Best Places to Bird in Ontario

An insider’s guide to the best birding in Ontario, featuring thirty highly recommended sites.

It’s no secret: Ontario’s rich natural landscape and diverse wildlife provides some of the most exceptional birdwatching Canada has to offer, attracting thousands of bird-lovers each year.

In this user-friendly guidebook, local experts Mike and Ken Burrell show us why. Outlining thirty of their personal favorite spots at which to enjoy the province’s birding, they take readers on an avian tour from Point Pelee to Moosonee, Rainy River to Cornwall. Along the way, they draw from their extensive experience as professional birding guides and field biologists to share insider tips for spotting more than three hundred unique species, advice for exactly when and where to go for the best results, and helpful hints for finding rarely seen birds. Finally, they provide detailed instructions for accessing and enjoying each of the highly recommended sites. Ranging from beloved classics to remote hidden gems, many of these locales are within driving distance of Toronto, Hamilton, or Ottawa; some are even accessible on foot; and each is as spectacular as the last.

With clear maps, beautiful color photos, and a wealth of useful information, Best Places to Bird in Ontario is an invaluable resource that will delight first-time and experienced birders alike.

Kenneth Burrell is a lifelong birder and naturalist based in Waterloo, Ontario. He is an active member of the Ontario Field Ornithologists, volunteers extensively with eBird and other not-for-profit organizations, and also operates his guiding service—Burrell Birding—with his brother Mike.

Michael Burrell has been birding since he was old enough to hold a pair of binoculars. Based in Peterborough, Ontario, he has conducted fieldwork around the province with private industry, Bird Studies Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

"[Best Places to Bird in Ontario] is a fresh update for the next generation of the province’s birders. It reflects the always-shifting populations of our birds and it is also well grounded with eBird data."
—Paul Nicholson, London Free Press