Bird Checklist

Checklist of the Birds of Thunder Bay District, Ontario

There have been 373 species of birds recorded within the District of Thunder Bay in Ontario as of December 31, 2023. This checklist was compiled in large part by the former TBFN bird records chair, Nick Escott, and current chair, Brian Ratcliff using information supplied by members and friends of TBFN. This is the official Checklist of the Birds of the District of Thunder Bay. 

The Thunder Bay District checklist is updated regularly on this website to include new species or to reflect taxonomical changes made by the AOU.

Rare Bird Documentation
Species marked with asterisks are considered rare. If any of these species (or any not on the Checklist), are observed, complete details of the sighting should be recorded and forwarded to the Bird Records Chairman of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, Brian Ratcliff.

Rarity codes

xx – Species considered rare in Northern Ontario by the Ontario Bird Records Committee
x – Additional species considered rare in Thunder Bay District

Status codes

P – Permanent resident; breeds here
S – Summer resident; usually nests in the Thunder Bay District
W – Winter resident
M – Spring and/or fall migrant; expected every year
C – Casual in the District of Thunder Bay, has been reported in 3 to 7 of the past 10 years
A – Accidental in The District of Thunder Bay, has been reported in no more than 2 of the past 10 years
E – Extinct or extirpated; not expected to be seen