Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary

Home to over 200 various bird species, the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary is perfect for the experienced birder, environmental enthusiasts or to anyone who enjoys a relaxing and leisurely walk through the great outdoors. With over 8 kilometres of self-guided nature trails that take you through mature forested areas, wetlands, and boardwalks, this is truly the best way to spend an afternoon.

You can also partake in programs offered year-round with help from Friends of the Sanctuary. Some of these activities include geese feedings during the Fall, cross country skiing through groomed trails during the Winter and camping during the Summer. Lastly, the great Waterfront Trail runs right along the Bird Sanctuary and is the perfect extension for cyclers of all skill levels.

Friends of the Sanctuary


Friends of the Sanctuary is an incorporated non-profit charitable organization. This group of dedicated individuals supports the development of educational, resource management, recreational and interpretive programs at the Sanctuary. The Friends Association runs a variety of programs and events during the off season (late fall, winter, early spring) which allows the Sanctuary to operate year-round. Members volunteer their time, labour, sepcial abilities, and knowledge to assist any way they can at the Sanctuary.

You too, can be a friend of the Sanctuary!

By becoming a Friend of the Sanctuary, you can help build public education, participate with special events, and help with trail maintenance and wildlife management programs.

Membership Fees
Seniors (65 & over) $10
Youth (18 & under) $10
Individuals $15
Family $25
Corporate $100
If you would like to be a member of the Friends of the Sanctuary, or receive more information, please contact:

The Friends of the Sanctuary

info@friendsofthesanctuary.org

Visit their website by clicking here.

Birds of the Sanctuary

The Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, jointly operated by The St. Lawrence Parks Commission and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, covers 9,000 hectares of managed wooded uplands, goose pasture, crop land, waterways and marshland. With more than 8 km of self-guided nature trails winding through these habitats, the seasoned birder and amateur naturalist alike have excellent opportunities to view close to 200 waterfowl, raptor, passerine and other bird species.

Species Index
LOONS
Common Loon

GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe

CORMORANTS
Double-crested Cormorant

HERONS & BITTERNS
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Green Heron
American Bittern
Least Bittern

GEESE & DUCKS
Canada Goose
Brant Snow Goose
Ross' Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Gadwall
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
American Wigeon
Northern Shoveler
Wood Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Bufflehead
Oldsquaw
White-winged Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser

VULTURES, HAWKS & FALCONS
Turkey Vulture
Northern Goshawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Osprey
American Kestrel

TURKEYS, GROUSE & PATRIDGE
Wild Turkey
Ruffed Grouse
Ring-necked Pheasant
Gray Partridge

COOTS & RAILS
Virginia Rail
Sora Rail
Yellow Rail
Common Moorhen
American Coot

PLOVERS & SANDPIPERS
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Lesser Golden Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Upland Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet Spotted Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
American Woodcock
Common Snipe
Short-billed Dowitcher
Sanderling Least
Sandpiper Dunlin

GULLS & TERNS
Great Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Common Tern

DOVES
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove

CUCKOOS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo

OWLS
Eastern Screetch Owl
Great-horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl

GOATSUCKERS
Whip-poor-will
Common Nighthawk

HUMMINGBIRDS
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher

WOODPECKERS
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker

LARKS
Horned Lark

FLYCATCHERS
Eastern Kingbird
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Willow Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Peewee

WAXWINGS
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing

SWIFTS & SWALLOWS
Chimney Swift
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
North Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow

JAYS & CROWS
Blue Jay
American Crow

TITMICE
Black-capped Chickadee

NUTHATCHES & CREEPERS
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper

WRENS
House Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Sedge Wren

MIMICS & THRUSHES
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
American Robin
Wood Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Veery Eastern Bluebird

KINGLETS
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

SHRIKES
Northern Shrike
Loggerhead Shrike

VIREOS
Yellow-throated Vireo
Solitary Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo

WOOD WARBLERS
Black & White Warbler Prothonotary Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Palm Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
American Redstart

WEAVER FINCHES
House Sparrow

BLACKBIRDS & STARLINGS Bobolink Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Oriole
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
European Starling

TANAGERS
Scarlet Tanager

FINCHES & SPARROWS
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Evening Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeak
Purple Finch
House Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Rufous-sided Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Snow Bunting