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Welcome to the...

Oregon Coast Birding Trail

Birdwatching is one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational activities in the country, and in response the

 Oregon Coast Birding Trail was created for birding enthusiasts like you. The Birding Trail is a self-guided driving 

itinerary highlighting the premier locations for observing birds along the entire Oregon coast and into Northern 

California. Local birders, wildlife professionals and tourism specialists produced this comprehensive guide to 

173 birding hotspots to help you make the most out of your birdwatching experience. For help in locating 

fabulous accommodations to meet any budget and advice on the best places to eat during your visit go online to 

www.visittheoregoncoast.com. For more information on the trail visit www.oregoncoastbirding.com.

Around every curve, the stunningly beautiful Oregon coast landscape will compete for your attention as you 

search for the more than 450 birds that have been recorded in its habitats. On the outermost part of the trail 

where land meets the sea, explore sandy beaches, coastal dunes, tidal estuaries, and rocky tidepools. From the 

mainland, view birds nesting on coastal islands. Join a boat tour to go farther west for pelagic birds on the 

open Pacific. Travel inland to round out your coastal birding experience where you can survey river valleys, 

freshwater lakes, marshes, and old-growth forest. Birdwatching on the Oregon coast is productive throughout 

the year, and it is exceptional during the seasonal drama of spring and fall warbler and shorebird migration. As 

hundreds of thousands of birds journey along the Pacific Flyway, you may see hundreds of one species fly by or 

stop to swarm over every available spot on the beach and offshore rocks. The next day they may be gone. So 

grab your binoculars, a favorite field guide, and the Oregon Coast Birding Trail guide, and make the Oregon 

coast your next birding destination.

 

Using the Trail Guide and Maps..........2

Fees and Passes ..............................2

Safety Tips .......................................2 

Birding Ethics ...................................3

Bird Information Sources......................3

Glossary...........................................3

Title Sponsors ..................................4

North Coast ............................................ 6

Central Coast........................................ 14

South Coast.......................................... 28

California Redwoods Birding Trail ........... 40

Table of Contents

On the cover

Cannon Beach (PHOTO BY David Pitkin)

(Birds: top to bottom)

Pigeon Guillemot (PHOTO BY Wayne Hoffman)

Hermit Warbler (PHOTO BY Don Munson)

Black Oystercatcher (PHOTO BY RON GREEN)

The Oregon Coast Birding Trail wishes to thank everyone who 

submitted site nominations or assisted with other phases 

of this project. Special thanks is extended to the following 

individuals who donated extensive time to site nomination, 

review, and editing for without their help this guide would not 

have been possible: Range Bayer, Diane Cavaness, Dennis 

Comfort, Richard Cronberg, Judy Fleagle, Joel Geier, Dawn 

Grafe, Mike Levitt, Lois Miller, Rebecah Morris, Don Munson, 

Betty Nicholson, Mike Patterson, Tim Rodenkirk, Steve Shunk, 

Michelle Simper, Ann Vileisis, and Jennifer Wade. We would 

also like to thank all of the photographers who donated their 

beautiful images for use in the guide.

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Greater and lesser yellowlegs 

(PHOTO BY Richard Cronberg)
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Using the Trail Guide and Maps

This is your guide to the birds and 

habitats of the Oregon Coast Birding 

Trail. The Trail is divided into three 

sections: North Coast, Central Coast 

and South Coast. For each section a 

master map indicates the main roads 

that will guide you between sites. 

We recommend you use GPS in 

conjunction with this guide to assist 

you in easily locating sites that are off 

of the main highways. Visit the trail 

website at www.oregoncoastbirding.

com.

Site Descriptions

Each site contains directions on how 

to get to the site, some of the birds 

you can expect to see and in some 

cases a description of their habitat. 

The following abbreviations are used 

in the directions:

Hwy = highway

Rd = road

St = street

Dr = drive

Lp = loop

Alt = alternate

mi = mile(s) 

MP = milepost

N, S, E, W = north, south, 

 east, west

L, R = left, right

Site Sponsors

Many sites have a sponsor listed 

below its description. This recognizes 

the private businesses, government 

agencies, conservation organizations, chambers of com-merce, and 

visitor and convention bureaus that 

provided financial and/or technical 

support to the Oregon Coast Birding 

Trail. We encourage you to patronize 

them as they are working together 

to make tourism sustainable along 

the Oregon coast. Site sponsorship 

does not imply responsibility for a 

site’s cleanliness or safety, rather 

it demonstrates the significant 

financial contributions of these 

entities to the trail.

Services and Facilities

Icons following each site description 

indicate the presence of services 

and facilities at or near the site. 

Key:

A Trails available at this site

B Camping available at this site

C Restrooms available at this site

D Fees required for day-use or 

parking

E Lodging within 10 miles

F Food within 10 miles

G Gas/fuel within 10 miles

H Important Bird Area

J Access by appointment only

K Accessed and birded by car

L Restrictions

C A blue icon indicates that the 

facility is accessible to those with 

disabilities. 

Disclaimer

The sponsors and organizers of the Oregon Coast Birding Trail do not 

guarantee the safety or conditions at or getting to any site listed in this 

guide. They do not assume any responsibility or liability for injuries, etc., 

suffered as a result of activities associated with the use of this guide. 

•	Beware of Incoming Tides. Before

birding sandy beaches and rocky 

intertidal zones consult a tide table, 

available at state parks and many 

private businesses. Incoming tides 

isolate rocks from headlands and 

the shore. Avoid the temptation of 

walking out to an interesting rock 

without knowing when the tide rolls 

back in, and stay off of coastal rocks 

and small enclosed beaches.

•	Watch for Sneaker Waves. When

birding sandy beaches, keep an eye 

on the ocean for sneaker waves, 

which appear without warning, often 

surge high up on the beach and can 

sweep people off of their feet and 

out to sea. 

•	Use Caution on Jetty Rocks.

Jetties along the area where river 

mouths empty into the Pacific Ocean 

are excellent birding locations. Use 

caution when birding jetties as high 

waves often sweep up and over the 

rocks.

•	Keep back from Cliff Ledges.

When birding coastal headlands 

assume that all cliff edges are 

unstable especially in wet weather; 

to be safe wear proper footwear, 

and stay on trails. 

•	Drive Cautiously. Many roads

east of Highway 101 in the Oregon 

Coast Range are single-lane and 

require low speeds. Winter storms 

can cause trees or large limbs to fall 

onto roads blocking through access. 

Watch for approaching logging 

trucks, especially on blind curves, 

these trucks have the right-of-way, 

so use pullouts to allow them to 

pass safely.

Safety Tips

Fees and Passes

Some birding trail sites require 

possession of a pass and charge a 

fee to use the area. Site descriptions 

with a $ icon require a pass. The type 

of pass you need will depend on your 

length of stay and the number of 

sites you intend to visit that charge 

a fee. Passes can be purchased at 

most Forest Service Offices, State 

Park Visitor Centers and at the 

individual site. If your visit is short, it 

is best to purchase a single day use 

pass. For extended visits, consider 

the following passes: 

Northwest Forest Pass – an 

annual pass honored at all National 

Forest sites and trailheads in Oregon 

and Washington.

Pacific Coast Passport – a multiagency passport that covers entry, 

vehicle parking, and day use fees at 

all State and Federal fee sites along 

the entire Oregon Coast.

America the Beautiful Passes 

– annual and life-long passports 

honored at all Federal recreation 

areas. Display your pass on the dash 

of your vechicle.

Oregon State Park Day-use

Parking Permit – a 12 or 24 month 

permit good at any Oregon State 

Park that charges the parking fee.

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Sanderlings in surf PHOTO BY: Lois Miller
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Clear-cut – area where the entire 

stand of trees was removed in one 

cutting.

Conifer Forest – also called 

mixed conifer forest; containing 

any or all of the following: pine, fir, 

spruce, hemlock, Douglas-fir, cedar.

Estuary – The widened tidal 

mouth of a river valley where fresh 

water comes into contact with sea 

water and where tidal effects are 

evident.

Marsh – ecosystem of more 

or less continuously waterlogged 

soil dominated by rushes, reeds, 

cattails, and sedges, but without peat 

accumulation as its base.

Mature – usually defined in 

economic terms as a forest that has 

reached harvest age.

Migration – seasonal passage 

of animals from one region or 

climate zone to another for breeding 

or feeding, including annual 

north-to-south as well as highto-low elevation movements, and 

annual movements in the opposite 

direction.

Mixed Forest – mix of 

deciduous and coniferous trees with 

a closed canopy.

Mudflat – A relatively level area 

of fine silt along a shore alternately 

covered and uncovered by the tide, 

or covered by shallow water.

Nesting – species occurs only 

during the spring and summer.

GLOSSARY

Old-Growth – forest that has not 

experienced intense or widespread 

disturbance for many years relative 

to the life spans of the dominant 

species.

Resident – species occurs yearround.

Riparian – habitat associated with 

the bank or edge of a watercourse, 

lake or other wetland.

Second-growth – Trees that 

occupy a land area after the first 

cycle of logging of a natural forest.

Wetland – seasonally or 

permanently waterlogged habitat, 

including lakes, streams and 

marshes.

Woodland – habitat with widely 

spaced large trees, the crowns of 

which do not form a canopy; often 

separated by grass or shrubs. 

Adapted from Johnson 

and O’Neil, Wildlife-Habitat 

Relationships in Oregon and 

Washington, Oregon State 

University Press, 2001.

Bates & Jackson, Dictionary 

of Geological Terms, 3rd 

edition, American Geological 

Institute, 1984.)

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The Oregon Birding Trails Working 

Group endorses the American Birding 

Association’s Principles of Birding 

Ethics (excerpted and summarized 

below from ABA web page http://

americanbirding.org). Everyone who 

enjoys birds and birding must always 

respect wildlife, its environment, and 

the rights of others. In any conflict of 

interest between birds and birders, 

the welfare of the birds and their 

environment must come first.

■ Keep well back from nests and 

nesting colonies, roosts, display 

areas, 

and important feeding sites. 

■ Use a blind or hide, and take 

advantage of natural cover when 

observing birds.

Birding Ethics

■ Do not feed or attempt to attract 

birds in the wild using electronic 

bird call back.

■ Stay on roads, trails, and paths 

where they exist; otherwise keep 

habitat disturbance to a minimum.

■ Keep groups to a size that 

limits impact on the environment 

and others.

■ Follow all laws, rules, and 

regulations governing use of 

roads and public areas.

■ Respect the rights of private 

property owners.

■ Respect the interests, rights, and 

skills of fellow birders, as 

well as people participating in 

other legitimate outdoor activities.

■ Leave no trace.

For more detailed information on birding the Oregon coast, 

please contact the following:

Birding

•Oregon Birding Association – www.orbirds.org

•Audubon Society of Portland – audubonportland.org

•Audubon Society of Lincoln City – lincolncityaududon.org

•Kalmiopsis Audubon Society – kalmiopsisaudubon.org

•U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – www.fws.gov/oregoncoast

•Oregon Birding Trails – www.oregonbirdingtrails.org

Injured Wildlife

If you find abandoned or injured wildlife, please report it to one of the 

following licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

•Wildlife Center of the North Coast – 503.338.0331

•Free Flight Bird and Marine Mammal Rehabilitation – 541.347.3882

•Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center – 541.745.5324

Bird Information Sources

Travel Oregon

Oregon is famous around the world for its magnificent outdoor 

recreation which includes hiking, biking, golf, angling, river rafting and 

the fastest-growing activity, wildlife and bird watching. Birdwatching, in 

particular, brings visitors to all sectors of Oregon, benefiting our small 

communities and urban areas and promoting conservation awareness.

Check out our website at www.traveloregon.com or call 503.967.1560

American

Pipit

PHOTO BY: 

Richard Cronberg

Lesser Scaup PHOTO BY: 

Richard Cronberg
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The Oregon Coast Birding Trail recognizes three organizations for their major 

funding and/or leadership contributions:

Title Sponsors of the 

Oregon Coast Birding Trail

The National Forest Foundation (NFF), chartered by Congress, engages 

America in community-based and national programs that promote the health 

and public enjoyment of the 192-million-acre National Forest System and 

administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests. 

The NFF stands apart from similar organizations through its commitment to 

facilitating local involvement and encouraging grass-roots participation in forest 

stewardship. Areas of focus include community-based forest stewardship, 

recreation, wildlife habitat improvement, and watershed restoration.

Working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants 

and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are 

both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known 

for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, 

dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. Follow us at 

www.facebook.com/usfwsoregoncoast.

Oregon Coast Visitors Association

www.visittheoregoncoast.com

www.natlforests.org

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

www.fws.gov/oregoncoast

The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) is a regional destination 

marketing organization dedicated to increasing visitation to Oregon’s 363 miles 

of coastline. We work in cooperation with a network of local chambers of 

commerce, visitor & convention bureaus, state & federal agencies and privately 

operated tourism businesses. OCVA assists travelers by using powerful trip 

planning tools such as the Official Oregon Coast Visitors Guide. 

Tufted Puffin Sponsors 

($10,000+)

California Redwoods Birding Trail

www.californiaredwoodsbirdingtrail.org

Brown Pelican Sponsors 

($5,000)

Chinook Winds Casino Resort 

www.chinookwindscasino.com

Florence Area Chamber of Commerce

www.florencechamber.com

Lincoln County Economic and 

Community Development

www.co.lincoln.or.us

Seaside Visitors Bureau

www.seasideor.com

Black Oystercatcher Sponsors 

($1,000+)

Audubon Society of Lincoln City

lincolncityaudubon.org

Audubon Society of Portland

audubonportland.org

Bureau of Land Management

Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/

yaquina

Compass Rose Bed and Breakfast

www.compassroseportorford.com

Convention and Visitors Association 

of Lane County

www.cvalco.org

Destination Newport

www.discovernewport.com

Economic Development Council 

of Tillamook County

www.edctc.com/block.htm 

Friend of Cape Meares Lighthouse 

and Wildlife Refuge

www.capemeareslighthouse.org

Friends of Haystack Rock

friendsofhaystackrock.org

Inn at Spanish Head

www.spanishhead.com

Kalmiopsis Audubon Society

kalmiopsisaudubon.org

Oregon Coast Aquarium

www.aquarium.org 

Oregon Coast Magazine

www.northwestmagazines.com

Oregon Birding Association

www.orbirds.org

TLC Federal Credit Union

www.tlcfcu.org

USDA Forest Service

Siuslaw National Forest

www.fs.usda.gov/siuslaw

WildSpring Guest Habitat

www.wildspring.com

Yaquina Birders and Naturalists

yaquina.info/ybn

Rufous Hummingbird 

Sponsors ($500+)

AAA Oregon

www.oregon.aaa.com

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

www.bandondunesgolf.com

Manzanita Merchants Association

www.exploremanzanita.com

Rockaway Beach Chamber of 

Commerce

www.rockawaybeach.net

Spindrift Inn

www.spindrift-inn.com

Toledo Chamber of Commerce

www.visittoledooregon.com

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To receive free visitor information on fine 

dining, fabulous accommodations, and where to 

play while birding along the Oregon coast, contact

Oregon Coast Visitors Association

1-888-628-2101 or visit 

www.VisitTheOregonCoast.com

better grab 

your binoculars.

The Oregon Coast 

 is for the birds...

The Oregon Coast 

 is for the birds...

Photos by David Ledig / US Fish and Wildlife Service