List of birds of Ontario facts for kids

Welcome to the amazing world of birds in Ontario! This list tells you about all the different kinds of birds that have been seen in our province. The Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) keeps track of them. As of July 2021, there were 508 bird species on this list. Guess what? 291 of them actually build nests and raise their babies right here in Ontario!

Ontario has so many different birds because it has many types of natural places. From big forests to open fields and wetlands, there's a home for everyone. The Great Lakes also play a huge role. Many birds use the lake shores as a resting spot when they travel long distances during migration.

The OBRC divides Ontario into three main areas: Lowlands, Central, and South. They ask people to report sightings of birds that are rare or usually don't visit certain areas. Out of the 508 species, 177 are rare across the whole province. Another 108 are rare in just one or two of the zones. Eight bird species were brought to North America by humans. Sadly, one species no longer lives in Ontario, and another is completely extinct. One more might be extinct too.

This list follows a special order used by bird experts called the American Ornithological Society (AOS). The names of the birds and their families are also from this list.

Here are some special codes you'll see next to some bird names:

• (A) Accidental: This bird usually doesn't live in Ontario. It only visits sometimes by accident.
• (B) Breeding: This bird builds nests and raises its young in Ontario.
• (E) Extinct: This bird no longer exists anywhere in the world.
• (Ex) Extirpated: This bird no longer lives in Ontario, but you can still find it in other places.
• (I) Introduced: Humans brought this bird to North America, either on purpose or by accident.

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

This family includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are amazing swimmers! They have webbed feet and special bills that help them find food in the water. Their feathers are also waterproof thanks to special oils.

New World Quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

New World quails are small, round birds that live on the ground. They look a bit like the quails from other parts of the world, but they are not closely related.

• Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (B)

Pheasants, Grouse, and Turkeys

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants, partridges, grouse, and turkeys. These birds live on land and come in different sizes. They are usually plump with wide, short wings. Many of these birds are hunted for sport or raised for food.

• Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (B)
• Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus (B)
• Spruce grouse, Canachites canadensis (B)
• Willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (B)
• Rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta (A)
• Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (B)
• Greater prairie chicken, Tympanuchus cupido (Ex)
• Grey partridge, Perdix perdix (B) (I)
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (B) (I)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized birds that dive in freshwater. They have special lobed toes that make them excellent swimmers and divers. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, so they are quite clumsy on land!

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (B)
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (B)
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (B)
• Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (B)
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (A)

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and slim bills. They have a soft, fleshy area at the base of their bill called a cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (B) (I)
• White-crowned pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala (A)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata (A)
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I)
• Passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius (E)
• Inca dove, Columbina inca (A)
• Common ground dove, Columbina passerina (A)
• White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (B)

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes   Family: Cuculidae

The Cuculidae family includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds come in different sizes but usually have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs.

• Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (A)
• Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus (B)
• Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (B)

Nightjars and Allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized birds that nest on the ground. They are active at night. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Their soft feathers help them blend in with tree bark or leaves, making them hard to spot!

• Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis (A)
• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (B)
• Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii (A)
• Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (B)
• Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (B)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and almost never land on the ground. Instead, they perch on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a crescent moon.

• Black swift, Cypseloides niger (A)
• White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A)
• Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (B)

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny birds famous for hovering in mid-air. They flap their wings incredibly fast! They are the only birds that can fly backward.

• Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (A)
• Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (B)
• Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri (A)
• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (A)
• Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (A)
• Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (A)
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (A)
• Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris (A)

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

The Rallidae family includes rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots. These are small to medium-sized birds. They often live in thick plants near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are usually shy and hard to see. Most have strong legs and long toes, which help them walk on soft, uneven ground. They have short, rounded wings and are not very strong fliers.

• King rail, Rallus elegans (B)
• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (B)
• Sora, Porzana carolina (B)
• Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (B)
• American coot, Fulica americana (B)
• Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)
• Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (B)
• Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar, cranes fly with their necks stretched out, not pulled back. Many cranes have special and loud "dances" they do when they are looking for a mate.

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (B)
• Whooping crane, Grus americana (A)

Stilts and Avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts. They are large wading birds. Avocets have long legs and long, bills that curve upwards. Stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A) (B)
• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (B)

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are large, easy-to-spot, and noisy birds. They look a bit like plovers. They have strong bills that they use to smash open or pry apart molluscs (like clams and oysters).

• American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus (A)

Plovers and Lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks, and long, pointed wings. You can find them in open areas all over the world, especially near water.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (B)
• Eurasian dotterel, Charadrius morinellus (A)
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (B)
• Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula (A)
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (B)
• Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (B)
• Lesser sand-plover, Charadrius mongolus (A)
• Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia (A)
• Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus (A)
• Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus (A)

Sandpipers and Allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Their legs and bills come in different lengths, which allows many species to feed in the same place without fighting over food.

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

The Stercorariidae family includes large birds, usually grey or brown, sometimes with white spots on their wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large, dark gulls but have a fleshy area above their upper bill. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (B)
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

Alcids look a bit like penguins because they are black and white and stand upright. However, they are not closely related to penguins and can fly! Auks live in the open sea and only come to land to build their nests.

• Dovekie, Alle alle (A)
• Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (A)
• Razorbill, Alca torda (A)
• Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle (B)
• Long-billed murrelet, Brachyramphus perdix (A)
• Ancient murrelet, Synthliboramphus antiquus (A)
• Atlantic puffin, Fratercula arctica (A)

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

The Laridae family includes medium to large seabirds like gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are usually grey or white, often with black marks on their heads or wings. They have strong, longish bills and webbed feet.

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons (also called divers in Europe) are water birds about the size of a large duck, but they are not related to ducks. They are mostly grey or black and have bills shaped like spears. Loons are excellent swimmers and fly well, but they are almost helpless on land because their legs are placed far back on their bodies.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata (B)
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica (B)
• Common loon, Gavia immer (B)
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (A)

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are among the largest flying birds. The great albatrosses have the biggest wingspans of any living bird!

• Yellow-nosed albatross, Thalassarche chlororhynchos (A)

Southern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Oceanitidae

Storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels. They eat tiny sea creatures and small fish from the water's surface, often while hovering. Their flight is fluttery, sometimes like a bat.

• Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus (A)

Northern Storm-Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

Even though these birds look and act like southern storm-petrels, they have enough genetic differences to be in their own family.

• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (A)
• Band-rumped storm-petrel, Hydrobates castro (A)

Shearwaters and Petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

Procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels." They have nostrils that are joined together and a long, working outer primary feather.

• Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (A)
• Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata (A)
• Great shearwater, Ardenna gravis (A)
• Short-tailed shearwater/sooty shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris/Ardenna griseus (A)
• Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (A)
• Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri (A)

Storks

Order: Ciconiiformes   Family: Ciconiidae

Storks are large, heavy wading birds with long legs and necks. They have long, strong bills and wide wings. Unlike other wading birds, storks don't have special "powder down" feathers to clean off fish slime. Storks also don't have a voice box, so they are silent.

• Wood stork, Mycteria americana (A)

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes   Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds usually found over warm, tropical oceans. They are black, or black and white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. Male frigatebirds have colorful throat pouches that they can inflate. They cannot swim or walk well and cannot take off from a flat surface. They have the largest wingspan compared to their body weight of any bird, and they can stay in the air for more than a week!

• Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens (A)

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes   Family: Sulidae

The sulids include gannets and boobies. Both are medium-large coastal seabirds that dive headfirst into the water to catch fish.

• Brown booby, Sula leucogaster (A)
• Northern gannet, Morus bassanus (A)

Anhingas

Order: Suliformes   Family: Anhingidae

Anhingas are water birds that look like cormorants. They have very long necks and long, straight beaks. They eat fish and often swim with only their neck above the water.

• Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga (A)

Cormorants and Shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large water birds. They usually have mostly dark feathers and colorful skin on their faces. Their bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. They have four webbed toes on each foot.

• Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (A)
• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (B)
• Neotropic cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianum (A)

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a special pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (B)
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis (A)

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The Ardeidae family includes bitterns, herons, and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns usually have shorter necks and are more cautious. Unlike other long-necked birds, members of this family fly with their necks pulled back.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (B)
• Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis (B)
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (B)
• Great egret, Ardea alba (B)
• Little egret, Egretta garzetta (A)
• Snowy egret, Egretta thula (B)
• Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea (A)
• Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor (A)
• Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens (A)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (B)
• Green heron, Butorides virescens (B)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (B)
• Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea (A)

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Threskiornithidae

Threskiornithidae is a family of large land and wading birds. It includes ibises and spoonbills. These birds have long, wide wings and are strong fliers. Even though they are large and heavy, they are very good at soaring in the sky.

• White ibis, Eudocimus albus (A)
• Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
• White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (A)
• Roseate spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja (A)

New World Vultures

Order: Cathartiformes   Family: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to vultures from other parts of the world. However, they look similar because they evolved in similar ways. Like other vultures, they are scavengers, meaning they eat dead animals. But unlike other vultures, New World vultures have a great sense of smell that helps them find carcasses.

• Black vulture, Coragyps atratus
• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura (B)

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a family of birds of prey that eat fish. They have a very large, strong, hooked beak for tearing meat, strong legs, powerful talons (claws), and excellent eyesight. This family has only one type of bird.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (B)

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

The Accipitridae family includes birds of prey like hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds usually have strong, hooked beaks for tearing meat from their prey, powerful legs, sharp talons, and amazing eyesight.

• Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus (A)
• Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (B)
• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (B)
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus (B)
• Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii (B)
• American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus (B)
• Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (B)
• Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis (A)
• Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus (B)
• Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus (B)
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (B)
• Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (B)
• Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (A)

Barn-Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with big heads and unique heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba (B)

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are small to large birds of prey that hunt alone at night. They have large eyes that face forward and big ears. They also have a hawk-like beak and a clear circle of feathers around each eye, called a facial disk.

• Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio (B)
• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus (B)
• Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (B)
• Northern hawk owl, Surnia ulula (B)
• Burrowing owl, Athene cunicularia (A)
• Barred owl, Strix varia (B)
• Great grey owl, Strix nebulosa (B)
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (B)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (B)
• Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus (B)
• Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (B)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and short tails.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon (B)

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers, sapsuckers, and flickers are small to medium-sized birds. They have chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues that help them catch insects. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (A)
• Red-headed woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus (B)
• Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus (B)
• Yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (B)
• American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis (B)
• Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus (B)
• Downy woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens (B)
• Hairy woodpecker, Dryobates villosus (B)
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus (B)
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus (B)

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of birds of prey that are active during the day. This family includes falcons and caracaras. They are different from hawks and eagles because they kill their prey with their beaks instead of their talons.

• Crested caracara, Caracara plancus (A)
• American kestrel, Falco sparverius (B)
• Merlin, Falco columbarius (B)
• Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (B)
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus (A)

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are songbirds found all over North and South America. They look a bit like flycatchers from other parts of the world but are stronger and have sturdier bills. Most of them eat insects.

• Ash-throated flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens (A)
• Great crested flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus (B)
• Great kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (A)
• Sulphur-bellied flycatcher, Myiodynastes luteiventris (A)
• Variegated flycatcher, Empidonomus varius (A)
• Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus (A)
• Cassin's kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans (A)
• Thick-billed kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris (A)
• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (B)
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus (B)
• Grey kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis (A)
• Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus (A)
• Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana (A)
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi (B)
• Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus (A)
• Eastern wood-pewee, Contopus virens (B)
• Yellow-bellied flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris (B)
• Acadian flycatcher, Empidonax virescens (B)
• Alder flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum (B)
• Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii (B)
• Least flycatcher, Empidonax minimus (B)
• Grey flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii (A)
• Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri (A)
• Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe (B)
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya (A)
• Vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus (A)

Vireos and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are small to medium-sized songbirds. They are usually greenish and look like wood warblers, but they have heavier bills.

• Black-capped vireo, Vireo atricapilla (A)
• White-eyed vireo, Vireo griseus (B)
• Bell's vireo, Vireo bellii (A)
• Yellow-throated vireo, Vireo flavifrons (B)
• Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius (B)
• Plumbeous vireo, Vireo plumbeus (A)
• Philadelphia vireo, Vireo philadelphicus (B)
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus (B)
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (B)

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are songbirds known for catching other birds and small animals. They often stick the parts they don't eat onto thorns, like a butcher! A shrike's beak is hooked, just like a bird of prey.

• Loggerhead shrike, Lanius ludovicianus (B)
• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (B)

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The Corvidae family includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, and nutcrackers. Corvids are larger than average songbirds, and some of the bigger ones are very smart!

• Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis (B)
• Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata (B)
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (A)
• Black-billed magpie, Pica hudsonia (B)
• Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula (A)
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos (B)
• Fish crow, Corvus ossifragus (B)
• Chihuahuan raven, Corvus cryptoleucus (A)
• Common raven, Corvus corax (B)

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

Chickadees and titmice are mostly small, plump woodland birds with short, strong bills. Some have crests on their heads. They are adaptable birds that eat a mix of seeds and insects.

• Carolina chickadee, Poecile carolinensis (A)
• Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapilla (B)
• Boreal chickadee, Poecile hudsonica (B)
• Tufted titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor (B)

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small birds that live on the ground. They often have amazing songs and special flights they do to show off. Most larks don't have very bright colors. They eat insects and seeds.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris (B)

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The Hirundinidae family includes swallows and martins. These songbirds are built for catching food in the air. They have slender, streamlined bodies, long, pointed wings, and short bills with a wide opening. Their feet are made for perching, not walking.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (B)
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (B)
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina (A)
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis (B)
• Purple martin, Progne subis (B)
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica (B)
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (B)
• Cave swallow, Petrochelidon fulva (A)

Leaf Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Phylloscopidae

Leaf warblers are a family of small birds that eat insects. They are mostly found in Europe and Asia. These birds come in various sizes. They often have green feathers on top and yellow underneath, or more muted grayish-green to grayish-brown colors.

• Yellow-browed warbler, Phylloscopus inornatus (A)

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are a small family of birds that look like titmice. They are very tiny birds that eat insects. Adult kinglets have colorful crowns on their heads, which is how they got their name.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula (B)
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa (B)

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are a group of birds with soft, silky feathers. They have unique red tips on some of their wing feathers. These tips look like the old-fashioned sealing wax and give the birds their name. These birds live in the northern forests.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (B)
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (B)

Silky-Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Ptiliogonatidae

Silky-flycatchers are a small family of songbirds found mostly in Central America. They are related to waxwings, and most species have small crests on their heads.

• Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens (A)

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability: they can climb down trees headfirst! Other birds can usually only climb upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and strong bills and feet.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis (B)
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis (B)

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, pointed bills that curve downwards, which they use to pull insects out of tree bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, that help them support themselves on vertical trees.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana (B)

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Polioptilidae

Gnatcatchers are a group of small songbirds that eat insects. Most of them don't have very striking colors, but many have unique songs.

• Blue-grey gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea (B)

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and often hard-to-see birds, except for their loud songs! They have short wings and thin bills that curve downwards. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus (A)
• House wren, Troglodytes aedon (B)
• Winter wren, Troglodytes hiemalis (B)
• Sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis (B)
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris (B)
• Carolina wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus (B)
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii (A) (B)

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of songbirds that includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and New World catbirds. These birds are famous for their amazing singing, especially their ability to copy many other bird calls and outdoor sounds. They usually have dull grey and brown feathers.

• Grey catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (B)
• Brown thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (B)
• Sage thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus (A)
• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (B)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized songbirds. They fly strongly and directly and often gather in large groups. They prefer open areas. They eat insects and fruit. Their feathers are usually dark with a shiny, metallic look.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (B) (I)

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of songbirds found mostly in Europe and Asia. They are plump, soft-feathered, and small to medium-sized. They eat insects or sometimes a mix of insects and plants, often finding food on the ground. Many thrushes have beautiful songs.

• Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis (B)
• Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides (A)
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
• Veery, Catharus fuscescens (B)
• Grey-cheeked thrush, Catharus minimus (B)
• Bicknell's thrush, Catharus bicknelli (A)
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus (B)
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus (B)
• Wood thrush, Hylocichla mustelina (B)
• Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula (A)
• Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris (A)
• American robin, Turdus migratorius (B)
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius

Old World Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large family of small songbirds. These are mainly small birds that live in trees and eat insects. Many of them, as their name suggests, catch their prey while flying.

• Siberian rubythroat, Calliope calliope (A)
• Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe (A)

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small songbirds. Generally, sparrows are small, plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong, short beaks. Sparrows eat seeds, but they also eat small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I) (B)
• Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus (I) (A)

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small songbirds with medium to long tails. They include wagtails and pipits. They are slender birds that eat insects on the ground in open areas.

• White wagtail, Motacilla alba (A)
• American pipit, Anthus rubescens (B)
• Sprague's pipit, Anthus spragueii (A)

Finches and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are small to medium-sized songbirds that eat seeds. They have strong beaks, usually shaped like a cone. All finches have 12 tail feathers and nine primary flight feathers. Finches fly in a bouncy way, flapping their wings then gliding with them closed. Most of them sing well.

• Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla (A)
• Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus (B)
• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (B)
• Grey-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (A)
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (B) (native to the southwestern U.S; introduced in the east)
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus (B)
• Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii (A)
• Common redpoll, Acanthis flammea (B)
• Hoary redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni (B)
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra (B)
• White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (B)
• Pine siskin, Spinus pinus (B)
• Lesser goldfinch, Spinus psaltria (A)
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis (B)

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of songbirds that were once thought to be New World sparrows. However, they are different in many ways and usually live in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (B)
• Chestnut-collared longspur, Calcarius ornatus (A)
• Smith's longspur, Calcarius pictus (B)
• Thick-billed longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii (A)
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these birds were part of the Emberizidae family. Most of them are called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of these birds have unique patterns on their heads.

• Cassin's sparrow, Peucaea cassinii (A)
• Bachman's sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis (A)
• Grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum (B)
• Black-throated sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata (A)
• Lark sparrow, Chondestes grammacus (B)
• Lark bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys (A)
• Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina (B)
• Clay-coloured sparrow, Spizella pallida (B)
• Brewer's sparrow, Spizella breweri (A)
• Field sparrow, Spizella pusilla (B)
• Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca (B)
• American tree sparrow, Spizelloides arborea (B)
• Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis (B)
• White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys (B)
• Golden-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla (A)
• Harris's sparrow, Zonotrichia querula (B)
• White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis (B)
• Vesper sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus (B)
• LeConte's sparrow, Ammospiza leconteii (B)
• Nelson's sparrow, Ammospiza nelsoni (B)
• Baird's sparrow, Centronyx bairdii (A)
• Henslow's sparrow, Centronyx henslowii (B)
• Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis (B)
• Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia (B)
• Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii (B)
• Swamp sparrow, Melospiza georgiana (B)
• Green-tailed towhee, Pipilo chlorurus (A)
• Spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus (A)
• Eastern towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus (B)

Yellow-breasted Chat

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteriidae

This bird was once thought to be a wood-warbler, but experts decided it was different enough to have its own family in 2017.

• Yellow-breasted chat, Icteria virens (B)

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. They include blackbirds, meadowlarks, cowbirds, grackles, and New World orioles. Most species have black as their main feather color, often brightened with yellow, orange, or red.

• Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (B)
• Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus (B)
• Eastern meadowlark, Sturnella magna (B)
• Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta (B)
• Orchard oriole, Icterus spurius (B)
• Hooded oriole, Icterus cucullatus (A)
• Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii (A)
• Baltimore oriole, Icterus galbula (B)
• Scott's oriole, Icterus parisorum (A)
• Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus (B)
• Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (B)
• Rusty blackbird, Euphagus carolinus (B)
• Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus (B)
• Common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula (B)
• Great-tailed grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus (A)

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the New World. Most live in trees, but some spend more time on the ground. Most birds in this family eat insects.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

Cardinals are a family of strong, seed-eating birds with powerful bills. They usually live in open woodlands. The male and female birds often have different colored feathers.

• Hepatic tanager, Piranga flava (A)
• Summer tanager, Piranga rubra
• Scarlet tanager, Piranga olivacea (B)
• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana (A)
• Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis (B)
• Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus (A)
• Rose-breasted grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus (B)
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus (A)
• Blue grosbeak, Passerina caerulea (A)
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena (A)
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (B)
• Varied bunting, Passerina versicolor (A)
• Painted bunting, Passerina ciris (A)
• Dickcissel, Spiza americana (B)

Images for kids

• 

  Canada goose

• 

  Mute swan

• 

  Greater scaup

• 

  Common eider

• 

  Common goldeneye

• 

  Hooded merganser

• 

  Willet

• 

  Western sandpiper

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  Dunlin

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  Wilson's snipe

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  Red-necked phalarope

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  Laughing gull

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  Ring-billed gull

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  Iceland gull

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  Black tern

• 

  Blue-winged warbler

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  Northern parula

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  American redstart

• 

  Common yellowthroat

See also

• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of birds of Canada