Spring 2025: 1 Mar–31 May
Adam Capparelli
adam.capparelli@alumni.utoronto.ca
Recommended citation:
Capparelli, A. 2026. Spring 2025: Ontario. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-lDu> North American Birds.
In an unusual reversal of weather, April 2025 was more wintry than March. Although the first month of the spring reporting period saw above-seasonal temperatures across most of the province, the cold and snowy weather of winter 2024–2025 made a resurgence the next month. Toronto’s Pearson Airport recorded 6.4cm of snow in the first two weeks of April, more than doubling the 3cm recorded for the entire month of March (although this was a far cry from the 78.2cm recorded in February). This makes 2025 the 13th year that April has recorded more snow than March in the province’s capital since the 1930s. Despite this disappointing start to spring, the end of April saw a period of above-seasonal weather that resulted in a number of interesting vagrants to the province.
Unfortunately the start of May brought a return of colder, wetter weather that didn’t start to improve until around the second week of May. Although the rest of the month saw more typical spring weather with low to normal precipitation levels, periods of persistent east and north winds put a damper on much of spring migration in the province. However, these atypical winds did produce a widespread increase in spring sightings of Red Knot in the latter half of the month, with a few large flocks seen and several records even in inland counties. Most of the rarest records this spring originated from western and southwestern North America with a notable number of records of Franklin’s Gull, Western Kingbird, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher alongside single records of Burrowing Owl, Say’s Phoebe, Mountain Bluebird, Black-billed Magpie, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Townsend’s Warbler and two records of Rock Wren. One of the best birds seen this spring was not a rare vagrant, but what is likely a regular winter visitor to the province—Rock Ptarmigan. The first well documented record in around 30 years was found in far northwestern Ontario near the end of March.
Notable rarities included Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Eurasian Green-winged Teal, Tufted Duck, Rock Ptarmigan, Chuck-will’s-widow, Burrowing Owl, Crested Caracara, Rock Wren, Townsend’s Warbler, and Painted Bunting.
Special thanks:
We would like to extend our gratitude to Brian Ratcliff and Carter Dorscht for regional reporting and Andrew Keaveney for assistance in data logistics.
Waterfowl through Nightjars
There were two reports of Pink-footed Goose this spring: 15–18 Mar in North Gower, City of Ottawa (Mark Patry) and 26 Apr in Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co (Henrique Pacheco). This species is slowly becoming more expected in Ontario, with the Simcoe record being the second away from the Ottawa area. Barnacle Goose, another Eurasian species increasing in abundance in the province, had reports from 29 Mar in the City of Ottawa (Rob Pinilla, Amber Pinilla), 3 Apr in Stoney Creek, City of Hamilton (Sarah Koeppe), 18 Apr in Twin Elm, City of Ottawa (Tony Tran), 24 Apr–2 May in Kincardine, Bruce Co (Bob Taylor), and 11 May near Gananoque, Leeds and Grenville Co (Kurt Hennige). A Trumpeter Swan seen on 20 May in Fort Severn, Kenora Dist was a good record for the far northwest, although this species has been expanding into the Hudson’s Bay lowlands recently (Kevin Hannah). Eurasian Wigeons were widespread with reports from Leeds and Grenville, Wellington, Norfolk, Northumberland, Simcoe, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Essex, Peterborough, and Hastings Cos, Niagara RM, and the Cities of Hamilton and Kawartha Lakes. Hybrid Eurasian x American Wigeons were present on 3 Mar in Leamington, Essex Co (Richard Carr, Cherise Charron), from 25 Mar–16 Apr in Port Franks, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth) and on 10 May in Townsend, Haldimand Co (Rowan Keunen, Liam Thorne, Cody Bassindale). Several Eurasian Green-winged Teals were seen this spring: 17 Mar–4 Apr in Sand Bay Corner, Leeds and Grenville Co (Jon P. Ruddy, Ted Stewart), 29 Mar at Turkey Point, Norfolk Co (Mourad Jabra), 4 Apr in Whitby, Durham RM (Jax Nasimok), 5 Apr on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Samreen Munim), and 10 Apr in Keneden Park, City of Kawartha Lakes (Jake Nafziger).
Hybrids of Eurasian and American Green-winged Teals were also well-represented this spring with reports from 11 Mar at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Jon P. Ruddy), 31 Mar in Ingleside, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Jon P. Ruddy), 4 Apr in Whitby, Durham RM (Jax Nasimok), 20 Apr in Holiday Beach, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt), 23 Apr in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Jon P. Ruddy), and 27 Apr in Cobden, Renfrew Co (Logan Baldwin, Trevor Baldwin). The continuing Tufted Duck from the winter was last seen on 17 Mar in the City of Toronto (m. ob.); another was seen from 5–25 Apr in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Garry T. Sadler). A few notable Aythya hybrids were around this spring: a Redhead x Lesser Scaup from 3–7 Mar in Corunna, Lambton Co (Joshua Bouman), Ring-necked Duck x Lesser Scaup on 15 Mar in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Jon P. Ruddy) and 29 Mar in Lighthouse Cove, Essex Co (Brandon R. Holden), Tufted Duck x Lesser Scaup from 6–7 Apr on Long Sault, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Jon P. Ruddy), and a Tufted Duck x scaup sp. on 13 May in the City of Ottawa (Rob Pinilla). In northern Ontario, Harlequin Ducks were reported from 24 Mar–19 May in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Violet Butterwort), 26 Apr in Mattawa, Nipissing Dist (Garry Waldram), 29 Apr in Fort Frances, Rainy River Dist (Bob Saunders), and 26 May in Mountain Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Douglas Tate). A Bufflehead x Common Goldeneye hybrid was present from 5–12 Apr in Guelph, Wellington Co (Jeff DeRuyter). The continuing Barrow’s Goldeneyes from the fall were last reported on 18 Mar in Whitby, Durham RM (m. ob.) and 16 Apr in Owen Sound, Grey Co (A. Nicholson); other reports were 8 Mar on Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington Co (Jon P. Ruddy), 22 Mar in Robinson Cove, Prince Edward Co (Andrae Griffith), and 22 Apr–26 May in New Liskeard, Timiskaming Dist (Michael Werner).
The continuing Willow Ptarmigans from the winter were last seen on 29 Mar at Detour Lake, Cochrane Dist (m. ob.). Rock Ptarmigan is likely a regular to semi-regular winter visitor to Ontario, but the difficulty in reaching its winter habitat means it largely goes unrecorded in the province. On 22 Mar, however, a group of birders visiting the winter road near Fort Severn, Kenora Dist, provided the first verifiable report of this species in Ontario in over 30 years (Nathan Hood, Andy Nguyen, Sasha Smith). As is fairly typical for spring reports of Eurasian Collared-Dove, this season’s three records were all present only a single day: 23 Apr on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper), 13 May in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (Marshall Byle), and 15 May at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.).
All the White-winged Doves seen this spring were in northern Ontario: 1–2 May (Ryan Harris) and 2 May (Emily Palahnuk) in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist, 6 May in Echo Bay, Algoma Dist (Lauren Hope), 13 May at Mountain Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Rob Swainson), and 29–31 May in Longlac, Thunder Bay Dist (Fred J. Jennings). More Chuck-will’s-widow than typical were reported this spring, with three records: 5–6 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Quinten Wiegersma), 14 May (Owen Strickland, Elliott Gordon Graham) in the City of Toronto, and an injured bird picked up on 3 May at an undisclosed location in Haldimand Co and later released on 4 May (fide Stuart A. Mackenzie).
Rails through Cormorants
Notable reports of Yellow Rail were 19–28 May in Bridgenorth, Peterborough Co (Leo Weiskittel, Trevor McLaurin, Carolina Koebel) and 24–25 May in Cambridge, Waterloo RM (Brett Fried). American Avocets were widespread with reports from Essex and Chatham-Kent Cos, Peel and Halton RMs, the City of Toronto and Rainy River Dist. Piping Plovers were widespread with reports from Essex, Norfolk, Elgin, Lambton, Northumberland, and Simcoe Cos, Durham RM, and Rainy River Dist. Willets were also widespread with reports from Essex, Norfolk, Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, Northumberland, Lambton, Lanark, Elgin, and Chatham-Kent Cos, Niagara, Durham, and Halton RMs, the CIties of Toronto and Hamilton, and Algoma, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming Dists. It was a good spring for Ruff with four records: 28 Apr in Alliston, Simcoe Co (John Schmelefske), 2 May in Port Franks, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), 7–14 May in Demorestville, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), and 17–20 May in Thedford, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth). A number of Black-headed Gulls were seen: 2 Apr in Wainfleet, Niagara RM (Brad Reinhardt), 17 Apr in Parry Sound, Parry Sound Dist (John McAllister), 30 Apr (Sean Hurley), 3 May (Owen Strickland), and 4 May (Tristan Ducharme) in the City of Toronto, 18 May into June at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden), and 21–22 May in Owen Sound, Grey Co (William Gray). Laughing Gulls were reported on 7 May in Leamington, Essex Co (m. ob.), 18–23 May in Havilland Bay, Algoma Dist (m. ob.), 19–20 May in Oshawa, Durham RM (Jakob Monroe), 19 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Samuel Perfect), 21–22 May on Wolfe Island, Frontenac Co (fide Mark Read), 27 May (Amanda C. Guercio) and 29 May into June (Elliott Gordon Graham) in the City of Toronto, and 31 May in Sauble Beach, Bruce Co (Kiah R. Jasper).
Franklin’s Gulls were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Northumberland, Norfolk, Frontenac, Prince Edward and Renfrew Cos, Halton, Durham, and Waterloo RMs, the Cities of Ottawa and Toronto, and Muskoka DM. California Gulls were present on 15 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (James Kennerly) and 16–20 May in the City of Toronto (Gavin Platt). Two Forster’s Terns seen on 15 May in Harris Hill, Rainy River Dist were good records for northern Ontario (Nathan Hood). Migrant Arctic Terns were seen from 22–29 May in the City of Ottawa (m. ob.), 22 May in Pembroke, Renfrew Co (Logan Baldwin), and 23 May at Point Petre, Prince Edward Co (Jon P. Ruddy). Eared Grebes were widespread with reports from Essex, Huron, Lambton, Elgin and Grey Cos and Thunder Bay, Kenora, Algoma, and Rainy River Dists. Western Grebes were recorded from 19 Mar–7 Apr in Port Credit, Peel RM (Luc Fazio), 19 Apr into Jun in the City of Toronto (m. ob.), 23 Apr in Owen Sound, Grey Co (William Gray), 26–27 Apr in Oakville, Halton RM (Mark Jennings), 29 Apr in Dryden, Kenora Dist (Corey Jenkins, Steph Davis), 4 May in Shuniah, Thunder Bay Dist (Laura Ponka), and 14 May in Harris Hill, Rainy River Dist (Nathan Hood). A few Pacific Loons were around on lakes Erie and Ontario: 3 May (Paul Prior) and 20 May (m. ob.) in the City of Toronto and 7 May (Jon P. Ruddy) and 19–20 May (Jeremy M. Bensette) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co. Neotropic Cormorants were widespread with reports from Essex, Prince Edward, Chatham-Kent, and Bruce Cos, Durham RM, and the City of Toronto.
Ibis through Thrushes
Reports of Glossy Ibis this spring were: 19 Apr in Grimsby, Niagara RM (Wendy Skirrow), 27–28 Apr in Lansdowne, Leeds and Grenville Co (Barbara O’Neill), 5–8 May in Leamington, Essex Co (Jeff Tunstall), 14 May in Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co (Aaron Barker, Kristen Osborne), 15 May on Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington Co (Ken Edwards), 19 May in Leamington, Essex Co (Heidi Stanforth), and 21–22 May in Amherstburg, Essex Co (Kory J. Renaud). Additional reports of unidentified Glossy/White-faced Ibis were: 7 Apr in Stoney Creek, City of Hamilton (Richard Poort) and 9 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie). The only Yellow-crowned Night-Heron of the spring was photographed on 28 May in St. Catharines, Niagara RM (Mathew Vecia). A Little Blue Heron was present briefly in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist on 1 May (Evan McCaul). Tricolored Herons were seen from 1–12 May near Moscow, Lennox and Addington Co (Kurt Hennige) and 10–15 May in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Les Piccolo). Both Snowy Egret records this spring were from Essex Co: 4–5 May in Amherstburg (Tara Bischof) and 5–8 May at Holiday Beach (Cameron Chevalier). A Green Heron reported on 27 Apr in Hilliardton, Timiskaming Dist was a good find for Northeastern Ontario (Ian McLennan). All three reports of Western Cattle-Egret this spring were one-day wonders: 3 May in Leamington Essex Co (David Puglia, Sarah McAllister), 5 May in Milford, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), and 18 May in London, Middlesex Co (Deborah Stevens). American White Pelicans were widespread with notable reports from Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Bruce, Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, and Renfrew Cos, the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto, and Durham RM. Black Vultures were also widespread away from Niagara with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Frontenac, and Leeds and Grenville Cos.
This spring was a poor one for Mississippi Kite in the province with only two records: 15 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Kevin Gevaert) and 16 May in Oakville, Halton RM (Rob Dobos)—yes, no kites for Pelee! Swainson’s Hawks were seen on 3 May in Leamington, Essex Co (m. ob.) and 9 May in Grimsby, Niagara RM (Katherine Stoltz). The continuing Red-tailed x Rough-legged Hawk hybrid from February was last reported on 4 Mar in Oriel, Oxford Co (Chad Cornish). News of a Burrowing Owl, present 20–21 Apr in Fergus, Wellington Co unfortunately did not reach the wider birding community until after the bird was gone (Pat Wenstrup). A Crested Caracara was present from 6–7 Apr in Harrow, Essex Co (Eric Leene) and was refound two days later on 9 Apr in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Steve Sadler, Garry T. Sadler). This bird was very mobile and tough to pin down on the days it was present, and despite a concerted effort was not refound again after 9 Apr. Say’s Phoebes were seen from 28 Apr–3 May in Hurkett, Thunder Bay Dist (Susan Fagan) and 11 May in Bowmanville, Durham RM (Mike Berger). Several Western Kingbirds were reported throughout May, part of a notable influx of this species that continued into June: 4 May in the City of Ottawa (fide eBird), 13 May in Grand Bend, Huron Co (Brandon R. Holden), 17–18 May in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Christopher Zayachkowski), 21–26 May near Killaloe, Renfrew Co (Rowan Keunen, Ruby Schweighardt), 25–30 May in the City of Toronto (Morgan Bell, Michael Finucan), and 31 May at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (m. ob.). A hybrid Western x Eastern Kingbird was photographed on 10 May in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Mourad Jabra).
A good number of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were reported this spring: 28 Apr in Thorne, Nipissing Dist (Oriana Pokorny), 30 Apr–1 May in the City of Toronto (Norm Murr, Bob Tyler), 1–2 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Richard Carr), 4–5 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Dave Don), 18–26 May in Rossport, Thunder Bay Dist (Janet Clark), and 28 May in Algonquin Provincial Park, Nipissing Dist (Peter Lariviere). White-eyed Vireos were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Middlesex, Bruce, Lambton, and Norfolk Cos, the Cities of Toronto and Ottawa, and Durham, Waterloo, and Niagara RMs. Away from Carden and Napanee, Loggerhead Shrikes were seen from 13–14 Apr in Stoney Creek, City of Hamilton (Ezra J. Campanelli, Sean Bates), 1–12 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Lindy T. Wagenaar), 10 May at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (Rinchen Boardman), and 17 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Dave Vester). A Black-billed Magpie was a surprising find on 10 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (m. ob.). Fish Crows were widespread with notable records from Frontenac, Prince Edward, Norfolk, Huron, Leeds and Grenville, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Essex, and Elgin Cos and Peel, York, Durham, and Waterloo RMs. There were two records of Rock Wren this spring: 22 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Don Cecile, Bob Shpak, Fred Grenier) and 2 May in Silver Islet, Thunder Bay Dist (Jack Farley). A Mountain Bluebird was present from 20–23 Apr in Kinburn, City of Ottawa (Al Caughey). The only Townsend’s Solitaire of the spring was reported from 9–12 Apr in New Scotland, Chatham-Kent Co (Jude Szabo). The continuing Varied Thrush from the winter in Fitzroy, City of Ottawa was last reported on 15 Mar (m. ob.); another was seen 11 Apr in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Jeff Tunstall).
Old World Sparrows through Buntings
Eurasian Tree Sparrows were seen on 10 May on St. Joseph Island, Algoma Dist (Carter Dorscht), 16–19 May at Sand Bay, Algoma Dist (Ken McIlwrick), and 24 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt). The continuing Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch from the winter was last reported on 13 Mar in Matachewan, Timiskaming Dist (Jared Taman, Kari Dalziel). Lark Sparrows were widespread with reports from Bruce, Haldimand, Chatham-Kent, Prince Edward, and Norfolk Cos and Algoma, Thunder Bay, and Timiskaming Dists. A Lark Bunting was photographed on 18 May in Matachewan, Timiskaming Dist (Jared Taman, Kari Dalziel). The continuing Harris’s Sparrow from the winter in Layton, Durham RM was last reported on 8 Mar (m. ob.); another was present from 30 Apr–6 May in Embro, Oxford Co (Phoebe Campbell). A Henslow’s Sparrow was observed by many on 18 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Richard Carr). The continuing Spotted Towhee from the winter was last observed 26 Apr on St. Joseph Island, Algoma Dist (Rosalie Sauve, Andre Sauve). Yellow-breasted Chats were widespread with reports from Essex, Simcoe, Prince Edward, Norfolk, Haldimand, Northumberland, and Chatham-Kent Cos, Niagara RM, and the Cities of Toronto and Hamilton.
Yellow-headed Blackbirds were widespread with notable reports from Prince Edward, Haliburton, Simcoe, Essex, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Northumberland, and Oxford Cos, the Cities of Toronto and Kawartha Lakes, Halton RM, and Algoma Dist. Notable Western Meadowlark records were: 21 Apr–14 May in London, Middlesex Co (Reuven Martin), 28 Apr in the City of Toronto (Charlie Likely), 17–19 May in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Kenneth G. D. Burrell), and 24–27 May near Norwood, Peterborough Co (Jake Nafziger). An Orchard Oriole present on 12 May at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist was a good record for Northwestern Ontario (m. ob.). Worm-eating Warblers were sighted on 20 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (James T. Burk), 3–5 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau), 11 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Sarah Nagy, Heather Nagy), 13 May in Walsingham, Norfolk Co (Mathias Mutzl, Sharon Mutzl), 16 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), and 27 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Blake A. Mann). Notable reports of Prothonotary Warbler were: 18 May in the City of Toronto (m. ob.) and 30 May into June at Shallow Lake, Grey Co (Will Doel). Kentucky Warblers were recorded from 18–19 Apr on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Taylor Kennedy), 25 Apr in Wheatley, Essex Co (Teo Salgado), 26–30 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Rick Mayos), 8 May in Wheatley, Chatham-Kent Co (Jerald Reb), and 16 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Ray Wershler, Brian Elder) and Wheatley, Essex Co (m. ob.). A singing male Kirtland’s Warbler reported on 18 May near Dyer’s Bay, Bruce Co was a good record of this extremely rare breeding species (Kenneth G. D. Burrell).
Yellow-throated Warblers were widespread with reports from Essex, Bruce, and Chatham-Kent Cos and Durham RM. A Black-throated Gray Warbler photographed on 3 May in Woodstock, Oxford Co was a good spring record for the province (Scott Gillingwater). So too was an even rarer Townsend’s Warbler photographed on 7 May in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Drew Peacock). Summer Tanagers were widespread with reports from Essex, Norfolk, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Bruce, and Huron Cos, the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto, Algoma and Thunder Bay Dists, and York RM. Western Tanagers were seen on 29 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier), 5 May at Thunder Cape, Thunder Bay Dist (m. ob.), 12 May in the City of Greater Sudbury (Derek Lilley), and 23 May in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (Alessandra Kite). A cooperative Blue Grosbeak was present from 24 Apr–3 May in Georgina, York RM (Susan Weatherston); another was seen 30 Apr on Pelee Island, Essex Co (m. ob.). Painted Buntings were reported on 1 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Lynn Beaton) and 12–14 May in Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Dist (Sandy Barro, John Barro). Dickcissels were recorded from 13–16 May in Port Burwell, Elgin Co (Aaron Allensen), 16 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Pete Davidson, Nicole Richardson), 17 May in Mississauga, Peel RM (Peter Landry), 17–18 May in the City of Toronto (Paul Prior), 18 May (m. ob.) and 19 May (Kiah R. Jasper, Alessandra Kite) in Renwick, Chatham-Kent Co, and 27 May in Oliphant, Bruce Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Alessandra Kite).
Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 24 Jul 2026.
Photos–Ontario: Spring 2025
