Books About Birds A guide to books about birds and birdwatching Home | Index | Search | Links | Contact


On this page

Ontario

This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in the Canadian province of Ontario.

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.


Canada

For bird books that cover all, or a large part, of Canada see the following pages:

Canada
North America

 

Birds of Eastern Canada

Editor: David M. Bird

Dorling Kindersley

2013

"Ideal for Canadian birdwatchers and bird lovers of every age! Each of these regional field guides are filled with page after page of magnificent close-up photographs and helpful full-page profiles of hundreds of commonly seen species. With an East / West division made at the 100th meridian (approximately Winnipeg) these handy books offer scientifically accurate and readable accounts of notable characteristics and information everything from behavior and habitat to nest construction and conservation status. Each profile also features diagrams of flight patterns and statistics of size, wingspan and lifespan. These invaluable reference guides are both detailed and accessible, with a user-friendly format that will make it easy for birders to enjoy either studying one species account at a time or browsing to make cross comparisons."

book cover

Quick Reference To Ontario Birds

Lone Pine Publishing

2013

"This easy to use, 12-panel nature guide features the most common and interesting species in Canada's natural regions. The species are grouped and colour coded for quick identification in the field. Attractive and useful, Ontario Birds features beautiful and accurate full-colour illustrations, sizes, common and scientific names and maps. The guide is laminated for endurance in rough terrain and weather."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Lorimer Field Guide to 225 Ontario Birds

Jeffrey C. Domm

James Lorimer & Company

2012

"Birding is one of Canada's most popular outdoor activities. Identifying species at backyard feeders, in parks, fields, and forests is popular with young and old alike. And in parks, on shorelines, and in rural areas throughout Ontario, there are internationally recognized spots for seeing migrant and breeding birds, such as the tundra swan and the peregrine falcon. This new edition of Jeff Domm's popular and successful field guide stands out from other leading bird guides with its simple visual presentation of a range of key facts, including: identifying features of every species; frequency and seasonality info specific to southern Ontario; preferred feeder types; nesting details; and 100+ top birding sites throughout southern Ontario, with locator maps."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Nature's Year: Changing Seasons in Central and Eastern Ontario

Drew Monkman

Dundurn Press

2012

"Nature's Year is an almanac of key events in nature occurring in Central and Eastern Ontario, a region that extends from the Bruce Peninsula and Georgian Bay in the west to Ottawa and Cornwall in the east. The book is a chronicle of the passing seasons designed to inform cottagers, gardeners, photographers, suburban backyard birders, and nature enthusiasts alike as to what events in nature to expect each month of the year. Whatever your interest may be – birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, plants, fungi, weather, or the night sky – just turn to a given month and you'll find a list of what's happening, often right in your own backyard. This book will also provide a reassuring measure of order and predictability to nature and help the reader become more attentive to and appreciative of the many wonders of the natural world that surround us in this exceptional region of Ontario."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Nature in the Kawarthas

Peterborough Field Naturalists

Dundurn

2011

"The Kawarthas are the fertile lands of Southern Ontario that sit astride the Canadian Shield. This is cottage country - a place where people are closer & where children & adults remark on the sightings of animals, birds, & butterflies from windows & lakeside chairs & ask questions about what they see. This book is a valuable asset to answer many of those questions. It offers an alternative to a shelf of field guides & deals with what can be expected in a relatively small, but uniquely rich, environment close to home. This book presents a wealth of information on the birds, mammals, insects, flowers, reptiles, & amphibians of this special area. It discusses rare habitats & the behaviours of animals ranging from frogs to birds of prey."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Boreal Birds of North America: A Hemispheric View of Their Conservation Links and Significance

Editors: Jeffrey V. Wells

Studies In Avian Biology 41

Cooper Ornithological Society

2011

"Reaching from interior Alaska across Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, North America's boreal forest is the largest wilderness area left on the planet. It is critical habitat for billions of birds; more than 300 species regularly breed there. After the breeding season, many boreal birds migrate to seasonal habitats across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This volume brings together new research on boreal bird biology and conservation. It highlights the importance of the region to the global avifauna and to the connectivity between the boreal forest and ecoregions throughout the Americas. The contributions showcase a unique set of perspectives on the migration, wintering ecology, and conservation of bird communities that are tied to the boreal forest in ways that may not have been previously considered."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Ontario: Habitat Requirements, Limiting Factors, and Status Nonpasserines: Shorebirds Through Woodpeckers

Al Sandilands

University of British Columbia Press

2010

"This volume deals with shorebirds through woodpeckers and completes the treatment of the nonpasserines. Information on habitat, limiting factors and status are dealt with for the three main bird seasons: breeding, migration, and winter."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Birding Guide to the Long Point Area

Ron Ridout

Bird Studies Canada

2010

"With a list of 388 species, the Long Point region is one of the richest birding areas in Canada. Like its neighbor Point Pelee, Long Point extends far out into Lake Erie and attracts many migrating birds. This full-color informative guide leads the observer to 45 of the area's leading locations for observing birds in all seasons. It includes sections on target species and a seasonal checklist."

book cover

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005

Editor: Michael D. Cadman, Donald A. Sutherland, Gregor G. Beck, Denis Lepage, and Andrew R. Couturier

Bird Studies Canada, Environment Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Ontario Nature

2009

"The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005 is the most authoritative and up-to-date resource on birds and bird distribution in the province. With over 400 colour photographs, the atlas provides detailed information on the distribution and population status of Ontario birds. It includes more than 900 maps illustrating the breeding range for all Ontario species, and range changes since the first atlas twenty years ago. Innovative new maps and population estimates for many species reveal how numbers vary across the province's vast and diverse landscape. The atlas represents an enormous coordinated effort by over 3,000 birders who surveyed the province from Lake Erie to Hudson Bay. It summarizes the state of Ontario birds, including information on each species' biology and abundance. Special sections analyze changes in bird populations and distribution, indicating which species are most imperiled and which are thriving. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001-2005 is the definitive reference not only for birdwatchers and biologists, but for anyone with an interest in nature and the state of the environment. It will be of great interest to all naturalists and an invaluable tool for those trying to understand the impacts of changing land-use, habitat loss and pollution on the natural world."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Kingston Region

Ron D. Weir

Kingston Field Naturalists

2nd edition

2009

"The 2nd edition of The Birds of the Kingston Region is completely revised from the original version that appeared in 1989. The new work includes an analysis of all the KFN records since 1948, of which over 500,000 are new since 1988. The species accounts number 371, which is an increase from the 343 species known in 1988, and include average arrival and departure dates for the migrants and breeding species and their earliest and latest known dates of occurrence. Egg dates and brood dates are provided for the 192 species that have been confirmed breeding in the Kingston area. Dr. Martin Edwards has written the Foreword. There are 19 appendices that contain tabulated information, easily read. Among the appendices are the updated official Checklist of the Birds of the Kingston Region, the summary table showing the average arrival and departure dates based on calculations for up to 60 years of records, the results from the several local Christmas Counts and Midwinter Waterfowl survey results since 1988. For the first time are provided the estimated number of pairs of flycatchers, vireos, swallows, wrens, thrushes, warblers, sparrows and blackbirds that nest in our area, each ranked within its own family in separate appendices to make for easy reading. Also for the first time is presented a summary from some of the surveys from the nighttime counts of migrant songbirds over one station in Kingston. A special appendix has been prepared by Dr. D.V. Weseloh (Canadian Wildlife Service) in which he has provided a summary of the current status of the colonial water birds in our region that incorporates survey findings unpublished to date."

book cover

book cover

A Sound Like Water Dripping: In Search of the Boreal Owl

Soren Bondrup-Nielsen

Gaspereau Press

2009

"With enthusiasm and sincerity biologist Soren Bondrup-Nielsen recalls his experience as a graduate student in the 1970s researching the Boreal Owl in northern Ontario and Alberta. After receiving his B.Sc. in the spring of 1974, Bondrup-Nielsen travels by train to Kapuskasing to begin his study of this tiny, elusive species, cousin to the Tengmalm's Owl of Scandinavia."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Reluctant Twitcher: A Quite Truthful Account of My Big Birding Year

Richard Pope

Dundurn

2009

"The human side of birding comes to the fore in this book, a serious yet humorous account of birds and birding and the art of chasing rarities. Richard Pope, a lifelong birder, had successfully avoided this latter pursuit for many years but capitulated in 2007 when he embarked on his "Big Year", the object being to record at least three hundred birds in Ontario within that calendar period. Almost instantly, a relatively normal birdwatcher morphed into a 'twitcher', albeit reluctantly, pursuing rare species of birds from Rainy River to the Ottawa and well beyond his wildest expectations. Though it was a challenge that was not without trials and disappointments, Pope describes all his adventures with self-deprecating humour. Not just another book on birding, Pope's unique approach is supported by an array of exceptional colour photographs."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Quetico: Near to Nature's Heart

Joe Nelson

Dundurn

2009

"Quetico Park in northwestern Ontario celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009. Long-recognized as a gem among parks, Quetico contains some of the largest stands of old-growth red and white pine in Canada, as well as a diversity of fascinating lichens, carnivorous plants in specialized habitats. The author presents an insightful look into Quetico's natural history as he examines the adapations that have allowed moose, white-tailed deer, wolves and other mammals to survive. The human history of the park is also explored, beginning with the Objiwa living there when the area was designated as a park, followed by accounts of trappers, loggers, miners, park rangers, and poachers. Beginning with the retreat of the glaciers, the author combines his thorough research into Quetico's long and varied history with the threads of his own extensive involvement with the park."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Ontario Nature Guide

Krista Kagume

Lone Pine Publishing

2008

"This book features over 400 species of plants and animals that you will commonly encounter in Ontario. Includes native uses, animal behavior, ecology and range, color maps of all regions showing parks and nature areas/"

book cover

Birding at Point Pelee: A Birder's History of One of Canada's Most Famous Birding Spots

Henrietta T. O'Neill

James Lorimer & Co

2006

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas

Robert Curry

Hamilton Naturalists' Club

2006

"This 676-page reference book to the status of over 386 species of birds that have occurred in the Hamilton Study Area (HSA) was published by Bob Curry and the Hamilton Naturalists' Club in October 2006. The HSA covers a 25-mile/40 km radius circle centred on Dundurn Castle in Hamilton, and so also includes all or parts of Hamilton, Halton, Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk, Peel, Waterloo, Wellington and Niagara counties."

book cover

Birds of Ontario: Habitat Requirements, Limiting Factors, and Status Nonpasserines: Waterfowl through Cranes

Al Sandilands

University of British Columbia Press

2005

"Literature on the life history of birds is abundant and knowledge continues to grow. But there are few reference documents that compile this information so it is readily available without conducting extensive literature searches. In this book, information on habitat, limiting factors, and status is summarized for 84 species of nonpasserines that occur regularly in Ontario. These topics are covered for the three primary avian seasons: breeding, migration, and winter. Habitat, nest sites, territoriality, site fidelity, annual reproductive effort, habitat loss and degradation, environmental contaminants, and a variety of other topics are covered in the species accounts. A map depicting breeding and wintering range is presented for each species, and illustrations by Ross James accompany each listing. This will be an essential reference for wildlife biologists, environmental consultants, and planners preparing or reviewing environmental impact statements and environmental assessments. Serious birders will find it of interest as well."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Compact Guide To Ontario Birds

Krista Kagume

Lone Pine Publishing

2005

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Boreal Forest of Canada and Russia

W.O. Pruitt and L.M. Baskin

Pensoft

2004

Bilingual parallel text: Russian and English

"Our planet's green halo is the circumpolar taiga or boreal forest. This forest is remarkably uniform in its climate, vegetation types and animal types. All life forms here have evolved adaptations to the long, cold and snowy winters, the short, hot and dry summers and the swiftly-changing seasons. The same genera and families of birds and mammals occur in this forest type in Eurasia and North America. Humans have invaded and exploited these northern coniferous forests differently in Canada and Russia. Although the history of human use has been different between the two countries the end results in both frequently have been catastrophic for vegetation, animals and some human groups. Such similarities and differences have been studied by biologists, human ecologists, anthropologists and other scientists at two research and teaching field stations in the taiga."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Wild City: A Guide to Nature in Urban Ontario, from Termites to Coyotes

Doug Bennet and Tim Tiner

McClelland & Stewart

2003

"Wild City is full of fascinating natural histories of the most common plants and wild animals found in Ontario's cities, packed with a satisfying mix of little-known information, vital and amusing facts, trivia, and lore. It features 130 species found in urban habitats such as lawns and gardens, rivers, ravines, vacant lots, embankments, and buried streams. It describes how to make your garden or balcony more attractive to wildlife, and explains weather phenomena and the day and night sky. Species range from moths to coyotes, downy woodpeckers to dog-strangling vine, cockroaches to carp, and the geographic range is from Windsor to Ottawa."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Lorimer Pocket Guide to Toronto Birds

Jeffrey C. Domm

James Lorimer & Company

2002

Covers 120 species and includes a guide to birding "hotspots".

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Algonquin Wildlife: Lessons in Survival

Norm Quinn

Dundurn

2002

"Algonquin Wildlife: Lessons in Survival is a celebration of the vast array of wildlife studies ongoing in Ontario's very first provincial park. Probably more research has been done in Algonquin than in any other protected landscape in the world. Norm Quinn, long-time Park Management Biologist in Algonquin, has been fortunate to know and to work with many of those dedicated and unique wildlife researchers who roam and probe the forests and lakes in search of Nature's secrets. His knowledge, experience and sense of humour combine to transform technical biological studies, on moose, wolves, fish and other creatures of the wild, into entertaining and inviting stories without losing the significance of the research."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Nature's Year in the Kawarthas: A Guide to the Unfolding Seasons

Drew Monkman

Dundurn

2002

Originally published in 1968

"Nature's Year in the Kawarthas is an almanac of key events occurring in the natural world over the course of a year in the Kawartha Lakes district - and in cottage country in general. Covering all areas of our flora and fauna as well as weather and the night sky, the book is a month-by-month chronicle of the mileposts of the passing seasons. From the raucous Spring Peeper chorus of April - through the sweet scent of milkweed blossoms in July - and the early-morning mists of September - to the arrival of the first eagles in December - all are noted for your interest. Whenever you head out on your next walk or look up at the stars, Nature's Year will be your informative guide. For each month, an introductory essay captures the spirit of the season, while an "at a glance" summary lists the key natural events occurring. Each category in the natural world - from birds to the night sky - is then covered in more detail."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Canada's Boreal Forest

J. David Henry

Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press

2002

"In Canada alone, the boreal forest (also called the taiga) covers more that 1.5 million square miles, fully one-third of the country and 20 percent of the entire North American continent. Terminating to the north with the treeless tundra, this region is inhabited and utilized by indigenous people and is home to unique populations of plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet. J. David Henry challenges the perception of the boreal forest as an "economic wasteland" by explaining how economically and ecologically valuable it is. He begins by answering some common questions about the region and explains its intricate geology. An in-depth examination follows of three factors that play an enormous role in shaping the complex life of the boreal forest: snow, forest fires, and peatlands. Henry looks at the dynamics of the region's vegetation and the evolution of its animals, and discusses the fascinating ten-year predator-prey cycle of snowshoe hares and Canadian lynx, one of the most famous examples of ecological interconnection. In Canada's boreal forest, loggers have clear cut an area the size of Great Britain. The final portion of the book examines initiatives from Scandinavia and Finland in order to offer alternatives to large-scale logging and mining, suggesting how humans can live and work in the boreal forest in a sustainable and responsible manner."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The ROM Field Guide Birds of Ontario

Janice M. Hughes

Royal Ontario Museum

McClelland & Stewart

2001

"The ROM Field Guide to Birds of Ontario is researched and written specifically for the Ontario bird watcher. It is the most authoritative, easy to use, and beautifully designed guide to Ontario birds available. This landmark publication features: detailed and clearly written descriptions of more than 300 migrant and resident Ontario bird species and accidentals, including notes on appearance, voice, habitat and behaviour, and status; close to 400 stunning full-colour photographs from Canada's top wildlife photographers, carefully selected for quick and easy identification in the field; over 300 easy-to-read colour distribution maps, showing summer and winter ranges and breeding grounds; and handy page-per-species format, with photo, description, and range map all in one place."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Sparrows & Finches of Ontario

Chris G. Earley

Point Pelee National Park Nature Series

Friends of Point Pelee / Lithosphere Press

2001

"An essential part of every birders kit, this book is printed on fine paper so that it can easily slip into a shirt pocket. Appendices include fold outs with side by side comparisons of birds by season. Written by Chris Earley with hundreds of photos by various photographers, including Jim Flynn."

book cover

Birds of Voyageurs National Park: A Guide to the Minnesota-Ontario Border Country

Voyageurs Regional National Park Association

University of Minnesota Press

2001

Describes 100 species found in the park.

book cover

Birds of Ontario

Andy Bezener

Lone Pine Publishing

2000

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Ontario Birds: 125 Common Birds Of Ontario

Chris Fisher

Lone Pine Publishing

2000

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover

book cover


The Rouge River Valley: An Urban Wilderness

James E. Garratt

Dundurn

2000

"The Rouge River Valley, eleven thousand acres of urban wilderness, is a unique, yet very fragile and transient natural phenomenon existing within the confines of a major North American city, Toronto. Fed by the Oak Ridges Moraine, the Rouge river system has, over generations of time, cut its identity into the land, shaping the habitat for a multitude of lifeforms, many of which are now either threatened or gone. Author James E. Garratt, a seasoned environmentalist, shares two decades of personal observation and ecological study to reveal the richness and flow of seasonal changes in this exceptional urban park. This "portrait" of a year in the Rouge Valley explores not only the diversity of life in its natural habitat but also the impact of urban sprawl and the inevitable conflict with development."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Birder's Guide to Point Pelee

Tom Hince

1999

"Comprehensive information on birding in and around Canada's best known migration hotspot. This volume includes detailed information on birding sites within the national park, within a short drive, and sites commonly linked with a visit to the region. Detailed directions, birding information, and birding tips are included for each site. In addition to a detailed week-by-week status list for all the birds of the region, there are also narratives of species of particular interest to visiting birders."

book cover

Where the Water Lilies Grow

R.D. Lawrence

Dundurn

1999

Originally published in 1968

"The celebrated nature writer R.D. Lawrence tells the story of animals who inhabit the lakeside near his home in the backwoods of Canada. From the smallest water creature to wolves, deer and many, many birds, all are known to him. His sensitivity, enthusiasm and empathy for wildlife, coupled with his detailed understanding of their habits have created an engrossing publication. A sequel to The Place In the Forest, this authoritatively written book conjures up the sounds, smells and the very feel of lakeside life over every season."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Place in the Forest: R. D. Lawrence's Best-Selling Account of Life in the Ontario Wilderness

R.D. Lawrence

Dundurn

1998

Originally published in 1967

"A number of years ago, R.D. Lawrence acquired a patch of Ontario wilderness, soon known as "The Place." Here Lawrence and his wife built a cabin and became immersed in studying the ways of the wild. "The Place" was home to a variety of wildlife, from black bears, wolves, beavers and raccoons through to hawks, snapping turtles and singing mice. Lawrence's desire to learn, fuelled by his keen observation, led to his writing about and photographing life within his small corner of the forest -- the result being a warm, witty account of change and survival in the natural world."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Nature Guide to Ontario

Editor: Winifred Cairns Wake

Federation Of Ontario Naturalists

University of Toronto Press

1997

"A Nature Guide to Ontario showcases more than six hundred of the best sites for viewing the many forms of plant and animal life found across the province. All sites are open to the general public, most are easily accessible, and a surprising number are located in or near the province's biggest cities.The book is divided into seven regions, and sites are listed under county, district, or municipality. Entries contain instructions on how to reach sites, descriptions of the major landscape and habitat features, information about typical as well as important or unusual animals and plants to be found at the site, and an address to contact for more information. Introductory chapters give an overview of Ontario's natural history and its rich and diverse plant and animal life."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Algonquin Seasons: A Natural History of Algonquin Park

Michael W.P. Runtz

Foreword: Robert Bateman

Firefly Books

1997

"Rarely seen images abound in this seasonal portfolio that captures the living essence of Algonquin Park."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Bird-Finding Guide to Ontario

Clive E. Goodwin

University of Toronto Press

2nd edition

1995

"This guide gives precise directions on where birds are found, with maps supplementing the text. A comprehensive list gives detailed distributional status for all species of birds recorded in the province, and there is also information on seasonal weather conditions and migration patterns."

book cover

Toronto the Wild: Field Notes of an Urban Naturalist

Wayne Grady

MacFarlane Walter & Ross

1995

"As Grady convincingly demonstrates, the city is a natural ecosystem unto itself. It nourishes thousands of species of native flora and fauna, welcomes hundreds of others that have immigrated and adapted, and provides still others with the only environment that will ensure their survival. This is true for any city, but especially so in Toronto, home to 40,000 raccoons, the world's largest colony of ring-billed gulls, and probably more termites per cubic metre of wood than anywhere on Earth. Indeed, there is more wildlife in Toronto today than in the last century: brown bats wouldn't winter in town if city homes didn't offer attics for their use; cockroaches wouldn't have spread this far north if we hadn't invented central heating; a single vacant lot in the Annex was recently found to contain 32 species of wildflowers. And there are coyote dens in the Don River Valley. In fourteen engaging essays, Grady introduces us to these and other natural wonders of Toronto, from snakes and mosquitoes to black squirrels and house sparrows. Following in the tracks of urban naturalists before him - Catherine Parr Traill, Ernest Thompson Seton, Anna Jameson and Fred Bodsworth - and effortlessly blending science, history, and literature, Grady writes wittily and gracefully about the evolution, eating habits, mating rituals and turf wars of your most common - and wild - city neighbours.."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Breeding-Bird Populations In The Jack Pine And Mixed Jack Pine, Deciduous Stands In Central Ontario

Ross D. James, Mark E. Peck

Life sciences contributions, no. 158

Royal Ontario Museum

1995

Opening lines of abstract: "We studied breeding-bird populations between 1985 and 1992 in four different ages of managed jack pine stands, and three different ages of jack pines mixed with birch and aspen, in the Gogama area of central Ontario. We used variable-strip transect counts of at least 1 km in length to gather information on bird-species presence and abundance in different ages and compositions, and with supplementary observations we considered more specific habitat use by various species. This study also provided insight into how forestry practices may be affecting bird populations in these forests."

book cover

Ornithology in Ontario

Martin K. Mcnicholl and John L. Cranmer-Byng

1994

" A comprehensive overview of Ontario Ornithology."

book cover

Annotated checklist of the birds of Ontario

Ross D. James

A Life Sciences Miscellaneous Publication

Royal Ontario Museum

1991

" This authoritative guide to the occurrence and status of birds in Ontario provides concise information on 442 confirmed bird species recorded in the provice, and on 12 as yet unconfirmed. Completely updated, the list is organized by AOU order and nomenclature. As well as listing each species by common and scientific name, it indicates breeding status, seasonal distribution and abundance, dates of occurrence, breeding season as indicated by egg dates, and the subspecies found in Ontario."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Ottawa and Vicinity

Gerald McKeating

Illustrations: Ewa Pluciennik

Lone Pine Publishing

1990

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Toronto and Vicinity

Gerald McKeating

Illustrations: Ewa Pluciennik

Lone Pine Publishing

1990

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Kingston Region

Ron D. Weir

Kingston Field Naturalists

1989

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Bird-Finding Guide to the Toronto Region

Clive E. Goodwin

1988

A guide to birding sites plus a checklist.

book cover

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Editor: M. D. Cadman, P. F. J. Eagles, and F. M. Helleiner

Federation of Ontario Naturalists and Long Point Bird Observatory

1987

"The first Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas was carried out from 1981-1985, and involved the efforts of over 1,300 volunteers who collectively carried out more than 120,000 hours of field work. This resulted in a data base of over 400,000 bird-locality records, giving unprecedented information on the breeding distribution of birds in Ontario."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Breeding Birds of Ontario: Nidiology and Distribution, Volume 2: Passerines

George K. Peck and Ross D. James

A Life Sciences Miscellaneous Publication

Royal Ontario Museum

1987

"The present volume brings to completion the authors' summarization of the nidiology and distribution of Ontario's breeding birds begun with Volume 1 (Peck and James, 1983). Upon publication, a period of 20 years will have elapsed since the beginning of this ambitious project, which encompasses data spanning more than a century and a quarter, up to and including 1985 and some 1986 records. Volume 2 of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, dealing with the passerines, covers 144 species. Information was processed from 67 091 nest cards to the end of the 1984 breeding season and also includes a number of 1985 and 1986 cards from which additional information could be obtained. With the inclusion of the 17 757 nest cards used for Volume 1, the total number of nest cards summarized for the two volumes was 84 848, not including 1985 and 1986 cards. Because some cards, especially those of colonial species, describe more than one nest, the number of nests involved was far in excess of the number of cards, and totalled ca 326 826. In addition, as was done for Volume 1, we have also considered all other available breeding information, both published and unpublished, including some nesting and breeding information obtained from the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas's 1981 to 1985 survey, as well as from recent ROM and onrs field trips."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Ontario

J. Murray Speirs

Natural Heritage Books

1985

Reprinted by Dundurn in 2008

"This extensive and long overdue work of reference covers all of the bird species, more than 400 of which have been recorded in the province of Ontario. Birds of Ontario contains an identification and description of all species, with 344 outstanding colour plates. Anyone with even a casual interest in birds will find the colour plates and informative text of considerable interest."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Cottage Country

William C. Mansell

McBain Publications

1985

Reprinted by Dundurn in 2008

"This is a virtual storybook account of the author's personalized observations throughout Ontario's cottage playground. It clearly illustrates the downright fun, vast beauty, and consuming involvement of bird watching -- even for the most sceptical of laymen. Bill Mansell's daily experiences at birding, spread over a period of sixty-five years, result in such a familiarity with his subject that the reader is drawn as a participant into a delicately beautiful intimacy with avian nature. Birds of the Cottage Country will be read by some solely for its humour and humanistic style; yet serious birdwatchers will also find it a refreshingly new guide and reference tool."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Prince Edward County

R. Terry Sprague and Ron D. Weir

Kingston Field Naturalists

2nd edition

1984

book cover

Breeding Birds of Ontario: Nidiology and Distribution, Volume 1: Nonpasserines

George K. Peck and Ross D. James

A Life Sciences Miscellaneous Publication

Royal Ontario Museum

1983

"The present volume, which deals with the nonpasserines, covers 143 species. All available records have been considered for use in the nidiology accounts, and those as recent as 1980 have been used for some species with few nest records. The second volume will deal with the passerine species breeding in Ontario. Some islands in James and Hudson bays are close to Ontario and are associated geographically with the province, but are under the jurisdiction of the Northwest Territories. The breeding records of some species on these islands are indicated in this volume, especially if few records exist in Ontario. The order and nomenclature of bird species in this volume follow those of the American Ornithologists' Union check-list (1957) and associated supplements in 1973 and 1976. Plant names are based on the nomenclature used in the Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (Gleason and Cronquist, 1963) if the species were included in that work."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Bird-Finding Guide to Ontario

Clive E. Goodwin

University of Toronto Press

1982

"Where the birds are and how to get there."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario

Alice H. Kelley

Wayne State University Press

1978

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Gulls on the Niagara Frontier

Robert F. Andrle

Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences

1977

Excerpt: "Bordered by two of the Great Lakes and crossed by a major river, the Niagara Frontier Region, which includes the western portion of New York State and part of the Niagara peninsula of Ontario, is an outstanding area for gulls. It is one of the very best areas in North America, and probably in the world, for viewing large numbers and a great variety of these fascinating birds. Sixteen species plus one subspecies have been recorded here so far, and keen observers have tallied 13 species in one day on the Niagara River. At times in fall, there have been over 100,000 gull present in the region, most of them on the Niagara."

book cover

Annotated checklist of the birds of Ontario

R.D. James, P.L. McLaren, J.C. Barlow

A Life Sciences Miscellaneous Publication

Royal Ontario Museum

1976

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Ruffed Grouse in Ontario

Blair J.Dawson

Ministry of Natural Resources

1976

book cover

The Summer Birds of Point Pelee National Park

George Stirrett

National and Historic Parks Branch

1973

A thirty page booklet.

book cover

The Autumn Birds of Point Pelee National Park

George Stirrett

National and Historic Parks Branch

1973

A thirty page booklet.

book cover

The Spring Birds of Point Pelee National Park

George Stirrett

National and Historic Parks Branch

1973

A thirty page booklet.

book cover

The Winter Birds of Point Pelee National Park

George Stirrett

National and Historic Parks Branch

1973

A thirty page booklet.

book cover

Birds of Prince Edward County

Terry Sprague

Prince Edward Region Conservation Authority

1969

book cover

Where the Water Lilies Grow

R.D. Lawrence

Michael Joseph

1968

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Place in the Forest

R.D. Lawrence

Michael Joseph

1967

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


History of the Birds of Kingston, Ontario

Clark S. Beardslee and Harold D. Mitchell

1965

book cover

Birds of the Niagara Frontier Region

George Stirrett

Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences

1965

An annotated checklist.

book cover

The Hawks And Owls Of Ontario

L.L. Snyder

Illustrations: T.M. Shortt

Handbook No. 2

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1947

Preface:

"This handbook has been prepared as an introduction to the study of the hawks and owls of Ontario. Sections are devoted to some general consideration of the biology of these birds, including their place, role and interrelationships in nature, and to their systematic classification; a list is given of all species and subspecies that occur, or have occurred, in Ontario. Specific accounts present information relative to the distribution and numbers of each species in the province, and include such brief descriptions of plumages and behaviour as may be helpful in identifying these birds in life. Information relative to the food materials found in the examination of five hundred and eighty-two stomachs of hawks and owls taken in Ontario is presented graphically. Although this information is incomplete in certain respects it is indicative of food tendencies of most species during the period of their residence in the province. Pen-and-ink drawings of each species illustrate the text. These are the work of Mr. T. M. Shortt of the Museum's staff. Criticisms of the text and aid in food analyses, by various members of the staff, have in large measure assisted in the construction of this booklet.
book cover

book cover

book cover

The Summer Birds Of Sudbury District, Ontario

James L. Baillie and Clifford E. Hope

Contributions No. 28

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1947

book cover

The Summer Birds Of The Northeast Shore Of Lake Superior, Ontario

J.L. Baillie and C.E. Hope

Contributions No. 23

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1943

From the introduction:

"In continuation of the Museum's survey of the avifauna of Ontario, commenced in 1923, work was carried on in the summer of 1936 along the Canadian Pacific Railway adjacent to and eastward from the northeast shore of Lake Superior. Camps were established at three localities, approximately sixty miles apart, and a period of two weeks was spent at each. At Rossport the party collected from May 27 to June 9; from June 9 to 23, work was continued at Peninsula and the survey was completed at Amyot where a stay was made from June 23 to July 7. Rossport is a small fishing village with a population of about two hundred persons. Peninsula consists of but a station and several houses inhabited by railway men and their families. Amyot lies inland (east) about fifty miles from Lake Superior, and, like Peninsula, is but a station with a few houses mainly occupied by railroaders.
book cover

book cover

The Birds Of The Vicinity Of Lake Nipissing, Ontario

William E. Ricker and C.H.D. Clarke

Contributions No. 16

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1939

From the introductory chapters:

"The following list tabulates 209 species of birds, of which 136 are included on specimen evidence (66 of them in R.O.M.Z.). The number of species established as breeding in the area is 77. Species are classified as Abundant, Common or Frequent, Occasional and Rare. These terms have only relative significance, their application being affected by the size and secretiveness of the bird in question: a sparrow might be only "occasional" when the same numbers of loons would be an 'abundance.' Dates immediately following species names are of first records in years when continuous observations were being made over the likely period of arrival. Those for 1924, 1925 and 1926 refer to arrivals at North Bay (W. E. Ricker), for 1932 and 1933 arrivals at Frank's Bay (C. H. D. Clarke), for 1934 arrivals at Frank's Bay (D. A. MacLulich). Records up to and including 1929 are from the first writer, as are all observations at North Bay unless otherwise stated. Records at Frank's Bay from 1932 onward are from the second writer, except as indicated.
book cover

book cover

Birds Of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

D.M. MacLulich

Contributions No. 13

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1938

From the introduction:

"This account of the birds of Algonquin Park has been compiled to bring together the scattered information about the birds of the park to be found in more than two dozen published articles and in the unpublished records of a number of naturalists. Although this account is not primarily intended as a popular hand- book, an effort has been made in preparing it, to make it as useful as possible to the increasingly large number of persons interested in observing and recording the birds met with during their outings in Algonquin Park. This list includes 169 species. There are records of breeding for 96 kinds of birds. Included in the list are 23 species that are to be found in the park all year round. Nine others live in the park only in winter. The total number of kinds of birds known to be found in the park in winter is, therefore, 32. Two species have been introduced but failed to establish themselves permanently. Twelve other species, not included in the 169 mentioned, have been considered hypothetical for the present. The rest of the birds in the list are transient spring and fall migrants, and of summer occurrence.
book cover

book cover

Ontario And Its Avifauna / The Museum's Bird Collection

L.L.Snyder / J.L. Baillie

Contributions No. 12

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1938

A 16 page booklet comprising two papers; one on the avifauna of Ontario and the second on the collection of birds in the Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology.

book cover

The Distribution Of Breeding Birds In Ontario

James L. Baillie and Paul Harrington

Contributions No. 8

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1937

From the introduction:

"The present account is an initial attempt to outline the breeding ranges of birds in Ontario. It represents the result of more than twelve years of researches on the part of the authors (in their leisure time) and although strictly a provisional account, it is their hope that it will serve as a summary of the known ranges in Ontario of breeding birds until such time as a comprehensive work on the birds of the province can be published. Data are meagre for a great many species and completely lacking for others which unquestionably remain in the province to nest, but it is hoped that this very paucity will serve as a stimulus to naturalists to place on record whatever important unpublished information they possess. Eight lists of the birds of Ontario, as a whole, have been published, but they have contained very little definite data on the distribution of birds within the province. Statements like "breeds throughout its range" and "nests throughout southern Ontario" have characterized these lists and such statements have failed to convey an adequate impression of the nesting range of any species.
book cover

book cover

The Passenger Pigeon In Ontario

Margaret H. Mitchell

Published Under The Reuben Wells Leonard Bequest

Contributions Of The Royal Ontario Museum Of Zoology

University of Toronto Press

1935

From the introduction:

"One of the most fascinating chapters in the annals of North American wild life is filled by the history of the passenger pigeon. Occurring in numbers that seem to have exceeded those of any other bird of which we have record, the species would command the attention for that reason alone, even without the additional fascination of being now extinct. We have today this history complete, and it is possible to trace it from misty beginnings in the Pleistocene to the death of the last survivor, Martha, who died at the age of about twenty-five in the Cincinnati Zoological Garden in 1914. Much has already been written of these birds, beginning with accounts from early travellers and pioneers and ending with the more scientific records of such men as Forbush and Barrows. However, nothing as exhaustive as this monograph has ever been attempted. W. B. Mershon and J. C. French made valuable collections of information for their respective States of Michigan and Pennsylvania, but as they themselves assert they were both simply interested and enthusiastic laymen. It is felt, therefore that the present work has a definite contribution to make to the knowledge of an extinct species. It not only preserves such information as we have concerning passenger pigeons in the province of Ontario, but it also covers rather fully several aspects of the birds' life-history which have before been only touched upon. Enumerating the most important, they are: food; northern limits of occurrence and nesting; variation in numbers; fixed migration routes, and finally, a new theory of extermination which divests former theories of much of their uncertainty and mystery."
book cover

book cover

book cover

book cover



Last updated January 2014