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Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus (scientific)
Bald eagles call the entire North American continent above Mexico their range. But, you are most likely to see an eagle near a large body of water with nearby old growth forests. The largest populations are in Alaska during the late fall and the Mississippi Valley in the winter.
The bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States, but if Benjamin Franklin had his way, it would have been the turkey. He thought the turkey was a more 'respectable bird' because it never scavenged or stole food from other birds
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73 encounters
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Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis (scientific)
New York Citys Pale Male and Lola are the worlds most famous red-tailed hawks. They nest on the 12th floor of a Fifth Avenue apartment building overlooking Central Park and are regularly seen by Wildlife Watchers, much to the dismay of local rodents and
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54 encounters
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Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus (scientific)
Look for broad-tailed hummingbirds in the summer throughout Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, western Wyoming and southern Idaho. They prefer mountain meadows, fir woodlands and fields near the edge of forests.
Broad-tailed hummingbirds build their nests on tree branches in high altitude forest edges throughout the Rocky Mountains. They have been known to nest in the same exact spot year after year if that location was successful in the past.
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39 encounters
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Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus (scientific)
Throughout the continental United States and Alaska in just about every type of habitat.
Look out Pepe Le Pew! Great horned owls regularly dine on skunks despite the strong odor that they emit to ward off other predators.
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35 encounters
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Belted Kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon (scientific)
Depending on the time of year, you can see belted kingfishers near rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands in every state and territory except Hawaii. In the winter, some migrate to Florida, Arizona, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and southern Texas and California. In the summer, some belted kingfishers migrate to Alaska. All other places have year round residents.
Human activity has affected the behavior and distribution of belted kingfishers. Instead of only trees, kingfishers now use power lines, utility poles and buildings as a perch when looking for fish. They also have fewer places to burrow because of a loss of habitat.
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34 encounters
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Barred Owl
Strix varia (scientific)
Barred owls don’t mind getting a little wet. They will wade in water at the edge of ponds and marshes in order to catch crayfish and amphibians.
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32 encounters
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Bighorn Sheep
Ovis Canadensis (scientific)
Look for bighorn sheep in scattered herds throughout the Rocky Mountains and Southwest. They can typically be found in protected reserves and parks. Bighorn sheep like rocky cliffs, hills and mountains in both cold and hot climates.
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32 encounters
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Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus (scientific)
Red-shouldered hawks are opportunistic predators. They will eat whatever they can catch, including rodents, frogs, reptiles and even, other birds!
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28 encounters
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Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata (scientific)
Look for blue jays east of the Rocky Mountains in urban parks, suburban backyards and forest edges.
Blue jays are great at impressions. They can imitate the calls of raptors, such as the red-tailed hawk.
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25 encounters
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Bobcat
Lynx rufus (scientific)
Bobcats live throughout most of the continental United States, except Alaska, the area between Michigan and western South Dakota and the densely populated Northeast. They can live in a variety of habitats from deserts to woodlands, wetlands and around rural communities.
Bobcats mark their territory by leaving scat, a strong pheromone urine scent and scratch marks on trees and soil.
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24 encounters
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Beaver
Castor canadensis (scientific)
Beaver teeth grow continuously throughout their lives and beavers must gnaw on trees to keep their teeth from getting dangerously long.
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19 encounters
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