This list of birds of Ontario includes all the bird species recorded in the Canadian province of Ontario as determined by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC). As of July 2021 there were 508 species on this list, 291 of which are known to breed in the province. Ontario has a considerable variety of bird species. One of the factors in this diversity is the size and range of environments in Ontario. Another is the Great Lakes; many birds use the shores as a stopping point during migration.
The OBRC Checklist divides the province into the Lowlands, Central, and South review zones and requests documentation of sightings of birds which are rare or accidental in one, two, or all of the zones. Of the 508 species on the list, 177 are noted as rare anywhere in the province and another 108 are rare in one or two of the zones. Eight species have been introduced to North America. One species has been extirpated, one is extinct, and another might be.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 62nd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that Canadian English spellings are used and the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
The following codes are used to categorise some species:
(A) Accidental – a species that only occurs in Ontario as a rare vagrant
(B) Breeding – a species that currently breeds or has bred in Ontario
(E) Extinct – a recent species that no longer exists
(Ex) Extirpated – a species that no longer occurs in Ontario, but populations still exist elsewhere (I) Introduced – established solely as result of direct or indirect human intervention; synonymous with non-native and non-indigenous
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Black-bellied whistling duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (A) Fulvous whistling duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (A) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (B) Ross's goose, Anser rossii (B) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Tundra bean goose, Anser serrirostris (A) Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus (A) Brant, Branta bernicla Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis (A) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis (B) Mute swan, Cygnus olor (B) (I) Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (B) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (B) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (B) Garganey, Spatula querquedula (A) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (B) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (A) (B) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (B) Gadwall, Mareca strepera (B) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope American wigeon, Mareca americana (B) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos (B) American black duck, Anas rubripes (B) Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula (A) Northern pintail, Anas bahamensis (B) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (B) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (B) Redhead, Aythya americana (B) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (B) Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula (A) Greater scaup, Aythya marila (B) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (B) King eider, Somateria spectabilis (B) Common eider, Somateria mollissima (B) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata (B) White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (B) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (B) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (B) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (B) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (B) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Smew, Mergellus albellus (A) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (B) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (B) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator (B) Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (B)
New World quail
Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus (B)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies
Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
The Phasianidae is a family of birds which consists of pheasants, partridges, grouse, turkeys, and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.