This species prefers cattail marshes. Your best bets are Point Pelee National Park, Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area and St. Clair National Wildlife Area
A stocky and well-camouflaged heron of dense reed beds, the American Bittern is difficult to see. Its far-carrying booming call is distinctive, but the bittern itself likes to keep under cover
Adult Description
Medium-sized, stocky heron.
Thick neck and bill.
Colored in brown, tan, and white stripes.
This small heron is often seen with its neck up stretched along the edges of cattail mats.
Immature Description
Similar to adult.
*Image and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Plump and long-tailed, American Tree Sparrows are busy visitors in winter backyards and weedy, snow-covered fields across southern Canada and the northern United States. Hopping up at bent weeds or even beating their wings to dislodge seeds from grass heads, they scratch and peck the ground in small flocks, trading soft, musical twitters. Come snowmelt, these small rusty-capped and smooth-breasted sparrows begin their long migrations to breeding grounds in the tundra of the far North.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
Once on the brink of extinction, this species has rebounded and now there are at least 10 active nest sites in Essex County. During migration, the hawk tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area is one of the best locations to watch this species. You’ll see both the local eagles and the migrants at this location.
Point Pelee National Park is another great location to see eagles, especially during the winter. Over-wintering eagles, from as far away as Newfoundland are often spotted sitting on the icy Tip of the park. In spring and summer the local eagles are often actively hunting and cruising through the park.
Hillman Marsh is also home to a pair of eagles – they nest just a little bit north of the marsh and the male is a frequent visitor, catching fish and returning to the nest.
Peche Island in Windsor is also a popular spot to view eagles, especially in winter when roosting numbers have been at least 40 individuals!
Size & Shape
The Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk. It has a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. In flight, a Bald Eagle holds its broad wings flat like a board.
Color Pattern
Adult Bald Eagles have white heads and tails with dark brown bodies and wings. Their legs and bills are bright yellow. Immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails; their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in varying amounts. Young birds attain adult plumage in about five years.
Behaviour
You’ll find Bald Eagles soaring high in the sky, flapping low over treetops with slow wingbeats, or perched in trees or on the ground. Bald Eagles scavenge many meals by harassing other birds or by eating carrion or garbage. They eat mainly fish, but also hunt mammals, gulls, and waterfowl.
Habitat
Look for Bald Eagles near lakes, reservoirs, rivers, marshes, and coasts. For a chance to see large Bald Eagle congregations, check out wildlife refuges or large bodies of water in winter over much of the continent, or fish processing plants and dumpsters year-round in coastal Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
Baltimore Oriole is a widespread species in Essex County in the spring and summer months. They breed in the area and are commonly seen in almost of the birding locations listed. Point Pelee National Park and Ojibway Park (especially around the feeders) are both excellent places to have an encounter with an oriole. Listen for their flute-like whistles some even think they sound like they are singing Mozart.
Size & Shape
Smaller and more slender than an American Robin, Baltimore Orioles are medium-sized, sturdy-bodied songbirds with thick necks and long legs. Look for their long, thick-based, pointed bills, a hallmark of the blackbird family they belong to.
Color Pattern
Adult males are flame-orange and black, with a solid-black head and one white bar on their black wings. Females and immature males are yellow-orange on the breast, grayish on the head and back, with two bold white wing bars.
Behaviour
Baltimore Orioles are more often heard than seen as they feed high in trees, searching leaves and small branches for insects, flowers, and fruit. You may also spot them lower down, plucking fruit from vines and bushes or sipping from hummingbird feeders. Watch for the male’s slow, fluttering flights between tree tops and listen for their characteristic wink or chatter calls.
Habitat
Look for Baltimore Orioles high in leafy deciduous trees, but not in deep forests: they’re found in open woodland, forest edge, orchards, and stands of trees along rivers, in parks, and in backyards.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Uncommon and elusive, the Black-billed Cuckoo skulks around densely wooded eastern forests and thickets. Its staccato song can be heard day and night, but getting a look at its slender brown body and namesake black bill may take a bit of patience. If it pops into view, notice its red eye ring and small white tips on the underside of its tail feathers. On the breeding grounds, this ardent caterpillar-eater makes quick work of tent caterpillars and webworms.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
A bird almost universally considered “cute” thanks to its oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity about everything, including humans. The chickadee’s black cap and bib; white cheeks; gray back, wings, and tail; and whitish underside with buffy sides are distinctive. Its habit of investigating people and everything else in its home territory, and quickness to discover bird feeders, make it one of the first birds most people learn.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Point Pelee National Park is one of the best locations in southern Ontario to see nesting Black Terns. From the comfort of the floating boardwalk, visitors have the unique experience of observing a Black Tern nest up close – but be careful not to get too close – the parents are very protective of their young.
A small dark, graceful tern of freshwater marshes, the Black Tern eats insects as well as fish.
Adult Description
Small, dark tern.
In breeding plumage dark head and chest and gray wings are distinctive.
In nonbreeding plumage, head and underside white, wings gray, and dark spot behind eye and dusky crown and nape.
Immature Description
Similar to nonbreeding adult, but with pale scaling on back.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This warbler is a fairly common migrant in Essex County in May, late August and September. They prefer more wooded areas and are often near the tops of the trees feeding on insects – look for the fiery orange throat on males and the paler orange throats on females in sharp contrast with the black and white patterning on the rest of the bird.
A bird of the coniferous forests of the Northeast, the Blackburnian Warbler is breathtaking in its brilliant orange-and-black breeding plumage.
Adult Description
Small songbird.
Brilliant orange throat.
Orange yellow eyebrow.
Small black face mask.
Broad white wingbars.
Male Description
Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Throat and upper breast deep orange. Sides of neck, eyestripe, line on forecrown, and eye arc yellow-orange. Face patch, crown, and back black. Lower breast yellowish with black streaks on sides. Belly white or yellowish. Wings black with broad white wingbars that run together into a white patch. Back black with two creamy white lines. Tail black with large white patches in outer tail feathers.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Similar to breeding, but oranges less intense and more yellow. Olive edges to black back feathers. Wingbars more distinct and less of a continuous white patch.
Female Description
Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Throat, upper breast, eyestripe, forecrown stripe, and sides of neck orange yellow. Crown, face patch, and flank streaks greenish gray. Back gray with dark and light streaking. Two broad white wingbars.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Similar to breeding, but more olive-brown above and with less white in the wing.
Immature Description
Immature similar to adult female. Immature male with more yellow throat, some black in eyeline, and more yellow onto flanks. Immature female much paler, with yellowish throat and eyeline, blurry streaking on sides, grayer face patch and crown, and narrower wingbars.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
This common, large songbird is familiar to many people, with its perky crest; blue, white, and black plumage; and noisy calls. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This mighty southern breeder is easily found at Point Pelee National Park from early May into the summer months. The Tip transit stop is a frequent breeding location. Look for this bird in scrubby edge habitat in birding areas in Essex County.
A tiny, long-tailed bird of deciduous forests and scrublands, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher makes itself known by its soft but emphatic “spee” calls and its constant motion. By flicking its white-edged tail from side to side, the gnatcatcher may scare up hiding insects.
Adult Description
Tiny bird.
Long tail.
Bluish gray back.
White underside.
White eye ring.
White outer tail feathers.
Small, thin bill.
No wing bars.
Male Description
Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Black line meeting over the bill and extending around head above the eyes to just behind the eyes. Crown and nape washed with bluish.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Crown and nape medium gray. Face all medium gray.
Female Description
Face all gray, with white eyering. Overall paler gray than male.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female, but wings slightly browner.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This bird is commonly seen along the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair shoreline for most of the year. When the lakes freeze up in winter, this gull will disappear and also for short chunks of time during the breeding season. Look for these birds resting on the Tip of Point Pelee National Park, the beach at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area and on the rocks and docks at Wheatley Harbour. Large flocks frequently fly past Point Pelee National Park and Holiday Beach Conservation Area during spring and fall migration.
A small, graceful gull with bright white patches in its wings, the Bonaparte’s Gull winters near people, but breeds in the isolated taiga and boreal forest.
Adult Description
Small gull.
White triangle in outer part of wing.
Back pale gray.
Under parts white.
Head black during breeding.
Dark spot behind eyes in winter.
Immature Description
Juvenile with much brown on head, neck, and back, a dark bar across the wing, and a black tail tip. Immature similar to nonbreeding adult, but with brownish black bar across the base of the wing, much black in the outer wing, and a black band across the tip of the tail. In first breeding plumage the black head is partly mottled with white.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
This species is a year-round resident in Essex County and sometimes the “tea kettle, tea kettle” song is heard on the coldest days in the winter.
In summer it can seem that every patch of woods in the eastern United States rings with the rolling song of the Carolina Wren. This shy bird can be hard to see, but it delivers an amazing number of decibels for its size. Follow its teakettle-teakettle! and other piercing exclamations through backyard or forest, and you may be rewarded with glimpses of this bird’s rich cinnamon plumage, white eyebrow stripe, and long, upward-cocked tail. This hardy bird has been wintering farther and farther north in recent decades.
Size & Shape
The Carolina Wren is a small but chunky bird with a round body and a long tail that it often cocks upward. The head is large with very little neck, and the distinctive bill marks it as a wren: long, slender, and down curved.
Color Pattern
Both males and females are a bright, unpatterned reddish-brown above and warm buffy-orange below, with a long white eyebrow stripe, dark bill, and white chin and throat.
Behaviour
The Carolina Wren creeps around vegetated areas and scoots up and down tree trunks in search of insects and fruit. It explores yards, garages, and woodpiles, sometimes nesting there. This wren often cocks its tail upward while foraging and holds it down when singing. Carolina Wrens defend their territories with constant singing; they aggressively scold and chase off intruders.
Habitat
Look—or listen—for Carolina Wrens singing or calling from dense vegetation in wooded areas, especially in forest ravines and neighbourhoods. These birds love to move low through tangled understory; they frequent backyard brush piles and areas choked with vines and bushes.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
As large as a big gull, the Caspian Tern is the largest tern in the world. Its large coral red bill makes it one of the most easily identified terns throughout its worldwide range.
Adult Description
Large, gull-like tern.
Black cap.
Body white.
Bill large, thick, and brilliant red with dark tip.
Immature Description
Juvenile has blackish crown, black edging to back feathers.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
A small bird of the deciduous forest treetops, the sky-blue Cerulean Warbler is hard to see. It nests and forages higher in the canopy than most other warblers.
Adult Description
Small warbler.
Two broad white wingbars.
Solidly colored back (sky-blue in male, blue-green in female) with stripes of same color down sides of white chest.
Male Description
Deep cerulean blue above. White throat and underparts. Blue streaking down sides of breast. Dark band across throat. Black stripe into eye, creating a blue eye stripe above. Faint black streaks on back.
Female Description
Bluish-green above. White washed with yellow below. White or yellowish line over eye. Dusky streaking down sides of breast. Two white wingbars. Back unstreaked.
Immature Description
Similar to female. Back gray-green to olive (female) or bluish gray washed with green (male). Prominent pale eye stripe. Dull whitish underparts. Dark ear coverts. Two white wingbars.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
Closely related to Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks are year-round residents in Essex County – if you have a hawk visiting your bird feeder, this is most likely the species. You can also see them migrate through the area in good numbers. Mid-September brings the start of Cooper’s Hike migration and they will continue in good numbers until mid-October. The hawk tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area offers a unique vantage point to view this species. You’ll see them moving over the trees tops and above the tower, with their distinctive “flap, flap, glide” flight pattern. The Tip of Point Pelee National Park, particularly during south winds, also offers the opportunity for a close up look of this medium-sized hawk.
Size & Shape
A medium-sized hawk with the classic accipiter shape: broad, rounded wings and a very long tail. In Cooper’s Hawks, the head often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded.
Color Pattern
Adults are steely blue-gray above with warm reddish bars on the underparts and thick dark bands on the tail. Juveniles are brown above and crisply streaked with brown on the upper breast, giving them a somewhat hooded look compared with young Sharp-shinned Hawks’ more diffuse streaking.
Behaviour
Look for Cooper’s Hawks to fly with a flap-flap-glide pattern typical of accipiters. Even when crossing large open areas they rarely flap continuously. Another attack maneuver is to fly fast and low to the ground, then up and over an obstruction to surprise prey on the other side.
Habitat
Wooded habitats from deep forests to leafy subdivisions and backyards.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Check in any scrubby habitat around Essex County and you have a good chance of coming across an Eastern Towhee. In particular, check the feeders at Ojibway Nature Centre and the habitat along the West Beach Footpath at Point Pelee National Park. Listen for the distinctive “drink your tea” and look for birds scratching on the ground.
A strikingly marked, oversized sparrow of the East, feathered in bold black and warm reddish-browns – if you can get a clear look at it. Eastern Towhees are birds of the undergrowth, where their rummaging makes far more noise than you would expect for their size. Their chewink calls let you know how common they are, but many of your sightings end up mere glimpses through tangles of little stems.
Size & Shape
Towhees are a kind of large sparrow. Look for their thick, triangular, seed-cracking bill as a tip-off they’re in the sparrow family. Also notice the chunky body and long, rounded tail.
Color Pattern
Males are striking: bold sooty black above and on the breast, with warm rufous sides and white on the belly. Females have the same pattern, but are rich brown where the males are black.
Behaviour
Eastern Towhees spend most of their time on the ground, scratching at leaves using both feet at the same time, in a kind of backwards hop. They spend lots of time concealed beneath thick underbrush. You may see this bird more often when it climbs into shrubs and low trees to sing.
Habitat
Look for Eastern Towhees in brush, tangles, thickets, and along forest edges where there’s plenty of leaf litter for the birds to forage in.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a gopher. In flight, look for this widespread heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing out behind.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
The elegant Great Egret is a dazzling sight in many a North American wetland. Slightly smaller and more svelte than a Great Blue Heron, these are still large birds with impressive wingspans. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great Egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
The east and west shorelines of the Point Pelee Peninsula, as well as the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, in early spring and late fall are the best locations to view large numbers of Greater Scaup. If the water on the lake stays open into December, concentrations in the tens of thousands are not unheard of and once the lake freezes, the Detroit River can also be home to large numbers of this species. This species is a diving duck and often is found eating zebra mussels, which has been attributed to the large concentrations in this area.
The Greater Scaup is found primarily along the seacoast and on large bodies of water. Unlike its look-alike relative the Lesser Scaup, the Greater Scaup is found across Eurasia as well as North America.
Adult Description
Medium-sized diving duck.
Rounded head.
Bill bluish with black tip.
Male with black head, chest, and rear end, and gray sides (black on the ends and white in the middle).
Female dull brown, with white patch on face at base of bill.
Male Description
Breeding Plumage: Head, neck, upper back, and breast black; head with greenish iridescence. Back white to gray, covered with thin, black wavy lines. Rump black. Belly white. Sides white, with some fine dark streaks. Undertail black.
Non-breeding Plumage: Similar to female, but with only a few white feathers on face instead of a large white patch. Head and neck blackish brown, lighter on cheeks and chin. Breast dark with some white edging to feathers. Back brown with white edges to feathers. Underparts mottled brownish and white. Tail dark grayish.
Female Description
White area at base of bill. Head and neck dark brown with some light mottling. Back darkish brown with white flecks. Breast buffy brown. Belly whitish. Sides and flanks brown. Tail dark brown.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This small heron is found in many of the wetlands of Essex County. They often pick marshes close to wooded areas. A walk along the DeLaurier Trail at Point Pelee National Park in spring is a great place to catch a glimpse of this breeding species and keep your eyes open in the marsh surrounding the hawk tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area, they are often spotted amongst the cattails in the fall. Other sure bets are around the Ojibway Nature Centre, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area and St Clair National Wildlife Area.
A small, stocky wading bird, the Green Heron is common in wet spots across much of North America. It can be difficult to see as it stands motionless waiting for small fish to approach within striking range, but it frequently announces its presence by its loud squawking.
Adult Description
Small, dark heron.
Long yellowish legs.
Long, dark, pointed bill.
Long neck often kept pulled in tight to body.
Legs and neck long, but shorter than most herons.
Immature Description
Striped brownish on neck and chest. Back brownish with buffy spots.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
This species is the rarest sparrow species in Ontario. With as few a 2-3 nesting pairs left in the province, this is an extremely rare migrant in Essex County. Point Pelee National Park is the best place to try and find this bird. In mid-late April and early May, check out the restored savannah sites in the park for this secretive sparrow. They often scurry along the ground like a mouse and their olive green plumage helps them to blend into the early spring vegetation.
An uncommon and famously inconspicuous bird, the Henslow’s Sparrow breeds in weedy grasslands of the east-central United States. Its population numbers have declined steadily over the past few decades, largely because of habitat loss.
Adult Description
Small songbird.
Mostly brownish, with sparsely streaked breast.
Large head.
Short tail.
Immature Description
Juvenile similar to adult, but with more indistinct markings on head and without streaking across chest.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
A striking small bird of eastern hardwood forests, the Hooded Warbler prefers forests with some shrub understory. A favourite warbler amongst many birders, Point Pelee National Park is a sure bet to find this species, most often in the first week in May. Look for this bird in the lower levels of the forest or on the forest floor. They habitually flick their tails open and shut, showing off their white tails spots – a behaviour that is easily glimpsed with the limited vegetation at this time of the year. They are often found at this time of year in other wooded areas in the county, including Ojibway Park, Kopegaren Woods, Wheatley Provincial Park, amongst others.
Adult Description
Small songbird.
Entirely yellow.
Back olive green.
Face yellow.
Male with black hood and bib.
Large white spots in tail.
Immature Description
Immature like adult, but with less black.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This bird is widespread through the county. They arrive in May and stick around throughout the summer months. Look for places that you find goldfinches and you’ll like find Indigo Buntings as well. Sure bets are Point Pelee National Park, Ojibway Park, Holiday Beach Conservation Area and Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.
The all-blue male Indigo Bunting sings with cheerful gusto and looks like a scrap of sky with wings. Sometimes nicknamed “blue canaries,” these brilliantly colored yet common and widespread birds whistle their bouncy songs through the late spring and summer all over eastern North America. Look for Indigo Buntings in weedy fields and shrubby areas near trees, singing from dawn to dusk atop the tallest perch in sight or foraging for seeds and insects in low vegetation.
Size & Shape
Indigo Buntings are small (roughly sparrow-sized), stocky birds with short tails and short, thick, conical bills. In flight, the birds appear plump with short, rounded tails.
Color Pattern
A breeding male Indigo Bunting is blue all over, with slightly richer blue on his head and a shiny, silver-gray bill. Females are basically brown, with faint streaking on the breast, a whitish throat, and sometimes a touch of blue on the wings, tail, or rump. Immature males are patchy blue and brown.
Behaviour
Male Indigo Buntings sing from treetops, shrubs, and telephone lines all summer. This species eats insects, seeds, and berries, and can be attracted to backyards with thistle or nyjer seed. While perching, they often swish their tails from side to side. Fairly solitary during breeding season, Indigo Buntings form large flocks during migration and on their wintering grounds.
Habitat
Look for Indigo Buntings in weedy and brushy areas, especially where fields meet forests. They love edges, hedgerows, overgrown patches, and brushy roadsides. When not singing from the tallest perches in the area, they can often be seen foraging among seed-laden shrubs and grasses.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
A tiny heron, furtive and surpassingly well camouflaged, the Least Bittern is one of the most difficult North American marsh birds to spot. Despite its inconspicuousness, however, the species can be rather common within appropriate habitat in its breeding range.
Adult Description
Tiny heron.
Long neck.
Long bill.
Crown and back black or dark brownish.
Neck and sides warm orange-brown.
Front of neck and chest striped orange and white.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female, with paler and browner crown.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Two scaup species live in North America: the Greater Scaup prefers salt water and is found in America and Eurasia, while the Lesser Scaup prefers freshwater and is found only in North America. The Lesser Scaup is one of the most abundant and widespread of the diving ducks in North America Appearance.
The east and west shorelines of the Point Pelee Peninsula, as well as the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, in early spring and late fall are the best locations to view large numbers of Lesser Scaup. If the water on the lake stays open into December, concentrations in the tens of thousands are not unheard of and once the lake freezes, the Detroit River can also be home to large numbers of this species. This species is a diving duck and often is found eating zebra mussels, which has been attributed to the large concentrations in this area.
Adult Description
Medium-sized diving duck.
Slight bump or peak on back of head.
Bill bluish with small black tip.
Male with black head, chest, and rear end, and gray sides (black on the ends and white in the middle).
Male Description
Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Head, neck, upper back, and breast black; head with purplish iridescence. Back white, covered with thin, black wavy lines. Rump black. Belly white. Sides white, with some fine dark streaks. Undertail black.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Similar to female, but with only a few white feathers on face instead of a large white patch. Head and neck blackish brown. Breast dark with some white edging to feathers. Back brown with white edges to feathers. Underparts mottled brownish and white. Tail dark grayish.
Female Description
White area at base of bill. Head and neck dark brown with some light mottling. Back darkish brown with white flecks. Breast buffy brown. Belly whitish. Sides and flanks brown. Tail dark brown.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Even though this species is small, this falcon is one of the most powerful hunters we see during migration. Common in early to mid September, look for this small falcon zipping along the treetops often catching small birds, like goldfinches in the air. Merlins are regularly seen from the hawk tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area and are a daily occurrence at the beginning of September at Point Pelee National Park. They favour resting in the tops of dead ash trees at the Tip…
Adult Description
Small hawk.
Long, pointed wings.
Long, banded tail.
Faint mustache mark.
Brown streaking on chest and belly.
Back unmarked gray or brown.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. They’re a perfect combination of familiarity, conspicuousness, and style: a shade of red you can’t take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and warm red accents. Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards. In summer, their sweet whistles are one of the first sounds of the morning.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
A small warbler of the upper canopy, the Northern Parula can be found in two rather distinct populations. The southern population nests primarily in hanging Spanish moss, while the northern population uses the similar-looking old man’s beard lichen.
Abundant during spring migration, this species is often heard before seen. They prefer the tops of large trees and can be found in most forested areas in Essex County during May. One year at Point Pelee National Park, more than 100 individuals were recorded on a short section of trail along the west side of the park.
Adult Description
Small songbird.
Blue-gray hood and wings.
Yellow chest with black and reddish band across it.
White crescents above and below eyes.
Green back.
Two white wingbars.
Immature Description
Similar to female, but more green on upper parts.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
The smallest North American oriole, the Orchard Oriole is found nesting in shade trees along streams, rivers and lakes, and on farms and parklands. The rich chestnut color of the adult male can be so dark that he may appear all black before you get your binoculars on him.
Orchard Orioles are a southern breeder, found in few locations in Ontario. They are regular nesters at Point Pelee National Park and often a walk around the Visitor Centre will yield many sightings of this species.
Adult Description
Small oriole, medium-sized songbird.
Long tail.
Thin, pointed bill.
Wingbars.
Adult male deep brick red with all-black head, back, and tail.
Female and yearling male yellow-green, male with black bib.
Male Description
Head all black.
Tail, back, and most of wings black.
Breast, belly, rump, and shoulder dark chestnut.
One thin white wingbar; other wing feathers edged in white.
Female Description
Bright greenish yellow below.
Olive-green above.
Wings brownish with two narrow white wingbars.
Immature Description
Similar to adult female.
First-year male yellow like female but with black throat patch and occasionally some chestnut feathers on body.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
Until recently, this species was only seen during spring and fall migration in Essex County, There is now a breeding pair found along River Canard.
The marsh at Holiday Beach Conservation Area provides a perfect stop-over spot for this species. Since they are exclusively fish eaters, the wetland provides them with an excellent spot to stop and feed. So good that some birds will spend several weeks on site during September enjoying the local food. September is the best month to view them during fall migration and they return through the area again in May. Point Pelee National Park and Hillman Marsh Conservation Area also provide habitat for viewing opportunities.
Size & Shape
Ospreys are very large, distinctively shaped hawks. Despite their size, their bodies are slender, with long, narrow wings and long legs. Ospreys fly with a marked kink in their wings, making an M-shape when seen from below.
Color Pattern
Ospreys are brown above and white below, and overall they are whiter than most raptors. From below, the wings are mostly white with a prominent dark patch at the wrists. The head is white with a broad brown stripe through the eye. Juveniles have white spots on the back and buffy shading on the breast.
Behaviour
Ospreys search for fish by flying on steady wingbeats and bowed wings or circling high in the sky over relatively shallow water. They often hover briefly before diving, feet first, to grab a fish. You can often clearly see an Osprey’s catch in its talons as the bird carries it back to a nest or perch.
Habitat
Look for Ospreys around nearly any body of water: saltmarshes, rivers, ponds, reservoirs, estuaries, and even coral reefs. Their conspicuous stick nests are placed in the open on poles, channel markers, and dead trees, often over water.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Once listed as an endangered species in Canada, Peregrine Falcons have rebounded from the brink of extinction and have be delisted as a Species at Risk. The City of Windsor is home to a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons, making their home on the Ambassador Bridge.
During the first week in October, you are likely to see Peregrine Falcons migrating through the area. Since this species is not bothered by open water, you’ll often see them crossing the lake at Point Pelee National Park and Holiday Beach Conservation Area.
This powerful bird is a spectacular size, especially when in pursuit of prey. You’ll often find siblings from the same nest migrating together and hunting in tandem.
Size & Shape
A medium-sized hawk with the classic accipiter shape: broad, rounded wings and a very long tail. In Cooper’s Hawks, the head often appears large, the shoulders broad, and the tail rounded.
Color Pattern
Adults are steely blue-gray above with warm reddish bars on the under parts and thick dark bands on the tail. Juveniles are brown above and crisply streaked with brown on the upper breast, giving them a somewhat hooded look compared with young Sharp-shinned Hawks’ more diffuse streaking.
Behaviour
Look for Cooper’s Hawks to fly with a flap-flap-glide pattern typical of accipiters. Even when crossing large open areas they rarely flap continuously. Another attack maneuver is to fly fast and low to the ground, then up and over an obstruction to surprise prey on the other side.
Habitat
Wooded habitats from deep forests to leafy subdivisions and backyards.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
The brilliant Prothonotary Warbler bounces along branches like a golden flashlight in the dim understory of swampy woodlands. This golden ray of light is unique among warblers with its beady black eye and blue-gray wings. It is also one of two warblers that build their nests in holes in standing dead trees. Often called a “swamp warbler” in the southeast, it also occurs surprisingly far to the north along rivers. Its population is declining, due to loss of forested wetlands in the U.S. and mangroves on its wintering grounds.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
A large diving duck with a long thin bill, the Red-breasted Merganser is found in large lakes, rivers and the ocean. It prefers salt water more than the other two species of merganser.
Point Pelee National Park is well known for large concentrations of Red-breasted Mergansers, numbering in the tens of thousands in both spring and fall migration. The best viewing area is from the Tip. The Red-breasted Merganser can usually be found from late fall to late spring in areas where there is open water.
Adult Description
Large, thin diving duck.
Long, thin, orange to red-orange bill.
Shaggy crest on back of head.
White patches in wing visible in flight.
Male with gray sides, dark reddish chest, white neck, and iridescent green head.
Male Description
Breeding (Alternate) Plumage: Head iridescent greenish black. Neck white. Chest deep rusty speckled with black. Back dark with long white patch along wings. Tail gray. Outer part of wings black. Bill scarlet-orange. Eyes red.
Nonbreeding (Basic) Plumage: Head rusty brown with long, ragged double crest. Chin pale or gray. Breast, back, wings and tail slaty gray. Belly and flanks white. Bill scarlet-orange. White patch in wing visible in flight. Like female, except has less white on chin, darker back, and wing with larger white patch.
Female Description
Head rusty brown with long, ragged, double crest. Chin dark or pale, gradually merging with chest color. Breast, back, wings and tail slaty gray. Belly and flanks white. Bill scarlet-orange. White patch in wing visible in flight.
Immature Description
Immature resembles adult female.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Red-headed Woodpeckers are rare breeders in the county. They nest in locations like Point Pelee National Park and the area nearby. They are frequently seen at the Tip of the park during spring migration. A walk along the waterfront between the Leamington Marina and the ferry dock is a great place to look for this species in the summer, as they nest in some of the dead trees along the walkway.
The gorgeous Red-headed Woodpecker is so boldly patterned it’s been called a “flying checkerboard,” with an entirely crimson head, a snow-white body, and half white, half inky black wings. These birds don’t act quite like most other woodpeckers: they’re adept at catching insects in the air, and they eat lots of acorns and beech nuts, often hiding away extra food in tree crevices for later. This magnificent species has declined severely in the past half-century because of habitat loss and changes to its food supply.
Size & Shape
Red-headed Woodpeckers are medium-sized woodpeckers with fairly large, rounded heads, short, stiff tails, and powerful, spike-like bills.
Color Pattern
Adults have bright-red heads, white under parts, and black backs with large white patches in the wings, making the lower back appear all white when perched. Immatures have gray-brown heads, and the white wing patches show rows of black spots near the trailing edge.
Behaviour
In addition to catching insects by the normal woodpecker method of hammering at wood, Red-headed Woodpeckers also catch insects in flight and hunt for them on the ground. They also eat considerable amounts of fruit and seeds. Their raspy calls are shriller and scratchier than the Red-bellied Woodpecker’s.
Habitat
Red-headed Woodpeckers live in pine savannahs and other open forests with clear understories. Open pine plantations, tree rows in agricultural areas, and standing timber in beaver swamps and other wetlands all attract Red-headed Woodpeckers.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This species is quite common during spring and fall migration and some individuals breed in Essex County. They are often seen around bird feeders, especially ones serving up sunflower seeds. Just about any woodlot in the county will have this species during spring migration. The feeders at Ojibway Park are a great place to have close-up looks in May.
Bursting with black, white, and rose-red, male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are like an exclamation mark at your bird feeder or in your binoculars. Females and immatures are streaked brown and white with a bold face pattern and enormous bill. Look for these birds in forest edges and woodlands. Listen, too, for their distinctive voices. They sound like American Robins, but listen for an extra sweetness, as if the bird had operatic training; they also make a sharp chink like the squeak of a sneaker.
Size & Shape
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are stocky, medium-sized songbirds with very large triangular bills. They are broad-chested, with a short neck and a medium-length, squared tail.
Color Pattern
Adult males are black-and-white birds with a brilliant red chevron extending from the black throat down the middle of the breast. Females and immatures are brown and heavily streaked, with a bold whitish stripe over the eye. Males flash pink-red under the wings; females flash yellowish. Both sexes show white patches in the wings and tail.
Behaviour
These chunky birds use their stout bills to eat seeds, fruit, and insects. They are also frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders, where they eat sunflower seeds with abandon. The sweet, rambling song of a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a familiar voice of eastern forests; their sharp “chink” calls are also very distinctive.
Habitat
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks breed in eastern forests; you can find them among both deciduous trees and conifers. They are most common in regenerating woodlands and often concentrate along forest edges and in parks. During migration, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks frequent fruiting trees to help fuel their flights to Central and South America.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
This species often associates with Sanderling, so take a look along any beach in Essex County in spring and fall and you may also find a Ruddy Turnstone. They are often spotted on the tip of Point Pelee National Park, Fish Point and Hillman Marsh Conservation Area (in the shorebird cell) and sometimes on rock breakwalls, like the one found at Wheatley Harbour.
A stocky, brightly patterned shorebird, the Ruddy Turnstone can be seen actively pecking, probing, and flipping over stones along rocky shores.
Adult Description
Stocky, medium-sized shorebird.
Short, dark bill fairly thick with a slight upturn.
Short, orange legs.
Black-and-white (or gray) clown-like pattern on face.
Bold white-and-dark wing pattern visible in flight.
White lower back.
White tail with black terminal band.
Bright reddish sides in breeding plumage.
Immature Description
Resembles winter adult, but slightly more brownish overall with paler head.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Anywhere there is beach habitat in Essex County, you are likely to find sanderling during migration. In May and then again in August and September, you’ll see these small sandpipers scurrying along the shoreline, looking for food. This species tends not be afraid of people, so if you stay in one location, they will often approach quite close to you.
The Sanderling is most commonly seen in flocks chasing receding waves on ocean beaches, and running away from them when they return. It breeds in the high Arctic and winters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts from Canada to Argentina.
Adult Description
Small pale sandpiper.
Broad white wingstripe bordered in black, visible in flight.
Immature Description
Juvenile similar to nonbreeding adult, but mottled black and white on back. Usually with buffy patch on sides of breast, streaked with fine black markings.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This colourful songbird is found in most forested areas in Essex County during spring migration. The bold red and black patterning of the male is unmistakable. The Scarlet Tanager’s song is described as a robin with a sore throat – so if you hear a husky robin sound, take a look around for a flash of red.
Male Scarlet Tanagers are among the most blindingly gorgeous birds in an eastern forest in summer, with blood-red bodies set off by jet-black wings and tail. They’re also one of the most frustratingly hard to find as they stay high in the forest canopy singing rich, burry songs. The yellowish-green, dark-winged females can be even harder to spot until you key in on this bird’s chick-burr call note. In fall, males trade red feathers for yellow-green and the birds take off for northern South America.
Size & Shape
Scarlet Tanagers are medium-sized songbirds with fairly stocky proportions. They have thick, rounded bills suitable both for catching insects and eating fruit. The head is fairly large and the tail is somewhat short and broad.
Color Pattern
In spring and summer, adult males are an unmistakable, brilliant red with black wings and tails. Females and fall immatures are olive-yellow with darker olive wings and tails. After breeding, adult males molt to female-like plumage, but with black wings and tail.
Behaviour
Primarily insectivorous during the summer, Scarlet Tanagers also eat fruit during migration and on the wintering grounds. They spend much of their time skulking among the wide leaves of deciduous trees in the forest canopy, where they are hard to see. They sing a burry, rambling song and give a distinctive, harsh chick-burr call.
Habitat
Scarlet Tanagers breed in deciduous and mixed deciduous-evergreen forests in eastern North America. They are somewhat sensitive to habitat fragmentation, so look for them in large, undisturbed tracts of forest. During migration, they move through a broader variety of forest and shrubby habitats, as well as backyards.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
Sharp-shinned hawks can be seen in Essex County almost every month of the year, though no month is better than September, when they move through the area in tremendous numbers. The hawk tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area during September offers a unique vantage point to view this species. You’ll see them moving over the trees tops and above the tower, with their distinctive “flap, flap, glide” flight pattern. The Tip of Point Pelee National Park, particularly during south winds, also offer the opportunity for a close up look of this small hawk.
Size & Shape
Sharp-shinned Hawks are small, long-tailed hawks with short, rounded wings. They have small heads that in flight do not always project beyond the “wrists” of the wings. The tail tends to be square-tipped and may show a notch at the tip. Females are considerably larger than males.
Color Pattern
Adults are slate blue-gray above, with narrow, horizontal red-orange bars on the breast. Immature birds are mostly brown, with coarse vertical streaks on white underparts. Adults and young have broad dark bands across their long tails.
Behaviour
Sharp-shinned Hawks are agile fliers that speed through dense woods to surprise their prey, typically songbirds. They do not stoop on prey from high overhead. They may also pounce from low perches. When flying across open areas they have a distinctive flap-and-glide flight style.
Habitat
Sharp-shinned Hawks breed in deep forests. During migration, look for them in open habitats or high in the sky, migrating along ridgelines. During the nonbreeding season they hunt small birds and mammals along forest edges and sometimes at backyard bird feeders, causing a wave of high-pitched alarm calls among the gathered songbirds.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This species often overshoots its migration and is frequently on Pelee Island, at Point Pelee National Park, Ojibway Park and Kopegaren Woods. Immatures males, with their mix of lime green and red feathers are most often the individuals spotted. Summer Tanagers like to eat bees, so if you can find a tree with an active bee hive, you’ll often find this species feasting on insects. This species is also commonly noted in “reverse” migration events at Point Pelee National Park and on Pelee Island. Some birds make adjustments after landing and will be seen leaving the Tip of the park and Fish Point on Pelee Island.
The only entirely red bird in North America, the Summer Tanager is a bird of southern forests. It specializes in eating bees and wasps, both in the summer and on its wintering grounds in Central and South America.
Adult Description
Medium-sized songbird.
Male entirely red; female dull yellow.
Male Description
Entirely bright red. Wings slightly darker or more gray, especially in winter (Basic Plumage).
Female Description
Upper parts plain yellowish olive green. Brighter yellow on crown and rump. Underparts dull yellow, with olive green wash on sides. Wing feathers grayish brown with yellow edging. Some females have red feathers. The red may be as a wash on body feathers, splotches of red feathers, or, rarely, the bird may be entirely red.
Immature Description
Immature resembles adult female. First spring male with variable amount of red and yellow feathers; may have only a few red feathers on head, or may be entirely red except for the wing feathers.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
If you’ve gone looking for raptors on a clear day, your heart has probably leaped at the sight of a large, soaring bird in the distance– perhaps an eagle or osprey. But if it’s soaring with its wings raised in a V and making wobbly circles, it’s likely a Turkey Vulture. These birds ride thermals in the sky and use their keen sense of smell to find fresh carcasses. They are a consummate scavenger, cleaning up the countryside one bite of their sharply hooked bill at a time, and never mussing a feather on their bald heads.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
The Tufted Titmouse is the official bird of the City of Windsor. Part of the tit and chickadee family, it is a unique songbird with strong ties to oak woodland and oak savanna. As such, Windsor is one of the few places in Canada that this very social and vocal bird can call home. They make their nests in natural holes and cavities left by woodpeckers. The Tufted Titmouse can be found in the oak woodland natural areas that are unique to Windsor, including the Ojibway Prairie Complex.
Photo courtesy of Tom Preney
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This secretive species is found breeding in large marshes in Essex County. Best bets are Point Pelee National Park, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area and Holiday Beach Conservation Area. Mostly nocturnal, this species starts calling at dusk and sounds like two rocks being knocked together.
A secretive bird of freshwater marshes, the Virginia Rail most often remains hidden in dense vegetation. It possesses many adaptations for moving through its habitat, including a laterally compressed body, long toes, and flexible vertebrae.
Adult Description
Small, chicken-like marsh bird.
Compact body.
Short tail.
Strong legs.
Rufous throat and breast.
Gray cheeks.
Long, slightly curved red bill.
Immature Description
Downy chick black. Juvenile dull blackish brown on upper parts, with some rufous feather edges. Under parts densely marked with dark brown or blackish, face grayish brown, bill and legs dusky brownish.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
This species is often seen in the wooded birding areas in Essex County during spring migration. Yellow-billed Cuckoos can be elusive and unlike other songbirds, are not in constant motion. Cuckoos are known for sitting very still in the trees. The bold black and white spotting in the tail is distinctive and often how birders pick out this species in the foliage.
Any of the forested locations with Black Walnut and Willows are great places to look for this species during the breeding season. These species of trees often attract caterpillars, a favourite food of cuckoos. At Point Pelee National Park, check the willows trees edging the marsh near the observation tower and along the north section of DeLaurier Trail. Listen for their distinct “kaw, kaw, kaw” call – they can be elusive and are often best found using song.
A common, but slow-moving and secretive denizen of woodlands, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo eats large quantities of hairy caterpillars. Its loud call is heard far more frequently than the bird is actually seen.
Adult Description
Slender, medium-sized bird.
Long tail with large white spots along edges.
Dull brown back.
Underside whitish.
Bill black above, with yellow lower mandible.
Rufous in wings.
Immature Description
Resembles adult, but with less distinct tail pattern.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
This southern breeder is found in few locations in Ontario. Point Pelee National Park and Pelee Island are both home to this nesting species. They usually arrive in early May and quite quickly set up territories. They prefer shrubby habitat, look around Fish Point on the Island and in the restored savannah areas at Point Pelee National Park.
Despite its bright yellow chest, loud song, and conspicuous display flights, the Yellow-breasted Chat is easily overlooked because of its skulking nature and the denseness of its brushy haunts.
Adult Description
Medium-sized songbird.
Bright yellow chest and throat.
Olive-green back.
White spectacles.
White belly and undertail.
Long tail.
Immature Description
Juvenile lacks yellow and has dusky spotting on throat and chest.
Photo courtesy of Tom Preney
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
Yellow-rumped Warblers are impressive in the sheer numbers with which they flood the continent each fall. Shrubs and trees fill with the streaky brown-and-yellow birds and their distinctive, sharp chips. Though the color palette is subdued all winter, you owe it to yourself to seek these birds out on their spring migration or on their breeding grounds. Spring molt brings a transformation, leaving them a dazzling mix of bright yellow, charcoal gray and black, and bold white.
*Images and description were sourced from allaboutbirds.org
North America has more than 50 species of warblers, but few combine brilliant color and easy viewing quite like the Yellow Warbler. In summer, the buttery yellow males sing their sweet whistled song from willows, wet thickets, and roadsides across almost all of North America. The females and immatures aren’t as bright, and lack the male’s rich chestnut streaking, but their overall warm yellow tones, unmarked faces, and prominent black eyes help pick them out.
*Image and description were sourced from: allaboutbirds.org
