BCR 14 – Atlantic Northern Forest

The nutrient-poor soils of northernmost New England and the Adirondack Mountains support spruce-fir forests on more northerly and higher sites and also northern hardwoods elsewhere. Virtually all of the world’s Bicknell’s Thrush breed on mountaintops in this region. Other important forest birds include the Canada Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler. Coastal wetlands are inhabited by Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow, rocky intertidal areas are important for wintering Purple Sandpipers, and muddy intertidal habitats are critical as Semipalmated Sandpiper staging sites. Common Eiders and Black Guillemots breed in coastal habitats, while Leach’s Storm-Petrels, gulls, terns, and the southernmost populations of many breeding alcids nest on offshore islands.

Beaver ponds and shores of undisturbed lakes and ponds provide excellent waterfowl breeding habitat, particularly for American Black Duck, Hooded and Common Mergansers, and Common Goldeneye. The Hudson and Connecticut River valleys are important corridors for Brant, Green-winged Teal and other waterfowl migrating from New England and Quebec.

Because inland wetlands freeze, coastal wetlands are used extensively by dabbling ducks, sea ducks and geese during winter and migration.

Habitat Joint Venture:

• Eastern Habitat Joint Venture

BCR strategies:

• Strategy for BCR 14NB and MBUs 11 & 12 NB: Atlantic Northern Forest, Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence PDF
• Strategy for BCR 14NS and MBUs 11 & 12 NS: Atlantic Northern Forest, Scotian Shelf and Bay of Fundy, and Gulf of St. Lawrence PDF
• Strategy for BCR 14PEI and MBU 12PEI: Atlantic Northern Forest and Gulf of St. Lawrence PDF
• Strategy for BCR 14QC: Atlantic Northern Forest PDF

[return to map]