Washington birds at a glance
Washington has wet coastal forests, a large inland sea in Puget Sound, the Cascade Mountains, and a dry interior with sagebrush and farmland. Birds follow those habitats, so it helps to ask first where you are. A yard in Seattle and a yard in Spokane will share some species, but each will also have its own.
West of the Cascades
In the wetter west, common yard birds include:
- Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon form): Dark hooded head, brown back and pinkish sides.
- Spotted Towhee: Black hood, rusty sides, white belly and red eye.
- Black-capped Chickadee and Chestnut-backed Chickadee: The Chestnut-backed has a brown back and sides.
- Steller’s Jay: Dark blue with a black crest and head.
- Song Sparrow: Streaky brown with a central breast spot.
- House Finch and Purple Finch: Both have red males. Purple Finch looks more raspberry-washed.
- Bushtit: Tiny gray-brown birds that travel in noisy flocks.
- Anna’s Hummingbird: Present in many western Washington yards, including in winter.
- Bewick’s Wren, American Robin, Northern Flicker and Pileated Woodpecker are also familiar.
East of the Cascades
Drier habitat brings a different mix:
- Western Meadowlark: Yellow chest with a black V and a flute-like song.
- Mountain Bluebird: Sky-blue male, often in open country.
- Black-billed Magpie: Black and white with a long tail.
- California Quail: A plump quail with a forward-curling plume.
- Lazuli Bunting and Black-headed Grosbeak: Warm-season birds at some feeders.
- Cassin’s Finch, Pine Siskin, and Western Tanager may appear, depending on elevation and season.
Coast and Puget Sound
Waterbirds are a big part of Washington birding: gulls, cormorants, Surf Scoters, Bald Eagles, herons, and shorebirds in season. Field marks like bill shape and leg color matter more here. A field guide with a waterbird section is useful.
Official bird
The state bird of Washington is the American Goldfinch, locally called the willow goldfinch. Breeding males are bright yellow with a black forehead and black wings. In winter they are duller and brownish. They are often seen at thistle and sunflower feeders.
Does Washington have pheasants?
Yes. The Ring-necked Pheasant is an introduced game bird that lives in parts of the state, particularly in farmland areas east of the Cascades. Males have a long tail and a green head with a red face and a white neck ring.
Is there a free bird identifier?
Yes. Merlin Bird ID, from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is free and can suggest species from photos, recordings and a short set of questions. eBird, also from Cornell, offers free regional checklists. Use either as a lead and confirm with a field guide.
What is the only bird that can’t fly but can swim?
This question is a general trivia query rather than a Washington one. Several bird groups cannot fly and swim, penguins being the best-known example, and they are not found in the wild in Washington. Birds in the state that swim well but do fly include diving ducks, loons and cormorants.
Related guides
Birds in the interior of the state overlap with those in other western states. See our guide to identifying the birds of New Mexico for more on western species such as Black-billed Magpies and Mountain Bluebirds.