Birds of Bonaparte Meadows

Located below Mount Bonaparte near Bonaparte Lake, Bonaparte Meadows contains Okanogan County’s largest known peat wetland, a headwaters landscape where Bonaparte Creek winds through the fen before continuing downstream toward the Okanogan River. The site is home to one of the rarest wetland types in Washington and the United States: a calcareous fen fed by mineral-rich groundwater.

150

Species Recorded

Jump to the full inventory

109

Confirmed Breeding

Nesting or raising young recorded

WDFW PHS

Priority Habitat & Species birds

WA SGCN

Species of Greatest Conservation Need

State-Status Birds

Includes 1 WA Endangered species

Inventory background

What this inventory represents

The bird list on this page represents a compiled inventory of Bonaparte Meadows. It brings together recent field observations, breeding records, and historical bird data from the meadow and nearby habitat.

The inventory was compiled by Matt Danielson of Conservation Northwest, with provenance verification oversight by Julie Vanderwal of Sparrow Song Consulting, into one “All Sources / Single List” inventory.

That matters because birds do not reveal the whole story in one visit. Some species are seasonal. Some are easier to detect during breeding season. Others may appear only briefly as they move through open water, wet meadow, forest edge, or surrounding uplands. By combining multiple sources, the inventory gives a broader view of how birds use this connected landscape over time.

The result is the summary shown here: 150 bird species recorded, 109 confirmed breeding species, and multiple conservation-priority designations that help explain why Bonaparte Meadows matters for bird habitat.

Aerial view of Bonaparte Meadows showing connected wetland habitat

Summary

How Bonaparte Meadows holds bird life

The bird inventory reflects more than a species count. Bonaparte Meadows brings open water, peat fen, sedge, wet meadow, forest edge, riparian corridor, and surrounding uplands into one connected landscape. Birds move across these habitats daily, seasonally, and across their life cycles.

That variety matters. Some species use the wetland for feeding or nesting. Others rely on nearby forest, shrubland, or upland edges. Many move between habitat types depending on the time of year, water levels, breeding needs, and available food.

Seen this way, the bird list is not just a record of individual species. It is evidence of a larger habitat mosaic: a place where water, meadow, forest, and edge habitat work together to support bird life across the landscape.

Connected habitat at Bonaparte Meadows

Field views

Bird life across the meadow

A few views from the Bonaparte Meadows bird inventory, showing the wetland, open water, and meadow habitat that support birds across the property.

American coot at Bonaparte Meadows — American coot

Ring-necked duck and yellow-headed blackbird at Bonaparte Meadows — Ring-necked duck & yellow-headed blackbird

Blue-winged teal at Bonaparte Meadows — Blue-winged teal

Ruddy duck at Bonaparte Meadows — Ruddy duck

Redhead duck at Bonaparte Meadows — Redhead

American wigeon pair at Bonaparte Meadows — American wigeon pair

American robin at Bonaparte Meadows — American robin

Killdeer at Bonaparte Meadows — Killdeer

Wilson's phalarope at Bonaparte Meadows — Wilson’s phalarope

Grebe nesting in wetland vegetation at Bonaparte Meadows — Nesting grebe

Cinnamon teal at Bonaparte Meadows — Cinnamon teal

Sandpiper at Bonaparte Meadows — Sandpiper

Brown-headed cowbird in flight at Bonaparte Meadows — Brown-headed cowbird

Yellow-headed blackbird at Bonaparte Meadows — Yellow-headed blackbird

Brewer's blackbird at Bonaparte Meadows — Brewer’s blackbird

Scroll or swipe to move through the field views.

What the bird data tells us

Breeding habitat for conservation-priority birds

A species list tells us who has been seen. Breeding evidence tells us what the landscape is doing.

At Bonaparte Meadows, the updated bird inventory documents 150 species across a connected wetland, meadow, forest-edge, and upland system. Of those, 109 species are confirmed breeding. That means the site is not only attracting birds, it is supporting nesting, brood-rearing, and the next generation of wildlife.

The conservation story gets stronger when breeding records overlap with Washington’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Six SGCN species are confirmed breeding at or near Bonaparte Meadows: Northern pintail, Cinnamon teal, Barrow’s goldeneye, Western screech-owl, Lewis’ woodpecker, and Western bluebird.

Seen this way, the landscape is not just a collection of habitats. It is breeding infrastructure: open water, emergent wetland vegetation, saturated meadow, upland cover, snags, cavity trees, forest edge, and headwaters all supporting different parts of birds’ life cycles.

How confirmed-breeding SGCN birds use this landscape

The confirmed-breeding SGCN species below show how different parts of the Bonaparte Meadows landscape work together as bird habitat. Some are tied closely to shallow water and wet meadow. Others depend on forest edge, snags, tree cavities, or upland cover. Together, they show why the bird story here is really a habitat-mosaic story.

Wetland nesting cover

Cinnamon teal

A confirmed-breeding SGCN species tied to freshwater wetlands, dense aquatic vegetation, and nearby upland cover.

Open water + cavities

Barrow’s goldeneye

A confirmed-breeding SGCN species that connects freshwater brood-rearing habitat with tree cavities, mature forest, and snags.

Snags + post-fire structure

Lewis’ woodpecker

A confirmed-breeding SGCN species that relies on dead and dying trees, including softer snags and open forest structure.

Cavity trees

Western bluebird

A confirmed-breeding SGCN species that uses natural cavities, abandoned woodpecker holes, nest boxes, and standing snags.

Riparian forest cavities

Western screech-owl

A confirmed-breeding SGCN species associated with riparian areas, forest edges, and tree cavities.

Wet meadow + open water

Northern pintail

A confirmed-breeding SGCN species that links the inventory back to wet meadow, shallow water, and seasonal wetland conditions.

Habitat notes summarized from Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife species accounts for Cinnamon teal, Barrow’s goldeneye, Lewis’ woodpecker, Western bluebird, and Western screech-owl, with Northern pintail habitat supported by Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds.

Wetland species to watch

Wilson’s Phalarope and the value of shallow wetland habitat

WA SGIN WDFW PHS

Among the birds recorded at Bonaparte Meadows, Wilson’s Phalarope offers a strong wetland-habitat signal. This small shorebird is associated with fresh and alkali wetlands, especially places with shallow open water, emergent vegetation, and open shoreline. At Bonaparte Meadows, that habitat language fits into the larger story of a mineral-rich calcareous fen and the wet meadow, open water, and shoreline habitat around it.

Its presence points back to the importance of water held on the landscape. Shallow wetlands are not just transitional spaces between land and open water. They are productive habitat where birds can feed, move, nest nearby, and respond to seasonal changes in water levels.

Wilson’s Phalarope is one of the species in the Bonaparte Meadows inventory flagged by both Washington’s Species of Greatest Information Need and WDFW Priority Habitat & Species screens. Its association with fresh and alkali wetlands, shallow open water, emergent vegetation, and open shoreline points back to the value of the habitat Bonaparte Meadows provides.

Habitat notes summarized from USGS species account materials for Wilson’s Phalarope. Conservation designation context summarized from Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Priority Habitats and Species and State Wildlife Action Plan materials.

Explore State & Conservation Designations

Every bird on this list has been run through several conservation screens. Each designation asks a slightly different question, and the categories overlap. A species may appear in more than one category, so totals should not be added together.

Washington Species of Greatest Conservation Need — 13 species

Species of Greatest Conservation Need are birds identified in Washington’s State Wildlife Action Plan as priorities for conservation attention. At Bonaparte Meadows, this designation is especially meaningful where SGCN birds are also documented as breeding, showing that the site supports more than seasonal movement or occasional use.

Northern pintail
Cinnamon teal
Lesser scaup
Barrow’s goldeneye
Sandhill crane
Long-billed curlew
Common loon
Golden eagle
Western screech-owl
Flammulated owl
Lewis’ woodpecker
White-headed woodpecker
Western bluebird

Washington Species of Greatest Information Need — 12 species

Species of Greatest Information Need are birds for which Washington needs better information to guide conservation decisions. These species may not have enough data about population trends, distribution, habitat use, or breeding status to fully assess their conservation needs.

Red-necked grebe
Rufous hummingbird
Common nighthawk
Wilson’s phalarope
Great gray owl
Williamson’s sapsucker
Bank swallow
Olive-sided flycatcher
Pygmy nuthatch
Townsend’s warbler
Evening grosbeak
Pine siskin

WDFW Priority Habitat & Species — 32 species

Washington’s Priority Habitats and Species designation is a broad conservation planning tool. It flags species and habitats that should be considered in land use, restoration, and conservation decisions because they are vulnerable, declining, dependent on specific habitats, or otherwise important to protect.

Dusky grouse
Canada goose
American wigeon
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern pintail
Wood duck
Northern shoveler
Green-winged teal
Blue-winged teal
Cinnamon teal
Redhead
Ring-necked duck
Lesser scaup
Common goldeneye
Barrow’s goldeneye
Bufflehead
Ruddy duck
Common merganser
Hooded merganser
Pied-billed grebe
Red-necked grebe
Eared grebe
Vaux’s swift
Sandhill crane
Wilson’s phalarope
Common loon
Great blue heron
Black-crowned night-heron
Golden eagle
Flammulated owl
White-headed woodpecker

Washington State-Status Species — 5 species

Washington state-status designations identify species that are formally listed or under review at the state level. Endangered species face a serious risk of disappearing from Washington. Sensitive species are vulnerable or declining. Candidate species are under review because they may warrant listing in the future.

Status	Species
Endangered	Sandhill crane
Sensitive	Common loon
Candidate	Golden eagle
Candidate	Flammulated owl
Candidate	White-headed woodpecker

ISSSSP Species — 8 species

The Interagency Special Status / Sensitive Species Program is used by federal land management agencies in the Pacific Northwest to track species that may need additional consideration in planning and management. It helps flag species that are rare, vulnerable, or associated with habitats of conservation concern.

Bufflehead
Red-necked grebe
Sandhill crane
Long-billed curlew
Bald eagle
Great gray owl
Lewis’ woodpecker
White-headed woodpecker

Full Bird Inventory

Explore the complete Bonaparte Meadows bird list, or browse the inventory by taxonomic group for more structure.

Bonaparte Meadows Bird List

American coot
American crow
American goldfinch
American kestrel
American robin
American Tree Sparrow
American wigeon
Bald eagle
Bank swallow
Barn swallow
Barrow’s goldeneye
Belted kingfisher
Black-billed magpie
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-chinned hummingbird
Black-crowned night-heron
Black-headed grosbeak
Blue-winged teal
Brewer’s blackbird
Brown creeper
Brown-headed cowbird
Bufflehead
Bullock’s oriole
California quail
Calliope hummingbird
Canada goose
Cassin’s finch
Cassin’s vireo
Cedar waxwing
Chipping sparrow
Cinnamon teal
Clark’s nutcracker
Clay-colored Sparrow
Cliff swallow
Common goldeneye
Common loon
Common merganser
Common nighthawk
Common poorwill
Common raven
Common yellowthroat
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy woodpecker
Dusky flycatcher
Dusky grouse
Eared grebe
Eurasian collared-dove
European starling
Evening grosbeak
Flammulated owl
Gadwall
Golden eagle
Golden-crowned kinglet
Great blue heron
Great gray owl
Great horned owl
Greater yellowlegs
Green-winged teal
Hairy woodpecker
Hammond’s flycatcher
Hermit thrush
Hooded merganser
Horned lark
Killdeer
Lark sparrow
Lazuli bunting
Least sandpiper
Lesser scaup
Lesser yellowlegs
Lewis’ woodpecker
Lincoln’s sparrow
Long-billed curlew
Long-billed dowitcher
Long-eared owl
MacGillivray’s warbler
Mallard
Marsh wren
Mountain bluebird
Mountain chickadee
Mourning dove
Nashville warbler
Northern flicker
Northern harrier
Northern house wren
Northern pintail
Northern pygmy owl
Northern rough-winged swallow
Northern Shrike
Northern shoveler
Northern yellow warbler
Olive-sided flycatcher
Orange-crowned warbler
Pied-billed grebe
Pileated woodpecker
Pine grosbeak
Pine siskin
Pygmy nuthatch
Red-breasted nuthatch
Red crossbill
Red-eyed vireo
Red-naped sapsucker
Red-necked grebe
Red-tailed hawk
Red-winged blackbird
Redhead
Ring-billed gull
Ring-necked duck
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Ruddy duck
Ruffed grouse
Rufous hummingbird
Sandhill crane
Savannah sparrow
Say’s phoebe
Solitary sandpiper
Song sparrow
Sora
Spotted sandpiper
Spotted towhee
Steller’s jay
Swainson’s thrush
Townsend’s solitaire
Townsend’s warbler
Tree swallow
Turkey Vulture
Varied thrush
Vaux’s swift
Vesper sparrow
Violet-green swallow
Virginia rail
Western bluebird
Western meadowlark
Western screech-owl
Western tanager
Western warbling vireo
Western wood-pewee
White-breasted nuthatch
White-crowned sparrow
White-headed woodpecker
White-winged crossbill
Wild turkey
Williamson’s sapsucker
Willow flycatcher
Wilson’s phalarope
Wilson’s snipe
Wilson’s warbler
Wood duck
Yellow-breasted chat
Yellow-headed blackbird
Yellow-rumped warbler

Browse by taxonomic group

Galliformes Landfowl

Dusky grouse
Ruffed grouse
California quail
Wild turkey

Anseriformes Waterfowl

Canada goose
American wigeon
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern pintail
Wood duck
Northern shoveler
Green-winged teal
Blue-winged teal
Cinnamon teal
Redhead
Ring-necked duck
Lesser scaup
Common goldeneye
Barrow’s goldeneye
Bufflehead
Ruddy duck
Common merganser
Hooded merganser

Podicipediformes Grebes

Pied-billed grebe
Red-necked grebe
Eared grebe

Columbiformes Doves

Mourning dove
Eurasian collared-dove

Apodiformes Swifts & Hummingbirds

Rufous hummingbird
Black-chinned hummingbird
Calliope hummingbird
Vaux’s swift

Caprimulgiformes

Common poorwill
Common nighthawk

Gruiformes Cranes & Allies

American coot
Sandhill crane
Sora
Virginia rail

Charadriiformes Gulls, Shorebirds & Auks

Ring-billed gull
Wilson’s snipe
Wilson’s phalarope
Killdeer
Greater yellowlegs
Lesser yellowlegs
Long-billed dowitcher
Solitary sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper
Least sandpiper
Long-billed curlew

Gaviiformes Loons

Common loon

Pelicaniformes Herons, Ibises & Pelicans

Great blue heron
Black-crowned night-heron

Accipitriformes Hawks, Eagles & Kites

Golden eagle
Bald eagle
Northern harrier
Red-tailed hawk

Cathartiformes New World Vultures

Turkey Vulture

Strigiformes Owls

Great horned owl
Great gray owl
Northern pygmy owl
Western screech-owl
Flammulated owl
Long-eared owl

Coraciiformes

Belted kingfisher

Piciformes Woodpeckers

Pileated woodpecker
Northern flicker
Lewis’ woodpecker
White-headed woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Williamson’s sapsucker
Red-naped sapsucker

Falconiformes Falcons

American kestrel

Passeriformes Songbirds

Northern rough-winged swallow
Tree swallow
Violet-green swallow
Barn swallow
Bank swallow
Cliff swallow
Say’s phoebe
Olive-sided flycatcher
Western wood-pewee
Hammond’s flycatcher
Dusky flycatcher
Willow flycatcher
Western warbling vireo
Cassin’s vireo
Red-eyed vireo
Northern Shrike
Mountain bluebird
Western bluebird
Townsend’s solitaire
Swainson’s thrush
Hermit thrush
Varied thrush
American robin
Horned lark
Cedar waxwing
American crow
Common raven
Steller’s jay
Black-billed magpie
Clark’s nutcracker
Brown creeper
White-breasted nuthatch
Red-breasted nuthatch
Pygmy nuthatch
Mountain chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern house wren
Marsh wren
Ruby-crowned kinglet
Golden-crowned kinglet
Northern yellow warbler
Wilson’s warbler
Orange-crowned warbler
Nashville warbler
MacGillivray’s warbler
Yellow-rumped warbler
Common yellowthroat
Townsend’s warbler
Yellow-breasted chat
Chipping sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
White-crowned sparrow
Savannah sparrow
Vesper sparrow
Lark sparrow
Lincoln’s sparrow
Song sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Spotted towhee
Western tanager
Black-headed grosbeak
Lazuli bunting
Western meadowlark
Bullock’s oriole
Brown-headed cowbird
Brewer’s blackbird
Red-winged blackbird
Yellow-headed blackbird
Pine grosbeak
Evening grosbeak
Cassin’s finch
Pine siskin
American goldfinch
Red crossbill
White-winged crossbill
European starling