The Ontario checklist comprises 506 bird species that have been recorded in Ontario on the basis of specimens, photographs, recordings and documented sight records accepted by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) to June 2022. A total of 292 species is known to have bred in the province.
Classification and nomenclature follow the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds, (7th Edition, 1998) up to the 62nd (2021) supplements. The most recent additions are:
Common Gull (split from Short-billed Gull 2021)
Yellow-browed Warbler (2021)
MacGillivray’s Warbler (2021)
Tundra Bean-Goose (2020)
Glaucous-winged Gull (2020)
Costa’s Hummingbird (2018)
Calliope Hummingbird (2018)
Reddish Egret (2018)
Great Kiskadee (2018)
White-crowned Pigeon (2018)
White Wagtail (2017)
Common Ringed Plover (2016)
Grace’s Warbler (2016)
Pink-footed Goose (2015)
Eurasian Dotterel (2015)
Little Egret (2015)
Kelp Gull (2015)
Elegant Tern (2014)
Brown Booby (2014)
Thick-billed Kingbird (2013)
Pyrrhuloxia (2012)
Yellow-nosed Albatross (2011)
Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater (2011)
Anna’s Hummingbird (2011)
Roseate Spoonbill (2010)
Black-tailed Gull (2010)
Barnacle Goose (2009)
Mottled Duck (2009)
Black Swift (2008)
Neotropic Cormorant (2006)
McCown’s Longspur (2006)
Cackling Goose (split from Canada Goose, July, 2004)
Brewer’s Sparrow (2004)
White‐collared Swift (2002)
Manx Shearwater (2002)
Heermann’s Gull (2000)
The New World population of Common Moorhen is split from the Eurasian population and renamed Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) on the basis of differences in vocalizations as well as bill and shield morphology (AOU, 2011).
The English name Whip‐poor‐will has been changed to Eastern Whip‐poor‐will to distinguish it from the southwest population now renamed Mexican Whip‐poor‐will (2010). MacGillivray’s Warbler has been removed from the Ontario list (2010).
The English common name Nelson’s Sharp‐tailed Sparrow has been shortened to Nelson’s Sparrow (2009). The Tanagers family is removed and the three species formerly in that family are moved to the beginning of the Cardinals & Allies family (2009).
In 2008, the order of the gulls was changed on the Ontario Checklist to reflect the AOU order. Hoary Redpoll (2013), Black Scoter (2008) and Trumpeter Swan (2007) were added as breeding species. The common name Mongolian Plover is now Lesser Sand‐Plover (2004) to agree with modern Old World literature. The common name Rock Dove changed to Rock Pigeon (2003). The name Three‐toed Woodpecker changed to American Three‐toed Woodpecker (2003) as a result of a split from the Eurasian species. The name Common Snipe was changed to Wilson’s Snipe because of a split from the European species (2002).
To find out how to order a printed field checklist please contact obrc@ofo.ca