State of Alaska

• Barrow Area

  Satellite View
  Barrow is the northern most town in the U.S., and is situated on the arctic coast of Alaska at 71o18 North by 156o40 West. The population is about 4500, of which a majority is native Inupiat. Although many modern conveniences are available in Barrow, the subsistence life style is still much in evidence, and fishing, hunting, and whaling are a way of life and central to the culture. Barrow has been continuously occupied for 5,000 years by people who have learned how to live in the harsh arctic climate. A new Heritage Center, opened in 1999, should be on the list of sites for every visitor.Barrow is one of the top 100 birding spots in America. Although the diversity of birds is somewhat small, the annual visitors are spectacular. All four species of Eider ducks migrate along the coast and nest in the tundra around Barrow. Numerous other ducks and waterfowl also nest in the millions of small puddles and lakes across the tundra. Barrow is also prime habitat for many shorebirds. Perhaps the most spectacular summer visitor and breeder is the snowy owl, from which comes the Inupiat name for Barrow, Ukpeagvik, which translates to place to hunt snowy owls. Now days the owls are observed and studied.Barrow is the only spot in America one can reliably expect to see the elusive Ross's gull, which shows up, sometimes in great numbers during the last week of September through the first couple of weeks of October.

• Brian & Leslie Watson

  King Eider Inn, Barrow, Alaska | eider@barrow.com

  http://www.kingeider.net

• Sirena Brownlee

  Anchorage, Alaska | guides@alaska.com

• Number of bird species: 514

  As of 1 January 2017

• Number of endemics: Possibly 2

  McKay's Bunting Plectrophenax hyperboreus is generally treated as endemic, but cross breeding with snow bunting has been observed and some believe it merely to be a sub-species of that.

  Amchitka Cormorant Phalacrocorax kenyoni is considered by some to be a full and endemic species. Hopwever, most authorities treat it as a sub-species of Phalacrocorax pelagicus and some treat it as con-specific with the nominate race.

• A Birder's Guide to Alaska

  | By George C West | ABA | 2008 | Paperback | 662 Pages, B/w illustrations, tabs, maps | ISBN: 9781878788481 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Alaska Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species

  | By James R Kavanagh | Waterford Press | 2001 | Unbound | Colour Illustrations | ISBN: 9781583551226 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Alaska's Birds

  | (A Guide to Selected Species) | by RH Armstrong | Alaska Northwest Books | 1994 | | Paperback | 128 pages, 65 col photos, 20 b/w illustrations, 1 map | ISBN: 9780882404554 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Attending Alaska's Birds

  | (A Wildlife Pilot's Story) | by James Gore King & Jim Rearden | Trafford Publishing (USA) | 2008 | Paperback | ISBN: 9781425142438 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of Alaska

  | By Todd Telander | 2013 | Falcon Guides | Paperback | 96 Pages | ISBN: 9780762779314 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of Alaska Field Guide

  | By Stan Tekiela | Adventure Publications | 2005 | Paperback | 396 pages, colour photos, distribution maps | ISBN: 9781591930969 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska

  | By Daniel D Gibson & G Vernon Byrd | Nuttall Ornithological Club | 2007 | Hardback | 351 pages, colour photos | ISBN: 9780943610733 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Field Guide to Bird Nests and Eggs of Alaska's Coastal Tundra

  | By Tim D Bowman | Alaska Sea Grant College Program | 2008 | Spiralbound | 81 Pages, 600 Photos | ISBN: 9781566121293 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Guide to Birdwatching in Alaska

  | By Paul Doherty | All Region DVD | 2002 | Bird Images Video Guides | 90 Minutes | ISBN: 5065000721046 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• Guide to the Birds of Alaska

  | By Robert H Armstrong | Alaska Northwest Books | 2015 | Paperback | 368 Pages, 900 Colour Photos | ISBN: 9781941821428 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• The Birds of the Seward Peninsula, Alaska

  | By B Kessel | University of Alaska Press | 1989 | Hardback | 33 Pages, 19 b/w Plates, maps, line drawings | ISBN: 9780912006291 Buy this book from NHBS.com

• State Bird

  Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus

• Alaska Hummingbird Festival

  Webpage
  The petite but mighty Rufous Hummingbird is the mascot of the festival. Join us in welcoming this pennyweight flyer and other migratory birds back to Ketchikan, Alaska.

• Alaska Bald Eagle Festival - Haines, AK

  Webpage
  Takshanuk Film Festival and Eagle Release Auction TBA

• Alaska Bird Festivals

  Webpage
  Annotated & interactive list

• Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival

  Website
  Witness the shimmering flocks of millions of shorebirds as they take a short break on the Copper River Delta while passing from their wintering areas across the globe to their breeding grounds in the north.

• Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

  Website
  On behalf of the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, and the Festival Planning Committee, I’d like to welcome you to attend the 26th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. Alaska’s largest wildlife viewing festival honors the return of spring and it’s breathtaking bird migration. Homer’s seaside setting is perfect for spotting over 130 migratory bird species, as well as numerous other resident species. Thursday, May 10th- Sunday, May 13th, 2018.

• Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival

  Webpage
  Tanana Valley Sandhill Crane Festival August 23, 24 & 25, 2019

• Yakutat Tern Festival

  Website
  Every Alaska community has a claim to fame regarding its natural resources. Yakutat is no exception. One of the largest and southernmost known breeding colonies of Aleutian Terns exists here. The earliest record of breeding Aleutian Terns in Yakutat – on the Situk River Flats – is 1922; the colonies in the Yakutat area appear to be a stronghold for a suspected declining worldwide population. The Aleutian Tern has a limited range throughout Alaska and eastern Siberia and Russia, and very little is known about this species, including its migration patterns. The Yakutat area is currently at the forefront of Aleutian Tern research, including studies on population trends, nesting ecology, and migration patterns. The 2018 festival will be May 31-June 3

• Alaska University Museum Bird Collection

  Website
  With emphasis on the birds of northwesternmost North America, including taxa endemic to Beringia and the circumpolar North, the Bird Collection is the best in existence of avian material from Alaska. Almost all bird species and subspecies known in Alaska are represented and are preserved primarily as skins, skeletons, and tissues. The collection consists of over 14,000 birds. Most recent preparations include skin, skeleton, tissue, and stomach samples for each individual.

• American Bald Eagle Foundation

  Website
  The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is managed by the State of Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation with the assistance of the 13 member Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council. Interpretive Wildlife Display and Education Center Located in Haines, Alaska; featuring a unique diorama of wildlife found in the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.

• Anchorage Audubon Society

  Facebook Page
  The mission of Anchorage Audubon Society is to provide opportunities for learning about and enjoying wildlife and the natural environment, and to promote conservation of wildlife and protection of the natural environment through research, education, and action. We have about 1,500 members. The Anchorage Audubon Society serves the birding needs of Southcentral Alaska and the Kenai Peninsula. We offer informational resources as well as organized events like field trips and outings. Please browse through our site and come back often for the latest calendars and schedules.

• Arctic Audubon Society

  Facebook Page
  Arctic Audubon has worked to protect Alaskan ecosystems by encouraging research, education, and management. We have consistently kept up-to-date on the conservation issues that face Alaska. Currently, we are most concerned with the Tanana Valley State Forest Management Plan, proposed oil and gas development in the Minto Flats southwest of Fairbanks, protection of critical habitat areas in the NPR-A, and responsible conservation of Alaska's wildlife refuges.

• Audubon Alaska

  Website
  From the icy, bountiful waters of the Arctic Ocean to the misty, salmon-rich rainforests of the Tongass National Forest, Audubon Alaska works to conserve the spectacular birds and wildlife—and their habitats—of the Great Land to ensure their place for future generations. We employ science and cutting-edge mapping technology to drive our conservation priorities, with an emphasis on public lands and waters. Millions of birds flock to Alaska each spring from around the globe, making this a crucial place for birds worldwide.

• Fish & Wildlife Service

  Website
  Visitors and Educators will find environmental education and natural and cultural history interpretation is provided at refuges in the form of visitor centers, displays, handouts, informative staffs, and websites. Come visit an Alaska National Wildlife Refuge for a once in a lifetime experience that is meant to be experienced throughout a lifetime.

• Juneau Audubon Society

  Website
  Juneau is one of Alaska's nicest places to go birding. The combination of mountains, forest, wetlands, inter-tidal, and marine habitats, all accessible from the Juneau road and trail system, provides for extensive and diverse birding opportunities.

• Kachemak Bay Birders

  Website
  Kachemak Bay Birders, established in 2008, is an informal organization of individuals interested in birds, birding, and the conservation of birds. We have no membership fees; our meetings and trips are free and open to the public.

• Kodiak Audubon

  Website
  The mission of Audubon Alaska is to conserve Alaska's natural ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations

• Mat-Su Birders

  Website
  A club in Alaska's beautiful Matanuska-Susitna Valley devoted to watching wild birds.

• Nature Conservancy in Alaska

  Webpage
  The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. We’ve been working in Alaska to do just that.

• Prince William Sound Audubon Society

  Information
  PO Box 2396 99574Cordova - AK - US

Abbreviations Key

• Alaska National Wildlife Refuges

  WebsiteSatellite View
  Clickable list of refuges

• Alaska State Parks

  WebsiteSatellite View
  The state division responsible for parks. Links lead to parklands, state parks, and wildlife refuges in Alaska.

• MWR Creamer's Field

  WebsiteSatellite View
  At Creamer's Refuge wildlife and people share the forest, wetlands, ponds, and open fields. Creamer's Refuge protects and enhances quality habitat for a diversity of wildlife, especially waterfowl and other migratory birds, while also providing for compatible public uses, such as wildlife viewing, research, and nature education…

• NF Chugach

  WebpageSatellite View
  This stunning landscape stretches across south-central Alaska, from the salty waters and snowy peaks of Prince William Sound to the fabulous salmon and trout streams of the Kenai Peninsula, covering an area the size of New Hampshire. It is one of the few places left in the world where glaciers still grind valleys into the hard rock of the earth…

• NP Denali

  WebpageSatellite View
  Denali is six million acres of wild land, bisected by one ribbon of road. Travelers along it see the relatively low-elevation taiga forest give way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains, culminating in North America's tallest peak, 20,310' Denali. Wild animals large and small roam un-fenced lands, living as they have for ages. Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await.

• NWR Arctic

  WebpageSatellite View
  During the brief arctic summer, the North Slope is home to millions of birds. Many come to nest and raise their young. Others come to molt or simply to pass through on migration. A few species are present year-round. Rock and Willow Ptarmigan are the most abundant birds during winter and are found in patches of willows where they feed mainly on the buds. Ravens are the most conspicuous winter birds. A few Gyrfalcons and Snowy Owls may also be present, depending on the abundance of prey.

• NWR Kenai

  WebpageSatellite View
  The Kenai Refuge consists of the western slopes of the Kenai Mountains and forested lowlands bordering Cook Inlet. The lowlands are composed of spruce and birch forests intermingled with hundreds of lakes. The Kenai Mountains with their glaciers rise to more than 6,000 feet presenting a barrier on the southeastern boundary of the refuge. The refuge is a miniature Alaska with some of all habitat types of Alaska -- tundra, mountains, wetlands, and forests. Kenai Refuge was established by President Roosevelt to preserve and maintain the large population of moose on the Kenai Peninsula. In addition, the refuge is host to Dall sheep, mountain goat, caribou, coyote, wolf, grizzly bear, black bear, lynx, wolverine, beaver, small mammals, and birds.

• NWR Tetlin

  WebpageSatellite View
  Nestled within the Tanana River Valley, the abundant wetlands and forests of the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge welcome thousands of birds and people crossing the border into Alaska each year.

• NWR Yukon Flats

  WebpageSatellite View
  The Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 540 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System, the only national network of lands in the world set aside principally for the management of fish and wildlife resources. Whether visiting its wild lands or exploring this website, you’re sure to find something that stirs your imagination. Don’t be surprised. Generations have felt the same wonder when confronted by a landscape that does not reflect the passage of time. It is common for visitors to sense they have stepped back into a different century.

• SP Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve

  WebpageSatellite View
  The Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve was created by the State of Alaska in June 1982. The Preserve was established to protect and perpetuate the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles and their critical habitat. It also sustains and protects the natural salmon runs…

• Alaska Birding

  Mailing Group
  AK Birding is for discussion of Alaska birding and wild birds only. Suggested topics are bird sightings, status, distribution, behavior, identification and birding locations. Announcements for Alaska birding trips generally available to the public are also appropriate, although discretion is required.

• Alaska Rare Bird Alert

  Sightings
  A way for Alaskan birders, or birders in Alaska to pass on information about rare and unusual wild bird sightings occuring within the state. This group is only for posting rare birds found in Alaska

• Alaska Tours

  Tour Operator
  Alaska bird watching is a birders dream. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports 500 bird species populate or pass through Alaska seeking breeding, overwintering, resting, and refueling sites and some of the best Alaska bird watching is on St Paul Island in the Pribilof Islands home to 300 different species.

• High Lonesome Ecotours

  Tour Operator
  Why choose High Lonesome Ecotours for your birding trips in Alaska? First, we offer a small group experience where economically feasible with typically 6 to 12 participants. Second, we visit the most popular birding hot spots in Alaska, and we schedule it so that you can do one trip, or string together as many as five trips to different desitnations…

• Nahanni River Tours

  Tour Operator
  For nearly two decades Neil Hartling and Barry Beales of Nahanni River Adventures and Whitewolf Expeditions have fine tuned the most extensive offerings of the best of the north. In 1997 the two companies joined together to capitalise on the strengths of each outfit. The resulting selection has been referred to as the life list of northern rivers - all must do`s.

• St Paul Island Tours

  Tour Operator
  We offer a variety of tours available May through mid-October, from quick visits of 3 days/2 nights to 8 days/7 nights for in-depth exploration of the island and birding spots. Each includes round-trip airfare from Anchorage to St. Paul, shared accommodations and guide services.

• Wilderness Birding Adventures

  Tour Operator
  We lead small groups throughout Alaska in search of birds, wildlife, and wild places. Specializing in remote destinations, unique experiences, and wilderness travel, Wilderness Birding Adventures is THE choice for those seeking to bird Alaska with Alaskans. With the most complete selection of birding trips offered in Alaska, we welcome novice and expert birders alike, and are happy to assist you in finding the perfect fit.

Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…

• 2014 [10 October] - Eric Hynes & Tom Reed

  Report
  ...A significant surf with waves breaking right on the beach really churned up the zooplankton and generated a phalarope and gull feeding frenzy literally at the water's edge. Red Phalaropes, Glaucous Gulls, and Black-legged Kittiwakes were numerous and cooperative. Present in lower numbers but no less cooperative were the beautiful Ross's Gulls and first winter Thayer's Gulls. What made our views of these birds so memorable was the glorious light. How could you ever forget those pink bellies?...

• 2015 [06 June] - Chris Benesh & Tom Johnson

  Report
  ...After reconfiguring our transportation (thanks for your help, Kris!), an early morning start out the Kougarok Rd. led us to the land of Willow Ptarmigan and Bluethroats, those lovely Old World gems. After pauses to enjoy a Rusty Blackbird, flocks of Greater White-fronted Geese, and other wonderful arctic sights, we arrived near Coffee Dome, the arena for our search for Bristle-thighed Curlews.

• 2015 [06 June] - Chris Benesh - Pribilofs & Denali

  Report
  ...Highlights from the Denali section of the trip included great looks at Gyrfalcon, Spruce Grouse, American Three-toed Woodpecker and, best of all, a Northern Hawk Owl we saw along the Denali Highway. There were a number of interesting mammal sightings along the way, too, with Moose and a variety of pinnipeds being highlights.

• 2015 [06 June] - Megan Edwards Crewe & Pepe Rojas - Nome, Seward & Barrow

  Report
  ...We began with a visit to some feeders near town, where we enjoyed great views of Pine Grosbeak, White-winged Crossbill, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, and Rufous Hummingbird, and had wonderful studies of Downy and Hairy woodpeckers side by side.

• 2016 [05 May] - Pribilof Islands, Nome, Barrow, Denali & Kenai Peninsula

  PDF Report
  It would be very difficult to accurately describe a tour around Alaska - without drowning the narrative in superlatives to the point of nuisance...

• 2017 [06 June] - Chris Benesh & Tom Johnson - Pribilofs & Denali

  Report
  Part One of the Field Guides Alaska tour got off to a great start with a visit to Saint Paul Island, part of the Pribilof Islands group. In addition to the wonderful suite of regulars, we had the additional treat of seeing several exciting Asian visitors to the island. These included a couple of sizable flocks of Hawfinches, an attending Brambling, and the first Spring record of Marsh Sandpiper in North America!

• 2017 [10 October] - Tom Johnson

  Report
  The call of the far north led us back to Alaska for this adventurous fall tour. For the first time, we combined our tried-and-true Barrow Ross's Gull tour with a fall migration trip to St. Paul Island in the Bering Sea.

• 2018 [06 June] - Greg Smith

  PDF Report
  A wonderful day to arrive in Anchorage, the mountains were flowing with glaciers, most all peaks were capped with eons-old ice and the city sparkled in a sea of green. We dined at our hotel’s onsite restaurant, discussed tomorrow’s plans for Nome and headed off to get a little sleep while the sun perched above the horizon…

• 2018 [06 June] - Ivan Phillipsen

  Report
  This tour focused on birds and wildlife, from the rainforests of southeast Alaska to the snowy Alaska Range. We visited two national parks-- Glacier Bay and Denali-- and drove the entire Denali Highway.

• 2018 [08 August] - Dodie Logue

  PDF Report
  Some folks had arrived a few days early and some came in this day, which was calm and overcast. At 4:00 pm most of us met for a birding walk along the coastal trail, which is right behind our hotel, and never gets old! There are birds and bikes and other strange peddling contraptions, dogs, runners, walkers, hand-holders.

• 2019 [06 June] - Greg Smith

  PDF Report
  Alaska Birding & Nature trip report by guide Greg Smith

• 2019 [06 June] - Greg Smith

  PDF Report
  Annotated list

• 2019 [06 June] - Mike Hunter

  PDF Report
  The team had two objectives, firstly to see the key birds Alaska had to offer, and secondly, to sweep up as many ABA (American Birding Area) ticks (following previous trips to most of the rest of North America).

• 2019 [08 August] - Karen Worcester

  PDF Report
  For those that arrived prior to 3:30 pm, we took a walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to Westchester Lagoon. And along the way two Sandhill Cranes were foraging in the mudflats as a pair of Green-winged Teal did a little trailside dabbling!

• 2019 [09 September] - Birding Ecotours - Jacob Roalef

  PDF Report
  Alaska is the perfect combination of amazing birds, large mammals, quiet wilderness, and breathtaking landscapes and scenery. On this scouting trip, Jacob and his four brilliant clients (Mike, Barry, Bob, and Grace) covered sections of mainland Alaska and Kodiak Island to learn as much as possible about the area for our future tours. This trip was faster-paced than a standard tour and covered a tremendous amount of ground in a short time, scouting out places such as Anchorage, Denali National Park, Seward, Homer, and Kodiak Island.

• 2021 [06 June] - Peg Abbott

  PDF Report
  ...We listened to robust calls of Northern Waterthrush which sang from exposed perches, so much sound from such a tiny soul. Yellow and Wilson’s Warblers were present and singing, and a real treat was seeing Wilson’s Snipe on the wing and calling. Under the bridge was a resident pair of American Dipper, nice to see this active again as several years ago a long winter freeze up affected them and the beavers...

• 2022 [07 July] - Peg Abbott

  PDF Report
  ...Several of us booked with Captain Neil of A Whale Song Expeditions to go out to see the seabird colonies on the cliffs of Saint Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge. We had calm seas, whales, and lots of Tufted Puffins and Rhinoceros Auklet, and Harlequin Ducks, fun!

Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…

• Clearwater Mountain Lodge

  Accommodation
  Centrally located on the most scenic route to Denali National Park (less than an hour and a half away.) The Denali Highway connects the Richardson and George Parks Highways, and offers a beautiful drive through the heart of the ‘real’ Alaska. Located 82 miles from the entrance to Denali National Park.

• King Eider Inn

  Accommodation
  Opened in April of 1998, King Eider Inn is the premier of Barrow hotels located north of the Arctic Circle in Utqiaġvik; the most northern town in Alaska and all of North America.

• Tangle River Inn

  Accommodation
  Jack and his wife Naidine built the Tangle River Inn 45 years ago, and have been constantly improving and expanding it since that time. Jack handles the mechanical end, and Naidine and her staff keep visitors coming back for more of their unique brand of Alaskan hospitality.

• Alaska Landbird Resource Information System

  Webpage
  WELCOME to the Alaska Landbird Resource Information System, the official web site for Boreal Partners in Flight! Thanks for taking the time to learn more about the Boreal Partners in Flight program and our efforts to understand and conserve northern populations of landbirds.

• Attu

  Information
  For many years, knowledge of bird migration in the Near Islands was only fragmentary, since they had been visited only sporadically by scientists. Then in the late 1970s, Dan Gibson of the University of Alaska Museum did the first intensive studies of spring and fall migration in the Near Islands, on Shemya Island. And beginning in the late 1970s, we began annual spring visits to Attu Island that have continued to this day. We now have a much more complete picture of bird distribution in the Aleutians.

• Birding Locations in Nome

  Webpage
  Nome is becoming well-known as a treasure for birders. The city is bounded by tundra on three sides and the Bering Sea coast on the other. Once the ice begins to break up, migration begins. Virtually the entire area of the Seward Peninsula that is accessible by road from Nome is comprised of extremely valuable nesting areas for many bird species, including most North American waterfowl. You’ll even find quality birding on wetlands and beaches right in town.

• Louis Agassiz Fuertes and the Harriman Alaska Expedition

  Website
  This site highlights a journal that Louis Agassiz Fuertes kept during the Harriman Alaska Expedition. In the summer of 1899, railroad magnate Edward H. Harriman funded a scientific expedition along the Alaskan coast. The expedition, intended initially as a family vacation, gathered an illustrious group of scientists, writers and artists, and combined scientific research with leisure activities

• Bird Treatment and Learning Center

  BLOG
  Last updated 2016

• Judy Jessee - Judy's Mostly Alaskan Bird Blog

  BLOG

• Lynn Barber - Alaska Big Year & Beyond

  BLOG

• Michelle Michaud - Alaskabirder

  BLOG
  ’ve decided to write a blog about my experiences birding in Alaska and around the world. I will also write about bird-related issues near and dear to my heart. I hope you enjoy the blog. Please feel free to comment, and to share this blog with other like-minded birders or even your non-birding friends.