The boreal forest or taiga of the North American continent stretches through a majority of Canada and most of central Alaska , extending spottily into the beginning of the Rocky Mountain range in Northern Montana and into New England and the Adirondack Mountains of New York . This habitat extends as far north as the tree line (replaced by the High Arctic tundra ) and discontinues in mixed deciduous-coniferous forests to the south. The "taiga ", as it is called there, of Eurasia occupies a similar range on those continents. Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the boreal forest covers 2.3 million square miles, a larger area than the remaining Brazilian Amazon rainforest . Although it is largely forest, the boreal forests include a network of lakes , river valleys, wetlands , peat lands and semi-open tundra .
Black Spruce boreal forest, Copper River, Alaska.
This article
needs additional citations for verification .
(April 2024 )
Only 8% of the Canadian boreal forest is protected and over 30% has already been designated for logging, energy and other development, much of it within the last decade. The U.S. is the leading importer of Canadian wood products as well as oil and gas, having purchased 20 billion dollars (approximately 80% of Canada's timber exports) worth of Canadian forest products in 2001. Presently trees being logged in the Boreal are primarily pulped and turned into disposable products such as toilet tissue , junk mail , and catalogs. Decisions will be made in the next several years regarding the remaining lands and where development will take place.
Historically, this wilderness has long remained vast and little-known to birding and naturalist groups, who have placed their attentions southwards. Although, the wintering grounds of many North American migratory birds also requires attention, now it has become apparent that our attention must be focused north on the Boreal breeding grounds of many of these birds. It is estimated that about 60% of the American bird population found North of the Mexican border nests in the boreal forest. About half of North America's breeding species (over 300) make their home there. The following is a list of the North American birds reliant on the boreal forests.
The following is a list (taxonomically organized) of the breeding species of which at least 70% of their North American population rely upon the boreal forest for nesting. If the boreal forests were cleared, these species would almost surely perish or be endangered.
Red-necked grebe Surf scoter , Melanitta perspicillata [1] White-winged scoter , Melanitta deglandi Black scoter , Melanitta americana Bufflehead , Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye , Bucephala clangula Spruce grouse , Falcipennis canadensis Common loon , Gavia immer Horned grebe , Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe , Podiceps grisegena Whooping crane , Grus americana Greater yellowlegs , Tringa melanoleuca Greater yellowlegs Bonaparte's gull Boreal owl Yellow-bellied flycatcher , Empidonax flaviventris Alder flycatcher , Empidonax alnorum Northern shrike , Lanius excubitor Philadelphia vireo , Vireo philadelphicus [3] Canada jay , Perisoreus canadensis Boreal chickadee , Poecile hudsonica Ruby-crowned kinglet , Regulus calendula Gray-cheeked thrush , Catharus minimus Bicknell's thrush , Catharus bicknelli Swainson's thrush , Catharus ustulatus [4] Hermit thrush , Catharus guttatus Canada jay Bohemian waxwing , Bombycilla garrulus Tennessee warbler , Oreothlypis peregrina Magnolia warbler , Setophaga magnolia [3] Cape May warbler , Setophaga tigrina Yellow-rumped warbler , Setophaga coronata [3] Kirtland's warbler , Setophaga kirtlandii Palm warbler , Setophaga palmarum Bay-breasted warbler , Setophaga castanea Blackpoll warbler , Setophaga striata [3] Northern waterthrush , Parkesia noveboracensis Connecticut warbler , Oporornis agilis Mourning warbler , Geothlypis philadelphia Cape May warbler Le Conte's sparrow , Ammodramus leconteii Lincoln's sparrow , Melospiza lincolnii Swamp sparrow , Melospiza georgiana White-throated sparrow , Zonotrichia albicollis [3] Dark-eyed junco , Junco hyemalis [3] Rusty blackbird , Euphagus carolinus Pine grosbeak , Pinicola enucleator Red crossbill , Loxia curvirostra White-winged crossbill , Loxia leucoptera [4] Common redpoll , Acanthis flammea
These are birds that more than half of the North American populations nest in the boreal forest. Many of these birds need mature forests or isolated, non-populated wetlands that now have been largely cleared outside of the boreal forests.
Hooded merganser Trumpeter swan , Cygnus buccinator American wigeon , Anas americana American black duck , Anas rubripes Green-winged teal , Anas crecca Ring-necked duck , Aythya collaris Greater scaup , Aythya marila Lesser scaup , Aythya affinis Barrow's goldeneye , Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser , Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser , Mergus merganser Northern goshawk Ruffed grouse , Bonasa umbellus White-tailed ptarmigan , Lagopus leucura Pacific loon , Gavia pacifica Northern goshawk , Accipiter gentilis Merlin , Falco columbarius Yellow rail , Coturnicops noveboracensis Sora , Porzana carolina Semipalmated plover , Charadrius semipalmatus Hudsonian godwit , Limosa haemastica Pectoral sandpiper , Calidris melanotos White-rumped sandpiper , Calidris fuscicollis Least sandpiper , Calidris minutilla Common snipe , Gallinago gallinago Red-necked phalarope Red-necked phalarope , Phalaropus lobatus Mew gull , Larus canus Ross's gull , Rhodostethia rosea Arctic tern , Sterna paradisaea Yellow-bellied sapsucker , Sphyrapicus varius Olive-sided flycatcher , Contopus cooperi Least flycatcher , Empidonax minimus Blue-headed vireo , Vireo solitarius Northern wheatear , Oenanthe oenanthe Orange-crowned warbler , Oreothlypis celata Nashville warbler , Oreothlypis ruficapilla Chestnut-sided warbler , Setophaga pensylvanica Black-throated green warbler , Setophaga virens Blackburnian warbler Blackburnian warbler , Setophaga fusca Black-and-white warbler , Mniotilta varia Ovenbird , Seiurus aurocapilla Wilson's warbler , Cardellina pusilla Canada warbler , Cardellina canadensis Clay-colored sparrow , Spizella pallida American tree sparrow , Spizelloides arborea Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca White-crowned sparrow , Zonotrichia leucophrys Golden-crowned sparrow , Zonotrichia atricapilla Gray-crowned rosy-finch , Leucosticte tephrocotis
Although less than half of the following birds' North American populations nest in the boreal forests, a major portion of their species is reliant on this habitat. Many of these birds are more often aquatic and woodland generalist than species more dependent on the taiga.
Mallard Mallard , Anas platyrhynchos Northern shoveler , Anas clypeata Northern pintail , Anas acuta Canvasback , Aythya valisineria Harlequin duck , Histrionicus histrionicus Common eider , Somateria mollissima Long-tailed duck , Clangula hyemalis Red-breasted merganser , Mergus serrator Willow ptarmigan , Lagopus lagopus Rock ptarmigan , Lagopus muta Arctic loon , Gavia arctica Red-throated loon , Gavia stellata American bittern American white pelican , Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Double-crested cormorant , Phalacrocorax auritus American bittern , Botaurus lentiginosus Osprey , Pandion haliaetus Bald eagle , Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern harrier , Circus cyaneus Sharp-shinned hawk , Accipiter striatus Broad-winged hawk , Buteo platypterus Swainson's hawk , Buteo swainsoni Red-tailed hawk , Buteo jamaicensis Rough-legged hawk , Buteo lagopus Golden eagle , Aquila chrysaetos Gyrfalcon , Falco rusticolus Sandhill crane , Grus canadensis Pacific golden-plover , Pluvialis fulva American golden-plover , Pluvialis dominica Piping plover , Charadrius melodus Rock sandpiper , Calidris ptilocnemis Western sandpiper , Calidris mauri Baird's sandpiper , Calidris bairdii Semipalmated sandpiper , Calidris pusilla Dunlin , Calidris alpina Dunlin Stilt sandpiper , Calidris himantopus Long-billed dowitcher , Limnodromus scolopaceus American woodcock , Scolopax minor Wilson's phalarope , Phalaropus tricolor Franklin's gull , Leucophaeus pipixcan Ring-billed gull , Larus delawarensis Black tern , Chlidonias niger Long-tailed jaeger , Stercorarius longicaudus Parasitic jaeger , Stercorarius parasiticus Black-billed cuckoo , Coccyzus erythropthalmus Great horned owl , Bubo virginianus Barred owl , Strix varia Long-eared owl Long-eared owl , Asio otus Northern saw-whet owl , Aegolius acadicus Belted kingfisher , Ceryle alcyon Hairy woodpecker , Picoides villosus Northern flicker , Colaptes auratus Pileated woodpecker , Dryocopus pileatus Western wood-pewee , Contopus sordidulus Eastern phoebe , Sayornis phoebe Eastern kingbird , Tyrannus tyrannus Warbling vireo , Vireo gilvus Red-eyed vireo , Vireo olivaceus Blue jay , Cyanocitta cristata Black-billed magpie , Pica hudsonia American crow , Corvus brachyrhynchos Common raven , Corvus corax Horned lark , Eremophila alpestris Tree swallow , Tachycineta bicolor Bank swallow , Riparia riparia Red-breasted nuthatch Black-capped chickadee , Poecile atricapillus Red-breasted nuthatch , Sitta canadensis Brown creeper , Certhia americana Winter wren , Troglodytes hiemalis Golden-crowned kinglet , Regulus satrapa Arctic warbler , Phylloscopus borealis Veery , Catharus fuscescens Varied thrush , Ixoreus naevius American pipit , Anthus rubescens Sprague's pipit , Anthus spragueii Varied thrush Townsend's solitaire , Myadestes townsendi American robin , Turdus migratorius Cedar waxwing , Bombycilla cedrorum Yellow warbler , Setophaga petechia Black-throated blue warbler , Setophaga caerulescens Common yellowthroat , Geothlypis trichas American redstart , Setophaga ruticilla [3] Chipping sparrow , Spizella passerina [4] Nelson's sparrow , Ammodramus nelsoni Savannah sparrow , Passerculus sandwichensis Song sparrow , Melospiza melodia Smith's longspur , Calcarius pictus Lapland longspur , Calcarius lapponicus Snow bunting , Plectrophenax nivalis Chipping sparrow
These are birds usually at their fringe of their ranges in the boreal forest or that occur less frequently as breeders in the boreal forest because their ideal habitat is not included in the taiga.
Blue-winged teal Blue-winged teal Anas discors Cinnamon teal , Anas cyanoptera Redhead , Aythya americana Ruddy duck , Oxyura jamaicensis Yellow-billed loon , Gavia adamsii Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps Eared grebe , Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe , Aechmophorus occidentalis Great blue heron , Ardea herodias Green heron , Butorides virescens Black-crowned night-heron , Nycticorax nycticorax Turkey vulture , Cathartes aura Tundra swan , Cygnus columbianus Cooper's hawk , Accipiter cooperii American kestrel , Falco sparverius American kestrel Peregrine falcon , Falco peregrinus Sharp-tailed grouse , Tympanuchus phasianellus Gray partridge , Perdix perdix Ring-necked pheasant , Phasianus colchicus Wild turkey , Meleagris gallopavo Virginia rail , Rallus limicola American coot , Fulica americana Black-bellied plover , Pluvialis squatarola Killdeer , Charadrius vociferus American avocet , Recurvirostra americana Willet , Tringa semipalmata Upland sandpiper , Bartramia longicauda Marbled godwit , Limosa fedoa Bar-tailed godwit , Limosa lapponica Bristle-thighed curlew , Numenius tahitiensis Long-billed curlew , Numenius americanus Ruddy turnstone , Arenaria interpres Black turnstone , Arenaria melanocephala Buff-breasted sandpiper , Tryngites subruficollis Red phalarope , Phalaropus fulicaria Red phalarope California gull , Larus californicus Glaucous-winged gull , Larus glaucescens Glaucous gull , Larus hyperboreus Sabine's gull , Xema sabini Caspian tern , Hydroprogne caspia Forster's tern , Sterna forsteri Rock pigeon , Columba livia Mourning dove , Zenaida macroura Eastern screech-owl , Megascops asio Snowy owl , Nyctea scandiaca Northern pygmy-owl , Glaucidium gnoma Short-eared owl , Asio flammeus Common nighthawk , Chordeiles minor Whip-poor-will , Caprimulgus vociferus Chimney swift , Chaetura pelagica Ruby-throated hummingbird , Archilochus colubris Rufous hummingbird , Selasphorus rufus Red-naped sapsucker , Sphyrapicus nuchalis Red-breasted sapsucker , Sphyrapicus ruber Downy woodpecker Downy woodpecker , Picoides pubescens Eastern wood-pewee , Contopus virens Willow flycatcher , Empidonax traillii Hammond's flycatcher , Empidonax hammondii Dusky flycatcher , Empidonax oberholseri Cordilleran flycatcher , Empidonax occidentalis Say's phoebe , Sayornis saya Great crested flycatcher , Myiarchus crinitus Western kingbird , Tyrannus verticalis Yellow-throated vireo , Vireo flavifrons Cassin's vireo , Vireo cassinii Steller's jay , Cyanocitta stelleri Clark's nutcracker , Nucifraga columbiana Purple martin , Progne subis Violet-green swallow , Tachycineta thalassina Cliff swallow , Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Barn swallow , Hirundo rustica Mountain chickadee , Poecile gambeli Chestnut-backed chickadee , Poecile rufescens White-breasted nuthatch , Sitta carolinensis House wren , Troglodytes aedon Sedge wren , Cistothorus platensis Marsh wren , Cistothorus palustris American dipper , Cinclus mexicanus American dipper Red-throated pipit , Anthus cervinus Yellow wagtail , Motacilla flava Bluethroat , Luscinia svecica Eastern bluebird , Sialia sialis Mountain bluebird , Sialia currucoides Wood thrush , Hylocichla mustelina Gray catbird , Dumetella carolinensis Brown thrasher , Toxostoma rufum European starling , Sturnus vulgaris Golden-winged warbler , Vermivora chrysoptera Northern parula , Setophaga americana Townsend's warbler , Setophaga townsendi Pine warbler , Setophaga pinus Prairie warbler , Setophaga discolor MacGillivray's warbler , Geothlypis tolmiei Scarlet tanager , Piranga olivacea Western tanager , Piranga ludoviciana Spotted towhee , Pipilo maculatus Eastern towhee , Pipilo erythrophthalmus Brewer's sparrow , Spizella breweri Lark sparrow , Chondestes grammacus Vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Baird's sparrow , Ammodramus bairdii Grasshopper sparrow , Ammodramus savannarum Harris's sparrow , Zonotrichia querula Northern cardinal , Cardinalis cardinalis Indigo bunting , Passerina cyanea Bobolink , Dolichonyx oryzivorus Red-winged blackbird , Agelaius phoeniceus Eastern meadowlark , Sturnella magna Western meadowlark , Sturnella neglecta Brewer's blackbird 
.jpg)
