Being on the Pacific Northwest, Oregon has a variety of climate conditions from mild coastal weather to extreme temperatures and dryness towards the interior. Oregon is also known for its forests and with forests comes bird life.
Have you wondered what those birds are that are visiting your backyard in Oregon? If you live in Oregon or even if you are simply visiting Oregon this article will help you identify birds right in your own backyard or as you tour around the area.
The Western Meadowlark is the state bird of Oregon.
Most Common Backyard Birds in Oregon
1. Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged blackbirds are medium-sized songbirds and are found year-round, mostly west of the Cascades in Oregon from coastal and valley locations, and east of the Cascades in eastern counties. They can be found around the major wetlands and in smaller numbers around the wetland areas. They also are seen in agricultural areas, and suburban parks and gardens.
The males have black bodies with red and yellow stripes on their wings. The females are streaked dark brownish overall, paler on the breast, often showing a whitish eyebrow.
Male red-winged blackbirds are especially known for their loud, beautiful songs.
The red-winged blackbirds are colonial nesters, which build their nests in close proximity to other red-winged blackbirds. often reusing the same nesting site year after year.
2. Black-capped Chickadee
The Black-capped Chickadee is a common backyard bird in Oregon and can be found there all year-round. These cute little songbirds live in forests, trees, shrubs, residential suburbs, and in parks. They are very curious little birds and investigate everything within their territory. They seem to favor birch or alder trees for their nests.
The male and female Black-capped Chickadees look alike. They have a short neck and a large head. The tail is long and narrow, and the bill is short. Their cap that extends just beyond the black eyes and bib are black, their cheeks are white and the back is a soft gray. The wing feathers are gray edged with white, and the underparts are a soft buff on the sides gradually becoming white beneath.
Black-capped Chickadees are one of the easiest birds to attract to backyard bird feeders. You can attract them using suet, sunflower seeds, or peanuts.
3. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadees are common backyard birds year-round in Oregon, mostly in the coniferous forests of the Pacific Coast. You can also find them in shrubs, trees, and parks of cities, towns, and suburbs.
There is no difference between male and female Chestnut-backed Chickadees. As with other chickadees, their heads are black and white. Their backs are a rich chestnut color, rather than gray. Their flanks can be either a rich brown or a dull gray.
Chestnut-backed Chickadees are very active little songbirds and cling acrobatically to twigs or hang upside down from cones. During the winter, one can see them flocking with kinglets and nuthatches.
They mostly feed on insects such as caterpillars, moths, beetles, leafhoppers, scale insects, and small wasps, as well as on seeds and berries.
4. Mountain Chickadee
Mountain Chickadees are found in the dry, mountain forests of the West. They are common backyard birds in Oregon mainly in the higher elevations. They prefer to flit between the evergreen trees on higher slopes, where they can be found all year-round.
Male and female Mountain Chickadees look alike. They have striking black-and-white on the head and are gray everywhere else. The distinguishing factor that identifies Mountain Chickadees from other chickadees is the white stripe over the eye. The Mountain Chickadees from the Cascades in have the largest bills of all the Mountain Chickadees in the USA, and their flanks match the color of their backs.
Chickadees are very active, acrobatic passerines and can be seen clinging to twigs or small branches or hanging upside down from pinecones. During the winter months, Mountain Chickadees are seen flocking with kinglets and nuthatches, the birds follow each other from tree to tree.
Mountain Chickadees eat insects and spiders during warmer months, as well as seeds and nuts. They visit bird feeders all year round.
5. Brown-headed Cowbird
The brown-headed cowbird is a common bird of southern Canada and the United States. They are usually seen in Oregon in small flocks during the summer, often with other blackbirds, like the red-winged blackbird or common grackle. This bird is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other passerine birds, including those of other cowbirds. They can be found in open woods, farmlands, and stockyards.
The brown-headed cowbird has a stout bill, short tail, and stocky body. Males are glossy black with chocolate brown heads. Females are gray-brown overall, without bold streaks, but slightly paler throats. The males will chase other males away from the female, then establish a territory before mating with the female.
They are insectivores that forage by walking on the ground.
6. American Crow
The American Crow is a large bird. The plumage is black with a glossy sheen. The legs and bill are also black, and they have dark brown eyes. Males and females look alike, although the female is usually slightly smaller than the male. They are social birds and live in large flocks. Their loud vocal cawing is familiar all over North America. Crows do not migrate but may move around in the same general area in search of food or to find a mate. They can be seen all year round in Oregon. They are highly intelligent birds and their ability to adapt to changing environments has helped them thrive in urban areas. They are also not shy and will often approach people for food.
The American Crow is a scavenger and will eat about anything. Fruits, vegetables, insects, small mammals, carrion, garbage. If something is edible and it is available, then the crow will eat it.
7. Mourning Dove
Mourning doves are often seen perching on telephone wires. They are very sensitive to habitat changes and can be found in rural and suburban areas throughout the year and are common backyard birds. Mourning doves are not migratory birds and can be found year-round in Oregon, however, they may move around to find food or mates.
Graceful and slender-tailed, with a small head, mourning doves are light gray and brown and generally muted in color. Males and females look similar. They are monogamous as a species. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like a lament, hence the name “Mourning Dove”.
The mourning dove is a seed-eating bird, but they will also eat small fruits and insects. While mourning doves will visit backyard bird feeders instead of eating birdseed, prefer sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and cracked corn.
8. House Finch
House finches are small songbirds. House finches are not migratory birds in Oregon, but they may move around to find food or mates.
The males have red heads, brown wings, and a streaked back. The females are brown-streaked. They have a black bill and are about the size of a sparrow.
They eat grass seeds but also eat buds and parts of flowers, berries, small fruits, and insects such as aphids.
9. Northern Flicker
Northern flickers are medium-sized woodpeckers and are the only member of their family to commonly perch on trees rather than clinging to them. Northern Flickers are not migratory birds in Oregon, but they may move around to find food or mates.
They can be identified by their characteristic red breast and black belly band. The males have a red mustache mark which distinguishes them from the females. Both sexes have a brown back with black bars. Their wings show yellow underparts when they fly.
Flickers are ground-feeding woodpeckers and eat ants and beetles, which they find by probing beneath the ground with their long tongues. Most woodpeckers have tongues that are adapted to spear and extract insects from wood, but the flicker’s tongue is a bit different and helps it lap up large numbers of ants. In winter, they also eat fruits and nuts. Suet feeders and platform feeders with whole nuts on it can attract Northern Flickers to your garden.
10. American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches are small songbirds with yellow plumage and black wings. They have a black bill and are about the size of a sparrow and are known for their cheerful song.
American Goldfinches are popular birds with the males’ bright yellow and black coloring in spring. The females are duller brown, as are males in winter.
They can be found in fields and overgrown areas. They forage for sunflower, thistle, and aster plants. They are also common in suburbs, parks, and backyards.
American Goldfinches are migratory birds, and only spend the breeding season in western Oregon and are mostly seen in the summer months. However, some may remain in the east of the state all year round.
11. Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinches are small songbirds that are common backyard birds, mostly found in California and Texas, although small populations can be found throughout the USA, including Oregon. They are not migratory birds, but they may move around to find food or mates. Lesser Goldfinches are known for their cheerful song.
Male Lesser Goldfinches are yellow-brown on their back and underbelly with a black streak going down the center of their face. Females have brown heads with tan upper parts, while males have deep brown heads with olive upper parts.
They can be found in large flocks in open habitats, including thickets, weedy fields, forest clearings, parks, and gardens. Lesser goldfinches eat a variety of seeds, fruits, and insects. They often feed on thistle seeds and sunflower seeds.
12. Black-headed Grosbeak
The Black-headed Grosbeak is a small songbird found in western North America. They have a joyful song. They breed in the forested areas of Oregon in the springtime and migrate to Southern California and Mexico in the winter. The males tend to migrate south before females and young, and then return earlier in spring.
The males are cinnamon colored with black and white wings and a black cap, while the females are less colorful and more buffy-streaked but are also lovely singers.
Their heavy bills enable them to feed effortlessly on sunflower seeds.
An interesting fact is that in central Mexico, where monarch butterflies and Black-headed Grosbeaks both spend the winter, grosbeaks are one of the few predators that can eat the butterflies whose toxins make them poisonous to most birds. Black-headed Grosbeaks feed on monarch butterflies more or less in 8-day cycles, which gives their bodies time to eliminate the toxins.
13. Anna’s Hummingbird
Anna’s Hummingbirds are common backyard birds in Oregon and is the only hummingbird found here in the winter in the central western parts of the state. Anna’s Hummingbird breeds in the central southern part of Oregon. These beautiful creatures are small and can often be seen darting around gardens and backyard feeders. Migration patterns vary for Anna’s Hummingbirds, but many will head to Mexico for the winter months.
The males have iridescent emerald feathers and rose-pink throats that sparkle. They are no bigger than a ping-pong ball. The females are metallic emerald green on the back with grayish feathers in front and a tinge of pink on the throat.
They primarily feed on nectar from flowers but will also eat insects for protein.
14. California Scrub Jay
The California Scrub Jay used to be known as the Western Scrub Jay. It is a common bird visiting backyard bird feeders throughout Oregon and is known for its loud, raucous calls. Scrub Jays are found in a variety of habitats including urban areas, forests, and scrublands. California Scrub Jays are non-migratory birds but may move to lower elevations in the winter.
They are easily recognizable with their blue plumage and white chest. Unlike Steller’s Jay, they do not have a crest. The tail is long the bill is straight and stout, with a hook at the tip. There is little differentiation between the sexes.
Their diet consists of insects, but they will also eat fruits and berries.
15. Steller’s Jay
The Steller’s Jay is a striking bird with bold blue and black plumage. They typically migrate in flocks and can often be seen flying in formation. They prefer to be near the forested area. Being a member of the crow family, they are excellent at mimicry. Steller’s Jays are named after George Steller, a naturalist who discovered them in the 1700’s
They build their nests with mud. Like many other Jay species, they are nest-robbers too and are also known to kill small adult birds too.
The Steller’s Jay shows a great deal of variation in appearance throughout its range, with some populations featuring black crests and backs, and others blue. A close look at these birds shows a mix of azure and blue.
It is common to see these birds in backyard habitats, as they are known to be attracted to feeders. Their diet consists of various nuts and seeds, as well as insects.
16. Dark-eyed Junco
The Dark-eyed Junco is found in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, brushy areas, and backyard bird feeders. They winter in Oregon at lower elevations or even in coastal areas, although some birds do remain in higher elevations year-round. They often form flocks outside of breeding season.
Dark-eyed Juncos are a medium-sized sparrow with a rounded head, short bill, and long tail. The upper parts are grayish brown, and the underparts are whitish with dark streaks on the sides. The female is usually duller than the male. Both sexes have pinkish brown legs and feet.
The diet of the Dark-eyed Junco consists mostly of insects and seeds. In winter, when insects are scarce, they will eat more berries and fruits.
17. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a tiny songbird that is found in woodlands throughout North America. During the breeding season, Ruby-crowned Kinglets are found in forests in Oregon. They are a common sight during the winter. They build their nests in coniferous trees, often high up in the branches.
The male has a striking ruby-red crown, while the female’s crown is more subdued. These little birds are constantly on the move as they forage for insects among the branches and leaves. In winter, they often form large flocks and can be seen in backyard bird feeders.
As backyard birds they are not particularly shy and will often approach humans if they think there is food available. Ruby-crowned Kinglets eat a diet of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. In winter, they will also consume small fruits and berries. To attract these birds to your garden, put out a mix of sunflower seeds and insects.
18. Western Meadowlark
Western Meadowlarks are common backyard birds found year-round in Oregon and are the state bird of Oregon. The males sit on fence posts, bushes, power lines, and other high points during the summer to sing their songs.
The Western Meadowlark is the size of a robin but stockier and with a shorter tail. The underparts are yellow patterned brown, black, and buff upperparts and a black “V” that crosses the bright yellow breast that is gray in winter. The flat head has stripes of dark brown and light buff with a slender bill. The wings are rounded and short for the size of the bird. The outer tail feathers flash white in flight.
Western Meadowlarks forage alone on the ground but can be found in small, flocks in the winter. Western Meadowlarks like wide open spaces of the native grasslands and agricultural fields for spring and summer breeding and winter foraging, also along the weedy verges of roads, marsh edges, and mountain meadows up to 10,000 feet. They mostly eat insects and seeds.
Interesting fact: A male will usually have two mates at the same time. He leaves all the incubating and brooding, and most of the feeding of the young to the females.
19. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatches are backyard birds that can be found year-round in Oregon, mainly in coniferous forests and mountainous areas. You will often find them flocking with Chickadees and Ruby-crowned Kinglets during the winter months.
A Red-breasted Nuthatches is a small, compact bird with a short tail and almost no neck. The long, pointed bill and the black stripe from the bill, past the eyes to the side of the head give it a sharp expression. It is smaller than its cousin, the White-breasted Nuthatch. The back of the bird is blue-gray and the underparts are a rust-cinnamon color. It has a black cap. Females are more muted in color than males.
They are very acrobatic little birds that feed upside down and move quickly over tree trunks and branches probing for food in the crevices of the bark. They have a short almost bouncy way of flying.
Their diet includes both insects and seeds, but they mainly eat insects and spiders in summer seeds, especially from conifers in the winter and the young are fed mostly or entirely on insects and spiders.
20. Western Wood-Pewee
Western Wood-Pewees are medium-sized flycatchers that breed in Oregon and migrate south in the winter. They can be found in open woodlands, at forest edges, and near streams with large trees, open understories, and standing dead trees. They tend to avoid dense forests and like to perch upright in the canopy. Western Wood-Peewees are solitary birds but will flock when mating or migrating.
They have a peaked crown, giving their heads a triangular shape. They have long wings which differentiate them from similar-looking flycatchers. Western Wood-Pewees are grayish brown with two pale wing bars. The underparts are whitish and gray on the breast and sides. The face is dark grayish brown with little to no eyering. The bill is mostly dark with yellow at the base of the lower mandible.
Western Pewees fly out from prominent perches to catch flying insects, repeatedly returning to perch fluttering their wings before settling down to perch. They constantly turn their heads side to side to have a look around, but unlike other flycatchers, they don’t flick their tails.
21. Common Raven
The Common Raven is the largest member of the crow family. It can be found in woodlands, mountains, and deserts across North America. Ravens are not migratory and can be seen year-round in Oregon, however, they will move to new areas if food becomes scarce. Common Ravens are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
They are all black with a glossy sheen.
Ravens are scavengers and will eat about anything, from rodents to other birds. They are also known to cache food for later.
22. American Robin
The American Robin is a backyard bird that is one of the most common birds in most of North America, Oregon is no exception. Their range extends from the coast to the mountains to the east. The American Robin does well around humans and in natural settings. They are one of the first birds to sing in the morning. They are found in abundance in Northwestern Oregon, where they breed. American Robins migrate south to Mexico and Central America in the fall.
Male and female American Robins look different from each other. Male robins have orange breasts, while female robins have grayish-brown breasts. Male robins also tend to be larger than females.
American Robins are often found in woodlands near water where they can find insects. They also eat fruits and berries.
23. Pine Siskin
Pine Siskins are very small songbirds of the finch family that can be found all year round in Oregon, although they tend to breed up north and some migrate south in winter. They opportunistic birds and will quite happily visit backyard feeders rather than forage for themselves.
Pine siskins are streaky, brown birds, their wings and tails are subtly edged with yellow. They have sharp, pointed bills and their tails are short. They have a unique shape to their bill that is more slender than the bills of other finches. The tails are forked in flight and their wingtips are pointed.
Pine Siskins often visit feeders in winter or cling to branch tips of pines and other conifers, to pick out the seeds. They forage in flocks and constantly twittering, even in flight.
24. Golden Crowned Sparrow
The Golden Crowned Sparrow is a commonly seen backyard bird in Oregon during the winter months. It is usually found near water sources in open woodlands, scrublands, and gardens.
This sparrow can be identified by its striking yellow crown, which is bordered by black streaks. The rest of its body is gray and white with rusty brown wings.
The diet of the Golden Crowned Sparrow consists of seeds, insects, and berries.
25. House Sparrow
The House Sparrow originated in Europe. It was introduced to North America in the 1850s and is now one of the most common birds. It is found throughout Oregon year-round, although some birds may migrate south in winter.
House Sparrows are small birds with a stout bill and streaked upper parts. The male has a gray head and chest with black streaks on the throat, while the female is brownish overall. It is not a singing sparrow, but chirps when issuing a warning.
House Sparrows feed on a variety of foods, including seeds, insects, and garbage. In backyard bird feeders, it will eat about anything, from sunflower seeds to suet.
26. Song Sparrow
The Song Sparrow is another backyard bird commonly found in Oregon all year-round. As their name suggests, these sparrows are known for their beautiful song, which they use to attract mates and ward off predators. They typically nest in trees and bushes but prefer open areas with some bushes or trees nearby. This provides them with places to hide from predators and build their nests.
The Song Sparrow is a medium-sized bird with streaked brown upperparts and whitish underparts. The male has a gray breast and head, while the female has duller colors. Both sexes have a reddish-brown mark on their throats called a “throat patch.” This patch is larger in males and is used to attract mates. Male Song Sparrows also have a dark brown streak on their heads that is not present in females. This streak is used to intimidate other males during the breeding season. Male Song Sparrows also tend to be larger than females.
The two sexes sing different songs, with male songs being longer and more complex. Male song sparrows also sing more often than females, which is how they attract mates. Females usually only sing when they are defending their territory or attracting a mate.
The diet of the Song Sparrow consists of insects, spiders, and seeds.
27. European Starling
European starlings are common backyard birds in Oregon. European starlings migrating through the state can be seen in flocks of hundreds or even thousands of birds flying together in formation. These birds eat insects, berries, and fruits. You may see them eating bugs in your garden or picking berries from bushes.
European starlings are also known for their mimicry and can imitate the sounds of other birds and animals.
They are small birds with black feathers, short tails, and pointed wings. Their beaks are yellow with a black tip, and their eyes are dark brown. At a distance, starlings appear black. In summer, they turn an iridescent purplish-green with yellow beaks; in winter, their plumage is brown, covered in brilliant white spots.
In flight their wings are short and pointed, giving them a star-like appearance, and hence the name “starling”.
28. Barn Swallow
Barn Swallows are small birds that migrate to the warmer climates in summer and are a common sight in Oregon during this season.
The male and female Barn Swallows look similar. They have a deep-blue back, wings and tail, and are reddish-brown underneath and across the face. Their tail has long outer feathers that give a deep fork.
Barn swallows feed on a wide variety of flying insects, especially flies (including house flies and horse flies), beetles, wasps, wild bees, winged ants, and true bugs. They also eat certain moths, damselflies, grasshoppers, other insects, and a few spiders and snails.
29. Violet-green Swallow
Violet-green Swallows are social songbirds found in groups with other swallows and swifts. They breed in Oregon during the summer months and are found in various woodlands where they nest in cavities in trees.
The males appear dark above and white below. However, on closer inspection, one will see a greenish-bronze back and an iridescent violet rump. All individuals have white bellies that wrap around to the upper side of the rump. The females and juveniles have dusky cheeks, while the adult males have white cheek patches.
Violet-green Swallows are aerial acrobats. They fly at various heights and often over bodies of water bodies, in search of flying insects. When not foraging, they perch on wires or exposed tree branches.
30. Western Tanager
Western Tanagers are seen in Oregon during the summer months. They migrate to Central America during the winter. They live in open woods all over the West of the USA and especially among evergreen trees, where they hide in the canopy. The Western tanager is the only tanager species found in Oregon.
The male Western Tanagers have an orange-red head and a bright yellow body with a black back, wings, and tail. Females are more muted yellow-green and blackish.
Western Tanagers forage for insects along branches and between leaves. They mainly eat insects and vary their diet to include small fruits in fall and winter. If you would like to attract them to your backyard, you can provide dried or freshly cut fruit on a birdfeeder. If you live in an area surrounded by woods, you can also attract them by providing a bird bath or water feature for them.
31. Spotted Towhee
This bird is a year-round resident in Oregon. It can be found in the mountains, foothills, and front range. The Spotted Towhee prefers brushy areas with thick cover. Diet consists of mostly insects but also eat some fruits and seeds. Look for this bird scratching the ground for food or perched on a low branch surveying its surroundings.
The Spotted Towhee is dark brown with black streaks on its back and has a white belly. The wings are brown with white spots. The tail is long and black with white stripes. The bill is black, and the legs are pink. The female Spotted Towhee is similar to the male but has no spots on its wings.
They breed in open woods and brushy areas in western North America. It nests in trees or shrubs, laying four to six eggs. The diet of this bird consists of insects, berries, and seeds. They form small flocks and can be seen feeding in open areas.
32. Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warblers can be found year-round in northern parts of Oregon.
Males are gray with flashes of yellow on the face, sides, and rump, and have white in the wings. Females may be slightly brown, and winter birds are paler brown with bright yellow rumps and sides turning bright yellow and gray again in spring.
The Yellow-rumped Warbler eats insects, spiders, and berries. In the winter, this bird eats mainly fruit. The Yellow-rumped Warbler is one of the few backyard birds that can eat wax myrtle berries. This bird is also known to eat poison ivy berries
33. Cedar Waxwing
The Cedar Waxwing is a plump bird. It has a distinctive thin, high-pitched call. It is a summer resident in Oregon and is commonly found in open woodlands, orchards, and areas where there is a lot of shrubbery. They migrate as far south as Panama in winter. Cedar Waxwings are usually found in flocks around fruiting trees.
The males and females look similar with a sleek crest, a black mask, pale yellow on the underparts, and a yellow-tipped tail.
Cedar Waxwings mostly eat berries and insects. To attract them to your garden, you can provide them with cut fruit on the bird feeders.
34. Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpeckers are found all year in Oregon. Downy Woodpeckers do not migrate and can be spotted in most states. They are small birds that are common at backyard feeders and are often found feeding alongside other birds, such as chickadees and nuthatches.
They have black and white coloring with a red patch at the back of their heads. They look similar to the Hairy Woodpecker but are smaller.
Downy Woodpeckers feed on insects such as beetles and ants, caterpillars, and others. They also eat seeds and berries. To attract them to your backyard, you can provide them with suet at bird feeders.
35. Bewick’s Wren
The Bewick’s Wren is a small, noisy, and somewhat hyperactive songbird. It is a permanent non-migratory bird west of the Cascades and enjoys taking advantage of large shrubs and particularly blackberries. It breeds from late March through August, building a cup nest of moss, spider webs, grass, and hair lined with feathers.
It has buffy upper parts, white underparts, and a streaked back. The head is gray with a black stripe through the eye and a prominent white eyebrow, with a long tail that is frequently cocked upward.
It forages on the ground in leaf litter or low in shrubs, picking up insects with its bill.
If you enjoy bird watching and would like to identify the birds visiting your backyard, you can encourage birds by providing different kinds of bird feeders and planting indigenous plants in your yard that provide protection and food for birds.
FAQ
What can I do to encourage wild birds in my yard?
To encourage wild birds in your backyard, you must provide a source of water and food. This can be done with bird baths and bird feeders. For a more natural experience, try adding some flowers or plants around your yard to attract different species of birds.
How do I identify the birds around my backyard in Oregon?
The best way to identify the birds in your backyard is by looking at their feathers. Their beaks tell you what they like to eat. Their feet tell you if they perch, hop or wade.
Why might there be lots of small birds flying and diving?
It is possible that the birds are looking for food such as flying insects or there could be a predator nearby. Without further observations, it is impossible to know what is driving their behavior.
What kind of blackbirds seem to congregate on power lines?
Blackbirds are a common sight at power lines, but why? Scientists believe that the blackbirds congregate at these power lines because this is an excellent place to find food. The electricity can kill bugs, which the blackbirds can easily feed on.