NeilyWorld      Birding Ottawa - Listers' Pages


   OTTAWA BIG YEAR CHECKLIST

         An attempt has been made here to break the Ottawa Checklist down into categories representing the degrees of difficulty in finding a given species, as well as indicating the best months in which to search for a given bird. A number from 0 to 9 is given for each quarter month. Zero indicates the bird is not to be expected in that period, a nine indicates you should have no trouble finding this bird. These numbers represent the ease of finding a species, rather than the presumed actual abundance as given in the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Clubs checklist. Such differences may prove important in a Big Year attempt. You may print this list to keep track of your Big Year's progress.
Category 1:      VERY EASILY FOUND     (Code 7 or above for at least one consecutive one month period)
         Some of these birds are not present all year, but when they are here, minimum effort is needed to find them. In other words, there is no need to chase them, you'll get them incidentally while chasing harder to find species. The 100 species in this list would be very difficult for the serious birder to miss, hence are basically "gimmes".
    
Species
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#
     Canada Goose
2222
2222
2469
9999
9999
8888
8888
8899
9999
9999
9999
9642
1
     Wood Duck
1111
1111
1124
6677
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7766
5555
5432
2
     American Wigeon
1111
1111
1113
4567
6666
5555
5555
5555
6677
7777
6642
1111
3
     American Black Duck
7777
7777
7788
8888
8888
7777
7777
7788
8888
8888
8888
8888
4
     Mallard
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
5
     Blue-winged Teal
0000
0000
0012
4567
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7764
4321
1100
6
     Northern Pintail
1111
1111
1236
8888
8766
5444
4566
7777
7788
8888
7654
2111
7
     Green-winged Teal
0000
0000
1113
4567
7776
5555
5555
5567
7777
7766
5432
1110
8
     Ring-necked Duck
1111
1111
1124
6777
6544
3333
3333
3345
5555
6677
7765
4321
9
     Greater Scaup
1111
0011
1134
6666
5543
1111
1111
1111
3456
6677
7766
5431
10
     Lesser Scaup
2222
2222
2234
6788
7654
4333
3333
3344
4567
7888
8876
5431
11
     Common Goldeneye
9999
9999
9999
9999
7655
5543
2222
2334
4556
6789
9999
9999
12
     Common Merganser
6666
6666
6667
7777
6654
4333
3333
3344
5666
6667
7777
7776
13
     Ruffed Grouse
4444
4444
4444
4567
7777
6543
2222
3444
4444
4444
4444
4444
14
     Common Loon
1111
1111
1112
2357
7776
6666
6666
6666
6666
6667
7764
4321
15
     Pied-billed Grebe
1000
0001
1123
3355
7777
5555
5555
5555
5555
5544
4332
2221
16
     Double-crested Cormorant
0000
0000
0001
2346
7777
7777
7777
7778
8888
8777
6531
1100
17
     Great Blue Heron
1100
0000
0124
5566
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7766
5543
3221
18
     Turkey Vulture
0000
0000
0012
3456
7777
7777
7777
7777
7766
5432
1000
0000
19
     Northern Harrier
2211
1112
3456
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
6655
4322
20
     Red-tailed Hawk
5555
5555
6666
6667
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7766
6655
5555
21
     American Kestrel
3333
3333
3456
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7666
6666
6543
22
     Black-bellied Plover
0000
0000
0000
0000
0234
3211
0012
3346
7777
7776
4320
0000
23
     Semipalmated Plover
0000
0000
0000
0000
2344
3211
1235
7777
7666
6543
0000
0000
24
     Killdeer
0000
0000
1246
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7765
4321
0000
25
     Greater Yellowlegs
0000
0000
0001
3456
6643
3321
2345
6667
7777
7666
5431
0000
26
     Lesser Yellowlegs
0000
0000
0000
1234
6666
4313
4577
7777
7766
6531
0000
0000
27
     Spotted Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0024
6777
7777
7777
7777
7766
5331
1000
0000
28
     Semipalmated Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
1357
7642
3456
7777
7777
6543
1000
0000
29
     Least Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0002
4567
5313
4567
7777
7665
4321
0000
0000
30
     Wilson's Snipe
1111
1111
1112
5777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7766
6654
4321
1111
31
     Ring-billed Gull
2111
1124
5779
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9987
6543
32
     Herring Gull
3322
2345
6779
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9864
33
     Great Black-backed Gull
3122
2222
2334
5665
4433
2222
2233
3344
4677
8888
8888
8764
34
     Rock Pigeon
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
35
     Mourning Dove
8888
8888
8899
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9998
8888
8888
36
     Chimney Swift
0000
0000
0000
0013
4568
8888
8888
8888
7532
1111
0000
0000
37
     Belted Kingfisher
2111
1111
1123
4677
7777
7777
7777
7777
7776
5443
3322
2222
38
     Downy Woodpecker
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
39
     Hairy Woodpecker
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
7777
7777
7777
8888
8888
8888
8888
40
     Northern Flicker
2222
2222
2222
4678
8888
8888
8888
8888
8887
6543
3322
2222
41
     Eastern Wood-Pewee
0000
0000
0000
0000
2357
8888
8888
8888
7543
1100
0000
0000
42
     Alder Flycatcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
0137
8887
7777
5433
2110
0000
0000
0000
43
     Least Flycatcher
0000
0000
0000
0001
3578
8888
8877
7776
5432
1000
0000
0000
44
     Eastern Phoebe
0000
0000
0123
4777
7777
7777
7777
7766
6666
5442
1100
0000
45
     Great Crested Flycatcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
2477
7777
7777
7776
5432
0000
0000
0000
46
     Eastern Kingbird
0000
0000
0000
0012
4788
8888
8888
8888
7532
0000
0000
0000
47
     Warbling Vireo
0000
0000
0000
0001
3688
8888
8888
8777
7654
1110
0000
0000
48
     Red-eyed Vireo
0000
0000
0000
0000
2488
8888
8888
8888
8765
4321
0000
0000
49
     Blue Jay
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
50
     American Crow
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
51
     Horned Lark
3333
3356
6777
7777
7666
6666
6543
3333
3333
3553
3333
3333
52
     Purple Martin
0000
0000
0000
2456
7777
7777
7777
7777
6432
1000
0000
0000
53
     Tree Swallow
0000
0000
0013
6999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9997
5432
1100
0000
54
     Bank Swallow
0000
0000
0000
0124
6777
7777
7777
7777
6532
1000
0000
0000
55
     Cliff Swallow
0000
0000
0000
0124
6777
7777
7777
7776
5432
2000
0000
0000
56
     Barn Swallow
0000
0000
0001
2345
8888
8888
8888
8888
8765
4322
1111
1000
57
     Black-capped Chickadee
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
58
     Red-breasted Nuthatch
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
59
     White-breasted Nuthatch
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
60
     House Wren
0000
0000
0000
0023
4567
8888
8888
8765
4432
2200
0000
0000
61
     Golden-crowned Kinglet
4444
4444
4444
4577
6544
4444
4444
4444
4467
7776
4444
4444
62
     Ruby-crowned Kinglet
0000
0000
0000
2457
7764
4432
2222
2234
4677
7775
4322
2111
63
     Veery
0000
0000
0000
0001
2577
7777
7777
6655
5432
1100
0000
0000
64
     Wood Thrush
0000
0000
0000
0012
3588
8888
8887
6544
4432
1100
0000
0000
65
     American Robin
3333
3333
3379
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9998
7654
4433
66
     Gray Catbird
0000
0000
0000
0002
4888
8888
8888
8888
8887
6432
1111
0000
67
     Brown Thrasher
1111
1111
1111
1135
7777
7777
7777
7666
6654
4321
1111
1111
68
     European Starling
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
69
     Cedar Waxwing
2222
2222
2222
2233
3459
9999
9999
9999
9998
6543
3333
2222
70
     Yellow Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0002
6999
9999
9999
9998
6531
1000
0000
0000
71
     Chestnut-sided Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
2588
8888
8777
7777
7654
2000
0000
0000
72
     Yellow-rumped Warbler
1111
1111
1111
1468
9999
8777
7777
7778
9999
9986
5433
2221
73
     Black-throated Green Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0002
4888
6666
6666
6667
8887
5411
0000
0000
74
     Pine Warbler
1110
0000
0000
0035
7777
7777
7754
4444
4433
1111
1111
1111
75
     Black-and-White Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0012
6888
8877
7777
7777
7765
4311
0000
0000
76
     American Redstart
0000
0000
0000
0000
2577
7777
7766
6667
7654
3210
0000
0000
77
     Ovenbird
0000
0000
0000
0011
4888
8888
8777
7777
7765
2111
1110
0000
78
     Common Yellowthroat
0000
0000
0000
0012
6999
9999
9999
9998
9987
5411
1111
1110
79
     Scarlet Tanager
0000
0000
0000
0000
1477
7776
6666
6666
6543
1000
0000
0000
80
     American Tree Sparrow
7777
7777
7777
7777
5210
0000
0000
0000
0002
3577
7777
7777
81
     Chipping Sparrow
1111
1111
1111
1235
8888
8888
8888
8877
7654
3322
0000
0011
82
     Savannah Sparrow
0000
0000
0001
2469
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
7641
1111
0000
83
     Song Sparrow
2222
2222
2348
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9998
7654
4432
84
     Swamp Sparrow
1100
0000
0011
2346
7777
7777
7777
6666
6666
6654
3322
1111
85
     White-throated Sparrow
4322
2222
2222
3578
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8887
5444
4444
86
     Dark-eyed Junco
5555
5555
5557
8888
8875
5555
5555
5555
6788
8888
8776
5555
87
     Snow Bunting
7777
7777
7766
6543
2200
0000
0000
0000
0001
2467
7777
7777
88
     Northern Cardinal
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
89
     Rose-breasted Grosbeak
1111
1111
1111
0000
4677
7777
7777
7777
7543
3221
0000
0011
90
     Indigo Bunting
0000
0000
0000
0000
0245
6777
7777
7654
4321
1110
0000
0000
91
     Bobolink
0000
0000
0000
1111
4777
7777
7777
7777
6642
1100
0000
0000
92
     Red-winged Blackbird
2222
2245
7999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9754
4432
93
     Eastern Meadowlark
1111
1111
2334
6777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7777
7665
5433
3221
94
     Common Grackle
2222
2222
2346
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9876
5433
2222
95
     Brown-headed Cowbird
2222
2222
2346
8888
8888
8888
8888
8877
7777
7776
5433
3222
96
     Northern Oriole
1111
1100
0000
0001
4677
7777
7777
7777
6543
1111
1111
1111
97
     House Finch
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
8888
98
     American Goldfinch
7777
7777
7777
8899
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
8888
8877
99
     House Sparrow
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
9999
100


Category 2:      EASILY FOUND     (Code 5 or above for at least one consecutive one month period; but not category 1 birds)
         All 50 of these species are easy to find, but some require birding at special times of day, or in special habitats, or at select birding sites. Most of these birds are present only seasonally, so be sure to see them when they are common. None of these birds would be missed in a serious Big Year attempt.
    
Species
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#
     Snow Goose
0000
0000
0111
3555
5421
1111
0000
0000
0011
4555
5554
1100
101
     Gadwall
0000
0000
0112
3455
5555
5544
3222
2234
4444
4444
4431
1111
102
     Northern Shoveler
0000
0000
0002
3456
6665
4333
3333
3333
3456
6666
5543
1100
103
     White-winged Scoter
1000
0011
1111
1122
3333
1111
1000
0000
0023
4566
6555
3111
104
     Bufflehead
2222
2222
2235
5666
6543
1111
1111
1111
1111
1456
6655
4432
105
     Hooded Merganser
2222
2222
3455
5566
5555
5544
4444
4444
4455
5556
6665
4443
106
     Ruddy Duck
0000
0000
0001
1233
3333
3333
3333
3344
4455
5544
3321
1110
107
     Horned Grebe
0000
1111
1112
3456
6543
1000
0000
0000
1145
5666
5544
3211
108
     Red-necked Grebe
1100
1111
1111
3456
6543
2111
1000
0001
1345
5666
6554
4321
109
     Green Heron
0000
0000
0000
0013
4455
5555
5555
5555
5544
3100
0000
0000
110
     Osprey
0000
0000
0000
0145
5555
5555
5555
5555
5554
4321
1100
0000
111
     Sharp-shinned Hawk
3333
3333
3334
5666
6555
5555
5555
5556
6666
5555
4433
3333
112
     Broad-winged Hawk
0000
0000
0000
1346
6666
6665
5555
5555
5552
3000
0000
0000
113
     Rough-legged Hawk
4444
4444
4445
5555
4332
2000
0000
0000
1223
4455
5555
5444
114
     Peregrine Falcon
3333
3333
3344
4444
5555
5555
4444
4444
4444
4443
3333
3333
115
     Virginia Rail
0000
0000
0001
1123
4555
5555
5555
5555
5433
3111
0000
0000
116
     Sora
0000
0000
0001
1113
4555
5555
5444
4444
3333
3300
0000
0000
117
     American Coot
1110
0000
0001
2333
3333
3333
3333
3333
3333
3455
5543
2211
118
     Upland Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0023
3445
5555
5555
5433
2100
0000
0000
0000
119
     Sanderling
0000
0000
0000
0000
0122
2100
0133
3334
5555
4332
2211
0000
120
     Pectoral Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
2345
4432
2112
2345
5555
6666
6555
4320
0000
121
     Dunlin
0000
0000
0000
0012
3455
4320
0000
0011
2345
6666
5411
0000
122
     American Woodcock
0000
0000
0234
4566
6666
5555
5433
3333
3333
3333
2111
0000
123
     Wilson's Phalarope
0000
0000
0000
0013
5555
5555
5555
5555
4321
0000
0000
0000
124
     Bonaparte's Gull
0000
0000
0000
1223
4455
5433
2234
4555
5555
5544
3211
0000
125
     Iceland Gull
4311
1111
1123
3333
3321
0000
0000
0000
0000
0234
4566
6654
126
     Glaucous Gull
3211
1111
1233
3333
3211
1000
0000
0000
0000
1234
4566
6654
127
     Common Tern
0000
0000
0000
0002
3333
3333
3345
5555
5432
1110
0000
0000
128
     Black Tern
0000
0000
0000
0012
3455
5555
5555
4443
3210
0000
0000
0000
129
     Great Horned Owl
5566
6666
6666
6666
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
130
     Barred Owl
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
131
     Ruby-throated Hummingbird
0000
0000
0000
0011
2456
6665
5555
5555
4321
1110
0000
0000
132
     Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
0000
0000
0001
2466
6666
6666
5555
5555
5566
5432
0000
0000
133
     Pileated Woodpecker
5555
5555
5555
6666
6665
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
134
     Common Raven
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5555
135
     Brown Creeper
4444
4444
4445
5566
6655
5544
4444
4445
5566
6655
4444
4444
136
     Winter Wren
1111
0000
0002
3445
5555
5554
4444
4444
4455
4332
1111
1111
137
     Marsh Wren
0000
0000
0000
0001
3456
6666
6655
5444
3322
2100
0000
0000
138
     Eastern Bluebird
0000
0000
0134
4555
5555
5555
5555
5555
5554
4332
1000
0000
139
     Hermit Thrush
1111
1111
1111
2346
6554
4444
4444
4444
4445
6654
3332
2111
140
     Tennessee Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
3566
4211
1233
3456
6554
4311
1100
0000
141
     Nashville Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0013
4555
5554
4444
4445
5554
4321
1100
0000
142
     Magnolia Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
2565
4444
3333
3456
6655
4211
0000
0000
143
     Black-throated Blue Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
3555
5555
4444
4444
4444
4320
0000
0000
144
     Northern Waterthrush
0000
0000
0000
0002
3455
5555
4444
4444
3332
1100
0000
0000
145
     Field Sparrow
1111
1111
1111
1455
5555
5555
5555
4444
4444
4332
1111
1111
146
     Vesper Sparrow
0000
0000
0002
3445
5555
5555
5555
5544
4444
4321
1100
0000
147
     Purple Finch
3333
3333
3344
4445
5554
4444
4445
5555
5554
4444
3333
3333
148
     Pine Siskin
5555
5555
5555
5555
4433
3333
3333
3333
3334
4444
4444
4455
149
     Evening Grosbeak
5555
5555
5555
5555
4333
3333
3333
3333
3333
3444
5555
5555
150


Category 3:      FAIRLY EASILY FOUND     (Code 4 or above for at least one consecutive one month period; but not category 1 or 2 birds)
         All 40 of these species are fairly easy to find, but some require birding at special times of day, or in special habitats, or at select birding sites. Most of these birds are present only seasonally, so be sure to see them when they are present. A serious Big Year attempt to reach 250 requires all 190 of these three easier groups be found.
    
Species
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#
     Brant
0000
0000
0000
0000
0244
4311
1000
0000
0000
0244
4421
1100
151
     Surf Scoter
0000
0000
0000
0012
2211
0000
0000
0000
0013
3455
5433
2110
152
     Black Scoter
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1000
0000
0000
0113
3455
5433
2110
153
     Long-tailed Duck
1111
1111
1111
1234
4333
1000
0000
0000
0011
1334
5543
3221
154
     Red-breasted Merganser
1111
1111
1222
2333
3322
2211
1111
1112
2222
3445
5433
3322
155
     American Bittern
0000
0000
0001
1234
4444
4444
4444
4444
4444
3321
1100
0000
156
     Black-crowned Night Heron
0000
0000
0001
1233
3322
2222
2234
4444
4444
4322
1000
0000
157
     Cooper's Hawk
2222
2222
2244
4433
3333
3333
3333
3333
3333
3333
3322
2222
158
     Common Moorhen
0000
0000
0000
0123
4444
4444
4444
4444
4443
3321
0000
0000
159
     Sandhill Crane
0000
0000
0013
3322
2222
2222
2222
2222
2334
4444
4431
0000
160
     Solitary Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0012
3322
2233
3444
4444
4433
2100
0000
0000
161
     Ruddy Turnstone
0000
0000
0000
0000
0133
2110
0011
3444
4444
4432
1100
0000
162
     White-rumped Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
0122
2111
1111
2223
3333
4444
3321
0000
163
     Short-billed Dowitcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
0344
3210
1233
4444
4433
2100
0000
0000
164
     Lesser Black-backed Gull
1100
0000
0011
2222
2222
2222
2211
1122
2234
4444
4432
2111
165
     Black-billed Cuckoo
0000
0000
0000
0000
1234
4444
4333
3322
2211
0000
0000
0000
166
     Snowy Owl
4444
4444
4443
3222
1111
1000
0000
0000
0000
0001
2334
4444
167
     Common Nighthawk
0000
0000
0000
0000
0233
4444
4444
4444
3321
1100
0000
0000
168
     Whip-poor-will
0000
0000
0000
0012
3444
4444
4433
3333
3321
1000
0000
0000
169
     Willow Flycatcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
0024
4444
4433
3211
1000
0000
0000
0000
170
     Northern Shrike
4444
4444
4444
4321
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1123
4444
4444
171
     Blue-headed Vireo
0000
0000
0000
0002
4554
4322
2222
2234
4455
4321
1000
0000
172
     No. Rough-winged Swallow
0000
0000
0000
1244
4444
4444
4444
4444
4433
3221
1111
0000
173
     Swainson's Thrush
0000
0000
0000
0001
2344
4333
3333
3334
4444
3221
0000
0000
174
     American Pipit
0000
0000
0001
1123
3332
1000
0000
0112
3445
5544
3321
0000
175
     Bohemian Waxwing
4444
4444
4444
4432
2100
0000
0000
0000
0000
1123
3444
4444
176
     Golden-winged Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0244
4444
4322
2222
2110
0000
0000
0000
177
     Northern Parula
0000
0000
0000
0000
3443
1111
1111
1233
4444
3211
1000
0000
178
     Cape May Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
3443
3222
2222
3344
4443
3211
0000
0000
179
     Blackburnian Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0001
3455
4333
3333
3344
4443
2110
0000
0000
180
     Palm Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0004
5533
2111
1111
1112
4554
4311
1000
0000
181
     Bay-breasted Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
2345
4311
0012
3444
4443
2111
0000
0000
182
     Blackpoll Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0244
4210
0000
0112
4444
3221
0000
0000
183
     Mourning Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
1344
4444
4433
3333
3321
0000
0000
0000
184
     Canada Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0235
4444
4444
4444
4433
1100
0000
0000
185
     Eastern Towhee
1111
1111
1111
1124
4444
4444
4444
4333
3322
2211
1111
1111
186
     Clay-colored Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0001
3444
4444
4444
4333
3200
0000
0000
0000
187
     Grasshopper Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0002
3344
4444
4433
3333
3200
0000
0000
0000
188
     Fox Sparrow
0000
0000
0001
4455
3110
0000
0000
0000
0012
4444
3211
0000
189
     White-crowned Sparrow
1111
1111
1111
1111
4554
2110
0000
0000
1345
5443
3221
1111
190


Category 4:      FOUND WITH SOME DIFFICULTY     (Code 3 or above for at least one consecutive one month period; but not category 1, 2 or 3 birds)
         This next group of 40 species, classified as seen with some difficulty, is where big years are made or lost. Many of these birds are either very local breeders, uncommon migrants or irregular winter visitors. Planning, time and effort in the field, repeated attempts and a bit of luck will allow most of these birds to be found. A serious attempt to reach 250 requires almost all of these 40 birds, bringing the cumulative total to 230. Every one of these you miss makes the task more difficult.
    
Species
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#
     Cackling Goose
0000
0000
0001
2222
2210
0000
0000
0000
1122
3333
3322
1100
191
     Canvasback
1111
1111
1112
2332
2211
1000
0000
0000
1222
2233
3322
2111
192
     Redhead
0000
0000
0001
1233
3222
2211
1001
1112
2233
3333
3211
1000
193
     Barrow's Goldeneye
3333
3333
3333
3332
1000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1123
3333
3333
194
     Gray Partridge
3333
3333
3333
3322
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2333
195
     Red-throated Loon
1000
0000
0000
1111
1122
2210
0000
0000
0001
2333
3322
2221
196
     Least Bittern
0000
0000
0000
0000
1133
3333
3333
2222
2211
0000
0000
0000
197
     Great Egret
0000
0000
0000
1111
1122
3333
3333
3333
3211
0000
0000
0000
198
     Bald Eagle
2222
2222
2233
3333
3321
1111
1111
1112
3322
2233
3332
2222
199
     Northern Goshawk
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2233
3322
2222
200
     Red-shouldered Hawk
0000
0000
0234
4333
3333
3333
3333
2222
2222
2211
1111
1000
201
     Merlin
2222
2222
2222
2333
3333
3333
3333
3333
4443
3222
2222
2222
202
     Lesser Golden-Plover
0000
0000
0000
0000
2211
1000
0012
2333
3333
3322
1110
0000
203
     Hudsonian Godwit
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
0000
0001
1122
3333
3222
1100
0000
204
     Red Knot
0000
0000
0000
0000
0112
2200
0011
1233
3322
1110
0000
0000
205
     Baird's Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
2233
3333
2211
0000
0000
206
     Stilt Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
1122
2333
3333
2100
0000
0000
207
     Red-necked Phalarope
0000
0000
0000
0000
0023
2111
0012
2333
3332
2100
0000
0000
208
     Eastern Screech-Owl
2222
2233
3333
3333
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
209
     Long-eared Owl
1111
1111
2233
3333
3222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2111
1111
210
     Short-eared Owl
2222
2222
2223
3333
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
211
     Northern Saw-whet Owl
2222
2222
2333
3333
3333
3322
2222
2222
2222
2233
2222
2222
212
     Red-headed Woodpecker
1111
1111
1111
1111
1233
3333
3333
3333
2111
1111
1111
1111
213
     Black-backed Woodpecker
3333
3333
3333
3222
2211
1111
1111
1111
1111
1112
2222
3333
214
     Olive-sided Flycatcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
0123
3333
3333
2222
2111
0000
0000
0000
215
     Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
1233
3333
2222
2222
2221
0000
0000
0000
216
     Yellow-throated Vireo
0000
0000
0000
0000
1233
3333
2222
2222
2211
0000
0000
0000
217
     Philadelphia Vireo
0000
0000
0000
0000
2344
3333
3333
3334
4433
2100
0000
0000
218
     Sedge Wren
0000
0000
0000
0000
0233
3333
3322
2222
2100
0000
0000
0000
219
     Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
0000
0000
0000
1112
3333
3322
2222
2222
2111
1000
0000
0000
220
     Northern Mockingbird
2222
2222
2222
3333
3333
3333
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
221
     Orange-crowned Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0001
2222
1000
0000
0011
1233
3321
0000
0000
222
     Wilson's Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
1233
2000
0000
0223
3332
0000
0000
0000
223
     Lincoln's Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0111
2333
2222
2221
1111
2233
3322
0000
0000
224
     Lapland Longspur
2222
2222
2233
3321
1110
0000
0000
0000
0001
2333
3322
2222
225
     Rusty Blackbird
1111
1111
1112
2344
4322
1000
0000
0011
2333
3333
2222
1111
226
     Pine Grosbeak
3333
3333
3322
1111
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0222
2222
2333
227
     Red Crossbill
3333
3333
3333
3333
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
2233
3333
3333
228
     White-winged Crossbill
3333
3333
3333
2211
1111
1111
1111
1122
2222
2223
3333
3333
229
     Common Redpoll
3333
3333
3333
3332
2211
1111
0000
0000
0000
1233
3333
3333
230


Category 5:      LUCKY TO FIND BUT POSSIBLE     (Code 2 or above for at least one consecutive half month period; but not category 1, 2, 3 or 4 birds)
         Now we get to the hard part. These 35 species are rare to very rare birds that are mostly migrant or winter only species. Some may not be present every year. Here’s where it gets really tough, to reach the goal of 250 species in one year in Ottawa, you will need 20 more species than were in the first four groups. That means getting over half of the species on this page. Join the Rare Bird Alert, follow the bird status line and this website faithfully and target these birds ruthlessly. Spend all your available time in the field. Even then, you will still need a bit of luck.
    
Species
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#
     Greater White-fronted Goose
0000
0000
0002
2211
1100
0000
1000
0000
0000
1122
2211
1110
231
     Tundra Swan
0000
0000
0112
2111
1111
1111
1000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1000
232
     Eurasian Wigeon
0000
0000
0000
0022
1000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1111
1000
0000
233
     Harlequin Duck
2222
2222
2211
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1122
2222
234
     Golden Eagle
2222
2222
2222
2211
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0022
2222
2222
235
     Gyrfalcon
2222
1111
1111
1111
1110
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1112
236
     Yellow Rail
0000
0000
0000
0000
0023
3322
1111
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
237
     Whimbrel
0000
0000
0000
0000
0012
2111
1111
1122
2111
1000
0000
0000
238
     Marbled Godwit
0000
0000
0000
0000
0221
0011
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
239
     Western Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1112
2111
1000
0000
0000
240
     Purple Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1000
0000
0000
0000
1112
2211
0000
241
     Buff-breasted Sandpiper
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1122
2211
1100
0000
0000
242
     Long-billed Dowitcher
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0112
2211
0000
0000
243
     Red Phalarope
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0002
2222
2111
1110
0000
244
     Parasitic Jaeger
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1110
0000
0000
1221
0000
0000
0000
245
     Franklin's Gull
0000
0000
0000
0000
0112
2111
1111
1111
1111
1111
1111
0000
246
     Little Gull
0000
0000
0000
0111
1112
2111
0011
1111
1000
0000
0000
0000
247
     Thayer's Gull
1100
0000
0011
1111
1111
0000
0000
0000
0000
1112
3322
2111
248
     Caspian Tern
0000
0000
0000
0011
1112
2111
1111
1122
2111
1112
1100
0000
249
     Arctic Tern
0000
0000
0000
0000
0012
2110
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
250
     Yellow-billed Cuckoo
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
2222
1111
1111
1111
0000
0000
0000
251
     Northern Hawk-Owl
2222
2222
2211
1111
1111
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1122
2222
252
     Great Gray Owl
2222
2222
2222
1111
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
1112
253
     Boreal Owl
1111
1111
2222
1100
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1111
2211
254
     Red-bellied Woodpecker
2222
2222
2222
2110
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0222
2222
255
     American Three-toed Woodpecker
2222
2222
2222
1111
1111
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
2222
2222
256
     Loggerhead Shrike
0000
0000
1111
2222
2222
2211
1111
1111
1111
0000
0000
0000
257
     Gray Jay
2222
2222
2211
1111
1111
1111
1111
1111
1111
1111
1122
2222
258
     Boreal Chickadee
2222
2222
2222
2211
1100
0000
0000
0000
1111
1122
2222
2222
259
     Tufted Titmouse
2222
2222
2210
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1122
2222
260
     Carolina Wren
2222
2222
2211
1111
1111
1111
1112
2222
2222
2222
2222
2222
261
     Gray-cheeked Thrush
0000
0000
0000
0000
1112
2100
0000
0000
1222
1100
0000
0000
262
     Cerulean Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0122
2100
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
263
     Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0100
0000
0000
0002
2210
0000
0000
264
     Hoary Redpoll
2222
2222
2222
2221
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1122
265


Category 6:      NEED HELP FROM THE BIRD GOD     (All birds on the Ottawa checklist not in categories 1 through 5)
         This group, classed as "need help from bird god", are the remaining very rare and accidental species on the checklist. In a given year perhaps five will be seen. Follow the bird status line and rare bird alerts faithfully and respond quickly. Target any of these birds that are available, each one is a bonus.
    
Species
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
#
     Mute Swan
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
266
     King Eider
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
1111
1111
267
     Northern Gannet
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
1111
1000
268
     Snowy Egret
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
269
     Little Blue Heron
0000
0000
0000
0111
1110
0000
0000
1100
0010
0000
0000
0000
270
     Cattle Egret
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
1000
0000
0001
1000
0100
1111
1000
271
     Glossy Ibis
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
272
     Black Vulture
0000
0000
0001
1100
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
273
     Piping Plover
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
0000
1000
0111
1000
0000
0000
0000
274
     Willet
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
1001
1001
1111
1000
0000
0000
0000
275
     Ruff
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
0000
1001
0000
1000
0000
0000
0000
276
     Pomarine Jaeger
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
1100
0000
277
     Long-tailed Jaeger
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1110
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
278
     Laughing Gull
0000
0000
0000
0000
1000
0010
0000
0000
0001
0010
0100
0000
279
     Black-headed Gull
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1000
0000
0011
280
     Mew Gull
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1100
0000
0000
281
     California Gull
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0110
0000
0000
282
     Sabine's Gull
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
1000
0000
0000
283
     Black-legged Kittiwake
0000
0000
0000
0000
0100
0000
0000
0000
1000
1000
0101
1010
284
     Forster's Tern
0000
0000
0000
0010
0101
1100
0000
0001
0011
0010
1100
0000
285
     Barn Owl
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
1111
0000
0000
0001
1000
0000
0100
286
     White-eyed Vireo
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0101
0000
0000
287
     Northern Wheatear
0000
0000
0000
0010
0100
0000
0000
0000
0000
1000
0000
0000
288
     Townsend's Solitaire
1111
1111
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
1111
289
     Varied Thrush
1111
1111
1111
1100
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
1111
290
     Blue-winged Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
1000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
291
     Prairie Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
0000
0001
0011
1000
0000
0000
0000
292
     Prothonotary Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
0000
0000
0000
1000
1010
0000
0000
293
     Worm-eating Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0110
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
294
     Louisiana Waterthrush
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1100
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
295
     Connecticut Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
0000
0000
0111
1110
0000
0000
0000
296
     Hooded Warbler
0000
0000
0000
0000
0111
0000
0001
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
297
     Yellow-breasted Chat
0000
0000
0000
0000
0110
0000
0000
0010
0000
0001
1100
0000
298
     Summer Tanager
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0110
0000
299
     Lark Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0100
0010
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
300
     Henslow's Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0000
1111
1111
1111
1000
0000
1000
0000
0000
301
     Le Conte's Sparrow
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1111
0000
1000
0000
0000
0000
302
     Harris's Sparrow
1111
1111
1111
1100
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0001
1111
1111
303
     Dickcissel
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
1111
1110
0000
304
     Western Meadowlark
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
1111
1100
1100
1111
0000
0000
0000
305
     Yellow-headed Blackbird
0000
0000
0000
0010
1001
0000
0000
0000
1000
0000
0000
0000
306
     Orchard Oriole
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0000
0011
1111
1111
1110
0000
307

         Then there are the super bonuses, new birds to Ottawa! Good luck!


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Copyright © 2000 - 2009     Larry E. Neily
Last update:  March 3, 2007