The area of Ontario may have many different types of birds, but some people still would like to learn more about the common birds in Ontario. Here is a list of the most common birds you will see in Ontario:
1. Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee is a common bird in Ontario. It is a perching songbird with a black cap and bib, white cheeks, gray back, and whitish underside. They are 6-7 inches long. They are commonly found in deciduous or mixed woodlands. You can find them in backyard bird feeders.
They often forage in mixed feeding flocks, so it is easy to get a glimpse of them. Black-capped Chickadee is a permanent resident in most of Ontario. In winter, they sometimes join flocks with other species such as Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and Northern Cardinal.
Black-capped Chickadee is active all year long. You can see them at backyard bird feeders, camping picnic areas, and roadsides. Black-capped Chickadee is monogamous. Pair keeps close contact throughout the year. They build a cup-shaped nest in a tree cavity, often at the tip of a horizontal branch.
They lay 5-6 white eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs for about two weeks. Five days after hatching, young leave the nest and are ready to fly in another two weeks. Black-capped Chickadee is mostly insectivorous during summer and feeds on seeds and fruits in winter.
2. American robin
The American robin gets its name from the similarity between the bird’s orange-red breast and the color of Colonial American naval uniforms during the 17th and 18th centuries. The American robin is also known as the robin, common robin. North American, and sometimes the robin redbreast.
The American robin is a migratory bird that travels from its northern breeding grounds to its southern wintering locations and is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin. The American robin is about 6 inches (16 cm) long, with a wingspan of 12 inches (30 cm). It weighs between 65 and 89 grams.
The American robin is found in deciduous and coniferous forests and is not found in marshes or tundra regions. The brown-headed American robin lives further north than any other subspecies. The American robin is a ground-dwelling bird but will climb up low trees and shrubs to better understand its surroundings.
Expert Tip: The American robin is territorial and usually found alone but may form loose colonies with other American robins during migration.
3. American Crow
American Crow is a very common bird found in Ontario. It can be seen around streets, fields, farmlands, etc. They are usually found in small to large groups. The most common call they make is “aw-aw-aw” in groups. American Crows are mostly black with a silvery luster that shines blue or green depending on the light.
It has a short wedge-shaped tail, long legs, and a large stout bill. They are about 43 cm long and have a wingspan of 1 meter. Their feet are not designed to grasp like some other corvids, but more for walking along tree branches. They are omnivores. They eat both plant and animal materials, also carrion (dead animals).
They are very opportunistic feeders and will eat almost anything. They often forage on the ground for food, also in trees and shrubs. When they feed in trees, they eat fruit and nuts. They may also prey on small animals or catch fish.
These birds hunt in groups for acorns and conifer seeds in late summer and fall. They may store some food items in caches to be eaten later.
4. Blue Jay
Blue Jay is a common bird found in Ontario. They are hard to miss, as their loud screams can be heard from a distance signaling others of predators. It has a large stout beak, easily crushing seeds and nuts.
Blue Jays are well known for their spectacular feeding display in the autumn when they gather in large numbers to gorge themselves on acorns before the winter. They are very adaptable able to live in various habitats around Ontario. Despite being common, they are considered game birds, having their bag limits and seasons.
The Blue Jay is Ontario’s provincial bird (Ontario Blue Jay). It is found in Southern Ontario, coming up to the border of Northern Ontario. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in Blue Jays in urban areas due to bird feeders.
Their diet consists of acorns, nuts, seeds, and berries. However, during the winter, they switch their diet to include more insects and fruits. They are often preyed upon by hawks, owls, and cats.
5. American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch is a common bird in Ontario. It is about 6-7 inches long with a 10-12.5 inches wingspan and weighs around 15 grams. It has a short bill that is conical in shape and yellow in color with some black on the back of the upper part.
This bird has a dark brown head, a bright yellow chest, and belly, a white rump and tail with black markings on the wings. The male has a black cap and a black bib. and the female has brown plumage on her head. Females may appear more streaked below than males.
American Goldfinch is a migratory bird found in the southern parts of Ontario during summer. They breed during spring, and their nesting season starts in May. The female Goldfinch builds a nest with grass and other fine material. She lays four to six pale blue eggs in color speckled with black.
Expert Tip: American Goldfinch normally eats plants and seeds found in the wild, but it is known to come to bird feeders.
6. Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove is a bird that can be found in Ontario. It does not migrate and is found all year round in Ontario. The Mourning Dove is a common bird, but it can be heard and seen rarely. When they migrate, they can be found in the southern areas of Ontario.
Mourning Doves can be seen and heard in deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as weedy fields, parks, roadsides, and towns. They are small brownish-gray birds with a lighter underside. Females are paler and grayer than males. Mourning Doves have a long pointed tail, a decurved bill, and a crest on the head.
The average mourning dove is about long, has a wingspan, and weighs. The wings are broad and rounded. Females tend to be smaller than males and have shorter tails. The adult male has a gray crown, black facial markings, and light pinkish-gray underparts. The female has a light-colored crown, gray face markings, and buff-brown underparts.
Both sexes have brown eyes, dark bill, gray legs and feet, and brown-gray to pale chestnut wing feathers. The tail is long (with an extra covert that’s only visible).
7. Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal is a bird found in Ontario. Northern Cardinals are usually recognized by their red feathers, which have a pattern of black on the bird’s crest, wings, and tail.
These birds are common in Ontario, although they can be found in most of North America.
They usually eat insects and seeds. They usually eat insects and seeds. The northern cardinal is a popular bird in the human culture associated with spirituality in the Christmas season. They are also found throughout North America, Alabama, and Tennessee.
It is a popular bird in human culture, being associated with spirituality in the Christmas season. They are usually monogamous, with two birds building a nest together and raising their young until they are ready to leave the nest. They are usually found in thick forests, where they can be found throughout North America.
They are monogamous, with two birds building a nest together and raising their young until they are ready to leave the nest.
8. Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird is the common bird in Ontario (Ontario, Canada). Red-winged blackbirds are medium-sized. They have an average length of 17 cm. They are not very colorful, but they have reddish-brown on their wings, distinguishing them from other blackbirds. These birds can also be found in North America.
Many reasons make the red-winged blackbirds familiar to us. These birds are common in Ontario, but they are also found throughout North America. They are most commonly found on farmland or near water sources like rivers, ponds, or marshes. Red-winged blackbirds steal both their food and nests from other birds.
They have a more aggressive personality than other blackbirds, which is why they are more likely to take over another bird’s nest. Nesting usually starts in late spring, where red-winged blackbirds build globular nests of grass, weeds, and twigs. These nests are usually found in dense shrubs or on the ground.
9. Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow is considered to be the most common bird in the northern hemisphere. It is found throughout North America, including Canada and all of the northern parts of America. It is also found in Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It is brightly colored with a grey undercoat and black speckles over the greater part of its body.
The Song Sparrow is a small sparrow that weighs around 30 grams and has a wingspan of 14 inches. It has a long tail that is grey-brown. Its average lifespan is around six years, but it may sometimes reach ten years. It is a ground nester and feeds on seeds, insects, spiders, mice, slugs, and worms.
Expert Tip: The Song Sparrow can be confused with Lincoln’s Sparrow but is easily distinguishable by the black line over its eye. It is important to note that this bird is considered to be a pest in some areas because it tends to eat farmers’ grain and grass seed.
10. Common Grackle
Common Grackle is a species of bird that can be found in Ontario, Canada. Common Grackle is most commonly found in Ontario ever since the year 1990. Common Grackle is a bird that measures around 21 to 24 centimeters in length. They have a blackish color with a large beak and a long tail.
Their legs are thick and colored gray to white. Common grackles have a long wingspan that helps them fly for up to 9 hours. Common Grackles have a dark gray back and a lighter belly. This helps common grackles camouflage into their surroundings. They are commonly known to eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects.
11. European Starling
European Starling is a common bird in Ontario, Canada. It has a grey body and chestnut-colored patches on its head, neck, and wings. It’s a medium-sized blackbird with a long tail. Its bill, legs, and feet are yellow. The juvenile bird has duller chestnut-colored patches on its head, neck, and wings. The bill is greyish-brown.
European Starlings are often considered to be very annoying birds because they are invasive. They were introduced to North America from Europe in the 1890s to control the insect population. However, they also feed on fruits and seeds, damage trees by digging holes for nests, eat newly-planted seeds in agricultural fields.
Some people consider European Starling a nuisance because of the noise created by their chattering and fighting. European Starlings’ negative impacts on agriculture and natural ecosystems also perform some positive roles. For example, they clear out insects, and acarine pests eat weed seeds and harmful insects like tent caterpillars.
European Starlings are found throughout the year in southern Canada, but people rarely see them in northern parts of Ontario.
12. Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow is a common bird in Ontario. It’s a tiny songbird found mostly near open areas with trees or bushes, including parks, gardens, shrubbery, and wooded areas.
It has a grayish-brown upper body with darker streaks. The face is striped, and it has a rust-colored cap. The wings and tail are brown, and the belly is light gray.
The Chipping Sparrow breeds in forests and urban parks, and gardens throughout its range. The bird nests in dense shrubs or a low bush, laying 3 to 8 eggs. The song of Chipping Sparrow is a high-pitched, sweet cheep or chip. Chipping sparrows forage on the ground or in shrubs or trees. They mainly eat insects and seeds.
It forms flocks outside of its breeding season together with other sparrow species in the winter. The Chipping Sparrow is a year-round resident in the southern half of Ontario and migrates to the northern half of the province in winter.
13. Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing is a common bird in Ontario. Cedar Waxwing is a small bird about a child’s forearm length. It has a striped yellow-brown body and crest and a prominent crest that looks like it has wax dripping from the tips of its feathers.
If you want to view Cedar Waxwing, you can find them in winter in southern Ontario, where they will flock together to form colonies. It is more difficult to see the waxwings in summer as they will usually be alone or in pairs.
14. Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat is a small bird that is usually identified with its distinctive songs, which have been described as “chee-zip” or “wichety wichety wichety”. The common Yellowthroat is a migratory birds breed in eastern North America and spends its winters mostly in the southern United States and northern Mexico.
During the breeding season, this bird can be found near marshes or streams in mixed forests. The common Yellowthroat is roughly 9 to 10 inches (23-25 cm) long and weighs about 0.5 ounces (15 g). The adult’s feathers are brown on the upper parts with yellow throats, light gray breasts, and white bellies.
Juveniles have more orange underparts. Common yellowthroats are often the first bird species to be heard in the spring. Common yellowthroats eat mainly insects and spiders, but they also munch on seeds, berries, and other vegetation.
Young common yellowthroats are parasites of the nests of other birds, but they do not harm or kill the host birds.
15. Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler is a common bird in Ontario. Yellow Warbler is a small songbird, often heard but not always seen. It has bright yellow feathers on its head and belly and a white eye-stripe. The rest of its body is mostly greenish-gray. Male and female Yellow Warblers are almost identical, but the females are slightly smaller.
They are common in summer throughout Ontario, except in the far north. They migrate south in the fall, returning to Ontario for breeding from mid-April through May. They prefer to live near water and in shrubby areas where they can find insects, larvae, spiders, and other invertebrates.
Expert Tip: They are usually seen low in trees and bushes. Yellow Warblers nest on the ground, in shrubs or small trees. The nests are usually within a meter of the ground. Their song is a buzzy trill, their call is thick.
16. Dark-eyed Junco
Dark-eyed Junco is a species of bird that is commonly found in Ontario. It has a base color of black and rusty brown on its head, sides, back, and underbelly. However, the rest of its body is a shade of grayish-white with large black spots on its wings and tail.
This bird has a total length of 13.75 to 17 inches and a wingspan that ranges from 9.8 to 12.6 inches. It weighs between 3.7 and 5.1 ounces. Dark-eyed Juncos breed in the northern forests of North America during the spring season but spend most of their time in the southern regions during the winter.
It only migrates as far as northern sections during the fall and winter seasons. It is a very common bird, but its population has been dropping since the 1970s due to deforestation, climate change, and competition with other species of birds.
17. Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker is a common nesting bird in Ontario, Canada. It is one of the smallest North American woodpecker species, measuring between 7-9 inches in length. They are mainly black and white except for their red caps. Downy Woodpecker has a lot of other related species, they live in eastern and central North America, and their Latin name is Picoides pubescens.
This common bird of Ontario nests mainly in the spring but can be seen year-round in woodlands. The Downy Woodpecker is black and white with an orangey-red crown and a white stripe that runs from the tip of its bill to its shoulders. They have a black line going through their eyes and down their cheek, and their belly is white.
They have two white bars on the back of their wings and some black barring on the top side of their tail feathers.
18. White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch is a common bird in Ontario. The White-breasted Nuthatch is a small songbird, slightly larger than a Blue Jay, mostly grey. The white-breasted Nuthatch is found in Ontario during the summer and breeds deciduous trees. White-breasted Nuthatch is a very social bird, and they often forage in groups.
Birds such as squirrels, chipmunks, and cats will sometimes prey on the White-breasted Nuthatch, but they are generally not threatened by predators. The White-breasted Nuthatch population is stable and not considered endangered or threatened.
19. House Sparrow
House Sparrow is a very common bird in Ontario. It can be found in many different habitats such as forests, fields, and other natural areas. Most house sparrows in Ontario prefer to live in human-altered areas such as buildings and gardens. House sparrows can be found in both towns and cities.
Expert Tip: House sparrows can be identified by their brown striped heads and chestnut-colored patches on their breasts.
The house sparrow has a long tail and large beak. They weigh between 28 and 38 grams. They are about 14 centimeters long. Both male and female house sparrows look alike, they can be sexed only during the mating season.
In Ontario, house sparrows stay throughout the winter and migrate in the spring. House sparrows eat seeds and plants found in fields, lawns, and gardens.
20. Hairy Woodpecker
The hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker found in North America. It is black and white with a barred pattern underneath two subspecies, smaller than the other. The smaller subspecies are more often found in Eastern Canada, while the larger one is usually located in the Western parts of North America.
These birds are often found pecking at trees, looking for food. Hairy Woodpecker is a large woodpecker that measures about 17-21 inches. The male and female differ in color and size, with the female being smaller than the male. They have a white head and neck, with a black and white barred back, wings, and tail.
Hairy Woodpeckers have a black face with a large red patch of skin on the back of their head. The red patch is smaller in females, and the black part of the face has a pale-yellow border. Their throat is white with a black band across it.
They have white on the front of their wing with black tips, and on the back of their wings are two large bars or patches of black. Their belly is off-white, but their chest has a barred pattern.
21. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch is a common bird in Ontario about 9 inches long with a wingspan of 16 inches. It has a black cap and the rest of its body is gray. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is found in both deciduous and coniferous forests. It eats insects, seeds, and nuts.
It makes its nest behind a loose tree bark or in a hole in a tree. The female lays 5 to 7 eggs and incubates them for about two weeks. She will not leave the eggs for food, so she eventually starves to death. The Red-breasted Nuthatch migrates to southern Ontario in the winter.
It is also known for its “seesaw” call, where it will fly up and then come back down in a seesaw motion.
22. Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow is a common bird in Ontario. According to the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Barn Swallow is a migratory bird species found throughout Canada. The Barn Swallow species has many different habitats making it one of the most common birds in Ontario.
The Barn Swallow can usually be found in barns, garages, under bridges, and other artificial structures that provide shade and shelter. It is also not uncommon to see the Barn Swallow near water, such as rivers and lakes.
The Barn Swallow is a very attractive bird with blue-black feathers and an orange-colored chest, thus making it a beautiful and well-liked bird by many people in Ontario. The Barn Swallow is not known to be very picky in its diet.
The Canadian Museum of Nature recorded that they have been known to feed on many different kinds of flying insects, including flies.
23. Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker is a common bird found all over Ontario. It is a medium-sized, stout-bodied woodpecker with barred wing feathers and a brown back. It has a black crescent on the sides of its neck and throat, with yellow-orange coloring under its wings. It is found all over Ontario, from agricultural fields to open woods and forests.
In winter, it is found from southern Canada into the northern USA. It is found from Alaska to northern California in summer and as far south as Guatemala. It winters in various habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, and forests, surviving by foraging on insects, wild fruits, and berries.
It is the only Woodpecker in Ontario that nests in green trees when other woodpecker species nest in dead trees.
24. Tree Swallow
Tree Swallow is a very common bird in Ontario. The Tree Swallow is a medium-sized swallow with blue-black upperparts, white underparts, and a deeply forked tail. They have blue-grey legs, black eyes, and an orange mouth. Both sexes are alike. These birds breed in North America from Alaska to central Canada.
In Ontario, they can be found year-round in northern riparian areas and breed from southern Ontario to southeastern Quebec. They winter in the southern United States. Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. They feed on insects in flight, flying close to the water surface.
They are social during the breeding season but become territorial when nesting, which begins in late April after they arrive on their territory.
Expert Tip: These birds will produce two or three broods per season. They lay 4 to 8 light blue eggs with brown spots and incubate them for 18 days. The young leave the nest about 26 days after hatching.
25. Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird is a rare species found throughout North America, from Canada to Mexico. It is a migratory bird that spends most of its time in the United States of America and breeds only on the eastern side. Despite being a rare species, the eastern kingbird is a very common bird in Ontario and is usually found in open and grassy areas.
The eastern kingbird is very similar to the western kingbird, the only distinguishable feature is that it has a yellowish breast. It is also different from other species of kingbirds by its tail feathers, which are dark on top and white underneath. The eastern kingbird’s call is loud, long, and repetitive.
Eastern kingbirds are insectivores, which means that their main food source is insects, however, they may also eat berries and fruits. It is mainly found in open and grassy areas where insects are abundant, but it can also be found near water.
In conclusion, Canada is a large country with many types of landscapes. One of the best places to see birds is in Ontario. There are many different types of habitats where you can locate a bird. You can see birds in your backyard or at a park, but you’ll have to go further into the wilderness if you want to see water birds.
