Birdwatching in London

Birding is for everybody and every body!

People of all abilities, skill levels and backgrounds are welcome to enjoy birds. We have compiled information and resources on this page to help people who are new to birdwatching in London get started. 

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Click a link below that describes your interests:

• Apps for birding

• Accessible birding

• Birding for beginners

• Birding for kids/families

• Birding for new Canadians

• Advanced birding

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Did you know that Bird Friendly London offers a map of good locations for birdwatching in the city? Check it out here

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Apps for birding

We recommend checking out the following smartphone apps for birdwatching. These apps are useful for beginner and expert birders alike:

• iNaturalist - identify birds and other organisms from photos, add observations to map

• eBird - post observations of birds, keep lists of species, track activity at hotspots

• Merlin - identify bird species based on their appearance and/or vocalizations

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Accessible birding​

There are excellent resources for learning about birding with disabilities available from Birdability.

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Check out this free online Birding by Ear course from Birds Canada. This course is specially tailored for people with a visual impairment such as sight loss and low vision but all are welcome.

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In London, there are a few central park areas that are suitable for birdwatching and also provide key accessibility features such as paved paths, public washrooms, seating areas and access via public transit. Below are some suggestions for accessible locations to see birds in London.

Gibbons Park (map) (photos)

• Paths: Paved, shared with many cyclists, connects to the Thames Valley Parkway, mostly flat

• Level access (i.e., no steps or major inclines): Yes. Note: path and road at Grosvenor St entrance is very steep.

• Information signage near entrance: Yes

• Seating: Many benches

• Shaded sitting areas: Yes

• Public transit access: Yes (directions)

• Vehicle access/parking: Yes, free parking

• Public bathrooms: Yes (see map)

• Noise level: Medium-low

• Dogs: Some, required to be on leash

• Snow clearance: Some paths are cleared by the City of London. Generally, in the winter there is some ice on the path that may be impassable for wheelchair users.

Kilally Meadows Environmentally Significant Area (map) (photos)

• Paths: Paved, shared with cyclists, flat

• Information sign near entrance: Yes

• Seating: A few benches along paved paths (see map)

• Shaded sitting areas: No structures, some benches may be shaded by trees

• Vehicle access/parking: Yes, west end of park off Adelaide, south end at residential lots or street parking, free parking

• Public transit access: Limited, bus stops are located within short distances with paved paths to entrances at Highbury Ave (directions) and Adelaide St (directions)

• Public bathrooms: None.

• Noise level: Low

• Dogs: Few, required to be on leash

• Snow clearance: Some paths are cleared by the City of London. Generally, in the winter there is some ice on the path that may be impassable for wheelchair users.

Springbank Park (map) (photos)

• Paths: Paved, some areas are separated for pedestrians and cyclists, mostly flat

• Level access (i.e., no steps or major inclines): Yes

• Information sign near entrance: Yes

• Seating: A few benches along paved paths (see map)

• Shaded sitting areas: Yes

• Vehicle access/parking: Yes, free parking

• Public transit access: Limited, bus stops are located on Wonderland Rd S at Riverside Dr and Springbank Dr, with paved paths into the park (directions)

• Public bathrooms: Yes (see map)​

• Noise level: Medium-low

• Dogs: Some, required to be on leash. There is a dog park located east of Wonderland Rd next to Springbank Park.

• Snow clearance: Some paths are cleared by the City of London. Generally, in the winter there is some ice on the path that may be impassable for wheelchair users.

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Birding for beginners

• Various birdwatching and eco-hiking events are occasionally offered by the following groups. We recommend checking their websites and social media for updates on events and programs:

  • Bird Friendly London (check our twitter and Facebook)

  • Upper Thames River Conservation Authority

  • Nature London’s Birding Wing

  • Thames Talbot Land Trust

  • Friends of Kilally Meadows ESA

• Learn about ethics of birding and bird photography, to ensure you are keeping birds safe.

• Bird Friendly London has a free checklist you may use to keep track of bird sightings.

• Check out the Bird Friendly London blog for tips on identifying different types of birds.

• We recommend checking out eBird hotspots in Middlesex County and visiting London's Environmentally Significant Areas. Here’s a list of suggested popular birding locations in the Upper Thames River watershed.

• Nature London hosts various birding events throughout the year for members, such as the Christmas Bird Count. Bird Counts contribute important citizen science data on the health of London's bird populations. Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count

• Additional spots to see birds in London include Fanshawe Conservation Area, Komoka Provincial Park and the Dingman Constructed Wetlands.

• The following Facebook community groups feature photographs of birds taken by birders in the London area:

  • London Area Wildlife Network

  • Bird Friendly London

  • Ontario Birds

  • Ornithology Club at Western

• Birds Canada offers numerous free online courses and programs for beginner birders

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Birding for kids/families

• Upper Thames River Conservation Authority hosts various family-friendly birding events as part of their Environmental Education & Outreach Programs

• UTRCA also offers the Fanshawe Nature School

• Nature London offers a Christmas Bird Count for Kids.

• CBC Parents: Guide for easy birdwatching with kids

• Ontario Parks: Discover birds with your kids

• Nature Conservancy of Canada: Learning resources for kids

• Nature Canada: Resources for Children

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Birding for new Canadians

The following translation resources may be helpful especially for people who are new to Canada or for whom English is a second language. Birds found in Canada may have names in other languages associated with related species in other countries. 

• Identifier les oiseaux en français - Identifying birds in French

• Noms des oiseaux du Canada Noms français, anglais et scientifiques - Canadian Bird Names French, English and Scientific

• Nombres de pájaros en francés y español / Noms d'oiseaux français et espagnols - Sibley Guides French and Spanish bird names

• Nombres Españoles para las clases de pájaros norteamericanos - Spanish Names for Kinds of North American Birds

• 北美禽类的中国名 - Chinese Names for Kinds of North American Birds

• تعلم أسماء الطيور العربية - Learn Arabic names for birds from the Birds of the Middle East app (download for iPhone) (download for Android)

• पक्षियों के नाम हिंदी में। - Bird names in Hindi

• کلمات فارسی برای پرندگان - Names for birds in Iranian/Persian

• বাংলা পাখিদের নাম - Names for birds in Bengali

• Mga uri ng ibon - Types of birds in Tagalog

• Birds Canada offers numerous free online courses and programs for beginner birders

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Advanced Birding

London is home to many advanced birders! If you already have experience with birding, the resources listed below may be of interest to you.

• Meet other advanced birders in London through Nature London’s Birding Wing.

• Ontario Field Ornithologists has compiled a list of provincial and regional sources of information about birds in Ontario including email groups, instant messaging services, and social media groups.

• Join the Advanced Birding in Ontario Facebook group.

• Check out the birding checklist for Middlesex County from Nature London or the Bird Friendly London checklist you may use to keep track of bird sightings.

• In addition to various eBird hotspots in Middlesex/London, we recommend checking out several hotspots in the surrounding region, listed below. Note that these sites require a vehicle to access and additional charges for entry or parking may apply.​

  • Aylmer Wildlife Management Area

  • Various Sewage Lagoons

  • Lake Whittaker Conservation Area

  • Long Point Provincial Park

  • Rondeau Provincial Park

  • Point Pelee National Park

We encourage birders, especially advanced birders to record observations in a citizen science database like eBird or iNaturalist. These tools are used by conservationists and planners to protect London's Natural Heritage System.