Bird Watching at Wrangell-St.Elias National Park

One of Alaska’s beloved national parks, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is in south-central. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park covers a total of 13,175,799 acres. Among these, 8,323,147.59 acres is the park area and 4,852,652.14 acres is the preserve area. The park consists of volcanoes, icefields and glaciers, and mining districts. Bird watching at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a unique experience because of its high diversity.

Major Attractions at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

One can always begin with the guided tours from rangers to get a good feel of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It will have presentations, walks, and talks to hype everyone up. This is one of those places where one cannot miss out on the visitor center. It is a well-constructed building that is connected to the rest of the park, where you can shop, buy
souvenirs, and find lodging.

For hiking, the root glacier trail appears to have an explosive amount of popularity. Then, there is the Kennecott Copper mine, a huge place that was closed back in 1938 and is now only open to visitors. If you want to get some serious exercise and a thrilling encounter, ice climbing is a must.

The Nabesna Road hiking trail is popular for birdwatching. Then, one can also engage in sports fishing inside the preserve area. Getting a quick look at the mountains by getting on the helicopter is another popular choice. Some people prefer exploring the park through the waterways, so rafting and kayaking are all possibilities.

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Bird Watching at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Alaska has a record of 564 bird species. It seems, among them, 140 ends up in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The 20,000 square miles have icefields, glacial barrens, thickets of alder and willow, muskegs, rivers, lakes, shorelines, and alpine meadows. Birds have a truly rich habitat to choose from.

The overall open area and plenty of food sources lure migrants who travel a long distance from the Copper River Valley into the coastline area every spring. Some of them stay behind for summer to nest. Come late April, while the snow is still in the middle of melting, waterfowl, shorebirds, Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese start arriving. Beginning of May, Thrushes and Warblers liven up the park with their songs as they build their nests. Once August nears, many of the settlers get ready for another long journey.

Some of the common birds you are likely to find in the park are Northern Flickers, Wilson’s Warblers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Great Horned Owls, and Northern Hawk-Owls. During the winter season, only 34 species can still be seen in the park. Redpolls, Chickadees, and Pine Grosbeaks make their presence known in winter.

10 Birds to See at Wrangell-St.Elias National Park

Northern Flicker

Northern Flickers are large with a brown and white body. They also have spots on their underparts. You can find them throughout North America. Their population has declined, but they are still abundant and not at risk of being endangered. They make their homes in open forests, groves, and woodlots. Northern Flickers eat mainly ants and beetles. They nest in small holes in trees much like other Woodpeckers. They lay 5 to 8 eggs. Most Northern Flickers migrate south for the winter.

Canada Goose

Canada Geese are brown with a black neck and white marks along their chin. They live all throughout North America. Their population continues to increase as many are managed in wildlife refuges. Canada Geese enjoy making their habitat in open water and also on lawns near a water source. They move through the sky in a V-formation. Their diet is mostly plants of all kinds and occasionally seeds, berries, and small fish. They lay 4 to 7 eggs on the ground near
water. At one time they followed a strict migratory pattern, but now many are permanent residents in refuges.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Juncos have a gray-brown body with bright white tail feathers. You can find them throughout North America. They are abundant and widespread with no risk to their population. Dark-eyed Juncos make their homes in open or partially wooded areas. They have a twittering call and a trilling song. These birds eat insects and seeds. They lay 3 to 5 eggs and build their nests on the ground, hidden under branches or rocks. Dark-eyed Juncos are migratory birds; however, those already residing in the south are permanent residents.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owls are brown and white and have two pointy tufts that look like ears. You can find them throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their population is widespread and common and not at risk of being endangered. They make their homes near forests, streams, and open country. Great Horned Owls are the most recognized owl because they make a deep hooting sound. They have a great night vision to hunt in the dark. Great Horned Owls like to eat frogs, mice, birds, and sometimes mammals bigger than themselves! They lay 2 to 3 eggs and will use old nests from other large birds. Sometimes they add feathers to their nests. Great Horned Owls do not have a regular migratory route; however, some have been seen moving south for the winter.

Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpeckers are black and white with two white stripes on their head. They live all throughout North America. They have declined in their population, but are still fairly common. These Woodpeckers make their habitat in forests, shade trees, and river groves. Hairy Woodpeckers eat insects but can be found eating sunflower seeds in backyard feeders. Hairy Woodpeckers are permanent residents, but those that live in the north move south for the winter.

American Golden-Plover

American Golden-Plovers are graceful, gold, and black speckled shorebirds. They also have a white stripe from the crown of their head to their neck. They live in the midwestern region of North America. American Golden-Plovers make their homes on prairies, shores, and in the tundra. Their population is limited now due to the loss of their wintering habitat in South America. American Golden-Plovers eat insects such as flies, beetles, and snails. They lay 3 to 4 eggs and once they hatch the young birds find their own food. They migrate from Canada to South America. American Golden-Plovers make the longest migration journey of any shorebird

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpeckers are black and white with a small red patch on their head. They are the smallest Woodpecker and live throughout North America. These birds are common and their population is steady with no risk of being endangered. They make their homes in backyards, parks, and woodlots. Downy Woodpeckers do not sing songs; they drum. In the winter, they like to hang out with other birds such as the Nuthatch and Chickadee. They eat mostly insects, but also eat seeds and berries. Downy Woodpeckers build their nests in holes of dead trees and keep them camouflaged. They lay 4 to 5 eggs. Downy Woodpeckers are permanent residents; however, some in the north migrate south in the winter.

Horned Lark

Horned Larks are brown with a yellow and black face and small black “horns” made of feathers. You can find them throughout North America. There has been a decline in their population, but they are stable and not at risk of being endangered. Horned Larks live in large, empty fields, and deserts. They are ground birds, where they feed on seeds and insects. They lay 3 or 4 eggs in an open nest on the ground. While some Horned Larks are permanent residents in their area, the Horned Larks found in the north migrate south.

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Ducks have brown bodies with white cheek patches and blue bills. They are common ducks in most areas of North America. They are not endangered, but their population has declined. Ruddy Ducks make their habitat in open water and bays. They dive underwater and swim to find food on the bottom of ponds. Ruddy Ducks eat mostly roots, seeds, and insects. They lay 5 to 10 eggs and build their nests over shallow water in a woven platform. Ruddy Ducks lay the largest eggs of ducks their size. They migrate at night over an extended period of time, in small groups.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrows have a brown and gray body with streaks. Their coloring can change depending upon the area they are in. You can find these birds all over North America. Their population is widespread and steady. They make their homes in thickets, brush, and around marshes. Song Sparrows eat small insects like wasps and ants, but will also come to bird feeders for seed. They lay 3 to 5 eggs in a nest low to the ground. Song Sparrows in the north migrate to the south for the winter.

Final Thoughts

It is recommended that you visit the park in summer or spring if you want to spot as many bird species as possible. While plenty of bird species are still present in winter, it does not beat the diversity found in summer. Additionally, it is simply too cold to birdwatch during winter.

Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At the Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Bird Watching Binoculars

The most common types of bird watching binoculars for viewing birds at Wrangell-St.Elias National Park is the 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.