Welcome to the world of red birds in Alaska! Not only do these avian wonders add a touch of vibrancy to the Alaskan wilderness, but they are also delightful to observe.
Today, I will discuss their appearances, behaviors, and habitats, which will help you confidently identify them. Let’s explore together, shall we?
1. Red-necked Grebe
Red-necked Grebes are diving birds commonly found in freshwater lakes and wetlands of Alaska. As the name suggests, they have a red neck and black-and-white breeding plumage.
They are known for their ability to dive for extended periods to feed on small fish and crustaceans. During the breeding season, males perform courtship displays involving head-shaking and neck-stretching.
- Scientific Name: Podiceps grisegena
- Length: 43-51 cm (17-20 in)
- Weight: 700-1,500 g (1.5-3.3 lb)
- Wingspan: 59-73 cm (23-29 in)
- Call Sign: High-pitched trilling or yodeling
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
2. Red-throated Loon
Red-throated Loons are found in the Arctic regions of Alaska and are known for their red throat patch. With sleek, streamlined bodies, their plumage is primarily gray, and they have distinctive black and white head stripes. During the breeding season, these loons emit a unique call.
In Alaska, they can be found in significant numbers during the summer as they breed on freshwater lakes and ponds. Their diet mainly consists of small fish, crustaceans, and insects.
- Scientific Name: Gavia stellata
- Length: 53-71 cm (21-28 in)
- Weight: 1.2-2.5 kg (2.6-5.5 lb)
- Wingspan: 100-120 cm (39-47 in)
- Call Sign: High-pitched “yodeling” or “wailing”
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
3. Red-breasted Merganser
Red-breasted Mergansers are seabirds that can be identified by their vibrant red bills and rich chestnut heads. They are diving ducks that are often seen swimming along the coast, diving into the water to catch fish and crustaceans.
The male and female birds have different appearances, with the males having longer bills and brighter colors. The Red-breasted Merganser is known for its unique vocalizations, making it a popular bird for birdwatchers to spot and observe.
- Scientific Name: Mergus serrator
- Length: 51-62 cm (20-24 in)
- Weight: 700-1,500 g (1.5-3.3 lb)
- Wingspan: 67-82 cm (26-32 in)
- Call Sign: Harsh croaking or rattling
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Northern parts of North America, Eurasia, and Greenland
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
4. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are small insectivorous songbirds with a distinct green back and a ruby-red crest on the head. The Kinglet inhabits coniferous forests and forages in the treetops for insects.
They are very active, constantly flitting and hovering while emitting a high-pitched call. These birds breed in Alaska during the summer months and then migrate to the southern United States and Mexico during the winter.
- Scientific Name: Regulus calendula
- Length: 9-11 cm (3.5-4.3 in)
- Weight: 5-7 g (0.2-0.25 oz)
- Wingspan: 16-18 cm (6.3-7.1 in)
- Call Sign: High-pitched and musical song
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Northern United States, and high-altitude regions of the western United States
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
5. Varied Thrush
Varied Thrushes are easily identifiable by their orange and black plumage and bold white stripes on their faces. These birds are commonly found in moist, coniferous forests and are known for their rich, flute-like songs.
They feed on insects, berries, and seeds and are often seen on the ground foraging for food. Their population is stable, and they are not currently considered a threatened species.
- Scientific Name: Ixoreus naevius
- Length: 20-25 cm (8-10 in)
- Weight: 65-75 g (2.3-2.6 oz)
- Wingspan: 33-38 cm (13-15 in)
- Call Sign: Haunting and flute-like song
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Western North America, from Alaska to California
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
6. Pine Grosbeak
Pine Grosbeaks are one of the most beautiful red birds seen in Alaska. They have a prominent red crest and plumage and are known for their large, cone-crushing bills.
While they are year-round residents of Alaska and can be found in Alaska’s boreal forests during the summer, Pine Grosbeaks also inhabit the tundra during winter.
- Scientific Name: Pinicola enucleator
- Length: 20-25 cm (8-10 in)
- Weight: 45-70 g (1.6-2.5 oz)
- Wingspan: 30-35 cm (12-14 in)
- Call Sign: High-pitched and melodious warbling
- Migratory: No
- Range: Northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
7. Red Crossbill
Red Crossbills are unique, red-colored avian species that belong to the finch family. They can be found throughout Alaska’s boreal forests, particularly in coniferous trees such as spruce and pine.
The species is known for its unique crossed beak, which allows it to extract seeds from conifer cones. Red Crossbills have a nomadic lifestyle as they search for food, so spotting one can be a challenge.
- Scientific Name: Loxia curvirostra
- Length: 14-17 cm (5.5-6.7 in)
- Weight: 26-39 g (0.9-1.4 oz)
- Wingspan: 25-27 cm (9.8-10.6 in)
- Call Sign: Harsh and distinctive “chip-chip” or “jip-jip”
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: North America, Europe, and Asia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
8. White-winged Crossbill
White-winged Crossbills are known for their unique crossed bills, which are specialized for feeding on conifer seeds.
They have a varied diet that includes tree buds, berries, and insects during the breeding season. The White-winged Crossbill is a highly mobile species and is often seen in flocks, making it a popular sight for birders in Alaska.
- Scientific Name: Loxia leucoptera
- Length: 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 in)
- Weight: 20-35 g (0.7-1.2 oz)
- Wingspan: 23-28 cm (9-11 in)
- Call Sign: Chirping or trilling notes
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: North America, Europe, and Asia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
9. Common Redpoll
Common Redpolls are small songbirds that have the delightful habit of hanging upside down while feeding. These birds have a distinctive plumage, featuring brown and white streaks on their back and buff-colored markings on their sides.
They are highly social species and often gather in flocks for roosting and foraging. Their preferred food sources are birch and alder seeds, making them a common sight at bird feeders in the region.
- Scientific Name: Acanthis flammea
- Length: 12-15 cm (4.7-5.9 in)
- Weight: 14-23 g (0.5-0.8 oz)
- Wingspan: 20-25 cm (7.9-9.8 in)
- Call Sign: Chirping or trilling notes
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Northern regions of North America, Europe, and Asia
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatches are small songbirds recognizable by their vibrant rusty-red breasts, bluish-grey upperparts, and white faces with black eye stripes.
These birds are skilled acrobats and are known to move nimbly up and down trees and branches, probing cracks in the bark for insects and seeds. Red-breasted Nuthatches are year-round residents of Alaska and are a delight for birders to spot and observe.
- Scientific Name: Sitta canadensis
- Length: 11-14 cm (4.3-5.5 in)
- Weight: 9-13 g (0.3-0.5 oz)
- Wingspan: 18-22 cm (7.1-8.7 in)
- Call Sign: Nasal, high-pitched “yank yank” or “quank quank”
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Northern parts of North America, from Alaska to Canada
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
11. Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbirds are a common sight in Alaska. Males have a distinctive red and yellow shoulder patch that they use to establish territory during the breeding season.
Females exhibit dark brown coloring and are often seen nesting in wetland areas such as marshes or along riverbanks. Their diet consists of insects, seeds, and berries. The species is migratory, with most individuals wintering in the southern United States or Mexico.
- Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus
- Length: 18-24 cm (7-9.4 in)
- Weight: 41-65 g (1.4-2.3 oz)
- Wingspan: 31-39 cm (12-15 in)
- Call Sign: Distinctive “conk-a-ree” or “oak-a-lee” song
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
12. Rufous Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbirds are charismatic and colorful birds that weigh only a few grams. Males are bright orange with a reddish-brown throat, while females are greenish with some orange on the throat.
Their preferred habitats include forests, meadows, and gardens, and they can be found throughout Alaska during migration. Rufous Hummingbirds are known for their long journeys, traveling from Mexico to Alaska each year.
- Scientific Name: Selasphorus rufus
- Length: 7-9 cm (2.8-3.5 in)
- Weight: 2.8-4.7 g (0.1-0.2 oz)
- Wingspan: 11-13 cm (4.3-5.1 in)
- Call Sign: High-pitched, squeaky chirping
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Western North America, from Alaska to Mexico
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
13. Cassin’s Finch
Cassin’s Finches are common birds that have conical bills, short wings, and notched tails. Male Cassin’s Finches have red crowns, chests, and rumps, along with brownish wings and a white belly.
Female birds are gray-brown on the head and back, with streaked bellies and flanks. They are primarily found in coniferous and mixed forests, occasionally visiting open habitats. Cassin’s Finches generally feed on seeds, fruits, and insects.
- Scientific Name: Haemorhous cassinii
- Length: 14-16 cm (5.5-6.3 in)
- Weight: 16-29 g (0.6-1.0 oz)
- Wingspan: 24-26 cm (9.4-10.2 in)
- Call Sign: Musical warbling or trilling song
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: Western North America, including parts of the United States and Canada
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
14. Purple Finch
Purple Finches are vibrant birds known for their rich reddish plumage. The males of this species have bright purple-red heads and backs, while the females exhibit a brown coloration with heavy streaking.
These finches have a diet that primarily consists of seeds and insects, and they are commonly found in coniferous forests and thickets. During the summer months, Purple Finches breed in Alaska, and then they migrate to the southern United States for the winter.
- Scientific Name: Haemorhous purpureus
- Length: 15-17 cm (6-6.7 in)
- Weight: 20-32 g (0.7-1.1 oz)
- Wingspan: 25-28 cm (10-11 in)
- Call Sign: Varied and melodic song
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: North America, and parts of Mexico
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
15. American Robin
American Robins are migratory birds that are easily identified by their rusty-red belly and distinctive gray heads. These birds have an omnivorous diet, feeding on a variety of insects, fruits, and berries.
During the breeding season, they construct cup-shaped nests made of mud, grass, and sticks. American Robins are common and charismatic birds that are often cherished by birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts in Alaska.
- Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius
- Length: 23-28 cm (9-11 in)
- Weight: 77-85 g (2.7-3 oz)
- Wingspan: 31-41 cm (12-16 in)
- Call Sign: Cheerful, melodious song
- Migratory: Yes
- Full Range Map: Eastern and western parts of North America
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
16. Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawks are common birds of prey found in Alaska throughout the year. They are easily identified by their reddish-brown plumage, dark feathered wings, and distinctive reddish tail.
They have sharp talons and a hooked beak that they use to hunt small mammals and birds. Red-tailed Hawks are known for their distinctive scream-like call, which is often heard in open areas around Alaska.
- Scientific Name: Buteo jamaicensis
- Length: 45-65 cm (18-26 in)
- Weight: 690-1600 g (1.5-3.5 lbs)
- Wingspan: 110-145 cm (43-57 in)
- Call Sign: High-pitched, piercing scream
- Migratory: Yes
- Range: North America, Central America, and the Caribbean
- Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
Wrap Up
Now that you have a better understanding of Alaska’s red birds, I hope you will be able to identify them the next time you spot one in your backyard or anywhere else in Alaska.
If you’re an Alaskan, I invite you to read this article to learn about the state bird of Alaska.
