Birds of Colchester
What has actually been seen around Colchester: 264 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 264 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 54,482 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 564 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.2 h / 9.1 h
What the records say about Colchester
264 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Colchester (Ontario) since 2010, across 54,482 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal and American Robin.
Colchester is backyard-bird country: 68% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, American Robin and Mourning Dove make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
22 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.
Records peak in May and are lowest in July — about 11.0 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.
Harrow, 4 mi to the north, has more species on record (283 against 264).
Daylight runs from 15 h 14 min at midsummer to 9 h 7 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:52 AM in mid-April and 5:55 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Colchester
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 1,835 |
| 2 | Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis | 1,742 |
| 3 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 1,720 |
| 4 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 1,694 |
| 5 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 1,580 |
| 6 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,576 |
| 7 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 1,403 |
| 8 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 1,311 |
| 9 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,234 |
| 10 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 1,186 |
| 11 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 1,164 |
| 12 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 1,053 |
| 13 | Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor | 1,034 |
| 14 | KilldeerCharadrius vociferus | 1,024 |
| 15 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 999 |
| 16 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 986 |
| 17 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 878 |
| 18 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 874 |
| 19 | Northern FlickerColaptes auratus | 820 |
| 20 | Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus | 761 |
Records by month
What to put out in Colchester
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower
- Northern Cardinal
Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- Mourning Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower
- Common Grackle
Cracked corn · Sunflower
- European Starling
Suet · Cracked corn
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 Colchester?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Colchester are Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Mourning Dove and Common Grackle, based on 54,482 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Colchester?
264 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Colchester?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in July. Sunrise in late June is around 5:55 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.