Birds

Name: Piping Plover Scientific Name: Charadrius melodus Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally Details & Range Map: R.O.M.

There are approximately 10,000 species of birds worldwide, of which 664 species have been found in Canada. Ontario is home to 483 bird species, nearly 73% of the Canadian total.

Approximately 12% of these species are of provincial conservation concern. The Passenger Pigeon is Extinct and the Greater Prairie-chicken is considered Extirpated in Canada. Ten species, including Loggerhead Shrike and Piping Plover are Endangered (regulated under Ontario's Endangered Species Act). Three species, including Barn Owl and Northern Bobwhite are Endangered in Ontario (currently not regulated under the ESA). Least Bittern and Peregrine Falcon are Threatened and another 10 species are of Special Concern in Ontario such as Red-headed Woodpecker.

According to the General Status of Species in Canada (2010), over half (235) of Ontario's bird species are ranked provincially as secure. Nine species (2%) are exotic - that is they have been introduced here from elsewhere and in most cases (e.g., European Starling and House Sparrow) are well-established breeding species. One species is extirpated (Greater Prairie-Chicken), and another one is extinct (Passenger Pigeon). 16 species are at risk (e.g. Piping Plover, Bald Eagle and Prothonotary Warbler), and 10 may be at risk. Thirty-six species are considered to be sensitive (species that are not believed to be at risk of immediate extirpation or extinction but may require special attention or protection to prevent them from becoming at risk). One-hundred and seventy-three species are accidentals (species occurring infrequently and unpredictably, outside their usual range).

Habitat loss is the most important factor in the loss and decline of bird populations in Ontario. Other threats include habitat fragmentation, contaminants, pesticides, accidental mortality and domestic predators such as house cats. Most of Ontario's bird species are migratory and only spend the breeding season here.  They spend their winters in the southern United States, the Caribbean, or in Central or South America. Migration presents challenges for bird conservation because it involves multi-national cooperation. The North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the North American Waterfowl Management Plan are examples of coordinated efforts across nations aimed at conserving migratory birds.

For more information on birds, see the list of species on the Natural Heritage Information Centre website.

For more information on Species at Risk designations and their current status, see the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List and the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) website.

Photography
J. Paul Goossen