Birds

Appearance: The American black duck has a dark brown body with a yellow-green bill, resembling female mallards but darker.

Habitat: They can be found around Rouge Beach and other wetland areas.

Did you know? They feed by tipping forward into the water to eat aquatic plants and insects.

Appearance: The American crow has all-black plumage with a straight bill and fan-shaped tail.

Habitat: They are commonly found in urban, rural and forested areas.

Did you know? Known for its loud “caw” call and high intelligence, they are often confused with the common raven but is smaller and tends to flap its wings more methodically in flight.

Appearance: Male American goldfinches are bright yellow with black caps and wings in summer, while females are a duller colour. Both will turn a brown shade in winter.

Habitat: They can be found in open meadows and fields.

Did you know? They are strict vegetarians and feed almost exclusively on seeds. You can listen for the male's distinctive “po-ta-to-chip” call in the spring and summer months.

Appearance: The American robin has a grayish-brown back, warm orange-red breast and a yellow bill, with males appearing more vibrant in colour.

Habitat: They can be seen hopping across open grassy areas, forest edges and along trails throughout the park, searching for worms and insects.

Did you know? They are among the first birds to sing at dawn, earning them the nickname “harbingers of spring.” Their cheerful song often signals the start of a new day.

Appearance: Baltimore orioles are medium sized songbirds with thick necks and long legs. Male Baltimore orioles are bright orange with black heads and backs, while females are a lighter yellow colour.

Habitat: They’re often seen near the Beare Wetlands and Orchard Trail.

Did you know? Females build a unique, woven sock-shaped nest that hangs from the end of slender tree branches.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: The barn swallow has a steely blue back and wings with a tan coloured belly.

Habitat: They nest in barns, along the sides of buildings and under boardwalks, and can often be seen flying over Rouge Marsh.

Did you know? Instead of stopping to drink, they will skim the surface of water and scoop it up with their beaks while still in flight.

Appearance: Barred owls have a rounded head with no ear tufts, dark brown eyes and a yellow bill.

Habitat: Listen for these owls in the trees near the southern end of Orchard Trail.

Did you know? Barred owls have a distinct “who cooks for you?” call, which can occasionally be heard during the day despite being most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk.

Appearance: The belted kingfisher is a stocky bird with a blue shaggy crest on the top and back of the head with a blue-gray back and white belly. Males have a single blue breast band while females have one blue and one rust-coloured breast band.

Habitat: They’re often found near rivers, ponds and lakes like the Little Rouge River, diving into the water to feed on fish.

Did you know? To nest, belted kingfishers dig long tunnels into riverbanks or sandy soil. These burrows are typically 3-6 feet long but can reach over 8 feet in length!

Appearance: The black-capped chickadee is a small bird with a black cap and bib, white cheeks and gray back.

Habitat: They are year-round residents in forested areas like Cedar Trail.

Did you know? Named for their distinctive “chick-a-dee-dee-dee: call, these birds increase the number of “dee” notes to signal how threatened they feel.

Appearance: Blue jays are striking songbirds with bright blue plumage on their back, wings and tail, a white face and underparts and a black ring across the throat. They also have a prominent blue crest on their head.

Habitat: Look for blue jays in mixed woodlands and forest edges along trails like Orchard and Cedar, where they forage for acorns and other seeds.

Did you know? Blue jays are excellent mimics and can imitate the calls of hawks to scare other birds away from food sources. They also play an important role in spreading oak trees by caching acorns, some of which grow into new trees.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: Bobolinks are small songbirds. Bobolink males have striking black, white and yellow plumage during breeding season, while females and non-breeding males are brown and tan with subtle face markings.

Habitat: They are a grassland species that nest on the ground in meadows, pastures and hayfields.

Did you know? Bobolinks have one of the longest migrations of any songbird, migrating from North America to southern South America each year.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: The Canada warbler is a small songbird with a bright yellow belly, slate-gray back and black streaks across its chest.

Habitat: They can be found in dense, shrubby areas near wetlands and forest edges.

Did you know? Canada warblers migrate long distances, traveling thousands of kilometers between South America and Canada each year.

Appearance: The cedar waxwing is a sleek, colorful bird with a pale brown head and chest fading to gray wings and tail, with a pale yellow and a bright yellow tail tip. They have bright red wax-like droplets on the wings that can be hard to spot.

Habitat: They are often found in open forests, urban parklands and areas with fruiting trees.

Did you know? Cedar waxwings often form large flocks and like to feed on fruits such as dogwood, serviceberry, cedar and juniper.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: The chimney swift is a small gray bird with a cigar shaped body, long, narrow wings and a short tail.

Habitat: They are often seen flying high above open areas like lakes and rivers and can be found roosting in chimneys or other vertical structures.

Did you know? Chimney swifts spend most of their lives in the air. They do not perch but rather cling to vertical walls when they land. Their population is now threatened due to habitat loss and declining insect populations.

Appearance: Cliff swallows are small, square-tailed songbirds with cream-coloured bellies, dark blue backs, rust-coloured throats and a distinct pale patch on their forehead.

Habitat: A colony of cliff swallows returns to Rouge Marsh every year to nest around the Rouge River.

Did you know? Cliff swallows build their nests out of mouthfuls of mud.

Appearance: The common raven is larger than the crow with a thicker bill, shaggy neck feathers and wedge-shaped tail.

Habitat: They are more recently found in the Greater Toronto Area, often seen in natural parklands.

Did you know? The raven and the crow, two highly intelligent bird species, can be differentiated by their calls. The crow’s call is a loud, harsh call compared to the raven’s deeper, throaty call.

Appearance: The common yellowthroat is a bright yellow bird with males exhibiting a distinctive black facial mask. Females are a subdued olive-brown shade, making them harder to spot.

Habitat: They can be found in wet open areas such as the marshes and wetlands of Rouge National Urban Park.

Did you know? The common yellowthroat’s cheerful “witchety-witchety-witchety” song is a familiar sound in spring and summer across much of North America.

Appearance: With a similar appearance to the hairy woodpecker, the downy woodpecker is small with a short bill, a black-and-white checkered pattern with a white belly. Males have a distinct red patch on the back of their head.

Habitat: They thrive in wooded areas and are often spotted in open woodlands, forests, orchards and suburban yards.

Did you know? Instead of singing, downy and hairy woodpeckers drum on trees and other surfaces to attract mates and mark territory

Appearance: Eastern bluebird males have royal blue heads and backs with rusty throats, while females are a grayish shade with blue wings.

Habitat: They are often found near fields, clearings and suburban areas where they can perch and hunt for insects.

Did you know? The birdhouses you see along many trails in Rouge Urban National Park were installed to create nesting space for eastern bluebirds, but also attract other species such as the tree swallow and house wren.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: The Eastern meadowlark is a medium sized songbird with a bright yellow chest marked by a bold black “V,” a streaked brown back and a short tail with white outer feathers visible in flight.

Habitat: They can be found in grasslands, meadows and fields.

Did you know? Eastern meadowlarks blend in perfectly with their grassy habitats, making them hard to spot when they are not singing. Their populations are in decline due to land development and habitat fragmentation.

Appearance: Eastern screech owls are small, stocky owls with a large head, ear tufts and yellow eyes. Their plumage varies from gray to red-brown colours.

Habitat: They are highly adaptable and can be found in forests, wooded suburbs, orchards and other areas with mature trees and cavities for nesting.

Did you know? Eastern screech owls are the perfect colour to blend into tree bark, making them excellent and camouflage. When threatened, they will stretch tall and stand still, appearing as a broken branch.

Federal Species at Risk status: Special concern

Appearance: The eastern wood-pewee is a small, gray-toned flycatcher with two pale wing bars and a slightly peaked head.

Habitat: They are often found in deciduous forests and woodland edges, where they perch quietly and wait for the opportunity to catch insects mid-air.

Did you know? Male Eastern wood-pewees sing a distinctive “pee-a-wee” song that is familiar in woodlands across North America.

Appearance: The gray catbird is a slate-gray songbird with a black cap and rust-coloured patch under its tail.

Habitat: They prefer dense shrubs, thickets and forest edges and can be often spotted near water or in suburban gardens.

Did you know? Named for its call, the catbird can mimic a cat’s meow. Its impressive vocal range means it can also mimic dozens of other bird songs!

Appearance: The great blue heron is a large, tall bird with blue-gray feathers, a long neck, sharp yellow bill and a black stripe over the eye.

Habitat: They are found near freshwater and saltwater wetlands, including Rouge Marsh.

Did you know? The great blue heron is often found standing still in water and will let out a long, harsh “fraaawnk” croak when startled.

Appearance: A member of the heron family, the great egret is a large bird with long black legs, a slender yellow bill and white plumage.

Habitat: They prefer shallow wetlands, ponds and marshes like Rouge Marsh, and are often seen stalking prey in open water.

Did you know? In the late 1800s, great egrets were hunted to near extinction for their long, striking feathers, which were used to decorate hats. This sparked a shift in conservation efforts and over time has led to a steady recovery in their population.

Appearance: The great horned owl is a large, powerful bird with prominent feathered tufts that resemble horns. It has a mottled brown body, a white throat patch and striking yellow eyes.

Habitat: They can be found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, wetlands and open fields, often nesting in abandoned hawk or crow nests and tree cavities.

Did you know? Great horned owls are formidable predators with a grip strong enough to crush bone and can take prey larger than themselves, including rabbits and skunks.

Appearance: The hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized black-and-white bird with a long, chisel-like bill, noticeably larger than the downy woodpecker. Males have a small red patch on the back of their head.

Habitat: They can be found in mature forests and woodlots and are often seen foraging on tree trunks and branches.

Did you know? Hairy woodpeckers excavate their own nest holes in dead trees or branches, often returning to the same area year after year.

Appearance: The hooded merganser is a small duck with a fan-shaped crest. Males have striking black and white patterns with a chestnut-coloured flank and white crest, while females are brown with a cinnamon-coloured crest.

Habitat: They prefer wooded wetlands, swamps, ponds and slow-moving rivers, especially those near plenty of tree cavities, which are ideal for breeding.

Did you know? Hooded mergansers have built in “goggles”: an extra eyelid called a nictitating membrane, which helps them see prey underwater.

Appearance: The indigo bunting is a small songbird. Male indigo buntings are bright blue in summer while females are brown.

Habitat: They can be found in brushy areas where fields meet forests.

Did you know? Indigo Buntings migrate at night by navigating with the stars, adjusting their direction using an internal clock that tracks star movement.

Appearance: The killdeer is a small brown bird with two black neck bands and long legs, which it uses to run across the ground in short bursts.

Habitat: They can be found in open areas such as fields, shorelines, and gravel paths.

Did you know? The killdeer is named after the shrill “kill-deer” call they frequently let out. In addition, they perform a “broken wing” display to distract predators from its nest.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: The least bittern is a small, slender heron with a long neck, a striking pattern of chestnut and buff on its sides, a dark crown and yellowish legs.

Habitat: They are typically found in dense marsh vegetation, especially among cattails and reeds in wetlands like Rouge Marsh.

Did you know? Least bitterns are masters of camouflage. When threatened, they freeze with their neck stretched upward, blending perfectly with surrounding reeds.

Appearance: Mallards are large ducks with round heads and wide, flat bills. Male mallards have iridescent green heads and yellow bills, while females are mottled brown with orange-brown bills.

Habitat: They are commonly spotted around Rouge Beach and other freshwater habitats.

Did you know? Mallard ducks feed by “dabbling”, meaning they feed in water by tipping forward and grazing on underwater plants. They rarely dive for their food.

Appearance: Mourning doves have a slender, gray-tan body with a long, pointed tail and small black spots on their wings.

Habitat: They are often seen perched on power lines or foraging on the ground in open areas, fields and along trails throughout the park.

Did you know? Mourning doves get their name from their soft, sorrowful cooing call.

Appearance: Northern cardinal males have vivid red plumage, a crest on their head and black mask around the face. Females are a warmer brown with hints of red on the wings, tail and crest.

Habitat: They are commonly found in dense shrubs and forest edges along trails like Cedar and Orchard.

Did you know? Male cardinals are known for their bright red color and melodic whistles, which they use to defend territory and attract mates. They often sing year-round, even in the middle of winter.

Appearance: The northern harrier is a slim, long-tailed hawk with a distinctive appearance. northern harrier males are gray with black wingtips while females are brown with streaked bellies. Both have a white rump patch.

Habitat: They can often be spotted gliding low over open grasslands, marshes and fields.

Did you know? The northern harrier has an owl-like facial disk that helps direct sound to its ears.

Appearance: The house wren is a small, brown bird with a short tail and faint stripes on its wings and tail.

Habitat: They can be found in open woods, gardens and urban areas, often nesting in birdhouses and brushy areas.

Did you know? Despite their small size, northern house wrens will fiercely compete for nests and territory, pecking, harassing and dragging eggs and younglings out of their nests, even occasionally killing adult birds.

Appearance: The orchard oriole is a slim songbird with a round head and a straight, sharp bill. Mature Orchard oriole males are black with a dark chestnut belly whereas females and young males are a yellow-green colour.

Habitat: They can be found near Beare Wetlands and Orchard Trail.

Did you know? Smaller and darker in colour than Baltimore orioles, orchard orioles are the smallest oriole in North America.

Appearance: The ovenbird is a small olive-brown warbler with a spotted breast and can be easily located by its “teacher-teacher-teacher” call.

Habitat: They can be found on the forest floor in large, undisturbed woodlands like the Mast Trail.

Did you know? The ground-nesting ovenbird gets its name from the dome-shaped nest it builds, which looks like an old-fashioned Dutch oven.

Appearance: The red-eyed vireo is an olive-green and white songbird with a red eye and gray, black and white crown.

Habitat: They can be found in forested areas throughout the park.

Did you know? Red-eyed vireos are often heard more than they are seen. They sing almost continuously throughout the day during breeding season and each male can recall 30 or more unique songs.

Appearance: The red-tailed hawk is a large bird of prey with a rich brown coloured back, a pale belly and a distinctive reddish tail.

Habitat: They are frequently seen soaring over open areas like Vista Trail.

Did you know? The red-tailed hawk, often called the “highway hawk,” is one of North America’s most common raptors, often seen hunting along roadsides. Its piercing screech is so iconic that it is often used in place of a bald eagle’s call in film and media, thanks to its dramatic, majestic sound.

Appearance: Male red-winged blackbirds are glossy black with bright red and yellow shoulder patches, while females are streaked brown and resemble large sparrows.

Habitat: They are often seen perched on cattails or shrubs in wetlands and marshy areas such as Rouge Beach and Marsh. Their bold “conk-la-ree” call is one of the most familiar and iconic sounds of these habitats.

Did you know? Red-winged blackbirds will boldly defend their territory during breeding season, going after much larger animals (even people!) to protect their nests.

Appearance: Rose-breasted grosbeaks are medium-sized songbirds. Male rose-breasted grosbeaks have black backs, white bellies and a bright red triangle on the chest, while females have a speckled brown pattern.

Habitat: They can often be found in forests and woodland areas.

Did you know? The rose-breasted grosbeak is well-known for its sweet, melodic song.

Appearance: The ruffed grouse is a plump bird with a chicken-like build, with brown and grey plumage, a triangular crest and fan-shaped tail.

Habitat: They can be found in forested areas of the park.

Did you know? The male ruffed grouse will perform a drumming display by flapping their wings to produce a deep sound similar to a lawn-mower starting, which can be heard over long distances.

Appearance: The savannah sparrow is a small brown and white bird with streaked plumage and a yellow band above the eye.

Habitat: They can be found in grasslands, meadows and farm fields.

Did you know? This ground-nesting species prefers thick grassy areas, but urban expansion is threatening its survival by reducing suitable habitat.

Appearance: The scarlet tanager is a medium-sized, stocky songbird. Male scarlet tanagers are bright red with black wings and tail, and females are greenish-yellow with gray toned wings.

Habitat: They can be spotted high in the canopy of mature forests like those along the Mast Trail.

Did you know? Scarlet tanagers are difficult to spot due to their preference for spending time in the upper canopy of forests.

Appearance: Song sparrows are medium-sized brown birds with streaked brown and grey plumage and a dark brown spot in the center of their chest.

Habitat: They are common in shrubby areas, wetlands and along forest edges, often seen flitting through low vegetation near trails.

Did you know? Song sparrows, true to their name, have a rich and varied repertoire of melodies. Males can sing hundreds of different song variations to attract mates and defend their territory.

Appearance: The tree swallow is a small songbird with a glossy blue-green iridescent back and white belly. Mature male tree swallows are a bright, iridescent blue-green, while females and younger males are duller with more brown in their plumage.

Habitat: They nest in birdhouses and can be seen flying over fields in search of food.

Did you know? The tree swallow is an acrobatic flier that feeds on flying insects mid-air.

Appearance: The trumpeter swan is a large white swan with a long neck and black bill. It is the largest native waterfowl in North America.

Habitat: They can be found in shallow wetlands, marshes and lakes across southern Ontario.

Did you know? Once extirpated from Ontario, this species has made a remarkable comeback thanks to ongoing conservation efforts.

Appearance: The turkey vulture is a large bird with a dark brown-black body and a small, featherless red head.

Habitat: They are often spotted soaring over open areas like Vista Trail.

Did you know? The turkey vulture will ride thermals in the sky, soaring in circles in search of its preferred food source, “carrion”, or dead and decaying animal carcass. They have the unique ability to detect the subtle odors of decaying flesh, such as ethyl mercaptan, which is too faint for other animals to notice.

Appearance: The wood duck is a medium-sized waterfowl with strong claws allowing them to grip bark and perch on branches. Male wood ducks have a crested green head with white stripes, a chestnut breast and tan sides, whereas females are gray-brown with a white eye patch.

Habitat: They nest in tree cavities and nest boxes near water.

Did you know? Wood duck ducklings leap from nests high above the ground to reach water shortly after hatching.

Federal Species at Risk status: Threatened

Appearance: The wood thrush is a medium-sized forest bird with a warm reddish-brown back, white belly and distinct black spotting on the chest.

Habitat: There is a good chance you will hear these birds before you see them, singing their loud, flute-like song from lower branches of deciduous and mixed forests.

Did you know? The wood thrush has experienced a dramatic decline since the 1970s due to habitat loss and fragmentation across its breeding, wintering, and migratory ranges.