Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melospiza ("song finch") lincolnii (Thomas Lincoln, a friend of Audobon)

Adult Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Melospiza lincolnii gracilis
Weight: 17-19g/kg  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 19-22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A somewhat more timid member of the New World Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrow favour more mountainous and boggy habitats where they are primarily ground feeding. They winter in the Southern US and Mexico. Thomas Lincoln for whom they are named, shot a bird in Nova Scotia, which he presented to his friend James Audobon who named it after him.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Melospiza
SUBSPECIES: M. l. lincolnii, M. l. gracilis, M. l. alticola
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska, Rockies and inland on the West Coast States, Winters on West Coast and Southern Saates 
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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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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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Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Poecile (unknown small bird) hudsonicus ("of the Hudson")

Adult Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Poecile hudsonicus stoneyi
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 13-14cm  /  Wingspan: 21cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

As the name implies, a specialist of the taiga of North America, particularly favouring spruce and fir forests. They may associate with other chickadee species where they overlap, with the few I saw being mixed in with Black-capped Chickadee flocks.  They store food for the winter, often within the same trees they forage in.  

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Paridae
Genus: Poecile
SUBSPECIES: P. h. stoneyi, P. h. hudsonicus, P. h. columbianus, P. h.  farleyi, P. h. littoralis

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Present in Alaska and range just tips over the Northern US Border
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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

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Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

OTHER NAMES: Myrtle Warbler
Latin Etymology: Setophaga ("moth eating") coronata ("crowned")

Adult female Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) at Teslin Lake, Yukon, Canada  - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Myrtle Warbler - Setophaga coronata
Weight: 12g  /  Length: 14-15cm  /  Wingspan: 19-24cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A species of somewhat complex and potentially unresolved taxonomic status - the Yellow-rumped warbler is currently comprised of four subspecies which are by some authorities treated as separate species - Myrtle Warbler, Audobons Warbler, Black-fronted Warbler and Goldman's Warbler. The most numerous warbler in North America, it primarily breeds in Canada and Winters in the South-East US and the West Coast.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Setophaga
SUBSPECIES: S. c. coronata, S. c. audoboni, S. c. nigrifons, S. c. goldmani

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeding migrant across South East Canada.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Yukon

UNITED STATES - Breeds in North East Lower 48 and Alaska and Winters in Southern States 
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota and Alaska

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

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Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus)

OTHER NAMES: Mew Gull
Latin Etymology:  Larus ("gull") brachyrhynchus ("short billed")

Adult Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 40-45cm  /  Wingspan: 100-120cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A recent species split - formerly considered the same species as the Common Gull of Eurasia, in 2021 the AOS decided to split it based on a wide spread of evidence including genetics, plumage, morphology and calls. Although the term "Mew Gull" had previously been used to refer to the Common Gull former superspecies in America, it was officially named the Short-billed to avoid confusion with older records prior to the split.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Breeds in the North West.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Yukon.

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska and Winters down the West Coast.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Anchorage, Alaska

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

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Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Gallinago ("woodcock/snipe") delicata ("dainty")

Adult Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) at Anchorage, Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 80-147g  /  Length: 23-28cm  /  Wingspan: 39-45cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most common snipe species of North America and a close relation of the common snipe, Wilson's Snipe breeds widely across the majority of Canada and Winters largely in the Southern United States down through to South America. As with other snipe species, they specialise in using ther long beak to probe into deep mud for invertibrates.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Gallinago
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska and the Northern part of the Midwest, Winters in the Southern states.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: One at Potter's Marsh Boardwalk, Anchorage, Alaska

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

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Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Leiothlypis ("plain unknown warbler") celata ("secret")

Immature Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Unclear
Weight: 9g  /  Length: 12-13cm  /  Wingspan: 18cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Despite the rather opulant sounding name, the namesake orange crown of this warbler is actually fairly difficult to see as it is usually hidden beneath the crest - in many ways this species is actually more closely resembling a drab old-world  phylloscopid warbler than the other parulid warblers we saw on the trip.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Parulidae
Genus: Leiothlypis
SUBSPECIES: L. c. celata, L. c. lutescens, L. orestera, L. c. sordida

 - Sighting Locations -

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

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in the West including Alaska, Winters in South, Resident in thin strip along Pacific Coast
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at  San Francisco 

 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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

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Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)

OTHER NAMES: Common Loon, Great Northern Loon

Latin Etymology: Gavia (name in Latin for an unidentified seabird) immer (Norwegian name for species)

Two adult breeding plumage Great Northern Diver at Teslin Lake, Yukon, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 4.1kg  /  Length: 65-91cm  /  Wingspan: 137cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Divers, and Great Northern Diver in particular have long been a bit of a bugbear for me, I've looked for them on several occasions in places they've supposed to be and it wasn't until I wasn't looking for one that I happened to stumble across it!  The Great Northern is the largest of the three regular divers to frequent our waters but also the only one that doesn't breed.  They are roughly cormorant sized and shaped but are stockier with long dagger like beaks.  They do as the name suggest, spend a lot of time underwater hunting for fish meaning they can, as this one did, just vanish into nowhere despite being on a flat lake with nowhere to hide.

- Related Species -
ORDER: Gaviiformes
FAMILY: Gaviidae
GENUS: Gavia
SUBSPECIES: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Breeds over most of the Country except Arctic and Great Plains
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Yukon

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce Winter Migrant (approx. 2600 birds)

 - Wintering bird seen on Queen Mother Reservoir (1 Winter plumage adult in 2012).  Seen off Cornwall.

UNITED STATES - Breeds on Northern Border, Winters along nearly entire Coast
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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

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American Wigeon (Anas americana)

OTHER NAMES: American Widgeon, Baldpate
Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") americana ("American")

Adult female or male in eclipse plumage American Wigeon (Anas Americana) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 500-1300g  /  Length: 42-59cm  /  Wingspan: 76-91cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The American Wigeon is as the name suggests, the North American equivelant of the Eurasian Wigeon. The male is a fairly attractive bird with a yellow head with a striking green mask which covers each eye and runs down the back of the neck. They are fairly regular vagrants to Europe, where I saw my first individual, though as the name suggests, their resident range is North America.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare vagrant from North America.

 - A single bird seen at Rutland Water in October 2011 associating with a number of Eurasian Wigeon

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska and North West Lower 48, Winters in South and most of the Coast
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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

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Lake Darner (Aeshna eremita)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Aeshna (possibly from "spear") eremita ("hermit")

Adult Lake Darner (Aeshna eremita) )at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: ?  /  Length: 7.5cm  /  Wingspan: 15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The largest "darner" dragonfly of North America, found in the Northern of the Lower 48 through to Canada and Alaska. This species prefers a slightly more wooded habitat that many dragonfly species which matches where I saw it in a forested clearing in Anchorage. It is closely related to the Canada Darner but it's range extends much further North.

Related Species:
Order: Odonata
Family: Aeshnidae
Genus: Aeshna
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Present in Alaska, Canada and Northern States of 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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Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

OTHER NAMES: Humpback Salmon
Latin Etymology: Oncorhynchus ("lump snout" gorbuscha (from Russian: "Humpie") 

Several Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) in spawning phase at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: 
Weight: 2.2kg  /  Length: <76cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Native to the North Pacific in both North America and Asia and is the most numerous of the species known commerically as "salmon", although that concept is a fairly artificial one that isn't reflected in genetics. They get their alternative name of Humpback Salmon due to the hump that males develop during spawning. Like other North American Salmon, they die after spawning.

Related Species:
Order: Salmoniformes
Family: Salmonidae
Genus: Oncorhynchus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breed in West Coast Rivers, from Alaska to near San Francisco
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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

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Thinhorn Sheep (Ovis dalli)

OTHER NAMES: Dall Sheep
Latin Etymology: Ovis ("sheep") dalli (for William Healey Dall)

Heard of Dall Sheep (Ovis dalli) at Turnagain Arm, Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Ovis dalli dalli
Weight: 70-80kg  /  Length: 140cm 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of two Sheep species found in North America, the Thinhorn Sheep is a dweller of the Rockies stretcking from Canada into Alaska. They favour alpine tundra and meadows, particularly on rocky slopes where their manouverability enables them to evade predators more easily. A social animal, generally however females and males will separate outside the breeding season.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Ovis
SUBSPECIES: O. d. dalli, O. d. stonei

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Turnagain Arm near Anchorage, Alaska

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

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American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

OTHER NAMES: Pine Squirrel, Piney Squirrel, Chickaree, Red Squirrel
Latin Etymology:  Tamiasciurus ("steward squirrel") hudsonicus ("of the Hudson")

Adult American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) at Buffalo River State Park, Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Tamiasciurus hudsonicus minnesota
Weight: 200-250g  /  Length: 28-35cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Not closely related to the Eurasian Red Squirrel, the American Red is a widely adaptable species across temperate and boreal North America. Primarily feeding on nuts and seeds, they are none the less capable of being adaptive to feed on what the environment provides them up to and inclding predating other small mammals. 

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Sundasciurus
SUBSPECIES: T. h. abieticola, T. h. baileyi, T. h. columbiensis, T. h. dakotensis, T. h. dixiensis, T. h. fremonti, T. h. grahamensis, T. h. gymnicus, T. h. hudsonicus, T. h. kenaiensis, T. h. langinosus, T. h. laurentianus, T. h. loquax, T. h. lychnuchus, T. h. minnesota, T. h. mogollonensis, T. h. pallescens, T. h. petulans, T. h. picatus, T. h. preblei, T. h. regalis, T. h. streatori, T. h. ungavensis, T. h. ventorum

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present most places except Tundra and Prairie
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon

UNITED STATES - Found in Alaska, the Rockies and the North East Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Minnesota, North Dakota and Alaska 

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

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American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

OTHER NAMES: Black Bear
Latin Etymology: Ursus (Latin - "bear") americanus ("of America")

Adult female American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) in Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Ursus americanus americanus
Weight: 41-250kg  /  Length: 120-200cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most numerous bear species on Earth, with a population of over double all other species combined, the American Black Bear is an adaptable species capable of living even in areas where human disturbance is regular. They are omnivorous but actually favour vegtation for a large proportion of their diet. Though much smaller than the Brown Bear, they are still dangerous animals and can often become habituated to human food, bringing them more into conflict. 

Related Species:
Order: Carnivora 
Family: Ursidae 
Genus: Ursus 
SUBSPECIES: U. a. altrifrontis, U. a. amblyceps, U. a. americanus, U. a. californiensis, U. a. carlottae, U. a. cinnamomum, U. a. emmonsii, U. a. eremicus, U. a. floridanus, U. a. hamiltoni, U. a. kermodei, U. a. luteolus, U. a. machetes, U. a. perniger, U. a. pugnax, U. a. vancouveri

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in Alaska and a widespread but patchy distribution in the Lower 48 favouring Forested areas
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

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

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