An Ontario summer is something special. For many homeowners, garden enthusiasts, and families, creating a bird-friendly garden can add charm and value to your home’s outdoor space. Attracting summer birds to your garden allows you to connect with nature while supporting local ecosystems.
Whether you’re an experienced birdwatcher or want to make your yard more lively, here’s how to create a seasonal bird sanctuary in your Ontario garden.
Jump Ahead
Why Attract Summer Birds to Your Garden?
Inviting summer birds to your garden brings colour and sound to your outdoor space. But the benefits go beyond beauty. Birds are natural pest controllers, helping to keep insect populations in check. Many also assist in pollination and seed dispersal, quietly supporting the health of your garden and the broader ecosystem.
For homeowners with children, birdwatching offers a fun and educational activity that encourages screen-free time outdoors. Summer is an especially active time for birds of Ontario, as many are nesting, feeding their young, or migrating through. Your garden could be the perfect stopover or summer home.
Common Summer Birds of Ontario
Here are some of the most common and delightful summer birds of Ontario you might spot in your backyard:
1. American Goldfinch
Bright yellow with black wings and a cheerful song, goldfinches are often seen bouncing between flower heads. They love thistle and sunflower seeds and are especially fond of native wildflowers.
2. Eastern Bluebird
With its blue feathers and red chest, the Eastern Bluebird is a gentle presence in open gardens and meadows. They’re drawn to nesting boxes and insects, especially if your yard includes open lawn areas.
3. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The only hummingbird species in Ontario, these tiny, iridescent birds hover around nectar-rich flowers like bee balm, columbine, and trumpet vine. They also visit sugar-water feeders in the summer.
4. Black-capped Chickadee
Chickadees are year-round residents, but they’re especially active in summer. Their “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call is a familiar backyard sound. They enjoy suet, sunflower seeds, and sheltered nesting spots.
5. Northern Cardinal
Striking red males and tan females are a treat to watch. Cardinals sing rich, whistled tunes and prefer dense shrubs, evergreens, and seed feeders stocked with safflower or sunflower seed.
6. Baltimore Oriole
Flashes of orange and black signal the presence of orioles. They love fruit, especially oranges, and sweet nectar. You’ll often spot them high in trees or near blooming native plants.
Learning to identify common birds of Ontario can help you choose the right plants and feeders to attract them all summer long.
Should You Feed Birds in Summer?
Feeding birds during the summer can be helpful, but there are some important things to keep in mind.
When it’s okay to feed:
Birds migrating through Ontario, those in urban areas with limited natural food, or birds facing drought conditions can benefit from supplemental feeding. Clean feeders and fresh food can offer important nutrition during active nesting and rearing seasons.
When to be cautious:
Avoid feeding if you notice mouldy seed, overcrowded feeders, or signs of raccoons or bears. Also, birds can become overly dependent on feeders, so it’s also best to support them with natural food sources.
Ethical feeding tips:
- Clean feeders every 1-2 weeks with a diluted bleach solution or hot soapy water.
- Use summer-appropriate foods: high-protein seeds, mealworms, fruit, and nectar. Avoid suet unless it’s a no-melt variety and keep it in the shade.
- Provide fresh, clean water daily, ideally in a shaded birdbath.
- Never offer bread or processed foods, as these can be harmful to birds.
If you want to add some technology to your birdwatching, try setting up a smart bird feeder like those highlighted in Wirecutter’s 2025 guide. They have built-in cameras that capture real-time photos and videos of visiting birds, and some even use AI to identify different species. Just remember, feeding should enhance, not replace, the natural food and shelter your garden provides.
Landscaping to Attract Ontario Birds
You don’t need a big yard to attract birds—just some smart planning. Here’s how you can turn your outdoor space into a summer retreat for birds in Ontario:
Plant Native Species
Choose shrubs, flowers, and trees that produce seeds, berries, or nectar that birds naturally seek. Coneflower, serviceberry, elderberry, and milkweed are all excellent picks.
Add Water
A birdbath, shallow basin, or gently bubbling fountain gives birds a place to drink and bathe. Keep it clean and shallow—just an inch or two is enough.
Skip the Pesticides
Chemicals kill insects, a primary food source for many birds. They can also harm nesting birds or contaminate water sources.
Offer Shelter
Dense shrubs, small trees, or purpose-built nesting boxes provide safe nesting spots and cover from predators.
Keep Things Layered
Include groundcover, mid-height plants, and taller trees to offer a variety of habitats.
What Will You Discover in Your Backyard This Summer?
Attracting summer birds to your Ontario garden is a simple way to bring more life and colour into your daily routine. It’s an activity that blends purpose. For homeowners, especially those considering resale down the road, a vibrant, bird-friendly garden can be a small detail that makes a lasting impression. If you’re house hunting, consider exploring neighbourhoods known for their nature access and birdlife.
Explore properties in Ontario neighbourhoods known for their nature access and birdlife.
