Birding in Washington
Washington's rainforests, Cascade volcanoes, and arid shrub-steppe create dramatic birding contrasts between the wet coast and the dry interior.
Overview
The Evergreen State is split by the Cascades into two very different birding regions. The wet west side features temperate rainforests with Spotted Owls and Marbled Murrelets, productive marine waters with alcids and seabirds, and the rich estuaries of Puget Sound and the Columbia River. The dry east side has sagebrush steppe with Sage Thrashers and shrub-steppe specialists. TrailBird is expanding to cover Washington's birding hotspots with live eBird data, trail maps, and seasonal guides.
Seasonal Birding Guide
Shorebird migration peaks on the coast. Migrant songbirds fill riparian corridors on both sides of the Cascades.
Breeding alcids on offshore rocks. Mountain species in the Cascades. Shrub-steppe birds at their most active in the east.
Seabird migration offshore. Raptor migration through the Cascades. Vagrant season on the outer coast.
Puget Sound hosts huge numbers of waterfowl and marine birds. Snowy Owls visit the Skagit Flats. Gyrfalcons occasionally appear.
Quick Facts
🚨 Recent Rare Bird Alerts in Washington
Notable sightings in the last 14 days
No rare alerts in the last 14 days.
🔥 Top Birding Hotspots in Washington
Ranked by total species recorded
🪶 What's Being Seen in Washington
Species spotted in the last 14 days
No recent species data available yet.
📍 Most Active Hotspots This Week
Where birders are reporting right now
🥾 Trails Near the Action
Hiking trails near recent rare sightings