More than 500 bird species have been observed in Washington State, and 389 of these species are threatened by our dynamically changing climate, including the Surf Scoter, Greater Sage-Grouse, Dunlin, and Sagebrush Sparrow. The natural habitats that draw millions of breeding, migrating, and resting birds to Washington—the shorelines, estuaries and outer coasts, forests, shrub-steppe, and wetlands—include 75 Important Bird Areas, including 14 Global Important Bird Areas.
There is a festival or bird count in Washington throughout the year on both sides of the Cascade Mountain Range! Which one will you attend this year?
The American Goldfinch was designated as the Washington State Bird in 1951. This beautiful golden bird is found throughout our state and is commonly seen in flocks in fields, bushes and trees.
Dandelions, sunflowers and especially thistles, are preferred food - hence the scientific name Carduelis, from the Latin carduus, a thistle.
The male American Goldfinch is characterized by his black cap and black wings. The female and young can be identified by the solid-color back and breast, stubby finch bill, wing bars, notched tail, whitish rump and roller-coaster flight. In autumn, the male takes on a grayish yellow color to resemble the female.
The song is long, high and sweet. Keep your eye out for our state bird!
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