OpenParlorWay
Backyard Birdwatching · Canada

Watching the birds that already visit your yard.

OpenParlorWay collects field notes for people in Canada who want to recognize the species at their feeders, set up a feeding station that works through winter, and observe without disturbing the birds.

Black-capped Chickadee perched on a branch
Black-capped Chickadee, a year-round visitor across most of Canada.

Feeders, species, and the habit of watching

Each article keeps to one practical question rather than covering everything at once.

American Goldfinch feeding at a tube feeder

Choosing a Bird Feeder

Tube, hopper, platform, and suet feeders each suit different birds and different winters. A short guide to matching the feeder to the visitors.

Read the feeder guide
Male Northern Cardinal

Common Backyard Birds

Field marks, voices, and feeding habits for the species most often seen at Canadian feeders, from chickadees to cardinals.

See the species notes
White-breasted Nuthatch on a tree trunk

Observation Tips

How to position yourself, when to watch, and how to keep notes that are actually useful for recognizing patterns over a season.

Read observation tips

Familiar visitors at Canadian feeders

Dark-eyed Junco on the ground

Dark-eyed Junco

Ground feeder · arrives in many southern regions for winter.

Downy Woodpecker on a branch

Downy Woodpecker

Suet feeder regular · the smallest woodpecker in North America.

Blue Jay perched on a fence

Blue Jay

Bold and vocal · favours peanuts and sunflower seeds.