The Cascade Loop features 225 of Washington's 346 annually recorded bird species.
Hundreds of thousands of birds depend on the rich, natural habitats found along the byway: some simply pause to rest and eat here before continuing on north, while others set up housekeeping, nesting and raising young ones. Each region of the byway boasts its own unique micro-climate and habitat and therefore, its own diverse populations of birdlife.
Information below is largely courtesy of Audubon Washington and the Whidbey Audubon Society and reflects only some birding locations along the Cascade Loop. Please visit their sites for full, detailed information and maps.
Lowell Riverfront Trail (Everett) 
Habitat: Riverfront. 1.75-mile, multi-use trail featuring 10-foot-wide paved path that also includes views of Mt. Baker, Rainier and the Cascades.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Pine Siskin, Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, Sparrows (Fox, Harris's and White-Crowned), Bald Eagles, Hawks (Red-Tailed, Sharp-Shinned and Cooper's), Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, Bullock's Oriole, Great-Horned Owls, double-Crested Cormorants, Barrow's Goldeneyes
See more images of birding and wildlife in Seattle Northcountry
(Pictured: Cooper's Hawk - Freund's Photography)
Jetty Island (Everett)
Habitat: Half-mile wide, 2-mile long sandy island park. Accessed by a free 10-minute ferry ride (Learn more by clicking here)
Bird Watching/Viewing
Caspian Tern, Glaucous-winged Gull, Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Plover (Black-bellied and Semipalmated), Short-billed Dowitchers, Sandpipers (Least, Spotted and Western), Pigeon Guillemot
See more images of birding and wildlife in Seattle Northcountry
(Pictured: Killdeer pair)
North and South View Parks (Everett)
Habitat: Tidal mud flats, shallow bay and neighboring city parks
Bird Watching/Viewing
Osprey, Purple Martin, Bald Eagles, Merlin, Red-Necked Grebe, American Wigeon, Brant, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Mergansers, Bufflehead, Mew Gull
See more images of birding and wildlife in Seattle Northcountry
(Pictured: Two Male Buffleheads - Freund's Photography)
Spencer Island (Everett)
Habitat: 412-acre Island and tidal estuary.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Swallows (Tree and Violet-Green), Osprey, Wood Ducks, Blue-Winged Teal, Western Tanagers, Black-Headed Grosbeaks, Band-Tailed Pigeons, Red-Eyed Vireos, Common Yellowthroats, Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, Northern Harriers, Belted Kingfishers, Woodpeckers (Pileated, Downy and Hairy), Northern Flickers, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Dowitchers (Long-Billed and Short-Billed), Merlin, Peregrine Falcons, Orange-Crowned Warblers, Lincoln Sparrows.
See more images of birding and wildlife in Seattle Northcountry
(Pictured: Downy Woodpecker)
Mount Index/Skykomish River (Index)
Habitat: Index Cliff, a 400-foot granite wall, and nearby river and forestland
Bird Watching/Viewing
Peregrine Falcons can be seen moving to and from their cliff side nests April-early August. Cliff swallows can also be seen from the base of the cliffs. Hooded Mergansers and Harlequin Ducks are often seen in the river
See more images of birding and wildlife on the Steven Pass Greenway
(Pictured: Harlequin Ducks)
Iron Goat Trail (Stevens Pass Greenway)
(Discover Pass Required to park at trailhead)
Habitat: Alder wetlands, cedar and fir forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Western Tanager, Warbler (Wilson's, Yellow-Rumped, MacGillivray's, Orange-crowned and Townsend's, Thrush (Varied, Swainson's and Hermit), Grosbeak (Black-Headed and Evening), Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Sooty Grouse, Red Crossbill
See more images of birding and wildlife on the Steven Pass Greenway
(Pictured: Sooty Grouse - Freund's Photography)
Fish Lake (Near Lake Wenatchee)
(Fee to park at The Cove Resort)
Habitat: 500-acre lake, cattail marsh, mixed coniferous-deciduous forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Osprey, Wilson's Phalaropes, Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Common Yellow-Throats, Sharp-Shinned Hawks, Violet-Green Swallows, Brewer's Blackbirds, American Coots, Common Loons, Ring-necked ducks, Barrow's Goldeneyes
See more images of birding and wildlife on the Steven Pass Greenway
(Pictured: Common Loon - Freund's Photography)
Swiftwater Picnic Area (Tumwater Canyon, west of Leavenworth)
(Northwest Forest Pass required)
Habitat: Tumwater Canyon and Wenatchee River
Bird Watching/Viewing
Ospreys arrive in April and typically hatch two chicks at the end of May which remain in their nests for approximately two months. Males fish for the mom and chicks. Also look for American Dippers.
See more images of birding and wildlife near Leavenworth & the Cascade Foothills
(Pictured: Osprey)
Habitat: Riparian and wetland sloughs, Icicle Creek, meadows with ponderosa pines, wildfire burn area
Bird Watching/Viewing
Common Merganser, American Dipper, Swallow (Violet-Green, Tree, Bank, Barn, Cliff, and Northern Rough-Winged), Osprey, Bald Eagle, Western Tanager, Woodpecker (White-Headed, Pileated and Hairy), Red Crossbill, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Rufous Hummingbird, Cassin's Finch, Swainson's Thrush, Gray Catbirds, Veery, Warbler (Yellow and Yellow-Rumped)
See more images of birding and wildlife near Leavenworth & the Cascade Foothills
(Pictured: Tree Swallow, Freund's Photography)
Waterfront Park (Leavenworth)
Habitat: Wenatchee River, island, deciduous and ponderosa pine forest, shrubs
Bird Watching/Viewing
Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, Veery, Red-Eyed Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Bullock's Oriole, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Hummingbirds (Rufous and Calliope), Wood Duck, Osprey, Bald Eagle
See more images of birding and wildlife near Leavenworth & the Cascade Foothills
(Pictured: Cedar Waxwing - Freund's Photography)
Confluence State Park (Wenatchee)
(Discover Pass Required)
Habitat: Riparian and wetland complex at the confluence of the Wenatchee and Columbia Rivers
Bird Watching/Viewing
220+ birds and species to view here!
Warbler (Yellow-Rumped, Orange-Crowned, Nashville and MacGillivray's), Rock Wren, Sparrow (Lincoln's White and Golden-Crowned), Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Wilson's Snipe, Gray Catbird, Bullock's Oriole, Common Loon, Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, Teal (Cinnamon and Green-Winged), Wigeon (American and Eurasion), Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Downy Woodpecker, Cedar Waxwing, Swallow (Violet-Green, Barn and Tree)
See more images of birding and wildlife in Wenatchee & the Columbia River Valley
(Pictured: Rock Wren)
Entiat Wildlife Area: Swakane Canyon
Habitat: 19,200 shrub-steppe canyon with ponderosa pine, creek side deciduous foliage
Bird Watching/Viewing
Western Wood-Pewee, Say's Phoebes, Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Brewer's Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, Western Meadowlark, Black-Billed Magpie, Mourning Dove, Golden Eagle, Chukar
See more images of birding and wildlife in Wenatchee & the Columbia River Valley
(Pictured: Western Meadowlark - Freund's Photography)
Entiat Park
Habitat: 16-acre park at confluence of the Entiat and Columbia Rivers with willows and cottonwoods
Bird Watching/Viewing
Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Merganser (Common and Hooded), American Dipper, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Western Wood-Pewee, Bullock's Oriole, Cedar Waxwing
See more images of birding and wildlife in Wenatchee & the Columbia River Valley
(Pictured: Bullock's Oriole - Freund's Photography)
Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center
Habitat: 10-acres of sagebrush and ponderosa pine
Bird Watching/Viewing
Western Tanagers, Bullock's Orioles, Spotted Towhees, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Mountain Chickadees, Say's Phoebes, White-Crowned Sparrows, Western Kingbirds, Pine Siskins, Canyon Wrens, Steller's Jays, Black-Billed Magpies, California Quail, Bald and Golden Eagles.
See more images of birding and wildlife in Wenatchee & the Columbia River Valley
(Pictured: California Quail - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: 127-acre park along lake with rocky shore and forested foothills
Bird Watching/Viewing
Common Loons, Buffleheads, Grebe (Horned and Pied-billed), Bufflehead, White-Headed Woodpecker, Varied Thrush, Nuthatches (White and Red-Breasted), Spotted Towhee, Brown Creeper, Song Sparrow, Chickadee (Chestnut-backed and Mountain), Great Horned Owls
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Lake Chelan Valley
(Pictured: Great Horned Owl family - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: City park
Bird Watching/Viewing
Eastern Kingbird, American Goldfinch, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Swallow (Cliff, Barn, Tree and Violet-Green), Townsend's Solitaire, Common Loon, Belted Kingfisher, Grebe (Pied-Billed, Horned and Western)
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Lake Chelan Valley
(Pictured: Belted Kingfisher)
Habitat: 180-acres lakeside, dry pine forest, high rock cliffs
Bird Watching/Viewing
Duck (Ruddy, Ring-Necked and Wood), Scaups (Greater and Lesser), Bonaparte's, Gull (California and Glaucus-Winged), Flycatcher (Dusky and Hammond's), Western Wood-Pewees, Say's Phoebes, Kingbird (Eastern and Western), Cassin's Finches, California Quail, Hummingbird (Calliope and Rufous), Pygmy Nuthatches, Hairy Woodpeckers, Golden Eagles, White-Throated Swifts, Common Poorwills
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: Ring-Necked Duck - Freund's Photography)
Methow Valley Wildlife Area: Pipestone Canyon
Habitat: Mixed forest and 1-mile gorge
Bird Watching/Viewing
Eagle (Golden and Bald), American Kestrel, Canyon Wren, Grouse (Sooty and Dusky), Swallow (Cliff and Violet-Green), White-Breasted Nuthatch, Nashville Warbler, Lazuli Bunting
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: Dusky Grouse)
Mac Lloyd Park
Habitat: 20-acre city park
Bird Watching/Viewing
American Goldfinch, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Violet-Green Swallow, Harlequin Duck, Pine Siskin
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: American Goldfinch)
Habitat: 962-acre park surrounding lake with sandy beaches, riparian eastern shoreline, dry, rolling land and ponderosa pine
Bird Watching/Viewing
Eagle (Golden and Bald), Hawk (Red-Tailed, Red-Shouldered, Sharp-Shinned and Cooper's), Northern Harriers, Owl (Great Horned, Pygmy, Northern Saw-Whet and Screech), Warbler (Orange-Crowned, Wilson's and Yellow-Rumped), Yellow-Throats, Veery, American Redstart and Lazuli Bunting
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: Golden Eagle - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: 1164 acres of riparian area, deciduous and coniferous forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Lazuli Bunting, Wood Duck, Vireo (Red-Eyed and Warbling), Veery, Swainson's Thrushes, Cassin's Finches, Cedar Waxwings, Woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Pileated and White-Headed), Sapsucker (Williamson's and Red-Naped), Swallow (Barn, Violet-Green, Tree and Northern Rough-Winged)
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: White Headed Woodpecker - Freund's Photography)
Tawlks-Foster Suspension Bridge
Habitat: Methow River, tree-sheltered shoreline
Bird Watching/Viewing
American Redstart, Harlequin Duck, Hummingbird (Rufous and Calliope), Black-Headed Grosbeak, Cassin's Finch, Red Crossbill, Common Merganser, American Dipper, Nuthatch (Red-Breasted and White-Breasted), Mountain Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: Cassin's Finch)
Mazama Audubon Trails
Habitat: 22 acres of giant cedars, beaver ponds and river. Privately owned but open to birders
ACCESS: From Hwy 20 at milepost 179.5 in Mazama, turn east onto Lost River Rd. Drive 2.5 miles. Turn left into lodge parking.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Swainson's Thrush, Warbler (MacGillivray's and Townsend's), Vireo (Red-Eyed and Warbling), Veery, Ruffed Grouse, Red-Naped Sapsuckers, Woodpecker (Pileated, Downy and Hairy), Mountain Chickadee, Northern Pygmy-Owl, Brown Creeper, Pine Grosbeak
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: Downy Woodpecker)
Habitat: Coniferous forest beside a creek
Bird Watching/Viewing
Calliope Hummingbird, Warbler (Towsend's and MacGillivray's), Swainson's Thrush, Cassin's Vireo, Flycatcher (Dusky and Hammond's), Williamson's Sapsucker
(Pictured: Calliope Hummingbird - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: Alpine, coniferous forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, Red-naped Sapsucker, Chickadee (Mountain and Chestnut-backed), Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco
See more images of birding and wildlife in the Methow Valley
(Pictured: Gray Jay who stole our almonds--we did NOT ask him to)
Habitat: Waterfalls, alpine forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Rufous Hummingbird, Fox Sparrow, Wilson's Warbler, Pine Siskin, Townsend's Solitaires, Thrush (Varied and Hermit)
See more images of birding and wildlife in the North Cascades
(Pictured: Varied Thrush - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: Coniferous and riparian landscap
Bird Watching/Viewing
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Thrush (Swainson's and Varied), Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Cliff Swallow, Hammond's Flycatcher, Pileated Woodpecker, Steller's Jay
See more images of birding and wildlife in the North Cascades
(Pictured: Yellow-Rumped Warbler)
North Cascades National Park Visitor Center
Habitat: 6-mile forested site
Bird Watching/Viewing
Hammond's Flycatcher, Warbler (Townsend's and Wilson's), Red-Eyed Vireo, Black-Headed Grosbeak, Thrush (Swainson's and Varied), Sharp-shinned Hawk, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Pileated Woodpecker, White-Crowned Sparrow, Winter Wrens, Kinglet (Golden-Crowned and Ruby-Crowned), American Dippers, Osprey
See more images of birding and wildlife in the North Cascades
(Pictured: Pileated Woodpecker - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: 80 reparian acres along two rivers
Bird Watching/Viewing
Bald Eagle, Common Yellowthroat, Tree Swallow, Spotted Sandpiper, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron
See more images of birding and wildlife in the North Cascades
(Pictured: Great Blue Heron - Freund's Photography)
Skagit River Bald Eagle Natural Area
Habitat: .3-mile river shoreline, Cottonwood trees and Douglas firs
Bird Watching/Viewing
Bald Eagles
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Bald Eagle)
Habitat: 83 acres along the river, meadow, maples, cottonwood, Douglas fir
Bird Watching/Viewing
Ospreys, Red-Tailed Hawk, Red-Breasted Sapsucker, Rufous Hummingbird, Violet-Green Swallow, White-Crowned Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Belted Kingfisher, American Dipper, Common Merganser, Steller's Jay
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Common Merganser - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: 465 acres, old growth Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedars, Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock
Bird Watching/Viewing
Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, Warbler (Townsend's and MacGillivray's), Western Tanager, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Thrush (Swainson and Varied), Pine Siskin, Steller's Jay, Winter Wren
(Pictured: Juvenile Stellar's Jay - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: 128 acres along river, meadow, deciduous and coniferous forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Woodpecker (Pileated, Hairy and Downy), Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, Winter Wren, Belted Kingfisher, Red-Eyed Vireo, Thrush (Swainson's and Varied), Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Flycatcher (Willow and Pacific-Slope), Warbler (Yellow-Rumped, Black-Throated, Gray and Wilson's), Bald Eagles, Common Goldeneye.
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Common Goldeneye - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: Firs, gravel beaches, salt marsh, mud flats, offshore eelgrass beds
Bird Watching/Viewing
Brant, Northern Pintail, Wigeon (American and Eurasian), Scaups (Greater and Lesser), Ducks (Long-Tailed and Harlequin), Green-Winged Teal, Grebe (Horned, Western and Red-Necked), Loon (Common, Pacific and Red-throated), Marsh Dwelling Green Heron, Dunlin, Yellowlegs (Greater and Lesser), Sanderling, Western Sandpiper, Peregrine Falcon
(Pictured: Female American Wigeon - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: Cedar, Fir, Madrone forest, grassy bluffs, boulder-strewn coastline
Bird Watching/Viewing
Marbled Murrelet, Pigon Guillemot, Common Loon, Grebe (Red-Necked and Western), Cormorant (Double-Crested and Pelagic), Brant, Surf Scoters, Hooded Merganser, Harlequin Duck, Rhinoceros Auklet, Black Oystercatcher, Bald Eagle, Brown Creeper, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Bushtit, Woodpecker (Down, Hairy and Pileated)
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Surf Scoter - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: Marine waters, rocky promontory, coniferous forest
Bird Watching/Viewing
Swallow (Violet-Green and Barn), Brant, Marbled Murrelet, Loon (Common and Red-Throated), Harlequin Ducks, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Grebe (Western and Red-Necked), Sparrow (White-Crowned and Golden-Crowned), Bald Eagle, Cormorant (Double-Crested and Pelagic), Anna's Hummingbird
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Anna's Hummingbird - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: 2,400 acres of tideland marsh, fields
Bird Watching/Viewing
Snow Geese, Swan (Trumpeter and Tundra), Sparrow (Golden-Crowned and Lincoln's), Greater Yellowlegs, Wren (Marsh and Bewick's), White-Crowned Sparrow, Rufous Hummingbird, Tree Swallow, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Hawk (Red-Tailed and Rough-Legged), Short-Eared Owl
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Trumpeter Swan)
Skagit Wildlife Area: Fir Island Farm/Hayton Reserve
Habitat: 11,000-acre refuge with agricultural and riparian lands diked-off from driftwood-covered mud flats
Bird Watching/Viewing
Peregrine Falcon, Dunlin, Black-Bellied Plover, Owl (Barn and Great Horned), Swan (Trumpeter and Tundra), Snow Geese, American Wigeons
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Snow Geese)
Skagit Wildlife Area: Big Ditch
Habitat: 111 acres of diked agricultural fields, mud flats, deciduous trees and shrubs on remnant delta
Bird Watching/Viewing
Swan (Trumpeter and Tundra), Snow Geese, Dunlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Peregrine Falcon, Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Northern Pintail, Snowy Owl
See more images of birding & wildlife in the Skagit Valley
(Pictured: Tundra Swan)
Habitat: Old growth forest, wetland, rocky/sandy shore, lakes, tide pools
Bird Watching/Viewing
Loons, grebes, murrelets, other waterfowl, eagles, kingfishers, warblers, swallows.
See more images of birding & wildlife on Whidbey Island
(Pictured: Bonaparte's Gull)
Discover Pass required
Habitat: Second growth forest, thickets, lake, high bluff, beach.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Seabirds and waterfowl, kingfisher, crossbill, woodpeckers, other forest birds including nuthatch, creeper, kinglets.
See more images of birding & wildlife on Whidbey Island
(Pictured: Northern Flicker - Freund's Photography)
Habitat: Large saltwater cove.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Kingfisher, Great Blue Herons Loon, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Scaup, Pigeon Guillemot
See more images of birding & wildlife on Whidbey Island
(Pictured: Juvenile Lesser Scaup - Freund's Photography)
Discover Pass required
Habitat: Rocky beach, forest.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Loon, Grebe, Auklet, Guillemot, Merganser, Gull, Great Horned Owl, Chickadee, Nuthatch, Creeper, Winter Wren, Warbler
(Pictured: Pied-Billed Grebe - Freund's Photography)
Swan Lake, Joseph Whidbey State Park
Discover Pass required
Habitat: Rocky/sandy beach, freshwater lake, cattail marsh.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Eagles, Harriers, wading birds, Loons, Grebes, Harlequin ducks, Dabbling ducks, Oystercatchers, Yellowthroats, Marsh Wrens.
See more images of birding & wildlife on Whidbey Island
(Pictured: Oystercatcher)
Habitat: Open grassland, cattail marsh, farm pond, viewing platform.
Bird Watching/Viewing
Harrier, Bald Eagle, Red-Tailed Hawk, Yellowthroat, Marsh Wren, Red-Winged Blackbird, Swallows, Great Blue Heron, and other waterfowl
See more images of birding & wildlife on Whidbey Island
(Pictured: Red-winged Blackbird - Freund's Photography)
Coming Soon!