Birds in Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill is proud to be a 'Bird Friendly City'! Our community has many unique natural features, including wetlands, kettle lakes and forests that make it a haven for wildlife. Thanks to our ongoing care and protection of our natural environment, more than 115 bird species call our community home.

About birds

Birds play an essential role in healthy ecosystems and resilient communities. However, over the past 50 years, North American bird populations have declined by more than 25% or 3 billion birds.

This decline is largely caused by human activities, through predation from our domestic cats and collisions with windows and cars. Birds are also affected by climate change, as changing temperatures affect timing and availability of food, as well as migration patterns.

Richmond Hill wants to help reduce these threats and be part of the solution!

As part of the Richmond Hill’s Bird Friendly City designation, the community had the opportunity to vote on a City bird in 2024, and the Great Blue Heron soared to the top of the bird race to become Richmond Hill’s official ‘Bird Friendly City bird’.

Great Blue Heron (Zhashagi)

The Great Blue Heron is a symbol of the natural heritage features that are found

throughout Richmond Hill. They play an essential Image of a Great Blue Heron role in maintaining healthy and resilient ecosystems in our communities.

Great Blue Heron’s, or Zhashagi in Anishinaabe, stand almost one metre tall and have a wingspan of up to two metres; they are the largest Heron in North America. It has greyish-blue feathers on its body, a white head with a black stripe on each side, a yellow-orange dagger-sharp beak, and a long neck and legs.

Herons can be seen standing perfectly still or slowly wading into wetlands and ponds ready to snatch up a fish at places like Newberry Park, Richmond Green and Rumble Pond to name just a few. They breed locally in large congregations called ‘rookeries’,

but fly south when the cold weather hits and water starts to freeze.

Fun Facts*

Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only five to six pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones—a feature all birds share.
With their massive wingspan, Great Blue Herons can fly up to 55 kilometres per hour.
Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision.
Specialized feathers on their chest grow continuously and fray into a powder, which helps protect their feathers from fish slime and other oils.

*Source: allaboutbirds.org

Anishinaabe translation was provided by Hiawatha First Nation.

What is the City doing to support and protect birds?

Richmond Hill is taking the following actions to help reduce threats to bird populations and create more resilient ecosystems for birds and other wildlife to thrive.

children planting trees at a public event

Restoring and enhancing habitats through the long-term restoration program and Community Stewardship Program
Implementing Bird-Safe Design Standards and encouraging reduced light pollution in all new development through the Sustainability Metrics Program
Reducing the threat from domestic cats through the animal shelter services, and animal control by-laws
Planting and protecting pollinator habitat, including habitat for birds, through the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, Bee City certification and various pollinator projects
Regulating the planting, maintenance and removal of trees on public and private property through the City’s Street Tree and Tree Preservation By-laws
Protecting, enhancing and increasing Richmond Hill’s urban forest canopy (and bird habitat) through the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan and updated Environment Strategy

Creating Bird-Safe Windows at the City

Hundreds of birds have been injured or killed in collisions with the reflective windows at Central Library. In order to reduce this threat, the City is undertaking a bird-collision monitoring project to understand high risk facades at the library. This assessment will help inform a potential retrofit pilot project to install bird-safe window film in strategic-locations. Bird-safe window film allows birds to see the glass and avoid flying into it.

This pilot project will help to inform bird-safe design retrofits at other current and future City facilities.

How You Can Help

If you notice a dead or injured bird outside Central Library, please notify a library staff member and they will take care of it. If you notice a dead or injured bird at any other City facility, report it Bird Mapper; this will help City staff understand high-risk areas for bird-window collisions.

What can you do to support and protect birds?

People bird watching in a park The community has a role to play in protecting birds and their habitat! You can help by:

Planting native trees and shrubs on your property. Learn more at RichmondHill.ca/HealthyYards
Keeping cats inside and learning strategies to keep both cats and birds safe in the community
Preventing birds from flying into your glass windows. There are many simple ways to mitigate bird-window collisions
Be a conscious consumer! When shopping for items such as coffee, chocolate and paper products, look for certifications like Smithsonian Bird Friendly, Rainforest Alliance or Forestry Stewardship Council that help protect bird habitats
Go birding, and learn about the environment around you. Richmond Hill has many parks that offer accessible trails for birding:

See the drop down below or check out RichmondHill.ca/Parks for more parks to enjoy.

Contribute to citizen science programming (below) or by reporting your bird observations to eBird and iNaturalist.

Bird-Safe Design at Home

What is Bird-safe design?

Bird-safe design refers to building and home practices that reduce the risks birds face from invisible glass and artificial lighting (especially at night).

Since birds can't see clear or reflective windows and may become confused by bright lights during the nighttime migration, bird-safe design emphasizes making glass easier for birds to detect and limiting lighting that interferes with their natural navigation.

These simple measures help prevent collisions and support healthier bird populations in our communities.

Common Bird-Safe Myths

Myth: One or two decals will stop collisions

Reality: Birds don't recognize them unless they cover the whole window with close spacing.

Myth: Birds can see glass

Reality: They perceive reflections as open sky or habitat.

Myth: Only tall buildings cause collisions

Reality: Homes and low-rise buildings are responsible for most bird strikes.

Myth: Bird-safe glass is unattractive or expensive

Reality: Many products are nearly invisible and cost-effective.

Get Started

Monitor your home for bird-window collisions and identify your most reflective or dangerous windows. Take the Bird-Safe Homeowner Self-Assessment.
Choose a treatment. Popular Do-It-Yourself solutions are listed below. For more details on these options and how-to-guidance, visit FLAP Canada
- Decorative and Privacy Window Films
- Perforated Window Film
- Feather Friendly DIY Tape
- Ribbons or String
- Tape
- Window Grilles
- Exterior Shades or Solar Screens
- Exterior Window Screens
Make sure the spacing of your treatment is no greater than 5cm x 5cm.
Turn off unnecessary outdoor lighting at night
Ensure plant and birdfeeder placement does not result in window reflections
Monitor and adjust as needed.

Birding in Richmond Hill

Birding is a fun, educational outdoor activity for people of all ages. The thrill of spotting a rare species or finally catching a glimpse of that hard to spot owl is a wonderful feeling. You may be able to find a few of the extraordinary birds listed below in their natural habitats the next time you visit a Richmond Hill park or trail, or maybe even in your own back yard.

When you spot one, take a photo and share it with us on Instagram @myRichmondHill or use the hashtag #myRichmondHill for the chance to be featured on our page.

American Redstart – Moraine Park

American Redstarts are small birds that are easy to spot as they hop through trees and branches at Moraine Park in search of insects. Males are black with bright, orange patches on their wings and tail. Females have grey heads with yellow patches on their sides, wings and tail.

Gray Catbird – Little Don Park

Gray Catbirds can be found hopping along small trees and shrubs at Little Don Park. They are medium-sized, light grey birds with a little bit of black on their head and tail. If you can’t spot one, listen for their distinctive cat-like mew.

Great Horned Owl – Twickenham Park

One of the most common owls in North America is the Great Horned Owl. This classic bird has big, bright yellow eyes and two feathered tufts that look like ears. Great Horned Owls are nocturnal, but, if you’re lucky enough, you may be able to spot one sitting on a branch at dusk at Twickenham Park.

Green Heron – Newberry Park

You can often find Green Herons standing still at the edge of the ponds at Newberry Park as they search for their next meal. They are shorter and stockier compared to other herons. From afar, Green Herons look dark brown, but in good light you will notice their deep green backs.

Hairy Woodpecker – Beaver Woodland Trail

Hairy Woodpeckers are black and white, with checkered wings and two white stripes on their head. Males have a dash of red on the back of their heads. As you walk through Beaver Woodland Trail, look for them foraging on large tree trunks and branches. You may even be able to hear the swift drumming sound they make on trees.

Orchard Oriole – Rouge River Headwaters Trails

If you look up at the trees around the river edges of the Rouge River Headwaters and Trails, you may find an Orchard Oriole. Adult males are mostly black with brown underparts, while females are greenish-yellow with white on their wings. You may notice their pouch-like nests hanging from trees during their short breeding season.

Residents are encouraged to admire wildlife from a safe distance and to not approach or touch them. It is also important not to feed birds and other wildlife as it can do more harm than good. Find out more on how to coexist with urban wildlife by visiting RichmondHill.ca/Wildlife.

Join Richmond Hill's Bird Team!

Image of a warbler Through Nature Canada, recruitment is underway for the City of Richmond Hill Bird Team. The team’s mission is to protect birds by:

Creating safer urban environments
Mitigating key threats
Protecting and restoring natural habitats
Increasing climate resiliency
Conducting community outreach and education

The Bird Team may consist of naturalist groups, birding clubs, environmental organizations, municipal staff, businesses, educational institutions, researchers and citizens. No skill level or birding experience is required to participate. Recruitment is open to all Richmond Hill residents.

Interested? View the City of Richmond Hill's Bird Team Training Manual, check out Nature Canada's Terms of Reference, and email greeningthehill@richmondhill.ca to begin the process.