Birds of Metcalfe
What has actually been seen around Metcalfe: 230 species, the most recorded backyard birds, the busiest months, and what to put out for them.
- Species on record
- 230 within 6 mi
- Observation records
- 30,535 since 2010
- Most recorded bird
- American Crow
- Busiest month
- May
- Elevation
- 292 ft
- Daylight, June / December
- 15.7 h / 8.7 h
What the records say about Metcalfe
230 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Metcalfe (Ontario) since 2010, across 30,535 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and Northern Cardinal.
Metcalfe is backyard-bird country: 87% 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.
23 birds of prey are on record nearby, including Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk and Merlin.
Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 4.4 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.
Russell, 5 mi to the east, has more species on record (252 against 230).
Daylight runs from 15 h 39 min at midsummer to 8 h 44 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:18 AM in mid-April and 5:13 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.
Most recorded birds near Metcalfe
| # | Bird | Records |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American CrowCorvus brachyrhynchos | 1,942 |
| 2 | Black-capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillus | 1,590 |
| 3 | Northern CardinalCardinalis cardinalis | 1,519 |
| 4 | Blue JayCyanocitta cristata | 1,487 |
| 5 | Mourning DoveZenaida macroura | 1,386 |
| 6 | American GoldfinchSpinus tristis | 1,310 |
| 7 | American RobinTurdus migratorius | 1,237 |
| 8 | European StarlingSturnus vulgaris | 1,030 |
| 9 | Dark-eyed JuncoJunco hyemalis | 988 |
| 10 | Song SparrowMelospiza melodia | 950 |
| 11 | White-breasted NuthatchSitta carolinensis | 906 |
| 12 | Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens | 884 |
| 13 | Common GrackleQuiscalus quiscula | 847 |
| 14 | Red-winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceus | 697 |
| 15 | Canada GooseBranta canadensis | 658 |
| 16 | Rock PigeonColumba livia | 546 |
| 17 | Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus | 521 |
| 18 | Common RavenCorvus corax | 468 |
| 19 | Chipping SparrowSpizella passerina | 464 |
| 20 | American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arborea | 446 |
Records by month
What to put out in Metcalfe
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
- Mourning Dove
Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower
- 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 Metcalfe?
The most recorded backyard birds within 6 mi of Metcalfe are American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay and Mourning Dove, based on 30,535 public records since 2010.
How many bird species have been seen near Metcalfe?
230 species have at least one record within 6 mi of the town centre since 2010 (GBIF).
When is the best month for birds in Metcalfe?
Observation records peak in May and are lowest in November. Sunrise in late June is around 5:13 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.