Birds of Richmond Hill

251 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Richmond Hill (Ontario) since 2010, across 250,351 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Northern Cardinal, American Robin and Black-capped Chickadee.

Richmond Hill is backyard-bird country: 82% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee and American Goldfinch make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

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

Records peak in May and are lowest in November — about 6.0 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.

Thornhill, 4 mi to the south, has more species on record (268 against 251).

Daylight runs from 15 h 28 min at midsummer to 8 h 54 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:36 AM in mid-April and 5:34 AM in late June; the dawn chorus starts 30–60 minutes earlier.

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

• Northern Cardinal

  Black-oil sunflower · Safflower · Hulled sunflower chips

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Black-oil sunflower · Suet · Shelled peanuts

• American Goldfinch

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

• Mourning Dove

  Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower

• Red-winged Blackbird

  Cracked corn · Millet · Sunflower

• Thornhill4 mi south · 268 species
• Concord5 mi south-west · 270 species
• King City6 mi north-west · 243 species
• Willowdale7 mi south · 282 species
• Aurora9 mi north · 247 species
• King10 mi north-west · 244 species