Where to watch hawk migration in Ontario, Canada

While the United States has magnificent hawk watches, there are many more just over the border! In fact, Canada, particularly Ontario, has a lot to offer in terms of hawk watching sites. There’s a guaranteed perfect spot to watch hawks in Ontario.

Each province in Canada has its own types of hawks living at different times of the year due to different food sources and climates in the different provinces. But Ontario is, overall, a great place to enjoy all kinds of hawks in the Canadian sky.

Join us today as we show you our list of the top 11 breathtaking sites to watch migrating hawks in Ontario, Canada.

Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch

Dates: Sep 1- Nov 30
Address: 4435-4297 Hawk Cliff Rd, Union, ON N0L 2L0, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch is on a cliff overlooking Lake Erie just east of Port Stanley. The site has risen in popularity over the years, and it’s now considered one of the best fall migration hawk watches in North America. Birders from all over Canada and the United States visit the site each year. They can always count on knowledgeable volunteers to help them identify raptors and make the experience fun and rich as they watch hawks in Ontario.

You can see about 15 different species of raptors on any day, with count totals ranging from a few hundred raptors to several thousand. A small number of visitors have observed the incredible sight of over 100,000 raptors of various types passing by Hawk Cliff on a few rare occasions.

Overall, it’s a fantastic place for both birders and non-birders to come and witness the fascinating views of migrating hawks.

Directions from east 401: At London, take the Highbury south cut off and continue south on Highbury to St. Thomas. At a set of lights with a curved ramp to the west, Highbury becomes South Edgeware. Move on South Edgeware west to the first traffic light and turn left.

On the south side of Dexter Line, it becomes Fairview Ave, which runs into the gravel Hawk Cliff Road. Just keep going down the gravel road until you reach the site.

Directions from west 401: Take Highway #4 south through Sunset Rd. Continue towards St. Thomas, and you’ll come to a veer. Continue straight up to Steet Thomas and turn right for Port Stanley. Follow Highway 4 to Port Stanley. You’ll come to a major curve in the road with a sign directing you to the left, East St.

Take East St. to the first road on your left, Dexter Line. Follow Dexter Line for about 1.2 miles, then turn right onto Hawk Cliff Rd and follow the gravel road to the hawk watch.

Learn more at the Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch website.

High Park

Dates: Sep 1- Nov 30
Address: 285 Colborne Lodge Dr, Toronto, ON M6S 2T9, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon
Directions: Drive in from Bloor Street or Parkside Drive

Over one-third of High Park is still in its natural state, making it one of Toronto’s most important natural areas. Visitors get to enjoy the park’s many playgrounds, attractions, and features all year long, making it a favorite destination in the city’s park system.

Learn more at the High Park website.

Cranberry Marsh

Dates: Sep 1- Dec 1
Address: Whitby, ON, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) was founded in 1993 by John Barker, who coordinated the Cranberry Marsh hawk watching site located in Whitby, Ontario. The site has a designated counter responsible for conducting an accurate count.

This hawk watch is packed with different hawk species, so if you like seeing variety in the skies, Cranberry Marsh is the place to be.

We recommend you bring binoculars, weather-appropriate clothing, and a packed lunch. It would be useful to have a portable chair to sit in when looking for hawks.

Learn more at the Cranberry Marsh website.

Holiday Beach Hawk Watch

Dates: Sep 1- Nov 30
Address: Holiday Beach Rd, Harrow, ON N0R 1G0, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Essex Region Conservation Authority currently manages the Holiday Beach Conservation Area. It’s located in the southwestern-most tip of Ontario.

The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) is a registered non-profit organization in Canada that researches and monitors long-term trends in migrating raptors that pass through Essex County, Ontario, Canada, during the spring and fall seasons.

Bring supplies with you, such as binoculars, books, spotting scopes, cameras, bug repellant, folding chairs, caps, and sunscreen. Also, don’t forget to dress appropriately for the weather!

Holiday Beach Conservation Area hosts a fall Hawk Festival each September. The thrill of the fall hawk migration is at its peak for the enormous Broad-winged Hawk migration. To learn more about upcoming Hawk Festival activities, visit the Essex Region Conservation Authority.

Or learn more at the Holiday Beach Hawk Watch website.

Innisfree

Dates: Sep 1- Oct 30
Address: Innisfil, ON, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, merlin

The site is located half a mile west of Cooks Bay, on top of a rise on private farmland. The hawk watch offers good visibility for at least half a mile in all directions.

Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch – Beamer Conservation Area

Dates: Mar 1- May 15
Address: 158 Quarry Rd, Grimsby, ON L3M 4E7, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch monitors hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby. The hawk watch is part of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority’s publicly accessible property.

The count is fully conducted by volunteers from a wooden-floored steel observation tower. A plastic wind guard is constructed around the tower to provide wind protection on colder days. This site can hold 10 persons, although, on most busy days, only 5 or 6 watchers will be present.

The tower is situated in the middle of a mowed place with a ring road running around the edge, which allows for plenty of parking and the setup of telescopes, cameras, and lawn chairs. There are also restrooms available at the site.

Directions: Take the QEW to Exit 71/72 and drive on Christie Street/Mountain Street until you reach the top of the escarpment. Make a right on Ridge Road West and travel about one mile to Quarry Rd.

Keep moving about 100 meters to the conservation area on the right side of Quarry Rd. You can usually park inside the park, but don’t leave anything valuable in your car while parking on the roads or at the entrance.

Learn more at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch website.

Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch

Dates: Aug 15- Dec 1
Address: Lake Ontario
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch is located in Scarborough. The city of Toronto manages these public gardens. You are welcome to bring a lawn chair, but picnics, pets, and bicycles are not allowed.

Directions from East: Drive on Highway 401 west to Kingston Road, then west on Kingston Road to Glen Everest Rd.

Directions from West: Via Highway 401 E, take Warden Ave South onto Ellesmere Rd E, which eventually leads you to Birchmount Rd S.

Directions from North: To get to the entrance, take Birchmount Rd. S to Kingston Rd. E, past Lakehurst Dr.

Learn more at the Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch website.

Thunder Cape Bird Observatory

Spring dates: May 1- Jun 11
Fall dates: Aug 1- Oct 31
Address: Sleeping Giant, Thunder Bay, Unorganized, ON, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

The Thunder Cape Bird Observatory is at the tip of the Sibley Peninsula, which juts southwest into Lake Superior, and it is a long-term project of the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists’ Club. The observation tower provides a spectacular view to visitors.

The ideal time to view migrating hawks crossing 6 miles of open water to Pie Island is in the fall.

Directions: There’s no access to the site by road. The Kabeyun Trail in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park is 8 miles long each way. You’ll find maps at the park office. Silver Islet, 6 kilometers to the east, is accessible by small boat, but landing a boat can be difficult.

Learn more at the Thunder Cape Bird Observatory website.

Iroquois Shoreline

Dates: Sep 1- Dec 1
Address: Whitby, ON, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel

Learn more at the Iroquois Shoreline website.

Long Sault Parkway

Spring dates: Apr 15- Jul 31
Fall dates: Aug 1- Oct 31
Address: South Stormont, ON, Canada
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture

The Long Sault Parkway is a chain of eleven islands formed from high points of land that remained when the St. Lawrence River flooded during the Seaway’s construction in the 1950s. It’s not rich with hawk species, but you can still enjoy its mesmerizing vistas along with the views of migrating turkey vultures.

Grimsby, ON – Grimsby East

Dates: Mar 1- May 30
Address: 4616 Creek Rd, Lewiston, NY 14092, USA
Birds you’ll see: Turkey vulture, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk

FAQs about Hawk Migration In Ontario

What types of hawks can I see in Ontario?

There are 15 different hawk species that Ontario is known for: Turkey vulture, osprey, bald eagle, northern harrier, sharp-shinned hawk, cooper’s hawk, northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, broad-winged hawk, red-tailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, merlin, peregrine falcon

Wrap up- Where to Watch Hawks in Ontario

Now you know exactly where to watch hawks in Ontario. You’ll find gorgeous scenery all around while you observe thousands of raptors preparing to cross Lake Erie.

More Hawk Migration Location

You may want to continue your hawk-watching adventures. These hawk migration locations have awesome bird sight-seeing sites waiting for you!