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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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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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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Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Stelgidopteryx ("scraper wing") serripennis ("saw feather")  

Adult Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Stelgidopteryx serripennis seripennis
Weight: 10-18g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 27-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small swallow native to North America, they are named for their oddly barbed feathers on their wings. Less colonial than many other hirundines, they frequently nest alone and resuse nests built by other species such as bank swallow (sand martins). 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Hirundinidae
Genus: Stelgipteryx
SUBSPECIES: S. s. serripennis, S. s. psammochrous, S. s. fulvipennis, S. s. stuarti, S. s. ridgwayi, S .s. burleighi

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - BA breeding Summer migrant across almost the entire Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

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

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Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Quiscalus (unclear origin) quiscula (unclear origin)

 

Juvenile Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) in North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Bronzed Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula versicolor
Weight: 74-142g  /  Length: 28-34cm  /  Wingspan: 35-46cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened 

A common and omnivorous bird that has generally adapted well to human habitation and will nest in made made structures, but nonetheless is considered Near Threatened due to being significantly down from it's historic peak. They have a beak with a special saw like plate inside adapted for making them better at crushing hard nuts.  They also are somewhat attuned to Earth's magnetic field, although the precise purpose and utility of this is still unclear.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Quiscalus
SUBSPECIES: Q. q. quiscula, Q. q. stonei, Q. q. versicolor

 - Sighting Locations -

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

UNITED STATES - Resident in South East USA, migrant Breeding range extends further North and West.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, North Dakota and Montana

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

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Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Falco ("Falcon") mexicanus ("of Mexico")

Adult Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) at Writing-on-Stone National Park, Alberta, Canada - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: 
Weight: 500-9700g  /  Length: 37-45cm  /  Wingspan: 100cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A close relative of the Peregrine, and the only larger falcon species to be endemic to North America, the Prairie Falcon mostly preys upon small birds and mammals and has adapted to be able to live in areas where prey is more scarce than the peregrine generally requires. We spotted this species on at least two occassions, but unfortunately never got a prolonged view.

Related Species:
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae
Genus: Falco
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Range extends into the Southern edges of British Colombia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta.

UNITED STATES - Resident across most Western States
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota 

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

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Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") verticalis ("crown of head")

Adult Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) at North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 40g  /  Length: 20-24cm  /  Wingspan: 39cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A more colourful species than the Eastern Kingbird, with a lemon-yellow belly, like their counterpart they also aggressively defend their territory from larger birds like hawks.  Their range is centred on the US in Summer, but in Winter they migrate to Central America and the tip of Florida. This range has expanded thanks to humans as planting trees on the Great Plains has allowed them to spread into habitat previously unsuited.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding species across the Western 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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Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Buteo ("buzzard") regalis ("royal")

Adult Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) at Montana, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 900-2200g  /  Length: 51-71cm  /  Wingspan: 122-158cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The largest species of Buteo in North America, and the second largest world wide, the Ferruginous Hawk is a species with a decidedly aquiline bearing. They breed in the Great Plains and Winter in the South West and into Mexico.  They primarily feed on small mammals of which there are wide diversity available across their range.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Breeds in the Sourthern parts of the Canadian Great Plains.
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta.

UNITED STATES - Breeds in North West, Winters in South West with a resident population between.
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Glimpsed in North Dakota and Montana.

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

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Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Passerina ("sparrow") amoena ("beautiful")

Adult male Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) at Painted Canyon, North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 13-18g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

In my opinion at least, one of the most beautiful birds of North America. A brilliant blue head with a touch of orange gives it a decidedly striking look and the bird I saw, perched with the background of North Dakota's Painted Canyon only enhanced the sighting. As with it's close relation the Indigo Bunting, not a true "Bunting" in the Old World sense, but rather a member of the Cardinal family.

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

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Species of the North-Western Lower 48, primarily a Summer breeding visitor
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen at Painted Canyon, North Dakota

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

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Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Chondestes ("to sing") grammacus ("of the grass")

Adult Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 24-33g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: 28cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A larger new world sparrow species with it's range centred on West and Central USA. Their diet is largely seed based, but it is supplemented with grasshoppers and other insects when available. When looking to attract a mate, male lark sparrows put on a dance on the ground that can last for up to 5 minutes.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Passerellidae
Genus: Chondestes
SUBSPECIES: C. g. grammacus, C. g. strigatus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Occurs through most of the Lower 48 East of the Great Lakes
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

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

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White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

OTHER NAMES: Whitetail, Virginia Deer
Latin Etymology:  Odocoileus ("hollow tooth") virginianus ("of Virginia")

Adult female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Odocoileus virginianus dacotensis
Weight: 40-180kg  /  Length: 95-220cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A large deer species with a considerable range across North, Central and South America. They have benefitted from anthropogenic changes as the openness of agricultural areas suits them more than naturally occuring conifer forests and their range has pushed northwards. 

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Genus: Odocoileus
SUBSPECIES: O. v. acapulcensis, O. v. borealis, O. v. carminis, O. v. chiriquensis,O. v. clavium, O. v. couesi, O. v. dacotensis, O. v. hiltonensis, O. v. leucurus, O. v. macrourus, O. v. mcilhennyi, O. v. mexicanus, O. v. miquihuanensis, O. v. nelsoni, O. v. nemoralis, O. v. nigribarbis,  O. v. oaxacensis, O. v. ochrourus, O. v. osceola, O. v. rothschildi, O. v. seminolus, O. v. sinaloae, O. v. taurinsulae, O. v. texanus, O. v. thomasi, O. v. toltecu, O. v. venatorius, O. v. veraecrucis, O. v. virginianus, O. v. yucatanesis, O. v. cariacou, O. v. curassavicus, O. v. goudotii, O. v. gymnotis, O. v. maragaritae, O. v. nemolaris, O. v. puruvianus, O. v. tropicalis, O. v. ustus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found throughout most of the Lower 48 except the Great Basin and 
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Minnesota and North Dakota

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

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Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

OTHER NAMES: Striped Gopher, Leopard Grpund Squirrel, Squinny
Latin Etymology: Ictidomys ("weasel mouse") tridecemlineatus ("thirteen lined")

Adult Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) at North Dakota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Ictidomys tridecemlineatus tridecemlineatus
Weight: 110-270g  /  Length: 17-29cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A perculiar elongated looking ground squirrel species with a distinctive alternating stripe and spotted pelt. A diurnal species that will dig burrows up to 20ft long with mutliple side passages, the deepest parts of which are used for hibernation which they will perform for up to six months without needing food or water, although the precise mechanisms for how they achieve this are poorly understood.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Genus: Ictidomys
SUBSPECIES: I. t. tridecemlineatus, I. t. pallidus, I. t. parvus, I. t. texensis, I. t. alleni, I. t. hollisteri, I. t. monticola, I. t. arenicola, I. t. blanca

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found throughout most of the central Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

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 Bison (Bison bison)

OTHER NAMES: Bison, Buffalo
Latin Etymology: Bison ("bison") bison ("bison")

Herd of American Bison (Bison bison) in British Columbia, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Wood Bison - Bison bison athabascae
Weight: 318-1179kg  /  Length: 2.8-3.5m
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

A species which shapes both North American Nature and History, before European Colonialism the Bison was a key species of the prairie, with a population of up to 60 million individuals shaping both the habitat, the species around them and being a core food of the Indiginous peoples who hunted them. However, they were hunted on an industrial scale by the nascent United States - first for food, and later as an indirect means of attacking Indiginous Tribes by cutting off their traditional food sources. Only some last minute conservation efforts saved the species and it remains greatly diminished despite some recovery.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Genus: Bison
SUBSPECIES: B. b. athabascae, B. b. bison

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Scattered herds in Western Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in British Columbia

UNITED STATES - Scattered populations in the Central US and Alaska
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Plains Bison seen in North Dakota

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

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Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Lithobates ("Rock climber") pipiens ("piping")

Adult Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) at North Dakota, USA- July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 22g  /  Length: 11cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A frog that can endure the cold well, they can be found in as harsh environments as the Hudson Bay and elavations of above 3000m. They come in a wide variety of morphs, though most famously the lime green with black spots that give them their name, they do also come in morphs that neither of these is that obvious. They have been used extensively in research ino how neurons work.

Related Species:
Order: Anura 
Family: Ranidae 
Genus: Lithobates 
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found in North-Central and Centre-West Lower  48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

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

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Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)

OTHER NAMES: Western Hognose Snake, Prairie Hognose Snake, Blow Snake, Spoonbill Snake, Texas Hognose Snake, Spreadhead Snake
Latin Etymology: Heterodon ("different tooth") nasicus ("nose")  

Juvenile Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus) at Sully Creek State Park, North Dakota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Heterodon nasicus nasicus
Weight: 80-350g  /  Length: 40-50cm 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Occuring from Canada to Mexico through the Great Plains, the Plains Hognose is a relatively small species which gets its name from the upturned tip of it's nose, an adaptation used for burrowing. While technically it does possess venom, as a rear-fanged species and does not possess the ability to bite humans and only feeds upon much smaller prey. A popular species in captivity, where many colour morphs have been developed.

Related Species:
Order: Squamata
Family:  Colubridae
Genus: Heterodon
SUBSPECIES: H. n. gloydi, H. n. kennerlyi, H. n. nasicus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES -Central Prairie of the Lower 48
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in North Dakota

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

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