Birds of Ayr
What has actually been seen around Ayr: 256 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 256 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 281,943 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Crow
- Busiest month
- April
- Elevation
- 942 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.4 h / 9 h
What the records say about Ayr
256 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Ayr (Ontario) since 2010, across 281,943 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and Northern Cardinal.
Ayr is backyard-bird country: 79% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
21 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.
Records peak in April and are lowest in September — about 4.0 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.
Paris, 7 mi to the south-east, has more species on record (271 against 256).
Daylight runs from 15 h 24 min at midsummer to 8 h 58 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:41 AM in mid-April and 5:41 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Ayr
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 12,108 |
| 2 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 10,746 |
| 3 | Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis | 9,998 |
| 4 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 9,878 |
| 5 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 9,053 |
| 6 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 8,859 |
| 7 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 8,840 |
| 8 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 7,965 |
| 9 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 7,881 |
| 10 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 7,499 |
| 11 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 7,241 |
| 12 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 7,146 |
| 13 | Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus | 6,651 |
| 14 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 5,745 |
| 15 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 5,712 |
| 16 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 5,705 |
| 17 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 5,000 |
| 18 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 4,789 |
| 19 | Sandhill CraneGrus canadensis | 3,936 |
| 20 | American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea | 3,755 |
Records by month
What to put out in Ayr
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- Northern Cardinal
Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips
- Blue Jay
Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower
- Mourning Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower
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 Ayr?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Ayr are American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay and American Goldfinch, based on 281,943 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Ayr?
256 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Ayr?
Observation records peak in April and are lowest in September. Sunrise in late June is around 5:41 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.