This list of birds of Ontario includes all the bird species recorded in the Canadian province of Ontario as determined by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC). As of August 2024 there were 511 species on this list, 291 of which are known to breed in the province. Ontario has a considerable variety of bird species. One of the factors in this diversity is the size and range of environments in Ontario. Another is the Great Lakes; many birds use the shores as a stopping point during migration.
The OBRC Checklist divides the province into the Lowlands, Central, and South review zones and requests documentation of sightings of birds which are rare or accidental in one, two, or all of the zones. Of the 511 species on the list, 180 are noted as rare anywhere in the province and another 108 are rare in one or two of the zones. Nine species have been introduced to Ontario. One species has been extirpated, one is extinct, and another might be.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, with common names of families from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following codes are used to categorise some species:
(A) Accidental – a species that only occurs in Ontario as a rare vagrant (B) Breeding – a species that currently breeds or has bred in Ontario (E) Extinct – a recent species that no longer exists (Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Ontario, but populations still exist elsewhere (I) Introduced – established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention; synonymous with non-native and non-indigenous
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (B) Ross's goose, Anser rossii (B) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (B) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (B) (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (B) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (B) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (B) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (B) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) (B) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (B) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (B) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (B) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck, Anas rubripes (B) Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula (A) Northern pintail, Anas acuta (B) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (B) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (B) Redhead, Aythya americana (B) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (B) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila (B) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (B) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (B) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (B) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (B) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (B) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (B) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (B) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (B) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (B) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (B) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (B) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (B) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (B)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (B)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of pheasants, partridges, grouse, turkeys, and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
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: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly 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: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy 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: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with 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: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized ground-nesting nocturnal birds with long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
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: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (A) White-collared swift, Streptoprocne zonaris (A) Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica (B)
Hummingbirds
Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. 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: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general, they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak 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)
Limpkins Order: GruiformesFamily: Aramidae
The limpkin is a large wading bird that feeds on molluscs, especially apple snails.
Limpkin, Aramus guarauna (A)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (B) Whooping crane, Grus americana (A)
Stilts and avocets
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A) (B) American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (B)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus (A)
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats 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: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Variation in length of legs and bills enables multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda (B) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (B) Eskimo curlew, Numenius borealis (A) (possibly extinct) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (A) Slender-billed curlew, Numenius tenuirostris (A) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa (A) Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (B) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (B) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres Red knot, Calidris canutus Ruff, Calidris pugnax Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (A) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (B) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (A) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina (B) Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta (A) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla (B) White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (B) Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (B) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri