The following warbler graphs are organized from early season to late season. Note that many species share the same peak dates (mid to late August). All eastern Ontario counties are included in the study area. The study period is from 1990-2017 (I made these outputs in 2017).

Figure 1: Our earliest season warbler, the Yellow Warbler, paired with other abundant, early August species. YEWA, BAWW, AMRE, and CSWA. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario, 1990-2016.

Figure 2: Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart are very similar in frequency (shown), totals, and migration timing. Fall passage in totals, eastern Ontario, 1990-2016.

Figure 3: Cape May and Blackburnian are very similar in frequency, totals (shown), and migration timing. Fall passage in totals, eastern Ontario, 1990-2016.

Figure 4: Golden-winged, Blue-winged, and Brewster’s (hybrid). Not at all typical finds during fall migration! Fall passage in totals, eastern Ontario, 1990-2016.

Figure 5: Mourning Warbler & Canada Warbler. Both are highly sought-after species, and, rightly so! Mourning, in particular, is a prize find. Fall passage in totals, eastern Ontario, 1990-2016.

Figure 6: Ovenbird & Northern Waterthrush; skulkers of the underbrush. Fall passage in totals eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 7: Nashville & Tennessee warblers. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 8: Blackpoll & Bay-breasted warblers. For information on how to separate these two look-a like’s, please see https://eontbird.ca/?p=873. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 9: The Heavyweight Champion of the Warblers, the Connecticut Warbler. The best time to look for this species is from the last few days of August through to the beginning of the second week of September. Very early September, in particular, is prime COWA season. Fall passage in totals, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 10: Northern Parula & Magnolia Warbler. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 11: Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warbler. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 12: Palm Warbler. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 13: Pine Warbler. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 14: Wilson’s Warbler. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 15: Orange-crowned Warbler. A highly sought-after and characteristically late-season migrant. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Figure 16: Yellow-rumped Warbler. Fall passage in frequency, eastern Ontario. 1990-2016.

Baby Birdies Babbling:

By late summer, one may begin to overhear garbled cacophonies of birdsong while out birding. From approximately August through until the following spring, “baby” songbirds “babble” as they take to learning and developing their songs. Continue reading Baby Birdies Babbling →

The Field Identification of the “Hooded” Juncos is officially a work-in-progress. I will cover four subspecies in the document; Slate-colored, Cassiar, Oregon (J. h. montaus as well as J. h. shufeldti) and Pink-sided. I managed to glean all my previous references, as well as gather photos that were previously sent by Ontario birders. This will be self-published and self-edited work, completely open to scrutiny/improvement upon completion. Any additional information/corrections made, will result in an updated PDF. In the meantime, if you have any photos of “hooded” juncos (Cassiar or Oregon…or even a brownish Slate-colored), I’d love to review them and possibly include them in the article! Photos can be sent to eontbird@gmail.com. Please include the date of the observation and the city/town, as well as the county, within Ontario. I think that’s all for now…Good birding.

Oregon Dark-eyed Junco     (Junco hyemalis montanus) and (Junco hyemalis shufeldti) J. h. montanus and J. h. shufeldti

Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis hyemalis)

Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco   (Junco hyemalis mearnsi)

Cassiar Dark-eyed Junco     (Junco hyemalis cismonatnus)

My wife and I thank you for an amazing 2021 tour year! Thanks for supporting Eastern Ontario Birding! I hope that you learned more about birding in eastern Ontario and had fun while doing so. Continue reading Happy Holidays! →

As winter weather sets in all throughout eastern Ontario, backyard birdwatchers may peer outside and see little “fluffballs” resting on branches. You’re bearing witness to one of their cold-weather survival strategies. Continue reading How birds stay warm in the extreme cold →

As the fall colours mature and the days begin to grow cold and weary, birders tend to lose the passion that once was for Passerines, and shift toward new birding horizons. As understandable a paradigm shift this may be, don’t give up on the Songbirds just yet, I say! Continue reading “Late” Warbler Appreciation Month! →

This web article covers some of the less-discussed and more subtle field marks to keep an eye out for when you encounter a Bay-breasted/Blackpoll in the field this fall.

Continue reading Bay-breasted vs. Blackpoll Warblers in Fall →

Private Tours with Eastern Ontario Birding

Ever wanted the guide all to yourselves? Well, now you have the opportunity! I will be providing private tours from July through to December of 2021. Private tours are available on a first come-first served basis. Continue reading Private tour information →

Learning birdsong can be quite a challenge. For some, mnemonics work quite well, for example, the commonly-heard sweet-sweet-shredded wheat of a Yellow Warbler as it sings from a roadside thicket. For others (myself included) visualization is perhaps the essential element to learning each song and getting them glued to the memory bank. Continue reading “Looking” at Similar Songs →

In light of recent COVID-19 updates, the updates of government authorities and of professionals in the health field, I’ve dropped tours until further notice. Continue reading COVID-19 & tours; an update →