Species

Resident year-round in lowland Whatcom and Skagit counties, with a large winter influx along the Skagit and Nooksack rivers when chum salmon spawn.

Peaks across 4 months11 locations

A slim, owl-faced hawk that quarters low over the fields and marshes of the Samish and Skagit flats. Present all year, with more birds in winter.

Peaks across 4 months4 locations

The fastest bird in the world winters on the Samish and Skagit flats and along the bay shorelines, hunting dunlin flocks and ducks.

Peaks across 4 months5 locations

A fish-eating hawk that returns each April to lakes, rivers and bays across both counties, then leaves for Central and South America in September.

Peaks across 4 months3 locations

The most common large hawk in Whatcom and Skagit counties, present all year and joined in winter by migrants that hunt the open farmland of the Skagit and Samish flats.

Peaks across 4 months6 locations

An Arctic-breeding hawk that winters in small numbers on the open farmland of the Skagit and Samish flats, often hovering over fields in a way few other large hawks do.

Peaks in January, December3 locations

A fast, agile woodland hawk that hunts songbirds in parks, forest edges and backyards across lowland Whatcom and Skagit counties all year.

Peaks in January3 locations

North America's smallest falcon, seen mostly in fall and winter on the open farmland of the Skagit and Samish flats, perched on wires along field edges.

Peaks in January3 locations

A compact, fierce falcon that winters along the coast and farmland of Whatcom and Skagit counties, chasing shorebirds, finches and other small birds at high speed.

Peaks in January5 locations

A winter visitor to the open grasslands and farm fields of the Skagit and Samish flats, hunting low over the fields at dusk.

Peaks in January, February, December2 locations

A large, powerful owl resident in farmland woodlots, river corridors and forest edges across Whatcom and Skagit counties. Pairs begin nesting as early as January.

Peaks in January1 location

A large, dark-eyed forest owl that spread into the Pacific Northwest over the last century and is now common in wooded parks and stream corridors across Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks in January2 locations

A common year-round resident of shorelines, estuaries, marshes and farm ditches. Herons from local colonies forage widely across the tide flats.

Peaks across 7 months13 locations

A small, secretive heron that arrives in spring to breed around marshes, ponds and sloughs in lowland Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks in June2 locations

A noisy, fast-flying fisher of creeks, lakes and protected saltwater shorelines. Present year-round wherever there's open water.

Peaks in August10 locations

Tens of thousands of snow geese from Russia's Wrangel Island winter on the Skagit and Samish flats, feeding in farm fields and estuary marshes.

Peaks across 4 months4 locations

North America's largest waterfowl winters by the thousands in the farm fields of the Skagit and Nooksack valleys, often alongside tundra swans.

Peaks in January, February, December5 locations

A small, dark sea goose that winters on the eelgrass beds of Padilla Bay, Drayton Harbor and Semiahmoo Bay, with numbers building into spring.

Peaks in February, March, April3 locations

A striking sea duck of rocky shorelines and jetties. Harlequins winter along Bellingham Bay and Semiahmoo Bay, then move to fast mountain rivers to breed.

Peaks across 4 months2 locations

An Arctic-breeding swan that winters on the Skagit and Samish flats alongside the larger and more numerous trumpeter swans.

Peaks in January, December1 location

A strikingly patterned duck of wooded ponds, sloughs and marsh edges, present all year in lowland Whatcom and Skagit counties and most visible in spring.

Peaks in April2 locations

A small diving duck whose drakes raise a fan-shaped white crest. It winters on ponds, sloughs and sheltered bays across lowland Whatcom and Skagit counties, and a few pairs stay to breed.

Peaks in January3 locations

An elegant, long-tailed dabbling duck that winters by the thousands on the bays, estuaries and flooded farmland of Skagit and Whatcom counties.

Peaks across 5 months5 locations

A small, buoyant diving duck that winters on sheltered saltwater, harbors and lakes across Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks across 5 months4 locations

A sea duck with a colorful, oversized bill that rafts in large numbers on the bays and harbors of the Salish Sea from fall through spring.

Peaks across 6 months3 locations

A general category for sandpipers, plovers and allies. Dunlin flocks winter on the tide flats, and migrants pass through in spring and late summer.

Peaks in April, May, September4 locations

A large diving bird that winters on the saltwater bays of Whatcom and Skagit counties. Some molt into their striking breeding plumage before leaving in spring.

Peaks in January3 locations

A black seabird with white wing patches and bright red feet that nests in crevices along the Salish Sea shoreline, including around piers and harbors.

Peaks across 4 months3 locations

A large, dark diving bird common on the bays, harbors and rivers of Whatcom and Skagit counties, often seen drying its wings on pilings and channel markers.

Peaks in October3 locations

A dark gray gull with a bright red bill that breeds in Mexico and moves north after nesting, reaching the shores of Whatcom and Skagit counties in late summer.

Peaks in August, September3 locations

The largest woodpecker in North America, resident in mature forests, wooded parks and riverside woodlands across Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks in March4 locations

A year-round hummingbird of lowland gardens and parks in Whatcom and Skagit counties, whose range has spread north with flowering ornamental plants and backyard feeders.

Peaks in March, April2 locations

A tiny, fiery-orange hummingbird that arrives from Mexico in early spring to breed along forest edges and in gardens and parks across Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks in April, May2 locations

North America's only aquatic songbird: a slate-gray bird that walks underwater in fast, rocky creeks and rivers. More birds come down to lowland creeks in winter.

Peaks across 4 months2 locations

A bold, crested blue-and-charcoal jay common in conifer forests, parks and yards across Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks in October, November2 locations

A boldly patterned orange-and-slate thrush that breeds in mountain forests and moves into lowland woods, parks and gardens for fall and winter.

Peaks across 4 months4 locations

A sleek, crested songbird that travels in flocks, feeding on berries and flying insects along forest edges, rivers and wetlands in Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Peaks in June, July, August4 locations