Bald eagles, trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, Canada geese and millions of other migrating
birds of prey, seabirds, songbirds and waterfowl make Alaska a land unparalleled
for bird-watching. The key to great bird-watching is being at the right place at
the right time. Alaska's vast tundra provides safe nesting territory for migratory species such
as swans, geese, ducks and terns. The salmon streams, mountains, forests and
seashores provide steady food for bald and golden eagles.
Bald Eagle
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While the bald eagle remains a threatened species in the lower 48
states, this majestic bird thrives in Alaska. Not only is this raptor big,
measuring 32 to 40 inches long with a wingspan of up to seven feet, but
it's fast, reaching flight speeds between 35 and 44 miles per hour. These
birds of prey eat fish, waterfowl and small mammals. And they're not bald
- look for the distinctive white head.
The distinctive white adult plumage is not attained until 5 or more
years of age. Immature birds lack this easily identifiable characteristic
and can be confused with the Golden Eagle. The immature Bald Eagle's un
feathered tarsi (lower legs) and whitish wing linings on the forward part
of the wings, can be helpful distinctions where the two species coexist.
Like many raptors, females are larger than males.
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Ptarmigan
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Alaska's state bird is a true chameleon, turning white in the winter
and brown in the summer to camouflage itself from predators. There are
actually three species of ptarmigans in Alaska, with a population that
fluctuates between superabundant to nearly nonexistent in just a few
years.
Willow ptarmigan are found nearly everywhere in Alaska’s high, treeless
country -- and sometimes they're also found in the willows and alders near
the tree line. At Denali National Park, bus passengers sometimes see
them along the road, often in a fox's mouth.
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Loons
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There are plenty of loons in Alaska - five species to be exact. Theses
"spirits of the wilderness" are a vital part of Alaska's wilderness and
are known for the distinctive yodeling call of the male loon. Loons are
fast, flying at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, and are among the best
diving birds in the world, with the ability to stay underwater for more
than a minute.
Look -- and listen -- for loons on lakes. The entire state has loons of
one species or another -- common, yellow -billed, red-throated, Pacific
and arctic.Common loons like larger lakes, and Pacific loons choose ponds
and small lands. The common and yellow-billed loons are larger than
the three other species. A loon's legs originate far back on its body, so
they're not much good for walking. Loons rarely leave the water.
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Tufted and Horned Puffin
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Two species live in Alaskan waters: Horned Puffin and the Tufted
Puffin. The most striking puffin feature is the large colorful bill. Early
sailors dubbed them the "sea parrot" from their stout bodies, short wings,
and their orange or red webbed feet which are placed far back on their
body. Both males and females have the same markings. Horned puffins are
the species most often depicted on souvenirs. In summer they have a black
back and neck with white on the sides of the head and on their breast.
Tufted Puffins are
named for tufts of feathers that curl back from each side of the
head. They have dark, black bodies and white faces. They have orange feet,and their bills
are red and yellow. In Alaska, puffins breed on coastal islands and headlands from Forrester Island in southeastern
Alaska to Cape Lisburne on the Chukchi Sea Coast. Horned Puffins are more prevalent farther north than Tufted
Puffins.
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Gulls
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Three large gulls are commonly found in Alaska.
These are the glaucous-winged, gull glaucous gull and herring gull in
order of decreasing abundance. These gulls are closely related, and
hybrids are not uncommon.
Glaucous-winged gulls are the common "seagulls"
familiar to many on the south coast of Alaska. Glaucous-winged gulls breed
in Alaska from the British Columbia border to the end of the Aleutian
chain and northward to Bristol Bay, western Nunivak Island, and the
Pribilofs. Glaucous gulls breed along the coast of western
and northern Alaska from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to Demarcation Point on
the Canada border and on several islands in the Bering Sea. Almost all features of reproductive biology of Interior
herring gulls resemble those of glaucous-winged gulls. However, the food
of Interior herring gulls is limited and consists mainly of fish. This may
account for their lower numbers.
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Swans
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Trumpeter swans and
tundra swans are the two species of swans native to North America,
both nesting in Alaska. The tundra swan was formerly named the whistling
swan. A few whooper swans an Asian temperate region relative
to trumpeters, are occasionally seen in the Aleutian Islands during
winter. The trumpeter is the world's largest member of the waterfowl
family, with males averaging 28 pounds and females averaging 22
pounds. Although less than two-thirds the size of trumpeters, tundra
swans are often difficult to distinguish from their close relative when
seen in the field. Adult tundra swans frequently, but not always, have a
yellow spot on their black bill near the eye. Like all swans, the
sexes have identical plumage, and both tundra and trumpeter swan adults
are all white. However, in some Alaska locales, iron-rich marshes stain
head and neck feathers a rusty color. One sure way to identify trumpeters
is by their deep, French horn-like call, compared to the higher "whoop" of
the tundra swan.
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Eiders (Sea Ducks)
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The eiders are sea ducks found across
the arctic and subarctic zones of the northern hemisphere. All four of the
world's eider species breed in Alaska, and many of these birds remain in
the state's coastal waters during winter. The common, king, and spectacled
eiders are among the largest ducks in North America. Steller's eiders are
smaller and one of the most unique members of the duck tribe. The eiders are mostly arctic tundra nesters
that remain in northern waters during winter and move toward nesting grounds as
soon as the spring sea ice breaks up. Common eiders often nest in colonies
along the coast, on barrier islands, and sand spits. The other three
species are solitary breeders that usually nest on islands and peninsulas in tundra lakes
and ponds.
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Steller's Jay
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The Steller's Jay, a member of the crow family, is bright blue on
its wings, tail, and underparts, with a black hood extending from its upperparts
to the top of its crested head. The Steller's Jay gives a
variety of raucous calls and scolds, and is an accomplished mimic; it will often
give the call of a Red-tailed Hawk when an interloper comes into its
territory. Steller's Jays are common
visitors to forested parks, and will venture into suburban areas in some
winters.
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