Portland Wildlife Viewing: What You’ll See This November & December
Don’t sleep on Portland’s wildlife scene just because the skies are grey. November and December bring some of the best birdwatching, urban animal movement, and quiet forest encounters of the year.
Leaves are down, trails are muddy, and casual hikers are long gone. That’s your opportunity.
Here’s what’s moving, flying, and calling this season and where to find it.
🪶 1. Waterfowl Arrivals (It’s Migration Season)
This is the best time of year to see huge flocks of geese, ducks, and swans across Portland’s wetlands.
What to look for:
Snow geese and dusky Canada geese by the thousands
Northern pintails, green-winged teal, wigeons
Early trumpeter swans (yes, already)
Where to go:
Sauvie Island (Oak Island trail and Rentenaar Road)
Smith & Bybee Wetlands
Ridgefield NWR (short drive but worth it)
🔍 Go at dawn or dusk for the best sound and sky drama. Bring binoculars. Expect mud.
🦉 2. Owl Season Begins
November kicks off owl activity in earnest — calling, courting, and hunting at dusk.
Who’s out there:
Barred owls in Forest Park and Tryon Creek
Great horned owls staking out territories
Barn owls around industrial areas and edges of town
🎧 You’ll hear them before you see them. Listen for hoots, screams, and the silence between.
🐾 3. Coyotes Are Bold Now
Urban coyotes stay active year-round, but this season they cover more ground.
Where to watch:
Johnson Creek corridor
Columbia Slough trails
Outer Eastside greenways (even along 205 paths)
They’re moving earlier in the evening and later in the morning. They’re watching you before you ever see them.
🦅 4. Raptors on Patrol
With the trees bare and prey scarcer, hawks and falcons are easier to spot and more aggressive in their hunting.
Look up for:
Red-tailed hawks perched along highways and open meadows
Northern harriers gliding low over Sauvie and Broughton
Peregrine falcons near bridges and city cliffs
Don’t forget to scan the skies. Sometimes the best action is overhead.
🐦 5. Backyard Birds Are Just Getting Started
Late fall means big changes in your yard. Keep feeders filled, especially in cold snaps.
Watch for:
Varied thrushes (finally appearing!)
Ruby-crowned kinglets in constant motion
Spotted towhees, fox sparrows, and the usual juncos
Roaming bushtit flocks that swarm feeders fast
🪟 A quiet window can be a front-row seat right now.
🧭 Want the Full Guide?
Paid subscribers get access to:
A printable November/December Field Guide - This includes photos and descriptions for identification
A Wildlife BINGO Card (perfect for trails, journaling, or kids)
📩 Sign up at callahanwildlife.substack.com to get the bonus pack.
Now’s the Time to Notice
This isn’t summer’s easy wildlife. This is subtle, quiet, wild movement. The kind of season where the more still you are, the more you see.
Take 30 minutes this week. Step outside. Bring binoculars, a notebook, or just your curiosity. There’s more happening out there than most people realize.
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👉 callahanwildlife.substack.com