Top 33 Backyard Birds In Oregon (Free ID Charts) (2024)

Have you wondered what those birds are that are visiting your backyard in Oregon?

Well, this guide will help you to find out how to identify these birds by sight and sound and what time of year you can spot them in Oregon. Also, get a free ID chart to print with the most common backyard birds in Oregon.

American Goldfinch and Swainson’s Thrush are more common birds in Oregon in summer and Dark-eyed Juncos, California Scrub-Jay, and Golden-crowned Sparrows are more common in winter.

Backyard birds in Oregon all year: American Robin, Song Sparrow, American Crow, Spotted Towhee, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, California Scrub-Jay, European Starling, Anna’s Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Steller’s Jay, House Finch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lesser Goldfinch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Downy Woodpecker, Pine Siskin, Western Meadowlark, Mountain Chickadee
Backyard birds in Oregon in summer: American Goldfinch, Swainson’s Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Western Tanager, Common Yellowthroat, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow Warbler, Barn Swallow
Backyard birds in Oregon in winter: Dark-eyed Junco, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Backyard birds in Oregon during migration: White-crowned Sparrow

These are the most common backyard birds in Oregon that may visit your lawn or feeders. They are the birds that appear most frequently on state checklists submitted by bird watchers on ebird.

This article gives you identification information and photos to help you identify and attract more of the common backyard birds that you can spot in Oregon.

If you like backyard birding you will probably enjoy spotting some ducks in Oregon too.

Facts About Birds in Oregon

The Western Meadowlark is the state bird of Oregon.Schoolchildren chose this bird in 1927 in a contest sponsored by the Oregon Audubon Society. Although this bird is not commonly recorded in state checklists for Oregon, being recorded only 5% of the time, it won the popular vote.

There are 547 species of bird recorded in Oregon,according to ebird.Some of the highlight birds in Oregon are tufted Penguins, Bald Eagles, Black-footed Albatross, Greater Sage-Grouse, Osprey, Mountain Quail, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Calliope Hummingbird.

The biggest bird in Oregon is the Bald Eagle, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.5 m) for the females. This white-headed national bird symbol of the United States is a powerful bird of prey.

The most common bird in Oregon is the American Robin, seen in 37% of recorded checklists for the state on ebird throughout the year.

Oregon has 6 national parks, 11 national forests, 21 national wildlife refuges, and 361 state parks that offer excellent bird-watching opportunities if you want to get out and watch birds in their natural environment.

Read to the end of this article to find out more about the top birding locations in Oregon and how to identify birds.

Free Printable Backyard Birds Worksheet for Oregon

Thesefree bird identification Id Charts have all the common backyard birds in Oregon at different times of the year. So when you want to do some backyard birding, these handy guides have pictures and space to either tick off the types of birds you have seen or keep a tally of the total number of birds.

Top 33 Backyard Birds in Oregon

1. American Robin

American Robins are very common and can be spotted all year in Oregon. They are recorded in 46% of summer checklists and 35% of winter checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.

American Robins are a common sight on lawns eating earthworms.They have black heads and backs with red or orange breasts.They tend to roost in trees in winter, so you are more likely to see them in your backyard from spring.

• Turdus migratorius
• Length: 7.9-11.0 in (20-28 cm)
• Weight: 2.7-3.0 oz (77-85 g)
• Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in (31-40 cm)

American Robins are residents in the lower 48 and the coast of Western Canada and Alaska. Those that breed in Canada and inland Alaska move south for the winter.

American Robins can be found in many habitats, from woodlands, forests, and mountains to fields, parks, and lawns. They eat earthworms, insects, snails, and fruit.

American Robin Song:

American Robin Call:

Attract American Robins to your backyard with sunflower seeds, suet and peanut hearts, fruit, and mealworms.Platform feeders are best or food scattered on the ground. Also, try planting some native plants that produce berries, such as juniper, sumac, hawthorn, and dogwood.

2. Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows are frequently spotted in Oregon all year. They appear in 37% of summer checklists and 41% of winter checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.

Song sparrows are not as remarkable looking as other backyard birds, but these predominantly brown-streaked birds use their almost constant song to attract mates in spring and summer.

• Melospiza melodia
• Length: 4.7-6.7 in (12-17 cm)
• Weight: 0.4-1.9 oz (12-53 g)
• Wingspan: 7.1-9.4 in (18-24 cm)

Song Sparrows live all year in the northern US states. Those that breed in Canada migrate to southern US states for winter.

They can be found in open, shrubby, and wet areas, often perched on a low shrub singing. They are often found at backyard feeders.

Song Sparrows eat a wide variety of insects and plants, including beetles, caterpillars, midges, spiders, and earthworms. They will also eat buckwheat, sunflower, raspberries, wild cherries, blackberries, wheat, and rice.

Song Sparrow Song:

Song Sparrow Call:

Attract Song Sparrows to your backyard feeders by putting black oil sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and nyjer on platform feeders.

Sparrows are known as LBJs (Little brown jobs) but if you want to know more, check out this guide to sparrows in Oregon.

3. Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Juncos are more common in Oregon during winter in the east of the state, from October to March. However, some remain in the west all year. They are recorded in 21% of summer checklists but up to 48% of winter checklists.

Dark-eyed Juncos are sparrows that are different colors depending on the state.They are generally slate-colored in the east and black, white, and brown in the west.

• Junco hyemalis
• Length: 5.5-6.3 in (14-16 cm)
• Weight: 0.6-1.1 oz (18-30 g)
• Wingspan: 7.1-9.8 in (18-25 cm)

Dark-eyed Juncos remain resident all year in northeastern and western US states and the Appalachian Mountains.Those that breed in Canada and Alaska migrate south in winter to the United States.

They can be found in open and partially wooded areas, often on the ground, and are common across the continent.

Dark-eyed Junco Song:

Attract Dark-eyed Juncos to backyard feeders with a variety of seeds such as black oil sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, millet, and peanuts.Platform feeders or scattered on the ground are best.

4. American Crow

American Crows are very common in Oregon and can be spotted here all year. They appear in 30% of summer checklists and 32% of winter checklists for the state.

American crows are large all-black birds that make a hoarse, cawing sound.

• Corvus brachyrhynchos
• Length: 15.8-20.9 in (40-53 cm)
• Weight: 11.2-21.9 oz (316-620 g)
• Wingspan: 33.5-39.4 in (85-100 cm)

American Crows are residents all year in most of the lower 48 and the Pacific Coast in Canada and Alaska. Those that breed in Canada and the northern Midwest migrate south for winter.

They are common birds found in most habitats, including treetops, woods, fields, beaches, or towns.

They eat most things and usually feed on the ground, eating earthworms, insects, seeds, and fruit. They also eat fish, young turtles, mussels, and clams and will even eat eggs and nestlings of many species of birds.

In winter, American Crows gather in large numbers of up to two million crows to sleep in noisy communal roosts.

American Crow Call:

Attract American Crows to your backyard by scattering peanuts, but they can become a nuisance as they are attracted by garbage or pet food if left out.

5. Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhees can be spotted in western Oregon all year, but some spend only the breeding season in the east of the state. They are recorded in around 27% of summer checklists and 29% of winter checklists.

Spotted Towhees are large sparrows that are black on their head, throat, and back in the males and brown in the females.Both males and females have reddish-brown sides, white bellies, and white spots on the wings and back.They have long tails and are about the size of a Robin.

• Pipilo maculatus
• Length: 6.7-8.3 in (17-21 cm)
• Weight: 1.2-1.7 oz (33-49 g)
• Wingspan: 11.0 in (28 cm)

Spotted Towhees live in western US states, but those in the interior of the north migrate south after breeding to Texas and surrounding areas.

You can find Spotted Towhees on the ground in dense tangles of shrubs scratching around for insects, including beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, caterpillars, wasps, and bees. They also eat acorns, berries, and seeds.

Spotted Towhee Song:

Attract Spotted Towhees to your yard if you leave overgrown borders, and they will visit platform feeders or ground feeders for black oil sunflower seeds, hulled sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, and milo.

Brown birds are often overlooked but once you get to know a few you are hooked so get studying all the brown birds in Oregon.

6. Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers are common in Oregon, and they can be found here all year. They are spotted in 24% of summer checklists and 32% of winter checklists.

Northern Flickers are large brown woodpeckers with black spots and a white patch on their rump in flight, plus a red nape of the neck in the males.

Northern Flickers have red or yellow flashes in the wings and tail depending on where they originate. Red-shafted birds live in the west, and yellow-shafted birds live in the east.

• Colaptes auratus
• Length: 11.0-12.2 in (28-31 cm)
• Weight: 3.9-5.6 oz (110-160 g)
• Wingspan: 16.5-20.1 in (42-51 cm)

Northern Flickers can be spotted across the US all year and in Canada during summer. Those that breed in Canada migrate south for the winter.

Northern Flickers mainly eat ants, beetles, fruits, and seeds, and they can often be seen on the ground digging with their curved bill.

Northern flicker Call:

Attract Northern Flickers to your backyard with suet.

Some woodpeckers are more easily recognized than others, but with this guide, you can identify all the woodpeckers in Oregon.

7. Black-capped Chickadee

Black-capped Chickadees are residents of Oregon and can be spotted here all year. They occur in 21% of summer checklists and 33% of winter checklists for the state.

The Black-capped Chickadee is a cute bird with a big round head and tiny body. These birds will happily feed at backyard feeders and investigate everything, including you!

They have black caps and beaks, white cheeks, and are gray on the back, wings, and tail.

• Poecile atricapillus
• Length: 4.7-5.9 in (12-15 cm)
• Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (9-14 g)
• Wingspan: 6.3-8.3 in (16-21 cm)

Black-capped Chickadees do not migrate and can be spotted in the northern half of the US and Canada.

You can find them in forests, open woods, and parks. Black-capped Chickadees eat seeds, berries and insects, spiders, and suet.

Black-capped Chickadee Call/Song:

Attract Black-capped Chickadees to your backyard with suet, sunflower seeds, and peanuts or peanut butter. They will even feed from your hand and are often one of the first birds to discover new feeders. They will also use nest boxes, especially if you fill them with wood shavings.

You should find out all about the other sociable and inquisitive chickadees in Oregon.

8. California Scrub-Jay

California Scrub-Jays do not migrate and can be spotted in Oregon all year, mainly in the west of the state. They appear in 19% of summer checklists and 31% of winter checklists.

California Scrub-Jays are large songbirds with long tails, whitish undersides and rich blue and gray backs, and a bright blue breast band.They are larger than a robin but smaller than a crow. They look visually similar to the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay but with more vivid colors.

• Aphelocoma californica
• Length: 11.0-11.8 in (28-30 cm)
• Weight: 2.5-3.5 oz (70-100 g)
• Wingspan: 15.3 in (39 cm)

California Scrub-Jays are resident all year on the Pacific Coast from British Columbia down to Baja California.

You can find California Scrub-Jay in scrub, oak woodlands, and in suburban yards and parks. They eat insects and fruit during spring and summer and then seeds and nuts, especially acorns, in fall and winter.

California Scrub-Jay sounds: Their call is high-pitched and repetitive. They also sing a courtship song of soft whistles.

Attract California Scrub-Jays to your backyard with sunflower seeds and peanuts in your feeders.

9. European Starling

European Starlings are an introduced species in Oregon that can be seen in the state all year. They appear in 25% of summer checklists and 29% of winter checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.

European Starlings are not native but are now one of the most numerous songbirds. They are stocky black birds with iridescent purple, green, and blue tones.

• Sturnus vulgaris
• Length: 7.9-9.1 in (20-23 cm)
• Weight: 2.1-3.4 oz (60-96 g)
• Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in (31-40 cm)

European Starlings live in all North America, except the north of Canada and Alaska.

They are considered a pest by some due to their aggressive behavior. These birds fly in large, noisy flocks and can be seen perched in groups on the top of trees or flying over fields.

European Starling Calls:

Starlings predominantly eat insects, including beetles, flies and caterpillars, earthworms, and spiders.However, they also eat fruit, including cherries, holly berries, mulberries, Virginia Creeper, sumac, blackberries, and grains and seeds.

Attract European Starlings to your backyard feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, suet, cracked corn, and peanuts.

Blackbirds are a vast family of birds that have numerous family members, and why don’t you get to know all the blackbirds in Oregon?

10. Golden-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrows can be found in northern and western Oregon in winter and occur in 22% of checklists at this time. However, they can be spotted in the whole state during the spring and fall migration from April to May and October to November.

Golden-crowned Sparrows are grayish-brown underneath and streaked brown on the back. Their heads have a black crown and a bright-yellow forehead.

The colors are duller and brown on the crown in winter, and the yellow forehead is also duller.

• Zonotrichia atricapilla
• Length: 5.9-7.1 in (15-18 cm)
• Weight: 1.1-1.2 oz (30-33 g)

Golden-crowned Sparrows breed in Alaska and western Canada before migrating to the West Coast for winter.

You can find Golden-crowned Sparrow in weedy fields scratching for seeds such as dock, sumac, and geranium. They also eat fruit such as apples, grapes, elderberry, and olives. Insects also make up some of their diets, such as ants, beetles, butterflies, and termites.

Golden-crowned Sparrows sounds: Their song is a sad, slow series of whistles that decrease in pitch.

Attract Golden-crowned Sparrows to your backyard with seeds on ground feeders or plant native plants that fruit.

11. American Goldfinch

American Goldfinches spend the breeding season in western Oregon, but they also remain in the east of the state all year. They are recorded in 22% of summer checklists and 5% of winter checklists for the state.

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.

• Spinus tristis
• Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
• Weight: 0.4-0.7 oz (11-20 g)
• Wingspan: 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm)

American Goldfinches can be found in most of North America and are usually resident all year. However, those that breed in Canada and the Midwest migrate to southern US States for winter.

They can be found in weedy fields and overgrown areas foraging for sunflower, thistle, and aster plants. They are also common in suburbs, parks, and backyards.

American Goldfinch Song:

Attract American Goldfinches to your backyard by planting thistles and milkweed. They will visit most bird feeders and prefer sunflower seed and nyjer seed.

There are a surprising number of finches in Oregon that you can get to know.

12. Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbirds can be found in Oregon all year, mainly in the west of the state, but their numbers increase from October to April. They are spotted in 13% of summer checklists and 24% of winter checklists.

Anna’s Hummingbirds are tiny birds that are mostly green and gray. The male’s head and throat are iridescent reddish-pink, but the female’s throat is grayish with bits of red spotting.

• Calypte anna
• Length: 3.9 in (10 cm)
• Weight: 0.1-0.2 oz (3-6 g)
• Wingspan: 4.7 in (12 cm)

Unusually Anna’s Hummingbirds do not migrate, and they are the most common hummingbird along the Pacific Coast.

You can find Anna’s Hummingbirds near large colorful blossoms during the spring, and they readily visit hummingbird feeders that you can fill with homemade hummingbird nectar.

They make a dramatic dive display during courtship as the males climb up to 130 feet into the air before diving back to the ground with a burst of noise from their tail feathers.

Anna’s Hummingbird Call:

Attract Anna’s Hummingbirds to your backyard with nectar feeders and lots of colorful plants.

If you get a buzz out of hummingbirds, then check out all the hummingbirds in Oregon and when is best to spot them.

13. Swainson’s Thrush

Swainson’s Thrushes spend the breeding season in Oregon and occur in 16% of summer checklists. They arrive here in April and start to migrate in October.

Swainson’s Thrushes are brown on the back and paler undersides that are spotted brown on the throat and breast. The spotting gets lighter the further down their flanks. They are medium-sized and have distinctive eyerings if you are close enough to spot them.

• Catharus ustulatus
• Length: 6.3-7.5 in (16-19 cm)
• Weight: 0.8-1.6 oz (23-45 g)
• Wingspan: 11.4-12.2 in (29-31 cm)

Swainson’s Thrushes breed in Canada, Alaska, and some northeastern and northwestern US states. They can be seen during migration over the rest of the US when heading to or from wintering grounds in Central and South America.

You can find Swainson’s Thrushes mainly in coniferous forests in breeding grounds, but during migration, Swainson’s Thrushes are found in areas of dense undergrowth. They feed on insects and fruit.

Swainson’s Thrush song:

Attract Swainson’s Thrushes to your backyard with birdbaths on the ground, protection from trees and shrubs, and not tidying or using pesticides.

14. Mourning Dove

Mourning Doves are spotted during the breeding season in eastern Oregon, but they are also seen all year in the west of the state. They appear in 20% of summer checklists and 10% of winter checklists.

Mourning Doves are graceful small-headed birds with plump bodies and long tails.They are a soft brown color with black spots on the wings. Males are slightly heavier than females.

• Zenaida macroura
• Length: 9.1-13.4 in (23-34 cm)
• Weight: 3.0 -6.0 oz (96-170 g)
• Wingspan: 17.7 in (45 cm)

Mourning Doves are common over all of the lower 48 all year but may migrate after breeding from the north of the Midwest and southern Canada.

Mourning Doves can be seen perching on telephone wires and foraging for seeds on the ground in grasslands, fields, and backyards. They can also be found in open areas or woodland edges.

Mourning Dove call:

Attract Mourning Doves to your backyard by scattering millet on the ground or platform feeders.They will also eat black sunflower seeds, nyjer, cracked corn, and peanut hearts.

15. Red-winged Blackbird

Red-winged blackbirds arespotted in Oregon all year and appear in 23% of checklists in summer and 16% of checklists in winter submitted by bird watchers for the state.

Red-winged blackbirds are very common and easy to identify with the all-black coloring except for the reddish-orange wing patches. Females are rather dull in comparison with streaky brown color.

• Agelaius phoeniceus
• Length: 6.7-9.1 in (17-23 cm)
• Weight: 1.1-2.7 oz (32-77 g)
• Wingspan: 12.2-15.8 in (31-40 cm)

Red-winged Blackbirds remain all year in the lower 48 and the Pacific Coast of British Columbia. Those that breed in Canada and some northern US states migrate south for the winter.

They can often be spotted sitting on telephone wires, and the males will fiercely defend their territories in the breeding season, even attacking people that get too close to their nests. In winter, they roost in large numbers into the millions.

Red-winged Blackbird Song:

Red-winged Blackbird Calls:

Attract Red-winged blackbirds to your backyard with mixed grain and seeds spread on the ground. They will also feed from large tube feeders or platform feeders.

16. Steller’s Jay

Steller’s Jays are spotted in Oregon all year, mainly in the west and northeast of the state. They appear in 19% of summer and winter checklists.

Steller’s Jays are large songbirds with black triangular crests that stick up from their heads.The rest of their heads and onto their chests and back are black, with the rest of their bodies being blue.

• Cyanocitta stelleri
• Length: 11.8-13.4 in (30-34 cm)
• Weight: 3.5-4.9 oz (100-140 g)
• Wingspan: 17.3 in (44 cm)

Steller’s Jays are resident in western US states, western Canada, Mexico, and Central America.

You can find Steller’s Jays in evergreen forests in the mountains, and they will also be found around picnic tables, campgrounds, and backyard feeders.

Steller’s Jays eat most things they can forage for, including insects, seeds, nuts, berries, eggs, and nestlings, but also make a nuisance of themselves around garbage and your unguarded picnic!

Steller’s Jay sounds: They make ‘kaw’ sounds as well as fast two-toned calls, peeps, and harsh guttural sounds. Steller’s Jays can also mimic other noises such as other bird species and even sprinklers and alarms.

Attract Steller’s Jays to your backyard with peanuts and suet.

17. Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwings are mainly seen in Oregon during the breeding season, but some also remain here all year. They are recorded in 15% of summer checklists and 2% of winter checklists.

Cedar Waxwings are elegant social birds that are pale brown on the head, chest, and crest, which fades to gray on the back, wings, and tail.

Their belly is pale yellow and bright yellow towards the tail. They have a narrow black mask over their eyes and bright red on the wingtips.

• Bombycilla cedrorum
• Length: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)
• Weight: 1.1 oz (32 g)
• Wingspan: 8.7-11.8 in (22-30 cm)

Cedar Waxwings remain all year in the northern half of the US. Those that breed in Canada migrate to the southern half of the US for winter.

They make a high-pitched call and can be found in berry bushes, woodlands, and streams.

Cedar Waxwing Call:

Attract Cedar Waxwings to your backyard by planting native trees and shrubs with small fruit such as serviceberry, dogwood, juniper, winterberry, and hawthorn. You can also try fruit on platform feeders.

There are so many yellow birds in Oregon that you will spot, especially in spring.

18. House Finch

House Finches are residents of Oregon all year. They do not migrate and appear in 19% of summer checklists and 21% of winter checklists submitted by bird watchers for the state.

House Finches males have a red head and breast, and the rest of their bodies are mainly brown-streaked. Females are brown-streaked all over.

• Haemorhous mexicanus
• Length: 5.1-5.5 in (13-14 cm)
• Weight: 0.6-0.9 oz (16-27 g)
• Wingspan: 7.9-9.8 in (20-25 cm)

Originally only in western US states, House Finches were introduced to eastern US states and have done very well, even pushing out the Purple Finch.

They can be found in parks, farms, forest edges, and backyard feeders in noisy groups that are hard to miss.

House Finch Song:

House Finch Call:

Attract House Finches to backyard feeders with black oil sunflower seeds or nyjer seeds in tube feeders or platform feeders.

There are lots of other red birds in Oregon that you can spot.

19. Western Tanager

Western Tanagers are spotted in Oregon during the breeding season and are mainly seen from May to September. They are recorded in 16% of summer checklists.

Western Tanagers have a flaming orange-red head, yellow body, and black wings.Females have only red faces, and their bodies are yellow-green.

• Piranga ludoviciana
• Length: 6.3-7.5 in (16-19 cm)
• Weight: 0.8-1.3 oz (24-36 g)

Western Tanagers breed in western US states and western Canada. They can be seen during migration in the east and south of this range. Winter is spent in Mexico and Central America.

You can find Western Tanagers in open conifer forests, but they stay hidden in the canopy, despite their bright coloring. Their numbers are actually increasing in the last forty years.

They eat mainly insects in summer, such as wasps and grasshoppers, and in the fall and winter, they also eat fruit.

Western Tanager Song:

Attract Western Tanagers with dried fruit, cut oranges, and other fruits from bird feeders.

20. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are spotted in western Oregon during winter and occur in 17% of checklists at this time.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are small songbirds that are olive-green, and the males have a brilliant red crown that is usually flat, so hard to see.

• Corthylio calendula
• Length: 3.5-4.3 in (9-11 cm)
• Weight: 0.2-0.3 oz (5-10 g)
• Wingspan: 6.3-7.1 in (16-18 cm)

Ruby-crowned Kinglets breed in Canada and the mountainous west before migrating to southern and southwestern US states and Mexico for the winter.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets can be hard to spot as they are fast-moving quiet birds that flit around in the foliage of lower branches and shrubs and trees looking for spiders and insects.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Song:

Attract Ruby-crowned Kinglets with suet or platform feeders with hulled sunflower seeds, peanut hearts, and mealworms.

21. Red-breasted Nuthatch

Red-breasted Nuthatches are spotted all year in western Oregon, but their numbers increase during the fall migration. They appear in 15% of summer checklists, 12% of winter checklists, and up to 22% of checklists during migration.

Red-breasted Nuthatches are blue-gray birds with black and white stripes on their heads and a rusty underside.

• Sitta canadensis
• Length: 4.3 in (11 cm)
• Weight: 0.3-0.5 oz (8-13 g)
• Wingspan: 7.1-7.9 in (18-20 cm)

Red-breasted Nuthatches remain all year in northeastern and western states, Alaska and Canada but may move south in winter if cone crops are poor.

You can find Red-breasted Nuthatches in coniferous woods foraging for cones, and they also visit backyard feeders.

Red-breasted Nuthatch Call:

Attract Red-breasted Nuthatches to your backyard with black oil sunflower seeds, suet feeders, peanuts, and mealworms.

22. Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroats spend the breeding season in Oregon and are mainly spotted from April to October. They appear in 15% of summer checklists.

Common Yellowthroats are small songbirds that are brownish on the back and bright yellow underneath, with long tails. The males have black masks across their faces.The brightness of the yellow can vary geographically, and they may be more olive in parts underneath.

• Geothlypis trichas
• Length: 4.3-5.1 in (11-13 cm)
• Weight: 0.3-0.3 oz (9-10 g)
• Wingspan: 5.9-7.5 in (15-19 cm)

Common Yellowthroats spend the summer breeding over most of North America, except Alaska and northern Canada. Some remain all year along the Gulf Coast and Pacific Southwest. Then, they migrate south for winter.

You can find Common Yellowthroats often in marshy or wetland areas and brushy fields living in thick, tangled vegetation.

Common Yellowthroat Song:

Attract Common Yellowthroats to large backyards with dense vegetation and native plants to attract insects.

23. Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbirds are frequently spotted in Oregon during summer and appear in 17% of checklists at this time. They spend the breeding season here mainly from April to September, but some remain all year.

Males Brown-headed Cowbirds are larger than females, with black bodies, brown heads, and short tails.Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are brown all over with slight streaking.

• Molothrus ater
• Length: 76.3-8.7 in (19-22 cm)
• Weight: 1.3-1.8 oz (42-50 g)
• Wingspan: 14.2 in (36 cm)

Brown-headed Cowbirds remain all year in eastern US states, southern US states, and along the Pacific Coast. However, those that breed in northern and western US states and Canada migrate south for winter.

Brown-headed Cowbird Song:

They are often considered a nuisance because they are parasite birds that destroy the eggs of smaller songbirds so they can lay their eggs in the nest and have the bird foster their chicks.

24. Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warblers remain in Oregon all year, but their numbers increase during the migration in April and October. They are recorded in 9% of summer checklists, 13% of winter checklists, and up to 40% of checklists during migration.

Yellow-rumped Warblers are gray with flashes of yellow on the face, sides, and rump and 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.

• Setophaga coronata
• Length: 4.7-5.5 in (12-14 cm)
• Weight: 0.4-0.5 oz (12-13 g)
• Wingspan: 7.5-9.1 in (19-23 cm)

Yellow-rumped Warblers breed predominantly in Canada and parts of the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains.

During migration, they can be seen in the Midwest before overwintering in southern and southwestern US states and the Pacific Coast and into Mexico and Central America.

You can find Yellow-rumped Warblers in coniferous forests, especially during the breeding season. During winter, they can be found in open areas with fruiting shrubs. In summer, they eat mostly insects and on migration, and in winter, they eat mostly fruit, including bayberry and wax myrtle.

Yellow-rumped Warbler Song:

Attract Yellow-rumped Warblers to your backyard with sunflower seeds, suet, raisins, and peanut butter.

These colorful and melodious migratory birds don’t stick around for long so be sure to check out all the warblers in Oregon you can spot before it’s too late.

25. White-crowned Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrows breed in western Oregon, but they can be spotted in the east in winter or during migration. They are spotted in around 13% of checklists in summer, 11% of checklists in winter but up to 35% during the migrations.

White-crowned Sparrows are large grayish sparrows with long tails, small bills, and bold black and white stripes on their heads.

• Zonotrichia leucophrys
• Length: 5.9-6.3 in (15-16 cm)
• Weight: 0.9-1.0 oz (25-28 g)
• Wingspan: 8.3-9.4 in (21-24 cm)

White-crowned Sparrows breed in Alaska and arctic Canada before heading south to the lower 48 and Mexico for winter. However, some may remain along the Pacific Coast and the mountainous west all year.

You can find White-crowned Sparrows in weedy fields, along roadsides, forest edges, and in yards foraging for seeds of weeds and grasses or fruit such as elderberries and blackberries.

White-crowned Sparrow Song:

Attract White-crowned Sparrows to your backyard with sunflower seeds, and they will also eat seeds that other birds drop at feeders.

26. Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinches spend the breeding season in Oregon, but they have also been spotted here all year. They are recorded in 12% of summer checklists and 10% of winter checklists for the state.

Lesser Goldfinches are tiny bright yellow and black songbirds with long pointed wings and short notched tails. Females have olive backs and are more dull yellow underneath.

• Spinus psaltria
• Length: 3.5-4.3 in (9-11 cm)
• Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (8-11.5 g)
• Wingspan: 5.9-7.9 in (15-20 cm)

Lesser Goldfinches live in the southwestern US states and the West Coast all year, but those that breed in the interior of western US states migrate for winter.

Lesser Goldfinches can be found in large flocks in open habitats, including thickets, weedy fields, forest clearings, parks, and gardens. They forage for seeds, especially sunflower seeds, but also fruits from elderberry, coffeeberry, and buds from cottonwoods, willows, sycamores, and alders.

Lesser Goldfinch call/Song:

Attract Lesser Goldfinches to your yard with sunflower seeds and nyjer in tube feeders or platform feeders.

27. Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadees are residents of Oregon all year and are mainly spotted in the west and northeast of the state. They occur in 9% of summer checklists and 12% of winter checklists.

Chestnut-backed Chickadees are tiny birds with black caps and throats and white cheeks. They are a rich chestnut on their backs and sides and have gray wings and bellies. In California, their sides are gray instead of brown.

• Poecile rufescens
• Length: 3.9-4.7 in (10-12 cm)
• Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (7-12 g)
• Wingspan: 7.5 in (19 cm)

Chestnut-backed Chickadees live flocks in wet evergreen forests along the Pacific Coast and are regular visitors to backyard feeders.

You can find Chestnut-backed Chickadees usually in conifer forests. They eat mostly insects, including caterpillars, spiders, wasps, and aphids, with seeds, berries, and fruit making up the rest.

Attract Chestnut-backed Chickadees to your yard with black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, nyjer, peanuts, or mealworms in tube feeders, platform feeders, or suet cages. They will also use nest boxes.

28. Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpeckers are spotted in Oregon all year and appear in 8% of summer checklists and 12% of winter checklists.

Downy Woodpeckers are small birds that are common at backyard feeders.They are often mixed in with 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 smaller.

• Dryobates pubescens
• Length: 5.5-6.7 in (14-17 cm)
• Weight: 0.7-1.0 oz (21-28 g)
• Wingspan: 9.8-11.8 in (25-30 cm)

Downy Woodpeckers do not migrate and can be spotted in most states and provinces, except the north of Canada.

You can find Downy woodpeckers in woodlots, along streams, city parks, and backyards, and they eat mainly insects and beetle larvae but also berries, acorns, and grains.

Downy Woodpecker Call:

Attract Downy Woodpeckers to your backyard with their favorite treat of suet, but they will also eat black oil sunflower seeds, millet, and peanuts on platform feeders.

29. Pine Siskin

Pine Siskins spend the breeding season in eastern Oregon, but some stay in the west of the state all year. They appear in 7% of summer checklists and 9% of winter checklists.

Pine Siskins are small brown finches with yellow streaks on the wing and tail. They have a forked tail and pointed wings, with a short pointed bill.

• Spinus Pinus
• Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
• Weight: 0.4-0.6 oz (12-18 g)
• Wingspan: 7.1-8.7 in (18-22 cm)

Pine Siskins remain all year in the pine forests in the western states and along the Canadian Border. Some also breed in Canada before heading south for winter.

Depending on pine cone crops, they can be found over much of North America. As their name suggests, Pine Siskins predominantly eat seeds from conifers, but they also eat young buds and seeds from grasses and weeds.

Pine Siskin Song:

Attract Pine Siskins to your backyards with thistle and nyjer feeders but also black oil sunflower seeds and suet.

30. Western Meadowlark

Western Meadowlarks can be spotted all year in Oregon but are more common from March to June. They are recorded in 8% of summer checklists and 3% of winter checklists.

With their bright yellow bellies and melodious song, Western Meadowlarks can brighten up your day.This is probably what makes them so popular, so popular in fact that they are the state bird of 6 US states.

Western Meadowlarks are members of the blackbird family and are about the size of a Robin with shades of brown and white upperparts and a black V-shaped band across the bright yellow chest that turns gray in winter.

• Sturnella neglecta
• Length: 6.3-10.2 in (16-26 cm)
• Weight: 3.1-4.1 oz (89-115 g)
• Wingspan: 16.1 in (41 cm)

Western Meadowlarks breed in northern US states and Canada before moving to more southern states.Those in The West and Midwest remain all year.

You can find Western Meadowlarks foraging for insects and seeds from weeds. Also, they look for seeds on the ground alone or in small flocks in grasslands, meadows, and fields.

Western Meadowlark Song:

Attract Western Meadowlarks to your backyard with hulled sunflower seeds and cracked corn.

31. Yellow Warbler

Yellow Warblers are frequently spotted in Oregon during the breeding season. They arrive in April and start to migrate in October. They occur in up to 11% of summer checklists.

Yellow Warblers are small bright yellow birds with a yellow-green back, and the males have chestnut streaks on the breast.

• Setophaga petechia
• Length: 4.7-5.1 in (12-13 cm)
• Weight: 0.3-0.4 oz (9-11 g)
• Wingspan: 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)

Yellow Warblers migrate a long distance to breed in Canada and the US, except for southeastern states, before heading back into Central and South America for winter. However, they can be seen during migration in southeastern US states.

You can find Yellow Warblers along streams and wetlands in thickets and along the edges of fields foraging for insects, including caterpillars, midges, beetles, bugs, and wasps.

Song

Attract Yellow Warblers to your backyard with suet, oranges, peanut butter, and plants with berries. Also, plant native plants that attract insects without pesticides or being too tidy!Also, try birdbaths with fountains near secluded thickets to provide protection.

32. Barn Swallow

Barn Swallows spend the breeding season in Oregon and occur in 21% of summer checklists. They are spotted mainly from mid-March to October.

Barn Swallows are small birds with a deep-blue back, wings and tail, and reddish-brown underneath and across the face. Their tail has long outer feathers that give a deep fork. The dark color of their back can make them look black-and-white.

• Hirundo rustica
• Length: 5.9-7.5 in (15-19 cm)
• Weight: 0.6-0.7 oz (17-20 g)
• Wingspan: 11.4-12.6 in (29-32 cm)

Barn Swallows breed in Canada and the US before heading to Central and South America. They can be found flying over meadows, farms, and fields looking for insects and usually build mud nests on man-made structures such as barns.

Barn Swallow call:

Attract Barn Swallows by putting up nest boxes or cups, and they may eat ground-up eggshells on a platform feeder.

33. Mountain Chickadee

Mountain Chickadees do not migrate and can be spotted in Oregon all year. They appear in 6% of summer checklists and 3% of winter checklists.

Mountain Chickadees are tiny birds with black-and-white heads and gray over the body, darker on the back and light gray underneath.

• Poecile gambeli
• Length: 4.3-5.5 in (11-14 cm)
• Weight: 0.4 oz (11 g)

Mountain Chickadees live in the mountains west of the US all year and do not migrate but may move down the mountain to lower areas in winter.

You can find Mountain Chickadees in evergreen forests, especially those with pine and conifers. They eat insects and spiders, nuts, and seeds and will often visit backyard feeders. Mountain Chickadees will often stash food for later and create a store of food.

Attract Mountain Chickadees to your yard by putting up nest boxes, and they will visit most types of feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, nyjer, suet, and peanut butter.

Common Birds in Oregon in Different Seasons

The birds included in this list are the backyard birds spotted most often in Oregon that may visit your lawn or feeders according to state checklists on ebird in summer (June and July) and winter (December and January).

Birds that are not often seen at feeders or in backyards were removed to give you the birds in Oregon you are most likely to see from home.

Best Bird Feeders to Attract Birds in Oregon

A variety of different bird feeders will attract the most species of birds

1. Tube Feederscan be filled with different types of birdseed, and depending on the seed, different birds will be attracted. Black oil sunflower seeds attract Goldfinches, Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Pine Siskins.
2. Ground Feedersor a tray below aTube Feederwith Black oil sunflowers tube feeders attract Cardinals, Jays, Finches, and Sparrows.
3. Platform feederswith Millet or Corn attract small and medium-sized birds such as sparrows, Blackbirds, Towhees, Juncos, Doves, Grackles, and Starlings.
4. Peanut feedersattract Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Titmice, Jays, Juncos, Finches, and Sparrows.
5. Suet Feedersare great, especially in winter, for Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Nuthatches, Kinglets, Wrens, and Chickadees.
6. Hummingbird feeders attract these tiny fascinating birds, but they also attract other birds too.

How to Attract Birds to Your Yard in Oregon

If you would like to attract more birds to your yard in Oregon, there are some tips:

1. Providebird feedersfor different types of birds to get the most species to visit your yard.
2. Provide awater featuresuch as a birdbath fountain or stream.Ensure that the water is clean and not stagnant
3. Grownative plantsthat will provide food and shelter. Plants, trees, and shrubs that provide fruit, berries, and nuts. Blackberries, wild grasses, elderberries, serviceberries, Oaks, Beeches, Cherries, sumacs, hemlocks, Purple Coneflowers, Sunflowers, Milkweed, Cardinal Flowers, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Virginia Creeper, Buttonbush, and Dogwoods.
4. Let your grass grow long to provide cover and seeds.
5. Leave abrush pileto provide food, protection, and nesting opportunities for birds.
6. Don’t usepesticides and herbicidesas these may be toxic to birds and prevent the natural foraging opportunities for insects and seeds that birds will seek in your yard.
7. Set upnest boxesto attract breeding birds and ensure they are cleaned every year.

How to Identify Birds in Oregon

Here are some tips to help you identify birds:

1. Size– Size is the easiest thing to notice about a bird.Birds are often measured in inches or centimeters in guide books.It’s best to take a note of the bird in terms of small, medium, or large to be able to look for it later. A small bird is about the size of a sparrow, a medium bird is about the size of a pigeon, and a large bird is the size of a goose.
2. Shape– Take note of the silhouette of the bird and jot it down or draw the outline.Look at tail length, bill shape, wing shape, and overall body shape.
3. Color pattern– Take a note of the main color of the head, back, belly, and wings, and tail for the main color and then any secondary colors or patterns. Also, take note of any patterns such as banding, spots, or highlights.
4. Behavior– Are they on the ground or high up in the trees. Are they in flocks or on their own?Can you spot what they are eating?
5. Habitat– Woodlands, parks, shrubs, grasslands or meadows, shore or marsh.
6. Use a bird identificationappsuch as those created byebirdorAudubon

Best Birding Sites in Oregon

If you decide to venture out and go birding in Oregon, these are some top sites that give excellent bird watching opportunities in Oregon:

1. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Princeton, Oregon. Expansive wetlands attract hundreds of thousands of waterfowl in migration as well as marsh habitats. American White Pelicans and Sandhill Cranes migrate in their thousands through this site, and some may stay to nest. The auto tour route is 42 miles long, and the number of migratory birds peaks in March. Other notable species include Greater Sage-Grouse, White-faced Ibis, Virginia Rail, Sora, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Snowy Plover, Long-billed, CurlewBurrowing Owl, and Short-eared Owl.
2. Oregon Coast Birding Trail Newport, Oregon. This route takes you through shady woodland and coastal stretches where you can see Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Stellar’s Jays in the trees and Black Oystercatchers, Black Turnstones along the shore.Offshore Common Murres, grebes, mergansers, and Brandt’s cormorants.
3. Crater Lake National Park lies in the collapsed interior of an ancient volcano and is the deepest lake in the United States. High-elevation birds can be found here, including woodpeckers, sapsuckers, flycatchers, Sooty Grouse, Mountain Chickadees, Mountain Bluebirds, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch.
4. Upper and Lower Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest winter concentration of Bald Eagles in the lower 48. American White Pelicans arrive in the spring before grebes arrive in May. Rough-legged Hawks arrive in November, and Bald Eagles start arriving in December.Snow Geese, Great Egret, Northern Shovelers, and killdeer can also be spotted in this vast wetland that provides a major migratory route stop off.

Birds to Spot if Out Birding in Oregon

If you go out Birding in Oregon, these are other birds that you may be able to spot. Check out this guide to hawks in Oregon.

1. Mallard
2. Canada Goose
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Great Blue Heron
5. Common Raven
6. Turkey Vulture
7. Killdeer
8. Bald Eagle
9. Double-crested Cormorant
10. American Coot
11. Bufflehead
12. Black-headed Grosbeak
13. American Kestral
14. Green-winged Teal
15. Northern Shoveler
16. Pied-billed Grebe
17. Belted Kingfisher
18. Great Egret
19. Osprey
20. Great Horned Owl