In no particular order... All of these birds have the "it" factor - something that makes them stand out among the rest; even to very casual to non-birders!
Pileated Woodpecker
- A massive woodpecker
- spectacular colour/pattern
- the symbol of the Ontario Field Ornithologists
- found here year round
- has made a comeback into southern Ontario
- can be found over most of the province
Common Raven
- Largest songbird in the world
- found in nearly every part of Ontario
- has exceptional intelligence
- adapts to most environments
- wide range of cool noises
- very social
Long-tailed Duck
- winter concentrations are a spectacle
- found near large population centres; but still largely unnoticed
- charming behaviour
- charming sounds
- spends the entire winter on the Great Lakes and doesn't seem bat an eyelash at rough water or frigid storms.
- can dive to 200ft
Black-capped Chickadee
- charm for miles
- will eat out of your hand
- song is strongly associated with the end of winter/spring
- apparently have their own language
Sandhill Crane
- All cranes are enchanting creatures
- Ours has a heart on the top of its head
- Found throughout most of Ontario
- distinctive calls can be heard from great distances
- they dance
Great Horned Owl
- found throughout Ontario
- apex predators
- distinctive calls
- remarkable hearing and eyesight
- start nesting in the dead of winter
- both eyes face forwards, not unlike us! (Which is why they look "wise")
Gray Jay
- a rare non-migratory passerine
- survive the winter on food they stored the previous summer
- can raise young in the late winter; using the previously stored food
- they use sticky saliva to help store the food
- big fluffy balls of cuteness
- will eat out of your hand
Red Knot
- the subspecies we see is endangered
- the James Bay coast of Ontario is of paramount importance to the species
- helped kick off the summer James Bay shorebird surveys
- a large percentage of the subspecies is banded (see photo)
- breeding adults are a beautiful salmon pink colourPeregrine Falcon
- fastest creature on the planet
- recovery efforts were a great success
- can be found in the wildest of places; AND in the most urban centres
- remarkable vision
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Common Loon
- the symbol of Ontario and Canada
- calls are iconic
- so beautiful; it's illegal to get one mounted
- unique to loons; solid/heavy bones
- can dive to 200ft
- surprisingly tough and aggressive at times
Runner up: Cerulean Warbler
Agree/disagree with the list? IF you disagree, what species would you add? And why?
Can't argue with many of these, Brandon, but I would like to add a couple that I am biased towards:
ReplyDeleteRed-headed Woodpecker: very distinctive, colourful and so easily identifiable that even the novice can identify it.
Prothonotary Warbler: not nearly as well known, but it is easily one of the most spectacular of the wood warblers, a group which is spectacular in itself.
Allen
I like both of those options! I was a bit biased to species with large Ontario ranges though when making my final cut...
DeleteLove those male Long-tailed Ducks!
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ReplyDeleteLove a good list. Peregrine's a no-brainer, and I like the Raven choice. But no hawk or eagle??? Golden Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Osprey... all are "cooler" than a Chickadee. And I know it's tough to pick one, so how about Warbler sp.? I'm kind of partial to the marsh birds myself... Black Tern, American Bittern, Sora, Belted Kingfisher. Let's see a list of "The 10 least cool birds in Ontario" next.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, Chickadee's are pretty cool... I think Goshawk could get the nod as well, didn't really think about it!
Delete10 "least cool" birds in Ontario is a great idea! I have nothing to write about, so hopefully it'll be up soon :)
I'm partial to Black-backed Woodpeckers. Not sure why, just am. With the exception of Martin River Provincial Park and the Education Centre trails in North Bay I see these woodpeckers only once at each location. I think the Black-throated Blue male as the sharpest looking warbler. Warblers are my favorite family of birds.
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