The Pacific Northwest offers a spectacular variety of birds that visit our backyards throughout the year. From tiny hummingbirds to majestic woodpeckers, these feathered friends bring color, song, and life to our outdoor spaces.
Grab your binoculars and keep an eye out for these common backyard visitors across Oregon, Idaho, and Washington.
1. American Robin
With their bright orange-red breasts and cheerful morning songs, American Robins are among the most recognizable birds in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. They hop energetically across lawns searching for worms and insects.
Robins build mud-lined nests in trees and shrubs, often returning to the same yards year after year. During winter, many form large flocks that roam neighborhoods looking for berries and fruits.
2. Black-capped Chickadee
Sporting a black cap and bib with white cheeks, these tiny bundles of energy are neighborhood favorites. Black-capped Chickadees zip from branch to branch with acrobatic moves, often hanging upside down to reach seeds.
Their familiar “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” call becomes more intense when predators are near. Friendly and curious, they’re usually the first birds to investigate new feeders, sometimes even eating from an outstretched hand.
3. Northern Flicker
Spotted bellies, flashy underwings, and a distinctive red or yellow patch on the nape make Northern Flickers stand out in Washington. Unlike most woodpeckers, these beautiful birds often feed on the ground, using their specialized beaks to dig for ants.
Listen for their loud, piercing call and rapid drumming on trees or occasionally metal gutters! Males sport a mustache stripe that females lack, making them easy to tell apart during your backyard birdwatching adventures.
4. Steller’s Jay
Bold and noisy, Steller’s Jays announce their presence with harsh calls that echo through Pacific Northwest neighborhoods. Their striking dark blue bodies and black crested heads make them impossible to miss among the evergreens.
Natural mimics, they can imitate hawks, cats, and even squirrels! These intelligent birds cache food for later, remembering hundreds of hiding spots. Keep your picnics covered – these crafty birds won’t hesitate to swoop down and steal unattended snacks.
5. Dark-eyed Junco
Often called “snowbirds,” Dark-eyed Juncos arrive in many Oregon and Pacific Northwest backyards when temperatures drop. Their slate-gray upper bodies contrast beautifully with white bellies and flashy white outer tail feathers that fan out during flight.
Watch them hop beneath feeders, gathering fallen seeds with quick movements. These ground-nesters prefer coniferous forests but adapt well to suburban environments. Their soft, musical trills sound like tiny bells tinkling in the winter air.
6. Anna’s Hummingbird
Jewels of the Pacific Northwest, Anna’s Hummingbirds flash iridescent emerald feathers and, in males, brilliant rose-pink throats that catch the light like tiny disco balls. Unlike many hummingbirds, these tough little birds stay year-round, even in snow!
Males perform spectacular dive displays, climbing up to 130 feet before plummeting with a distinctive explosive chirp made by air rushing through their tail feathers. Keep feeders filled with sugar water even in winter to help these tiny marvels survive.
7. Spotted Towhee
Rusty flanks, white-spotted black backs, and fiery red eyes make Spotted Towhees dramatic backyard visitors. Listen for their distinctive scratching in leaf litter as they perform their signature two-footed backward hop to uncover hidden insects.
Their cat-like “mew” calls mix with musical trills throughout the day. Secretive by nature, these striking birds prefer dense shrubs and tangles, often staying low to the ground. Plant native berry bushes to attract these beautiful ground-dwellers to your yard.
8. Song Sparrow
Masters of melody, Song Sparrows fill Pacific Northwest mornings with complex, sweet songs unique to each individual bird. Their streaked brown bodies with a central breast spot may look plain until you notice their expressive posture and constantly flicking tails.
These adaptable birds thrive in diverse habitats from marshes to suburban gardens. Look for them in brushy areas, singing proudly from exposed perches. Despite their small size, Song Sparrows fiercely defend their territories with elaborate vocal performances.
9. Red-winged Blackbird
Males sport glossy black feathers set off by brilliant scarlet shoulder patches they flash dramatically during displays. Their distinctive “conk-la-ree” calls ring out across Pacific Northwest neighborhoods, especially near water.
Females look entirely different – streaky brown like large sparrows, providing excellent camouflage while nesting. These social birds often gather in large, noisy flocks during winter. Plant tall grasses or cattails to attract these striking birds to your backyard pond or water feature.
10. Varied Thrush
Orange eyebrows, throat, and belly contrast dramatically with slate-blue backs and bold black breast bands on these forest-loving relatives of robins. Their haunting, ethereal songs echo through Pacific Northwest neighborhoods, especially during winter months.
Shy and often solitary, Varied Thrushes descend from mountain forests during cold weather. They shuffle through fallen leaves searching for insects and berries. Native plants like salal, huckleberry, and Oregon grape provide natural food sources that attract these stunning birds to your yard.
11. House Finch
Males flaunt raspberry-red heads and breasts that brighten even the dreariest Pacific Northwest winter day. The intensity of their color varies based on diet – more natural carotenoid pigments mean brighter plumage!
Their cheerful warbling songs contain rapid trills and flourishes that continue throughout the year. Highly adaptable, House Finches readily nest on porches, hanging plants, and light fixtures. Sunflower seeds in platform feeders will keep these colorful visitors coming back to your yard.