Great White Egret (Ardea alba)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I took the two photos, above and below, at few years ago at the expansive and well-known Luther Marsh, north-west of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada.  The Luther Marsh can be a bit of a hotspot in southern Ontario each year for Great Egrets.   

This elegant wader, with the a heavy yellow bill and black legs, can be found across the extreme lower reaches of Canada in summer and fall, and in eight or nine eastern U.S. states as well as  the eastern coastline of the U.S. from southern Canada, through Florida and down to Mexico, plus the coastlines of three western coast U.S states.

Egrets populations were decimated by hunting for their white feathers back about 1900, when their recovery was due largely thanks to the Audubon Society, a newly formed birding association at the time.

This bird is widely regarded as a form of the Great Blue Heron.

    

In the two photos above and below, A Great Blue Heron and and a Great White Egret encounter each other in a small pond in Aurora, Ontario, but the meeting quickly becomes a dispute.   In this encounter, the Great Blue Heron prevailed.

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BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

                                                                     Photos by BarrytheBirder

Swainson's Hawks are normally found throughout the west half of the U.S.A., as well as the southern edge of Canada's prairie provinces and the northern edge of Mexico.   The pictures featured here were taken far to the east of that normal range, in southern Ontario on the northern edge of Lake Ontario.   It was second year that the Swainson's were seen in this spot.  The first year, 2024, is was a mated pair that were seen.   In 2025, it was presumably the same mated pair that showed up, and went on to raise four young hawks of their own.     \

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BarrytheBirder

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Photo by BarrytheBirder

Common Tern

The Common Tern breeds from northern Alberta, Ontario and  Newfoundland, south to the Dakotas, Great Lakes (rare) and Gulf of St. Lawrence; as well as along the Atlantic Coast south to the Carolinas.  They winter in the tropics, rarely on the Gulf Cast.

Common Terns are medium-sized (14 1/2"), slender swallow-like tern with a blck cap and a deeply forked tail.   Their flight is swift and graceful.

They hover ands dive for small fish.

They nest  in large colonies on islands, beaches, sandbars, gravel banks, and occasionally marshes.   They lay their eggs in a simple scrape on open ground.  

They will vigorously attack predators and human intruders in their colonies, and may even strike with their bills!

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BarrytheBirder

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Male Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers of forest and woodlands; often visiting gardens and residential areas and parks, but less often than Downy Woodpeckers.   They are found coas-to-coast across lower Canada, all of the USA and upper Mexico.

Foraging mainly on trunks and large branches of of trees, they are mainly insectivore, with over 75% of their diet consisting of larvae from wood-boring beetles, bark beetles, ants, and moths.   They also consume spiders, caterpillars, and, in winter, rely heavily on backyard suet, sunflower seeds, peanuts and tree nuts.   They forage by hammering and excavating trees to find insects.

The Hairy is approximately 50% larger than the Downy Woodpecker (9 1/4" to 6 3/4").

Hairy female

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BarrytheBirder

Why are Nighthawks (Nightjars) called goatsuckers?

 
Photo: Humans & Nature

Nighthawks are nicknamed 'goatsuckers" due to an ancient, mistaken belief that they used their small, wide-mouthed beaks to suck milk from goats at night,   This myth, which established their scientific family name Caprimulgidae (Latin for "goat-milker"), originated because these birds were often seen flying around livestock to eat the insects attracted to them.

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BarrytheBirder

Owl species in North America...19

                                                                                   Photos by Barry the Birder

Hawk Owl

                              Snowy Owl

There are 19 regularly occurring species of owls in North America (specifically Canada and the U.S.A.), ranging from the tiny Elf Owl to the large Great Grey Owl.   These birds are found across various habitats, including forests, deserts and grasslands.

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BarrytheBirder

Last birds in the field guide...

 

Eurasian Siskin

Masked Tityra

My 'New' National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America, edited by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer has a section in the  back of the book entitled "Rarities from Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe".   This section of the 431-page guide lists 85 species of birds.   The very last bird shown is the Eurasian Siskin (pictured above).

The Eurasian Siskin is a palearctic species with about six records from northeastern North America, but the origin of these has been questioned, with a male photographed at Saint-Pierre and Miquelon on June 23, 1983, being perhaps the most compelling.   The male is distinctive with a black forecrown and chin, olive above, and extensive yellow below.

The most striking, in appearance (for me), of the 85 listed rarities, is the Masked Tityra.   It is common from northwestern and northeastern Mexico. There is one record from south Texas park in 1990.   Males are pale gray above and whitish below with contrasting black on face, most of wings and thick subterminal tail band.   Bare skin on face and base of thick bill is pinkish red.

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BarrytheBirder

Mouning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

(Photos by BarrytheBirder)

The Mourning Dove is the most common and widespread native dove in North America, even more so than the Rock Dove (common city pigeon).   I recently wrote a blog in which I picked my top 10 favourite birds, but the Mourning Dove was not among them.   However, I have always felt an affinity for the Mourning Dove.   There is something about its soft muted colouring and its slow mournful cooing.   Also when it takes flight, its wings make a fluttering whistling noise and its voice is a slow mournful cooing: "cooowah, cooo, coo, coooo".  

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BarrytheBirder

Are Mute Swan feathers special?

                                                                    Photos by BarrytheBirder

Mute Swan featers are special due to their immense quantity (approximately 25,000), incredible insulating density, and waterproofing capabilities that protect them in cold, aquatic environments.   The pure white plumage is actually quite thin compared to others, but they are ptrotected by a thick, soft down layer underneath.   They are alsohistorically significant  as the source of "pen quills".

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BarrytheBirder

3 New Species on Christmas Bird Count...

 The Winter 2026 Edition of BIRDWATCH CANADA has recently published the results of the 125th Christmas Bird Count, which tallied 284 species.

Three species were new to the all-time 'CBC' list, including...

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in Ontario

Photo: Brian Kulvete/ Macauley Library

Sage Thrasher in Saskatchewan

Photo: Bolsa Chica Land Trust

Steller's Sea Eagle in Newfoundland

Photo Source: Birdfoot

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BarrytheBirder

Snowy Owls on the Ravenshoe Sideroad......

Wikipedia photo

 I have tried all winter to get photos of Snowy Owls on the Ravenshoe Sideroad, south of Keswick, Ontario, with no success.   It is a perennial favourite spot with many birders in York Region to see "Snowies".   I recently net another birder on the Ravenshoe Sideroad who said he had not seen a Snowy there this winter also.

Below are photos of 'Snowies' I havwe photographed there in previous years...

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BarrytheBirder

Overall favourite birds of mine...

                                                                    Photos by Barry the Birder

Trumpeter Swan

I happened to be going through one of my field guides (National Geographic Society- Second Edition) recently and casually noted how many birds were my personal favorites.   I went back to the start of the guide and thumbed through the entire 464-page book.   I found myself picking 12 personal favourites:

1. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

2. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensus)

3. Common Loon (Gavia immer)

4. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

5. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

6. Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

7. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

8. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus)

9. Belted Kingfisher (Mega cerylealcyon)

10. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

11. Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

12. Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Great Horned Owl

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BarrytheBirder

Old Farmer's Almanac - birds of the month...

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

The Old Farmer's Almanac stated that certain bird species with their unique characteristics, were chosen to represent the 12 birth months of the year.  In colder northern regions, some associate December, my birth month, with hardy winter visitors like the Snow Buntings (one of my personal favourites), a species celebrated for its resilience and ability to thrive in extreme conditions.  But with its vivid red plumage standing out against bare branches and winter snow, the Northern Cardinal is a powerful symbol of vitality, warmth and loyalty.

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BarrytheBirder

Nature Canada - March, 2026 - Gadwall

Photo by Daniel Petterson / Macauley Library

Gadwall (Anas Strepera)

Gadwalls are found in southern Canada, across the U.S. and Mexico.   They are fairly common in the west, less common in the east.   Their widespread breeding range appears to be expanding eastward.   Males are mostly gray, with white belly, black tail coverts, pale chestnut on wings.

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BarrytheBirder

Common Loon (Gavia immer) should be Canada's officially designated bird

Photo by Christian Hagenlocher / Macauley Library

The Common Loon was adopted as the Official Bird of the Canadian Province of Ontario in 1994.   It was also designated the State Bird of Minnesota in 1961.   In my humble opinion, it should also be the 'Official Bird' of Canada.

It is found across Canada from British to Columbia to Newfoundland and north to parts of some the arctic islands in the breeding season.   It is found across the U.S.A in migration.   It is also found along the western North American coastlines from Alaska to Mexico and on the eastern North American coastlines from Labrador  to Mexico.

It is an extremely attractive and large bird - length 32' (81 cm).

If for no other reason, however, it is the call of the Common Loon that makes it my choice as Canada's national bird.   There is no other wild bird call like the Common Loon's inimitable loud yodel; the call that has mesmerized me, and countless others, on so many canoe trips in Ontario's Algonquin Park and elsewhere.

Their is no current national bird in Canada.   

In 2015, Canadian Geographic magazine announced a project to select a national bird for Canada.   Readers voted in an online poll for their favourite bird.   The top five selections were  the Common Loon and the Canada Jay, Snowy Owl, Canada Goose and Black-capped Chickadee.

The project's announced winner was the small, plain looking Canada Jay, a bird whose territory does not cover as much of Canada as the Common Loon.   Its organizers hoped for the Canadian government to formally recognize the choice, but the Department of Canadian Heritage said no new official symbol proposals were being considered at the time.   Eleven years later, there is still no officially designated Canadian national bird.

Hope springs in my heart eternally for the Common Loon!

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BarrytheBirder

Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

(Photo - Cornell Lab)

Male

Photo - BarrytheBirder)

Female

A day or so ago it was the Rose-breasted Grosbeak; today it is another attractive Grosbeak: The Evening Grosbeak.   Evening Grosbeaks are widely distributed in Canada, occurring as far west as the Pacific Coast, north to the Yukon Border, and east to the Atlantic Coast.

To begin with, the Evening Grosbeak is a finch, and one of the largest in Canada ( 60 gms. in weight and 20 cm. long ... about the same size as a tennis ball).

The male is quite distinctive, having a black head, upper back, tail and chest, blending seamlessly into a bright yellow lower back and underparts. The male also has a wide, bright yellow eyebrow.   Sexually dimorphic, males and females do not look alike.   Females have a somewhat glowing silver body combined with pale yellow on the nape and upper chest and white spotting on the wings and tail.   Both sexes have massive conical bills.

Canada's population of Evening Grosbeaks is roughly two-thirds of the North American population.

They eat a variety of seeds and fruit during winter months including Manitoba Maple keys, Pin Cherries, and vast amponts of sunflower seed, particularly from bird feeders.

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BarrytheBirder

Most numerous birds in Canada?

 
                                                                       Photo by BarrytheBirder

American Robin

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, American Robin and Red-winged Blackbird are among the most numerous birds in Canada, with populations often exceeding 100 million individuals during the breeding season, according to estimates based on Reddit data.   In terms of specific habitat, the Mallard is the most abundant and widespread duck. 

                                             Mallard

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BarrytheBirder

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Snow Bunting 

A circumpolar bird that breeds in northern Canada and northern Alaska, but winters south to Oregon and as far south as the Carolinas.   They area a common, hardy breeder of far northern tundra.   Plumage changes twice a year: once by molt, once by wear.

The breeding male is unmistakable.   Black and white wings are conspicuous in flight in both males and females year-round.   Kenn Kaufman cautions they can be confused with white albinos of other species.   They are gregarious and often flock with Horned Larks and longspurs in winter.   They feed on ground in open country.   

During winter and in migration, they are found on shores, especially sand dunes and beaches, in weedy fields, and grain stubble, along roadsides, often in large flocks with Lapland Longspurs and Horned Larks.

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BarrytheBirder

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)

 
Photo By Kemp Kemp

Long-tailed Ducks - Vancouver Island

The Long-tailed Duck ( formerly known as the Oldsquaw), is normally found in the low Arctic, in summer, and along Canada's west and east coasts (sometimes on the Great Lakes) in winter.

The ducks pictured above in Dave Kemp's photo, from Vancouver Island, are in winter plumage, but I'm not exactly sure whether they are male or female.  Long-tailed Ducks have very different summer and winter plumages.

'Long-Taileds' are unique ducks of cold waters, hence their normal summer habitat is in the far north of Canada.

Breeding males are blackish with white cheeks, flanks and rear ends.   In all plumages, males are recognizable by extremely long central tail feathers.

Dave Kemp is a British Columbia birder, stationed on Vancouver Island who occasionally shares his birding photos with me, which I sometimes use in my BarrytheBirder blogs.   Many thanks Dave.

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BarrytheBirder

Early spring on Vancouver Island?

                                                                              Photos by Dave Kemp

                                                                               Trumpeter Swans

                  Sunny Day on Comox Glacier 

               Belted Kingfisher

   Fresh snow on local mountain

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Barry Wallace

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

                                                                                                Photo by Ken Thomas

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill Cranes are very large, long-legged gray wading birds of open country and freshwater marshes.   They travel in large, noisy flocks with their melodious calls carrying for more than a mile.

They breed from northern Alaska and across Canada to Hudson's Bay.   They also migrate to the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes region.   They winter in central California and throughout the southwest to Texas, plus they are also resident in southern Florida.

My Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds says they give a long, hollow, rattling 'garooooooooooooooo'.   Apparently, flocks often call in flight, with a guturral crowing rattle.

Sandhills adults are gray overall, with a bare red patch on crown.   They are highly social and may occur quite localized, but be absent elsewhere.

Populations nesting in wetlands with iron-rich mud may appear reddish-brown in spring from oxidization of mud on feathers.

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BarrytheBirder

Birds Canada 2026 Calendar

Photo by Sarah Gardner

Tufted Titmouse (Parus bicolor)

The Tufted Titmouse pictured above is from the Birds Canada 2026 Calendar.   It is the featured bird for January, 2026.

Titmice are small hardy birds with short bills, short wings and drab plumage.  They are active and agile, often hanging upside down from twigs to feed, and they flock together when not nesting.

They are found around the southern Great Lakes, across the eastern U.S.A. and parts of eastern Mexico. 

They are common in deciduous woodlands, mesquite, parklands, and suburban areas where they are often found at feeders, where they are active and noisy.

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BarrytheBirder

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

 

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Red-breasted Nuthatches are found across lower Canada and throughout the U.S.   They favour dense conifers in the north  and the high mountains in summer, but are also found in other trees, especially in fall migration.

They are frequently quiet and tame.   In some years, large numbers move south and into lowlands in fall.

They have a typical head-down nuthatch behaviour, with a black eye stripe and white eyebrow.   They are buffy orange below and have blue-gray backs.

No backyard winter bird feeder is complete without friendly 'Red-breasteds'.

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BarrytheBirder