Fauna of Toronto facts for kids

A coyote in a Toronto ravine.

Toronto is home to many different kinds of animals, also known as its fauna. These animals live all over the city, from its wild ravines and forests to its rivers, streams, and even city parks. Some animals have learned to live right in the middle of the city!

Long ago, many more types of mammals lived in Toronto. But as the city grew bigger, some of these animals moved away to wilder areas outside the city limits.

Animals with Backbones

Amphibians and Reptiles

The Blanding's turtle is an endangered species living in Toronto.

Toronto is home to 24 types of amphibians and reptiles that are native to the area. Most of these animals live in the city's wet areas, like marshes and swamps. About six of these species are considered endangered and need special protection.

Here are some of the amphibians and reptiles you might find in Toronto:

Birds

Toronto is a very important place for birds! At least 195 different bird species have been confirmed to breed here. In total, 410 different types of birds have been seen in the Greater Toronto Area. This includes birds that live here, birds that are just passing through during migration, or birds that have wandered off course. Toronto is special because it's located where two major bird migration paths, the Atlantic Flyway and the Mississippi Flyway, come together.

Here are some of the bird species seen in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area:

Blue jays are common in the city. Toronto's baseball team is named after them!

The common loon is the official bird of Ontario.

An Iceland gull at the Scarborough Bluffs.

Mute swans are an invasive species in Toronto.

A northern mockingbird at Humber Bay Park.

A northern cardinal in Lambton Woods Park.

A red-tailed hawk in St. Lawrence, Toronto.

A snowy owl at the Leslie Street Spit.

A trumpeter swan swimming on the Toronto waterfront.

Fish

About 100 different kinds of fish live in Toronto's waterways. These include coldwater, coolwater, and warmwater fish. You can find them in the creeks, ponds, and rivers that flow through the city, and in Lake Ontario along the Toronto waterfront.

Here are some of the fish species found in Toronto's waters:

Mammals

A beaver swimming in Toronto's Humber Bay. The beaver is one of Canada's national animals.

White-tailed deer at Rouge National Urban Park.

There are 38 different types of mammals that live in Toronto today. This number has changed over the years because of changes to the environment and the loss of their natural homes.

Here are some of the mammals you might find living in Toronto:

Mammals That Used to Live Here

Many years ago, some mammal species lived in Toronto that are no longer found here. As the city grew and developed, these animals moved away from the city limits. At least 11 mammal species are no longer found in this area.

Here are some of the mammals that once lived in Toronto before 1912:

Animals Without Backbones

A monarch butterfly in The Queensway – Humber Bay.

Toronto is also home to many animals without backbones, called invertebrates. This includes about 110 different types of butterflies, though this number can change each year. There are also about six different families of bees in Toronto, with 37 types of bee groups and 364 different bee species!

Experts believe there are about 200 species of spiders in Toronto, with 24 of them being species that were brought here from other places. However, the actual number of spider species in the city is probably three times higher than that!

Here are some of the insects you might find in Toronto: