Birds of Simcoe

263 bird species have been recorded within 6 mi of the centre of Simcoe (Ontario) since 2010, across 97,411 public observation records shared through GBIF. The most recorded are Canada Goose, Northern Cardinal and Blue Jay.

Simcoe is backyard-bird country: 67% of the records here are small songbirds, doves, woodpeckers and the other birds that come to feeders and yard trees. Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow and Mourning Dove make up the core of what you can expect at a feeder.

19 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 4.0 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.

Waterford, 7 mi to the north, has fewer species on record (225 against 263). Birds logged far more often around Simcoe than there include Carolina Wren, Bonaparte's Gull, Red-breasted Merganser and Gadwall.

Daylight runs from 15 h 21 min at midsummer to 9 h 1 min at midwinter here. Sunrise is about 6:41 AM in mid-April and 5:42 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

• Blue Jay

  Peanuts in the shell · Black-oil sunflower · Suet

• American Crow

  Cracked corn · Peanuts in the shell · Suet scraps

• Mourning Dove

  Millet · Cracked corn · Black-oil sunflower

• House Sparrow

  Millet · Cracked corn

• American Robin

  Mealworms · Chopped apple and berries · Suet nuggets

• Waterford7 mi north · 225 species
• Jarvis10 mi east · 242 species
• Delhi10 mi west · 204 species
• Port Rowan17 mi south-west · 345 species
• Ohsweken19 mi north-east · 220 species
• Brant21 mi north · 272 species