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. Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ 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 Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ depends on your support to do the conservation work that we do.
Bird sitting on a rock with head turned towards camera
Traveling Birds, Traveling Bird Exhibit
October 25, 2025 — Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest lands at the Peabody-Essex Museum
Aerial view of green land and blue water
Protecting Lands and Waters for a Brighter Future
October 24, 2025 — How the Miawpukek First Nation is leading the way in Indigenous-led Conservation in Newfoundland
Bird standing on a rock with water seen behind it
Two New Marine Refuges on Haida Gwaii Will Protect Marine Biodiversity
October 22, 2025 — Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ celebrates the permanent protection of globally important marine habitat
A group portrait of 5 people, the person at the center holds an award.
Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ Honors Seal River Watershed Alliance with Hemispheric Conservation Award
September 24, 2025 — Celebrating one of the biggest conservation projects in the hemisphere.
Two Atlantic Puffins facing one another.
A Century of Seabird Protection on the Lower North Shore!
August 05, 2025 — Bird sanctuaries in Quebec celebrate a milestone
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 Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ'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