Table of Contents
Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots Grand Tours
Each of our series of Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tours are designed to show you the greatest variety of bird species possible for the given month. If you can’t afford the time for these tours, then scroll down to read about other shorter multi-day and full day tours.
See both Eastern and Western Canadian Birds
Our multi-day tours will visit the Best Hotspots for Grassland, Forest and Wetland birds in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Due to our special position near the center of North America, Saskatchewan has nesting birds from both eastern and western Canada. We are located where three major North American bird flyways meet.
During the breeding season in June and July about 150 bird species occur within our nearby grassland, wetland and woodland habitats. This bird list is augmented during the migration months of May, August and September when boreal and arctic nesting warblers, flycatchers, vireos and shorebirds become plentiful.
Monthly Newsletter
Learn about our new birding and bird photography tours.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly electronic Newsletter from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours.
May 13 – 19
Witness Spring Migration on the Prairies!
June 3 – 11
View warblers, raptors, water birds and other forest birds at the start of the nesting season.
June 12 – 27
Observe prairie grassland and wetland birds during the peak of the nesting season.
July 9 – 16
Watch for subalpine birds in Cypress Hills as well as prairie birds at Grasslands National Park and shorebirds in the Chaplin Lake region.
August 3 – 10
View prairie birds at Saskatchewan’s Great Sand Hills and riverbank birds along the South Saskatchewan River valley.
August 24 – 31
Visit Last Mountain Lake and Redberry Lake Bird Sanctuaries plus watch for migrating warblers and other songbirds in Saskatoon region parks.
September 9 – 18
Witness the forest and lake birdlife at Prince Albert National Park as well as fall migration at Saskatoon region parks and at Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary.
March 21 – 22
Owling Tour
March 28 – 29
Owling Tour
April 11 – 12
Owling Tour
April 12
April 19 – 24
Including visit to Prince Albert National Park
April 22 – 24
April 26 – 27
April 28 – 30
May 7 & 11
May 13
May 16 – 19
May 20 – 21
May 25
May 26
June 3 – 6
June 9 – 10
June 12 – 14
June 15
June 16
June 17 – 24
June 19 – 22
June 22 – 24
June 25
Jun30 – July2
July 3 – 5
July 6 – 7
July 9
July 10
July 11 – 14
July 14 – 16
July 17
July 18
July 20
July 21
July 22 – 23
July 24
July 30
July 31
Aug. 2
Aug. 3
Aug. 5 – 7
Aug. 14
Aug. 18 – 21
Aug. 21 – 23
Aug. 25
Aug. 30
Sep. 1
Sep. 1
Sep. 4
Sep. 6 – 8
Sep. 11 – 12
Sep. 14
Sep. 18
Whooping Crane Quest
Sep19-Oct24
Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots Tours
Where to go Birding in Saskatchewan, Canada?
Birders – Join the Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots Tour Series organized by Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours. These day trips and multi-day tours may be easily accessed from Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Swift Current or most other Saskatchewan communities.
This series of budget multi-day group birding hotspot tours will focus on observing both Canada’s eastern forest and western prairie birds in Saskatchewan’s best birding hotspots. Both camping and motel accommodation options exist for most tours.
Bring up to 4 people in your vehicle, the cost is usually the same so you may split the fees with your birding friends.
Our March 28 – 29, 2026 Prince Albert National Park tour will look for many resident owls, woodpeckers and grouse that are found all year in this special birding hotspot. We receive rave reviews about our Dancing Grouse Photography and Viewing Tours out of Saskatoon that run from about April 19 – 30. An early spring birding hotspot tour will visit Quill Lakes on May 11.
Our Birding Hotspots Grand Tour Series is a sequence of birding tours designed to show you the largest variety of Saskatchewan birds in a short span of time. The Saskatchewan Spring Birding Grand Tour from May 13 – 19 will visit hotspots for both grassland birds and shorebirds. It will view rare prairie birds at Grasslands National Park as well as observing migrating shorebirds including Piping Plovers, Red Knots and Black-necked Stilts at Reed Lake and Chaplin Important Bird Areas. There will also be a shorter Grasslands National Park Birding Tour on May 16 – 18.
Our Eastern Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour from June 3 – 11, 2026 will start by visiting Saskatchewan easternmost forests in Duck Mountain Park where numerous species of eastern warblers, vireos, flycatchers breed as well as raptors, owls and lake birds. We will also visited the forested Porcupine and Pasquia Hills plus Prince Albert National Park.
During the peak of the prairie bird nesting season, our Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour from June 12 – 27, 2026 will visit the best birding hotspots at the following forest, wetland and prairie locations.
- Duck Mountain Park
- Redberry Lake Bird Sanctuary
- Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary
- Great Sand Hills
- Cypress Hills
- Govenlock Sage Flats
- Old Man on His Back Nature Conservancy Preserve
- Jones’s Peak
- Pine Cree Coulee Regional Park
- Grasslands National Park
- Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park
- Chaplin / Reed Lake Shorebird Hotspot
- Palliser Regional Park
- Douglas Provincial Park
- Blackstrap Reservoir
- Pike Lake Provincial Park
It will visit the Great Sand Hills, the sub-alpine lodgepole pine forests of Cypress Hills plus the surrounding sagebrush flats and Grasslands National Park Many of Saskatchewan’s endemic prairie bird species breed here. In Cypress Hills, we should find such western species as Violet-green Swallow, Red-naped Sapsucker, Pacific Wren, Common Poorwill, Dusky Flycatcher and MacGillivray’s Warbler. Canada’s only Cordilleran Flycatcher subspecies is regularly found nesting here.
During the birding hotspot tour to Grasslands National Park and other sagebrush flats, we should find Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagle, Long-billed Curlew, Lark Bunting, Chestnut-collared and Thick-billed Longspurs and listen for the beautiful melodies of Western Meadowlarks, Baird’s Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow and Lark Buntings.
Alternatively, you may join the shorter Cypress Hills 8-day Birding Tour from June 17 – 24, 2026.
On the Canada Day long weekend we will visit 2 secluded birding hotspots near Carrot River on June 30 – July 2 where we will search for Eastern Whip-poor-wills, Chimney Swifts, Golden-winged Warblers plus numerous other warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers and other forest birds.
On July 3 – 5, our Souris River Birding Tour plans a visit to observe the special birds of the Souris River valley of southeastern Saskatchewan. We hope to find Orchard Orioles, Yellow-throated Vireos, Eastern Wood Pewees, Eastern Bluebirds, Chimney Swifts and other unique birds of that region.
Our Southwest Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour from July 9 – 16, 2026 will visit the best hotspots for water and prairie birds. We will make stops at Buffalo Pound Lake for waterfowl, Chaplin Lake region for shorebirds plus the Cypress Hills for subalpine birds and Grasslands Park for prairie birds. The Prince Albert National Park pre-tour from July 7-8 visit boreal forest birds including warblers, flycatchers, Boreal Chickadees, Common Loons and many woodpeckers.
On August 5- 7 we will visit the Great Sandhills and Saskatchewan Landing Park during a 3-day public tour. It is part of our Saskatchewan Mid-Summer Birding Grand Tour. running from August 3 – 10, 2026
The Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour from August 11 – 12, will explore woodland trails in this park in search of various woodpeckers, Canada Jays, warblers and other forest birds.
Our Saskatchewan Late Summer Birding Grand Tour from August 24 – 31 will visit bird sanctuaries at Last Mountain Lake and Redberry plus visit a variety of parks near Saskatoon to watch for migrating warblers.
If you can’t join us until summer ends, then check out our Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour from September 6 – 18, 2026. It will visit the best hotspots to experience fall migration in our province.
Our winter hotspot tours include Snowy Owl tours from Saskatoon plus northern Forest Owl tours where you may photograph any Great Gray Owls or Northern Hawk Owls that we encounter.
Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots Tour Options 2026
Click the name of each tour for more information and registration forms for each of the possible budget group tours you can join.
The dates for group tours are listed.
Private tours are available on other dates.
- Beaver Creek Birding and Hiking Tour:
May 14, July 26, August 15, 27, September 13 + more - Blackstrap Lake Park Birding and Bird Photography Tour:
May 9, 22, June 11, 26, July 8, 25, August 8, 29, September 9 - Buffalo Pound Park Birding Tour:
July 9 - Canada – Saskatchewan Spring Birding Grand Tour: May 13 – 19, 2026
- Eastern Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 3 – 11, 2026
- Canada – Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 12 – 27, 2026
- Souris River Birding Tour July 3-5, 2026
- Canada – Southwest Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: July 9 – 16, 2026
- Canada – Saskatchewan Mid-Summer Birding Grand Tour: Aug. 3 – 10, 2026
- Canada – Saskatchewan Late-Summer Birding Grand Tour: Aug. 24 – 31, 2026
- Canada – Saskatchewan Autumn Birding Grand Tour: September 9 – 18, 2026
- Carrot River Whip-poor-will Quest Tour
Chimney Swift & Golden-winged Warbler
June 30 – July 2 - Chaplin Shorebirds Tour:
Piping Plover, Red Knot, Black-necked Stilt, White-faced Ibis
June 24, July 10, 24 - Cypress Hills Birding Tour:
Red-naped Sapsucker, MacGillivray’s Warbler + more
Some tours include Grasslands Park
June 17 – 24, July 11 – 14, August 18 – 21, October 30 – 31 - Dancing Grouse Tours
View and photograph the mating dance
of the Sharp-tailed Grouse up close.
April 20 – May 10 - Duck Lake & Nisbet Forest Birding Tour
Le Conte’s & Nelson’s Sparrows, Trumpeter Swan
July 20 & 30 - Duck Mountain Park Birding Tour
Eastern warblers and flycatchers
June 3 – 5 and 12 – 14 - Eastern Saskatchewan Birding Grand Tour: June 3 – 11, 2026
- Grasslands National Park Birding Tour
Burrowing Owl, curlew, longspurs
Some tours include shorebirds
May 16 – 18, June 22 – 24, July 14 – 16, Aug. 21 – 23, Sep 6 – 8 - Great Gray Owl & Northern Hawk Owl Photo Workshop
January 21-22
February 25 – 26 - Great Sand Hills Tour:
Lark Sparrow, chat, shrike, curlew & poorwill
August 5 – 7 - Last Mountain Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour:
First bird sanctuary in North America
June 16, July 18, August 3, 30 September 13 - Meadow Lake Park Birding Tour
Forest birds, Western Tanager, rare Pygmy Owl
April 11 – 12 - Northern Owl Viewing and Photography Tours
December – March - Pelican Photography and Viewing Tour:
September 1 - Pike Lake Birding Tour:
Best woodland & water birds near Saskatoon
April 4, July 26, August 14, 26 - Prince Albert National Park Birding Tour
Great Forest Birds
May 20 – 21, July 6 – 7,Aug. 11 – 12, Sep. 11-12 - Quill Lakes Birding Tour
May 7, 11, August 14 - Redberry Lake Bird Sanctuary Tour:
June 15, July 17, August 2, 25 - Sandhill Crane Photography Workshop
October 17 – 18 - Shorebird Photography Workshop
July 22 + 23 - Snowy Owl Photography Workshop
January 18 – 20
February 22 – 24 - Snowy Owl Viewing and Photography Tour
Private Tours available December – February - Souris River Birding Tour:
July 3 – 5 - Van Scoy Lakes Birding Tour
Shorebirds
July 26, August 14 - Whooping Crane and Sandhill Crane Fall Tours
Private Tours: September and October
Group Tour: Sep. 27
Transportation
Participants on these birding hotspot tours need to drive their own personal or rented vehicle. RVs are permitted on private tours but not on group tours. Vehicles pulling a trailer may join the tour after the trailer is parked at a campground.
Carpooling on group tours
If you would like to share the costs of a group birding hotspot tour with other interested birders, then complete the Carpooling Section of the Registration Request Form below or email the tour name, your name, phone number and email address to birdtours@sasktel.net
Multiple Tours Discount
Can’t decide which birding hotspot tour to take?
Check out our multiple tours discount described here.
Registration Information Request Form
Reservations: Complete the form below or email: birdtours@sasktel.net and provide names of clients, their addresses and requested type of tour and tour date.
Full payment due at time of booking. Payment instruction will be emailed to you after registration form is received.
Questions: Email birdtours@sasktel.net or phone 306-652-5975.
If you do not hear back from us within 24 hours, then
please email: birdtours@sasktel.net or
phone 306-652-5975.
Monthly Newsletter
Learn about special offers and new birding and bird photography tours.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the monthly electronic Newsletter from Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours.
Can I bring my pet dog on these birding hotspot tours?
Dogs are permitted on private tours provided they are kept on a leash. Dogs should not be let out of the vehicle at birding stops. Dogs are not permitted on public tours.
How to get to Saskatoon
Air: Saskatoon International Airport (YXE) is served by Flair, Air Canada, Westjet and their U.S. partners United and Delta.
Air Canada Star Alliance partners also include Aegean, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels, Copa, Croatia, EgyptAir, Ethiopian, EVA, Lot, Lufthansa, SAS, Shenzhen, Singapore, South African, Swiss, TAP, Thai, Turkish, United.
Westjet international partners include AeroMexico, Air France, Air Transat, Azores, Cathay Pacific, China, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta, Emirates, Hainan, Hong Kong, Japan, KLM, Korean, LATAM, Philippine, Quantas, Virgin Atlantic, Xiamen.
Train: Saskatoon’s Train Station is served by Via Rail’s Canadian train serving Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Vancouver.
Bus: Saskatoon – Edmonton and Saskatoon – Regina bus service
Car: Saskatoon is located on Canada’s Yellowhead cross-country highway plus 6 other major highways connecting with all cities in Canada and USA. If you drive, you do not need to rent a car for our tours.
Entering Canada
CLICK HERE for government regulations for entering Canada.
My recent fully vaccinated international clients tell me there are no significant delays at the border provided they have fully completed the ArriveCan app in advance.
Where to stay in Saskatoon?
Contact Tourism Saskatoon to help plan your visit when joining the Saskatchewan Birding Hotspots Tours offered by Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours.
Other Birding Hotspot Tour Options
Saskatchewan, Canada offers many great birding adventures.
by Brian Henderson
Watch video of dancing Sharp-tailed Grouse. Our Dancing Grouse Tour is offered in April and May.
Click Here for information about the many other tours with Saskatoon Custom Bird Tours.
List of Potential Bird Species on Saskatchewan Birding Hotspot Tours
Some of the special birds that we might encounter on our birding hotspot tours include:
- Trumpeter Swan
- Wood Duck
- Cinnamon Teal
- Gray Partridge
- Ruffed Grouse
- Greater Sage-Grouse (rare)
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
- Clark’s Grebe
- American White Pelican
- Great Egret
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- White-faced Ibis
- Bald Eagle
- Golden Eagle
- Broad-winged Hawk
- Ferruginous Hawk
- Merlin
- Prairie Falcon
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- Piping Plover
- American Avocet
- Black-necked Stilt
- Upland Sandpiper
- Long-billed Curlew
- Marbled Godwit
- Red Knot
- Baird’s Sandpiper
- White-rumped Sandpiper
- Wilson’s Phalarope
- Franklin’s Gull
- Forster’s Tern
- Common Poorwill
- Eastern Whip-poor-will
- Chimney Swift
- Burrowing Owl
- Short-eared Owl
- Red-naped Sapsucker
- Red-headed Woodpecker
- American 3-toed Woodpecker
- Black-backed Woodpecker
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Western Wood-Pewee
- Willow Flycatcher
- Dusky Flycatcher
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Say’s Phoebe
- Western Kingbird
- Yellow-throated Vireo
- Violet-Green Swallow
- Loggerhead Shrike
- Canada Jay
- Blue Jay
- Black-billed Magpie
- Common Raven
- Boreal Chickadee
- Rock Wren
- Winter Wren
- Pacific Wren
- Sedge Wren
- Mountain Bluebird
- Eastern Bluebird
- Sprague’s Pipit
- Thick-billed Longspur
- Chestnut-collared Longspur
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Magnolia Warbler
- Cape May Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Audubon’s Warbler subspecies
- Ovenbird
- Northern Waterthrush
- Canada Warbler
- Spotted Towhee
- Brewer’s Sparrow
- Field Sparrow
- Lark Sparrow
- Lark Bunting
- Grasshopper Sparrow
- Baird’s Sparrow
- Nelson’s Sparrow
- White-crowned Sparrow
- Pink-sided Junco subspecies
- Western Tanager
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Orchard Oriole
- Red Crossbill
- White-winged Crossbill
