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List of birds of Washington (state) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The state of Washington is home to many different kinds of birds! This list tells you about the 522 types of birds that have been seen here. Some birds live in Washington all the time, while others visit in summer or winter, or just pass through.

You'll see some special letters next to certain birds:

  • (A) Accidental: These birds don't usually live in Washington. They've only been seen 20 or fewer times in the last 10 years.
  • (S) Sight record: These birds have only been seen and written about, but there's no photo or other proof.
  • (I) Introduced: Humans brought these birds to Washington, either on purpose or by accident.

Ducks, Geese, and Swans

Branta-canadensis-004
The Canada goose is a common sight in Washington.

Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

This group includes ducks, geese, and swans. These birds are great at living in water! They have webbed feet, flat beaks, and special oily feathers that shed water easily. Forty-eight different kinds of these birds have been seen in Washington.

Quails and Game Birds

Order: Galliformes

This group includes quails, pheasants, and grouse. They are usually plump birds that live on the ground. Many of them are hunted for sport or raised for food.

New World Quail

Family: Odontophoridae

New World quails are small, round birds. They look a bit like Old World quails but are not closely related. Three species have been seen in Washington.

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Family: Phasianidae

This family includes pheasants and grouse. They are ground-dwelling birds that vary in size. Many have short, broad wings. Eleven species have been recorded in Washington.

Grebes

Order: Podicipediformes Family: Podicipedidae

Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds that live in freshwater. They have lobed toes, which help them swim and dive very well. However, their feet are set far back on their bodies, making them clumsy on land. Seven species have been seen in Washington.

Pigeons and Doves

Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae

Pigeons and doves are birds with sturdy bodies, short necks, and thin beaks. Six species have been recorded in Washington.

Cuckoos

Order: Cuculiformes Family: Cuculidae

This family includes cuckoos and roadrunners. These birds have slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Nightjars and Swifts

Order: Apodiformes

This group includes birds that are amazing fliers!

Nightjars and Allies

Family: Caprimulgidae

Nightjars are medium-sized birds that are active at night. They usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short beaks. Their soft feathers are colored to help them blend in with tree bark or leaves. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Swifts

Family: Apodidae

Swifts are small birds that spend most of their lives flying. They have very short legs and almost never land on the ground. Instead, they perch on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long, swept-back wings that look like a crescent moon. Three species have been seen in Washington.

Hummingbirds

Order: Apodiformes Family: Trochilidae

Hummingbirds are tiny birds famous for hovering in the air by flapping their wings super fast. They are the only birds that can fly backward! Nine species have been recorded in Washington.

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Fulica americana3
The American coot is a common water bird.

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

This is a large family of small to medium-sized birds like rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. They usually live in thick plants near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are often shy and hard to spot. Most have strong legs and long toes, perfect for walking on soft, uneven ground. Five species have been seen in Washington.

Cranes

Order: Gruiformes Family: Gruidae

Cranes are large birds with long legs and long necks. Unlike herons, which look similar, cranes fly with their necks stretched out. They often have fancy and loud "dances" during mating season. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Shorebirds

Order: Charadriiformes

This large group includes many birds that live near water, like stilts, avocets, oystercatchers, plovers, and sandpipers.

Stilts and Avocets

Family: Recurvirostridae

This family includes avocets and stilts, which are large wading birds. Avocets have long legs and long, upward-curved beaks. Stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight beaks. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Oystercatchers

Family: Haematopodidae

Oystercatchers are large, noticeable, and noisy birds. They have strong beaks that they use to smash open or pry apart shellfish. One species has been seen in Washington.

Plovers and Lapwings

Killdeer
The Killdeer is a common plover.

Family: Charadriidae

This family includes plovers and dotterels. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, pointed wings. They live in open areas worldwide, especially near water. Twelve species have been seen in Washington.

Sandpipers and Allies

Family: Scolopacidae

This is a large and varied family of small to medium-sized shorebirds. It includes sandpipers, curlews, godwits, and phalaropes. Most of these birds eat small bugs they find in mud or soil. Different beak and leg lengths allow many species to feed in the same places without competing for food. Forty-four species have been seen in Washington.

Skuas and Jaegers

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Stercorariidae

Skuas are medium to large birds, usually gray or brown. They look like big, dark gulls but have a hooked beak. They are strong, acrobatic fliers. Four species have been seen in Washington.

Auks, Murres, and Puffins

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Alcidae

This family includes auks, murres, and puffins. These birds have short wings and live on the open sea, only coming to land to breed. Sixteen species have been seen in Washington.

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Larus-delawarensis-021
The Ring-billed gull is a common sight.

Order: Charadriiformes Family: Laridae

This family includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. They are medium to large seabirds, usually gray or white, often with black marks on their heads or wings. They have strong beaks and webbed feet. Thirty-one species have been seen in Washington.

Tropicbirds

Order: Phaethontiformes Family: Phaethontidae

Tropicbirds are slender white birds that live in tropical oceans. They have very long central tail feathers. One species has been seen in Washington.

Loons

Order: Gaviiformes Family: Gaviidae

Loons are aquatic birds, about the size of a large duck. They are mostly gray or black and have spear-shaped beaks. Loons swim and fly well, but they are very clumsy on land because their legs are at the back of their bodies. Five species have been seen in Washington.

Albatrosses

Order: Procellariiformes Family: Diomedeidae

Albatrosses are among the largest flying birds. Some have the biggest wingspans of any living bird! Four species have been seen in Washington.

Storm-Petrels and Shearwaters

Order: Procellariiformes

This group includes small seabirds that often feed on tiny ocean creatures while hovering over the water.

Southern Storm-Petrels

Family: Oceanitidae

Storm-petrels are the smallest seabirds. They are related to petrels and eat tiny crustaceans and small fish from the water's surface. Their flight is fluttery, sometimes like a bat. One species has been seen in Washington.

Northern Storm-Petrels

Family: Hydrobatidae

These storm-petrels look and act much like the southern ones, but genetic differences mean they are in a separate family. Three species have been seen in Washington.

Shearwaters and Petrels

Northern Fulmar
The Northern fulmar is a type of petrel.

Family: Procellariidae

This family includes medium-sized "true petrels." They have nostrils that are joined together and a long outer wing feather. Fifteen species have been seen in Washington.

Frigatebirds

Order: Suliformes Family: Fregatidae

Frigatebirds are large seabirds found in tropical oceans. They are mostly black or black and white, with long wings and deeply forked tails. Males have colorful throat pouches that can inflate. They don't swim or walk well and can't take off from flat ground. They are amazing fliers, able to stay in the air for over a week! One species has been seen in Washington.

Boobies and Gannets

Order: Suliformes Family: Sulidae

This family includes gannets and boobies. Both are medium-large coastal seabirds that dive headfirst into the water to catch fish. Four species have been seen in Washington.

Cormorants and Pelicans

Order: Pelecaniformes

These are large water birds, often found near coasts or large bodies of water.

Cormorants and Shags

Family: Phalacrocoracidae

Cormorants are medium to large aquatic birds, usually dark-feathered with colored skin on their faces. Their beaks are long, thin, and sharply hooked. They have webbed feet with four toes. Three species have been seen in Washington.

Pelicans

Family: Pelecanidae

Pelicans are very large water birds with a unique pouch under their beak. Like other birds in their group, they have four webbed toes. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Ardeidae

This family includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns are usually shorter-necked and more secretive. These birds fly with their necks pulled back. Nine species have been seen in Washington.

Ibises and Spoonbills

Order: Pelecaniformes Family: Threskiornithidae

This family includes ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings and long bodies, necks, and legs. Ibises have downward-curved beaks, while spoonbills have straight, flattened beaks. Three species have been seen in Washington.

New World Vultures

Order: Cathartiformes Family: Cathartidae

New World vultures look like Old World vultures but are not closely related. They are scavengers, meaning they eat dead animals. Unlike Old World vultures, which find food by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Osprey

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Pandionidae

The Osprey is a unique bird of prey that eats fish. It has a very large, powerful hooked beak, strong legs, sharp talons, and excellent eyesight.

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae

This family includes hawks, eagles, kites, and harriers. These birds of prey have very large, powerful hooked beaks for tearing meat from their prey. They also have strong legs, powerful talons, and sharp eyesight. Fifteen species have been seen in Washington.

Owls

Order: Strigiformes

Owls are fascinating nocturnal (nighttime) birds of prey.

Barn-Owls

Family: Tytonidae

Barn-owls are medium to large owls with big heads and unique heart-shaped faces. They have long, strong legs with powerful talons. One species has been seen in Washington.

Typical Owls

Family: Strigidae

Typical owls are usually solitary birds of prey that hunt at night. They have large eyes that face forward and big ears. They have a hawk-like beak and a circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. Fourteen species have been seen in Washington.

Kingfishers

Order: Coraciiformes Family: Alcedinidae

Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed beaks, short legs, and stubby tails. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Woodpeckers

Order: Piciformes Family: Picidae

Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues for catching insects. Many woodpeckers tap loudly on tree trunks with their beaks. Thirteen species have been seen in Washington.

Falcons and Caracaras

Order: Falconiformes Family: Falconidae

This family includes falcons and caracaras. Unlike hawks and eagles, falcons kill their prey with their beaks instead of their talons. Eight species have been seen in Washington.

Tyrant Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Tyrannidae

Tyrant flycatchers are songbirds found across North and South America. They look a bit like Old World flycatchers but are stronger and have sturdier beaks. Most of them eat insects. Twenty-four species have been seen in Washington.

Vireos

Order: Passeriformes Family: Vireonidae

Vireos are small to medium-sized songbirds, mostly found in the Americas. They are usually greenish and look a bit like wood warblers, but with heavier beaks. Nine species have been seen in Washington.

Shrikes

Order: Passeriformes Family: Laniidae

Shrikes are songbirds known for catching small animals and impaling them on thorns. Their beaks are hooked, like a bird of prey. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Corvidae

This family includes crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. Corvids are larger than average songbirds, and some of the bigger species are very smart! Ten species have been seen in Washington.

Chickadees and Titmice

Order: Passeriformes Family: Paridae

Chickadees are small, sturdy woodland birds with short, strong beaks. They are adaptable and eat a mix of seeds and insects. Four species have been seen in Washington.

Larks

Order: Passeriformes Family: Alaudidae

Larks are small ground birds known for their fancy songs and display flights. Most larks look fairly plain. They eat insects and seeds. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Swallows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Hirundinidae

Swallows are built for catching food in the air. They have slender bodies, long pointed wings, and short beaks with wide mouths. Their feet are better for perching than walking. Seven species have been seen in Washington.

Long-tailed Tits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Aegithalidae

Long-tailed tits are small songbirds with medium to long tails. They build woven, bag-like nests in trees. Most eat a mix of insects. One species has been seen in Washington.

Kinglets

Order: Passeriformes Family: Regulidae

Kinglets are a small family of very tiny insect-eating birds. Adult kinglets have colored crowns, which is how they got their name. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Waxwings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Bombycillidae

Waxwings are songbirds with soft, silky feathers and unique red tips on some wing feathers that look like sealing wax. They live in northern forests and eat insects in summer and berries in winter. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Silky-Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Ptiliogonatidae

Silky-flycatchers are a small family of songbirds, mostly found in Central America. They are related to waxwings and also have soft, silky feathers, usually gray or pale yellow. They have small crests. One species has been seen in Washington.

Nuthatches

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sittidae

Nuthatches are small woodland birds. They have a special ability to climb down trees headfirst, unlike most other birds that only climb up. Nuthatches have big heads, short tails, and strong beaks and feet. Three species have been seen in Washington.

Treecreepers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Certhiidae

Treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown on top and white underneath. They have thin, pointed, downward-curved beaks that they use to pull insects from tree bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which help them support themselves on trees. One species has been seen in Washington.

Gnatcatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Polioptilidae

These delicate birds look and act like Old World warblers, moving quickly through leaves to find insects. Gnatcatchers are usually soft bluish-gray and have the long, sharp beak of an insect-eater. Many have distinct black head patterns and long, often cocked, black-and-white tails. One species has been seen in Washington.

Wrens

Order: Passeriformes Family: Troglodytidae

Wrens are small and often hard to see, but they have very loud songs! They have short wings and thin, downward-curved beaks. Several species often hold their tails straight up. All wrens eat insects. Seven species have been seen in Washington.

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Mimidae

This family includes thrashers, mockingbirds, and catbirds. These birds are famous for their amazing songs and their ability to copy many different bird calls and other sounds. They tend to be dull gray and brown. Four species have been seen in Washington.

Starlings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Sturnidae

Starlings are small to medium-sized songbirds with strong feet. They fly strongly and directly and often gather in large groups. They prefer open areas and eat insects and fruit. Their feathers are usually dark with a metallic shine. One species has been seen in Washington.

Dippers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae

Dippers are small, sturdy birds that feed in cold, fast-moving streams. One species has been seen in Washington.

Thrushes and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Turdidae

Thrushes are a group of songbirds, mostly found in the Old World. They are plump, soft-feathered, and small to medium-sized. They eat insects or sometimes everything, often feeding on the ground. Many have beautiful songs. Eleven species have been seen in Washington.

Old World Flycatchers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Muscicapidae

Old World flycatchers are a large family of small songbirds. These are mainly small birds that live in trees and eat insects, often catching them in flight. Two species have been seen in Washington.

Accentors

Order: Passeriformes Family: Prunellidae

Accentors are small, rather plain birds with thin, sharp beaks. They look a bit like sparrows but are not closely related. They are native to Europe and Asia and only rarely appear in North America. One species has been seen in Washington.

Old World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passeridae

Old World sparrows are small songbirds. Generally, sparrows are small, plump, brownish or grayish birds with short tails and strong beaks. They eat seeds but also small insects. One species has been seen in Washington.

Wagtails and Pipits

Order: Passeriformes Family: Motacillidae

This family includes wagtails and pipits. They are slender songbirds with medium to long tails that feed on insects on the ground in open areas. Five species have been seen in Washington.

Finches and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Fringillidae

Finches are seed-eating songbirds that are small to medium-large. They have strong, usually cone-shaped beaks. They have a bouncy flight, flapping their wings and then gliding with them closed. Most finches sing well. Fifteen species have been seen in Washington.

Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Calcariidae

This group of songbirds was once thought to be part of the New World sparrows, but they are different and usually live in open grassy areas. Six species have been seen in Washington.

Old World Buntings

Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae

This family of songbirds contains only one group. Until recently, New World sparrows were also in this family. Two species have been seen in Washington.

  • Little bunting, Emberiza pusilla (A)
  • Rustic bunting, Emberiza rustica (A)

New World Sparrows

Order: Passeriformes Family: Passerellidae

These birds are often called sparrows, but they are not closely related to the Old World sparrows. Many of them have unique patterns on their heads. Twenty-six species have been seen in Washington.

Yellow-breasted Chat

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteriidae

This bird used to be grouped with the wood-warblers, but scientists decided it was unique enough to have its own family in 2017.

Troupials and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Icteridae

This family includes grackles, New World blackbirds, and New World orioles. They are small to medium-sized, often colorful songbirds found only in the Americas. Most species are mainly black, sometimes with bright yellow, orange, or red feathers. Sixteen species have been seen in Washington.

New World Warblers

Order: Passeriformes Family: Parulidae

Wood-warblers are a group of small, often colorful songbirds found only in the Americas. Most live in trees, but some, like the ovenbird, live more on the ground. Most members of this family eat insects. Thirty-six species have been seen in Washington.

Cardinals and Allies

Order: Passeriformes Family: Cardinalidae

Cardinals are sturdy, seed-eating birds with strong beaks. They usually live in open woodlands. Males and females often have different feather colors. Ten species have been seen in Washington.

See also

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List of birds of Washington (state) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.