Photo: Land Trust.

Exploring Birds in Central Oregon!

Apr 09, 2026 by Mo Odell
Birds are one of the easiest kinds of wildlife to watch, but do you know who you're spotting in the sky?

Questions? Contact our team!

Do you have questions, kudos, or other feedback? Let us know: info@deschuteslandtrust.org

Spring has officially sprung and living things are waking up! Whether you’re hiking on a trail or venturing into your backyard, you might have noticed more birds and different kinds have returned to Central Oregon. We believe one of the best ways to protect the lands we love is by getting to know the plants and animals that live all around us. Birds are one of the most common types of wildlife to watch, and birding is great for people of all ages! Follow these simple steps and get outside to start identifying our local feathered friends.

  1. Grab your guidebook! Every new birder needs a guide, and luckily, there are so many to choose from! Guides exist in the form of books and phone apps and can be accessible to a wide age range. Some of our favorite guides include Sibley Birds West (a classic birding guidebook) or Merlin (an easy to use birding app available on all smartphones.) Take the time to look through your guides to learn more about different groups of birds, if they can be found in Central Oregon, what type of habitat you can spot them in, and more. The Deschutes Land Trust partnered with Deschutes Public Library to create a great birding resource as a part of the Library of Things! You can check it out here.

    A birding guidebook, bird bingo, and binoculars from the Library of Things birding kit created by Deschutes Land Trust. Photo: Land Trust.
    A birding guidebook, bird bingo, and binoculars from the Library of Things birding kit created by Deschutes Land Trust. Photo: Land Trust.

  2. Find and tune your binoculars! Birds come in all shapes and sizes and are notorious for flying really far away from us (even if we wish they’d be a little closer for easier viewing.) That’s why we recommend using binoculars to get the clearest view. Once you’ve located a pair of binoculars, it’s time to tune them up! To get the clearest images, you’ll need to adjust the binoculars to your eyes. Learn more about this process through our How to Use Binoculars for Beginners Guide. 

    A child in their parent's arms peers through bright blue binoculars. Photo: Sean Rea.
    A child in their parent's arms peers through bright blue binoculars. Photo: Sean Rea.

  3. Now that you have your binoculars figured out, it’s time to find and identify your first bird! Here are some helpful questions to ask yourself as you attempt to name who you’re seeing…

  • What size is this bird? Small, medium, large, gigantic?!
  • What call is it making, if any? A warble, chirp, squawk?
  • Where are you seeing this bird? In a tree, on the ground, soaring?

Three different birds one on the ground (upper left), one sitting on a log (upper right), and one soaring through the sky (bottom.)
Three different birds one on the ground (upper left), one sitting on a log (upper right), and one soaring through the sky (bottom.)
Where do you find birds? Whether it’s in your yard, at a local park, or along the sidewalk, birds are all around you. Follow our tips on how to find a wider variety of birds while you’re out and about:

    1. Some birds live in Central Oregon year-round, some migrate through our region in the spring and fall, and other migrate to Central Oregon. Your greatest chance of seeing the widest variety of birds is often in the spring—right now!—and fall.
    2. Have you ever noticed that birds like to sing in the morning? This is called the dawn song. Hearing birds can make it easier to find them, making dawn a great time to bird! Hot tip: Use the Merlin app’s sound ID and then try to find the bird singing that song!

Some birds like specific types of habitat like rivers, canyons, meadows, or forests. Others can be found in a variety of habitats. In Central Oregon, going to rivers and creeks can offer you the best chance to spot a variety of birds.

While it's exciting to accurately name every bird you see, that doesn’t always have to be the goal, especially as you’re starting out. Use these tips and tricks to get you started noticing all of the different birds around you! Just like humans, you’ll be amazed just how many different types of birds call Central Oregon home.

 

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