Ontario has a wide variety of backyard birds. And In this article, I’ll list and explain all the backyard birds of Ontario in Detail.
Note: If you’re short on time I have compiled a table of all the backyard birds with identification and their Diet. You can also read about these birds in detail below.
| Backyard Birds in Ontario | Length | Weight | Identification(Color) | Diet / Favorite Food |
| Black-Capped Chickadee | 10-15 cm | 12 gm | Small bird with a big round head. They have black caps and beaks, white cheeks, with a gray back, wings, and tail. | They eat seeds, different berries, insects, suet, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, and spiders. |
| American Robin | 23-28 cm | 77 gm | These birds have black heads and backs with a hint of red or orange in their breast. | Mostly insects, berries, earthworms. In early summer, insects make up the majority of the diet; they also feed on many earthworms, snails, spiders, and other invertebrates. |
| American Crow | 40-53 cm | 320-620 gm | These birds are large with all black bodies. They are found on treetops, beaches, and towns. | Earthworms, seeds, insects, fruits, fish, young turtles, clams, eggs, mussels, and nestlings of different species of birds. |
| Blue Jay | 22-30 cm | 65-110 gm | Blue crest, black backs, and white undersides. | Acorns, insects, grain, nuts, and seeds. |
| American Goldfinch | 11-13 cm | 14 gm | They are quite popular, with bright yellow and black colors in males. The female counterparts however tend to be dull brown in shade. | Mostly seeds, some insects. Diet is primarily seeds, especially those of the daisy (composite) family, also those of weeds and grasses, and small seeds of trees such as elm, birch, and alder. Also eats buds, the bark of young twigs, maple sap. |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 24cm/37cm | 85 gm | All black only with a bright red and yellow patch on the top of their wings. The female is pale brown. | Mixed grains. |
| Mourning Dove | 22-36 cm | 120 gm | Soft brown in color with hints of black on the wings. | Millet, black sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, peanut hearts. |
| Song Sparrow | 12-17 cm | 19 gm | Brown streaked birds are well known for singing all day just in order to attract mates during the season. | They eat a wide variety of insects like caterpillars, beetles, midges, spiders, and earthworms, along with buckwheat, raspberries, sunflower, wild cherries, wheat, and rice. |
| European Starling | 22 cm | 58-100 gm | These birds are stocky black, with a purple, green and blue hue. These birds are famous for their aggressive behavior. | They eat insects like flies, beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, and spiders, along with fruits like cherries, holly berries, mulberries, Virginia Creeper, sumac, blackberries, and even seeds and grains. |
| Common Grackle | 28-34 cm | 110 gm | Tall blackbird with a long tail and glossy texture. These birds move in huge flocks. | Eats mostly insects, berries, seeds, fruit, bird eggs, although it is also known to eat frogs and snakes. |
| Downy Woodpecker | 14-17 cm | 21-28 gm | They are b&w in color with patches of red here and there. They are found in woodlots, in backyards, and along streams. | Insects, beetle larvae, acorns, berries and grains, black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, millets. |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 27-28 cm | 20 gm | These are active little birds with a grayish-blue back and white face and belly with a black cap. Their lower belly and tails are mostly of the chestnut shade. | They feed on insects and larvae like caterpillars, ants, and even spiders. Other than that, they also feed on acorns, sunflower seeds, hawthorns, and corn crops. |
| House Sparrow | 14-18 cm | 24-40 gm | These birds are extremely common and would literally eat out of your hand. They are mostly found in busy areas close to human existence. | They feed on all grains and seeds, like birdseed, millet, corn, and sunflower seeds along with discarded food. |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 12-16 cm | 19 gm | These are dark-eyed variants of Sparrows. These birds are long-distance migratory birds. | Black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts. |
| Northern Flicker | 30-35 cm | 120 gm | Large woodpeckers, with a size in between crows and Robins, with brown body color and black spots, bars, and crescents all over their bodies along with a red nape. They also have hints of yellow on their bodies as well. | Black oil sunflower seeds are their favorite. |
| White-throated Sparrow | 15-19 cm | 21 gm | These birds have a distinctive black and white combination on throats, heads, and bills. They also exhibit tones of brown and gray. | They feed on seeds of grasses and weeds, and fruits like sumac, grape, mountain ash, blackberry blueberry along with various seeds. |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 7.1-10.2 in (18-26 cm) | 1.4-3.4 oz (40-95 g) | This bird has a black and white pattern. The wings are black and checkered with white. The head of this bird has two white stripes with a flash of red toward the back of the head. | The majority of this bird’s diet consists of insects, nuts, fruits, and seeds. |
| Rock Pigeon | 11.8-14.2 in (30-36 cm) | 9.3-13.4 oz (265-380 g) | This bird has bluish-gray with two black bands on the wing and a black tip to the tail. The throat is covered with iridescent feathers. | The majority of this bird’s diet consists of seeds and grains. |
| Chipping Sparrow | 13-15 cm | 12 gm | Slender long-tailed birds that have a gray belly and a streaked back with a rusty crown and blackish eyeliners. | They largely feed on insects. |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | 12 cm | 10 gm | These birds are blue-gray in color with black stripes and rusty undersides. | Black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, suet feeders |
| Northern Cardinal | 21-24 cm | 43 gm | Males are red with a black patch around their faces. Females have brown shades with red highlights and beaks. | Sunflower seeds, millet, milo, peanut hearts. |
Backyard Birds Of Ontario In Different Seasons
Summer Backyard Birds
- American Robin 58%
- Song Sparrow 48%
- Red-winged Blackbird 45%
- American Goldfinch 42%
- Common Grackle 39%
- American Crow 38%
- Mourning Dove 32%
- Black-capped Chickadee 30%
- Blue Jay 30%
- European Starling 30%
Winter Backyard Birds
- Black-capped Chickadee 53%
- Blue Jay 32%
- American Crow 32%
- Dark-eyed Junco 31%
- Downy Woodpecker 31%
- Northern Cardinal 29%
- White-breasted Nuthatch 27%
- American Goldfinch 27%
- Mourning Dove 26%
- European Starling 21%
Backyard Birds Of Ontario In Detail
Black-capped Chickadee
The black-capped chickadee is one of North America’s most well-known birds, and it may be found in a range of habitats across the continent. The chickadee is a common winter visitor to backyards.
These birds are normally singing at this time of year, although they can also be seen in other seasons.
Black-capped chickadees are a common sight on the edges of rolling hills and tiny meadows in southern Ontario, Canada, where they forage for grass and other food sources before winter.
The music of the birds is especially delightful at this time of year. A birch tree is one of the most common sites to find this bird.
If you want to attract Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard then you must feed them suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts or peanut butter.
If you place a new bird feeder in your backyard then these chickadees will be the first ones to notice it and if you try they’ll even eat from your hands. They’ll utilize nest boxes as well, especially if they’re filled with wood shavings.
American Robin
The American Robin is a tiny songbird that belongs to the common thrush family, the Turdidae family, and the genus Thrush.
Their breasts are reddish-orange, while their head, back, wings, and tail are all covered with black feathers. They also have long pointed beaks and white patterns on the margins of their wings.
They are timid and like to live in woodland settings. They are herbivores in their native environment, eating berries, leaves, and insects.
They are migratory birds that migrate from the southern United States to the cooler portions of Canada and Mexico in the winter and then back north in the summer.
The American Robin can be seen scavenging for food along roadways, in droughts, and in flooded fields in search of earthworms and other tiny invertebrates.
If you want to attract American Robins to your backyard then feed them sunflower seeds, suet, peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms. You can either spread food on the ground or use a platform feeder.
You can also grow the juniper, sumac, hawthorn, and dogwood, which are natural berry-yielding plants that will be helpful in attracting these birds.
American Crow
The American Crow is a bright and colorful bird. This is one of the most common birds in the area, and it can be found all around the province. Birders frequently discover these birds breeding in trees along the sides of roadways or even in people’s backyards.
They are frequently found grazing on the roots of trees and plants, although they seldom nectar from flowers. They are one of the most active species of these birds, meaning they are always on the search for new foods.
By throwing peanuts in your yard, you can attract additional American Crows.
Blue Jay
The blue jay is a lovely genus bird that may be found in huge flocks in parks, near water, and near human settlements. Mountainous locations with steep cliffs and exposed soil are frequent habitats for this species.
It’s a popular visitor’s bird, and its vivid, colorful plumage has long made it a favorite of photographers.
Blue jays are often regarded as the greatest bird for bird watchers and walkers since they are timid and may hide in long grass and oak trees.
They eat a variety of seeds, but sunflower seeds are their favorite. Berries, suet, insects, worms, and carrion are among the things they consume.
If you want to attract more Blue Jays to your yard, try feeding them peanuts, sunflower seeds, or suet in tray feeders or hopper feeders on a post. They’ll also like a birdbath.
American Goldfinch
The American goldfinch, often known as the black-throated goldfinch or just goldfinch, is a lovely little North American bird. Each year, they are known to cover considerable distances, some as far north as southern Mexico and all the way down to the Canadian border’s eastern tip.
Marshes, backyards, meadows, woodlands, brushlands, fields, hedgerows, tall grasses, and oaks are just a few of the environments they like.
However, they prefer spruce and oak trees and may be found in groves near creeks, rivers, and streams.
If you want to attract American Goldfinches then you can grow thistles and milkweed in your backyard. Most bird feeders will attract them, and they like sunflower and Nyjer seed.
Red-winged Blackbird
The lovely red-winged blackbird is a medium-sized passerine bird in the Icteridae family that may be found across North America and into central Mexico.
With a length of roughly 9.5 inches, it is merely of modest size. Because of its continuous flights and short flying durations throughout the year, the red-winged blackbird is a regular winter visitor to homes and gardens.
This versatile bird may be found all around the Northern Hemisphere, however, it prefers the coastal plain near saline marshes and bays as its preferred habitat.
Early in the morning is the ideal time to see these birds in their native environment, when they are out eating on carrion. Unlike the female, the male does not fly at dusk.
If you want to attract Red-winged blackbirds you can spread mixed grains or seeds on the ground. They’ll also eat from tube feeders or platform feeders as well.
Mourning Dove
The mourning dove is a native member of the Columbidae family of doves. The mourning dove, rain dove, wetland dove, turtle dove, and, more lately, simply the mourning dove are all names given to the species.
It’s currently largely recognized in the southeastern United States, as well as Ohio, Arkansas, Florida, and Ontario, Canada.
It also frequents metropolitan locations, including major cities, pastures, farm fields, parks, resorts, and even some residential areas.
If you want to attract mourning doves then try by distributing millet on the ground or using platform feeders. You can also feed them black sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, and peanut hearts.
Song Sparrow
The song sparrow is a New World bird of middling size. The Song Sparrow is perhaps one of the least well-known and least popular of all North American birds.
It’s certainly one of the most prolific, versatile, and adaptable species among North American native birds.
And it’s exciting to think that if this gorgeous bird decides to build a home in our backyard, we may be among the first to witness it. They may live in a range of habitats, including tree bark, rocks, logs, and even steep rocky outcrops.
If you want to attract song sparrows to your backyard try putting black oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and nyjer on platform feeders.
European Starling
The European starling, often known as the common starling in the United Kingdom, is a medium-sized passerine bird that belongs to the Sturnidae family of the avian order songbirds.
It’s around 20 cm long and has metallic green plumage with a faint golden sheen that’s mottled with white at different times of the year.
Similar to many other songbirds, It has a tinny, high-pitched tone to it. In busy places like backyards, they are usually observed together, In the months of July and August.
Black oil sunflower seeds, suet, cracked corn, and peanuts may all be used to attract more European Starlings to your backyard feeders.
Common Grackle
The common grackle is a big Icteridae that may be seen in vast flocks in North America. Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish scientist, was the first to identify it in 1758.
Common grackles may be found over most of the northern United States, particularly in the northern plains, along the central west and southeastern states, and in the continent’s northeastern regions.
If you want to attract Common Grackles in your backyard try spreading mixed grain and seed, strewn on the ground or on platform feeders. It’ll definitely attract some common Grackles.
Downy Woodpecker
The downy woodpecker is a common woodpecker species in North America, and it is the smallest. They are typically found along the coasts of eastern states, as well as in Ontario, Canada.
They can frequently be heard shrieking or chirping in a high, difficult-to-reach tree. Sagebrush thickets and woodlands are where you’ll find them.
If you want to attract Downey woodpeckers to your backyard you can feed them black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts. You can also use a suet feeder and platform feeder.
White-Breasted Nuthatch
The white-breasted nuthatch is a lovely little songbird in the nuthatch family that may be found over much of North America’s mid-latitudes. Early spring to late summer expeditions into open woodlands are preferred by the white-breasted nuthatch.
It eats a wide range of insects, including moths, aphids, and spiders. These nuthatches, like many other birds, become exceptionally silent and secretive throughout the winter.
Sunflower seeds and peanuts in tube feeders or suet feeders can attract more White-breasted Nuthatches to your yard.
House Sparrow
The house sparrow is a beautiful sparrow that may be found across North America. Many populations have been discovered in Canada, northern Germany, and Russia.
The house sparrow, like most members of its genus, has a thin incisor beak that it uses to split open fruits and pick at little seeds.
The house sparrow, unlike most other birds, exhibits a high level of intellect. They are gregarious creatures who form lifelong pairs rather than mating. They nest among trees in the spring but return to their natal holes in the fall.
Most types of birdseed, such as millet, maize, and sunflower seeds, will attract more House Sparrows to your backyard feeders.
Dark-Eyed Junco
The dark-eyed junco is a dainty and attractive New World sparrow with a small range through central to southern Canada and northern the United States.
Small dark-eyed birds appear to favor gardens with small open spaces, such as meadows, where they may feed on a diverse range of plant species.
Seed, particularly sunflower seeds, is the most common diet for these birds, but nectar and even caraway appear to be effective favorites as well.
If you want to attract Dark-eyed Juncos to your backyard then you can use black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts either dispersed on the ground or on a platform feeder.
Northern Flicker
The northern flicker is a woodpecker that is modest in size. It’s widespread over North America, and it’s even endemic to portions of Central America, Mexico, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands.
Because they can forage almost everywhere, they make excellent bird feeders. You’ll encounter them in deciduous woods, evergreen forests, coniferous forests, and grasslands.
Flickers are most active at night, although they are quiet during the day, spending much of their time on the wing or perched on branches. They are often seen eating only seeds or insects, making them an ideal choice for bird watchers.
Suet and black oil sunflower seeds can attract more Northern Flickers to your garden feeders
White-Throated Sparrow
The white-throated Sparrow is a common passerine found across North America and southern Europe’s maritime areas. White-throated sparrows, unlike most other birds, are rarely seen during the winter months.
This is due to the fact that they move southward in the spring when the temperature is mild, allowing them to survive the hard winter circumstances.
They are frequently spotted in deciduous woods or forested regions near the shoreline or river banks in the fall and winter, where they are least likely to be seen.
Insects, tiny fish, and berries, as well as the leaves of trees and shrubs, are among their favorite foods.
If you want to attract white-throated Sparrow in your backyard you can use Sunflower seeds and peanuts in tube feeders or suet feeders.
Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker is the popular name for the common woodpecker. It is a medium-sized woodpecker that may be found throughout a large portion of North America. It is around 250mm in length and has a wing span of roughly 380mm.
The common woodpecker is rated as least concerned by the IUCN, with an estimated population of roughly nine million. A red patch on the head of a hairy woodpecker is called the iris.
Suet feeders, as well as peanut and black oil sunflower seeds, can attract more Hairy Woodpeckers, especially in the winter.
Rock Pigeon
The rock pigeon, sometimes known as the wild pigeon, is a member of the Columbidae family of passerine birds, which may be found all over the world. Most ornithologists and birders believe it to be one of our remaining real wild pigeons.
Adaptive and living in both human towns and abandoned fields and farm grounds over most of its range in western North America, it has been with us through all of the changes in human habitat.
Chipping Sparrow
The chipping sparrow is a small passerine (or ground-feeding) bird of the genus Spizella, family Passerelidae, that is quite prevalent in the New World. Throughout much of its North American range, it is common, broad, and local.
It’s found from southern Canada to central Mexico and west Texas, as well as the southern states of the United States and northern Nicaragua. It’s also been seen in areas of Guatemala and Belize recently.
They may be seen in small groups on open terrain, and they will visit backyards in search of various types of birdseed.
Red-Breasted Nuthatch
The red-breasted nuthatch is a little songbird with a red breast. Its song is loud and high-pitched, and it is generally a high-pitched chirping. It comes to bird feeders on a regular basis.
During the winter, it does not eat or drink. Bird observers are in high demand for the red-breasted nuthatch.
While the birds prefer to eat in open places, they will nest in woods, woodlands, and open fields. Because of their voracious appetites and propensity to scavenge on the ground for insects, particularly ants, these birds are frequent visitors to bird feeders.
Black oil sunflower seeds, suet feeders, peanuts, and mealworms can all help to attract additional Red-breasted Nuthatches to your yard.
Northern Cardinal
The Northern Cardinal, often known as the common redneck, red-necked cardinal, or just cardinal, is a common bird in the Cardinalidae family.
It’s most common in central Canada, from Ontario to Quebec to New York, and west through Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras to southern Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.
In the wild, these birds can be seen foraging on aquatic insects and larva in dense forests on the upper slopes of steep cliffs or near lakes and rivers.
Sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, millet, and milo attract more Northern Cardinals to backyard feeders.
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