Ontario: Summer 2026

It was a relatively quiet summer for rare birds with most of the notable records coming from the first week of June during the last push of spring migration, as is typical in the province. Although several interesting rarities were reported, including one potential first provincial record, only one of the most interesting rare birds was chaseable, and even then, it was only present a single day.

Notable rarities included Broad-billed Hummingbird, White Ibis, Brown Pelican, Rock Wren, and Shiny Cowbird.

Special thanks:
I would like to extend my gratitude to Andrew Keaveney for assistance in data logistics.

Waterfowl through Shorebirds

A group of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks was seen on 18 Jun in Rosedene, Niagara RM (Steven Vanderzanden), while a single bird was present on 6 Jul in Port Dover, Norfolk Co (fide Trisha Snider) and 8 Jul in St. Williams, Norfolk Co (fide Stuart A. Mackenzie). A Greater White-fronted Goose was a good summer find from 10 Jul–Aug+ in the City of Ottawa (Tom Kozelj). Out of place Brants were seen from 22–23 Jun in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Josh Balec) and 3–23 Jul in the City of Ottawa (Tate Thiessen). The continuing Eurasian Wigeon from the spring was last reported on 10 Jun in Moonbeam, Cochrane Dist (Adam Capparelli, m. ob.), while another was seen on 2 Jun at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth). A Eurasian Collared-Dove was spotted at a private residence from 30 Jul–Aug+ in Brantford, Brant Co (Dean Kingston). A White-winged Dove visited a feeder in Sioux Lookout, Kenora Dist from 5–11 Jun (Ruth Coughlin). A Broad-billed Hummingbird, was present from 19–22 Jul at a feeder near Kenora, Kenora Dist (Heather Buffie). This marks the third year in a row that this species has been recorded in Ontario, with all records at private locations where permission for the public was denied.

The continuing Black-necked Stilt family was seen throughout the summer in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (m. ob.); another pair was present from 21–27 Jun in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau). American Avocets were present from 3–4 Jun in Emo, Rainy River Dist (Barry Coombs), 5 Jun in Fort Frances, Rainy River Dist (Bob Saunders), 10 Jul in Lakeshore, Essex Co (Ian Woodfield), and 19 Jul in Mattawa, Nipissing Dist (Maggie Davis). The continuing Piping Plovers at Wasaga Beach, Simcoe Co, Oshawa, Durham RM, and Long Point, Norfolk Co were all present throughout the summer (m. ob.), while those at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Northumberland Co were last seen on 28 Jul (m. ob.). Willets were reported on 2 Jun in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist (Gregory Heroux), 2 Jul at Baie Du Dore, Bruce Co (Bob Taylor, Anne-Marie Taylor), 14 Jul in Pinery Provincial Park, Lambton Co (Mike V. A. Burrell), 21 Jul in Grand Bend, Lambton Co (Brandon R. Holden), and 21 Jul in Kincardine, Bruce Co (Bill Hatten).

Jaegers through Ibis

Parasitic Jaegers, rarely seen before August in the province, were seen on 7 Jun in Cornwall, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Jon P. Ruddy) and 26 Jun in the City of Toronto (Jonathan Collins). Laughing Gulls were present on 5 Jun in Port Colborne, Niagara RM (fide eBird), 9–13 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Max Hellicar), 9–10 Jun in Owen Sound, Grey Co (William Gray), and 14–23 Jun at Point Abino, Niagara RM (Sam Flake). Notable Franklin’s Gulls were reported on 27 Jun in Petawawa, Renfrew Co (Kyla Marino) and 8 Jul in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (Walter Parker). Northbound Arctic Terns were recorded on 2 Jun (m. ob.) and 11 Jun (Jon P. Ruddy) in the City of Ottawa. An Eared Grebe was photographed on 21 Jul in Strathroy, Middlesex Co (fide iNaturalist). A Western Grebe, likely the same one from the spring, was present from 25 Jun–23 Jul in the City of Toronto (Nicholas Earl). Neotropic Cormorants were seen on 17 Jun in Muscote Bay, Prince Edward Co (Brandon R. Holden), 6 Jul in Cambridge, Waterloo RM (Anthony Vanderheyden), and 9 Jul at Kettle Point, Lambton Co (Bill Lindley). A Double-crested x Neotropic Cormorant hybrid, an inevitable hybrid combination given the increasing number of Neotropic Cormorant records, was photographed on 26 Jul in Ajax, Durham RM (Jax Nasimok). An adult White Ibis was seen flying over Barrie, Simcoe Co on 7 Jun but could not be refound (Maxwell Giffen). A White-faced Ibis was present from 4–7 Jun in Thedford, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth). Unidentified Glossy/White-faced Ibises were seen on 9 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Doug Tozer) and 20 Jun at Port Burwell, Elgin Co (Aaron Allensen).

Herons through Shrikes

A Little Blue Heron was a good find in Rainy River, Rainy River Dist on 1 Jun (Chris Risley, Ben Taylor). Tricolored Herons were seen briefly on 13 Jun in Thornbury, Grey Co (Lynne Richardson) and 22 Jun in the City of Ottawa (Vincent Fyson). Snowy Egrets were reported on 4 Jun in Essex, Essex Co (fide eBird), 7 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Max Hellicar), 10–17 Jun in Collingwood, Simcoe Co (Jack Starret), 16 Jun at Britannia Point, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co (Ken Behrens), and 2 Jul at Southampton, Bruce Co (Erik Sein). Notable Green Herons were seen on 4 Jun at Emo, Rainy River Dist (Chris Risley, Ben Taylor) and Rainy River, Rainy River Dist (Barry Coombs, Mimi Brenninkmeijer, David Smitley). Western Cattle-Egrets were present on 27 Jun in the City of Hamilton (Barry Cherriere) and 30 Jun in Sillsville, Lennox and Addington Co (fide Chris Grooms). American White Pelicans were widespread away from northern and extreme southwestern Ontario with reports from Bruce, Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Wellington, Leeds and Grenville, and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Cos, The Cities of Ottawa and Hamilton, and Manitoulin Dist. A Brown Pelican was initially spotted on 27 Jul in the City of Toronto (Mark DeAbreu) before settling in for the day in the City of Hamilton on 29 Jul (fide Rob Dobos).

Notable Black Vultures were present from 15 Jul–Aug+ in the City of Hamilton (Sean Bates) and 21 Jul in Bowmanville, Durham RM (Glenn Coady). Notable Golden Eagles were reported on 2 Jun in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Trent Massey) and 1 Jul at Carden Alvar, City of Kawartha Lakes (Colleen Reilly). A notable Acadian Flycatcher was present on 10 Jun in Frontenac Provincial Park, Frontenac Co (James Boccia). A Western Kingbird was reported on 1 Jun from Sable Islands Provincial Park, Rainy River Dist (Jacob Stasso). An unidentified yellow-bellied Kingbird sp. was seen on 22 Jul in St. Williams, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie). A small colony of three singing male White-eyed Vireos was present this summer in Port Royal, Norfolk Co (Samuel Perfect, Stuart A. Mackenzie); others were seen on 3 Jun in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Stephen R. Charbonneau), 5 Jun in Leamington, Essex Co (Jeremy M. Bensette), 7 Jun in Grimsby, Niagara RM (Mike MacLeod), and 28 Jun in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Co (Matthew Roorda). A notable Loggerhead Shrike was present on 10 Jun in the City of Ottawa (fide eBird).

Crows through Buntings

The long-staying Fish Crows in Kingston, Frontenac Co were still present this summer (m. ob.). A Rock Wren was observed from the water on 1 Jul in Pukaskwa National Park, Thunder Bay Dist (Evan Timusk). A Northern House Wren heard on 9 Jul in Moose Factory, Cochrane Dist was a good record for the lowlands region (Keith Gregoire). A Lark Sparrow was seen from 12–13 Jul in Port Hope, Northumberland Co (Bill Cassells). A “Gray-headed” Dark-eyed Junco was a surprising find on 25 Jul in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Jeremy M. Bensette). The continuing Harris’s Sparrow from the spring in Bracebridge, Muskoka DM was last seen on 1 Jun (m. ob.). Migrant Nelson’s Sparrows were reported on 3 Jun in the City of Toronto (Noam Markus) and 5 Jun in Aurora, York RM (Peter Burke). Continuing Yellow-breasted Chats from the spring were last seen on 20 Jun in Ancaster, City of Hamilton (m. ob.) and 16 Jul on Pelee Island, Essex Co (m ob.); others were reported on 7 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Sam Cameron), 11–26 Jun in Grand Bend, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), 14–16 Jun in Barrie, Simcoe Co (David Britton), and 25–26 Jun at the Fishing Lake Road NCC property, Frontenac Co (Jon P. Ruddy).

Notable Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen from 3–4 Jun on Long Point, Norfolk Co (Sue Drotos) and 19 Jun in Oakville, Halton RM (Rob Crawford). The continuing Western Meadowlark from the spring was last reported on 20 Jun at Carden Alavar, City of Kawartha Lakes (m. ob.); others were recorded from 7–14 Jun in Kirkfield, City of Kawartha Lakes (Simon Henshaw, Brian Henshaw), 9–18 Jun in South Bay, Prince Edward Co (Alvaro Jaramillo), and 27 Jun–19 Jul on Barrie Island, Manitoulin Dist (Henrique Pacheco, Kaitlyn Mills). A likely Shiny Cowbird was photographed on 5 Jun flying over Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Brandon R. Holden, Cameron Chevalier). Pending review and acceptance by the provincial records committee, this would be a first record for the province. The continuing Kirtland’s Warblers in Barrie, Simcoe Co were last reported on 28 Jun (m. ob.). A Yellow-throated Warbler was seen on 31 Jul on Eileen Gowan Island, Muskoka DM (Curtis Smith). A Summer Tanager was present on 5 Jun in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Brandon R. Holden, Cameron Chevalier). A Blue Grosbeak was reported on 11 Jul in Duthill, Lambton Co (Henrique Pacheco, Sarah Lamond). A Lazuli x Indigo Bunting hybrid was seen from 22–24 Jul In Millar, Thunder Bay Dist (Laura Heerema). Dickcissels were widespread with reports from Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Huron, Brant, Prescott and Russell, and Bruce Cos.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 26 Aug 2026.