Last Updated on April 20, 2023 by Lily Aldrin
Hi there, fellow bird enthusiasts! As someone who has spent countless hours in awe of the vibrant birdlife in Ontario, I am excited to share with you the beauty and
Last Updated on April 20, 2023 by Lily Aldrin
Hi there, fellow bird enthusiasts! As someone who has spent countless hours in awe of the vibrant birdlife in Ontario, I am excited to share with you the beauty and diversity of finches in this Canadian province.
From their cheerful melodies to their colorful plumage, finches are a delightful sight to behold.
In this article, we will explore 10 types of finches that call Ontario their home.
Join me as we delve into the world of these charming birds and discover their unique characteristics and behaviors.
Let’s dive into the fascinating world of finches in Ontario and appreciate their role in the province’s avian biodiversity!
Types of Finches in Ontario
1. American Goldfinch
The American Goldfinch is a year-round resident of southern Ontario, although its population swells in spring and summer for breeding.
For the province as a whole, they appear on 44% of summertime and 27% of winter checklists.
The American goldfinch is a much-admired bird.
In the early spring, the males are striking black and yellow.
Both sexes are a darker brown in the winter, although females are much darker.
The American Goldfinch is a widespread, year-round bird that may be found throughout the majority of North America.
On the other hand, those that nest across the Midwest and Canada go south to the United States for the winter.
The American Goldfinch prefers asters, sunflowers, and thistles and may be found in weedy meadows and overgrown regions.
Even gardens, suburban backyards, and parks are filled with them.
American Goldfinches often build their nests in young trees or bushes.
On these nests, the female lays anywhere from 4 to 6 eggs consisting of grass, bark strips, and feathers.
The female incubates her eggs for around 10 to 12 days, whereas the male provides food for her.
Planting thistles and milkweed in your garden can bring in American Goldfinches.
They are common at bird feeders and like nyjer and sunflower seed.
It is well-known that Brown-headed Cowbirds will hatch their eggs in a nest occupied by American Goldfinches; however, the seeds in the diet provided by the parents are a poor diet for the young, and the Brown-headed Cowbirds’ offspring will perish.
2. House Finch
House Finches are a year-round resident introduced species throughout Ontario.
They are not migratory, yet may be seen on just 8% of summertime and 12% of winter lists of the region, respectively.
Male House Finches are almost dark with a reddish crown and chest.
Women have dark streaks all over their bodies.
In the eastern United States, where House Finches were first discovered, they have thrived to the point that they have pushed out the Purple Finch, a native species.
House Finches are often seen in large, raucous flocks in a variety of settings, including woodland borders, farms, parks, and yard feeders.
They eat fruit, young leaves, and flower buds.
House finches often construct their nests in tree holes, dense underbrush, shrubs, and man-made buildings.
The female creates them from leaves, twigs, feathers, and other natural materials.
There may be anything from 2 to 6 eggs in a clutch, and the incubation period may last anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks.
Feeders stocked with milo, sunflower seeds, nyjer, or millet seeds can lure House Finches toward your yard.
3. Evening Grosbeak
Even though some Evening Grosbeaks may be seen across Ontario all year, winter is by far the most usual time to see one.
Only 2% of winter lists include them.
The Evening Grosbeak is a large bird having a bright yellow and black color scheme on its body and a large, stout bill.
All adult males may be easily identified by the brilliant yellow stripe that runs across their faces.
Their chests and bellies are yellow, while their heads appear black and their necks appear grey.
A white spot may be seen on each of their wings.
Females and immature males have yellowish necks and a greenish beak, while their bodies are predominantly grey, and their wings are white and black.
Northern California is the southernmost point where Evening Grosbeaks spend the winter.
When cone crops are low, however, they tend to go south to the southern states of the United States.
Evening Grosbeaks are common in wooded areas at high altitudes.
In the winter, they frequently visit backyard bird feeders in search of an easy food source.
Naturally, evening grosbeaks eat flower buds during the spring, treetop bug larvae in the summer season, and backyard feeders full of tiny fruit, berries, and seeds in the winter.
Typically, Evening Grosbeaks will build their nests among pine trees a maximum of 95 to 105 feet from the ground.
Twigs, grass, rootlets, pine needles, and moss are haphazardly woven together to form the nests.
A female may lay anywhere from 1 to 5 eggs, which she then tends for 2 weeks before they hatch.
Feeding birdseed, maple buds, and berries to the evening grosbeaks will bring them to your garden this winter.
The muscular bills of evening grosbeaks allow them to shatter seeds that are far tough for smaller birds to open, so they stick around to eat what some other birds leave behind.
4. Red Crossbill
Although the Red Crossbill is not often seen across Ontario, it has been seen here, typically in the southern part of the province during the winter.
Male Red Crossbills have darker wing and tail feathers than females.
Females are dark and yellow in color.
They have curiously twisted beaks that cross when they’re closed.
Their tails are notched. Teenagers have a darker complexion.
During the winter, red crossbills migrate to