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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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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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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