Whites Creek Canyon
BIRDING GUIDE
​​​WHAT TO EXPECT
This area includes Riparian zones along Whites Creek, Conifer forest, and Sagebrush habitat. You can cover many miles into Mt Rose Wilderness along the conifer lined creek and the trail to Dry Pond goes through Sagebrush habitat. An out and back reroute or a loop back along Thomas Creek Canyon (~6.2 mile) passes through similar habitat.. Access to the main parking area is seasonal and is closed NOV to MAY; however, parking is available along Timberline Road at Forest Road NF-47 all year long. Restroom available at the trailhead parking area during MAY through OCT.
Best time of year: All year
Notable species:
For the most recent and complete sighting list see the Whites Creek Canyon eBird Hotspot​
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Natives: Birds you can find all year
Quail: California
Raptor: Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned, Goshawk, Red-tailed, Kestrel
Doves: Mourning
Pigeons: Band-tailed
Owl: Great-horned
Woodpecker: White-headed, Hairy, Downy, Flicker, Red-breasted Sapsucker
Corvids Raven, Steller’s, CA Scrub, Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie
Chickadee: Mountain
Nuthatch Pygmy, Red-breasted, White-breasted, Brown Creeper
Wren Bewick’s
Bluebirds Western
Thrush Robin, Townsend’s Solitaire
Warbler Yellow-rumped
Sparrows Dark-eyed Junco, Spotted Towhee
Finches House, Cassin’s, Lesser Goldfinch, Pine Siskin
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Migrants and Breeding Birds (April thru September)
Raptors: Turkey Vulture
Hummingbirds: Black-chinned, Calliope, Anna’s, Rufous
Flycatchers: Olive-sided, Wood Pewee, Gray, Dusky, Kingbird
Vireos Cassin’s, Warbling
Swallows: Tree, Barn
Wren House
Gnatcatcher: Blue-gray
Warblers: Orange-crowned, Nashville, MacGillivray’s, Yellow (AUG-SEP)
Sparrows: Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping, Brewer’s
Oriole: Bullock’s
Blackbirds: Brewers, Brown-headed Cowbird
Tanager: Western
Grosbeak: Black-headed
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Winter Birds and Altitudinal Migrants
Kinglets: Ruby-crowned, Golden-crowned
Grosbeak: Evening
Meadowlark: Western
Sparrows: White-crowned, Golden-crowned
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HOW TO GET THERE
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Location: Timberline and NF-047 Roads (map) and Trailhead Parking Area (map)
Terrain: Forest Service Road and Single Track trail with numerous rocks in sections (trip hazards).
Elevation Change: ±702 ft (to Dry Pond Connector Junction) ±1059 ft Whites/Thomas Creek Loop
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