Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Haliaeetus ("Sea Eagle") leucocephalus ("white headed")

Adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) at Portage, Alaska, USA - August 2025

Featured Subspecies: Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus
Weight: 3-6.6kg  /  Length: 70-102cm  /  Wingspan: 1.8-2.3m
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most recognisable bird species on the planet, in large part due to it being the national bird of the USA and featured prominantly on a lot of it's iconography.  The bird itself however is perhaps less of an apex predator than it's hype would have you believe - a rather opportunistic feeder that will often feed on carrion or even landfill. A conservation success story - by the mid 20th century there were only 412 nesting pair in the Lower 48 as a result of shooting, pesticides such as DDT and other human caused deaths. With conservation measures, there are now believe to be over 71000 nesting pairs in the same area..

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Haliaeetus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present everywhere but the High Tundra
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon

UNITED STATES - Found throughout most of the Lower 48 and Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

OTHER NAMES: Pinnated Grouse, Boomer
Latin Etymology: Tympanuchus ("kettle drum sound") cupido ("desire")

Adult female Greater Prairie Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) at Buffalo River Grassland Reserve, Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus
Weight: 700-1200g  /  Length: 43cm  /  Wingspan: 70-72cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

A large distinctive grouse perhaps most famous for it's booming display where it inflated large bright yellow pouches on the side of it's throat to enable it to make dramatic booming noises to attract mates. It's population has crashed significantly since colonisation and is now only found in a fraction of it's former range with the heath hen subspecies of the East coast entirely extinct and the Attwater's Prairie Chicken population functionally only supported by a robust reintroduction program.

Related Species:
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Tympanuchus
SUBSPECIES: T. c. attwateri, T. c. pinnatus, (formerly T. c. cupido - now extinct)

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Endemic to the US - found in several North-Central States
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

OTHER NAMES: Tiger Owl, Hoot Owl
Latin Etymology: Bubo ("owl") virginianus ("of Virginia")

Adult Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) at  Writing-on-Stone National Park, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: presumably Bubo virginianus lagophonus
Weight: 1.6-2.5kg  /  Length: 43-64cm  /  Wingspan: 91-153cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large powerful species of owl with the widest distribution of any "true" owl in the Americas which will take any prey it can overpower. A relation of the Eagle Owls of Africa and Eurasia, it is believe to be descended from birds that crossed the Bering Land bridge. Most prey is killed by crushing with the feet and they are are more than capable of killing decent sized mesopredators including decent sized mustelids, and on rare occassion, cats or small dogs.

Related Species:
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Strigidae
Genus: Bubo
SUBSPECIES: B. v. algistus, B. v. lagophonus, B. v. saturatus, B. v. pacificus, B. v. subarcticus, B. v. pallescens, B. v. pinorum, B. v. heterocnemis, B. v. virginianus, B. v. elachistus, B. v. mayensis, B. v. mesembrinus, B. v. nigrescens, B. v. nacurutu, B. v. deserti

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present everywhere but the High Tundra
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Present everywhere in the Lower 48 and all but the High Tundra of Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Heard in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Bucephala ("bull headed") islandica ("of Iceland")

Adult in eclipse plumage Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 590-970g  /  Length: 43-49cm  /  Wingspan: 70-73cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species with a very perculiar range - it breeds in the Rockies up into Alaska, but also has a disjunct population in the Gulf of St Lawrence in Quebec, and, perhaps even more oddly, a relict population in Iceland in Europe.  In most plumages relatively simple to separate from the Common Goldeneye - in breeding males the face patch is a wedge rather than round, and in the breeding females the beak becomes orange, however, in eclipse it can become a bit subtler and features such as black wingbars and the head shape become required.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Breeds across much of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

OTHER NAMES: Little Bluebill, Broadbill
Latin Etymology: Aythya (a seabird named by Aristotle) affinis ("related to")

Adult and chick Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 450-1089g  /  Length: 38-48cm  /  Wingspan: 68-78cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A bird that is only differentiated from it's relative the Greater Scaup on fairly subtle shape details, particularly in more ambiguous plumages like the one shown above. However, note the narrow head profile without big round cheeks, a feature that is typical of the greater when present.  They feed by sifting through mud for molluscs, as well as feeding on aquatic plants.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aythya
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska, the Rockies and areas of the Central Lower 48. Winters along Guld and Pacific Coasts
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Limnodromus ("marsh runner") griseus ("grey")

Moulting Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Limnodromus griseus caurinus
Weight: 73-155g  /  Length: 23-32cm  /  Wingspan: 46-56cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the seemingly clear cut naming difference between the long and short billed dowitchers, the differentiation is in reality no way near as decisive as the names would imply, and several more nuanced field marks such as patterning and shape are needed. Their preferred breeding habitat is in the Northern bogs, marshes and mudflats of Alaska and Canada.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Limnodromus
SUBSPECIES: L. g. caurinus, L. g. hendersoni, L. g. griseus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in South-East Alaska, Winters on Southern Coast of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris)

OTHER NAMES: Short-billed Marsh Wren
Latin Etymology: Cistothorus ("shrub leaping") stellaris ("starry")

Alex Holt · Sedge Wren

Singing Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 7-10g/kg  /  Length: 10-12cm  /  Wingspan: 12-14cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Hearing a sedge wren in the grasslands of Northern Minnesota didn't prove too much of a challenge as they were one of the more vocal birds as I walked down the mown track. Seeing one on the other hand proved an entirely separate challenge as even when moving in the grass they never seemed to actually emerge from it which is a shame as they have a lovely subtle patternation.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Cistothorus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Midwest, Winters on Gulf Coast
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Heard in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sayornis ("Thomas Say's bird") phoebe (possibly onoematopaic for call?)

Adult  Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) at Valley View, Illinois, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 16-21g  /  Length: 14-17cm  /  Wingspan: 26-28cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly widespread species of woodland, particularly near water - they have adjusted well to the Anthropocene due to their ability to utilise human structures to nest and have increased in population since the middle of last century. They are primarily insctivores, taking much of their prey on the wing when stooping from an exposed perch.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Sayornis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in Eastern half of the US, breeding in north east, wintering in south east, resident between.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)

OTHER NAMES: White-winged Crossbill
Latin Etymology: Loxia ("crosswise") leucoptera ("white winged")

Alex Holt · Two-barred Crossbill

Call of Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) at Mucho Lake, British Columbia, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Loxia leucoptera leucoptera
Weight: 25-40g  /  Length: 14-17cm  /  Wingspan: 26-28cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most distinct of the Crossbill species due to the prominant white wingbars that almost all other species lack, excluding the Hispaniolan Crossbill which has absolutely no range overlap by a factor of several thousand miles. Present in both North America and Eurasia where it's range in each coincides largely with northern boreal forests. They favour spruce as their trees of choice.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Genus: Loxia
SUBSPECIES: L. l. leucoptera, L. l . bifasciata

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds in most of Canada up to the Tree Line
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Heard in British Columbia

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Mniotilta ("seaweed plucker") varia ("variegated")

Alex Holt · Black-and-White Warbler (backgrounnd call)

Call in background - Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 11g  /  Length: 11-13cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm
NO UK STATUS  IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A stunning looking species with distinct black and white stripes that give the overall bird something of a zebra-ish aesthetic. It behaves somewhat like a nuthatch in scaling up and down tree trunks looking for food - primarily insects and spiders.  This unique behaviour has resulted in it being placed in it's own genus.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Mniotilta
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Eastern States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Heard in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Contopus ("shaft foot") virens ("green")

Alex Holt · Eastern Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens) heard at Tomah, Wisconsin, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 14g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 9-10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Pewee's get their name from their call, which in the case of the birds we heard while camping in Wisconsin, were a very theatrical "Peeee-ahhh-WEE" However, despite being able to head a number of them around the site I never actually reliably laid eyes upon one, and thus, for now at least, we must make do with a call only entry. There is only a very narrow band of overlap between it and the Western Wood Pewee which as the name suggests, occupies the Western US.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Contopus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in North Eastern States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Heard in Wisconsin and Illinois

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

OTHER NAMES: Cut-throat
Latin Etymology: Pheucticus ("shy/to flee") ludovicianus ("Louisiana")

 

Near-mature Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota, 2024  - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 43-45g  /  Length: 18-22cm  /  Wingspan: 29-33cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A solid finch-like bird of the cardinal family, the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is found in open deciduous woodland where it feeds on insects, seeds and berries. The colloquial name "cut-throat" comes from the distinctive pinkish-red plumage on the males which looks like it is bleeding from a straight line beneath the black hoodd.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Cardinalidae
Genus: Pheucticus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in North Eastern States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Poecile (unknown small bird) atricapillus ("black cap")

Adult Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) in Anchorage, Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Poecile atricapillus turneri
Weight: 9-14g  /  Length: 12-15cm  /  Wingspan: 15-21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small and abundant tit that is found throughout much of Northern North America, although in the South-Eastern US it is replaced by the very similar looking Carolina Chickadee. It is an adaptable species found in both coniferous and deciduous forests as well as human modified habitats. They are not migratory, but have several adaptations to deal with cold temperatures including caching behaviour and the ability to lower their body temperature and enter a state of torpor.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. a. turneri, P. a. occidentalis, P. a. fortuitus, P. a. septentrionalis, P. a. bartletti, P. a. garrinus, P. a. nevadensis, P. a. practicus

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present in Southern and Central Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Present in Northern States of the Lower 48 and Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana, Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Leucophaeus ("dusky white") pipixcan (Nahuatl word for a type of gull)

Adult Breeding plumage Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) in Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 200-300g  /  Length: 32-36cm  /  Wingspan: 85-95cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An endemic breeder to the Great Plains and unusually for Gulls, rarely seen at the Coast in North America, except on passage. At the beginning of the breeding season they develop a faint pink tint on the chest and abdomen but the pigments decay over time and it is generally lost by the end of the breeding season. 

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Laridae
Genus: Leucophaeus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds on central prairies
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta in the vicinity of Lake Saskatoon

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tachycineta ("moving quickly") bicolor ("two coloured")

 

Juvenile Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 17-25g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 30-35cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A hirundine which will nest in tree cavities, usually near water. The adult males have irridescent turquoise plumage on their head and backs. They range is expanding in some places due to general conservation efforts which have benefitted them such as changed land use and nest boxes.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Tachycineta
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding migrant to Northern Lower 48 and Alaska, some Winter on Gulf Coast
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Bucephala ("bull headed") albeola ("white")

Female or eclipse male Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) at Saskatoon Lake, Alberta - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 270-550g  /  Length: 32-40cm  /  Wingspan: 55cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small relative of the Goldeneyes whose breeding range is almost entirely within Canada, they are a tree-nesting duck using the nesting cavities of Northern Flicker nearto Water, although they must compete with other species that also use this strategy. They are diving ducks and feed primarily on insects, crustaceans and molluscs.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Bucephala
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Breeds across much of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Setophaga ("moth eating") ruticilla ("Red")

Immature male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 7-9g  /  Length: 11-14cm  /  Wingspan: 16-23cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the name, no relation to the Old World redstarts of muscicapidae, nor for that matter as a New World warbler, any relation to the Old World Warblers. The male is a striking black orange and white bird, while the females have bright yellow panels on chest and tail. 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Setophaga
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Patchy range across the North Eastern half of the Lower 48 as habitat allows
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

OTHER NAMES: Chebec, Chebecker
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") minimus ("smallest")

Adult Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 19-22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest member of the infamous Empidonax flycatcher complex in Eastern North America. They migrate to Central America for Winter.  While they can be differentiated in the field visually by experienced birders, I must admit I relied on audio recognition software to confirm the ID based on it's more distinctive song.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds primarily in Northern Border States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Several in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Icterus (a yellow bird) spurius (misidentified)

Adult Juvenile/ Female Orchard Orioles (Icterus spurius) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Icterus spurius spurius
Weight: 16-28g  /  Length: 15-18cm  /  Wingspan: 25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Orchard orioles are the smallest member of the Icterids and can be found throughout the Eastern USA. The adult males have distinctive black and rich orange plumage while the females and juveniles have a more subdued yellow and green palette.  Their nests are shaped like pouches which are attached to horizontal tree branches.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Icterus
SUBSPECIES: I. s. spurious, I. s. fuertesi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in most of Eastern USA
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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