Know How to Identify Summer Birds

Is there anything more Canadian than the sound of a common loon floating hauntingly across the lake at the cottage in the early morning? This, honestly for me, is the sound of summer. I love sitting on the dock in the morning either with a coffee or a caesar and just listening to their haunting call. 

While it may be the official bird of Ontario, it can easily be found in lakes across our entire beautiful country. It is amazing to watch it dive and come up many minutes later and at great distances away from where it dove. From April to June, you can often spot the fluffy black chicks hitching rides on their parent’s backs. 

What to look for: 

These little guys are adorable and can often be found flitting around your backyard though they are most at home in the forest. They are the most personable of all the birds on this list and can often be encouraged to land on your hand if it is full of tasty treats. This is the official bird of New Brunswick, and it is easy to know when they are around by their distinctive chick-a-dee-dee-dee call. 

What to look for: 

These tiny little floofs have a distinctive black cap on their heads which extends under their chin with white cheeks, creamy feathers on the bodies, and grey wings. 

Now you won’t see these beauties across a lot of Canada, but I had to include them on this list as they are a personal favourite. So if you are in southeastern Canada, make sure to try and spot a few this summer. These beautiful birds inhabit the forests and also thick bushes and trees in residential areas. Baby cardinals resemble the female colouring but have black beaks that will turn orange as they mature. 

Both males and females have a distinctive crest. The Males are a bright red with a black mask around their beaks. The females are more subdued brownish grey with a reddish tinge and darker feathers around their beak but not black like the males. 

I often spot these giant birds as they fly over my garden, and it is a sight to behold, given their wingspan of 5 to 6 feet! Even with their large stature, they are incredibly light on the scale. They only weigh 5-6 pounds due to their hollow bones. Chances of you seeing one of these majestic birds in your backyard is incredibly slim. If however, you do have a backyard pond, then it is a possibility. The neighbours across the street from us have a pond and also had a heron land there once! They are more likely to be spotted at the cottage on the edge of a lake or hanging around a fish hatchery. 

What to look for: 

Subtle blue-grey feathers, long orange bill with a long black striped plume which starts over its eye and extends past the back of the head. In-flight, its neck forms a distinctive “S” pattern. 

Most people know of the Peregrin falcon because of its tragic tale of almost being eradicated due to the pesticide DDT. Luckily due to a lot of dedicated effort, they have made a comeback... They are also known for their speed, which they use to attack their prey. It can reach speeds of 320 km/h as it dives in pursuit of prey! They are often seen in large cities and coastal areas. My parents even had one land on their condo balcony railing in downtown Toronto! I often hear them flying over the garden making their “kah, kah, kah” call, and if I’m very quick, I can even catch a glimpse of them. 

What to look for: 

They are crow-sized birds, and the dark feathers on their heads make it look like they are wearing a little helmet. It has a blue-grey back, and its chest and underside of its wings are horizontally barred (stripes looking). 

I have been on a quest to bring hummingbirds to my garden for years, but in 15 years of living here, I have only ever seen two. Well, until this year at least! I have been visited four times this year, and it always fills my heart with joy to see one of these little birds gracing my yard with their presence. Rather than rely on those hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water, I am focusing on filling the permitter of my yard with pollinator and hummingbird-friendly plants. I even had one land on my cattle panel arched trellis! It is amazing to see them hover in mid-air. I was sitting out in the garden with my bestie, and suddenly we had a new guest. A little hummingbird was hovering between us at eye level. It looked between us a few times and then went on its way. It was a fantastic experience! If you want to draw them in, focus on planting agastache, alliums, bee balm, lupine, zinnias, Columbine, and butterfly bush. There are 360 species of hummingbirds, and they range from Alaska to the tip of South America. 

What to look for: 

Very small birds averaging 3-5 inches in length. They hover thanks to their incredibly fast wing-flapping ranging from 12-80 beats per second. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for these six birds this summer while you are out enjoying the sun and warm temperatures! Even better, start a list of all the birds you see and even a wish list of those you would like to track down! Then you can plan some outdoor adventures venturing those habitats frequented by your wish list. 

Happy bird watching!