A Field Guide to Birds of Ontario

Royal Ontario Museum’s A Field Guide to Birds of Ontario by Mark Peck and Emily Rondel is the ultimate companion for birders in Ontario. Whether you’re watching a feeder, scanning the shoreline, or hiking a forest trail, this guide meets you where you are and has everything you need to know about the birds outside your window.

The Ontario-specific focus of this guide is particularly valuable, allowing birders to concentrate on species they’re actually likely to encounter in the province, rather than sifting through large quantities of information from broader continent-wide guides—it’s clear, relevant, and built for Ontario birding.

Peck and Rondel move confidently from Ontario’s bird geography into well-grounded explanations of evolving bird taxonomy, while also offering practical advice on binoculars, bird topography, and field identification. It’s a guide that teaches you how to look, not just what to see. And, rather than dismissing modern technology, this book embraces it, recommending smartphone apps that bridge traditional field guides and digital tools.

The section on birding ethics, in particular, deserves recognition for its focus on habitat protection and bird welfare, encouraging responsible observation and conservation-minded behaviour. Birding, here, is about respect as much as recognition, offering guidance on how to respond when encountering rare species or sensitive nesting sites.

From wingspans to incubation periods, even seasoned birders will discover something new in this guide—like learning the indigo bunting isn’t Ontario’s flashiest bird. Enter the painted bunting. Who knew? The species account pages are bursting with beautiful photographs, useful facts, and information that makes bird identification feel intuitive rather than intimidating.

It’s no surprise that the ROM produces bestselling field guides. With almost 600 full-colour photographs, a comprehensive glossary, and fascinating information on every bird in Ontario, A Field Guide to Birds of Ontario is the kind of book that turns the curiosity of bird watching into a lifelong hobby.

—CANREADS BOOK REVIEW

Published by The Royal Ontario Museum

Purchase A Field Guide to Birds of Ontario at ROM Boutique

www.rom.on.ca