American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

OTHER NAMES: Grasshopper Hawk, Killy Hawk
Latin Etymology:  Falco (falcon) sparverius ("sparrowhawk")

Adult male American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) at Writing-n-Stone Pronvincial Park, Alberta - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Falco sparverius sparverius
Weight: 80-165g  /  Length: 22-31cm  /  Wingspan: 51-61cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small falcon with a vast range, spread from Alaska to Tierra Del Fuego at the tip of South America. It isn't actually that close to the other species named Kestrels and is more closely related to species such as the prairie falcon and peregrine.  It is fairly popular in American falconry where it is considered a beginner bird.

Related Species:
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
SUBSPECIES: F. s. sparverius, F. s. paulus, F. s. peninsularis, F. s. tropicalis, F. s. nicaraguensis, F. s.sparveroides, F. s. domincensis, F. s. caribaearum, F. s. bevipennis, F. s. isabellinus, F. s. ochraceus, F. s. caucae, F. s. aequatorialis, F. s. peruvianus, F. s. fernandensis, F. s. cinnamominius, F. s. cearae

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Summer breeding species though much of the country
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta

UNITED STATES - Summer visiting breeding species in Alaska and northern edge of the US, resident throughout the rest
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen periodically in the lower 48 states along the roadside

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

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Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") alnorum (of the alders)

Adult Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) at Potter's Marsh, Anchorage - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 12-14g/kg  /  Length: 13-17cm  /  Wingspan: 8.3-9.3cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A member of the notoriously difficult to differentiate empidonax genus, the alder flycatcher is most easily differentiated by it's call which sounds like it's calling "free beer!". As the name suggests, they breed in wet thickets of alder as well as maple and birch. It's closest relative is the Willow Flycatcher although outside of migration their overlap zone is comparatively small.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska and the North East of the Lower 48. Passage elsewhere.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Several seen near  Anchorage, Alaska 

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

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White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Melanitta ("black duck") deglandi (for ornithologist Côme-Damien Degland)

Adult female White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 950-2100g  /  Length: 48-60cm  /  Wingspan: 80cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A close relative of the Velvet Scoter and until fairly recently was considered the same species. White Winged Scoters are found along most of the sub-Arctic coasts of the US and Canada in Winter while breeding on inland lakes in the boreal forests of Western Canada.  White-winged Scoters are capable of diving up to 20m down in search of prey.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Winters off many coasts, breeds in Southern Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: One female seen in  Anchorage, Alaska 

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

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Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Megaceryle (large + a bird mentioned by Aristotle) alcyon (kingfisher)

Adult female Belted Kingfisher (subspecies Mageceryle alycon) at Necedah, Wisconsin, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 113-178g  /  Length: 28-35cm  /  Wingspan: 48-58cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Out of the USA's four regular Kingfisher species, the Belted is by far the most ubiquitous, with the other three largely limited to the Southern Border in Texas. A large bird capable of occupying diverse habitats, it's breeding range stretches as far as Alaska and Winters as far as South America. Unlike many species, it is the female which has the brighter plumage, with the male lacking the orange colouration.

Related Species:
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Genus: Megaceryle
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Widely distributed Summer migrant.

 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Heard at several locations, but not seen.

 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: : Seen at Necedah, Wisconsin and Anchorage, Alaska among others

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

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Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Cygnus ("swan") buccinator ("trumpeter")

Adult and two juvenile Trumpter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) at Anchorage, Alaska, USA - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 7-13kg  /  Length: 140-165cm  /  Wingspan: 185-300cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Among the heaviest flying birds in the world, the Trumpeter swan has a larger average mass than its nearest rivals and by most other metrics a close second. It breeds in numerous pockets of area in the US and Alaska, though it's Wintering it more centred on the pacific coasts, though there are patches where it is resident.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

A widely distributed species in the Northern States of the lower 48 and Alaska.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Necedah, Wisconsin and Anchorage, Alaska 

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

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Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Antigone (named for mythic Antigone) canadensis ("of Canada")

Adult Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) at St Charles, Illinois - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Antigone candensis tabida
Weight: 2.7-6.7kg  /  Height: 80-136cm  /  Wingspan: 1.65-2.3m
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

By numbers, by far the most numerous of extant crane species with a range that covers much of Canada and the US, and in many places an iconic symbol of Spring as it returns from migration. It is unusually tolerant of humans for a crane, in some places even adapting to urban environments.  It has one of the most well documented fossil histories of extant birds with this species or it's immediate ancestors being documented up to 10-million years ago in the fossil record.

Related Species:
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Gruidae
Genus: Grus
SUBSPECIES: A. c. canadensis, A. c. tabida, A. c. pratensis, A. c. pulla, A. c. nesiotes

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES

A widespread breeding visitor to Alaska, West and the Great Lakes region, Wintering in Texas, Florida and California. Resident population also in Florida.
 - CHICAGO-ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at St Charles, Illinois and Anchorage, Alaska 

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

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