Birding in Washington

The top birding locations in Washington include Olympic National Park, Skagit Valley, Discovery Park, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Montlake Fill (Union Bay Natural Area), Marymoor Park, Spencer Island, Alki (including north and south beaches), Bateman Island, Bennington Lake, Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Blaine Marine Park, Bottle Beach, Brady Loop, Calispell Lake, Cameron Lake Road, Cape Disappointment State Park, Cape Flattery, Carkeek Park, Cassimer Bar Wildlife Area, Cedar River mouth, Central Ferry HMU, Crockett Lake, Deer Lagoon, Discovery Park - West Point, Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, Ediz Hook, Edmonds Waterfront, Eloika Lake, Elwha River Mouth, Gardiner Beach, Getty's Cove, Golden Gardens Park, Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Griffiths-Priday State Park, Hobuck Beach, Hoquiam STP, Juanita Bay Park, Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge, Kent Ponds, La Push, Lake Sammamish State Park, Leadbetter Point, Leque Island - Eide Road, Leslie Groves Park/Nelson Island, Lighthouse Marine Park, Point Roberts, Lummi Flats, Lyons Ferry Park, Magnuson Park, March Point, Marymoor Park, McNary National Wildlife Refuge - Headquarters/Quail Trail, McNary National Wildlife Refuge - Millet & Woodland Ponds, McNary National Wildlife Refuge - Two Rivers Unit, McNary National Wildlife Refuge - Walla Walla River Delta, Midway Beach, Mill Canyon, Neah Bay - general area, Neah Bay - town and bay only, Ocean City State Park, Ocean Shores, Ocean Shores - Damon Point, Ocean Shores - Point Brown Jetty, Olympic National Park - Kalaloch, Pearrygin Lake State Park, Point Defiance Park - Dune Peninsula & Wilson Way, Point No Point, Point Roberts, Point Wilson, Port Williams - Holland, Schmuck, John Scott Rds., Potholes State Park, Reardan Ponds, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge - River 'S' Unit, Salt Creek County Park, Saltese Flats, Saltese Wetlands, Samish Flats, Samish Island, Sandy Point, Semiahmoo Spit, Sentinel Bluffs, Skagit Wildlife Area - Fir Island Farm Reserve (Hayton Reserve), Skagit Wildlife Area - Wiley Slough, Spencer Island, Sprague Lake, Sprague Lake, Steamboat Rock State Park, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Sun Lakes State Park, Swallows Park, Theler Wetlands, Three Crabs, Tokeland, Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge, Tsoo-Yess River Valley & Beach, Tulalip Bay (Tulalip Reservation), Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Union Bay Natural Area/Montlake Fill, Vancouver Lake lowlands, Wanapum State Park, Washtucna, Wenas Area, Wenas Lake, Wenatchee Confluence State Park/Horan Wildlife Area, Westport, Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Woodland Bottoms. Each offers unique habitats and species.

The best seasons for birding in Washington are Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area. Winter offers opportunities for cold-weather specialties and waterfowl.

Notable species in Washington include Marbled Murrelet, Harlequin Duck, American Dipper, Varied Thrush, Sooty Grouse, Downy Woodpecker, Canada Jay, Steller's Jay, and more. The state supports forest, coastal, mountain, grassland, wetland, meadow, riparian, lake, urban park, marsh, river/riparian, canyon habitats.