Birds of Exeter
What has actually been seen around Exeter: 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
- 50,788 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Canada Goose
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 892 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.4 h / 9 h
What the records say about Exeter
247 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Exeter (Ontario) since 2010, across 50,788 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Canada Goose, Mourning Dove and Song Sparrow.
The records split between backyard birds (56%) and waterbirds (39%), so a feeder in Exeter sees the familiar Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow and American Crow, while Canada Goose and others turn up on nearby water.
17 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture and Bald Eagle.
Records peak in May and are lowest in December — about 15.5 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.
South Huron, 3 mi to the south-west, has a similar number of species on record (247 against 247).
Daylight runs from 15 h 24 min at midsummer to 8 h 58 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:45 AM in mid-April and 5:45 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Exeter
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 1,560 |
| 2 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 1,402 |
| 3 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 1,375 |
| 4 | MallardAnas platyrhynchos | 1,359 |
| 5 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 1,342 |
| 6 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 1,307 |
| 7 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 1,231 |
| 8 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 1,157 |
| 9 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,149 |
| 10 | Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis | 1,077 |
| 11 | Turkey VultureCathartes aura | 1,065 |
| 12 | KilldeerCharadrius vociferus | 1,059 |
| 13 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 959 |
| 14 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 953 |
| 15 | Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis | 905 |
| 16 | Great Blue HeronArdea herodias | 868 |
| 17 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 845 |
| 18 | House SparrowPasser domesticus | 769 |
| 19 | Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis | 763 |
| 20 | Barn SwallowHirundo rustica | 752 |
Records by month
What to put out in Exeter
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Mourning Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower
- Song Sparrow
Millet · Hulled sunflower · Cracked corn
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower
- Red-winged Blackbird
Cracked corn · Millet · 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 Exeter?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Exeter are Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, American Crow, American Robin and American Goldfinch, based on 50,788 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Exeter?
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 Exeter?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in December. Sunrise in late June is around 5:45 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.