Checklist of the Birds of the Greater Toronto Area

The Greater Toronto Area encompasses the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipalities of Halton, Peel, York and Durham and the corresponding Canadian waters of Lake Ontario. Since records have been kept, a total of 399 bird species has been recorded within this area and confirmed breeding evidence has been obtained for 195 of these species. Classification and Nomenclature follow the American Ornithologists’ Union Check–list of North American Birds, 7th Edition, 1998, and its 42nd–49th Supplements.

* denotes confirmed breeding species

(*) denotes confirmed historical breeding species (pre–1960)

Source: Toronto Ornithological Club Records Committee

Ducks, Geese & Swans | Partridges, Grouse & Turkeys | New World Quail | Loons | Grebes | Shearwaters & Petrels | Gannets | Pelicans | Cormorants | Herons & Bitterns | Ibises | Vultures | Hawks, Kites & Eagles | Caracaras & Falcons | Rails, Gallinules & Coots | Cranes | Plovers | Oystercatchers | Stilts & Avocets | Sandpipers & Phalaropes | Gulls, Terns & Skimmers | Skuas | Auks, Murres & Puffins | Pigoens & Doves | Cuckoos & Anis | Barn Owls | Typical Owls | Goatsuckers | Swifts | Hummingbirds | Kingfishers | Woodpeckers | Tyrant Flycatchers | Shrikes | Vireos | Crows & Jays | Larks | Swallows | Chickadees & Titmice | Nuthatches | Creepers | Wrens | Kinglets | Gnatcatchers | Thrushes | Mockingbirds & Thrashers | Starlings | Pipits | Waxwings | Wood–warblers | Tanagers | Emberizids | Cardinals & Allies | Blackbirds | Finches | Old World Sparrows

Fulvous Whistling–Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)

Greater White–fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)

Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii)

Brant (Branta bernicla)

Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)

*Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

*Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

*Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

*Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

*Gadwall (Anas strepera)

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)

*American Wigeon (Anas americana)

*American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)

*Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

*Blue–winged Teal (Anas discors)

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)

*Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

*Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

*Green–winged Teal (Anas crecca)

*Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

*Redhead (Aythya americana)

Ring–necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

*Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)

Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

White–winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)

Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra)

Long–tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)

*Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

*Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

*Red–breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

*Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

(*)Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix)

*Ring–necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

*Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis)

Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)

Greater Prairie–Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

*Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

(*)Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

Red–throated Loon (Gavia stellata)

Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)

*Common Loon (Gavia immer)

*Pied–billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

*Red–necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)

Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)

Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

Black–capped Petrel (Pterodroma hasitata)

Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis)

Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus)

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)

*Double–crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

*American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)

*Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)

*Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

*Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)

Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

*Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

*Black–crowned Night–Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Yellow–crowned Night–Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

White–faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

*Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

*Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Swallow–tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

*Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

*Sharp–shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

*Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

*Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

*Red–shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

*Broad–winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

*Red–tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

Rough–legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

*American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

*Merlin (Falco columbarius)

Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)

*Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)

*King Rail (Rallus elegans)

*Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)

*Sora (Porzana carolina)

Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)

*Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

*American Coot (Fulica americana)

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Whooping Crane (Grus americana)

Black–bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

American Golden–Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

(*)Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

*Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Black–necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

*Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Willet (Tringa semipalmata)

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

*Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda)

Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis)

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

Long–billed Curlew (Numenius americanus)

Black–tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)

Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)

Sanderling (Calidris alba)

Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

White–rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)

Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)

Buff–breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis)

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

Short–billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)

Long–billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

*Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)

*American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

*Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Red–necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)

Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)

Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea)

Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)

Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

*Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)

Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni)

Mew Gull (Larus canus)

*Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

*California Gull (Larus californicus)

*Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri)

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus)

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)

*Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)

*Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

*Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

*Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus)

Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

Long–tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus)

Dovekie (Alle alle)

Thick–billed Murre (Uria lomvia)

Razorbill (Alca torda)

Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle)

Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus)

*Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Band–tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)

Eurasian Collared–Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

White–winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

*Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

(*)Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) [Extinct]

*Yellow–billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

*Black–billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

*Eastern Screech–Owl (Megascops asio)

*Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

*Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa)

*Long–eared Owl (Asio otus)

*Short–eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)

*Northern Saw–whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)

*Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

Chuck–will’s–widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis)

*Whip–poor–will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

*Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)

*Ruby–throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

*Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

*Red–headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

*Red–bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

*Yellow–bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

*Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

*Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

American Three–toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis)

Black–backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)

*Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

*Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Olive–sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)

*Eastern Wood–Pewee (Contopus virens)

Yellow–bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)

*Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

*Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)

*Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)

*Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii)

*Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Ash–throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)

*Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius)

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

*Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Scissor–tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)

Fork–tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)

*Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

White–eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii)

*Yellow–throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

*Blue–headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)

*Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)

*Red–eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)

*Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Black–billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)

Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)

*American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

*Common Raven (Corvus corax)

*Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

*Purple Martin (Progne subis)

*Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

*Northern Rough–winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

*Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)

*Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva)

*Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

*Black–capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonica)

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

*Red–breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

*White–breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

*Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)

*Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)

*House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

*Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

*Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

*Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

*Golden–crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)

*Ruby–crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

*Blue–gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

Siberian Rubythroat (Luscinia calliope)

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

*Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)

*Veery (Catharus fuscescens)

Gray–cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)

Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

*Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

*Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

*American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius)

*Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

*Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

*Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

*European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)

Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)

*Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

*Blue–winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus)

*Golden–winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)

Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina)

Orange–crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)

*Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)

Northern Parula (Parula americana)

*Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

*Chestnut–sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica)

*Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia)

Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina)

*Black–throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens)

*Yellow–rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

Black–throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens)

*Black–throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens)

Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi)

Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis)

*Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca)

Yellow–throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica)

*Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus)

Kirtland’s Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii)

*Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)

Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)

Bay–breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea)

Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

*Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea)

*Black–and–white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

*American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

*Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

Worm–eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)

Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii)

*Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

*Northern Waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis)

*Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus motacilla)

Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)

Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis)

*Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia)

*Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

*Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)

Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)

*Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus)

*Yellow–breasted Chat (Icteria virens)

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

*Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

Green–tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)

*Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)

*Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

*Clay–colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

*Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

*Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)

(*)Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys)

*Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

*Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

*Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii)

(*)Le Conte’s Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii)

Nelson’s Sharp–tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni)

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

*Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

*Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

*Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

*White–throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)

White–crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Golden–crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)

*Dark–eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)

Chestnut–collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus)

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

*Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

*Rose–breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

*Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

*Dickcissel (Spiza americana)

*Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

*Red–winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

*Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

*Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

Yellow–headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

*Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

*Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

*Brown–headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

*Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

*Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)

Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)

*Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

*House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

*Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

*White–winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)

Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni)

*Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)

*American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

*Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

*House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)