Elliott’s passion for birds took flight in 2021 after an endearing encounter with White-winged Crossbills outside his home in northwest Montana. What began as a moment of curiosity quickly became a lifelong pursuit, leading him deep into the world of ornithology.
He graduated with Distinction in Research from Cornell University, where he studied the flight calls of Magnolia Warblers. Now pursuing a graduate degree at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Elliott continues to sharpen his scientific understanding while exploring the Pacific Northwest’s rich birdlife.
Elliott has spent multiple seasons conducting fieldwork across North America—from the windswept tundra of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the coastal forests of Nova Scotia. He also spent a year guiding in and around Glacier National Park, helping visitors uncover the hidden beauty of Montana’s diverse habitats. During that time, he served as a lead counter at the Jewel Basin Hawkwatch and was a contributing editor for Merlin Sound ID.
His experiences across the U.S. and abroad give him a wide-ranging appreciation for the diversity and complexity of bird life and the ecosystems they inhabit. While he loves all aspects of ornithology, he is especially fascinated by hybrids, migration, bird photography, and the occasional puzzle of sorting gulls at the local compost pile.
Elliott spends his free time exploring the varied landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. His passion for birds shines through in every outing—birding with him offers not only the chance to find Oregon’s specialty species but also to share in the beauty, mystery, and joy of the natural world.
