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A large and colorful member of the sparrow family, the Green-tailed towhee is perhaps more recognizable by its eye-catching chestnut crown than by its less intense green-gray back and olive tail. As a ground forager, it spends most of its time on the ground or in thick cover, scratching about industriously in the leaf litter, and it may go unnoticed. But its catlike mewing call, which it often gives from a brushy perch, is one of the quintessential sounds of the shrublands of the east slope of the Cascades and the Great Basin. It is locally fairly common east of
![GT_Towhee_2_wray.jpg Green-tailed Towhee](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/GT_Towhee_2_wray.jpg?itok=IhzzVDQX)
Oregon has 15 species of bats, and eight of those are Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. Strategy Species are those having small or declining populations, are at-risk, and/or of management concern. Bats are flying mammals that can reach speeds of 20 to 30 mph. Some of Oregon's species migrate south in winter while some remain here and hibernate. Bats have ecolocation which allows them to make high-pitched sounds then listen to the echo of those sounds to locate where objects are. Echolocation helps them find even the smallest insect. Learn more about Oregon's bats on our Living with Wildlife, Bats page
![773_fringed_myotis_bat_durham_hero.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/773_fringed_myotis_bat_durham_hero.jpg?itok=trx8Wr7I)
The canyon mouse is a moderate to small-sized mouse-like rodent with a long tail, nearly naked ears and a long, lax, and silky dusty gray pelage. In Oregon, most locations where the canyon mouse has been found are in Harney and Malheur counties, but the distribution includes a group of localities in Crook, Jefferson, Wasco, and Wheeler counties and another group in Lake County. There are also records of the species in extreme southeastern Baker County. Rock, primarily rimrock and talus slopes, seems to be the key component of habitats occupied by the canyon mouse. They are usually active nocturnally
Features: Oregon is home to an estimated 25,000-30,000 black bears, which is North America’s most common bear species. They are the only type of bear found in Oregon. Despite their name, black bears are often brown in color. Habitat: Black bears are found statewide, with concentrations in the Coast and Cascade ranges and the Blue Mountains. Techniques: Oregon offers a controlled spring season (apply by Feb. 10) and a general fall season. Glassing open areas where bears are feeding on grass and shrubs works early spring season. Later in the season, some hunters turn to predator calls. Most fall bears
![black_bear_matlacha_flickr.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2017-09/black_bear_matlacha_flickr.jpg?itok=GOt_e7Pn)
Arguably the most widely recognized of Oregon's birds, the American robin is the largest, most abundant, and most widespread thrush in the state. Ranging from sea level to treeline, the robin's loud, musical voice and conspicuous brick-red chest make it unmistakable to even the most casual of observers. The robin thrives in both human-dominated and natural landscapes and is considered to be a habitat generalist throughout its range. Considering the robin's natural history, we know most about its diet, which comprises primarily of soft invertebrates in the spring and summer and fruit in the fall and winter. It is most
![1553_american_robin_munsel.jpg American robin](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/1553_merican_robin_cx.jpg?itok=v6dQ6Ahp)
Of Oregon's breeding seabirds, Leach's storm-petrel is the smallest, most pelagic, and flies the farthest offshore of any of Oregon's breeding seabirds to feed. It spends the non-breeding season in the subtropical and equatorial Pacific. It is the second most abundant breeding seabird in Oregon, and is rarely seen from land or close to shore. It comes to its breeding islands, where it nests in burrows, only under the cover of darkness. Its plumage is black and Oregon populations have a distinct white rump. Leach's storm-petrels are long lived birds characterized by long-term pair bonds and may breed yearly for
![Leachs-storm-petrel_Seabamiru_flickr.jpg Leache's storm petrel](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/Leach%27s%20storm%20petrel_Seabamirum%20%28flickr%29.jpg?itok=oQw-71Bx)
These small, chunky plovers are uncommon to locally abundant migrants statewide, where they are among the most visible and easily identified small shorebirds. The only single-banded plover that occurs in Oregon, they can be remarkably easy to see when they are moving about on mud flats, and remarkably hard to detect when only their unmoving brown backs are visible against the mud. It is an uncommon to locally abundant migrant, with most birds at estuaries and some concentrations in spring at larger lakes of southeast Oregon. In the fall, it's rare in the Cascades; in winter, it's uncommon at larger
![6475_semipalmated_plover_gilson.jpg Semi palmated plover](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/6475_semipalmated_plover_gilson.jpg?itok=Dh7HIf5H)
This large arctic gull visits the Northwest in winter where its pale bulk often stands out in gull flocks. Finding one is a highlight of winter birding. Even at a distance the size and frosty tones of this bird can be spotted in a flock. Most Oregon birds are in the whitish first-or-second-year plumage showing a pinkish bill with sharply delineated black tip, but third-year birds and adults occur now and then, mainly on the north coast and at Sauvie Island. They are rare but regular along the coast and the Columbia River, and rare in the Willamette Valley. It
![glaucous_gull_richard_mittleman_flickr_0.jpg Glaucous gull](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/glaucous_gull_richard_mittleman_flickr.jpg?itok=y9ALTNGW)
This medium-sized owl is easily recognized by its conspicuous "ear" tufts, yellow eyes set in a round facial disk, size, and mottled plumage of black, brown, gray, buff, and white. Legs and toes are densely feathered. Females are larger and darker in coloration than males. It is strictly nocturnal and secretive during nesting. The Long-eared owl is a fairly common breeder in open country east of the Cascades in wooded riparian areas and junipers. It is a common breeder on Boardman Bombing Range, Morrow County and widespread in Malheur County. It is a rare breeder in the foothills of the
![long-eared_owl_rudo_jurecek_flickr.jpg Long-eared owl](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/long-eared_owl_rudo_jurecek_flickr.jpg?itok=tdzX0u5K)
Perhaps the most enigmatic hummingbird found regularly in Oregon, the Broad-tailed hummingbird has so far eluded documentation of its breeding in the state, likely due to identification uncertainties and the remoteness of its preferred habitat. Primarily a Rocky Mountain species, its hard-to-define breeding range seems to reach its limit at Oregon's eastern edges where reports of this beautiful and rare species arise each summer. The relatively large adult male has a rose-red gorget and green plumage with no dorsal Rufous coloration. Females and immatures are nearly indistinguishable in the field from those of the more common Rufous hummingbird. Hear the
![broad-tailed_hummingbird_chuck_roberts_flickr.jpg Broad-tailed hummingbird](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/broad-tailed_hummingbird_chuck_roberts_flickr_cx.jpg?itok=izZPRXp8)
This is a marine gull that breeds on both offshore islands and rocky cliffs along the Oregon Coast. It also uses structures for nesting and, occasionally, will nest on grass-covered headlands. The Western gull's food comes from the marine environment, estuaries, and the immediate shoreline. It eats small fish, clams, mussels, bird eggs, the young of other birds nesting nearby, sea urchins, starfish, squid, crustaceans, marine worms, and carrion. it will scavenge garbage or waste from fishing boats as well. It is present all year along the entire coast of Oregon. Hear the call of the Western gull Photo by
![2130054_western_gull_budeau.jpg Western gull](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/2130054_western_gull_budeau.jpg?itok=1s0yMf31)
This gull nests on offshore islands, rocky coastal cliffs, and sometimes in grass on level parts of headlands. It forages in the marine and intertidal environments. Glaucous-winged gulls eat just about any animal material they find. They take small fish, barnacles, molluscs, sea urchins, bird eggs, carrion and animal waste discarded from fishing boats. It is rare but regular along the coast and the Columbia River; local and rare in the Willamette Valley. In can be uncommon midwinter at Sauvie Island. Most Glaucous-winged gulls in Oregon nest in the mouth of the Columbia River. Hear the call of the Glaucous-winged
![1979_glaucous_winged_gull_gilson.jpg Glaucous-winged gull](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/1979_glaucous_winged_gull_gilson.jpg?itok=rNh_JxBf)
This is a small tern most often seen along the coast flying along the beaches or hovering and diving over a school of fish just offshore. Breeding-plumage adults have sharp black caps, reddish bills, and forked tails, and are pale grayish above and white to pale gray below. They are a common to abundant spring and fall transient over the ocean, usually within 15 miles, irregularly along the coast and in the estuaries. Nearshore and inland flocks are often observed resting in compact flocks on nearby shores or on floating objects, or flying about over the water in search of
![common_tern_corine_bliek_flickr.jpg Common tern](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/common_tern_corine_bliek_flickr.jpg?itok=EzH0Y7Rc)
Clark's grebe is very similar in plumage, habitat, and behavior to the western grebe. It breeds in inland lakes with emergent vegetation such as cattails and tules. It requires open water for foraging on the surface or diving below in pursuit of fish. It winters both along the seacoast and on major rivers. Like the western grebe, Clark's grebe is a specialist in fish, which make up over 80 percent of its diet. It will also eat other aquatic organisms like crayfish, amphibians, and aquatic insects. Its breeding range in Oregon overlaps that of western grebe, but Clark's is not
![clarks_grebe_ganskopp.jpg Clark's grebe](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/clarks_grebe_ganskopp.jpg?itok=q5fbBQ0f)
A big, well-mannered bird of friendly, even playful disposition, with an abundant curiosity as to human presence and activities within the realm of open ocean over which he presides. Long-winged, to seven feet, and dark sooty-brown; adults have a white rump and feathering, which juveniles lack, around the base of a large bill. Every sighting of these gentle giants gliding up to the boat evokes delight. The black-footed albatross is a regular visitant spring through fall offshore, but is irregular in winter. They glean squid, fish and fish eggs from the ocean surface and also eat galley scraps. Hear the
![black_footed_albatross_reesman_odfw.jpg Black-footed albatross](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/black_footed_albatross_reesman_odfw.jpg?itok=qdyT2Zxu)
After the shot, don ’t take your eyes off the turkey. Quickly and safely get to the downed bird to make sure it’s dead, or to take a second shot if it’s not. Turkeys are high-strung birds that can move quickly. A lot can happen between when you take a shot and when your bullet or arrow hits the bird that can lead to a wounded bird. You’ll want to be ready to take a second before the bird can run or fly away. Follow up for shotgun hunters When turkey hunting with a shotgun, keep the gun in a
![image of turkey hunter taking aim at a turkey](/sites/default/files/styles/380x228/public/2020-09/Timing-your-shot-NWTF.jpg?itok=xB-oaruG)
This bat, found in older forests, has a wingspan of about 10 inches. Its fur is glossy black, tipped with white. It forages over ponds, streams, meadows and roads, often flying very low and roosting behind loose tree bark. Maternity roosts of the silver-haired bat are found in trees. This bat usually bears twins. The silver-haired bat occurs statewide in Oregon except for most of the Columbia Basin and is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in all ecoregions except the Nearshore ecoregion. It is primarily associated with coniferous forests, including the juniper woodlands in the southeastern portion of the state
![927_silver-haired_bat_durham.jpg Silver-haired](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/927_silver-haired_bat_durham_cx.jpg?itok=9SK9Nq6H)
This moderately small wren maintains the frenetic energy that is so obviously typical of this family of birds. It is a summer inhabitant in many parts of Oregon, generally in open woodlands, thickets, and occasionally in residential gardens. The House wren occurs over the widest latitudinal range of any New World passerine. The House wren nests in a wide variety of native and human-influenced habitats. Nest sites are primarily located within preformed cavities in snags. It is a very uncommon to common transient and summer resident in semi-open woodland habitats throughout the state. In southwest Oregon, it is most common
![2272_house_wren_munsel.jpg House wren](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/2272_house_wren_munsel_cx.jpg?itok=8ITMkMEs)
The Veery is known less for its appearance than for its ethereal song, a series of spiraling, reverberating flutelike notes, each lower in pitch, suggesting the name: vee-ur, vee-ur, vee-ur. A patient observer may get a fleeting glimpse of a small thrush with reddish brown upperparts, pale undersides, and a buffy upper breast with a few darker spots. It is an uncommon breeder in lower to middle elevations in the Blue Mountains where sufficient riparian thickets exist for cover and forage needs. It is locally common along watercourses in Union, Wallowa, and east Umatilla counties, and less common in north
![veery_kelly_colgan_azar_flickr_1.jpg Veery](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/veery_dan_sudia_usfws_cx.jpg?itok=yPyaIbaV)
The Buff-breasted sandpiper resembles a plover with a high-stepping, pigeon-like gait. One of the few Oregon shorebirds that frequents dry, sparsely vegetated coastal grasslands. Fall migrants consist of juveniles. It has scaly, buffy-brown underparts, yellow legs, a small head, and a short black bill. Beady black eyes stand out on a plain, pale face. It bobs its head while moving. Gleaming white underwings are displayed in a graceful flight pattern. It is unique among North American shorebirds in having a lek mating system. This is a rare but regular fall migrant on the Oregon coast where it has been recorded
![8049_buff_breasted_sandpiper_gilson.jpg Buff breasted sandpiper](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/8049_buff_breasted_sandpiper_gilson_cx.jpg?itok=h3wty-Pq)