River Species

Hundreds of species of fish and wildlife are known to use the lower Columbia River and estuary during a portion of their life. Some may live and die within 1 mile of their birth. Others, such as salmon and certain bird species will travel thousands of miles over the course of their lives, off to different continents or up the Pacific Coast to Alaska, before returning to the lower Columbia River.

The species list was pulled from the Estuary Partnership’s Subbasin Plans for the Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Council.

Fish
Amphibians
Birds
Mammals
Marine Mammals
Reptiles

Fish

Common Name Scientific Name
Pacific lamprey Lampetra tridentata
River lamprey Lampetra ayresi
Spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias
Big skate Raja binoculata
Green sturgeon Acipenser medirostris
White sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus
American shad Alosa sapidissima
Pacific herring Clupea harengus pallasi
Northern anchovy Engraulis mordax
Chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta
Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch
Sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka
Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss
Cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki clarki
Mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni
Whitebait smelt Allosmerus elongates
Surf smelt Hypomesus pretiosus
Night smelt Spirinchus starksi
Longfin smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys
Eulachon Thaleichthys pacificus
Common carp Cyprinus carpio
Peamouth Mylocheilus caurinus
Northern pikeminnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis
Largescale sucker Catostomus macrocheilus
Yellow bullhead Ictalurus natalis
Brown bullhead Ictalurus nebulosus
Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus
Pacific hake Merluccius productus
Pacific tomcod Microgadus proximus
Walleye Pollock Theragra chalcogramma
Threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
Bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus
Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus
Warmouth Lepomis gulosus
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
Walleye Stizostedium vitreum
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomeiui
Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides
White crappie Pomoxis annularis
Black crappie Pomoxis migromaculatus
Yellow perch Perca flavenscens
Redtail surfperch Amphistichus rhodoterus
Shiner perch Cymatogaster aggregata
Striped seaperch Embiotoca lateralis
Spotfin surfperch Hyperprosopon anale
Walleye surfperch Hyperprosopon argenteum
Silver surfperch Hyperprosopon ellipticum
White seaperch Phanerodon furcatus
Pile perch Rhacochilus vacca
Pacific sandfish Trichodon trichodon
Snake prickleback Lumpenus sagitta
Saddleback gunnel Pholis ornata
Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus
Bay goby Lepidogobius lepidus
Kelp greenling Hexogrammus decagrammus
Lingcod Ophiodon elongatus
Padded sculpin Artedius fenestralis
Coastrange sculpin Cottus aleuticus
Prickly sculpin Cottus asper
Buffalo sculpin Enophyrs bison
Pacific staghorn sculpin Leptocottus armatus
Cabezon Scorpaenichthys marmoratus
Warty poacher Ocella verrucosa
Tubenose poacher Pallasina barbata
Pricklebreast poacher Stellerina xyosterna
Slipskin snailfish Liparis fucencis
Showy snailfish Liparis pulchellus
Ringtail snailfish Liparis rutteri
Pacific sanddab Citharichthys sordidus
Speckled sanddab Citharichthys stigmaeus
Butter sole Isopsetta isolepis
English sole Parophrys vetulus
Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus
C-O sole Pleuronichthys coenosus
Sand sole Psettichthys melanostictus
Larval smelt  
Larval flatfish  
Other larval fish  

 

Amphibians

Common Name Scientific Name
Northwestern Salamander Ambystoma gracile
Long-toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum
Cope's Giant Salamander Dicamptodon copei
Pacific Giant Salamander Dicamptodon tenebrosus
Columbia Torrent Salamander Rhyacotriton kezeri
Cascade Torrent Salamander Rhyacotriton cascadae
Rough-skinned Newt Taricha granulosa
Dunn's Salamander Plethodon dunni
Larch Mountain Salamander Plethodon larselli
Van Dyke's Salamander Plethodon vandykei
Western Red-backed Salamander Plethodon vehiculum
Ensatina Ensatina eschscholtzii
Clouded Salamander Aneides ferreus
Oregon Slender Salamander Batrachoseps wrighti
Tailed Frog Ascaphus truei
Western Toad Bufo boreas
Pacific Chorus (Tree) Frog Pseudacris regilla
Red-legged Frog Rana aurora
Cascades Frog Rana cascadae
Oregon Spotted Frog Rana pretiosa
Columbia Spotted Frog Rana luteiventris
Bullfrog Rana catesbeian

Birds

Common Name Scientific Name
Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata
Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica
Common Loon Gavia immer
Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis
Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus tenuirostris
Fork-tailed Storm-petrel Oceanodroma furcata
Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Egret Ardea alba
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron Butorides virescens
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Snow Goose Chen Ccaerulescens
Ross's Goose Chen rossii
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Dusky Canada Goose Branta canadensis occidentalis, Baird
Brant Branta bernicla
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator
Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Gadwall Anas strepera
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
American Wigeon Anas americana
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata
Northern Pintail Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter Melanitta nigra
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Merlin Falco columbarius
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus
Gray Partridge Perdix perdix
Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus
White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucurus
Blue Grouse Dendragapus obscurus
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus
California Quail Callipepla californica
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Sora Porzana carolina
American Coot Fulica americana
Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola
American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica
Pacific Golden-Plover Pluvialis fulva
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Surfbird Aphriza virgata
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Sanderling Calidris alba
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Rock Sandpiper Calidris ptilocnemis
Dunlin Calidris alpina
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria
South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki
Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia
Heermann's Gull Larus heermanni
Mew Gull Larus canus
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis
California Gull Larus californicus
Herring Gull Larus argentatus
Thayer's Gull Larus thayeri
Western Gull Larus occidentalis
Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
Sabine's Gull Xema Sabini
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Elegant Tern Sterna elegans
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Common Murre Uria aalge
Pigeon Guillemot Cepphus columba
Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus
Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus
Cassin's Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus
Rhinoceros Auklet Cerorhinca monocerata
Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata
Rock Dove Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus
Western Screech-owl Otus kennicottii
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus
Snowy Owl Nyctea scandiaca
Northern Pygmy-owl Glaucidium gnoma
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis
Barred Owl Strix varia
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Black Swift Cypseloides niger
Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi
White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis
Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon
Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis
Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus
Red-naped Sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus
Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Western Wood-pewee Contopus sordidulus
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii
Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri
Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis
Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya
Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens
Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor
Cassin's Vireo Vireo cassinii
Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni
Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica
Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Clark's Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana
Black-billed Magpie Pica pica
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
Northwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
Common Raven Corvus corax
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
Purple Martin Progne subis
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens
Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana
Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides
Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Veery Catharus fuscescens
Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
Wrentit Chamaea fasciata
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
American Pipit Anthus rubescens
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata
Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla
Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens
Townsend's Warbler Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler Dendroica occidentalis
Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum
Macgillivray's Warbler Oporornis tolmiei
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus
Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee Pipilo crissalis
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri
Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querula
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Tricolored Blackbird Agelaius tricolor
Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater
Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis
Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus
Cassin's Finch Carpodacus cassinii
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea
Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus
Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria
American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
House Sparrow Passer domesticus

 

Mammals

Common Name Scientific Name
Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus
Vagrant Shrew Sorex vagrans
Montane Shrew Sorex monticolus
Baird's Shrew Sorex bairdi
Water Shrew Sorex palustris
Pacific Water Shrew Sorex bendirii
Trowbridge's Shrew Sorex trowbridgii
Shrew-mole Neurotrichus gibbsii
Townsend's Mole Scapanus townsendii
Coast Mole Scapanus orarius
California Myotis Myotis californicus
Western Small-footed Myotis Myotis ciliolabrum
Yuma Myotis Myotis yumanensis
Little Brown Myotis Myotis lucifugus
Long-legged Myotis Myotis volans
Fringed Myotis Myotis thysanodes
Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
Townsend's Big-eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii
American Pika Ochotona princeps
Brush Rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani
Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
Nuttall's (Mountain) Cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii
Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus
Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus
Mountain Beaver Aplodontia rufa
Yellow-pine Chipmunk Tamias amoenus
Townsend's Chipmunk Tamias townsendii
Yellow-bellied Marmot Marmota flaviventris
California Ground Squirrel Spermophilus beecheyi
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Spermophilus lateralis
Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Spermophilus saturatus
Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger
Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus griseus
Douglas' Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii
Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus
Northern Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides
Western Pocket Gopher Thomomys mazama
Camas Pocket Gopher Thomomys bulbivorus
American Beaver Castor canadensis
Western Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
Columbian Mouse Peromyscus keeni
Pinon Mouse Peromyscus truei
Dusky-footed Woodrat Neotoma fuscipes
Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma cinerea
Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi
Western Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys californicus
Heather Vole Phenacomys intermedius
White-footed Vole Phenacomys albipes
Red Tree Vole Phenacomys longicaudus
Montane Vole Microtus montanus
Gray-tailed Vole Microtus canicaudus
Townsend's Vole Microtus townsendii
Long-tailed Vole Microtus longicaudus
Creeping Vole Microtus oregoni
Water Vole Microtus richardsoni
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
Black Rat Rattus rattus
Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus
House Mouse Mus musculus
Western Jumping Mouse Zapus princeps
Pacific Jumping Mouse Zapus trinotatus
Common Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum
Nutria Myocastor coypus
Coyote Canis latrans
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Black Bear Ursus americanus
Raccoon Procyon lotor
American Marten Martes americana
Fisher Martes pennanti
Ermine Mustela erminea
Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata
Mink Mustela vison
Wolverine Gulo gulo
American Badger Taxidea taxus
Western Spotted Skunk Spilogale gracilis
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Northern River Otter Lutra canadensis
Mountain Lion Puma concolor
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Elk Cervus elaphus
Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
Columbian White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus leucurus

Marine Mammals

Common Name Scientific Name
Northern (Steller) Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus
California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus
Harbor Seal Phoca vitulin

 

Reptiles

Common Name Scientific Name
Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina
Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta
Western Pond Turtle Clemmys marmorata
Red-eared Slider Turtle Trachemys scripta
Northern Alligator Lizard Elgaria coerulea
Southern Alligator Lizard Elgaria multicarinata
Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis
Western Skink Eumeces skiltonianus
Rubber Boa Charina bottae
Racer Coluber constrictor
Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus
California Mountain Kingsnake Lampropeltis zonata
Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans
Northwestern Garter Snake Thamnophis ordinoides
Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis
Western Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis