List of birds of Olympic National Park

This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Olympic National Park, which is in the U.S. state of Washington. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS).

This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 65th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.

This list contains 298 species when taxonomic changes have been made. Unless otherwise noted, all are considered to occur regularly in Olympic National Park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species.

• (R) Rare - "usually seen only a few times each year" per the NPS (18 species)
• (U) Uncommon - "likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season and may be locally common" per the NPS (84 species)
• (O) Occasional - "occur in a park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" per the NPS (38 species)
• (NC) Not confirmed - "Attributed to the park based on weak ("unconfirmed record") or no evidence" per the NPS (52 species)
• (Unk) Unknown (1 species)
• (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (5 species; one more that is native to North America was introduced to Washington)

Ducks, geese, and waterfowl

Order: Anseriformes   Family: Anatidae

The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.

• Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (NC)
• Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (R)
• Brant, Branta bernicla (O)
• Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (U)
• Canada goose, Branta canadensis
• Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (U)
• Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (U)
• Wood duck, Aix sponsa (U)
• Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (O)
• Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (O)
• Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
• Gadwall, Mareca strepera (R)
• Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (NC)
• American wigeon, Mareca americana
• Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
• Northern pintail, Anas acuta (R)
• Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (U)
• Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (O)
• Redhead, Aythya americana (O)
• Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris
• Greater scaup, Aythya marila (U)
• Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (U)
• Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus
• Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata
• White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (U)
• Black scoter, Melanitta americana (NC)
• Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (U)
• Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola
• Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (U)
• Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (U)
• Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (U)
• Common merganser, Mergus merganser
• Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
• Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (O)

New World quail

Order: Galliformes   Family: Odontophoridae

The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.

• California quail, Callipepla californica (U) (Introduced to Washington)

Pheasants, grouse, and allies

Order: Galliformes   Family: Phasianidae

Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.

• Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus
• Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
• Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (O)

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes   Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.

• Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (U)
• Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (U)
• Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (U)
• Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis

Pigeons and doves

Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.

• Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (U)
• Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
• Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (U)
• Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (O)

Nightjars and allies

Order: Caprimulgiformes   Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.

• Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (U)

Swifts

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Apodidae

The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.

• Black swift, Cypseloides niger
• Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (U)

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes   Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.

• Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (U)
• Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus

Rails, gallinules, and coots

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers.

• Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (R)
• American coot, Fulica americana (U)

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes   Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".

• Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (U)

Stilts and avocets

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Recurvirostridae

Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.

• American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (NC)

Oystercatchers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Haematopodidae

The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.

• Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani

Plovers and lapwings

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Charadriidae

The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.

• Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola
• American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (NC)
• Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (U)
• Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (U)
• Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (U)

Sandpipers and allies

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Scolopacidae

Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.

• Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (U)
• Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (NC)
• Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (NC)
• Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (U)
• Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (U)
• Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala
• Red knot, Calidris canutus (U)
• Surfbird, Calidris virgata
• Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (NC)
• Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (NC)
• Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (O)
• Sanderling, Calidris alba
• Dunlin, Calidris alpina
• Rock sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis (U)
• Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (U)
• Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla
• Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (NC)
• Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (R)
• Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (NC)
• Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri
• Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (U)
• Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (U)
• Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (U)
• Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia
• Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (O)
• Wandering tattler, Tringa incana (U)
• Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (U)
• Willet, Tringa semipalmata (NC)
• Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (U)
• Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (NC)
• Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (U)
• Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (O)

Skuas and jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.

• Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (Unk)
• Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (NC)
• Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (NC)

Auks, murres, and puffins

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Alcidae

The family Alcidae includes auks, murres, and puffins. These are short winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding.

• Common murre, Uria aalge
• Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (NC)
• Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba
• Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus
• Scripps's murrelet, Synthliboramphus scrippsi (NC)
• Ancient murrelet, Synthliboarmphus antiquus (NC)
• Cassin's auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus
• Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula (NC)
• Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata
• Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata
• Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata (U)

Gulls, terns, and skimmers

Order: Charadriiformes   Family: Laridae

Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.

• Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (U)
• Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (NC)
• Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia
• Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (NC)
• Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (O)
• Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (O)
• Heermann's gull, Larus heermanni
• Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus
• Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (U)
• Western gull, Larus occidentalis
• California gull, Larus californicus
• Herring gull, Larus argentatus (U)
• Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (U)
• Slaty-backed gull, Larus schistisagus (NC)
• Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens
• Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (R)
• Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
• Common tern, Sterna hirundo (NC)
• Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (NC)
• Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (U)
• Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans (R)

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes   Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.

• Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
• Pacific loon, Gavia pacifica
• Common loon, Gavia immer
• Yellow-billed loon, Gavia adamsii (NC)

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Diomedeidae

The albatrosses are amongst the largest of flying birds, and the great albatrosses from the genus Diomedea have the largest wingspans of any extant birds.

• Laysan albatross, Phoebastria immutabilis (NC)
• Black-footed albatross, Phoebastria nigripes (NC)

Northern storm-petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Hydrobatidae

The storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds, relatives of the petrels, feeding on planktonic crustaceans and small fish picked from the surface, typically while hovering. The flight is fluttering and sometimes bat-like.

• Fork-tailed storm-petrel, Hydrobates furcatus (U)
• Leach's storm-petrel, Hydrobates leucorhous (U)

Shearwaters and petrels

Order: Procellariiformes   Family: Procellariidae

The procellariids are the main group of medium-sized "true petrels", characterized by united nostrils with medium septum and a long outer functional primary.

• Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (NC)
• Mottled petrel, Pterodroma inexpectata (NC)
• Buller's shearwater, Ardenna bulleri (NC)
• Short-tailed shearwater, Ardenna tenuirostris (NC)
• Sooty shearwater, Ardenna griseus (U)
• Pink-footed shearwater, Ardenna creatopus (NC)
• Flesh-footed shearwater, Ardenna carneipes (NC)
• Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus (NC)

Cormorants and shags

Order: Suliformes   Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.

• Brandt's cormorant, Urile penicillatus
• Pelagic cormorant, Urile pelagicus
• Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum

Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a distinctive pouch under their beak. Like other birds in the order Pelecaniformes, they have four webbed toes.

• American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos (O)
• Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis

Herons, egrets, and bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.

• American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (NC)
• Great blue heron, Ardea herodias (U)
• Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis (O)
• Green heron, Butorides virescens (U)
• Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (NC)

New World vultures

Order: Cathartiformes   Family: Cathartidae

The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers; however, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.

• Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Pandionidae

Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey. Its single species possesses a very large and powerful hooked beak, strong legs, strong talons, and keen eyesight.

• Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (U)

Hawks, eagles, and kites

Order: Accipitriformes   Family: Accipitridae

Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.

• Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
• Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius
• Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus (U)
• Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii (U)
• American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus (U)
• Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus (NC)
• Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (NC)
• Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
• Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (NC)
• Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (U)

Barn-owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.

• Barn owl, Tyto alba (O)

Owls

Order: Strigiformes   Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.

• Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii (U)
• Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus (U)
• Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (R)
• Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma
• Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis (R)
• Barred owl, Strix varia (U)
• Long-eared owl, Asio otus (R)
• Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus (R)
• Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (U)

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes   Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.

• Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes   Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.

• Acorn woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus (O)
• Red-naped sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis (O)
• Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber (U)
• Downy woodpecker, Picoides pubescens (U)
• Hairy woodpecker, Picoides villosus
• American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis (R)
• Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus (O)
• Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus
• Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus

Falcons and caracaras

Order: Falconiformes   Family: Falconidae

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their talons.

• American kestrel, Falco sparverius (U)
• Merlin, Falco columbarius (U)
• Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus (NC)
• Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus (U)
• Prairie falcon, Falco mexicanus (NC)

Tyrant flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are Passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, but are more robust and have stronger bills. They do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of the songbirds. Most, but not all, are rather plain. As the name implies, most are insectivorous.

• Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis (NC)
• Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
• Olive-sided flycatcher, Contopus cooperi
• Western wood-pewee, Contopus sordidulus (U)
• Willow flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
• Hammond's flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii
• Gray flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii (NC)
• Dusky flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri (O)
• Western flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
• Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe (O)
• Say's phoebe, Sayornis saya (NC)

Vireos, shrike-babblers, and erpornis

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Vireonidae

The vireos are a group of small to medium-sized passerine birds restricted to the New World, though a few other members of the family occur in Asia. They are typically greenish in color and resemble wood warblers apart from their heavier bills.

• Hutton's vireo, Vireo huttoni
• Cassin's vireo, Vireo cassinii (R)
• Warbling vireo, Vireo gilvus
• Red-eyed vireo, Vireo olivaceus (NC)

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are passerine birds known for their habit of catching other birds and small animals and impaling the uneaten portions of their bodies on thorns. A shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a typical bird of prey.

• Northern shrike, Lanius borealis (O)

Crows, jays, and magpies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Corvidae

The family Corvidae includes crows, ravens, jays, choughs, magpies, treepies, nutcrackers, and ground jays. Corvids are above average in size among the Passeriformes, and some of the larger species show high levels of intelligence.

• Canada jay, Perisoreus canadensis
• Steller's jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
• Clark's nutcracker, Nucifraga columbiana (U)
• American crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Common raven, Corvus corax

Tits, chickadees, and titmice

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Paridae

The Paridae are mainly small stocky woodland species with short stout bills. Some have crests. They are adaptable birds, with a mixed diet including seeds and insects.

• Black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapilla (U)
• Mountain chickadee, Poecile gambeli (NC)
• Chestnut-backed chickadee, Poecile rufescens

Larks

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small terrestrial birds with often extravagant songs and display flights. Most larks are fairly dull in appearance. Their food is insects and seeds.

• Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Hirundinidae

The family Hirundinidae is adapted to aerial feeding. They have a slender streamlined body, long pointed wings, and a short bill with a wide gape. The feet are adapted to perching rather than walking, and the front toes are partially joined at the base.

• Bank swallow, Riparia riparia (NC)
• Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
• Violet-green swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
• Northern rough-winged swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
• Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica
• Cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Long-tailed tits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are a group of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They make woven bag nests in trees. Most eat a mixed diet which includes insects.

• Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus (U)

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Regulidae

The kinglets are a small family of birds which resemble the titmice. They are very small insectivorous birds, mostly in the genus Regulus. The adults have colored crowns, giving rise to their names.

• Ruby-crowned kinglet, Corthylio calendula
• Golden-crowned kinglet, Regulus satrapa

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Bombycillidae

The waxwings are a group of passerine birds with soft silky plumage and unique red tips to some of the wing feathers. In the Bohemian and cedar waxwings, these tips look like sealing wax and give the group its name. These are arboreal birds of northern forests. They live on insects in summer and berries in winter.

• Bohemian waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus (R)
• Cedar waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum (U)

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have the unusual ability to climb down trees head first, unlike other birds which can only go upwards. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and powerful bills and feet.

• Red-breasted nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
• White-breasted nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis (NC)

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.

• Brown creeper, Certhia americana

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and inconspicuous birds, except for their loud songs. They have short wings and thin down-turned bills. Several species often hold their tails upright. All are insectivorous.

• Rock wren, Salpinctes obsoletus (R)
• Bewick's wren, Thryomanes bewickii (U)
• Northern house wren, Troglodytes aedon (R)
• Pacific wren, Troglodytes pacificus
• Marsh wren, Cistothorus palustris

Mockingbirds and thrashers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Mimidae

The mimids are a family of passerine birds which includes thrashers, mockingbirds, tremblers, and the New World catbirds. These birds are notable for their vocalization, especially their remarkable ability to mimic a wide variety of birds and other sounds heard outdoors. The species tend towards dull grays and browns in their appearance.

• Northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos (O)

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds with strong feet. Their flight is strong and direct and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen.

• European starling, Sturnus vulgaris (I) (U)

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are small, stout, birds that feed in cold, fast moving streams.

• American dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Thrushes and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Turdidae

The thrushes are a group of passerine birds that occur mainly but not exclusively in the Old World. They are plump, soft plumaged, small to medium-sized insectivores or sometimes omnivores, often feeding on the ground. Many have attractive songs.

• Western bluebird, Sialia mexicana (R)
• Mountain bluebird, Sialia currucoides (R)
• Townsend's solitaire, Myadestes townsendi (U)
• Swainson's thrush, Catharus ustulatus
• Hermit thrush, Catharus guttatus
• American robin, Turdus migratorius
• Varied thrush, Ixoreus naevius

Old World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small passerine birds. In general, sparrows tend to be small plump brownish or grayish birds with short tails and short powerful beaks. Sparrows are seed eaters, but they also consume small insects.

• House sparrow, Passer domesticus (I) (U)

Wagtails and pipits

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Motacillidae

Motacillidae is a family of small passerine birds with medium to long tails. They include the wagtails, longclaws, and pipits. They are slender ground-feeding insectivores of open country.

• American pipit, Anthus rubescens

Finches, euphonias, and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating passerine birds that are small to moderately large and have a strong beak, usually conical and in some species very large. All have twelve tail feathers and nine primaries. These birds have a bouncing flight with alternating bouts of flapping and gliding on closed wings, and most sing well.

• Evening grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus
• Pine grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator (U)
• Gray-crowned rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis (U)
• House finch, Haemorhous mexicanus (U)
• Purple finch, Haemorhous purpureus (U)
• Cassin's finch, Haemorhous cassinii (O)
• Redpoll, Acanthis flammea (O)
• Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
• White-winged crossbill, Loxia leucoptera (O)
• Pine siskin, Spinus pinus
• American goldfinch, Spinus tristis (U)

Longspurs and snow buntings

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Calcariidae

The Calcariidae are a group of passerine birds that had been traditionally grouped with the New World sparrows, but differ in a number of respects and are usually found in open grassy areas.

• Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus (O)
• Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis (O)

New World sparrows

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Passerellidae

Until 2017, these species were considered part of the family Emberizidae. Most of the species are known as sparrows, but these birds are not closely related to the Old World sparrows which are in the family Passeridae. Many of these have distinctive head patterns.

• Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina (U)
• Fox sparrow, Passerella iliaca
• Dark-eyed junco, Junco hyemalis
• White-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
• Golden-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia atricapilla
• Harris's sparrow, Zonotrichia querula (NC)
• White-throated sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis (O)
• Vesper sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus (O)
• Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
• Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia
• Lincoln's sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii (U)
• Swamp sparrow, Melospiza georgiana (O)
• Spotted towhee, Pipilo maculatus

Troupials and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Icteridae

The icterids are a group of small to medium-sized, often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World and include the grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. Most species have black as a predominant plumage color, often enlivened by yellow, orange, or red.

• Yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (O)
• Western meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
• Bullock's oriole, Icterus bullockii (O)
• Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
• Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater (U)
• Brewer's blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus (U)

New World warblers

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Parulidae

The wood-warblers are a group of small often colorful passerine birds restricted to the New World. Most are arboreal, but some like the ovenbird and the two waterthrushes, are more terrestrial. Most members of this family are insectivores.

• Tennessee warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina (NC)
• Orange-crowned warbler, Leiothlypis celata
• Nashville warbler, Leiothlypis ruficapilla (NC)
• MacGillivray's warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei
• Common yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
• American redstart, Setophaga ruticilla (O)
• Northern parula, Setophaga americana (O)
• Yellow warbler, Setophaga petechia
• Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens (O)
• Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum (NC)
• Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata
• Black-throated gray warbler, Setophaga nigrescens
• Townsend's warbler, Setophaga townsendi
• Hermit warbler, Setophaga occidentalis
• Wilson's warbler, Cardellina pusilla

Cardinals and allies

Order: Passeriformes   Family: Cardinalidae

The cardinals are a family of robust seed-eating birds with strong bills. They are typically associated with open woodland. The sexes usually have distinct plumages.

• Western tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
• Black-headed grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus (U)
• Lazuli bunting, Passerina amoena (O)
• Indigo bunting, Passerina cyanea (O)

See also

• List of birds of Washington (state)
• List of birds
• Lists of birds by region
• List of North American birds

External links

• Washington Ornithological Society