Winter 2025–2026: 1 Dec–28 Feb

Adam Capparelli
adam.capparelli@alumni.utoronto.ca

Recommended citation:

Capparelli, A. 2026. Winter 2025–2026: Ontario. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-lKV> North American Birds.

Winter 2025–2026 remained cold and snowy throughout. The persistent above-normal temperatures of late fall resulted in water temperatures on the Great Lakes being warmer than usual. As temperatures fell during the winter, significant lake-effect snow storms were common, dumping much of the province with extreme levels of snow, with Grey-Bruce and Simcoe being especially hard hit. Even Toronto wasn’t spared, as the city saw a record-breaking 56 centimetres of snow in a single day on January 25. There were several periods of extreme cold as well—Kirkland Lake recorded its coldest temperature reading in 42 years on January 24 of -43.7 Celsius. The drop in temperatures accelerated ice cover across the Great Lakes with all lakes showing above- to near-average ice cover compared to historical values. Although there were a few periods of warmer weather towards the end of the winter, there was no major thaw in January or February in southern Ontario as has been typical for the past several winters.

Due to the cold and snowy conditions, the winter list was below average and well below the banner years of 2020–2024. Despite this, there were quite a few interesting birds to be seen, including a few significant rarities. The winter finch irruption continued with all winter finch species as well as Bohemian Waxwings being recorded in Southern Ontario. The Black-backed Woodpecker irruption which started in the fall picked up steam this winter with many records across south-central Ontario as far south as York region, just north of Toronto. Great Gray Owls had a second consecutive irruption year as well with several individuals just outside the Greater Toronto Area. As mentioned in the fall report, Snowy Owls were a little easier to find this winter as well compared to the past two years.

Notable rarities included Tufted Duck, Vega Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, and Townsend’s Warbler.

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 Ptarmigans

A “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal was present sporadically in the City of Hamilton from 4 Dec–21 Feb (Richard Poort). A male Tufted Duck spent most of the winter along the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario: first seen from 2–10 Jan in Mississauga, Peel RM (Jane Jaques), it was then briefly present in the City of Toronto on 10 Feb (Allison Zhang) before being refound again on 14 Feb in Cobourg, Northumberland Co, where it remained into March (Kris Ito). A hybrid Redhead x Greater Scaup was photographed on 22 Feb in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (Brandon R. Holden). Redhead x Lesser Scaup hybrids were seen on 11 Feb in Courtright, Lambton Co (Mike Bouman) and 16 Feb in LaSalle, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt). A hybrid Redhead x Scaup sp. was reported on 12 Feb in Courtright, Lambton Co (Mike Bouman). Rounding out the Aythya hybrids were two reports of Tufted Duck x Scaup sp. hybrids: 3–22 Feb in Fort Erie, Niagara RM (Walter Parker) and 16–21 Feb in LaSalle, Essex Co (Jeremy L. Hatt). Harlequin Ducks present from 20 Dec into March in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Dist (Carter Dorscht) and 7 Feb into March in Fort Frances, Rainy River Dist (Bob Saunders) were good records for Northern Ontario.

Notable reports of Barrow’s Goldeneye were: long-returning birds in Owen Sound, Grey Co (m. ob.) and Whitby, Durham RM (m. ob.) present throughout the winter, 3 Dec off Big Island, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones), 26 Dec in Parrott’s Bay, Lennox and Addington Co (Bruce Ripley), 20 Jan–21 Feb in Corunna, Lambton Co (Blake A. Mann), 14–17 Feb in Jordan Harbour, Niagara RM (Ella Hicks), and 15 Feb into March in Cambridge, Waterloo RM (Tim Kuntz). It was an irruption year for Willow Ptarmigan with many groups of birds scattered around the Cochrane area including several flocks on the road to Detour Lake gold mine from 27 Dec into March (Bob Cumming, Rob Cumming, Ella Foo) and birds in Smooth Rock Falls, Cochrane Dist from 24 Jan–16 Feb (Ken Williams).

Doves through Woodpeckers

A Eurasian Collared-Dove was present at a feeder in Eden Grove, Bruce Co from at least 20 Feb into March (Amanda Plakholm). The lingering Black-bellied Plover from November at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co remained until 3 Dec (Richard Carr), while another was seen on 2 Dec on Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington Co (Barbara O’Neill). Joining the plover at Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co was a White-rumped Sandpiper, a very rare winter bird in the province, 1–13 Dec (Richard Carr). The last notable shorebird seen this winter was a Pectoral Sandpiper in Leamington, Essex Co on 6 Dec (James T. Burk). All reports of Black-legged Kittiwake this winter were from Lake Huron: 25 Dec in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Matt Parsons), 29 Dec in Ipperwash, Lambton Co (James M. Holdsworth), and 8–10 Jan in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (James Turland, Becky Grieveson, Simon Turland). What would be Ontario’s second accepted record of Vega Gull was present from 2–3 Jan in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM (Andrew Brown, Gianco Angelozzi-Blanco, Olivia Maillet). Although certainly around for longer than the two days, it was extremely difficult to pick out from the masses of American Herring Gulls that winter on the Niagara River every year. At the same location in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM as the Vega Gull, a Glaucous-winged Gull was also present from 15–18 Dec (Tom Kerr). Although easier to identify than the Vega Gull, viewing conditions were still difficult and the bird was easier seen from the American side of the river. A Slaty-backed Gull was seen in Verona, Frontenac Co from 11–20 Jan (Christine Hough). This species, along with the rarer Glaucous-winged Gull, is becoming increasingly regular in Ontario.

Western Grebes were present on 13 Dec in the City of Hamilton (Ina Legzdins, Sarah Richer), 24 Dec–14 Jan in Owen Sound, Grey Co (A. Nicholson), and 7 Jan in Inverhuron, Bruce Co (Kiah R. Jasper, Josh Stewart). A Pacific Loon was seen on 18 Dec in the City of Hamilton (Richard Poort, Jude Szabo). A Hybrid Red-tailed x Rough-legged Hawk, likely a returning bird, was seen on 14 Feb near Oriel, Oxford Co (Scott Gillingwater). It was a fantastic irruption winter for Black-backed Woodpecker with many sightings well south of their typical range. Especially notable records were: the continuing bird from Sandbanks Provincial Park, Prince Edward Co which was last reported on 7 Jan (m. ob.), 1 Jan–16 Feb near Centreton, Northumberland Co (Susanne Williams), 18 Jan–1 Feb in Udora, York RM (Trina M Leitch), and 15 Feb in Newmarket, York RM (Amanda Brittin).

Vireos through New World Sparrows

The continuing White-eyed Vireo from the fall in the City of Hamilton was last reported on 1 Dec (m. ob.), another was present from 5–6 Dec at a different location in Dundas, City of Hamilton (Rob Dobos). A Blue-headed Vireo was a good winter find on 8 Dec in Guelph, Wellington Co (Randy Husson). In addition to the long-staying Fish Crows in Kingston, Frontenac Co (m. ob.) the other notable report of this species this winter was from 24–28 Feb in Prescott, Leeds and Grenville Co (Isma Giralt). A Tree Swallow, rare, but not totally unexpected in winter in southern Ontario, was seen on 6 Dec in Point Pelee National Park, Essex Co (Aldo Bertucci). A Mountain Bluebird was briefly present on 15 Feb in Port Hope, Northumberland Co (Matthew Tobey).

Several Townsend’s Solitaires were reported across the province, as is now typical of the season: 5 Dec (Reid Mason), 14–26 Dec (Calvin Knorr), 26 Dec–23 Jan (Lynda Sisco, Merle Nisly), and 13 Jan (Jake O’Flaherty) in Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Dist, 27 Dec–18 Jan in Milton, Halton RM (Sarah Lamond, Jakub Vidimlic), 3–7 Jan in Sandbanks Provincial Park, Prince Edward Co (Matthew Tobey), 7 Jan in Deloro, Hastings Co (Crystal Kirkman, Robert Watkins), and 31 Jan in Lion’s Head, Bruce Co (Adrian Fox). About half of the Townsend’s Solitaire records came from Thunder Bay District, an area with an extremely small population of bird watchers, so one has to wonder just how many individuals are actually roaming this region of the province that time of year. A Swainson’s Thrush seen on 2 Dec in the City of Ottawa was a good winter bird (Aidan Hamilton) as was a Wood Thrush present on 16 Dec in Oakville, Halton RM (Clive Hodder). Overwintering Harris’s Sparrows were present from 3 Dec into March in Hickson, Oxford Co (Richard Skevington) and 29 Dec–8 Jan at Prince Edward Point, Prince Edward Co (Paul Jones). A Spotted Towhee was an exciting find at a backyard feeder in Brampton, Peel RM from 18–28 Jan (Galina Szlapetis).

Blackbirds through Buntings

Yellow-headed Blackbirds were reported from 28 Dec–9 Jan in Kinburn, City of Ottawa (Michael Runtz, Britta Runtz), 4 Jan on Walpole Island, Lambton Co (James T. Burk), and 28 Feb into March in Kingston, Frontenac Co (Mike Brais). A Western Meadowlark was seen by many in the City of Ottawa from 6 Dec into March (Ian Davidson). An Ovenbird was an exciting Christmas Bird Count find in the City of Toronto on 14 Dec (m. ob.)—this species has been reported with more regularity in winter in the GTA, though still not to be expected. A Cape May Warbler was at a known winter passerine trap in Oakville, Halton RM from 7–8 Dec (Jon P. Ruddy). A Bay-breasted Warbler initially seen at the end of November was present until at least 1 Dec in the City of Ottawa (Richard Killeen). A Northern Yellow Warbler reported from 5–8 Dec in Dundas, City of Hamilton was the only one this winter (Rob Dobos). At the same location in Oakville, Halton RM as the Cape May Warbler was an “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler, seen throughout the winter from its discovery on 7 Dec into March (Jon P. Ruddy).

The continuing Yellow-throated Warblers from the fall were last reported on 10 Dec in Sarnia, Lambton Co (Deryl Nethercott) and 4 Dec in Tarbutt, Algoma Dist (Barbara Good). The Black-throated Gray Warbler first seen in the fall was last seen on 27 Dec in Port Colborne, Niagara RM (m. ob.). Rounding out the rare warblers, the Townsend’s Warbler in Mississauga, Peel RM, initially reported in fall, was last recorded on 7 Dec (m. ob.). Summer Tanagers were seen from 7–14 Dec in Cambridge, Waterloo RM (Peter Barr) and 7 Jan in the City of Toronto (John Carley). The continuing Western Tanager from the fall was last seen on 1 Dec in Shuniah, Thunder Bay Dist (m. ob.). Dickcissels were present from 11 Dec–19 Jan in Bickford, Lambton Co (Mike Bouman) and 14–31 Dec in Harrisburg, Brant Co (Rob Crawford).

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 24 Aug 2026.

Photos–Ontario: Winter 2025–2026

Although there are still less than ten records for the province, Glaucous-winged Gull has occurred near-annually since the first record in 2020. This bird, photographed in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM on 16 December was enjoyed by birders on both sides of the border. Photo © Laurence Blight.

Another view of the Glaucous-winged Gull in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM (here on 16 December). Primarily observed from the American side of the river, the bird was only seen from Canada between the 15th and 18th of December but was present to at least the 5th of January. Photo © Walter Parker.

Ontario’s second accepted record of Vega Gull was photographed on 2 January in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM at the same location as the Glaucous-winged Gull. Although many observers searched for it, it was only seen briefly the next day. Photo © Andrew Brown.

A flight shot of Ontario’s second record of Vega Gull from 2 January in Niagara Falls, Niagara RM. Due to the large number of gulls at this location, relocating the bird was difficult. Photo © Andrew Brown.

This winter saw a significant and widespread irruption of Black-backed Woodpeckers into Eastern and south-central Ontario with birds reported as far south as the Greater Toronto Area. Although many remained throughout the winter, they were often elusive and some individuals, such as this one photographed on 15 February in Newmarket, York RM, were present for only a single day. Photo © Amanda Brittin.

Spotted Towhees are rare but regular winter visitors to Ontario, typically at private feeders. This individual was no different, present from 18–28 January in Brampton, Peel RM. Photographed here on 27 January, it was easily seen from a trail running behind the house, allowing many birders to add this species to their year and winter lists. Photo © Jordan Liu.