2016-2017 Ontario winter bird list

Yesterday marked the first day of winter listing, the period of time running from December 1 until February 28/29 (this season: December 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017). I will be compiling the winter bird list in Ontario again this year, the results of which can be viewed at here. I will also post regular updates on my blog periodically, and will link to the winter list from the "Ontario Winter Bird List" tab (found in the top column above the title of my most recent blog post).

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch at MacDiarmid, Thunder Bay District, Ontario (January 27, 2012)

Approximately 346 species of birds have been recorded in Ontario during the winter period, with usually between 195 and 220 species recorded in a given winter. Last winter 221 species were recorded - our second highest total after the 224 species reported in 2011-2012. Some of the highlights from last winter included Pink-footed Goose, Smew, Northern Fulmar, Great Cormorant,  Rufous Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cave Swallow, Bullock's Oriole and Eurasian Tree Sparrow.

Vermilion Flycatcher - Wallaceburg, Chatham-Kent, Ontario (December 19, 2015)

Just post your sightings to Ontbirds (if sufficiently rare), ebird.org or send me an email, and I will update the list accordingly and provide an update to Ontbirds every two weeks or so. That way you can check the list and inform me of any species that have been seen but are not present on the list.

We are off to a great start with the Crested Caracara in Michipicoten providing the first winter record for Ontario. Given the mild weather to start the period I think we have a really great chance of setting a new standard this winter.

Crested Caracara at Michipicoten, Algoma District, Ontario (November 30, 2016)