With over 2,000 species of birds that call North America home, you typically don’t have to travel far before hearing the chirp of a songbird or seeing the bright red crest of a cardinal. However, while some like robins, grackles and mourning doves may be common backyard visitors, if you want to spot others, you will need a sharp eye — or sometimes just pure luck and a little adventure. From the surreal bohemian waxwing to the bright and colorful painted bunting, these are some of North America’s most amazing birds.

Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic puffin is most commonly identified by its large, colorful bill and the red rings around its eyes. Despite their small size and cute looks, they are extremely tough birds that spend most of their time in the chilly ocean waters. In fact, fledglings don’t touch land for the first two years of their lives and eagerly return to the water after the breeding season. With much of their life spent in the ocean, they are expert fishermen and can carry 10 or more fish back to their nest in one trip. While there is a chance to see them during the summer in Maine, the best opportunity to spot these seabirds is by visiting the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.

Californian Condor

Though they may not be the prettiest bird to look at, as North America’s largest land bird, the Californian condor is a sight to be seen. With a wingspan of nine and a half feet, they stand over four feet tall and can weigh up to 23 pounds. While their size alone will give them away, they can also be identified by the brilliant white triangle under each wing and by their red or orange head. Even though they can live to be in their 60s, these massive scavengers are considered one of the rarest in the world and are federally endangered. There are currently three wild populations that can be found in Utah/Arizona, California and Baja California.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Although this tiny owl is no bigger than a bluebird and only weighs about 2.5 ounces, it has no hesitation when taking down prey double its size, like the hispid cotton rat and Gambel’s quail. The ferruginous pygmy-owl is common in the American tropics, but it has become endangered in the United States with only a small population making its way to southern Texas to breed.