This is a comprehensive listing of the bird species recorded in Olympic 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 298 species when taxonomic changes have been made. Unless otherwise noted, all are considered to occur regularly in Olympic 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 (18 species) (U) Uncommon - "likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season and may be locally common" per the NPS (84 species) (O) Occasional - "occur in a park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year" per the NPS (38 species) (NC) Not confirmed - "Attributed to the park based on weak ("unconfirmed record") or no evidence" per the NPS (52 species) (Unk) Unknown (1 species) (I) Introduced - a species introduced to North America by humans (5 species; one more that is native to North America was introduced to 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) Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons (R) Brant, Branta bernicla (O) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii (U) Canada goose, Branta canadensis Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (U) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus (U) Wood duck, Aix sponsa (U) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors (O) Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera (O) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera (R) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (NC) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Northern pintail, Anas acuta (R) Green-winged teal, Anas crecca (U) Canvasback, Aythya valisineria (O) Redhead, Aythya americana (O) Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila (U) Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis (U) Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (U) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (NC) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (U) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula (U) Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica (U) Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus (U) Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (O)
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 (U) (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.
Ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus Sooty grouse, Dendragapus fuliginosus Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I) (O)
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 (U) Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus (U) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (U) Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis
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 (O) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) (U) Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) (U)
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 (U)
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 Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (U)
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.
Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna (U) Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances".
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis (U)
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 (R) American coot, Fulica americana (U)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
American avocet, Recurvirostra americana (NC)
Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae
The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prising open molluscs.
Black oystercatcher, Haematopus bachmani
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.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (NC) Pacific golden-plover, Pluvialis fulva (U) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus (U) Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus (U)
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.
Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus (U) Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus (NC) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica (NC) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa (U) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (U) Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala Red knot, Calidris canutus (U) Surfbird, Calidris virgata Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (NC) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus (NC) Red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis (O) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Rock sandpiper, Calidris ptilocnemis (U) Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii (U) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (NC) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos (R) Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla (NC) Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus (U) Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus (U) Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata (U) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria (O) Wandering tattler, Tringa incana (U) Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (U) Willet, Tringa semipalmata (NC) Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca (U) Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor (NC) Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus (U) Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicarius (O)
Skuas and jaegers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Stercorariidae
Skuas are in general medium to large birds, typically with gray or brown plumage, often with white markings on the wings. They have longish bills with hooked tips and webbed feet with sharp claws. They look like large dark gulls, but have a fleshy cere above the upper mandible. They are strong, acrobatic fliers.
Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus (Unk) Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (NC) Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus (NC)
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.
Common murre, Uria aalge Thick-billed murre, Uria lomvia (NC) Pigeon guillemot, Cepphus columba Marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus Scripps's murrelet, Synthliboramphus scrippsi (NC) Ancient murrelet, Synthliboarmphus antiquus (NC) Cassin's auklet, Ptychoramphus aleuticus Parakeet auklet, Aethia psittacula (NC) Rhinoceros auklet, Cerorhinca monocerata Horned puffin, Fratercula corniculata Tufted puffin, Fratercula cirrhata (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 (U) Sabine's gull, Xema sabini (NC) Bonaparte's gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus (NC) Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla (O) Franklin's gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan (O) Heermann's gull, Larus heermanni Short-billed gull, Larus brachyrhynchus Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis (U) Western gull, Larus occidentalis California gull, Larus californicus Herring gull, Larus argentatus (U) Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides (U) Slaty-backed gull, Larus schistisagus (NC) Glaucous-winged gull, Larus glaucescens Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus (R) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia Common tern, Sterna hirundo (NC) Arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea (NC) Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri (U) Elegant tern, Thalasseus elegans (R)
Loons