Stacker compiled a list of the most common birds seen near feeders in Ontario using data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Project FeederWatch. Birds are ranked by the percent of sites visited from Feb 18-Mar 3. Ties are broken by the average group size when seen, any further ties were not broken. Data was collected at 1072 count sites in Ontario.
Project FeederWatch, a citizen science project where participants collect data on birds at their feeders, was founded in Ontario by Erica Dunn and the Long Point Bird Observatory in 1976. The project partnered with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology after 10 years to scale the project across the US and Canada and now has over 20,000 participants.
The data Project FeederWatch collects is used by scientists to understand trends in bird populations. If you would like to participate as a FeederWatcher you can learn more about the project here.
Read on to see which birds are most commonly seen in Ontario.
Canva
#42. Northern Shrike
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.0
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Quebec: 1%
--- #1. Ontario: 1%
--- #1. Manitoba: 1%
Canva
#41. Brown Creeper
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.05
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nova Scotia: 5%
--- #2. British Columbia: 3%
--- #3. New Brunswick: 2%
--- #3. Quebec: 2%
--- #3. Saskatchewan: 2%
Canva
#40. Canada Jay
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 1.85
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Alberta: 10%
--- #2. Manitoba: 6%
--- #2. Saskatchewan: 6%
--- #4. British Columbia: 3%
--- #5. New Brunswick: 2%
Canva
#39. Red-winged Blackbird
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 2.77
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 10%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 2%
--- #3. Ontario: 1%
Canva
#38. Cedar Waxwing
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 1%
- Average group size: 7.29
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Brunswick: 2%
--- #2. Ontario: 1%
Canva
#37. Northern Flicker
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.06
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 60%
--- #2. Alberta: 44%
--- #3. Newfoundland and Labrador: 38%
--- #4. Prince Edward Island: 17%
--- #5. Nova Scotia: 15%
Canva
#36. Red-tailed Hawk
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.08
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 2%
Canva
#35. White-crowned Sparrow
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.47
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 15%
--- #2. Ontario: 2%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 2%
Canva
#34. Song Sparrow
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.49
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 62%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 46%
--- #3. Prince Edward Island: 17%
--- #4. New Brunswick: 7%
--- #5. Quebec: 3%
Canva
#33. Tufted Titmouse
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.66
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Quebec: 8%
--- #2. Ontario: 2%
Canva
#32. Ruffed Grouse
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 1.93
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 8%
--- #1. Newfoundland and Labrador: 8%
--- #3. British Columbia: 5%
--- #3. Alberta: 5%
--- #5. Saskatchewan: 4%
Canva
#31. Wild Turkey
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 2%
- Average group size: 6.59
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Quebec: 3%
--- #2. Ontario: 2%
--- #3. British Columbia: 1%
Canva
#30. Purple Finch
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 2.01
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 9%
--- #1. Nova Scotia: 9%
--- #3. Manitoba: 8%
--- #3. Newfoundland and Labrador: 8%
--- #5. New Brunswick: 7%
Canva
#29. Brown-headed Cowbird
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 3.06
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 3%
Canva
#28. Pine Siskin
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 3.49
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Brunswick: 12%
--- #2. Quebec: 11%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 11%
--- #4. British Columbia: 9%
--- #5. Newfoundland and Labrador: 8%
Canva
#27. Common Redpoll
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 3%
- Average group size: 5.06
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Manitoba: 10%
--- #2. Prince Edward Island: 8%
--- #3. Quebec: 5%
--- #4. Ontario: 3%
--- #5. New Brunswick: 2%
Canva
#26. Common Raven
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.59
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 25%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 11%
--- #3. British Columbia: 7%
--- #4. Manitoba: 6%
--- #5. New Brunswick: 5%
Canva
#25. American Robin
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 4%
- Average group size: 1.98
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 23%
--- #2. Quebec: 5%
--- #3. Ontario: 4%
--- #4. New Brunswick: 2%
Canva
#24. Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.01
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Nova Scotia: 14%
--- #2. New Brunswick: 9%
--- #3. Newfoundland and Labrador: 8%
--- #4. Ontario: 5%
--- #5. British Columbia: 4%
Canva
#23. Carolina Wren
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.12
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 5%
--- #1. Quebec: 5%
Canva
#22. White-throated Sparrow
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 1.48
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Brunswick: 19%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 18%
--- #3. Quebec: 8%
--- #4. Ontario: 5%
--- #4. British Columbia: 5%
Canva
#21. Pine Grosbeak
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 5%
- Average group size: 6.7
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Manitoba: 19%
--- #2. Saskatchewan: 16%
--- #3. New Brunswick: 12%
--- #4. Quebec: 9%
--- #5. Newfoundland and Labrador: 8%
Canva
#20. Pileated Woodpecker
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 1.12
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Manitoba: 17%
--- #2. British Columbia: 13%
--- #3. Alberta: 8%
--- #4. Quebec: 6%
--- #4. Ontario: 6%
Canva
#19. Rock Pigeon
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 6%
- Average group size: 4.67
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Brunswick: 26%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 22%
--- #3. Newfoundland and Labrador: 8%
--- #3. Prince Edward Island: 8%
--- #5. Quebec: 7%
Canva
#18. Evening Grosbeak
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 8%
- Average group size: 8.95
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. New Brunswick: 42%
--- #2. Newfoundland and Labrador: 23%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 23%
--- #4. Saskatchewan: 20%
--- #5. Manitoba: 15%
Canva
#17. Cooper's Hawk
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 11%
- Average group size: 1.02
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 11%
--- #2. Quebec: 7%
--- #3. British Columbia: 5%
Canva
#16. American Crow
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 17%
- Average group size: 2.16
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 75%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 68%
--- #3. Newfoundland and Labrador: 62%
--- #4. New Brunswick: 30%
--- #5. British Columbia: 27%
Canva
#15. European Starling
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 24%
- Average group size: 4.17
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 67%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 62%
--- #3. New Brunswick: 37%
--- #4. British Columbia: 32%
--- #5. Ontario: 24%
Canva
#14. American Tree Sparrow
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 27%
- Average group size: 2.84
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 27%
--- #2. New Brunswick: 21%
--- #3. Quebec: 20%
--- #4. Nova Scotia: 15%
--- #5. Alberta: 3%
Canva
#13. Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 30%
- Average group size: 1.12
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 30%
--- #2. New Brunswick: 9%
--- #3. Prince Edward Island: 8%
--- #4. Nova Scotia: 6%
--- #5. Quebec: 5%
Canva
#12. House Finch
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 34%
- Average group size: 3.21
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. British Columbia: 50%
--- #2. Alberta: 35%
--- #3. Ontario: 34%
--- #4. Quebec: 27%
--- #5. Saskatchewan: 22%
Canva
#11. House Sparrow
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 37%
- Average group size: 6.81
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Saskatchewan: 68%
--- #2. Alberta: 57%
--- #3. Manitoba: 51%
--- #4. Ontario: 37%
--- #5. Quebec: 29%
Canva
#10. Hairy Woodpecker
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 44%
- Average group size: 1.38
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Manitoba: 68%
--- #2. New Brunswick: 58%
--- #3. Quebec: 55%
--- #4. Saskatchewan: 52%
--- #5. Nova Scotia: 45%
Canva
#9. Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 44%
- Average group size: 1.4
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Saskatchewan: 64%
--- #2. Alberta: 51%
--- #3. Manitoba: 44%
--- #3. Ontario: 44%
--- #5. British Columbia: 41%
Canva
#8. Blue Jay
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 53%
- Average group size: 2.78
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 100%
--- #2. Newfoundland and Labrador: 77%
--- #3. Nova Scotia: 75%
--- #4. Manitoba: 74%
--- #5. New Brunswick: 67%
Canva
#7. American Goldfinch
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 59%
- Average group size: 5.07
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 75%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 72%
--- #3. New Brunswick: 70%
--- #4. Newfoundland and Labrador: 69%
--- #5. Ontario: 59%
Canva
#6. White-breasted Nuthatch
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 63%
- Average group size: 1.37
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Quebec: 71%
--- #2. Manitoba: 63%
--- #2. Ontario: 63%
--- #4. Nova Scotia: 55%
--- #5. New Brunswick: 49%
Canva
#5. Mourning Dove
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 63%
- Average group size: 4.44
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 83%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 80%
--- #3. New Brunswick: 72%
--- #4. Ontario: 63%
--- #5. Quebec: 42%
Canva
#4. Northern Cardinal
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 69%
- Average group size: 2.19
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Ontario: 69%
--- #2. Quebec: 63%
--- #3. Nova Scotia: 49%
--- #4. New Brunswick: 44%
Canva
#3. Dark-eyed Junco
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 72%
- Average group size: 4.56
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Newfoundland and Labrador: 100%
--- #2. British Columbia: 92%
--- #3. Ontario: 72%
--- #4. Prince Edward Island: 67%
--- #5. Nova Scotia: 66%
Canva
#2. Downy Woodpecker
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 73%
- Average group size: 1.46
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Manitoba: 82%
--- #2. Quebec: 74%
--- #3. Ontario: 73%
--- #4. Alberta: 68%
--- #4. Nova Scotia: 68%
Canva
#1. Black-capped Chickadee
- Sites visited Feb 18-Mar 3: 87%
- Average group size: 3.27
- Provinces with the highest percent of sites visited
--- #1. Prince Edward Island: 100%
--- #2. Nova Scotia: 95%
--- #3. Manitoba: 94%
--- #4. New Brunswick: 93%
--- #5. Newfoundland and Labrador: 92%
