9 Common Backyard Birds of the Pacific Northwest

Birds in the backyard help create a delightful garden. The flash of color, the cheery birdsong, and the delightful antics liven up the landscape. It’s no wonder gardeners often give special thought to what birds need when organizing the garden.

Every region is blessed with local birds, but some areas are especially lucky in the bird department, like Washington, Oregon and Idaho, collectively known as the “Pacific Northwest.”

The range of bird species in the Pacific Northwest is exceptional, thanks in large part to the varied topography.

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Here is a short list of nine wonderful Pacific Northwest birds – representing only a tiny fraction of nature’s remarkable avian show. We’ve picked birds for this list that you are likely to spot in your backyard: Idaho and Oregon backyard birds as well as backyard birds of Washington state. If you head to the ocean or to one of the many rivers in this part of the country, you’ll find interesting water birds too.

Common Birds of the Pacific Northwest

1. Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna's hummingbirds are full-time Pacific Northwest birds. This common hummingbird species is a staple year-round in both urban and suburban areas. Other hummers, like Rufous hummingbirds, migrate through the area on their way north and south, but Anna’s hummingbirds are there to stay.

These are magical birds with sparkling coloring, especially the males with their iridescent rose-red throat and crown and emerald backs. Females have emerald-green backs and rosy spots on the throat. Anna hummingbirds are delighted to visit your hummingbird feeders but will also eat nectar from native plants. Highly territorial, these little birds defend “their” space fiercely.

2. Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Recognize the golden-crowned kinglet by the black-and-white stripes above their eyes and orange or yellow crowns. Both male and female kinglets flick their wings open and shut when hunting for insects. You’ll find these birds in evergreen forests, swamps and bottomlands in addition to suburban backyards.

3. American Robin

Does the American robin live in all states? Not quite all, but this common bird, with its red-orange breast and pleasant song, does get around. You might see them in a tree or pecking for worms in a lawn. Listen for its happy call - “cheery, cheer-up, cheer-io” – but also its “tut, tut, tut” call. American robins don’t eat very often from seed feeders but if you put out fruit, they’ll be happy to eat this too. They also eat worms and bugs.

4. Spotted Towhee

The spotted towhee is a large, striking sparrow. It is found in thickets of brush in this area of the country. The male birds are shiny black above, while the females are gray, with brown flanks. Both have white stripes and bright red eyes. They look a little like slender robins and live near forests, thickets, and overgrown fields.

5. Cooper's Hawk

Do Cooper’s Hawks approach bird feeders? Yes they do, but they aren’t looking for seeds! Instead, they come for a more substantial meal. These hawks prefer to eat the birds that frequent the seeders, like pigeons or doves, and smaller birds like chickadees. This species has adapted well to suburban environments, nesting in neighborhood trees. Cooper’s Hawks fly fast and fancy, with their long tails and short round wings. While young birds are brown with yellow eyes, they develop gray feathers and red eyes as they get older.

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6. Downy Woodpecker

This small, beautiful woodpecker is black and white, and males have a touch of red on the back of their heads. You’ll often see downy woodpeckers along tree trunks and branches, they can be lured to the feeder with suet or sunflower seeds. The downy woodpecker’s call includes a sharp “pik” and a “whinny.”

7. Chestnut-backed Chickadee

If you want to see this attractive chickadee, you’ll need to go to the Pacific Northwest. That is the only spot it frequents. Chestnut-backed Chickadees build nests in dark, dense forests using fur from coyotes and rabbits. But you will also see them in parks and suburbs.

8. Song Sparrow

These sparrows have rust-brown bodies with bold gray streaks, and white chests with brown streaks. Their brown crown has a gray stripe as well that continues across the bird’s face. Look for them on the ground since they are ground nesters. The song of this bird is particularly lovely, three short notes followed by a trill.

9. Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers are big birds, large, brown woodpeckers with attractive, black-scalloped feathering. Their wings flash red when they fly. Their expression is often described as “gentle.” If you are looking for one, your best bet is to look at the ground since their preferred food is insects found in the soil like ants and beetles.

Frequently Asked Questions