Birds of Jokers Hill
Updated: 14 May 2021
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King Township, Regional Municipality of York
(second edition, revision 1)
Tubba Babar, Theresa McKenzie, Glenn Reed, and Peter M. Kotanen*
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Toronto Mississauga
3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, Canada l5L 1C6
*Correspondence author. e-mail: peter.kotanen@utoronto.ca
The first edition of this list was compiled by C. Sean Blaney and was published as an appendix to his M.Sc. thesis (Blaney C.S. 1999. Seed bank dynamics of native and exotic plants in open uplands of southern Ontario. University of Toronto. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/handle/1807/14382/). It subsequently was formatted for the web by P.M. Kotanen and made available on the Koffler Scientific Reserve website (http://ksr.utoronto.ca/), where it was revised periodically to reflect additions and taxonomic changes. This second edition represents a major revision reflecting recent phylogenetic and nomenclatural changes and adding additional species; it will be updated periodically.
This property was donated to the University of Toronto in 1995. This list is based on observations at this site by C.S. Blaney, P.M. Kotanen, and many others beginning in 1997, supplemented with observations by property manager W. Fox between 1971 and 1998, and by an on-site banding program conducted by T. McKenzie and G. Reed since 2013. Phylogenetic classification and scientific and English nomenclature follow the American Ornithological Society’s (AOS) Checklist of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition, 60th supplement (http://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa). Breeding status codes are based on those used in the 2nd Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2001-2005) (http://www.birdsontario.org/atlas/secondatlas.jsp). The codes are:
O – Observed without evidence of breeding
M – observed only as a migrant or winter resident
X – observed during the species’ breeding season without evidence of breeding
PO – breeding possible
H – observed in suitable habitat during breeding season
M – singing male observed in suitable habitat during breeding season
P – breeding probable
P -pair observed in suitable habitat during breeding season
T – singing male observed in the same area on visits separated by at least two weeks
A – agitated behaviour
D – breeding display or intraspecies hostility
N – nest building
CO – breeding confirmed
AE – adult entering presumed nest site
DD – distraction display
NU – used nest
FS – adult carrying food or faecal sac
NE- nest with eggs
NY – nest with young
FY – flightless or dependent young
This list includes all birds observed from within the boundaries of the Koffler Scientific Reserve during the observation period. Of the 186 species and hybrids listed, 182 are considered locally native, while 4 (Rock Dove, European Starling, House Sparrow, and House Finch) are introduced. Information on any additional species (preferably with photographs) would be welcomed by the authors.
Clicking on the latin binomial of each species will bring you to GBIF occurrence records for that species.
Scientific Name | Common Name | Code |
ANSERIFORMES | Ducks, Geese & Swans | |
Anatidae | (Ducks, Geese & Swans) | |
Branta bernicla (Linnaeus) | Brant | O-M |
Branta canadensis (Linnaeus) | Canada Goose | CO-FY |
Cygnus buccinator Richardson | Trumpeter Swan | O |
Aix sponsa (Linnaeus) | Wood Duck | P-P |
Spatula discors Linnaeus | Blue-winged Teal | O-M |
Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus | Mallard | CO-FY |
Anas crecca Linnaeus | Green-winged Teal | O-M |
Aythya americana (Eyton) | Redhead | O-M |
Aythya collaris (Donovan) | Ring-necked Duck | O-M |
Bucephala albeola (Linnaeus) | Bufflehead | O-M |
Bucephala clangula (Linnaeus) | Common Goldeneye | O-M |
Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus) | Hooded Merganser | O-M |
Mergus merganser Linnaeus | Common Merganser | O-M |
GALLIFORMES | Fowls | |
Phasianidae | (Pheasants & Grouses) | |
Bonasa umbellus (Linnaeus) | Ruffed Grouse | CO-FY |
Meleagris gallopavo Linnaeus | Wild Turkey | CO-FY |
PODICIPEDIFORMES | Grebes | |
Podicipedidae | (Grebes) | |
Podilymbus podiceps (Linnaeus) | Pied-billed Grebe | O-M |
COLUMBIFORMES | Pigeons & Doves | |
Columbidae | (Pigeons & Doves) | |
Columba livia Gmelin | Rock Dove | CO-AE |
Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus) | Mourning Dove | CO-FY |
CUCULIFORMES | Cuckoos | |
Cuculidae | (Cuckoos) | |
Coccyzus americanus (Linnaeus) | Yellow-billed Cuckoo | PO-M |
Coccyzus erythropthalmus (A. Wilson) | Black-billed Cuckoo | P-T |
CAPRIMULGIFORMES | Nightjars | |
Caprimulgidae | (Nightjars) | |
Chordeiles minor (J.R. Forster) | Common Nighthawk | O-X |
Antrostomus vociferus A. Wilson | Eastern Whip-poor-will | PO-M |
APODIFORMES | Hummingbirds & Swifts | |
Apodidae | (Swifts) | |
Chaetura pelagica (Linnaeus) | Chimney Swift | O-X |
Trochilidae | (Hummingbirds) | |
Archilochus colubris (Linnaeus) | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | CO-NE |
GRUIFORMES | Cranes & Rails | |
Rallidae | (Rails, Crakes & Coots) | |
Rallus limicola Vieillot | Virginia Rail | O-M |
Porzana carolina (Linnaeus) | Sora | O-M |
Fulica americana Gmelin | American Coot | O-M |
Gruidae | (Cranes) | |
Antigone canadensis (Linnaeus) | Sandhill Crane | O-M |
CHARADRIIFORMES | Shorebirds | |
Charadriidae | (Plovers) | |
Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus | Killdeer | CO-FY |
Scolopacidae | (Sandpipers & Snipes) | |
Scolopax minor Gmelin | American Woodcock | CO-FY |
Gallinago delicata (Ord) | Wilson’s Snipe | P-T |
Actitis macularius (Linnaeus) | Spotted Sandpiper | PO-H |
Tringa solitaria A. Wilson | Solitary Sandpiper | O-M |
Tringa melanoleuca (Gmelin) | Greater Yellowlegs | O-M |
Laridae | (Gulls & Terns) | |
Larus delawarensis Ord | Ring-billed Gull | O-X |
Larus argentatus Pontoppidan | Herring Gull | O-X |
Hydroprogne caspia (Pallas) | Caspian Tern | O-X |
GAVIIFORMES | Loons | |
Gaviidae | (Loons) | |
Gavia immer (Brünnich) | Common Loon | O-M |
SULIFORMES | Cormorants | |
Phalacrocoracidae | ||
Phalacrocorax auritus (Lesson) | Double-crested Cormorant | O-X |
PELECANIFORMES | Pelicans & Herons | |
Ardeidae | (Herons & Bitterns) | |
Botaurus lentiginosus (Rackett) | American Bittern | O-M |
Ardea herodias Linnaeus | Great Blue Heron | O-X |
Butorides virescens (Linnaeus) | Green Heron | O-X |
CATHARTIFORMES | Vultures | |
Cathartidae | (New World Vultures) | |
Cathartes aura (Linnaeus) | Turkey Vulture | O-X |
ACCIPITRIFORMES | Hawks | |
Pandionidae | (Ospreys) | |
Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus) | Osprey | O-M |
Accipitridae | (Hawks & Eagles) | |
Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus) | Northern Harrier | PO-H |
Accipiter striatus Vieillot | Sharp-shinned Hawk | CO-FS |
Accipiter cooperii (Bonaparte) | Cooper’s Hawk | CO-FS |
Accipiter gentilis (Linnaeus) | Northern Goshawk | O-X |
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus) | Bald Eagle | O-M |
Buteo lineatus (Gmelin) | Red-shouldered Hawk | CO-NY |
Buteo platypterus (Vieillot) | Broad-winged Hawk | P-T |
Buteo jamaicensis (Gmelin) | Red-tailed Hawk | P-A |
STRIGIFORMES | Owls | |
Strigidae | (Owls) | |
Megascops asio (Linnaeus) | Eastern Screech-Owl | CO-FY |
Bubo virginianus (Gmelin) | Great Horned Owl | P-T |
Bubo scandiacus (Linnaeus) | Snowy Owl | O-M |
Strix varia Barton | Barred Owl | P-T |
Strix nebulosa J.R. Forster | Great Gray Owl | O-M |
Asio otus (Linnaeus) | Long-eared Owl | O-M |
Aegolius acadicus (Gmelin) | Northern Saw-whet Owl | O-M |
CORACIIFORMES | Kingfishers | |
Alcedinidae | (Kingfishers) | |
Megaceryle alcyon (Linnaeus) | Belted Kingfisher | PO-H |
PICIFORMES | Woodpeckers | |
Picidae | (Woodpeckers) | |
Melanerpes erythrocephalus (Linnaeus) | Red-headed Woodpecker | O-M |
Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus) | Red-bellied Woodpecker | CO-FY |
Sphyrapicus varius (Linnaeus) | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | CO-FY |
Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus) | Downy Woodpecker | CO-FY |
Dryobates villosus (Linnaeus) | Hairy Woodpecker | CO-NY |
Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus) | Northern Flicker | CO-FY |
Dryocopus pileatus (Linnaeus) | Pileated Woodpecker | CO-NY |
FALCONIFORMES | Falcons | |
Falconidae | (Falcons) | |
Falco sparverius Linnaeus | American Kestrel | CO-AE |
Falco columbarius Linnaeus | Merlin | O-M |
Falco peregrinus Tunstall | Peregrine Falcon | O-M |
PASSERIFORMES | Songbirds | |
Tyrannidae | (Tyrant Flycatchers) | |
Myiarchus crinitus (Linnaeus) | Great Crested Flycatcher | CO-FY |
Tyrannus tyrannus (Linnaeus) | Eastern Kingbird | CO-AE |
Contopus cooperi (Nuttall) | Olive-sided Flycatcher | O-M |
Contopus virens (Linnaeus) | Eastern Wood-Pewee | CO-FY |
Empidonax flaviventris (W.M. Baird & S.F. Baird) | Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | O-M |
Empidonax alnorum Brewster | Alder Flycatcher | CO-FY |
Empidonax minimus (W.M. Baird & S.F. Baird) | Least Flycatcher | CO-FY |
Sayornis phoebe (Latham) | Eastern Phoebe | CO-FY |
Laniidae | (Shrikes) | |
Lanius borealis Vieillot | Northern Shrike | O-M |
Vireonidae | (Vireos) | |
Vireo flavifrons Vieillot | Yellow-throated Vireo | O-M |
Vireo solitarius (A. Wilson) | Blue-headed Vireo | P-T |
Vireo philadelphicus (Cassin) | Philadelphia Vireo | O-M |
Vireo gilvus (Vieillot) | Warbling Vireo | CO-FY |
Vireo olivaceus (Linnaeus) | Red-eyed Vireo | CO-FY |
Corvidae | (Crows & Jays) | |
Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus) | Blue Jay | P-P |
Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L. Brehm | American Crow | CO-FY |
Corvus corax Linnaeus | Common Raven | O-M |
Alaudidae | (Larks) | |
Eremophila alpestris (Linnaeus) | Horned Lark | PO-M |
Hirundinidae | (Swallows & Martins) | |
Riparia riparia (Linnaeus) | Bank Swallow | O-X |
Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot) | Tree Swallow | CO-AE |
Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Audubon) | Northern Rough-winged Swallow | O-X |
Progne subis (Linnaeus) | Purple Martin | O-X |
Hirundo rustica Linnaeus | Barn Swallow | CO-NY |
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot) | Cliff Swallow | O-X |
Paridae | (Tits & Chickadees) | |
Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus) | Black-capped Chickadee | CO-FY |
Sittidae | (Nuthatches) | |
Sitta canadensis Linnaeus | Red-breasted Nuthatch | CO-FY |
Sitta carolinensis Latham | White-breasted Nuthatch | CO-FY |
Certhiidae | (Creepers) | |
Certhia americana Bonaparte | Brown Creeper | P-T |
Troglodytidae | (Wrens) | |
Troglodytes aedon Vieillot | House Wren | CO-FY |
Troglodytes hiemalis Vieillot | Winter Wren | P-T |
Cistothorus platensis (Latham) | Sedge Wren | O-M |
Polioptilidae | ||
Polioptila caerulea (Linnaeus) | Blue-grey Gnatcatcher | O-M |
Regulidae | (Kinglets) | |
Regulus satrapa Lichtenstein | Golden-crowned Kinglet | P-T |
Regulus calendula (Linnaeus) | Ruby-crowned Kinglet | O-M |
Turdidae | (Thrushes) | |
Sialia sialis (Linnaeus) | Eastern Bluebird | CO-AE |
Catharus fuscescens (Stephens) | Veery | P-T |
Catharus minimus | Grey-cheeked Thrush | O-M |
Catharus ustulatus | Swainson’s Thrush | O-M |
Catharus guttatus (Pallas) | Hermit Thrush | CO-FY |
Hylocichla mustelina (Gmelin) | Wood Thrush | CO-FY |
Turdus migratorius Linnaeus | American Robin | CO-NE |
Mimidae | (Mockingbirds & Thrashers) | |
Dumetella carolinensis (Linnaeus) | Gray Catbird | CO-FY |
Toxostoma rufum (Linnaeus) | Brown Thrasher | PO-M |
Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus) | Northern Mockingbird | O-M |
Sturnidae | (Starlings) | |
Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus | European Starling | CO-NY |
Bombycillidae | (Waxwings) | |
Bombycilla garrulus (Linnaeus) | Bohemian Waxwing | O-M |
Bombycilla cedrorum Vieillot | Cedar Waxwing | CO-FY |
Passeridae | (Old World Sparrows) | |
Passer domesticus (Linnaeus) | House Sparrow | O-X |
Motacillidae | (Wagtails & Pipits) | |
Anthus rubescens (Tunstall) | American Pipit | O-M |
Fringillidae | (Old World Finches) | |
Coccothraustes vespertinus (W. Cooper) | Evening Grosbeak | O-M |
Pinicola enucleator (Linnaeus) | Pine Grosbeak | O-M |
Haemorhous mexicanus (Statius Müller) | House Finch | PO-M |
Haemorhous purpureus (Gmelin) | Purple Finch | P-P |
Acanthis flammea (Linnaeus) | Common Redpoll | O-M |
Loxia curvirostra Linnaeus | Red Crossbill | O-M |
Loxia leucoptera Gmelin | White-winged Crossbill | O-X |
Spinus pinus (A. Wilson) | Pine Siskin | O-M |
Spinus tristis (Linnaeus) | American Goldfinch | CO-NE |
Calcariidae | (Longspurs & Snow Buntings) | |
Plectrophenax nivalis (Linnaeus) | Snow Bunting | O-M |
Passerellidae | (New World Sparrows) | |
Ammodramus savannarum (Gmelin) | Grasshopper Sparrow | PO-M |
Spizella passerina (Bechstein) | Chipping Sparrow | CO-FY |
Spizella pallida (Swainson) | Clay-colored Sparrow | PO-H |
Spizella pusilla (A. Wilson) | Field Sparrow | CO-NE |
Passerella iliaca (Merrem) | Fox Sparrow | O-M |
Spizelloides arborea (A. Wilson) | American Tree Sparrow | O-M |
Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus) | Dark-eyed Junco | O-M |
Zonotrichia leucophrys (J.R. Forster) | White-crowned Sparrow | O-M |
Zonotrichia albicollis (Gmelin) | White-throated Sparrow | P-T |
Pooecetes gramineus (Gmelin) | Vesper Sparrow | PO-H |
Passerculus sandwichensis (Gmelin) | Savannah Sparrow | CO-FY |
Melospiza melodia (A. Wilson) | Song Sparrow | CO-FY |
Melospiza lincolnii (Audubon) | Lincoln’s Sparrow | O-M |
Melospiza georgiana (Latham) | Swamp Sparrow | CO-FY |
Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus) | Eastern Towhee | CO-FY |
Icteriidae | (Yellow-breasted Chats) | |
Icteria virens (Linnaeus) | Yellow-breasted Chat | O-M |
Icteridae | (New World Blackbirds) | |
Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Linnaeus) | Bobolink | CO-FS |
Sturnella magna (Linnaeus) | Eastern Meadowlark | CO-NE |
Icterus spurius (Linnaeus) | Orchard Oriole | PO-M |
Icterus galbula (Linnaeus) | Baltimore Oriole | CO-FY |
Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus) | Red-winged Blackbird | CO-FY |
Molothrus ater (Boddaert) | Brown-headed Cowbird | CO-FY |
Euphagus carolinus (Müller) | Rusty Blackbird | O-M |
Quiscalus quiscula (Linnaeus) | Common Grackle | CO-FS |
Parulidae | (New World Warblers) | |
Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus) | Ovenbird | CO-FY |
Parkesia noveboracensis (Gmelin) | Northern Waterthrush | PO-M |
Vermivora chrysoptera (Linnaeus) | Golden-winged Warbler | CO-FS |
Vermivora cyanoptera (Olson & Reveal) | Blue-winged Warbler | CO-FS |
Vermivora chrysoptera (Linnaeus) | ||
Vermivora cyanoptera (Olson & Reveal) | Brewster’s Warbler | CO-FS |
Mniotilta varia (Linnaeus) | Black-and-white Warbler | PO-M |
Leiothlypis peregrina (A. Wilson) | Tennessee Warbler | O-M |
Leiothlypis celata (Say) | Orange-crowned Warbler | O-M |
Leiothlypis ruficapilla (A. Wilson) | Nashville Warbler | CO-FY |
Oporornis agilis (A. Wilson) | Connecticut Warbler | O-M |
Geothlypis philadelphia (A. Wilson) | Mourning Warbler | CO-FY |
Geothlypis trichas (Linnaeus) | Common Yellowthroat | CO-FS |
Setophaga citrina (Boddaert) | Hooded Warbler | PO-M |
Setophaga ruticilla (Linnaeus) | American Redstart | O-M |
Setophaga tigrina (Gmelin) | Cape May Warbler | O-M |
Setophaga americana (Linnaeus) | Northern Parula | O-M |
Setophaga magnolia (A. Wilson) | Magnolia Warbler | P-T |
Setophaga castanea (A. Wilson) | Bay-breasted Warbler | O-M |
Setophaga fusca (Statius Müller) | Blackburnian Warbler | P-T |
Setophaga petechia (Linnaeus) | Yellow Warbler | CO-FY |
Setophaga pensylvanica (Linnaeus) | Chestnut-sided Warbler | PO-M |
Setophaga striata (J.R. Forster) | Blackpoll Warbler | O-M |
Setophaga caerulescens (Gmelin) | Black-throated Blue Warbler | O-M |
Setophaga palmarum (Gmelin) | Palm Warbler | O-M |
Setophaga pinus (Linnaeus) | Pine Warbler | P-T |
Setophaga coronata (Linnaeus) | Yellow-rumped Warbler | P-T |
Setophaga virens (Gmelin) | Black-throated Green Warbler | P-T |
Cardellina canadensis (Linnaeus) | Canada Warbler | PO-M |
Cardellina pusilla (A. Wilson) | Wilson’s Warbler | O-M |
Cardinalidae | (Cardinals & Allies) | |
Piranga olivacea (Gmelin) | Scarlet Tanager | CO-FY |
Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus) | Northern Cardinal | CO-FY |
Pheucticus ludovicianus (Linnaeus) | Rose-breasted Grosbeak | CO-FY |
Passerina cyanea (Linnaeus) | Indigo Bunting | CO-FY |