Birding

Although Mount Rainier is home to some year-round bird residents, most appear in the park during specific seasons.

Plan Around Birding

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Add to trip View park guide

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Birding Details

Although Mount Rainier is home to some year-round bird residents, most appear in the park during specific seasons. Which birds live where is determined largely by elevation. The lowest areas of the park, below 3,500 feet, are home to mature forests of fir, cedar and hemlock trees, habitat for the threatened and endangered northern spotted owls and marbled murrelets, as well as many other residents. Elevations above 3,500 feet are home to many types of birds, but their appearance is largely dependent on weather, food sources, migration, and their breeding season. Bald eagles and peregrine falcons have been sighted in the park, but there is no record of either species nesting here. Several bird species found in the park are listed as "sensitive" under the Endangered Species Act, including the northern goshawk, harlequin duck, and little willow flycatcher. For a full list of common species within the park, check out the [Mount Rainier bird checklist](http://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/upload/bird-checklist-sep11.pdf).

Difficulty

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Activities