Vote for Canada's National Bird

Move over, beaver! It’s time for a new Canadian national symbol. As the Canadian Raptor Conservancy urges the federal government to name a national bird, we want to know which feathered friend you think would be most fitting.

We asked five bird experts and notable enthusiasts to name one bird they think would make an excellent national symbol.

Nominees include the red-tailed hawk, a skilled hunter with an impressive wingspan; the brilliant, mysterious, family-oriented crow; the placid loon, with its melancholy call; the Canada goose, iconic and delicious; and the elegant trumpeter swan, a prolific killer of geese.

James Cowan, director of the Canadian Raptor Conservancy, says the bird must be found in most provinces and territories, can’t be a provincial bird or another country’s national bird, and must say something about being Canadian.

Which bird do you think would boost our national identity? Which would you be proud to see on postcards and in plush? Which would look great as a giant inflatable at our next Olympic Games?

Check out the nominees and tell us which bird soars above the competition.