Birds

American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus Mar – Nov A chunky gray songbird that bobs on rocks in fast mountain streams and walks underwater to hunt insect larvae. It sings even… American Robin Turdus migratorius Feb – Oct The familiar red-breasted thrush of lawns also nests in mountain forests, ranging in Oregon from sea level all the way to treeline. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Year-round North America's white-headed sea eagle, often perched near rivers, lakes and reservoirs where it hunts fish, scavenges and sometimes robs Ospreys. Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Mar – Nov A glossy black, pale-eyed blackbird that walks around open ground, lakeshores and parking lots, jerking its head with each step. California Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica Jan – Nov A crestless blue and gray jay of oak woods, brushy clearings and towns, most often seen at the low edges of the… Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mar – Sep, Nov The big black-necked goose with a white chinstrap, found on lakes and reservoirs, where pairs raise families of fuzzy goslings in spring. Canada Jay Perisoreus canadensis May – Mar A fluffy gray jay of mountain conifer forests, famous for boldly taking food at campsites and for storing food to survive the… Cassin’s Finch Haemorhous cassinii Jun – Oct A high-country finch. Males wear a crisp red cap over a pinkish breast. Look for small flocks in mountain conifers, often up… Clark’s Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana Jun – Oct A gray, black and white bird of timberline that buries thousands of pine seeds each fall and plants whitebark pine in the… Common Merganser Mergus merganser Feb – Nov A long, slim diving duck of clear mountain rivers and lakes. Males are white with a green head; females are gray with… Common Raven Corvus corax Year-round The big black bird croaking over Mt. Hood's ridges all year, known for its intelligence, aerial play and wedge-shaped tail. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Apr – Oct A small, hooded forest sparrow with white outer tail feathers that flash as it flies up from the ground. Common in Mt.… Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla Sep – Apr A big brown sparrow with a gold crown patch and a wistful three-note song, abundant in western Oregon during migration and winter. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Year-round North America's largest heron, a tall gray wader that stalks fish and frogs in shallow water and flies with its neck pulled… Hairy Woodpecker Leuconotopicus villosus Feb – Mar, May – Nov A crisp black-and-white woodpecker of Oregon forests that digs into dead and burned trees for beetle larvae. Males wear a small red… Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Mar – Oct The familiar green-headed duck of lakes, ponds and slow rivers. Females are mottled brown with an orange bill blotched with black. Osprey Pandion haliaetus Apr – Sep A big fish-eating raptor with white underparts and a dark eye stripe that hovers over lakes and rivers, then plunges feet first… Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Feb – Dec A big, broad-winged hawk often seen soaring over clearings or perched on poles and snags. Adults have a rusty orange-red tail. Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Year-round A dark, heavily streaked sparrow of brushy streamsides and thickets that sings a bright, varied song for much of the year. Sooty Grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus Apr – Nov A large, dark forest grouse best known for the deep, hooting song males give from high in conifers each spring. Often surprisingly… Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus Feb – Dec A big, boldly patterned sparrow with a black hood, red eyes and rusty sides that scratches noisily through leaf litter under shrubs. Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri Mar – Oct A dark blue and black jay with a tall, shaggy crest and a harsh voice, common in Mt. Hood's conifer forests from… Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Mar – Sep A big, dark soaring bird with a small red head that rocks on wings held in a shallow V. It finds carrion… White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Apr – Jul, Sep A gray-breasted sparrow with a bold black and white striped crown, found in brushy openings from the lowlands to timberline.