Birds of Aurora
What has actually been seen around Aurora: 247 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 247 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 332,767 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 873 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.5 h / 8.9 h
What the records say about Aurora
247 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Aurora (Ontario) since 2010, across 332,767 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal and American Goldfinch.
Aurora is backyard-bird country: 84% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch and Mourning Dove make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
24 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulture.
Records peak in May and are lowest in December — about 4.5 times as many in the busiest month. Part of that is birds (migrants and breeding arrivals), part is people: more birders are out in good weather, so treat the curve as activity, not a census.
King City, 6 mi to the south-west, has a similar number of species on record (243 against 247).
Daylight runs from 15 h 29 min at midsummer to 8 h 53 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:36 AM in mid-April and 5:34 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Aurora
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 18,037 |
| 2 | Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis | 16,642 |
| 3 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 16,282 |
| 4 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 15,513 |
| 5 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 13,626 |
| 6 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 12,651 |
| 7 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 11,941 |
| 8 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 10,514 |
| 9 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 10,376 |
| 10 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 9,400 |
| 11 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 9,239 |
| 12 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 8,947 |
| 13 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 8,490 |
| 14 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 8,122 |
| 15 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 8,040 |
| 16 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 7,275 |
| 17 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 6,731 |
| 18 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 5,565 |
| 19 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 5,513 |
| 20 | Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus | 5,002 |
Records by month
What to put out in Aurora
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- Northern Cardinal
Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower
- Mourning Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Blue Jay
Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet
Seasonal bird notes for Ontario
What's arriving, what to feed and when to clean feeders, written for Canadian backyards. One email a month at most.
Nearby places
Frequently asked
What birds visit backyards in Aurora?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Aurora are Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Mourning Dove and American Robin, based on 332,767 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Aurora?
247 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Aurora?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 5:34 AM.
Sources
- GBIF occurrence search (birds, class Aves, 2010 onward)
- GeoNames gazetteer (place, population, elevation)
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.