Ontario: Spring 2026

This included Glossy Ibis, Western Cattle-Egret (usually more numerous in fall), Lark Sparrow, Yellow-throated Warbler, and Western Tanager. Western Tanagers in particular had a banner year in the province with over ten different birds reported, although most records were at private feeders and not chaseable. Southwestern and western rarities were well-represented this spring beyond the aforementioned Western Tanager, with Ferruginous Hawk, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and Hooded Oriole all being standout rarities in addition to some slightly more regular species like Black-throated Gray Warbler (still quite rare in spring), Lazuli Bunting, Say’s Phoebe, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Notable rarities included Baikal Teal, Garganey, Tufted Duck, Whooping Crane, Great Cormorant, Ferruginous Hawk, Crested Caracara, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Wheatear, Brambling, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and Hooded Oriole.

Special thanks:

We would like to extend our gratitude to Brian Ratcliff and Jeremy L. Hatt for regional reporting and Andrew Keaveney for assistance in data logistics.

Waterfowl through Shorebirds

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are becoming more regular over the years, with this spring adding another two records to the list: 15 Apr in Blue Point, Lambton Co (Melissa Donovan) and 17–20 Apr in Georgetown, Halton RM (Jon Clayton). A Mute Swan, notable for northern Ontario, was reported on 21 Apr in Wawa, Algoma Dist (Tyson Shank). Much discussion surrounded the provenance of a male Baikal Teal present from 5–22 Apr in Leamington, Essex Co (Richard Carr). There is a previous unaccepted record of this species from 31 March 1979 in Ottawa. Much like this year’s bird, that one also showed no apparent signs of captivity. The ‘79 record was rejected due to unknown provenance in part due to two factors: that there was effectively no way to be sure the bird wasn’t an escapee and that an almost-certain escapee Baikal Teal was seen in December 1978 in New Jersey, making it plausible that this same bird appeared a few months later in Ottawa. Less controversial, but still interesting, was a report of a male Garganey photographed on 28 May in Mississauga, Peel RM (fide iNaturalist). Unfortunately, the report was delayed and the bird was not present the next day. Unlike Baikal Teal, Ontario has a few accepted records of Garganey, all from late April to early May. However, a male Garganey was seen in North Carolina in early June, with a few other previous early June records from eastern North America, so the Ontario record is not anomalous with the broader pattern of Garganey vagrancy emerging in the area.

Eurasian Wigeons were widespread with reports from Norfolk, Simcoe, Brant, Grey, Peterborough, Huron, Hastings, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Elgin, Chatham-Kent, Essex, and Lambton Cos, Niagara and York RMs, Thunder Bay, Rainy River, and Cochrane Dists, and the City of Hamilton. Hybrids of Eurasian and American Wigeon were seen from 9 Mar–11 Apr in Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Samuel Perfect), 15–16 Mar in Stoney Creek, City of Hamilton (Rob Dobos), and 15–16 Apr at Big Creek Marsh, Norfolk Co (Brandon R. Holden). A “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal was present on 29 Mar in Paris, Brant Co (William G. Lamond). A rarely seen hybrid Blue-winged x Green-winged Teal, was photographed on 19 Apr at Big Creek Marsh, Norfolk Co (Joshua D. Vandermeulen). The continuing Tufted Duck from the winter was last seen on 11 Mar in Cobourg, Northumberland Co (m. ob.). In addition, two others were seen from 31 Mar–26 Apr in the City of Toronto (Michael Chiu) and 10–21 Apr in Landon Bay, Leeds and Grenville Co (Jon P. Ruddy). A Redhead x Greater Scaup hybrid was reported on 11 Mar in Essex, Essex Co (Mike Burkoski). A hybrid of Ring-necked Duck x Greater Scaup was seen on 8 Mar in Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (James T. Burk) and a Ring-necked Duck x Lesser Scaup hybrid was seen on 16 Mar in Grand Bend, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden). The continuing notable Harlequin Ducks from the winter in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist and Fort Frances, Rainy River Dist were last seen on 2 May (m. ob.) and 3 Mar (Bob Saunders), respectively. A Bufflehead x Common Goldeneye hybrid was present on 30 Mar on Wolfe Island, Frontenac Co (Eric Lamond).

The continuing Barrow’s Goldeneyes from the winter in Owen Sound, Grey Co, Whitby, Durham RM, and Cambridge, Waterloo RM were last reported on 16 Apr (m. ob.), 9 Mar (m. ob.), and 2 Mar (m. ob.), respectively. Additional notable records were: 13–15 Mar in Meaford, Grey Co (Michael Werndley), 21–30 Mar in Oshawa, Durham RM (Sam Collins), and 19 Apr in Clarington, Durham RM (Sarah Delyea). The continuing Willow Ptarmigans seen in the winter on the Detour Lake Road, Cochrane Dist were last reported on 15 Mar (m. ob.). Another bird was seen just north of Cochrane, Cochrane Dist on 7 Mar (Rhonda Donley), while an enterprising individual made several stops along lakes Ontario and Erie: 1 May (Janet Kryzanowski-Wenckstern) and 2 May (William Knee-Walden) in the City of Toronto, 3 May in Mississauga, Peel RM (fide Graeme Leung), and 18–20 May in Rock Point Provincial Park, Haldimand Co (Justin Yetman). This bird appears to have ended up on the shore of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania as of 21 June. There was one final report of Willow Ptarmigan, on 20 May in the City of Toronto (Peter Sproule), which flew past the annual Whimbrel Watch at Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Etobicoke. Only a few lucky birders were present to witness this remarkable observation on the open lake. The continuing Eurasian Collared-Dove from the winter was last reported on 18 Mar in Eden Grove, Bruce Co (m. ob.); additional records were all seen a single day, as is typical for this species in spring: 1 May at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Michael McAllister), 4 May at Erieau, Chatham-Kent Co (Dave Jolly), and 31 May in Ennismore, City of Kawartha Lakes (Daniel J. Riley).

White-winged Doves were seen on 26 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Henrique Pacheco, Kaitlyn Mills), 1–3 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Clint Kuschak, Barbara Kuschak), 1 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Brandon R. Holden), 14–15 May in Geraldton, Thunder Bay Dist (Neil Sheach, Loraine Zawierucha), 18 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Brandon R. Holden), and 22 May in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (John McAllister). Chuck-will’s-widows were recorded on 15 Apr in the City of Toronto (Sterling Sztricsko, Steven Olds), 26–27 May in MacGregor Provincial Park, Bruce Co (Norah Toth, Pam Kinchen), and 27 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Sam Lewis). Notable reports of Yellow Rail were 5–16 May in Bridgenorth, Peterborough Co (Leo Weiskittel, Dave Milsom) and 7 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Mike Hallett). A Whooping Crane, specifically one that goes by the name “Sinclair”, was initially seen on 22 Apr in Blind River, Algoma Dist (Brooke Showan) before settling in at Bruce Mines, Algoma Dist from 24–26 Apr (Tony Ward) where it was a long-awaited provincial tick for Ontario listers that made the trip in time. The same bird was later seen in Michigan. Although this bird comes from a human-assisted population of Whooping Cranes, it is now considered countable. Ontario has a few previous records of this species in the “not accepted, origin questionable” status, as they occurred before the Wisconsin population became countable.

Black-necked Stilts were present from 13 Mar into June in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (Donna Ferguson), 15 Apr in Leamington, Essex Co (Fred Grenier), 21–22 Apr in the City of Ottawa (Chantal Periard), 30 Apr in Kinburn, Huron Co (Doug Gordon), 8–9 May in Kingsville, Essex Co (Heather Vanderkruk), 11–13 May in Bloomfield, Prince Edward Co (Shannon Taylor), and 15 May in Casselman, Prescott and Russell Co (Giovanni Pari). American Avocets were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, and Elgin Cos, Nipissing Dist, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. Piping Plovers were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Simcoe, and Northumberland Cos, Niagara and Durham RMs, the City of Toronto, and Thunder Bay, Rainy River, and Algoma Dists. A Long-billed Dowitcher seen on 22 May in Pass Lake, Thunder Bay Dist was a good record for northwestern Ontario (James Barber, Kenneth G. D. Burrell). There were two reports of Ruff this spring, both only present for a single day: 8 Apr in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (Stephen Taylor) and 23 Apr in Sinclairville, Haldimand Co (Jason Smyrlis). Purple Sandpipers, expected in fall but extremely rare in spring, were seen on 30 May in the City of Ottawa (fide eBird) and 31 May in Port Hope, Northumberland Co (Dan J. MacNeal, Desmond J. MacNeal). Baird’s Sandpiper is also regular in fall, but rare in spring, so a long-staying bird from 24 Apr–12 May was a nice find in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Jack Belleghem, Victoria Pepe, Kevin Gevaert).

Jaegers through Herons

Rare in spring, a Parasitic Jaeger was a good find in the City of Toronto on 25 May (Amanda C. Guercio). A Black-headed Gull was well seen by many as it stopped off at a number of birding hotspots in southwestern Ontario: 24 Apr in Erie Beach, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau), 25 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Ben Sonnenberg), 7 May in Wheatley, Chatham-Kent Co (Bruce Mactavish), 7–13 May in Leamington, Essex Co (m. ob.), 8–9 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Erik Sein), 8 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Alessandra Kite), and 13 May in Renwick, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden, Joshua Bouman). Laughing Gulls were reported from 15–17 Apr in Wheatley on the border of Essex and Chatham-Kent Cos (Richard Carr), 5 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Max Segler), and 23 May in Whitby, Durham RM (Glenn Coady). Notable Franklin’s Gulls were seen on 7 Apr in Oshawa, Durham RM (fide eBird), 9 May in Leamington, Essex Co (m. ob.), 23 May in Evansville, Manitoulin Dist (Gis Segler), and 31 May in the City of Toronto (Joshua D. Vandermeulen). Flyby Arctic Terns were noted on 14 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kenneth G. D. Burrell) and 31 May in the City of Ottawa (Michael Tate, Mark Patry). Both reports of Eared Grebe this spring were near Lake Huron: 26–29 Apr in Kincardine, Bruce Co (James Turland) and 2–3 May in Bright’s Grove, Lambton Co (Deryl Nethercott). Western Grebes were seen from 28 Mar–1 May in the City of Toronto (Erik Sein) and 3–12 Apr in Port Credit, Peel RM (Patricia Kluge).

All reports of Pacific Loon were from Lakes Ontario and Erie: 23 Apr in the City of Toronto (Owen Strickland, Elliott Gordon Graham), 4 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Cameron Chevalier, Olivia Galloway), 9 May in the City of Toronto (Owen Strickland, Jonathan Collins), 21 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Keith J. Burk, Steve Pike, Leah Shaunessy), and 24 May in Whitby, Durham RM (Brian Henshaw). A flyby Great Cormorant was seen on 27 May in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Mark D. Read). Neotropic Cormorants were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Norfolk Cos, Halton RM, and the City of Hamilton. Glossy Ibises were also widespread with reports from Norfolk, Essex, and Northumberland Cos, the City of Hamilton, and Durham, Niagara and Waterloo RMs. White-faced Ibis reports came in from 2 May in Paris, Brant Co (Tom Miller), 7–21 May in Leamington, Essex Co (m. ob.), and 17 May in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (Laure Wilson Neish). Reports of unidentifiable Glossy/White-faced Ibises were: 27 Apr in Crieff, Wellington Co (Samuel Phaneuf), 7 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Gabriel Levac), 8 May in Leamington, Essex Co (Joshua D. Vandermeulen, Max Segler), 17 May in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (Laure Wilson Neish), and 18 May (Emma Buck) and 21 May (Maxwell Giffen) on Long Point, Norfolk Co. The two Essex records were likely the long-staying White-faced Ibis moving around.

The only Yellow-crowned Night Heron reported was on 27 May in Rockport, Leeds and Grenville Co (fide iNaturalist). Little Blue Herons were seen on 19 Apr in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM (Kasia Starska), 5 May in the City of Toronto (Owen Strickland, Elliott Gordon Graham), 22 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Joyce Li) and 31 May in Nipigon, Thunder Bay Dist (Rob Swainson). A Tricolored Heron was present from 26 Apr–21 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Rebecca Seeley), another was seen in the United States but visible from Sarnia, Lambton Co on 28 Apr (m. ob), while a third individual was present on 26 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau, Joshua Bouman). Snowy Egrets were reported on 19 Apr in Scarborough, City of Toronto (Pat Willemsen), 20 Apr in Port Colborne, Niagara RM (Rick Werezak, Diana Werezak), 27 Apr in Grimsby, Niagara RM (fide Jackson Hudecki), 5 May in the City of Toronto (Chad Berry), 9 May in Rush Point, Peterborough Co (Cathy Douglas), 10 May in Lindsay, City of Kawartha Lakes (Maxwell Giffen), and 21 May in Grimsby, Niagara RM (Matthew Cowley). Green Herons seen from 21–22 May in Fort Frances, Rainy River Dist were good records for northern Ontario (Jesse Morris). Western Cattle-Egrets were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, and Norfolk Cos, York and Niagara RMs, and the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto.

Pelicans through Blackbirds

American White Pelicans were widespread away from northwestern and extreme southwestern Ontario with reports from Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Norfolk, Bruce, Northumberland, Prince Edward, Huron, Hastings, Simcoe, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, and Peterborough Cos, Niagara RM, Muskoka DM, Manitoulin Dist, and the Cities of Kawartha Lakes, Hamilton, and Toronto. Black Vultures were widespread away from the Niagara River corridor with reports from Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Norfolk, Simcoe, Prince Edward, and Leeds and Grenville Cos, Halton RM, and the City of Hamilton. The only Swallow-tailed Kite of the spring was a flyby on 20 May in Stratford, Perth Co (Vicki Ryder). Mississippi Kites were seen on 20 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Jack Belleghem, Victoria Pepe) and 22 May in Kitchener, Waterloo RM (Kieran Dykstra, Ev Danis). A Swainson’s Hawk was photographed on 22 May near Eagle River, Kenora Dist (Brett Fried) while another was picked up and later released at an undisclosed date in Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Peel RM (Keith Everett). A Ferruginous Hawk was briefly seen on 20 May at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth). Despite Ontario having no record of Red-naped Sapsuckers, hybrid Yellow-bellied x Red-naped Sapsuckers are reported with some regularity; this spring one was photographed on 26 May in the City of Ottawa (Aidan Hamilton). An American Three-toed Woodpecker seen on 10 Apr in North Bay, Nipissing Dist was slightly south of their typical winter range (fide iNaturalist). A Black-backed Woodpecker, likely the continuing one from the winter, was seen on 14 May near Centreton, Northumberland Co (Matt Mair).

Both records of Crested Caracara this spring were unchaseable: 23 Mar in Essex, Essex Co (Corinne Allsop) and 27 May in Oil Springs, Lambton Co (Scott Connop). An Acadian Flycatcher was notable on 25 May at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (Lloyd Paul). Say’s Phoebes were present from 3–17 Apr in Port Hope, Northumberland Co (Roger Frost) and 25 May in Harris Hill, Rainy River Dist (Nathan Hood, Max Segler). An Ash-throated Flycatcher was a great find at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co and was present for a few days from 11–13 May, allowing hundreds of birders to see this southwestern rarity (Isabel J. Apkarian). The only Western Kingbird seen this spring was on 16 May in Burwash, Sudbury Dist (Craig Roach). White-eyed Vireos were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Wellington, Norfolk, and Peterborough Cos and the City of Toronto. A Bell’s Vireo was another long-staying rarity from 6–15 May in Kitchener, Waterloo RM—most records of this species in Ontario are only around for one or two days (Benjamin Hood). Notable Loggerhead Shrikes were seen on 10 May in Cambridge, Waterloo RM (Christy Randall) and 15 May in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Mike Coyne). Fish Crows were widespread away from western Lake Ontario with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Norfolk, Simcoe, Prince Edward, Frontenac, and Leeds and Grenville Cos. A Tufted Titmouse seen on 26 Apr in Pembroke, Renfrew Co was notable regionally (Robin Cunningham). A Violet-green Swallow was a flyby seen near Renwick, Chatham-Kent Co on 13 May (Brandon R. Holden). A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was a good find for northern Ontario on 19 May on Caribou Island, Thunder Bay Dist (Max Segler). A Mountain Bluebird was present from 15–17 Apr in Cumberland, City of Ottawa (Rob Pinilla).

The only Townsend’s Solitaire of the spring was seen on 21 Mar in Kincardine, Bruce Co (Ethan Meleg). A Northern Wheatear was a great find in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist, present from 22–24 May (Patrick Chondon). Both reports of Eurasian Tree Sparrow were from northern Ontario where this species is more frequently seen: 28–30 Apr in Wabigoon, Kenora Dist (Kate Kroeker) and 25 May in Lake Superior Provincial Park, Algoma Dist (Mikhaela Johnson). A Brambling visited a feeder in Jellicoe, Thunder Bay Dist from 21–25 Apr (Jim Savage). Ontario’s fourth record of Chestnut-collared Longspur unsurprisingly came from Rainy River Dist with a breeding-plumaged male photographed on 29 May at Windy Point (Bob Saunders). A Grasshopper Sparrow present from 16–24 May in Hurkett, Thunder Bay Dist was a good record for northern Ontario (Pegg L. Campbell, Mark Campbell). A Chipping x Clay-colored Sparrow hybrid was seen on 9 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt). Lark Sparrows were widespread with reports from Essex, Bruce, and Chatham-Kent Cos. Halton RM, the City of Toronto, and Algoma, Thunder Bay, and Rainy River Dists. The continuing Harris’s Sparrow from the winter in Hickson, Oxford Co was last reported on 5 May (m. ob.); other notable reports were 15 Apr in Wawa, Algoma Dist (Bob Elliott), 12 May in Timmins, Cochrane Dist (Corinne Lamontagne), and 31 May into June in Bracebridge, Muskoka DM (Quinten Wiegersma, Dana Latour).

A White-crowned x White-throated Sparrow hybrid was present from 29 Apr–3 May in Walsingham, Norfolk Co (Adam Timpf). A Dark-eyed Junco x White-throated Sparrow hybrid was seen on 1 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Marsha Duggan). Migrant Henslow’s Sparrows were present from 14–15 Apr in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Steve Pike) and 13–14 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Rob Mikulec). A Spotted Towhee was seen on 29 May in Ajax, Durham RM (Erin Brady). Yellow-breasted Chats were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Prince Edward Cos and the Cities of Hamilton and Toronto. Yellow-headed Blackbirds were widespread away from Lake St. Clair and Northwestern Ontario with reports from Essex, Lambton, Frontenac, Simcoe, Haliburton, Lennox and Addington, and Lanark Cos, Niagara RM, the City of Greater Sudbury, and Algoma and Nipissing Dists. The continuing Western Meadowlark from the winter in the City of Ottawa was last reported on 8 Mar (m. ob.); other notable reports were 26 Mar–9 Apr in Desbarats, Algoma Dist (Jane Smith) and 31 May into June at Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes (Nehan Fernandez). Orchard Orioles are rarely seen in northern Ontario so one visiting a feeder on 20 May in Timmins, Cochrane Dist was a good find (Diana Lacasse). Ontario’s fourth record of Hooded Oriole was seen at a private feeder in Rockwood, Wellington Co from 9–15 May. Unfortunately the owners did not want visitors, so this record, like all but one of the previous, was unchaseable (Sandra Newell). Bullock’s Orioles were seen at feeders in Tehkummah, Manitoulin DIst on 21 May (Kelsey Laidlaw) and Terrace Bay, Thunder Bay Dist from 26–30 May (Lisa A. Jacques, Micky Jacques).

Warblers through Buntings

A number of Worm-eating Warblers were seen in Southwestern Ontario: 8 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Rob Porter), 8 May at Holiday Beach, Essex Co (Jacob Stasso), 10 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Kevin Kerr), 10–11 May (m. ob.), 14 May (Jenny Brown), and 19–20 May (Brandon R. Holden) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co, 20–21 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Max Hellicar, Pilar Caicedo, Alex Rosenfeld), and 28 May in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Lance Allin). Kentucky Warblers were similarly limited to the southwestern corner of the province: 4 May (Brett Fried) and 10–11 May (Reuven Martin) in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co, 10 May (m. ob.) and 17 May (Kiah R. Jasper, Alessandra Kite) on Pelee Island, Essex Co, 25 May at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (Scott Connop), and 27 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Mike Austin). A large number of Kirtland’s Warbler sightings this spring is always a positive sign, highlighted by two birds on territory from 26 May into June in Barrie, Simcoe Co (Reuven Martin). Migrants were reported on 15 May in Scarborough, City of Toronto (Andrew Lai), 16 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Keith J. Burk), 17 May in Oshawa, Durham RM (Steve Picken), 25 May in MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Bruce Co (Andrea Kauppinen), and 29 May in Goodwood, Durham RM (Brandon MacMurray).

The continuing “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler from the winter was last reported on 17 Apr in Oakville, Halton RM (m. ob.); others were seen on 22 Apr in Mississauga, Peel RM (Marc Alari, Kylo Alari), and 30 Apr–1 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Mara Glane). Yellow-throated Warblers were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, and Norfolk Cos, Halton and Niagara RMs, Muskoka DM, and the City of Toronto. A Black-throated Gray Warbler, rare at any time of year, but more so in spring than fall/winter was seen on 24 Apr at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (Barbara O’Neill). Summer Tanagers were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Peterborough, Lambton, Norfolk, Renfrew, Wellington, Haldimand, Huron, Hastings, Northumberland, Brant, Oxford, Bruce, and Simcoe Cos, Durham, Niagara, York, Halton, and Waterloo RMs, the Cities of Toronto and Ottawa, and Algoma and Thunder Bay Dists. It was a fantastic spring for Western Tanagers which were widespread with reports from Chatham-Kent, Renfrew, Haldimand, Norfolk, Frontenac, Bruce, Lennox and Addington, and Grey Cos, Durham RM, Algoma, Kenora, and Thunder Bay Dists, and the Cities of Toronto and Greater Sudbury.

A Black-headed Grosbeak visited a feeder in Shuniah, Thunder Bay Dist from 21–23 May (Adele Blomquist, Randy Ellis). Blue Grosbeaks were seen on 1 May in Silver Water, Manitoulin Dist (Gerard Binsfield), 10 May at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (m. ob.), 13 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Sarah Beaudin), 13 May in Renwick, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden, Joshua Bouman), 16 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kenneth G. D. Burrell), 16 May in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Tomasz Freyer), and 17 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Alessandra Kite). Both reports of Lazuli Bunting were from Timiskaming Dist in northeastern Ontario: 3 May in Matachewan (Jared Taman, Kari Dalziel) and 5–11 May in New Liskeard (Aubrey Slocombe). Painted Buntings were seen on 27 Apr in Ignace, Kenora Dist (fide iNaturalist), 3–5 May in Dyers Bay, Bruce Co (fide Kiah Jasper), 12 May in Belleville, Hastings Co (via Ontario Birds Facebook), 16–17 May in Dryden, Kenora Dist (Karen Woitowicz), and 24–25 May on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Sam Lewis). Dickcissels were reported on 5 May in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (m. ob.), 6 May in New Hamburg, Waterloo RM (Howard Williams), 13 May in Renwick, Chatham-Kent Co (Brandon R. Holden, Joshua Bouman), 16 May on Pelee Island, Essex Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Alessandra Kite), 17 May in Brantford, Brant Co (Sarah Lamond), 17 May in the City of Toronto (Kaliopi Nikitas), and 18 May (m. ob.), 19 May (Cameron Chevalier), and 20 May (m. ob.) in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 12 Aug 2026.