Table Of ContentBI R DS
of the
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
BI R DS
of the
PACIFIC NORTHWEST
John Shewey & Tim Blount
with Hendrik Herlyn, editor
TIMBER PRESS FIELD GUIDE
Frontispiece: Hooded Merganser
Copyright © 2017 by John Shewey and Tim Blount. All rights reserved.
Published in 2017 by Timber Press, Inc.
Photo and illustration credits appear on pages 534–539.
The Haseltine Building
133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450
Portland, Oregon 97204-3527
timberpress.com
Printed in China
Book design by Adrianna Sutton
Cover design by Patrick Barber
Series design by Susan Applegate
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Shewey, John. | Blount, Tim.
Title: Birds of the Pacific Northwest / John Shewey and Tim Blount ;
with Hendrik Herlyn, editor.
Description: Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, 2017. | Series: Timber Press field
guide | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016027189 (print) | LCCN 2016041401 (ebook) | ISBN
9781604696653 (flexibind: alk. paper) | ISBN 9781604697858 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Birds—Northwest, Pacific—Identification.
Classification: LCC QL683.N75 S54 2017 (print) | LCC QL683.N75 (ebook) | DDC
598.09795—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016027189
ISBN 13: 978-1-60469-665-3
A catalog record for this book is also available from the British Library.
Great Egret
CONTENTS
Birdwatching in the Pacific Northwest 9
Tools of the Trade 11
Bird Identification 13
Glossary of Plumage and Anatomy Terminology 23
Finding Birds 26
Using this Book to Identify Birds 40
Ducks, Geese, and Swans 48
Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, and Turkeys 92
Loons and Grebes 108
Albatrosses, Shearwaters, Fulmars, and Storm-Petrels 119
Cormorants 130
Pelicans, Herons, and Ibises 134
Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Vultures, and Osprey 149
Rails and Cranes 183
Sandpipers, Plovers, Curlews, and Their Allies 189
Alcids, Gulls, Terns, and Jaegers 243
Doves and Pigeons 284
Cuckoos 289
Owls 290
Nightjars and Swifts 306
Hummingbirds 312
Kingfishers 322
Woodpeckers 324
Flycatchers 338
Shrikes and Vireos 354
Jays, Crows, Ravens, Magpies, and Nutcrackers 362
Larks and Swallows 372
Chickadees, Titmice, Nuthatches, Creepers, Bushtits, Wrens, Dippers,
Gnatcatchers, Wrentits, and Kinglets 383
Thrushes and Bluebirds 406
Mimids, Pipits, Starlings, and Waxwings 417
Warblers 427
Tanagers, Buntings, and Grosbeaks 454
Sparrows 465
Blackbirds, Cowbirds, Grackles, Bobolink, Meadowlarks, and Orioles 495
Finches and House Sparrows 510
Recommended Resources 527
Further Reading 530
Metric Conversions 532
Acknowledgments 533
Photography and Illustration Credits 534
Index 540
Golden-crowned Sparrow
BIRDWATCHING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
The corner of the world we know as the their passion—and for good reason: they
Pacific Northwest is home to an amazing can see birds found few other places and
array of bird life. From the southern bor- they can observe substantial numbers of
ders of Oregon and Idaho, north to south- species that are new to them.
ern British Columbia, to the Pacific Ocean We ourselves are Pacific Northwest lif-
in the west, and east to the Rocky Moun- ers; we’ve lived in various parts of both Or-
tains, almost 400 bird species occur. This egon and Idaho, and traveled substantially
includes nearly 300 breeding species, throughout the region. This is our home,
thanks to the region’s incredibly diverse and the amazing diversity of birds and hab-
habitat types: open ocean, beaches and itats in the Northwest is a big reason why.
bays, coniferous forest, deciduous wood- This guide is the culmination of our pas-
lands, mixed forests, high mountains, sion for birds, the Pacific Northwest, and in
deserts, shrub steppe, rivers and lakes big particular, Pacific Northwest birds.
and small, just to name a few. Such a rich Our hope for Birds of the Pacific North-
and varied assemblage of habitats assures west is to serve all levels of birdwatchers,
an equally varied avian population, from whether you simply enjoy feeding song-
bird species that occupy very small en- birds in your backyard or are an ardent
claves of the region, to widespread gener- enthusiast who considers birding your pri-
alists that occur in many habitats. Birding mary hobby. Carry the book with you in
strategies here are diverse, as well—from the field, keep it handy on your bookshelf,
a casual interest to the near-addictive pur- study it and learn more about your favor-
suit of certain species. Indeed, birdwatch- ite species and birds that are new to you.
ing enthusiasts from the far-flung corners Above all, enjoy it and embrace the wonder
of the United States and beyond routinely of Northwest birds.
travel to the Pacific Northwest to pursue
9
