Where is the best place to see North American Backyard Birds?

Point Pelee National Park. In Point Pelee National Park, Canada, the chance of seeing all 4 (american robin, northern cardinal, blue jay and mourning dove) on the same day is about 40%, the highest of the 21 places where all of them live, and over a three-day visit it rises to over 90%. Next come Detroit (about 40% a day), Philadelphia (about 40% a day) and Washington (about 30% a day). It multiplies each animal's daily chance, as if they were independent, so read it as a rough guide.

Q: Which of North American Backyard Birds is hardest to see?

Mourning dove. In Point Pelee National Park, the best place for North American Backyard Birds, about about 70% of wildlife watchers report the mourning dove on a given day, against about 90% for the american robin. The hardest one decides how many days you need.

Q: How do you complete North American Backyard Birds on Wallace's Line?

Mark them as seen. Tick ✓ Seen on each animal's card, add your trips, or link your iNaturalist account. Your passport counts North American Backyard Birds three ways: anywhere in the world, all in one park, and all in a single trip.

North AmericaEasy

See all challenges

The checklist: 4 animals

Turdus migratorius

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Cardinalis cardinalis

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Cyanocitta cristata

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Zenaida macroura

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Where to go

Chance of seeing in

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

~30%

Jan

~50%

Feb

~80%

Mar

~90%

Apr

>90%

May

~80%

Jun

~80%

Jul

~90%

Aug

~90%

Sep

~60%

Oct

~40%

Nov

~40%

Dec

Time of day

Where they are recorded most Parks with some of them Cities with some of them

Parks

#	Park	Country	Animals	All 4 in 3 days
1	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	4 of 4	>90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
2	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~60%
	American Robin			~90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
3	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~50%
	American Robin			~90%
	Northern Cardinal			~90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~60%
4	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~40%
	American Robin			~70%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~80%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
5	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~30%
	American Robin			~90%
	Northern Cardinal			~60%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
6	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~20%
	American Robin			~30%
	Northern Cardinal			~80%
	Blue Jay			~70%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
7	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	3 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal
	American Robin			~90%
	Blue Jay			~70%
	Mourning Dove			~20%
8	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	3 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal
	American Robin			>90%
	Blue Jay			~30%
	Mourning Dove			~20%
9	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	3 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal
	American Robin			>90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~60%
10	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Northern Cardinal			~90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
11	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: American robin
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~60%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
12	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Northern Cardinal			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
13	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: American robin
	Northern Cardinal			~90%
	Blue Jay			~40%
	Mourning Dove			~50%
14	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	3 of 4	Missing: Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Northern Cardinal			~40%
	Mourning Dove			~40%
15	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
	Blue Jay			~80%
16	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
17	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~80%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
18	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~20%
19	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~20%
20	Isle Royale National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~70%
	Blue Jay			~90%
21	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~40%
22	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~50%
23	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~50%
24	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~60%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
25	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~30%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
26	Guadalupe Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~60%
	Mourning Dove			~60%
27	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay
	Northern Cardinal			~70%
	Mourning Dove			~20%
28	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~60%
	Mourning Dove			~30%
29	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
30	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
31	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
32	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
33	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
34	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
35	Wrangell-St. Elias National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
36	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
37	Denali National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~90%
38	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~90%
39	Kluane National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~90%
40	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~90%
41	Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~80%
42	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~80%
43	Katmai National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~80%
44	Wood Buffalo National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~70%
45	Irazú Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~70%
46	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~60%
47	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~60%
48	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	Northern Cardinal			~60%
49	Kenai Fjords National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~50%
50	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~50%
51	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~50%
52	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~30%
53	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	Northern Cardinal			~20%
54	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	Northern Cardinal			~20%
55	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	Northern Cardinal			~20%
56	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	Northern Cardinal			~20%

Cities

#	City	Country	Animals	All 4 in 3 days
1	Detroit	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	>90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
2	Washington	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
3	Philadelphia	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
4	New York City	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
5	Boston	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
6	Baltimore	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~90%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
7	Toronto	🇨🇦 Canada	4 of 4	~80%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
8	Minneapolis [Saint Paul]	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~70%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
9	Houston	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~60%
	American Robin			~80%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
10	Chicago	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~60%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~70%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
11	Dallas	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~60%
	American Robin			~70%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
12	Orlando	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~40%
	American Robin			~40%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
13	Montreal	🇨🇦 Canada	4 of 4	~40%
	American Robin			>90%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			~70%
	Mourning Dove			~60%
14	Austin	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~40%
	American Robin			~50%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
15	San Antonio	🇺🇸 United States	4 of 4	~30%
	American Robin			~60%
	Northern Cardinal			>90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~60%
16	Mesa	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Northern Cardinal			~40%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
17	Denver	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal
	American Robin			>90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
18	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	3 of 4	Missing: American robin
	Northern Cardinal			~90%
	Blue Jay			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
19	Mexico City	🇲🇽 México	3 of 4	Missing: Blue jay
	American Robin			~80%
	Northern Cardinal			~20%
	Mourning Dove			~70%
20	León	🇲🇽 México	3 of 4	Missing: Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Northern Cardinal			~30%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
21	Sacramento	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~80%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
22	Salt Lake City	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			>90%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
23	Phoenix	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
24	Toluca	🇲🇽 México	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
25	Las Vegas	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~80%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
26	Edmonton	🇨🇦 Canada	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~90%
	Blue Jay			~90%
27	Portland	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			>90%
	Mourning Dove			~50%
28	Los Angeles	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~40%
	Mourning Dove			>90%
29	Calgary	🇨🇦 Canada	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
	Blue Jay			~60%
30	Ciudad Juárez	🇲🇽 México	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
31	San Francisco	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~80%
	Mourning Dove			~80%
32	San Diego	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Mourning Dove			~90%
33	Monterrey	🇲🇽 México	2 of 4	Missing: American robin, Blue jay
	Northern Cardinal			~20%
	Mourning Dove			~50%
34	Tijuana	🇲🇽 México	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~20%
	Mourning Dove			~40%
35	Puebla	🇲🇽 México	2 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	American Robin			~30%
	Mourning Dove			~30%
36	Santo Domingo	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			>90%
37	Seattle	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
38	Vancouver	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			>90%
39	Torreón	🇲🇽 México	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			>90%
40	Havana	🇨🇺 Cuba	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~90%
41	Anchorage	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4	Missing: Northern cardinal, Blue jay, Mourning dove
	American Robin			~80%
42	Guadalajara	🇲🇽 México	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~20%
43	San Luis Potosí	🇲🇽 México	1 of 4	Missing: American robin, Northern cardinal, Blue jay
	Mourning Dove			~20%

Zoos & centres

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
2	Columbus Zoo and Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
3	Hanover Zoo	🇩🇪 Germany	2 of 4 in captivity
4	Hogle Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
5	Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
6	Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
7	Santillana Zoo	🇪🇸 Spain	2 of 4 in captivity
8	Virginia Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
9	Wild Bird Fund	🇺🇸 United States	2 of 4 in captivity
10	Xcaret	🇲🇽 Mexico	2 of 4 in captivity
11	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4 in captivity
12	Barcelona Zoo	🇪🇸 Spain	1 of 4 in captivity
13	Ecomuseum Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4 in captivity
14	ABQ BioPark Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4 in captivity
15	Akron Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4 in captivity
16	Aquarama Barcelona	🇪🇸 Spain	1 of 4 in captivity
17	Audubon Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 4 in captivity
18	Bird Kingdom	🇨🇦 Canada	1 of 4 in captivity
19	Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden	🇭🇺 Hungary	1 of 4 in captivity
20	Buin Zoo	🇨🇱 Chile	1 of 4 in captivity

Show all 20 Show fewer

Before you go

Where is the best place to see North American Backyard Birds?

Point Pelee National Park

In Point Pelee National Park, Canada, the chance of seeing all 4 (american robin, northern cardinal, blue jay and mourning dove) on the same day is about 40%, the highest of the 21 places where all of them live, and over a three-day visit it rises to over 90%. Next come Detroit (about 40% a day), Philadelphia (about 40% a day) and Washington (about 30% a day). It multiplies each animal's daily chance, as if they were independent, so read it as a rough guide.

Which of North American Backyard Birds is hardest to see?

Mourning dove

In Point Pelee National Park, the best place for North American Backyard Birds, about about 70% of wildlife watchers report the mourning dove on a given day, against about 90% for the american robin. The hardest one decides how many days you need.

How do you complete North American Backyard Birds on Wallace's Line?

Mark them as seen

Tick ✓ Seen on each animal's card, add your trips, or link your iNaturalist account. Your passport counts North American Backyard Birds three ways: anywhere in the world, all in one park, and all in a single trip.

← All challenges

North American Backyard Birds

The checklist: 4 animals

American Robin

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

Mourning Dove

Where to go

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

Month by month at Point Pelee National Park

Time of day

Parks

Cities

Zoos & centres

Before you go

Where is the best place to see North American Backyard Birds?

Which of North American Backyard Birds is hardest to see?

How do you complete North American Backyard Birds on Wallace's Line?