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A medium-sized hawk, the Red-shouldered hawk has bold black-and-white flight feathers and rusty shoulder patches. Seen in flight from underneath, especially when lit from the sun, its wings show a translucent 'window' near the tips. It relies on perches for hunting and is closely affiliated with wooded wetlands and riparian bottomlands. In the breeding season this hawk is found in moist woodlands with at least a few deciduous trees. It prefers riparian bottoms, especially those near shallow wetlands or open meadows. In winter, it may use more open lands such as found in the Rogue and Willamette valleys, depending on
![2214_red-shouldered_hawk_at_finley_geiger_odfw.jpg Red-shouldered hawk](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/2214_red-shouldered_hawk_at_finley_geiger_odfw.jpg?itok=jShar8XF)
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
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 mid-sized, pink-legged gull has caused much of the confusion in west coast gull classification and identification. Its plumage characteristics are similar to Herring, Iceland, and some Glaucous-winged hybrids, and great care is needed for correct identification. It differs from the Herring gull in having a much smaller bill, a darker eye, less black in the wing-tips and, often, a more rounded head. Opportunistic feeders, Thayer's gulls regularly concentrate about landfills, food-processing plants, and over fish runs. It is a common migrant and fairly common winter visitor along the coast. The largest wintering numbers are found in the Portland metropolitan
![thayers_gull_jerry_mcfarland_flickr.jpg Thayer's gull](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/thayers_gull_jerry_mcfarland_flickr.jpg?itok=DHkHFF_U)
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)
Features: Their eyed-side is greenish-brown to dark brown or black with lighter blotches. Their blind side is white to milky-white. They have a large, stout but flat body, shaped like an elongated diamond . Pacific halibut have been known to reach 500 pounds, but on average are 40 pounds. Habitat: Halibut are a large flatfish and so they spend much time near the bottom of the ocean looking above for food. They prefer chilly water and are primarily found in the Gulf of Alaska. Technique: Boat anglers use heavy rods to fish on or near gravel bottoms in water 150-500
![pacific_halibut_mrp_odfw.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/pacific_halibut_mrp_odfw.jpg?itok=gadgqeH0)
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)
Features: Coastal cutthroat trout are typically are blue/green on top, red along the lateral line, and white on the belly. They are lightly or heavily spotted and adults have a red slash mark on the throat. Habitat: The most common variety of trout in Oregon is the coastal cutthroat, found in the streams and beaver ponds in coastal drainages. They also are stocked in high mountain hike-in lakes where the water stays cool throughout the summer. Techniques: Cutthroats that are year-round residents of small streams may not get any bigger than 8- or 9-inches, but can reward the angler with
![cutthroat_seine3_michael_gray_odfw_hero.jpg Thumbnail](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2017-09/cutthroat_seine3_michael_gray_odfw_hero.jpg?itok=bcDbd9gk)
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)
Anna's hummingbird is the largest hummingbird common to our region. It is the only hummingbird regularly found in Oregon in winter, during which time it is exposed to short day lengths, limited sources of food and periods of intense cold. It is more vocal than most hummingbirds with males uttering a dry, scratchy buzz of a song that can be heard throughout the year. It is a rare to locally uncommon summer resident west of the Cascades in interior valleys and along the coast; also along the Columbia River east to The Dalles. It occurs and probably breeds into the
![annas_hb_budeau_1.jpg Anna's humminbird male](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/annas_hummingbird_michelle_dennehy_odfw_cx.jpg?itok=DhNw5vuB)
Dashing and darting about, flashing its bright white underparts, the Violet-green Swallow is one of the characteristic birds of summer. Unlike the Tree Swallow it commonly nests in niches and cavities on urban buildings and readily uses nesting boxes in residential areas. Its soft twittery call notes are a familiar pre-dawn sound as they fly about overhead. The Violet-green swallow is a very early spring migrant concentrating about streams and wetlands where emerging insects can be found until warmer weather allows them to move into more upland areas. It is a common to abundant summer resident and breeding species throughout
![1690_violet-green_swallow_leer_odfw_0.jpg Violet green swallow](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/1690_violet-green_swallow_leer_odfw.jpg?itok=pMExMjIy)
Even in the most barren and desolate reaches of the Great Basin, the cheerful song of the hardy Rock wren will contradict any notion that the desert is devoid of life. This specialist of cracks and crevices can be found almost anywhere there is exposed rock. One of its most unique features is the mysterious pebble path is constructs from its stone-cave nest to the outside entrance. Drab and pale overall, the gray head and back, white to tawny underparts, and gray tail with buff-tipped corners distinguish this species from other wrens. The Rock wren is a common breeder in
![2414_rock_wren_munsel.jpg Rock wren](/sites/default/files/styles/232x139/public/2023-05/2414_rock_wren_munsel_cx.jpg?itok=XXNFPler)