The Red-breasted Sapsucker (RBSA) is about 8.5” long with a wingspan or 16”. The genus name Sphyrapicus (sfie-rah-PIE-kus) is from Greek spyhra, a hammer, or mallet, in reference to the bill and its use, and Latin picus, a woodpecker.
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Mountain Bluebird
The Mountain Bluebird, sometimes called the “prairie bluebird” (Dunne), is a bird of open grasslands. It is seen most frequently in Central and Eastern Washington. It enjoys a wide range of habitats including an altitudinal range from grasslands to open areas in forests, to alpine tundra (Alderfer).
Sage Thrasher
American Golden Plover and Pacific Golden Plover
Willet
Red-throated Loon
Steller's Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Siskin
The genus name Carduelis (Card-dyou-EE-liss) is from the Latin carduus, thistle (eats seeds of thistle). The species name pinus (PINE-us) is Latin for pine which is its common name apparently from the siskin of Europe, a yellow-green finch. Siskin apparently is derived from Danish sidsken or Swedish siska, a “chirper.”
Dark-eyed Junco
Long-billed/short-billed Dowitcher
Osprey
Common Loon
Northern Flicker
Canada Jay
Hermit Warbler
The Hermit Warbler is considered a specialist in living in the canopy of 200 foot tall conifers. In western Washington it populates Douglas firs, western hemlocks, and western red cedars. It winters in pine-oak forests in Mexico and in California it enjoys Jeffrey, pondersosa, and lodgepole pines. It forages so high that it is often heard long before it is seen.