News releases

VANCOUVER – One bears our country's name and migrates in formations that point the way from one passing season to the next. Another, bold and curious, given a name that imitates its song, will perch on your outstretched arm. A third stands as an example of a single population thriving in Canada even though the species is endangered.

Canada Post's Birds of Canada stamp series took flight three years ago and now glides to a smooth landing with a final issue that features five birds:

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) – Named for its hat-like marking and cheery “chickadee-dee-dee” call, the black-capped chickadee is found across most of Canada but holds a special place in New Brunswick, where it earned official status after a provincial Federation of Naturalists contest. Campers and hikers know this ever-curious bird will come perch nearby – or on your arm.

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) – Chosen by Quebec as a symbol of its dedication to wildlife protection, the snowy owl nests on the Arctic tundra and feeds mainly on lemmings.

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) – Declared the avian emblem of British Columbia after a province-wide vote, the brilliant-blue Steller's jay is a common sight in campgrounds and coniferous forests in western Canada.

Canada Goose (Branta Canadensis) – Seen nationwide, the Canada goose is known for its noisy honk and V-shaped flight formation during migration, a sign of the changing seasons.

Whooping Crane (Grus Americana) – The largest and only self-sustaining population of the endangered whooping crane – once one of the rarest bird species in the world – nests in Wood Buffalo National Park, located in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.

The first three birds on the list above are official provincial birds; the three-year series has now celebrated the official bird of each province and territory.

The Official First Day Cover is cancelled in Vancouver, the location of the 27th International Ornithological Congress. The conference, held every four years, is bringing roughly 2,000 avian researchers and conservationists from around the world to the city.

The stamps are available for purchase on canadapost.ca and at postal outlets across Canada – and can be easily spotted without binoculars and identified without a guide book.

Click here for stamp images and Details magazine.

For more information:
Media Relations
613-734-8888
media@canadapost.ca