Waterfowl to Look out for in Southern Ontario This Winter

With the snow coming with the cold weather many nature-lovers are preparing to bundle up and find things to do outdoors.

My personal favourite thing to do over the winter is look for migratory birds passing through. If you're in the Greater Toronto Area, here are a few types of birds to keep an eye open for:

 

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

The hooded merganser is distinct by the dramatic crest of white or copper on its head that can expand or collapse. Like many other birds, this species shows clear sexual dimorphism (where males and females look different), with the females not having the high-contrasting black and white markings that males have. 

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

A symbol of lifelong love, swans mate for life and easily steal the spotlight amoung other migratory waterfowl. Their long necks, high stature, and striking white colour make them easy to spot. They are often seen in small groups, sometimes with younger swans with darker feathers. Trumpeter swans particularly have all black bills. 

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

These cute little birds are not to be confused with ducks. They have lobed toes that they use to scoot across the water's surface, often bobbing their heads forward as they swim. They are solitary and can also be seen diving, but will not dive as deep as loons will. 

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Buffleheads are shy towards other species of birds and towards humans. Their shy nature can make them difficult to get close enough to photograph, but they can be easily spotted often in pairs or with their flocks as they migrate. They also show sexual dimorphsm, with females being darker than males.

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

During the wintertime this familiar waterfowl can be seen in droves, with hundreds and hundreds flying into bodies of water as they migrate. Known for their aggressive nature, many people have stories of being chased or attacked by the notorious bird, earning it the nickname "cobra chicken".

American coot (Fulica americana)

Rarer in Canada than the United States, the American coot may be spotted with a silhouette like a mallard's in the water, or with a much more distinct shape when it stands. American coots have red eyes and a white bill that extends to their forehead with red on the top.

 

Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)

It's not so clear in the photos I was able to get, but the long-tailed duck's name is descriptive of it's most obvious feature on males: long feathers on its tail arching upwards. By contrast, females are brown and white and do not have the long tail.

 

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 

This common duck lives around the Greater Toronto Area year-round, but can be seen migrating in flocks over the wintertime. Females are neutral brown, while males have green iridescent heads and grey-brown bodies. Shown in the picture on the left is an albino Mallard spotted with a regularly-coloured male companion.

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

Popular with tourists year-round in Algonquin Park, loons can be seen migrating through the Toronto area over the winter months. They will most often be seen solitary, more deeply submerged than mallards, and often diving.