Winter 2019–2020: 1 Dec–29 Feb
Adam Capparelli
adam.capparelli@alumni.utoronto.ca
Recommended citation:
Capparelli, A. 2026. Winter 2019–2020: Ontario. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-lSu> North American Birds.
The winter of 2019–2020 was predicted to be cold and snowy across Ontario. Interestingly, only half of that prediction held up with a lack of any prolonged cold weather resulting in near to above average temperatures for the province. Initially, it was believed that the strong polar vortex would bring sustained cold to Ontario, however, the vortex ended up on the Eurasian side of the north pole rather than the North American one resulting in limited Arctic air making it to southern Canada. Another contributing factor was warm temperatures in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific which typically results in milder air in eastern North America while focusing cold weather in the western half of the continent. This reversal resulted in January being the fourth warmest on record for much of southern Ontario. Even in northern Ontario, the second half of January saw temperatures as much as ten degrees above seasonal. In the final days of the winter, spring-like warmth emerged with some areas of Ontario coming very close to double-digit temperatures before a final winter storm arrived to drop more snow on southern Ontario as the month ended.
The mild weather didn’t help keep precipitation at bay, however, as average to above average precipitation was recorded across the province. A mix of snow, rain, and ice with several large storms made for an eventful winter in the south. Many areas broke January rain records during a large storm early in the month with totals of over 50mm being widespread in the southern parts of the province.
Although milder winters usually result in a good winter bird list for the province due to several lingering species, such winters are often light on snowfall, unlike this one. In fact, winter 2019–2020 saw one of the lowest species counts for the winter bird list in recent years. Low representation from lingering passerines like warblers and few genuine rarities made this a rather lackluster winter for birding. Additionally, out of the three rarest birds reported this season, only one, a continuing Black-headed Gull, was chaseable.
Notable rarities included Black-headed Gull, Northern Fulmar, and Green-tailed Towhee.
Special thanks:
I would like to extend my gratitude to Andrew Keaveney for assistance in data logistics.
Waterfowl through Doves
Hybrid Redhead x Greater Scaups were seen on 23 Dec in Brights Grove, Lambton Co (fide eBird) and 24 Jan in Burlington, Halton RM (Joanne Redwood). A Redhead x Lesser Scaup hybrid was reported from 20 Jan–6 Feb in Sombra, Lambton Co (Mike Bouman). A Redhead x Scaup sp. hybrid was present on 4 Jan in the City of Toronto (Gavin Platt). A Harlequin Duck seen from 1 Dec–Mar+ in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist was notable for northern Ontario (Carter Dorscht). The continuing Barrow’s Goldeneye from the fall in Owen Sound, Grey Co was present throughout the winter (m. ob.), while the ones from Stoney Creek, City of Hamilton, the City of Toronto, and Bracebridge, Muskoka DM were last seen on 17 Jan (m. ob.), 11 Dec (m. ob.), and 3 Dec (David Goodyear, Regan Goodyear) respectively; other notable reports were 22 Dec–24 Feb in Bala, Muskoka DM (David Goodyear, Regan Goodyear), 27 Jan–4 Feb in Peterborough, Peterborough Co (Matthew Garvin, Iain Rayner), 11–14 Feb at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), and 25 Feb in Cressy, Prince Edward Co (Rick Szabo, Paul Jones). The continuing Common x Barrow’s Goldeneye hybrid from the fall in Stoney Creek, City of Hamilton was last reported on 9 Jan (m. ob.). Eurasian Collared-Doves were present from 14 Dec–11 Feb in Amulree, Perth Co (Jonathan Wilhelm) and 18 Jan–Mar+ in Earlton, Timiskaming Dist (Serge Gendron).
Rails through Raptors
A Common Gallinule present on 28 Dec in Sombra, Lambton Co was a good winter find (Mike Bouman). The continuing Red Phalarope from the fall in Rondeau, Chatham-Kent Co was last seen on 9 Dec (m. ob.). A report of a jaeger sp. on 30 Dec in Little Pike Bay, Bruce Co was notable for winter (Andrew Keaveney). Black-legged Kittiwakes were reported on 22 Dec in Leamington, Essex Co (Jeremy M. Bensette), 1 Jan in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Matt Parsons), and 22 Dec–5 Feb at various locations on the Niagara River, Niagara RM (m. ob.). The continuing Black-headed Gull from the fall in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM was last seen on 20 Feb (m. ob.). A California Gull was reported on 22 Dec in Corunna, Lambton Co (Joshua Bouman). The continuing Slaty-backed Gull from the fall in Brantford, Brant Co was last seen on 10 Dec (m. ob.); others were present from 8–14 Dec in Thorold, Niagara RM (Ryan Griffiths) and 13–19 Dec in London, Middlesex Co (Brandon R. Holden). An Eared Grebe, a first park record, was reported from 2–9 Jan at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Bruce Co (Andrew Keaveney). A Northern Fulmar, the 17th for Ontario, was seen on 15 Dec in the City of Ottawa (Rodolphe Dubois, Greg Rand, Jocelyn Dubois). This record fits with this species’ occurrence in the province, with all records from late October to December and most being seen either in eastern Ontario or on James Bay. The only notable Black Vulture was reported on 24 Dec in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Deryl Nethercott). A Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk hybrid was present on 27 Dec in Gananoque, Leeds and Grenville Co (Chris Heffernan, Stephanie Davidson, Erik Pohanka).
Vireos through Finches
A White-eyed Vireo was reported on 6 Dec in Port Rowan, Norfolk Co (Stuart A. Mackenzie). The long-staying Echo Lake, Algoma Dist Black-billed Magpie was present throughout the winter (m. ob.). A Carolina Wren seen on 9 Dec in Evelyn, Cochrane Dist was a good record for northern Ontario (Linda Audette). A Mountain Bluebird was reported from 6–19 Jan in Atha Road, Durham RM (Charmaine Anderson). Townsend’s Solitaires were seen on 25 Dec in Longlac, Thunder Bay Dist (Fred J. Jennings), 22–23 Jan in Red Lake, Kenora Dist (Merle Nisly), and 22 Feb in Keewatin, Kenora Dist (Christopher Martin). Varied Thrushes visited feeders at an outdoor education centre in Bark Lake, Haliburton Co from 3 Dec–Mar+ (Joe Fortin) and at Miners Bay, Haliburton Co on 11 Dec (Robert Beeney). A Swainson’s Thrush was reported on 15 Dec in the City of Toronto (Howard Shapiro). A Wood Thrush, another rare winter find, was present from 4–5 Dec in the City of Toronto (Katarzyna Kabacinska). A Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch was seen at a feeder in Dryden, Kenora Dist from 19 Jan–Mar+ (Wendy M. Tibbs).
Sparrows through Tanagers
A Grasshopper Sparrow seen on 24 Feb in Walsingham, Norfolk Co was a good addition to the winter list (Stuart A. Mackenzie). A “Gray-headed” Dark-eyed Junco was a notable find on 26 Feb in McCrakins Beach, City of Kawartha Lakes (Teresa M. Boyle-Middleton). The continuing Harris’s Sparrow from the fall in Shouldice, Grey Co was last seen on 1 Dec (m. ob.), while the continuing bird on Ault Island, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Co was present throughout the winter (m. ob.); another was seen from 8 Feb–Mar+ in Tobermory, Bruce Co (Lisa Weiler). Ontario’s ninth record of Green-tailed Towhee was seen from mid December–Mar+ in Abiwin, Rainy River Dist (Judy A. Warren). The bird was present at a private residence and not chaseable. This is the second winter record for this species, with most records occurring in fall, a few spring records and a single summer record. The continuing Spotted Towhee from the fall at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co was present throughout the winter (m. ob.). Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen on 28 Dec on Walpole Island, Lambton Co (James T. Burk), 1 Jan in Bradley, Chatham-Kent Co (Amber Frak, Mike Frak), and 29 Feb–Mar+ in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Deryl Nethercott). A Notable Western Meadowlark was present from 4–5 Jan in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Lynne Sisson). An Ovenbird was seen on 2 Dec in Guelph, Wellington Co (Dean Post). The continuing Yellow-throated Warbler from the fall in Port Bruce, Elgin Co was last reported on 4 Jan (m. ob.). Overwintering Wilson’s Warblers were present on 14 Dec in Middlesex Centre, Middlesex Co (Pete Read) and 6 Dec–Mar+ in Oakville, Halton RM (Richard Pope). The continuing Summer Tanager from the fall in Mount McQuaig, Thunder Bay Dist was last reported on 10 Dec (m. ob.).
Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 22 Sep 2026.
Photos–Ontario: Winter 2019–2020
A Black-headed Gull, initially found in late fall, spent almost the entire winter along the Niagara River in Niagara RM. Photographed here on 5 Feb, it was often difficult to pick out amongst the masses of similar Bonaparte’s Gulls that winter on the river. Photo © Ryan Griffiths; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
This was another winter with multiple records of Slaty-backed Gull, including two at one location in southern Ontario. This bird, photographed here on 8 Dec, was seen until 14 Dec in Thorold, Niagara RM. Photo © Ryan Griffiths; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
This Northern Fulmar was an excellent find on 15 Dec during a Christmas Bird Count in the City of Ottawa. Unfortunately the sighting was not publicized until later that night and the bird was not present the next day. Photo © Greg Rand; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
This Spotted Towhee, photographed here on 14 Jan, spent the entire winter coming to seed at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co where it was seen by many birders. Photo © Paul Jones; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library.
