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WildLookoutKnow where to go. Know when to photograph.

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WildLookout

Opportunity scores are planning aids, not sighting guarantees. How scoring works

Wildlife welfare comes before any photograph.

Sightings from eBird
Weather by Open-Meteo
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Tiles by OpenFreeMap · Terrain from AWS Terrain Tiles

Songbird

Varied thrush

Ixoreus naevius

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

Seasonality

Peaks across 4 months. In the lowlands mostly from October to March; breeds in mountain forests in summer.

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Behavior

Forages on the ground in leaf litter under dense trees.
Its eerie, single-pitched whistle carries through the forest in late winter.
More birds move into the lowlands during cold snaps and snow.

Photography tips

Ground-feeding birds need a low angle; kneel or sit to get on their level.
The orange breast can blow out in patches of sun, so overcast days are ideal.

Field ethics

Cold snaps stress wintering birds; keep visits short and avoid flushing them repeatedly.

Where to look

Whatcom Falls ParkWhatcom County · Peaks across 4 months
Stimpson Family Nature ReserveWhatcom County · Peaks across 4 months
Welcome Bridge River AccessWhatcom County · Peaks across 4 months
Barrell Springs WetlandsSkagit County · Peaks across 4 months
Skagit River at RockportSkagit County · Peaks across 4 months