Point Pelee National Park

🇨🇦 Canada

🐦 Warbler Migration at Point Pelee
🌍 #112 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #6 in North America #2 in Temperate Forest
Great Lakes, Canada 596 spp. recorded

Point Pelee National Park is a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie at the southern tip of Ontario, Canada. It sits at the meeting point of temperate forest, marsh and shoreline, creating a mosaic of hardwood woods, cattail marshes and sandy beaches. The park’s location on a major flyway makes it a hotspot for migrating birds.

41.971° N   82.518° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Yellow Warbler ★
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

70–80% · Very likely
Prothonotary Warbler ★
LC

Prothonotary Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Protonotaria citrea

30–40% · Possible
Baltimore Oriole ★
LC

Baltimore Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus galbula

60–70% · Likely
Blanding's Turtle ★

Blanding's Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Emys blandingii

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

80–90% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

80–90% · Very likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

80–90% · Very likely
Common Grackle
NT

Common Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus quiscula

80–90% · Very likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

70–80% · Very likely
Downy Woodpecker
LC

Downy Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryobates pubescens

70–80% · Very likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

70–80% · Very likely
Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely
Mourning Dove
LC Endemic

Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida macroura

70–80% · Very likely
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

70–80% · Very likely
Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax auritus

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

American Beaver
LC

American Beaver

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Castor canadensis

30–40% · Possible
Eastern Cottontail
LC Endemic

Eastern Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus floridanus

30–40% · Possible
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

30–40% · Possible
Fox Squirrel
LC

Fox Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus niger

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Gray Squirrel
LC

Eastern Gray Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus carolinensis

20–30% · Possible
Muskrat
LC

Muskrat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ondatra zibethicus

10–20% · With luck
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

10–20% · With luck
Virginia Opossum
LC

Virginia Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis virginiana

10–20% · With luck
Eastern Red Bat
LC

Eastern Red Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lasiurus borealis

10–20% · With luck
Tricolored Bat
VU

Tricolored Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Perimyotis subflavus

10–20% · With luck
Stoat
LC Endemic

Stoat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mustela erminea

5–10% · With luck
Eastern Mole
LC

Eastern Mole

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Scalopus aquaticus

5–10% · With luck

⭐ Iconic Species

Yellow Warbler ★
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

70–80% · Very likely
Prothonotary Warbler ★
LC

Prothonotary Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Protonotaria citrea

30–40% · Possible
Baltimore Oriole ★
LC

Baltimore Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus galbula

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

80–90% · Very likely
American Robin
LC Endemic

American Robin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus migratorius

80–90% · Very likely
Northern Cardinal
LC Endemic

Northern Cardinal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cardinalis cardinalis

80–90% · Very likely
Common Grackle
NT

Common Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus quiscula

80–90% · Very likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

70–80% · Very likely
Downy Woodpecker
LC

Downy Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryobates pubescens

70–80% · Very likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

70–80% · Very likely
Tree Swallow
LC

Tree Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tachycineta bicolor

70–80% · Very likely
Carolina Wren
LC

Carolina Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryothorus ludovicianus

70–80% · Very likely
Mourning Dove
LC Endemic

Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida macroura

70–80% · Very likely
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

70–80% · Very likely
Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phalacrocorax auritus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Blanding's Turtle ★

Blanding's Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Emys blandingii

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Painted Turtle
LC

Painted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chrysemys picta

60–70% · Likely
Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

50–60% · Likely
Common Watersnake
LC Endemic

Common Watersnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Nerodia sipedon

40–50% · Likely
Snapping Turtle
LC

Snapping Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelydra serpentina

30–40% · Possible
Northern Map Turtle
LC

Northern Map Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Graptemys geographica

30–40% · Possible
DeKay's Brownsnake
LC

DeKay's Brownsnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Storeria dekayi

30–40% · Possible
Common Five-lined Skink
LC

Common Five-lined Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Plestiodon fasciatus

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Foxsnake
LC

Eastern Foxsnake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pantherophis vulpinus

20–30% · Possible
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

10–20% · With luck
Common Musk Turtle
LC

Common Musk Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sternotherus odoratus

Insufficient data
Spiny Softshell Turtle
LC

Spiny Softshell Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Apalone spinifera

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Green Frog

Green Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates clamitans

40–50% · Likely
American Toad
LC Endemic

American Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus americanus

30–40% · Possible
American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates catesbeianus

10–20% · With luck
Northern Leopard Frog
LC

Northern Leopard Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates pipiens

10–20% · With luck
Eastern Newt
LC

Eastern Newt

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Notophthalmus viridescens

10–20% · With luck
Spring Peeper
LC

Spring Peeper

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pseudacris crucifer

5–10% · With luck
Unisexual Mole Salamander Complex

Unisexual Mole Salamander Complex

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma unisexual

Insufficient data
Small-mouthed Salamander
LC

Small-mouthed Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ambystoma texanum

5–10% · Rare
Blue-spotted Salamander
LC

Blue-spotted Salamander

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ambystoma laterale

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Spring Warbler Migration

May

Waves of 20-30 warbler species plus tanagers and orioles funnel into the Lake Erie peninsula during the first three weeks of — North America's most famous songbird migration spectacle.

Prothonotary Warbler
LC

Prothonotary Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Protonotaria citrea

30–40% · Possible
Magnolia Warbler
LC

Magnolia Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga magnolia

40–50% · Likely
Scarlet Tanager
LC

Scarlet Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga olivacea

30–40% · Possible
🦅

Songbird & Raptor Migration

AugSepOct

Southbound migration down the peninsula: large Blue Jay flights, mixed warbler waves and passing hawks concentrate at the Tip from .

Sharp-shinned Hawk
LC Endemic

Sharp-shinned Hawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Accipiter striatus

10–20% · With luck
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Blue Jay
LC

Blue Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cyanocitta cristata

70–80% · Very likely
🐢

Turtle Nesting Season

Jun

Parks Canada has protected hundreds of nests since 2001, including those of the threatened Blanding's Turtle.

Painted Turtle
LC

Painted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chrysemys picta

60–70% · Likely
Snapping Turtle
LC

Snapping Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelydra serpentina

30–40% · Possible
Blanding's Turtle

Blanding's Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Emys blandingii

10–20% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
20–30
30–40
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
Yellow Warbler
5–10
5–10
<5
20–30
90–100
90–100
70–80
50–60
10–20
<5
<5
<5
Prothonotary Warbler
<5
<5
<5
5–10
40–50
20–30
5–10
5–10
<5
<5
<5
<5
Baltimore Oriole
5–10
5–10
<5
10–20
80–90
80–90
60–70
60–70
10–20
<5
<5
<5
Blanding's Turtle
<5
<5
<5
5–10
10–20
10–20
<5
<5
5–10
10–20
<5
<5
Red-winged Blackbird
20–30
70–80
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
60–70
50–60
70–80
50–60
20–30
American Robin
70–80
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
Northern Cardinal
70–80
70–80
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
Common Grackle
10–20
40–50
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
10–20
Blue Jay
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
80–90
50–60
40–50
60–70
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
Downy Woodpecker
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
70–80
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
Turkey Vulture
5–10
5–10
40–50
80–90
80–90
50–60
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
10–20
<5
Tree Swallow
5–10
5–10
10–20
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
50–60
20–30
20–30
<5
<5
Carolina Wren
30–40
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
Mourning Dove
10–20
30–40
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
20–30
20–30
10–20
Barn Swallow
5–10
5–10
<5
40–50
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
20–30
<5
<5
<5
Double-crested Cormorant
5–10
5–10
20–30
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
10–20
Animal Events
🐦 Spring Warbler Migration
🦅 Songbird & Raptor Migration
🐢 Turtle Nesting Season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐦 Warbler Migration at Point Pelee

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
473
🐒 Mammals
64
🦎 Reptiles
32
🐸 Amphibians
27
596 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
25 Threatened 65 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
78%
📊
Coverage (183 species at ≥5% of 596 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
31%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (12 bird)
46% Global avg
0%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
144
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
3
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
54

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Point Pelee National Park?

The most likely sightings are Red-winged Blackbird (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), American Robin (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Northern Cardinal (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Common Grackle (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), Blue Jay (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers) — among 596 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Point Pelee National Park for wildlife?

May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Yellow Warbler in Point Pelee National Park?

Yes — about 74% of wildlife watchers report a Yellow Warbler sighting in Point Pelee National Park, based on 9,875 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Prothonotary Warbler in Point Pelee National Park?

Yes — about 35% of wildlife watchers report a Prothonotary Warbler sighting in Point Pelee National Park, based on 4,742 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Baltimore Oriole in Point Pelee National Park?

Yes — about 69% of wildlife watchers report a Baltimore Oriole sighting in Point Pelee National Park, based on 9,232 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Blanding's Turtle in Point Pelee National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 11% of wildlife watchers report a Blanding's Turtle sighting in Point Pelee National Park, based on 20 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

⚖️

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