Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Alaska

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Alaska. A starting field list, drawn from iNaturalist research-grade observations, for what is likely living near you.

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Birds

Birds Commonly Recorded In Alaska

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. Bald Eagle Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus 6,105 records
  2. Common Raven Common Raven Corvus corax 2,458 records
  3. Short-Billed Gull Short-Billed Gull Larus brachyrhynchus 2,293 records
  4. Black-Billed Magpie Pica hudsonia 1,991 records
  5. Black-Legged Kittiwake Black-Legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1,882 records
  6. Glaucous-Winged Gull Larus glaucescens 1,829 records
  7. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 1,691 records
  8. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 1,317 records
  9. Common Merganser Common Merganser Mergus merganser 1,280 records
  10. Dark-Eyed Junco Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 1,267 records
  11. Willow Ptarmigan Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus 1,242 records
  12. Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis 1,223 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Alaska

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Fireweed Fireweed Chamaenerion angustifolium 5,242 records
  2. Devil's Club Devil's Club Oplopanax horridus 3,386 records
  3. Common Cowparsnip Common Cowparsnip Heracleum maximum 2,979 records
  4. Dwarf Fireweed Dwarf Fireweed Chamaenerion latifolium 2,610 records
  5. Common Yarrow Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium 2,573 records
  6. Salmonberry Salmonberry Rubus spectabilis 2,540 records
  7. Red-Berried Elder Red-Berried Elder Sambucus racemosa 2,472 records
  8. Squashberry Viburnum edule 2,438 records
  9. Woolly Cranesbill Woolly Cranesbill Geranium erianthum 2,239 records
  10. Lingonberry Lingonberry Vaccinium vitis-idaea 1,997 records
  11. Western Bunchberry Western Bunchberry Cornus unalaschkensis 1,815 records
  12. Nootka Lupine Nootka Lupine Lupinus nootkatensis 1,804 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Alaska

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Large Yellow Underwing Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 594 records
  2. Black-Tailed Bumble Bee Black-Tailed Bumble Bee Bombus melanopygus 589 records
  3. Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis 529 records
  4. Spotted Tussock Moth Spotted Tussock Moth Lophocampa maculata 468 records
  5. Milbert's Tortoiseshell Milbert's Tortoiseshell Aglais milberti 460 records
  6. Variable Carpet Moth Variable Carpet Moth Anticlea vasiliata 450 records
  7. Yellow-Fronted Bumble Bee Yellow-Fronted Bumble Bee Bombus flavifrons 439 records
  8. Birch Shield Bug Birch Shield Bug Elasmostethus interstinctus 414 records
  9. Thoughtful Apamea Thoughtful Apamea Apamea cogitata 402 records
  10. Bedstraw Hawkmoth Bedstraw Hawkmoth Hyles gallii 361 records
  11. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 357 records
  12. White-Spotted Sawyer Monochamus scutellatus 339 records

Go Deeper

Use the live finder to narrow this to your town and season. Then read Who Lives Here, how to attract wildlife to your yard, and planting for local wildlife. For tools and field guides, see the recommended gear.

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