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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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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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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Common Sulphur (Colias philodice)

OTHER NAMES: Clouded Sulphur
Latin Etymology:  Colias (named after goddess Kōlias) philodice (a name of several figures from Greek Myth)

Adult Common Sulphur (Colias philodice) in Yukon - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Unclear - possibly Colias philodice eriphyle
Wingspan: 3.2-5.4cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A widely distributed species of Butterfly found across the vast majority of the US and Canada, in the former being found in every state except Florida and Hawai'i. They have a wide range of host plants which include various species of vetch and clover, as well as other widely distributed species like trefoils, alfalfa and soybeans. Despite the name, they do also ocur in a white morph which may make them resemble white pieridae butterflies.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Colias
SUBSPECIES: C. p. eriphyle, C. p. guatemalena, C. p. philodice, C. p. vitabunda

 - Sighting Locations -

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

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

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Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)

OTHER NAMES: Fire-rim Tortoiseshell
Latin Etymology:  Aglais ("shining red") milberti (for a friend of entomologist Jean-Baptiste Godart)

Adult Milbert's Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti) at Yukon, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: Aglais milberti milberti
Wingspan: 4.2-6.3cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A relative of our own small tortoiseshell species which is widespread species found over much of the US and stretches of Canada, their flight time varies by habitat and adapt to local conditions. Their food plant is stinging nettle, which itself is a fairly adaptable species thus allowing them a broad distribution.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Aglais
SUBSPECIES: A. m. milberti, A. m. furcillata, A. m. viola, A. m. pullum

 - Sighting Locations -

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

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

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Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Neotamias ("new steward") minimus ("small")

Adult Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) in Yukon, Canada - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 25-66g  /  Length: 15-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest of all the chipmunks, they are one of the less arboreal species and are often found in safebrush, along rivers and in confirerous woodland. As a smaller species, they are actually able to be more successful in food scarce environments and support higher population densities in them.  They enter torpor in Winter, which in the colder parts of it's range can be for up to 7 months. 

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Neotamias 
SUBSPECIES: N. m. arizonensis, N. m. borealis, N. m. caniceps, N. m. caryi, N. m chuskaensis, N. m. confinis, N. m. consobrinus, N. m. hudsonius, N. m. jacksoni, N. m. minimus, N. m. neglectus, N. m. operarius, N. m. oreocetus, N. m. pallidus, N. m. pictus, N. m. scrutator

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present between Great Lakes and Yukon
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Yukon

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

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Caribou (Rangifer tarandus)

OTHER NAMES: Reindeer
Latin Etymology:  Rangifer ("reindeer") tarandus (a deer like mythical creature)

Young adult Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Yukon, Canada - August 2034

Featured Subspecies: Boreal Woodland Caribou - Rangifer tarandus caribou
Weight: 80-180kg  /  Length: 2.2m 
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

With a near circumpolar distribution, the Caribou is one of most iconic species of the Arctic, and yet still one whose taxonomy is subject to new discoveries: some studies suggest the species as we recognise it now may in fact represent up to six species. Different genetic lineages, whether full species or subspecies have each developed their own ecotype for habitats such as open tundra, forest and mountains.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla 
Family: Cervidae 
Genus: Rangifer
SUBSPECIES: R. t. arcticus, R. t. fortidens, R. t. granti, R. t. montanus, R. t. osborni, R. t. pearyi, R. t. stonei, R. t. caribou, R. t. caboti, R. t. terranovae, R. t. fennicus, R. t. valentinae, R. t. groenlandicus, R. t. platyrhynchus, R. t. pearsoni, R. t. plylarchus, R. t. sibiricus, R. t. tarandus

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA -Present throughout most of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in the Yukon

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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