Discover the natural wonders of Toronto's High Park
Toronto’s High Park is a year-round birding hotspot, with well over 150 species seen regularly over the year. In the Spring and Fall, High Park is an important stop-over for migrating birds. More than 50 species breed in the park. Christmas bird counts typically turn up 40 to 50 species. The "all-time" list for High Park totals over 260 species, including many rarities and exotic transients.
A wide variety of bird-life can be found in High Park through the seasons. Besides the omnipresent Ring-billed Gulls, Mallards, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Starlings, House Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, Mourning Doves and Crows, there is a wide variety of birdlife in High Park. The Park is active year round. The ‘all time’ list for the park is extensive at over 260 species but that includes many rarities and exotic transients.
The most recent High Park Christmas Bird Count was held on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 (a very windy day). The High Park route ended up with 43 species, our lowest since 2007. Dark-eyed Junco and Rock Pigeon numbers were the lowest ever since 1990, and it was only the 3rd time we missed Song Sparrow. Low Rock Pigeon numbers were likely due to a lack of coverage of areas where large flocks congregate. Overall, low numbers of individuals of many species appeared to be the norm for most routes in this year's Toronto CBC. See 2019 and previous years' results (Excel, 54 Kb).
The count is coordinated through the Toronto Ornithological Club and Bird Studies Canada.
Find a Christmas Count group near you:
Includes: Birds, Butterflies, Spiders, Fishes, Mammals, Bees, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mushrooms, and Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Toronto. Free copies may be available at your local Toronto Public Library branch. To find out more about these free guidebooks or to download a pdf version, visit the City of Toronto's Biodiversity website.
