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Birds of High Park's Oak Savannah and Woodlands in Toronto

From songbirds to raptors — meet some of the birds you might encounter in the globally rare Black Oak Savannah and Woodlands of Toronto’s High Park.

The birds of High Park’s oak savannah and woodlands reflect the rich biodiversity of one of Toronto’s rarest ecosystems. Open-grown black oaks, sunlit clearings, and scattered woodland create a mosaic of habitats that support both migratory and resident species. Explore this living landscape, where prairie, forest, and city converge to sustain a vibrant bird community.

Learn More: List of Common Birds of High Park Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Note: Most photos on this site are generously contributed by local photographers and were taken in High Park. Please respect their work by not copying or reproducing images without permission. If you’re interested in contributing photos, showcasing your artwork, or creating a dedicated photo album on our website, please contact us.

Cooper's hawk balancing on a tree branch in High Park, Toronto.
Cooper's Hawk. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Common Nighthawk resting on a tree branch in High Park, Toronto.
Common Nighthawk. Photo Credit: Paul Prior
Blue Jay on top of a bare tree trunk.
Blue Jay. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Northern Flicker on the ground.
Northern Flicker. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
American Crow at the top of a bare tree trunk.
American Crow. Photo Credit: Suzanne Adorjan
White-breasted Nuthatch perched on a tree trunk.
White-breasted Nuthatch. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at the end of a thin branch.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Photo Credit: Howard Shapiro
European Starling pictured from below.
European Starling. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
Black-and-white Warbler on a branch.
Black-and-white Warbler. Photo Credit: Steven Rose
Fox Sparrow perched on a branch.
Fox Sparrow. Photo Credit: Howard Shapiro
Dark-eyed Junco standing on snow.
Dark-eyed Junco. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Common Grackle balanced at the end of a thin branch.
Common Grackle. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
Brown-headed Cowbird male on a tree stump.
Brown-headed Cowbird male. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female in-flight approaching a flower.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird female. Photo Credit: Lu Liu
Ruby-throated Hummingbird perched on a thin branch.
Cedar Waxwings. Photo Credit: JM
Two Cedar Waxings perched together on a branch.
Cedar Waxwings. Photo Credit: JM
Red-tailed Hawk in a tree in High Park, Toronto.
Red-tailed Hawk. Photo Credit: Ali Pashang
Chimney Swift in flight.
Chimney Swift. Photo Credit: David Beadle
Downy Woodpecker clutching a thin tree branch.
Downy Woodpecker. Photo Credit: Richard Sigesmund
Eastern Wood-Peewee at the end of a tree branch.
Eastern Wood-Pewee. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Black-capped Chickadee on a bare branch.
Black-capped Chickadee. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
Brown Creeper on the side of a tree trunk.
Brown Creeper. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
American Robin on the ground with a worm in its beak.
American Robin. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Magnolia Warbler on a branch.
American Robin. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Black-throated Blue Warbler male perched on a bend in a thin branch.
Black-throated Blue Warbler male. Photo: Ali Pashang
Northern Cardinal Male watching from a branch.
Northern Cardinal male. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
Song Sparrow on a thin branch in High Park, Toronto.
Song Sparrow. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Rose-breasted Grosbeak male perched on a branch.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak male. Photo Credit: Kin Lau
House Finch male.
House Finch male. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano
American Goldfinch male perched on a thin branch.
American Goldfinch male. Photo Credit: Katherine Pawling
Baltimore Oriole female on a cherry blossom tree.
Baltimore Oriole female. Photo Credit: Jamie Weir
Eastern screech-owl perched on a tree branch, camouflaged with gray mottled plumage and distinctive ear tufts, surrounded by green leaves in a sunlit forest setting in High Park, Toronto.
Eastern Screech-Owl. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Ruby-throated Hummingbird male approaching a red flower.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird male. Photo Credit: JM
Hair Woodpecker female at the end of a broken tree trunk.
Hairy Woodpecker female. Photo Credit: JM
Eastern Kingbird at the top of a stump in High Park, Toronto.
Eastern Kingbird. Photo Credit: Kin Lau
Red-breasted Nuthatch on a branch.
Red-breasted Nuthatch. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Golden-crowned Kinglet on the ground.
Golden-crowed Kinglet. Photo Credit: Howard Shapiro
Gray Catbird in dense foliage.
Gray Catbird. Photo Credit: Bob Yukich
Yellow-rumped Warbler on a tree branch.
Yellow-rumped Warbler. Photo Credit: Steven Rose
Scarlet Tanager male on a leafy branch.
Scarlet Tanager male. Photo Credit: Kin Lau
Northern Cardinal female sitting on a bare branch.
Northern Cardinal female. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Chipping Sparrow resting on a branch.
Chipping Sparrow. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
White-crowned Sparrow perched on a fencepost.
White-crowned Sparrow. Photo Credit: Mike Taggart
Indigo Bunting on a branch.
Indigo Bunting. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
Baltimore Oriole male inside of a bush.
Baltimore Oriole male. Photo Credit: Iain Fleming
House Finch female.
House Finch female. Photo Credit: Colin Marcano

Most photos on this site are generously contributed by local photographers and were taken in High Park. Please respect their work by not copying or reproducing images without permission. If you’re interested in contributing photos, showcasing your artwork, or creating a dedicated photo album on our website, please contact us.

Birds of the City

Build your birding skills and discover how our feathered friends survive in urban neighbourhoods in Toronto.

Created by naturalist and former High Park Nature Centre staff, Mallory Parks, this online naturalist course covers the fascinating and diverse world of birds you can find in your own neighbourhoods. Sign up for this course today and discover how our feathered citizens make their way in the big city.

Enroll In This Course Today
American Robin feeding its chicks at its nest in High Park, Toronto.

City of Toronto's Biodiversity Booklet

Birds of Toronto offers an overview of the 410 bird species recorded across the GTA, including 369 observed within Toronto. Discover the remarkable diversity of local birdlife: from year-round residents and winter visitors to summer breeders and the many migratory species that pass through Toronto on their journeys north during the spring season or south towards warmer wintering sites. This useful booklet provides everything you need to better understand, enjoy, and help protect the birds that share our city.

Learn More
Blue Jay perched on a snow-dusted branch on the cover of Birds of Toronto: A Guide to Their Remarkable World, Second Edition, part of the City of Toronto Biodiversity Series, featuring logos for the City of Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and Live Green Toronto, and an award badge for environmental service.

Discover Related Topics

Dark-eyed junco standing on snow, showing slate-gray upperparts, white belly, and a pale pink bill in a winter landscape in High Park, Toronto.

Birding Through the Seasons

Discover the diversity of birds that reside in or pass through High Park during the spring, summer, fall and winter seasons in Toronto.

Learn More
Male wood duck with colourful plumage and red eye visible, swimming on calm green water, in High Park, Toronto.

Common Waterbirds

Learn about the wide variety of waterbirds who live and feed in Grenadier Pond, Spring Creek and other wetlands in High Park.

Learn More
Two juvenile ruby-throated hummingbirds in a small lichen-covered nest on a tree branch in High Park, Toronto.

Young Birds of High Park

Discover the adorable fledglings born and raised in Toronto’s High Park during the peak spring and summer breeding seasons.

Learn More

Fall 50/50 Raffle For Nature Connection in High Park

Fall 50/50 Raffle For Nature Connection

Learning about and forming lasting relationships with with nature has never been more important. That’s why we are raising funds to strengthen our Nature Connection Fund.

Purchase a ticket for our Fall 50/50 Raffle today for a chance to win half the jackpot!

Your support helps ensure kids and adults of all ages can connect with nature in High Park now and forever.

Support our Nature Connection Fund by participating in our Fall 50/50 Raffle. Purchase a ticket today for a chance to win half the jackpot! Your support will ensure kids and adults of all ages can learn about and build a lasting relationship with nature in High Park.

Enter Our 50/50 Raffle

Savannah Soirée Fundraiser

Join us for our annual fundraiser, Savannah Soirée, on Thursday, October 22, at High Park Brewery.

This enchanting evening will feature delicious food and drinks, live music, curated Nature Centre activities and displays, and an exciting fundraiser auction.

Your support helps ensure a sustainable future for High Park for generations to come.

Join us for our annual signature fundraiser, Savannah Soirée, on Thursday, October 22, at High Park Brewery. All funds raised will help support our Nature Connection Fund and helps ensure a sustainable future for High Park for generations to come.

Buy Your Tickets Today
Enter Our 50/50 Raffle