Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife Sanctuary · United States

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Photo © Bonnie Moreland from Oregon, United States

Photo © Bonnie Moreland from Oregon, United States — CC0 1.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Across the high desert plateau of southeastern Oregon, where sagebrush scrubland stretches toward distant ridgelines under an enormous sky, lies a sanctuary shaped by water in a semi-arid landscape. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupies a basin where seasonal marshes, shallow lakes, and cattail wetlands create an oasis in the BSk climate zone—cold winters and warm, dry summers punctuated by brief spring snowmelt that fills the refuge's shallow basins. The terrain itself is understated: gently rolling uplands of sage and bunchgrass give way to open water and emergent marsh where cattails and bulrushes thrive in the refuge's network of water management channels. This mosaic of wetland and semi-arid scrubland supports populations of waterfowl, wading birds, and raptors that depend on the seasonal abundance of water; smaller birds and mammals adapted to sage country and marsh edges round out the ecological community. The refuge's character is one of stark beauty—wide horizons, minimal tree cover, and the sense of being in genuine working wildlife habitat rather than a manicured park.

For wildlife photographers and birders, Malheur demands a spring or early-summer visit when migratory waders, dabbling ducks, and marsh-nesting birds arrive to breed in the wetland system. The light here is exceptional: the high-desert sun at dawn and dusk casts long shadows across open water, and the clarity of the dry climate rewards long-lens photography. Access is straightforward, with a scenic loop road threading through the refuge's heart, though productive observation often requires patience at designated viewing areas and a willingness to explore on foot along maintained trails. The refuge's size and the subtlety of its habitat mean that serious naturalists will invest time here; the rewards are intimate encounters with birds and mammals shaped by cycles of water and drought that have defined this corner of the Great Basin for millennia.

Website fws.gov/malheur

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Aquila chrysaetos

Branta canadensis

Branta hutchinsii

Anser caerulescens

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Cygnus buccinator

Spatula cyanoptera

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Mareca strepera

Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca penelope

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Aythya valisineria

Aythya americana

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

Bucephala albeola

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Barrow's Goldeneye

Bucephala islandica

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Mergus serrator

Oxyura jamaicensis

California Quail

Callipepla californica

Common Pheasant

Phasianus colchicus

Chukar Partridge

Alectoris chukar

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Common Poorwill

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Anna's Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird

Selasphorus calliope

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Zenaida macroura

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Fulica americana

Antigone canadensis

Red-necked Grebe

Podiceps grisegena

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Aechmophorus clarkii

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Charadrius vociferus

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Numenius hudsonicus

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Tringa semipalmata

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Calidris pugnax

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Western Sandpiper

Sternula antillarum

Hydroprogne caspia

Chlidonias niger

Sterna forsteri

Bonaparte's Gull

Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Franklin's Gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Short-billed Gull

Larus brachyrhynchus

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

California Gull

Larus californicus

American Herring Gull

Larus smithsonianus

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

White-faced Ibis

American Bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Butorides virescens

Great Blue Heron

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Pandion haliaetus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Red-shouldered Hawk

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rough-legged Buzzard

Ferruginous Hawk

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Athene cunicularia

Short-eared Owl

Flammulated Owl

Psiloscops flammeolus

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus

Downy Woodpecker

Dryobates pubescens

Hairy Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus villosus

White-headed Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus albolarvatus

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco columbarius

Falco mexicanus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Sayornis phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

American Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri

American Grey Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii

Western Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Vireo olivaceus

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Northern Shrike

Lanius borealis

California Scrub Jay

Aphelocoma californica

Black-billed Magpie

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Bombycilla cedrorum

Mountain Chickadee

Poecile gambeli

Eremophila alpestris

Riparia riparia

Tachycineta bicolor

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Hirundo rustica

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Petrochelidon fulva

American Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa

Salpinctes obsoletus

Catherpes mexicanus

Thryomanes bewickii

Troglodytes pacificus

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

Certhia americana

Dumetella carolinensis

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Oreoscoptes montanus

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

Townsend's Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi

Ixoreus naevius

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus fuscescens

Turdus migratorius

American Dipper

Cinclus mexicanus

Passer domesticus

Evening Grosbeak

Hesperiphona vespertina

Haemorhous cassinii

Haemorhous mexicanus

Loxia curvirostra

American Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata

Chondestes grammacus

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Brewer's Sparrow

Spizella breweri

Red Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

American Tree Sparrow

Spizelloides arborea

Dark-eyed Junco

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Harris's Sparrow

Zonotrichia querula

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Sagebrush Sparrow

Artemisiospiza nevadensis

Pooecetes gramineus

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Melospiza melodia

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Melospiza georgiana

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

Pipilo maculatus

Yellow-breasted Chat

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Icterus spurius

Tricolored Blackbird

Agelaius tricolor

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Seiurus aurocapilla

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

MacGillivray's Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Cape May Warbler

Setophaga tigrina

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Magnolia Warbler

Setophaga magnolia

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Blackpoll Warbler

Setophaga striata

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga coronata

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Setophaga nigrescens

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Passerina amoena

Anser cygnoides

Melanitta perspicillata

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Oreortyx pictus

Meleagris gallopavo

Centrocercus urophasianus

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus

Pluvialis squatarola

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica

Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

Hudsonian Godwit

Limosa haemastica

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Phalaropus fulicarius

Stilt Sandpiper

Calidris himantopus

Calidris alpina

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris pusilla

Parasitic Jaeger

Stercorarius parasiticus

Plegadis falcinellus

Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea

Mountain Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium gnoma

Bubo scandiacus

Western Screech Owl

Megascops kennicottii

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Blue-headed Vireo

Vireo solitarius

Plumbeous Vireo

Perisoreus canadensis

Cyanocitta cristata

Cyanocitta stelleri

Clark's Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana

Bohemian Waxwing

Bombycilla garrulus

Phainopepla nitens

Black-capped Chickadee

Poecile atricapillus

Toxostoma rufum

Anthus rubescens

Black Rosy Finch

Leucosticte atrata

Haemorhous purpureus

Acanthis flammea

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Plectrophenax nivalis

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

LeConte's Sparrow

Ammospiza leconteii

Icterus cucullatus

Quiscalus quiscula

Setophaga citrina

Blackburnian Warbler

Setophaga fusca

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Cardellina canadensis

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Mountain Cottontail

Sylvilagus nuttallii

North American Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Marmota flaviventris

Common Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Callospermophilus lateralis

Belding's Ground Squirrel

Urocitellus beldingi

Neotamias minimus

North American Beaver

Castor canadensis

Ord's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys ordii

Great Basin Pocket Mouse

Perognathus mollipilosus

Ondatra zibethicus

Bushy-tailed Woodrat

Neotoma cinerea

Western Deermouse

Peromyscus sonoriensis

Eptesicus fuscus

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Long-tailed Weasel

Neogale frenata

American Badger

Northern Raccoon

Odocoileus hemionus

Antilocapra americana

Ovis canadensis

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