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Birds and mammals
Approximately 220 species of breeding and non-breeding birds are typically seen each year in King County. There are also more than 100 mammal species that inhabit or visit King County, like the whales that travel through Puget Sound.
Birds
Western Tanager
About 220 breeding and non-breeding bird species are seen on an annual basis in King County. The breeding bird atlas for King County (called Sound to Sage), completed between 1987 and 2000, reports that 164 bird species are either confirmed (135), probable (15), or possible (14) breeders in the county.
To print a checklist of birds in King County, visit the Washington Birder checklist page, scroll to the bottom, and choose King County on the map.
Many of our birds are migratory
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Of the 164 species of birds breeding in the county, 50 are here only during the spring and summer breeding months, and spend winters south of us. Many of these birds are our South and Central America Migrants.
Approximately 50 additional species spend winter in King County but migrate north out of the county for the breeding season. Many of these birds are Boreal Migrants.
Some of the species that are here year-round may migrate locally, depending on their life histories. For example, different individuals of the same species may move in and out of the county. So the chickadees you see nesting in your back yard in summer may not be the same ones that you see eating your sunflower seeds in winter. Our American Robins are another species that migrate locally.
In addition to 221 species expected to be seen annually in the county, another 36 are present and rare (5+ records), and 117 species have been observed in the county fewer than 5 times on record.
Boreal migrants
The Boreal Forest, or taiga, is a highly endangered ecosystem running from coast to coast across Canada and Alaska. Though it may seem distant, it's very important to our local animals and directly impacts King County's biodiversity.
The Boreal Songbird Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to outreach and education about the importance of the Boreal Forest region to North America's birds. A surprising number of birds that can be seen in King County nest in the Boreal Forest. For example, 25 percent of birds that winter in the Seattle area, or migrate through it, breed exclusively or largely in the Boreal Forest.
South and Central America migrants
Migratory birds are affected by the land use practices and other habitat disruptions occurring anywhere along their flight paths. As an example, the Pacific Flyway stretches from wintering grounds in South and Central America to nesting grounds in northwestern North America.
Many notable Washington State songbirds spend their winters in the tropics, including:
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Western Wood Pewee
- Townsend's Warbler
- Hammond's Flycatcher
- American Redstart
- Cassin's Vireo
- MacGillvray's Warbler
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Wilson's Warbler
- Warbling Vireo
- Western Tanager
- Swainson's Thrush
- Black-headed Grosbeak
- Nashville Warbler
- Lincoln's Sparrow
- Yellow Warbler
- Bullock's Oriole
Other migratory birds important to Washington State include shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors. All of these species may be impacted by trade and development activities.
Visit the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, which is dedicated to fostering greater understanding, appreciation, and protection of the grand phenomenon of bird migration.
Mammals
There are more than 100 mammals found in King County—from tiny shrews to visiting gray whales. Get to know some of our most asked-about mammals.
Land mammals
Two mammals in particular end up causing concern to King County residents each year: Elk and beavers. Explore our King County beavers page to learn about beaver-related challenges and solutions. Other helpful resources:
- WDFW's Elk Fact Sheet, including "Living with Elk"
- WDFW's Beaver page, including "Living with Beavers"
Big predators such as black bears and cougars can also present wildlife-related challenges in an urbanizing environment. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has helpful information about these species too:
- WDFW's Black Bear page, including "Living with Black Bears" and "Preventing conflict"
- WDFW's Cougar page, including "Living with wildlife" and "Preventing conflict"
Marine mammals
Orcas, or killer whales, are perhaps the most popular marine mammal and the most common whale species seen in King County waters. The Southern Resident killer whales were federally listed as endangered in November 2005 because of population declines. In July 2011, there were 88 whales in this population, and as of July 2024 the population stood at 73 whales.
The southern resident population feeds solely on salmon, whose populations have declined from historic levels. Another primary threat to this population is reduced reproductive capacity, meaning they are not having as many babies. A third big threat is declining health related to the extremely high levels of pollutants in their bodies.
There are many resources available to learn about the Southern Resident orca population:
- The Center for Whale Research's Orca Survey
- The Whale Museum's Issues Affecting the Southern Resident Orcas
- Vessel Regulations in Washington State for Southern Resident Killer Whales
- NOAA's Killer Whale Fact Sheet
- The Orca Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of the whales of the Pacific Northwest
- 13 whales you can see in the Pacific Northwest, and how to identify them, from Oregon Live
- State of Washington's Periodic Status Reviews of different Washington whale species