U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Tualatin River

National Wildlife 

Refuge

Watchable Wildlife
Tualatin River National Wildlife 

Refuge means different things to 

different creatures. For some it's a 

place where they raise their young, 

and others just a stopover during 

migration. It's also a place that some 

only spend the winter, and to others, 

it is a year-round home. 

Established in 1992, the Refuge is 

located within the floodplain of the 

Tualatin River basin near Sherwood, 

Oregon. Refuge habitats are varied 

and include rivers and streams, 

seasonal and forested wetlands, 

riparian areas, grasslands, and 

forested uplands.

An important breeding area for 

neotropical migratory songbirds, the 

Refuge also supports a significant 

breeding population of wood ducks 

and hooded mergansers. There is 

something to experience in every 

season. From thousands of waterfowl 

in the winter to breeding songbirds in 

summer, the Refuge is ever changing. 

We encourage you to explore the 

beauty of this area and stop, look, and 

listen to the abundant wildlife that 

call it home. The Refuge is a place 

where wildlife comes first so think of 

yourself as a visitor to their home. 

You will be a more successful wildlife 

observer if you: move slowly, talk 

softly, use binoculars, and leave only 

footprints behind. 

The wildlife species in this 

brochure have been grouped into 

four categories: birds, mammals, 

amphibians, and reptiles.

Welcome to 

Tualatin River 

NWR

Enjoying the 

Refuge's

Wildlife

Red-tailed hawks 

can be seen and 

heard soaring the 

open spaces over 

the Refuge
Numbers and species of birds you 

will see here varies according to 

season, with the greatest numbers 

present from October to May. Heavy 

migrations of waterfowl occur during 

fall and winter. They come here to 

feed on wetland plants when their 

northern breeding grounds freeze 

over. Then, as water levels in the 

wetlands are drawn down in the 

spring, a wide variety of shorebirds 

are attracted to our invertebrate filled 

mudflats. When the wetlands dry 

out in spring and summer, songbirds 

arrive to breed and take shelter on 

the Refuge. 

Binoculars or spotting scopes are 

helpful for observing birds and a good 

field guide will help you identify what 

you see. You will see more birds if you 

time your visit for early morning or 

evening hours. Sit quietly and wait for 

the birds to come to you.

When looking at a bird, pay close 

attention to characteristics such as 

color, size, shape, wing, and head 

markings. Always observe first and 

then refer to your identification book, 

because the bird may move out of 

sight quickly. This is especially true of 

perching birds.

Also, be sure to listen for their calls 

and sounds. Take note of the type of 

habitat in which you see the bird, and 

where in the habitat they are likely to 

be found – canopy, tree trunk, brushy 

areas, open water, or ground area.

Since the establishment of the 

Refuge, the number of bird species 

seen here has quadrupled. We are still 

discovering species that are returning 

to the area. Keep notes – you may 

help us record the return of a species 

to the Tualatin River Valley!

Enjoying the 

Refuge's

Birdlife

Getting the 

Most from 

Your Visit

You Can 

Help

Sp- Spring, March through May

S- Summer, June through August

F- Fall, September through 

November

W- Winter, December through 

February

a- Abundant – species very 

numerous and easily seen or 

heard in suitable habitat.

c- Common – species likely to be 

seen or heard in suitable habitat.

u- Uncommon – usually present 

but may not be seen or heard in 

suitable habitat.

o- Occasional – seen or heard only 

a few times a season in suitable 

habitat.

r- Rare – may not be seen or heard 

every year in suitable habitat.

e- Endangered

t- Threatened

s- Special of concern

b- Breeding – confirmed or 

presumed to breed and/or nest 

on the Refuge.

x- Accidental

The following list of birds contains 

species that have been recorded on 

Tualatin River NWR. The common 

name and taxonomic order used 

in this list follows that appearing 

in the 7th edition of the American 

Ornithologist's Union Check List of 

North American Birds, published in 

1998, and subsequent revisions.

Seasons

Seasonal

Abundance

Codes

Notes

Northern pintail
Common Name Sp

SFWN

Northern Shovelercuccb

Northern Pintailcoaa

Green-winged Tealuraa

Canvasbacko oo

Redheadr

Ring-necked Duckc ac

Lesser Scaupu ro

Buffleheadcoccb

Common Goldeneye r

Hooded Merganseruuuub

Common Merganserr rr

Ruddy Duckurucb

Osprey, Kites, Hawks and Eagles

Ospreyoo

Bald Eagleuouct

Northern Harrieruucu

Sharp-shinned Hawkuu

Cooper’s Hawkuuuub

Red-shouldered Hawk x

Red-tailed Hawkccccb

Rough-legged Hawk r

Falcons and Caracaras

American Kestreluuccb

Merlinr rr

Peregrine Falconu uc

Gallinaceous Birds

Ring-necked Pheasantccccb

California Quailccccb

Northern Bobwhite x

Birds of Tualatin River NWR

Common Name SpSFWN

Grebes

Pied-billed Grebeccccb

Horned Grebe r

Red-necked Greber x

Eared Greber

Western Greber

Cormorants

Double-crested Cormorantucuc

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

American Bitternoo 

Great Blue Heronccccb

Great Egretuuuu

Snowy Egret x

Green Heronu

Ibises and Spoonbills

White-faced Ibis sx

New World Vultures

Turkey Vultureuuu

Swans, Geese and Ducks

Greater White-fronted Gooseo oo

Tule White-fronted Goose x

Snow Goose rr

Ross’s Goose r

Black Brant r

Aleutian Canada Goose x

Cackling Canada Gooseu aa

Taverner's Canada Gooseu ca

Western Canada Gooseccaab

Dusky Canada Gooseo ou

Lesser Canada Gooseu cc

Tundra Swan uu

Wood Duckuccub

Gadwallcuoob

Eurasian Wigeono uu

American Wigeonc aa

Mallardaaaab

Blue-winged Tealuco b

Cinnamon Tealcco b

California 

quail

© Morris
Skuas, Jaegers, Gulls and Terns

Bonaparte’s Gullr

Mew Gull u

California Gull r

Caspian Ternr

Forster’s Ternr

Black Tern sx

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeono

Band-tailed Pigeonu

Mourning Doveccuob

Barn Owls

Barn Owluuuub

Typical Owls

Western Screech-Owluuuub

Great Horned Owluuuub

Short-eared Owlr r

Swifts

Vaux’s Swiftcc b

Hummingbirds

Anna’s Hummingbird r

Rufous Hummingbirduu b

Kingfishers

Belted Kingfisherccccb

Woodpeckers

Red-breasted Sapsuckeroooob

Downy Woodpeckerccccb

Hairy Woodpeckeroooo

Northern Flickerccccb

Pileated Woodpeckeruuuub

Tyrant Flycatchers

Olive-sided Flycatcheruu s

Western Wood-Peweeuu b

Willow Flycatcheruu

Pacific-slope Flycatchercc b

Say’s Phoeber

Western Kingbirdo

Eastern Kingbird x

Common Name SpSFWN

Rails

Virginia Railuuuob

Sorauuorb

American Cootccucb

Cranes

Sandhill Crane r

Plovers

Black-bellied Plovero

Semipalmated Plovero

Killdeeraauub

Stilts and Avocets

Black-necked Stiltr

Sandpipers and Phalaropes

Greater Yellowlegscou

Lesser Yellowlegso

Solitary Sandpiperrr

Spotted Sandpiperuc b

Long-billed Curlew x

Marbled Godwit x

Western Sandpipero o

Least Sandpiperu o

Pectoral Sandpiper x

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper x

Dunlinu o

Stilt Sandpiper x

Short-billed Dowitcher o

Long-billed Dowitcherc o

Wilson’s Snipeuuoob

Wilson’s Phalaropeor 

Red-necked Phalaropeo

Red Phalarope x

Common Name SpSFWN

Mourning dove

© Morris
Common Name Sp S F W N

Thrushes

Western Bluebird c c r b

Swainson’s Thrush u u

American Robin a a c c b

Varied Thrush u

Starlings

European Starling c c a c b

Wagtails and Pipits

American Pipit o o

Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing u u

Wood Warblers

Orange-crowned Warbler c c

Yellow Warbler o o

Yellow-rumped Warbler c c

Black-throated Gray Warbler o

Townsend’s Warbler o r

Common Yellowthroat o u b

Wilson’s Warbler o o

Yellow-breasted Chat r

Tanagers

Western Tanager u u

Common Name Sp S F W N

Shrikes

Northern Shrike o o o

Vireos

Cassin’s Vireo o o o b

Hutton’s Vireo u

Warbling Vireo

Crows, Jays and Magpies

Steller’s Jay u u u u b

Western Scrub-Jay c c u u b

American Crow c c c c b

Swallows

Tree Swallow c c b

Violet-green Swallow a c o b

Northern Rough-winged Swallow u c

Bank Swallow u b

Cliff Swallow u u b

Barn Swallow a c b

Titmice and Chickadees

Black-capped Chickadee c c c c b

Chestnut-backed Chickadee c c c c b

Bushtits

Bushtit u u u u b

Nuthatches

Red-breasted Nuthatch c c c c b

White-breasted Nuthatch r r r r

Creepers

Brown Creeper u u u u b

Wrens

Bewick’s Wren c c c c b

House Wren u u u b

Winter Wren u u u u b

Marsh Wren u u u o b

Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglet u u u u

Ruby-crowned Kinglet u u u

Common 

yellowthroat
Common Name Sp S F W N

Sparrows and Towhees

Spotted Towhee c c c c b

Chipping Sparrow o

Savannah Sparrow c c b

Fox Sparrow u u u

Song Sparrow c c c c b

Lincoln’s Sparrow o

White-throated Sparrow o

White-crowned Sparrow u u

Golden-crowned Sparrow o

Dark-eyed Junco c u c c b

Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Allies

Black-headed Grosbeak c u

Lazuli Bunting u u

Blackbirds and Orioles

Red-winged Blackbird c c c c b

Western Meadowlark o o

Yellow-headed Blackbird r

Brewer’s Blackbird c c c c b

Brown-headed Cowbird c c u b

Bullock’s Oriole o

Finches

Purple Finch c c

House Finch u c u c b

Red Crossbill r

Pine Siskin u

Lesser Goldfinch o

American Goldfinch u c

Evening Grosbeak o o

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow u u u u b

Northern shovelers use 

specially designed holes on the 

edge of their bills to filter 

food out of the water
Beaver

(family Castoridae)

Beaver

New World Rats and Mice

(family Cricetidae)

Deer mouse 

Bushy-tailed woodrat 

Western red-backed vole 

White-footed vole 

Red tree vole 

Townsend’s vole 

Long-tailed vole 

Oregon vole 

Muskrat 

Old World Rats and Mice

(family Muridae)

Black rat 

Norway rat 

House mouse

Jumping Mice

(family Zapodidae)

Pacific jumping mouse

New World Porcupines

(family Erethizontidae)

Porcupine 

Nutria

(family Capromyidae)

Nutria 

Mammals of Tualatin River NWR

All mammals listed are considered 

resident species with the exception of 

the bats, which migrate seasonally.

Opossum

(family Didelphiidae)

Virginia opossum 

Shrews

(family Soricidae)

Vagrant shrew 

Dusky shrew 

Pacific water shrew 

Trowbridge’s shrew

Moles

(family Talpidae)

Shrew-mole 

Townsend’s mole 

Coast mole

Evening Bats

(family Vespertilionidae)

Little brown myotis

Yuma myotis

Long-eared myotis

Long-legged myotis

California myotis

Silver-haired bat 

Red bat 

Big brown bat

Hoary bat 

Townsend’s big-eared bat

Rabbits and Hares

(family Leporidae)

Brush rabbit

Snowshoe hare 

Squirrels

(family Sciuridae)

California ground squirrel

Townsend’s chipmunk 

Western grey squirrel

Fox squirrel

Douglas squirrel (Chickaree) 

Northern flying squirrel

Pocket Gophers

(family Geomyidae)

Western pocket gopher

Pouched 

Mammals

Shrews 

and Moles

Bats

Pikas, Rabbits 

and Hares

Rodents Little brown 

myotis

© Morris
Wolves, Foxes and the Coyote

(family Canidae)

Coyote 

Red fox

Raccoon, Ringtail and Coati

(family Procyonidae)

Raccoon

Weasels, Skunks, Badgers, Otters and 

Allies

(family Mustelidae)

Ermine 

Long-tailed weasel 

Mink 

Western spotted skunk 

Striped skunk 

River Otter

Cats

(family Felidae)

Mountain lion

Bobcat 

Deer

(family Cervidae)

Elk

Black-tailed deer

Carnivores

Hoofed Mammals

Look for black-tailed 

deer feeding along 

forest edges at dawn 

and dusk
Rough-skinned newts are 

one of the most poisonous 

animals known to science. 

Their only predators 

are garter snakes, 

which have adapted to 

barely tolerate the 

toxins contained on 

the newts' skin.

Reptiles are egg laying animals that 

are protected by scales or horny 

plates. Look for them in grassy areas 

on the refuge. The exception are the 

turtles which are found near water.

Turtles

Painted turtle

Western pond turtle

Lizards

Northern alligator lizard

Western fence lizard

Western skink

Snakes

Rubber boa

Yellow-bellied racer

Sharptail snake

Ringneck snake

Pacific gopher snake

Western terrestrial garter snake

Northwestern garter snake

Common garter snake

Amphibians of Tualatin River NWR Reptiles of Tualatin River NWR

The name amphibian means "double 

life" and refers to the fact that most 

amphibians spend part of the year on 

land but return to water to breed. It 

also reflects the change of an aquatic 

tadpole to a terrestrial adult frog or 

toad. In the spring and early summer 

look for them gathering in shallow 

ponds where they mate and lay eggs.

Salamanders

Northwestern salamander

Long-toed salamander

Pacific giant salamander

Rough-skinned newt

Dunn’s salamander

Western red-backed salamander

Ensatina

Clouded salamander

Oregon slender salamander

Frogs and Toads

Tailed frog

Western toad

Pacific treefrog

Northern red-legged frog

Bullfrog
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

16507 SW Roy Rogers Road

Sherwood, Oregon 97140

Telephone: 503/590 5811

FAX: 503/590 6702

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

http://www.fws.gov

Refuge Information

1 800/344 WILD

Cover photo black-capped chickadee

All photographs © Ed Bustya

June 2006