Top 25 backyard birds of Oregon & how to identify them!

Birds are some of the most fascinating creatures on earth. There is something special about seeing them up close in their natural habitat and backyard birds offer a unique opportunity to do just that.

In Oregon, backyard birders have the chance to see a fantastic diversity of species. From songbirds to raptors, there is something for everyone.

One of the reasons Oregon has such a variety of backyard birds is because of its geography. The state is home to many habitats, from the coastal rainforests to the high desert.

This variety provides a perfect environment for many different types of birds. In addition, Oregon’s mild climate means backyard birds can be seen year-round.

This blog post will look at 25 of Oregon’s most common backyard birds by surveying residents and utilizing data from ebird and other citizen science databases.

By reading this article, we hope you will identify some new species and find out which ones live near you at any time of the year.

There are always plenty of backyard birds to enjoy in Oregon! So get out your binoculars and start exploring.

Backyard Birds Of Oregon

According to the latest data from ebird, there are 547 observed species of Birds in Oregon. This data comes from over 1.5 million checklists from over 27,000 avid birdwatchers.

Identifying and seeing all 547 may be an overwhelming challenge, so we have chosen to focus on the birds you are more likely to see in your home, backyard, or bird feeders.

Here are some things to know about Backyard Birds of Oregon:

• 547 observed species
• The American Robin is the most common backyard bird in Oregon
• The Dark-eyed Junco is the most common feeder bird in Oregon
• The Anna’s Hummingbird is the smallest most common feeder bird in Oregon
• The American Crow is the largest backyard bird on this list
• The Western Meadowlark is Oregon’s state bird

Top 5 Hotspots For Birdwatching In Oregon

If you prefer to venture away from home to do some bird watching, then visit one of Oregon’s best hotspots for birdwatching. These hotspots are determined by the total number of species observed by fellow birdwatchers in Oregon.

1. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
2. Summer Lake Wildlife Area
3. Fern Ridge Wildlife Management Area
4. William L.Finley National Wildlife Refuge
5. Fort Stevens State Park

Top 25 Backyard Birds Of Oregon

The list below is determined by the number of bird watchers in Oregon who have seen a species at least once, divided by the total number of bird feeder sites.

1. Dark-eyed Junco

The Dark-Eyed Junco is a medium-sized sparrow found in the Northern Hemisphere from Alaska to Newfoundland and is a year-round resident of Oregon.

Males and Females are about 14-16cm (5.5-6.3 inches) long and weigh between 18-30g (0.6-1.1oz). They have a round head, short conical bill, and long tail.

The Dark-Eyed Junco varies in color depending on what region you are in but are mainly dark gray or brown with a light/pale pink bill and white outer tail feathers that are noticeable in flight.

The three most common sub-types and colors are:

• Slate-colored Junco – Alaska, and East of the Rocky Mountains
• Oregon Junco – Northern Rockies and Farther West
• Gray-headed Junco – Southern Rockies

They live in coniferous forests, woodlands, scrubland, and tundra across the United States and Canada. You are more likely to find them in open areas like backyards, fields, and parks in winter.

They are ground foragers and eat insects, seeds, and berries. They eat mostly insects in the spring and summer and seeds and berries in the fall and winter.

They are also expected at backyard bird feeders in the winter, especially ones that offer sunflower seeds, millet, or cracked corn.

The Dark-eyed Junco has been seen at 97% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

2. Northern Flicker

The Northern Flicker is the most common woodpecker species in Oregon and can be seen in the state all year round.

They are about 28-31cm (11-12.2 inches) long and weigh 110-160g (3.9-5.6oz). They are slim woodpeckers with rounded heads, long pointy tails, and a long, slightly downward curving bill. 

Northern Flickers are brownish-gray above and paler below. They have a crescent-looking black bar on their chest and black spots on their bellies.

Eastern males have black whiskers, a red nape, and bright yellow under their tails, while females lack the same black whiskers as males.

Western males have red whiskers and red under their tails, while females lack the same red whiskers as males.

Northern Flickers live in open areas such as fields, pastures, woods but can also be seen around towns and suburbs.

Northern Flickers are seen foraging for ants and other insects on the ground, but they also eat fruits, nuts, and seeds. They use their long curved bill to pry insects out of logs or trees.

They will often visit backyard bird feeders that offer sunflower seeds, suet, or peanut butter.

The Northern Flicker has been seen at 83% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

3. Anna’s Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird is a common species of bird found in the far western region of the United States and Canada (British Columbia). These tiny birds can be seen in the western half of Oregon all year round.

They are about 10cm (4 inches) long and weigh between 3-6g (0.1-0.2oz). They are stockier than most hummingbirds and have a short, straight bill and broad tail.

Anna’s hummingbirds are metallic green above and grayish-white and green below. Males have rose-red coloring around their heads and throat, while females have a white throat with green and red spots.

They can be found in woodlands near streams or rivers, coastal scrubs, city parks, and yards.

Anna’s Hummingbirds feed mainly on nectar from flowers but will also eat insects, such as spiders, when the opportunity presents itself.

Anna’s Hummingbirds are common in backyards with flower gardens or hummingbird feeders.

The Anna’s Hummingbird has been seen at 82% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

4. Pine Siskin

The Pine Siskin is widespread throughout North America and some parts of Canada and Mexico. They can be seen in western Oregon all year round and in eastern Oregon during the winter months.

Both males and females are about 11-14cm (4.3-5.5 inches) long and weigh between 12-18g (0.4-0.6oz). Both males and females are brown, with dark streaking throughout their bodies.

They are a small finch with a sharply pointed bill and a short notched tail.

They are slightly darker above and paler below with two whitish-yellow wing bars. A yellow wing stripe can be seen during flight but is more difficult to see when perched.

They prefer open coniferous forests where they can forage in trees, looking for seeds among needles of the branches. Pine siskins are social birds and often travel in a few hundred bird flocks.

They are very active and can be seen hopping around on the ground or flying quickly from tree to tree.

Pine siskins eat seeds almost exclusively but will take insects or larvae when available if seeds are not readily accessible.

They are also frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders that offer sunflower seeds, or nyjer seeds.

The Pine Siskin has been seen at 81% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

5. Black-capped Chickadee

The Black-Capped Chickadee is a widespread species of bird found throughout the Northern half of North America and is a year-round resident of Oregon.

They have a black cap and black throat with white cheeks, and mostly gray-olive feathers on their back with a white chest and belly.

Black-capped Chickadees are tiny in size – with males and females only about 12-15cm (4.7-5.9 inches) long and weighing between 9-14g (0.3-0.5oz). They have a large head and short neck, and long narrow tails with short thick dark bills.

They can survive the harshest winter weather by eating high-calorie foods, fluffing their feathers for insulation, and roosting in tree cavities at night, often in small groups.

The Black-Capped Chickadee is an energetic species that prefers deciduous woods often found in forests or residential areas and parks where plenty of large trees are used for roosting and nesting.

Their diet consists of insects, spiders, small fruits, and seeds, but they are also familiar visitors to backyard bird feeders where they will readily eat sunflower seeds or suet.

They will often make multiple trips to feeders to store extra food in tree crevices throughout the day.

The Black-capped Chickadee has been seen at 81% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

6. House Finch

The House Finch is a small bird found in most of North America, including parts of the United States and Southern Canada. They can be seen in Oregon backyards all year round.

House Finches are 12-15cm (5.1-5.5 inches) long and weigh between 16-27g (0.6-0.9oz).

They have short wings that allow for a quick flight, and their beaks are stubby and slightly curved on top with a long flat head. The males are known for their bright red heads and breast with brown wings, tails, and back.

Their preferred habitat is open, grassy areas with some trees – often near farmlands. They will also be found around towns and suburbs to find food quickly on the ground, such as birdseed spilled from backyard bird feeders (or even at pet food bowls left out for our furry friends).

They are ground forages whose preferred diet consists mainly of seeds, buds, and fruit.

They are common at backyard bird feeders and will often feed in large numbers, especially when black oil sunflowers seeds are present in your feeders.

The House Finch has been seen at 80% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

7. Spotted Towhee

The Spotted Towhee is a large-sized sparrow that lives in the western half of North America and Mexico, and can be seen in Oregon all year round.

Males and females are about 17-21cm (6.7-8.3 inches) long and weigh around 33-49g (1.2-1.7oz). They are a chunky sparrow with a thick conical bill, and a long rounded tail tipped with white.

Male Spotted Towhees are black above and white below, with a black hood and throat with white spots on their wings. Their sides are a rusty-orange color, and they have ruby red eyes. Females are similar in color but are a slate gray color above.

They live primarily in open areas close to native habitats such as forest edges, thickets, underbrush, or ravines with brushy vegetation for shelter.

They also live around agricultural land and residential areas with trees or hedgerows where they can find food sources like insects and spiders.

Spotted towhees eat mostly insects all year round. They prefer to forage on the ground through leaf litter and amongst the thicket or undergrowth of bushes and shrubs.

They will supplement their diet with berries, nuts, and seeds when insects aren’t available.

Spotted towhees will often visit backyards with some low vegetation, brush piles, and bird feeders that offer mealworms, sunflower seeds (hulled or shelled), cracked corn, and suet nuggets.

The Spotted Towhee has been seen at 75% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

8. California Scrub-Jay

The California Scrub-Jay is a large songbird found along the west coast of America and Mexico. These beautiful birds can be seen in the western half of Oregon all year round.

Males and females are about 28-30cm (11 to 11.81 inches) long and weigh around 70-1000g (2.5 to 3.5 oz). They have a large, slender body, long tail, and missing a crest.

California scrub-jays are blue overall with a white chest and belly. They have a grayish back, blue wings, black bill, legs and feet, and white eyebrows.

California scrub-jays can be found in open woodlands, chaparral, oak savannahs, suburban areas, and gardens. They prefer areas with dense vegetation for nesting but will also use open spaces if available.

California scrub-jays are omnivorous and eat a variety of insects, acorns, berries, bird eggs, nestlings, nuts, and seeds.

They have been known to visit bird feeders that offer sunflower seeds, suet, or peanuts.

The California Scrub-Jay has been seen at 74% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

9. Song Sparrow

The Song Sparrow is a medium-sized sparrow found throughout North America and is a year-round resident of Oregon.

Males and Females are about 12-17cm (4.7-6.7 inches) long and weigh between 12-53g (0.4-1.9oz). They have relatively long, rounded tails and broad wings.

Song Sparrows are generally brown above with brown streaking on white below. They have a reddish-brown crown, a pale gray eyebrow, and a brown streak through the eye.

They live in most open areas such as forests edges, scrublands, wetlands, marshes, farmlands, and grasslands year-round in North America.

They mainly eat insects in the spring and summer and seeds and berries the rest of the year.

Song Sparrows are common backyard birds that visit bird feeders if the feeder offers cracked corn or millet and over some good cover. They prefer seeds scattered on the ground or a platform feeder.

The Song Sparrow has been seen at 69% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

10. American Robin

The American Robin is a common species of bird found throughout North America and can be seen in Oregon backyards all year round.

American Robins are 20-28cm (7.9-11 inches) long and weigh 77-85g (2.7-3oz).

American Robins have a distinctive orange chest with black spots; however, their back feathers are brownish gray. Their beaks are tiny but comprehensive at the base, giving them a very distinct appearance.

They are common in most environments across North America, especially in gardens, parks, and wooded areas around towns and suburbs.

The American Robin is known to poke around in leaf litter, looking for insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and earthworms to eat in the summer months. They prefer berries or fruit during the autumn and winter months.

They are also known for being very friendly birds found at most bird feeders and prefer feeders that offer live mealworms.

The American Robin has been seen at 67% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

11. Downy Woodpecker

The Downy Woodpecker is a small woodpecker found throughout North America. These small woodpeckers can be seen in Oregon all year round.

They are smaller than most woodpeckers at about 14-17cm (5.5-6.7 inches) long and weigh between 21-28g (0.7-1oz).

Downy Woodpeckers have a black back and white stripe down the middle. They are white below, and their wings have a checkered black and white detailing them.

The males have a red patch at the back of the head, and females have a black head. They have a petite-looking bill compared to their other woodpecker relatives.

Their beaks are short, solid, and pointed at the end, which they use to chisel wood for excavation or peck at the bark to find food underneath.

Their preferred habitat is wooded areas with plenty of trees near rivers, ponds, or wetlands – even urban areas with a mix of grasslands, shrubs, and woodlands.

They are acrobatic foragers whose main diet consists of insects it can glean and probe from trees. They will also eat seeds, berries, or fruit when needed and are more common at bird feeders than their larger relatives.

They prefer suet feeders and enjoy black oil sunflower seeds, peanut butter, seeds, and millet.

The Downy Woodpecker has been seen at 67% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

12. Red-breasted Nuthatch

The Red-breasted Nuthatch is a small songbird found across most of North America and much of Canada. These tiny birds can be seen in western Oregon all year round and in eastern Oregon during the non-breeding winter months.

Both males and females are about 11-12cm (4.3 inches) long and weigh between 8-13g (0.3-0.5oz). They have a long, pointy bill, short, broad wings, and very short tails.

Both sexes are blueish-gray above and reddish-cinnamon below. Their heads are striped with a black cap, white eyebrows, a black line through the eye, and finally, white cheeks. Very similar looking to the white-breasted nuthatch.

Red-breasted nuthatches can be found in coniferous forests such as spruce and fir, where they like to forage on the trunks and branches. They are very energetic and acrobatic birds and can often be seen hanging upside down while searching for food.

Their diet is primarily insects and spiders they glean from trees and bark in the summer and eat seeds in the winter.

They are also familiar visitors to backyard bird feeders where they eat seeds and suet.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch has been seen at 65% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

13. Bushtit

The Bushtit is a tiny bird that lives in western areas in North America and is a year-round resident of Oregon.

Males and females are about 7-8cm (2.8-3.1 inches) long and weigh around 4-6g (0.1-0.2oz). They are plump-looking birds with a long tail, large head, seemingly no neck, and a short, stout bill. Bushtits are dull gray above and slightly paler gray below.

They live in various habitats such as forests, woodlands, shrublands, woody areas near streams, and urban areas such as gardens and parks. You will usually always see flocks of bushtits moving together.

Bushtits eat primarily insects and spiders year-round. They glean insects from foliage and catch them mid-air as they fly off branches or pick them from leaves.

They can be found visiting bird feeders that offer mealworms, suet balls, sunflower hearts (hulled or shelled), and sometimes whole peanuts or peanut hearts.

The Bushtit has been seen at 65% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

14. Steller’s Jay

Steller’s Jay is a large songbird that lives in North America. They are most abundant in the western United States and Canada. They can be seen in Oregon all year round.

Males and Females are about 30-34cm (11.8-13.4 inches) long and weigh between 100-140g (3.5-4.9oz). These Jays have large heads, rounded wings, and long tails. They also have a prominent crest on their heads and a strong, long, straight bill.

They have blue feathers on most of their bodies, black feathers on their head, and grayish shoulders. Some will have blue or white lines on their crown, depending on the region.

They prefer coniferous and mixed coniferous-deciduous forests commonly found on the west coast of North America, which includes suburban areas such as backyards, picnic areas, and campgrounds.

They are bold, intelligent, curious omnivores that forage on the ground or among tree branches for insects, baby birds, bird eggs, fruit, nuts, acorns, and seeds.

They are common at backyard bird feeders that offer sunflowers seeds, peanuts, peanut butter mixed with birdseed, or bread. 

The Steller’s Jay has been seen at 60% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

15. European Starling

The European Starling, also known as the Common Starling or just simply Starling, is a loud, boisterous bird that can be found throughout most of North America, Europe, and parts of Asia to North Africa in wintertime. 

European Starling is roughly the size of a Robin at about 20-23cm (7.9-9.1 inches) long and weighing around 60-96g (2.1-3.4oz).

Their breeding plumage is a glossy purplish-green with yellow beaks, and winter plumage is brown with white spots and a black bill. They have short wings which allow for a quick flight and a short tail. They have a long, slender bill and legs that are pinkish.

European Starlings winter in large flocks – often roosting with other bird species such as Blackbirds or Fieldfares to keep warm at night.

Their preferred habitat is open, grassy areas with some trees, but they can also be found in towns, suburbs, or human settlements out in the countryside.

They are opportunistic feeders that mainly eat insects and feed on berries, seeds, and grains. They are known to visit bird feeders in backyards to eat almost any type of food available – including suet mixes or peanuts.

The European Starling has been seen at 57% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

16. Lesser Goldfinch

The Lesser Goldfinch is a common species of songbird found in the western half of North and Central America. They can be seen on the west coast all year round and in southcentral Oregon during the warmer breeding months.

Both males and females are 9-11cm (3.5-4.3 inches) long and weigh between 8-11.5g (0.3-0.4oz). They have stubby bills, long pointed wings, and short tails.

Male Lesser goldfinches are bright yellow below, black or green above (depending on location), white patches on their wings, and white corners on a black tail. Female Lesser Goldfinches are dull olive above and pale yellow below.

Lesser Goldfinches live in various habitats but prefer areas with budding trees and bushes. They are also seen in weedy residential areas, often in large groups.

The Lesser goldfinches mainly eat seeds, tree buds, berries, and sometimes insects. They prefer composite plants such as thistle and purple coneflower.

Lesser goldfinches are very common in backyards, and will visit bird feeders that offer a variety of seeds.

The Lesser Goldfinch has been seen at 56% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

17. Varied Thrush

The Varied Thrush is a large thrush that lives in western North America, in forests along the pacific coast. They can be seen on the west coast of Oregon all year round, and in central and eastern Oregon during the colder winter months.

Males and females are about 19-26cm (7.5-10.2 inches) long and weigh between 65-100g (2.3-3.5oz). They have a plump body with a large head, long legs, a short tail, and a straight bill.

Male Varied Thrushes are bluish-gray above and orange below. They have a black band across their chest and an orange eyebrow that goes down the back of the neck.

They have an intricate orange and black pattern on their wings. Females have the same coloring but are grayish-brown above, and the orange colors are not as rich or intense.

They live primarily in moist coniferous forests on the pacific coast most of the year and suburban parks and gardens during winter months.

Varied thrushes eat insects and spiders primarily and consume fruit, berries, and seeds in winter. Fruits and berries make up the majority of their food and winter. They forage on the ground under leaves and dense vegetation by flicking and tossing debris around.

Varied thrushes can be found visiting backyards and feeders in winter that offer mealworms, sunflower seeds (hulled or shelled), fruits, and berries from platform or ground feeders.

The Varied Thrush has been seen at 53% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

18. American Goldfinch

The American Goldfinch is a common species of bird found throughout North America. These tiny birds can be seen in eastern Oregon all year round and in western Oregon during the colder non-breeding months.

They are small songbirds 11-13cm (4.3-5.1 inches) long and weigh between 11-20g (0.4-0.70 oz), with males being slightly larger than females. 

Breeding adult males have a bright yellow color on their heads and rump with a black cap and black-tipped wings, making them easy to identify from other birds. Winter adult males are tan above and pale gray below with a yellow face and throat. 

Breeding adult females are olive-brown above and yellow below, and winter adult females are generally gray overall.

Their preferred habitat is overgrown, weedy fields, pastures, and well planted suburban areas and backyards.

They mainly eat seeds from wild sunflowers, composite flowers or thistles, and very few insects. 

American Goldfinches are frequent visitors of backyard bird feeders – making them easy to spot around the yard. They prefer hulled sunflower and nyjer seeds.

The American Goldfinch has been seen at 50% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

19. Chestnut-backed Chickadee

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee is a tiny bird found in North America, but almost exclusively along the west coast of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska.

Males and Females are about 10-12cm (3.9-4.7 inches) long and weigh between 7-12g (0.3-0.4oz). They are the smallest and shortest-tailed chickadee and have short rounded wings.

They have a black and white head with white cheeks and a brown-chestnut-colored back. Depending on the region, they can either have brown-chestnut (Northern California and up) or duller gray sides (Central and Southern California).

Chestnut-backed Chickadees live in coniferous forests, woodlands, scrubland, parks, and suburbs year-round on the Pacific coast. They eat primarily insects they can glean from foliage and often supplement their diet with seeds, fruit, and berries.

They are common backyard birds that will visit bird feeders, especially if the feeder offers sunflower seeds or suet during the winter months.

The Chestnut-backed Chickadee has been seen at 50% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

20. Mourning Dove

The Mourning Dove is a common species of bird found throughout North America and is a year-round resident of Oregon.

They are about the size of an American Robin, with adults between 23-34cm (9.1-13.4 inches) long and weighing between 86-170g (3-6oz). Mourning Doves have grayish-brown feathers, and their heads are pale gray; however, they lack crests or head adornments.

Mourning Doves prefer open habitats in rural and urban areas and weedy fields.

Mourning Doves are ground foragers meaning that they eat seeds, grains, and other vegetation found on the ground. They have a varied diet but prefer to eat weed seeds such as dandelions or grasses in open fields rather than forest floors.

Mourning doves also drink water from puddles created by rain which they find near trees and shrubs.

They are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders and typically eat seeds that have fallen on the ground or platform feeders.

The Mourning Dove has been seen at 50% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

21. Golden-crowned Sparrow

The Golden-crowned Sparrow is a large sparrow found along North America and Mexico’s west coast. They can be seen in Oregon during the colder non-breeding months and during their migration period.

Males and females are about 15-18cm (5.9 to 7 inches) long and weigh around 20-35g (0.6 to 01.25 oz). They have a small head, a long tail, and a short, stout bill.

Golden-crowned Sparrows have streaked brown above and gray below. Breeding adults have a gray face and a black cap with a bright yellow forecrown. Non-breeding or winter adults have a brownish face and cap, with a duller yellow forecrown.

Golden-crowned Sparrows can be found in open woodlands, chaparral, edge forests, and gardens. They prefer areas with dense vegetation for nesting but will also use open spaces if available.

Golden-crowned Sparrows are omnivorous and eat a variety of insects, berries, and seeds.

They have been known to visit bird feeders that offer sunflower seeds, cracked corn, or thistle seed.

The Golden-crowned Sparrow has been seen at 50% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

22. American Crow

The American Crow is a large bird found throughout most of North America, except in some areas in the southern United States along the border with Mexico.

American Crows are large at about 40-53cm (115.8-21 inches) long and weigh between 316-620g (11.2-22oz). They are black all over, including their legs, feet, bill, and eyes.

They have a very distinct, short tail with broad wings that allow for a quick flight. They are known to be brilliant birds – able to use tools to obtain the food they otherwise couldn’t reach.

Their preferred habitat is open areas such as pastures with some trees – either deciduous or coniferous to roost at night when they sleep. They will often be found in urban areas where food is plentiful – for example, at dumpsters behind supermarkets or garbage bins.

They are omnivores and very opportunistic and will eat small mammals, insects, and amphibians but may also be found eating fruits or grain in the wintertime when other food sources are scarce.

We have even personally seen crows stealing chicks from other nests and flying away to eat them.

Not your typical visitor to backyard bird feeders but may hang around yards that offer a compost heap, easy access to garbage, or pet food lying around.

The American Crow has been seen at 45% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

23. Townsend’s Warbler

The Townsend’s Warbler is a small songbird found in western North America. They can be seen on the coastline during the winter months and in the northeast during the spring and summer months.

Males and females are about 12-13cm (4.7 to 5 inches) long and weigh around 7-11g (0.3 to 0.4 oz). They have a small, slim body, a long tail, and a short, thin bill.

Male Townsend’s warblers are yellowish-green above with gray wings and two white wing bars. They have a golden-yellow face with a black cap and throat, a black cheek patch, and a yellow breast and white belly with black streaks.

The female has a duller overall appearance than the male.

Townsend’s Warblers can be found in open woodlands, chaparral, forests, and gardens. They prefer to be in taller trees, where they do most of their foraging.

Townsend’s Warblers are omnivorous and primarily eat various insects in the warmer months and berries and seeds in the winter.

They have been known to visit bird feeders that offer mealworms, peanuts, or suet.

The Townsend’s Warbler has been seen at 43% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

24. Bewick’s Wren

The Bewick’s Wren is a medium-sized wren found primarily in the southwestern United States and Central America. These tiny birds can be seen on the coast of Oregon all year round.

Both sexes are about 13cm (5.1 inches) long and weigh 8-12g (0.3-0.4oz). They have short rounded wings, a long tail cocked upward, and a long downward curving bill.

Their plumage varies depending on location but is primarily grayish-brown above (southwest) or brown (pacific coast) above. They are grayish-white below and have white eyebrows. Their tail has black barring and is tipped with white bars at the end.

They live primarily in bushy woodlands, coastal and desert scrub, thick brush in open woods, residential parks, and gardens.

Bewick’s Wrens eat mostly small insects and spiders it can glean from bark crevices, roots, and rocks. They will also occasionally eat seeds and fruit, especially during winter when insects are harder to find.

Bewick’s Wrens can be found year-round in backyards with some low vegetation or brush piles. They will often visit bird feeders that offer mealworms, hulled sunflower seeds, and suet nuggets.

The Bewick’s Wren has been seen at 41% of all feeder sites in Oregon.

25. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet is a small bird found throughout much of North America.

Males and females are about 9-11cm (3.5 to 4.4 inches) long and weigh around 5-10g (0.2 to 0.3oz). They have a small round body, a short tail, and a small head with a thin, straight bill.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are olive green, white around the eye, and have two white wing bars. The adult male has a ruby-red crown that is only visible when he is excited or singing.

Ruby-crowned kinglets can be found in forests up north into Canada and the Rocky Mountains to the west during the breeding season. In winters, they move to lower elevations in the southern US and Mexico, such as woodlands, gardens, parks, and backyards.

Ruby-crowned kinglets eat small insects such as spiders, mites, and bugs but will also eat some fruit during the winter months.

They have been known to visit bird feeders that offer sunflower seeds or suet. However, they prefer to eat insects, so a bird feeder with live mealworms would be more attractive.

The Ruby-crowned Kinglet has been seen at % of all feeder sites in (STATE).

What Are The Most Common Birds All Year Round In Oregon?

• American Robin (40% frequency)
• Song Sparrow (39% frequency)
• American Crow (34% frequency)
• Dark-eyed Junco (33% frequency)
• Northern Flicker (31% frequency)
• Black-capped Chickadee (29% frequency)
• Spotted Towhee (29% frequency)
• European Starling (27% frequency)
• California Scrub-Jay (27% frequency)
• House Finch (21% frequency)

What Are The Most Common Winter Birds Of Oregon?

• Dark-eyed Junco (47% frequency)
• Song Sparrow (42% frequency)
• American Robin (38% frequency)
• American Crow (34% frequency)
• Northern Flicker (34% frequency)
• Black-capped Chickadee (33% frequency)
• California Scrub-Jay (31% frequency)
• Spotted Towhee (30% frequency)
• European Starling (29% frequency)
• Anna’s Hummingbird (24% frequency)

Birds To Spot Beyond The Backyard In Oregon

When you decide to venture away from your home to do some birdwatching, these are some of the other birds to look out for:

1. Western Meadowlark
2. Barn Swallow
3. Vaux’s Swift
4. Red-winged Blackbird
5. Violet-green Swallow
6. Cliff Swallow
7. Swainson’s Thrush
8. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
9. Killdeer
10. Bohemian Waxwing
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. Evening Grosbeak
13. Orange-crowned Warbler
14. Common Nighthawk
15. Varied Thrush
16. Western Bluebird
17. Black-billed Magpie
18. Snow Bunting
19. Golden-crowned Kinglet
20. Mountain Bluebird
21. Wilson’s Warbler
22. Western Tanager
23. Red-tailed Hawk
24. Bald Eagle
25. Black Rosy-Finch
26. Pygmy Nuthatch
27. Vesper Sparrow
28. Hermit Warbler
29. Rufous Hummingbird

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Keep an eye out for the backyard birds of Oregon

No matter what time of year, there will always be backyard birds to enjoy in Oregon! By reading this article, we hope you will identify some new species and find out which ones live near you.

If you’re looking for a new birding hotspot, check out one of Oregon’s top five birdwatching spots. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Western Meadowlark, Oregon’s state bird!

If you have questions about identifying more species or finding out which ones live near you, let us know! We would love to help identify new bird species for our readers.

So get out your binoculars and start exploring!