This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Mount Rainier National Park, which is in the U.S. state of Washington. This list is based on one published by the National Park Service (NPS).
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 66th Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS).Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, N. A. Mason, and P. C. Rasmussen. 2025. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.americanornithology.org/taxa/ retrieved September 5, 2025 Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
This list contains 167 species when taxonomic changes have been made. Unless otherwise noted, all are considered to occur regularly in Mount Rainier National Park as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. The tags below are used to designate the abundance of some species.
(R) Rare - "usually seen only a few times each year" per the NPS (19 species) (U) Uncommon - "likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season and may be locally common" per the NPS (33 species) (O) Occasional - "occur in a park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" per the NPS (Five species) (NC) Not confirmed - "Attributed to the park based on weak ("unconfirmed record") or no evidence" per the NPS (21 species) (Unk) Unknown (33 species) (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (Two species; two more that are native to North America were introduced in Washington)
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils.
Snow goose, Anser caerulescens (NC) Canada goose, Branta canadensis Wood duck, Aix sponsa (O) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (NC) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata (NC) American wigeon, Mareca americana (O) Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta (U) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris (NC) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola (U) Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (Unk) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (Unk) Common merganser, Mergus merganser (R)
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits.
California quail, Callipepla californica (Unk) (Introduced to Washington)
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo (NC) (Introduced to Washington) Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus (U) Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps (NC) Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis (Unk)
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura (NC) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves.
Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor (Unk)
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger (Unk) Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (Unk)
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards.
Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope (Unk) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus (Unk)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers.
Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (U)
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (Unk)
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food.
Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (R) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (Unk) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (R) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (R) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (NC) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (Unk)
Auks, murres, and puffins Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Alcidae
The family Alcidae includes auks, murres, and puffins. These are short winged birds that live on the open sea and normally only come ashore for breeding.
Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus (U)
Gulls, terns, and skimmers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Laridae
Laridae is a family of medium to large seabirds and includes gulls, terns, kittiwakes, and skimmers. They are typically gray or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills and webbed feet.
Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (NC) Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (NC) California gull, Larus californicus (Unk) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia (Unk)
Loons Order: GaviiformesFamily: Gaviidae
Loons are aquatic birds the size of a large duck, to which they are unrelated. Their plumage is largely gray or black, and they have spear-shaped bills. Loons swim well and fly adequately, but are almost hopeless on land, because their legs are placed towards the rear of the body.
Common loon, Gavia immer (R)
Cormorants and shags Order: SuliformesFamily: Phalacrocoracidae
Cormorants are medium-to-large aquatic birds, usually with mainly dark plumage and areas of colored skin on the face. The bill is long, thin, and sharply hooked. Their feet are four-toed and webbed.
Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum (NC)
Herons, egrets, and bitterns Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills.
Great blue heron, Ardea herodias
New World vultures Order: CathartiformesFamily: Cathartidae
The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers; however, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses.
Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura (Unk)
Osprey Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae
Pandionidae is a monotypic family of fish-eating birds of prey. Its single species possesses a very large and powerful hooked beak, strong legs, strong talons, and keen eyesight.
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus (U)
Hawks, eagles, and kites Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae
Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey, which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight.
Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Unk) Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus (U) Cooper's hawk, Astur cooperii (Unk) American goshawk, Astur atricapillus (U) Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius (Unk) Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (R) Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis (U) Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus (Unk) Ferruginous hawk, Buteo regalis (NC) Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos (U)
Barn-owls Order: StrigiformesFamily: Tytonidae
Barn-owls are medium to large owls with large heads and characteristic heart-shaped faces. They have long strong legs with powerful talons.
Barn owl, Tyto alba (NC)
Owls Order: StrigiformesFamily: Strigidae
Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk.
Western screech-owl, Megascops kennicottii (Unk) Great horned owl, Bubo virginianus Snowy owl, Bubo scandiacus (NC) Northern pygmy-owl, Glaucidium gnoma Spotted owl, Strix occidentalis (U) Barred owl, Strix varia Great gray owl, Strix nebulosa (NC) Long-eared owl, Asio otus (O) Boreal owl, Aegolius funereus (NC) Northern saw-whet owl, Aegolius acadicus (Unk)
Kingfishers Order: CoraciiformesFamily: Alcedinidae
Kingfishers are medium-sized birds with large heads, long, pointed bills, short legs, and stubby tails.
Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers Order: PiciformesFamily: Picidae
Woodpeckers are small to medium-sized birds with chisel-like beaks, short legs, stiff tails, and long tongues used for capturing insects. Some species have feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, while several species have only three toes. Many woodpeckers have the habit of tapping noisily on tree trunks with their beaks.
Lewis's woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (R) Williamson's sapsucker, Sphyrapicus thyroideus (NC) Red-breasted sapsucker, Sphyrapicus ruber (Unk) Downy woodpecker, Picoides pubescens Hairy woodpecker, Picoides villosus American three-toed woodpecker, Picoides dorsalis (U) Black-backed woodpecker, Picoides arcticus (R) Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus