Birds of the week

Birds of La Conner: A community gallery

The trees are alive with birdsong, and La Conner is a paradise for birdwatchers! From soaring eagles to cheerful meadowlarks—and the occasional unexpected guest—our town is full of feathered wonders.

Each week, we showcase a reader-submitted photo of a bird spotted in the area. Browse the gallery to see the latest sightings, and if you’ve captured a great bird moment, we’d love to feature it!

Submit your Bird of the Week photo along with the date and location of your sighting to info@laconnercommunitynews.org for a chance to be featured in our newsletter.

Happy birding!

Mar. 26, 2026

Close-up of a crane's head showcasing its detailed feathers, a red patch on the crown, and a prominent beak against a dark background.

The sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis) is a large crane found from Siberia to North America. The Platte River in Nebraska boasts a massive concentration of them in the winter. Named after their favored habitat, they can be found along waterways near sandy hills and plains. There are a pair of resident sandhill cranes at George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuaryin British Columbia. We typically get a pair or two stopping over during migration, but they don’t stay long in the Skagit Valley. There is an annual crane festival in Othello, Washington. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Mar. 19, 2026

Several birds perched on the branches of a tree against a light gray sky.
The Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) came to North America via the Bahamas when several escaped a pet shop in the 1970s, and the owner decided to release another 50 he had. They can now be found all over the United States. Others were released from the island of Guadeloupe when a volcano threatened to erupt, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They can be seen, and their soft cooing calls heard, all over the Skagit Valley.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Mar. 12, 2026

Two ducks swimming in calm water, one displaying a green head and brown body, and the other with a more muted, patterned brown appearance.

The American wigeon (Mareca americana) is a dabbling duck found across North America, but they are especially concentrated in the Pacific flyway. The male has a distinctive mask of green feathers during breeding season, and a white “cap” on its head. The female, as seen on the right, is much more muted in coloration. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Mar. 5, 2026

A northern harrier owl soaring gracefully above golden grasslands.
The Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius), also known as the marsh hawk, is often seen in open marshland and grassy fields around here hovering like its namesake, the Harrier helicopter, searching for prey. Adult males are light gray in color, while females and juveniles of both sexes are brown. All have a white patch on their tail. They have owl-like faces.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Feb. 26, 2026

A duck swimming on a tranquil body of water, showcasing its vibrant plumage and distinctive blue bill.

The male Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is easy to identify due to its striking blue bill, erect tail, odd “ear” tufts on its head and rusty color. During mating season, the males beat their bills against their chest, making a drumming sound and creating a mound of bubbles. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Feb. 19, 2026

A colorful pheasant standing in a wet, marshy area with dry vegetation in the background.
The Asian Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) was introduced to the U.S. in the 1880s. Some 30,000 to 50,000 are released in Western Washington each year at specific sites for upland hunting. The brilliant red heads, iridescent green necks and white collars of the males stand out in the dull fields of winter. There are often pheasants wandering around near release sites after hunting season ends in November.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Feb. 12, 2026


The northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata) dabbling duck is easily recognized by its shovel-shaped bill. Males in breeding plumage are colorful with their white chest, green head and light blue on their wings. Females, as in this photo, are mottled brown. Look for shovelers in shallow ponds in local fields during the winter. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Feb. 5, 2026

The double-crested Cormorant (Nanopterum auritum) is a water bird widely distributed across North America and commonly seen in our region, especially around our ferries. Despite being a water bird, its feathers are not waterproof and it must dry them out after spending time in the water. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Jan. 29, 2026


The great egret (Ardea alba) is a large white heron-type bird that has wide distribution across the U.S. While not native to our area, they sometimes appear here and can be spotted
hunting often near great blue herons. I have seen three great egrets in our area this year. Look in drainage ditches and along nearby waterways, like the Swinomish Channel. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Jan. 22, 2026

The double-crested Cormorant (Nanopterum auritum) is a water bird widely distributed across North America and commonly seen in our region, especially around our ferries. Despite being a water bird, its feathers are not waterproof and it must dry them out after spending time in the water. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Jan. 15, 2026


The plumage of the male wood duck (Aix sponsa) is very colorful. Wood ducks are considered perching ducks because they nest in trees. Wood duck nesting boxes have been installed at the Samish flats near Edison, but I personally haven’t seen any takers yet. The shape of a wood duck’s head is unique among ducks. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Jan. 8, 2026

The Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) is related to the eastern “blue jay,” but is native to the western side of North America and the mountains of Central America. The Steller’s Jay of the West Coast is larger than the East Coast blue jay, and its crest varies in color from black to brown to blue. They tend to live in coniferous forests. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Dec. 31, 2025


The killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a plover often heard before seen due to its distinctive, high-pitched call. Although a shorebird, they tend to nest away from water in the most inconvenient locations – like parking lots or the edge of gravel roads. Adults will fake an injury to distract predators from the nest. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Dec. 24, 2025

The snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) breeds in the Arctic and sometimes disperses farther south during winter. It is the only owl with mainly white plumage. Males tend to be whiter
than females. They hunt during the day and prefer open, flat areas. While they regularly appear on the beaches of New England in the winter, their appearance in our area is unpredictable. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Dec. 18, 2025


This male harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) displays the colorful breeding plumage of these small sea ducks. They can be found on rocky shores or turbulent rivers, where they feed on aquatic invertebrates. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Dec. 11, 2025

The rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) is a beautiful arctic raptor that sometimes visits our area in the winter. Note the feather-covered legs, a field mark for quick identification. There are at least three in the Samish flats area this year.Photo Courtesy Liam Schwabe

Dec. 4, 2025


The snow geese (Anser caerulescens) that overwinter in Skagit Valley breed on Wrangel Island off the coast of Siberia. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Nov. 26, 2025

The feral domestic turkey was one of our most recognizable (and sometimes notorious) large ground birds in the valley. This handsome tom was shown strutting through town with his tail fanned and feathers catching the low autumn light, a reminder of how easily
wildlife became part of community life. Turkeys were often seen traveling in family groups along field edges, neighborhood streets and wooded margins, foraging for seeds, berries and insects. Photo courtesy Steve Voght

Nov. 20, 2025


The snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is a small, Arctic, passerine bird that appears here during winter migration. They are often dubbed “toasted marshmallows” because of their plumage. These cute little seed eaters like open habitats and might be found by shorelines or farm fields. These were at Crockett Lake on Whidbey Island. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Nov. 13, 2025

The surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a sea duck that can be found in large rafts, often close to shore,along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts during winter. Around here they can be seen off Camano and Whidbey Islands. They Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Nov. 6, 2025


Swans have started arriving in the valley for the winter. While trumpeter swans compose the majority of our winter swans, there are also some 1500 Tundra Swans (Cignus columbianus)
like the pair seen here. They are smaller and quieter than trumpeters and sport a distinctive yellow “teardrop” mark under their eyes. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Oct. 30, 2025

The Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) got its common name from Savannah, Georgia, where it was first observed in 1811. Although its range is widespread across north
and south America, our area is one of the few spots where it can be found year round. Photo Courtesy Liam Schwabe

Oct. 23, 2025

The Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) is a medium sized seabird with an impressive migration pattern from the South Pacific around Australia and New Zealand to the North Pacific. This one was off the coast of Seward, Alaska. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Oct. 16, 2025

Brown creepers (Certhia americana) are common in local woodlands but can be hard to see because their plumage looks so much like the bark of trees from which they glean insects and spiders for food. Their typical feeding strategy is to fly down near the base of a tree and climb up, searching for bugs lurking in the bark. This one has a moth in its beak, which may count as a treat compared to the size of most of their prey. Photo courtesy Neil A. O’Hara

Oct. 9, 2025

A large shorebird that has been gracing our area recently is the greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) which breeds in Central and Southern Alaska, and winters in southern North America, Central America, the West Indies and South America. Photo Courtesy Mark Wangarin

Oct. 2, 2025

The northern hawk owl (Surnia ulula) looks like an owl but acts more like a hawk. Native to boreal forests, it usually hunts by day from a tree perch and can reportedly spot prey from a half-mile away. This one was spotted near Fairbanks, Alaska, which is its normal habitat, although they can sometimes be seen as far south as Vancouver, B.C. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Sept. 25, 2025

A Northern Flicker perches on a cedar branch as another takes flight, its wings glowing orange against the clear sky. Liam Schwabe, 12, photographed the birds Sept. 8 near the Skagit Golf and Country Club in Burlington. Northern flickers are woodpeckers that climb tree trunks and hammer wood. However, they prefer to forage for food on the ground. Photo by Liam Schwabe

Sept. 18, 2025

A bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) peers out of its mossy nest. These tiny, plump birds weave hanging nests and often cluster together for safety. Males help raise the young, an uncommon trait among nesting birds. Their nests may appear in parks or gardens. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Sept. 11, 2025

A Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) feeds on insects while swimming near La Conner. Adult phalarope have striking bright red throats and necks. These Arctic-breeding shorebirds migrate long distances, often stopping briefly in local waters.

Sept. 4, 2025

A turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) soars above Cap Sante in Anacortes. They don’t have the anatomy required to sing like other birds, so they mainly vocalize with grunts and hisses. The scavenger locates carrion with sharp eyesight and smell, roosts communally, and nests in caves or thickets. Found from Canada to South America, it is a frequent summer presence in local skies.

Aug. 28, 2025

Two Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) forage along Channel Drive. The smallest of their species, they breed in the high Arctic and migrate south to winter from the southern United States to northern South America. Like many other shorebird species with long bills, the tip is prehensile, which is evident in the upward curve of the upper mandible. Photo courtesy of Neil A. O’Hara

Aug. 21, 2025

The rock pigeon (Columba livia), introduced to North America in the 1600s, now thrives worldwide, including along local boardwalks. Renowned for their navigational skills, pigeons carried critical messages for the U.S. Army Signal Corps during both World Wars, saving lives with vital intelligence. Photo courtesy of Sarah Walls/Cedarbrook Studio

Aug. 14, 2025

The Pacific wren (Troglodytes pacificus) is one of the smallest wrens in the United States. This wren forages beneath an understory of old growth evergreen on Anacortes Community Forest Lands, exploring upturned roots and rotting logs in search of food. The cute, chubby bird flicks its tail upright as it bops along the forest floor. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

Aug. 7, 2025

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a large wading bird in the stilt family. Its unique, curved bill enables it to forage in shallow mud flats, often sweeping it side to side as it seeks out crustaceans and insects. The rusty color on the head is breeding plumage. These birds were feeding in the shallow waters of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

July 31, 2025

The long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus), the largest North American shorebird, summers on grasslands and winters on coastal mudflats. I spotted one on the Umatilla Army Depot’s high sage desert in Oregon. Its long, downward-curving bill makes its name fitting and helps it forage for insects and crustaceans. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

July 24, 2025

Bathed in golden light, a marbled murrelet glides across still waters. The elusive seabird, again listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, nests high in coastal old-growth trees and forages at sea, making its conservation especially complex. The marbled murrelet is an indicator species for both marine and forest ecosystems. Photo courtesy of Kevin Ebi

July 17, 2025

A rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) swims in the Salish Sea. Closely related to puffins, these stocky seabirds sport a horn-like projection only during breeding season. They can be found across the North Pacific — from California to Alaska, as well as Japan and Korea. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

July 10, 2025

A great blue heron wades through shallow water at sunset, its long legs partially submerged and its slender neck extended forward. The bird’s gray-blue feathers are illuminated by the warm orange and pink hues of the sky reflected on the water’s surface, creating a striking contrast.
A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) wades through a shallow marsh at sunset near Padilla Bay. These large birds nest in one of the biggest colonies in western North America at March Point, on Skagit Land Trust property. Viewers can watch nest activity live at skagitlandtrust.org/heronry.aspx. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News.

July 3, 2025

Reader John Nagel submitted this photo of a scruffy looking juvenile Cooper’s hawk (Astur cooperii). Common in urban areas, these raptors often hunt songbirds near feeders. Skilled at maneuvering through trees, they’re frequently mistaken for sharp-shinned hawks. Adults are identified by a dark gray “cap” on their long, flat heads. Photo courtesy John Nagel

June 26, 2025

A white-crowned sparrow perches among rosebuds on Snee Oosh Road. White-crowned sparrows are familiar to La Conner in the spring and summer months, and can often be found in brushy areas or lunching at bird feeders. Thank you to local artist Sarah Dalton for the submission. See more of her work at simplyimagesbysarah.com. 

June 19, 2025

Everyone loves puffins! These endangered seabirds nest near Smith Island in the Salish Sea and at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Ore. Birding cruises often spot Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata), with white faces, large orange bills, and yellow-white “tufts” that look like bushy eyebrows. Lucky watchers may glimpse the rarer Horned Puffins (Fratercula cornicculata), which are occasional visitors to our region. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell /La Conner Community News 

June 12, 2025

This adult male mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) carries a caterpillar to feed its fledglings. A member of the thrush family, the species is common in open western landscapes, including Skagit County and Yellowstone. For prime viewing, visit the Vredenburgh Bluebird Nest Box Trail in Yakima and Kittitas counties. Established in 1982 by the Yakima Audubon Society, the 16-mile route features 132 nest boxes. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

June 5, 2025

Black-headed Grosbeaks are back in the area after migrating from Mexico. These striking songbirds nest here in summer before heading south again in fall. Want to attract them to your yard? Offer whole sunflower seeds — perfect for their powerful beaks to crack. Photo courtesy Rosemarie and Wesley Jansen/ Fine Feathered Friends

May 29, 2025

Who says the West Coast lacks red birds? This male house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) sports a rosy head and chest, brown-streaked back, and a rounded beak—unlike its cousin, the purple finch. Feeding on forget-me-nots, this lively non-native species is now a common sight in local gardens and backyard feeders. Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

May 22, 2025

A male American Goldfinch pauses to drink from a mud puddle at the end of Channel Drive, a popular spot for local birders. Many of our local meadows are alive now with the vibrant colors and cheerful calls of these birds.
Photo courtesy Mark Wangerin, Shelter Bay.

May 15, 2025

Violet-green Swallows arrive in Washington (and as far north as Alaska) around the first week in April. Although, a few males may scout-out an area as early as March. The birds migrate from Mexico, Central America, and the California coast to nest in cavities, including woodpecker holes, cliff crevices, buildings, and birdhouses. During migration, they often prefer locations near rivers, lakes, and coastlines, such as Camano Island, where this photo was taken. You can find them in a variety of habitats though, from open forests and mountains to deserts and even towns, sustaining themselves on a diet of insects like flies, wasps, moths, aphids, and many more. These birds are often described as “gregarious,” so if you see a flash of iridescent green and purple swooping overhead, you might be in the presence of a Violet-green Swallow.
Photo courtesy Krista Paulino

May 8, 2025

The American Kestrel is our smallest falcon. This colorful male is perched on a man-made post with a rodent snack against a background of fresh mustard blooms. Kestrels can be seen hovering in open fields, hunting rodents. They are perched often on wires around the valley and can be identified by the way they “wag” their tales. Up close you can see the beautiful colors and tell-tale black falcon malar markings that extend from above to under their eyes. Long before football players thought of it, nature designed these markings on falcons to help reduce glare by deflecting sunlight away from the falcon’s eyes during high-speed dives.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

May 1, 2025

The bald eagle, our national symbol since 1782, neared extinction before dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) was banned in 1972. Opportunistic feeders, eagles catch fish but also readily steal prey from other birds and eagles. While many migrate to Skagit County each winter to feed on spawning salmon, some remain year-round. Around La Conner, eagle numbers are rising and have displaced ospreys that used to nest along the Swinomish Channel. On April 27th, photographer Nancy Crowell counted 25 eagles feasting on rodents disturbed by silage harvesting on the Mesman farm.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

April 24, 2025

Once the classic storybook owl, the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) is known for its deep hoot. This mama owl watches over her three owlets, who are at the “branching” stage of growth, stretching and flapping their wings, walking along the branches of their nest tree. A red-tailed hawk originally built this nest, but Great Horned Owls have reused it for several years.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

April 17, 2025

The adult male House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) brightens landscapes nationwide with its rosy red face and red upper breast. Often mistaken for the Purple Finch, which has more red on the face and neck, it’s easily recognized by its notched tail — a trait shared by all finches. Though this photo was taken in Arizona, House Finches are a common sight and sound in Skagit Valley.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

April 10, 2025

A black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melaocephalus) feeds on an Ocotillo plant in Organ Pipe National Monument, Arizona. This species can also be spotted in the Pacific Northwest, as its range extends from Mexico to Canada. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s “All About Birds” website describes the bird’s song as “a tipsy robin welcoming spring.”
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

April 3, 2025

Belted Kingfishers are a pretty common sight along the boardwalk in town. They are blue-gray with white underparts and a broad blue breast band. They have a shaggy crest on the top and back of the head. You can tell that this is a female by the rusty band on her belly.
Photo by Maralyne Powell/Special to La Conner Community News

March 27, 2025

trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator). The Skagit Valley supports the largest concentration of wintering trumpeter swans in North America (between 10,000 and 12,000) in addition to thousands of their smaller, quieter cousins, the tundra swans, according to the Northwest Swan Conservation Association. The swans arrive in early November and head back to their breeding grounds in the Arctic around mid-March each year. Swans mate for life and if you see three swans – two white ones and a gray one – you are likely looking at a mated pair and their juvenile offspring. Enjoy them while you can, as they will soon be heading north and won’t be back until next fall.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

March 20, 2025

Rufous Hummingbirds arrived here in Shelter Bay on March 1st. They come all the way
from Mexico for breeding in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell/La Conner Community News

March 6, 2025

Short Eared Owl
The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) migrates to our area in late October/early November and leaves in March. They get their name from the short tufts of feathers that sometimes appear and look like short ears on their heads. These feathers are not ears, as owls’ ears are on the sides of their faces. Have you driven the Bayview-Edison Road and run across a cluster of photographers in a corner of the road on the way to Edison? They’re watching for these birds, as they hunt during the day and often fly near or across the road while hunting. Their preferred hunting grounds are open grasslands flapping their log wings in a moth-like pattern. They are ground nesting birds and often land on the ground with their prey.
Photo by K. Nancy Crowell.

March 13, 2025

Short Eared Owl
Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani), with their bright orange bills, distinctive eye rings and black “toenails” have a unique appearance. The large shorebirds are fun to watch as they wander along rocky shorelines in search of invertebrates to eat. During mating season their chatter is easily recognizable after the first time you hear them. They prefer rocky shorelines and can often be found in our area at Bowman Bay.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell

Feb. 27, 2025

Western Meadowlark
Western meadowlarks are often heard first, before you spot them. They have a beautiful melodic call. Usually found in open grassland, but sometimes on trees and fence posts, look for a flash of yellow. That’s how I first found a meadowlark in our area. I have seen them in small flocks both on the Samish flats and on Fir Island. They are members of the blackbird family but are not considered pests because they eat harmful insects.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell

Feb. 20, 2025

Anna's Hummingbird
An Anna’s hummingbird feasts on winter-blooming mahonia. The Anna’s hummingbirds are not considered native to Western Washington, but due to our mild weather and the proliferation of feeders, their winter territory has gradually expanded northward so that they are now year-round birds here.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell

Feb. 13, 2025

First sign of spring? This leucistic robin was photographed on a La Conner lawn on Feb. 9. Leucism, a genetic condition that results in a partial loss of feather pigmentation, occurs in about 1 out of every 30,000 birds.
Photo courtesy of John Farnsworth

Feb. 6, 2025

Northern Shrike
A Northern Shrike alights on a bare branch in Fir Island, Washington. Known for its sharp vision and distinctive black-and-white markings, the predatory songbird is often spotted in open habitats.
Photo by Nancy K. Crowell