More Pacific NW Activities
Birding
Fishing
Geocaching
Hiking
Sea Kayaking
Snow Skiing
Tours
Tour Operators
Whale Watching
Whitewater Rafting
More Pacific Northwest
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
Wineries
Northwest Links
Attractions
Food and Beverage
History
Visitor Information
Wildlife
About the Northwest
Cities and Towns
Driving Tours
Maps of the Northwest
Travel Articles
What is the Northwest?
Travel Planning
Canadian/US Border
Currency Converter
Free Travel Literature
Time and Time Zones
Transportation
Travel In Canada
Travel In the U.S.
Weather
More Go Northwest!
British
Columbia
Idaho
Montana
Oregon
Washington
Wyoming
Birding, or birdwatching, is becoming the fastest growing outdoor hobby worldwide. More than 50 million Americans are watching birds and planning birding trips. In Canada, more time is spent birding than gardening!
Birding opportunities in the Northwest are plentiful and rich. The region is incredibly unique and offers a wide range of climates and terrains ranging from ocean shores to high mountains, and from dry semi-arid deserts to temperate rainforests. Thus, it’s not surprising that the Northwest has a huge list of bird species. More than 450 species are unique to the region.
Starting at the shore, there are west coast specialties like Black Oystercatchers, Heerman’s Gulls, Surfbirds, Tufted Puffins, and Pacific Loons.
Moving inland, the forests of the Northwest hold Hermit Warblers, Golden-crowned Sparrows, Spotted Owls, Varied Thrushes and Band-tailed Pigeons.
Heading up the mountains, you will find Sooty Grouse, Great Gray Owls, and Western Tanagers.
Farther east into the intermountain west there are Lazuli Buntings, Sage Thrashers, Cinnamon Teal, American Avocets, Clark’s Nutcrackers and Golden Eagles.
Birders also are fortunate that there are so many public lands in the northwest. The United States and Canada are home to 18 National Parks and countless city, county and state parks as well as other public lands available to everyone. These areas are often great for birding. Many have trails and boardwalks through protected habitats that hold a whole host of specialty birds. Yes, birding in the northwest is highly rewarding no matter where you are!
Birding Alberta: Banff National Park, high mountains and alpine terrain with White-tailed Ptarmigan and Boreal Chickadees.
Birding British Columbia: The Pacific coast and rich marine life hosts a numerous bird species and breath-taking views of misty coastal forests.
Birding Idaho: The newly christened Cassia Crossbill, Sagebrush deserts and tall mountains add to this unique state's bird lists.
Birding Montana: Glacier National Park holds some unique species hard to find anywere else in the state, the eastern prairies are home to shortgrass specialists like McCown’s Longspurs.
Birding Oregon: The coastal mountain ranges and high central plateau mean a wide range of birds and landscapes to explore.
Birding Washington: Puget Sound is a birding mecca, but don't forget the three National Parks and even the sagebrush prairies of central WA.
eBird by Cornell is the world's premiere site for bird sightings and a searchable database to help you find species or places your looking for.
The National Audubon Society has local chapters all over the country and localized information for anyone who wants to get involved or know where to go.
Go Northwest!
Bookstore
Best selection of books on the Northwest.
Click
here!
Fodor's
Pacific Northwest: with Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, 21st Edition.
Written by local experts, this guide has the latest information with
expansive insights, illustrations, recommendations, advice and trip planning
tools, such as easy to read maps, to plan your exciting adventure in the
Pacific Northwest.
Order now...
DK
Eyewitness Travel Guide: Pacific Northwest by Stephen Brewer and
Constance Brissenden. This guide book contains in depth coverage of the best
recreation, lodging, attractions and food in major cities in Oregon,
Washington and BC. Photographs, illustrations and custom maps are also
included.
Order now...
Lonely
Planet Pacific Northwest's Best Trips (Travel Guide) by Lonely
Planet. This comprehensive guide offers itineraries, theme icons,
easy-to-use maps along with driving times, reviews and insider tips for
32 amazing road trips in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Order now...
We appreciate your orders. They help keep
Go Northwest! online.
Northwest Books
from . . .
Go Northwest!® gonorthwest.com (tm)
Go Northwest!® gonorthwest.com (tm) and
GoNorthwest.com (tm) are trademarks of Go Northwest, LLC
All original
text, maps, photographs, and other images on this web site, as well as the
compilation and design thereof, are
Copyright © 1997-2019
Go Northwest, LLC. All rights reserved.