Birds of Meaford
What has actually been seen around Meaford: 219 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 219 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 31,045 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 663 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.6 h / 8.8 h
What the records say about Meaford
219 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Meaford (Ontario) since 2010, across 31,045 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow and Mourning Dove.
Meaford is backyard-bird country: 86% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Mourning Dove and Blue Jay make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.
20 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture and Bald Eagle.
Records peak in May and are lowest in January — about 9.2 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.
The Blue Mountains, 8 mi to the south-east, has more species on record (234 against 219).
Daylight runs from 15 h 34 min at midsummer to 8 h 49 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:39 AM in mid-April and 5:36 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Meaford
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 1,541 |
| 2 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 1,418 |
| 3 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 1,379 |
| 4 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 1,269 |
| 5 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 1,195 |
| 6 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 1,169 |
| 7 | Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis | 1,168 |
| 8 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 1,096 |
| 9 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 1,011 |
| 10 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 905 |
| 11 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 782 |
| 12 | Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus | 765 |
| 13 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 731 |
| 14 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 683 |
| 15 | Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus | 629 |
| 16 | House FinchHaemorhous mexicanus | 623 |
| 17 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 581 |
| 18 | Red-breasted NuthatchSitta canadensis | 574 |
| 19 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 569 |
| 20 | American Herring GullLarus smithsonianus | 527 |
Records by month
What to put out in Meaford
Foods for the most recorded backyard birds here, from our species notes.
- Black-capped Chickadee
Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts
- American Crow
Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps
- Mourning Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower
- Blue Jay
Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet
- American Robin
Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets
- American Goldfinch
Nyjer (thistle) · Hulled sunflower chips · 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 Meaford?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Meaford are Black-capped Chickadee, American Crow, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay and American Robin, based on 31,045 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Meaford?
219 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Meaford?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in January. Sunrise in late June is around 5:36 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.