Birds of Hanover

202 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Hanover (Ontario) since 2010, across 13,190 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay and American Crow.

Hanover is backyard-bird country: 83% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, American Crow and American Goldfinch make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

18 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Bald Eagle.

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 11.3 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.

Walkerton, 6 mi to the west, has fewer species on record (189 against 202). Birds logged far more often around Hanover than there include Mute Swan.

Daylight runs from 15 h 30 min at midsummer to 8 h 52 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:42 AM in mid-April and 5:40 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• American Goldfinch

  Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · Black-oil sunflower

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Northern Cardinal

  Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips

• Walkerton6 mi west · 189 species
• Clifford13 mi south · 188 species
• Harriston18 mi south-east · 191 species
• Mount Forest19 mi south-east · 195 species
• Markdale22 mi north-east · 178 species
• Wingham23 mi south-west · 177 species