National Animals of North America
North America's symbols are dominated by two species, the bald eagle across the United States and Mexico and the beaver in Canada, which is unusual because it is a rodent. Further south the range widens to the resplendent quetzal, the harpy eagle and the golden lion tamarin, and north to the polar bear of Greenland.
Bahamas
Phoenicopterus ruber
The Bahamas hosts the largest breeding colony of West Indian flamingos in the world.
Barbados
Pelican species
The nearby Pelican Island was leveled in the 1950s to expand Bridgetown's harbor.
Belize
Tapirus bairdii
Belizeans call the tapir 'mountain cow' though it's actually related to horses.
Canada
Castor canadensis
The beaver was declared an official emblem of Canada in 1975.
Costa Rica
Chlorostilbon lucidus
This clay-colored thrush was chosen over more colorful birds for its beautiful song.
Cuba
Priotelus temnurus
The tocororo's red, white, and blue plumage matches the Cuban flag.
Dominican Republic
Dives antiquus
Palmchats build massive communal nests shared by dozens of pairs.
El Salvador
Momotus mexicanus
El Salvador shares the torogoz with Nicaragua as its national bird.
Greenland
Ursus maritimus
A white polar bear stands on Greenland's coat of arms with its left paw raised.
Guatemala
Pharomachrus mocinno
The quetzal was so sacred to the Maya that killing one was punishable by death.
Haiti
Hispaniolan Trogon species
This mountain-forest bird lives only on Hispaniola and is Haiti's national bird.
Honduras
Odocoileus virginianus
The white-tailed deer was declared Honduras's national animal in 1993 to spur conservation.
Jamaica
Trochilus polytmus
This hummingbird's tail streamers can be twice as long as its body.
Mexico
Aquila chrysaetos
The eagle eating a snake on Mexico's flag comes from an Aztec founding myth.
Nicaragua
Momotus mexicanus
The guardabarranco flicks its racket-tipped tail like a pendulum when perched.
Panama
Harpia harpyja
One of the largest and most powerful eagles, capable of snatching monkeys from trees.
Trinidad and Tobago
Eudocimus ruber
The scarlet ibis gets its brilliant red color from eating crustaceans.
United States
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Adopted as the national emblem in 1782 despite Ben Franklin's preference for the turkey.
National animals of other continents
Can you place them on the globe?
Explore how many you can identify from the animal alone.