Bird Watching in Montréal
Birding in Montréal is a rewarding activity that can be enjoyed throughout the year. While the variety of bird species changes during the different seasons, there are always opportunities to spot, identify and observe interesting bird species. Here are several practical tips for successful birdwatching in Montréal’s urban and nature parks.
At a Glance - Birding in Montréal
What makes birdwatching in Montréal special?
Montréal offers year-round opportunities to spot a wide variety of birds, from city streets to nature parks.
- Diverse habitats: The island’s parks, rivers, and green spaces attract many species.
- Seasonal variety: Different birds pass through or reside here across the seasons — from winter raptors to summer herons.
- Urban access: Many top birding spots are only minutes from downtown.
Where are the best places in Montréal to see birds?
Parks like Parc Angrignon, Parc des Rapides, and Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies are among the most rewarding locations.
- Parc Angrignon: Excellent for owls and woodpeckers, especially in winter.
- Parc des Rapides: Known for herons and other waterbirds in spring and summer.
- Botanical Garden: Occasionally hosts rare visitors like the Great Egret (Ardea alba).
When is the best time to go birdwatching in Montréal?
Seasonal migration patterns dramatically change Montréal’s bird diversity throughout the year.
- Winter: hawks, owls, and woodpeckers
- Spring: arrival and pass-through of small migratory songbirds such as warblers, kinglets, and vireos
- Summer: active wetlands with Great Egret (Ardea alba), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), and Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
- Autumn: strong southbound migration with northern breeders, American Wigeon (Anas americana), and large Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) flocks preparing to depart
Preparations
Familiarize yourself with the common birds in the parks, their behaviour and vocalizations consulting Muuuh's photo search and Muuuh's YouTube channel. Knowing how birds behave and what they sound like can help you spot and identify them more easily.
Make sure your mobile bird identification app like "Merlin ID" or "eBird" is up-to-date, the latest content patches downloaded. Carry a compact pair of binoculars suitable for low-light forest conditions. In many cases, you will need a close view of a bird to determine its identity.
Dress appropriately. In early spring, you will need waterproof boots. In April, water of melting snow will accumulate in small ponds and without waterproof boots you will soak your socks full of mud and water. The parks you will visit while birding in Montréal are usually close to shelter and if the weather turns worse you will be able to rush back fast.
Common Birds in Montréal
From 137 park visit journals (2018–2026), these are the birds I log most often in each season. The list is not a regional census — it reflects the parks I visit, the routes I take, and what I identify on each outing - See Taking Notes.
Within each season, species are listed by how frequently they appear in my field journals.
- Winter
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Winter entries come mostly from forest parks such as Parc Angrignon and Parc Michel-Chartrand, where resident songbirds stay reliable even when ponds are frozen. Spring offers the highest bird diversity of the year, with wetlands becoming active again as Red-winged Blackbirds return and migratory songbirds move through Montréal. Summer and autumn logs lean toward waterfowl and gulls on routes that reach open water.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) dominate three seasons yet barely register in winter — not because they leave Montréal, but because cold-month outings tend toward wooded trails rather than pond edges. For specialty birds — owls, herons, raptors, and woodpeckers — see Specialty Birds — Where and When below.
Specialty Birds — Where and When
This table provides an overview of when and where we spotted different species and which are our preferred locations for photography or documentary. For some additional notes, see the text below.
Did you know that in the Montréal area you are able to spot over 400 different bird species?
| Species | Location | Season | Freq |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raptors | |||
| Cooper's Hawk | Parc Angrignon | Jan-Dec | Rare |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Parc Bernard-Landry | Jan-Dec | Rare |
| Peregrine Falcon | Belvédère Outremont | Jan-Dec | Rare |
| Eastern Screech Owl | Parc Angrignon | Jan-Mar | Rare |
| Turkey Vulture | Any park | Apr-Oct | Common |
| Herons | |||
| Great Blue Heron | Parc des Rapides, Parc Angrignon | Apr-Nov | Common |
| Great Egret | Parc des Rapides, Jardin Botanique de Montréal | May-Aug | Rare |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Parc des Rapides, St. Eustache | May-Aug | Rare |
| Green Heron | Parc Pointe-aux-Prairies | May-Aug | Very Rare |
| Woodpeckers | |||
| Pileated Woodpecker | Parc Angrignon | Jan-Dec | Occasional |
| Hairy Woodpecker | Any park | Jan-Dec | Occasional |
| Downy Woodpecker | Any park | Jan-Dec | Common |
| Northern Flicker | Any park | Apr-Oct | Occasional |
Raptors
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Raptors like the Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) or Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) are around in Montréal parks all year long. There are, however, certain locations and seasons when there is an increased chance to spot one of these. Because of the lack of leaves, these birds are easier to spot during the months January to April. There are known nesting places for both species.
You don't have to go to parks for a chance to see Merlin Falcon (Falco columbarius) and Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). These species nest and hunt throughout Montréal. For Peregrine Falcons go to Outremont Belvedere in May or June. They are nesting nearby and you may see them soaring.
Owls, particularly the Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio), are regularly observed in Parc Angrignon between January and March. This species often returns to the same resting locations within the forested sections of the park. A concentration of wildlife photographers is often a good indication that an owl is nearby.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) doesn't spend all year in the Montréal area. This species usually leaves in November and returns in April or May. Outremont Belvedere is a good place to watch this species soaring above the city, riding thermal air currents while searching for carrion.
Herons
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Herons don't spend all year long in the Montréal area. They leave in November and return after the ice on ponds and lakes has disappeared. The best place to spot herons is Parc des Rapides. There is a high chance to spot the largest heron species, the Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).
Less frequently you may see a Great Egret (Ardea alba). Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets compete for similar food resources, although the larger Great Blue Heron usually dominates.
In Parc des Rapides you also can see the Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). This smaller heron species is fishing along creeks but hides very well and requires patience and careful observation.
Finally, in the area there is also the Green Heron (Butorides virescens), our favourite but the shyest member of the heron family. Our recommended place to watch this species is Park Pointe-aux-Prairies, northern section, in June.
Woodpeckers
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The woodpecker species most commonly observed in Montréal are Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus), Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) and Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus). With the exception of the Northern Flicker, these species are staying in Montréal all year long and can be seen in most of the parks. We recommend the forest area in Parc Angrignon.
Northern Flicker is migratory and returns to Montréal in late April. It is a noisy, active species and can be spotted nesting and foraging.
Taking Notes
When I visit a park, I log each identified species in a field report on Québec Sauvage — my site for park visit journals and wildlife observations across Québec. Each report records where and when I was in the field, and what I saw.
These journals are the source behind the seasonal bird lists above and help me plan future outings by species, location, and time of year.
All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz
Last updated: 2026-05-23