The brown bear, or Ursus arctos, is one of the largest mammals in the region, weighing up to 1,000 pounds. Several subspecies of brown bear dwell in taiga regions; these include grizzly bears in North America and Kamachatka brown bears in Siberia.
The largest member of the weasel family is the wolverine, or Gulo luscus. This species dines on fish, small game and reptiles. The wolverine has powerful jaws, which enable it to bite through frozen meat and bones. This species is found only in North America.
Found in northern Europe, the European honey buzzard, or Pernis apivorus, dwells in boreal forests during the spring and summer; in the winter these birds migrate to Africa. This bird has a wingspan of 53 inches when it matures. The European honey buzzard's small head enables it to forage in small spaces in search of food, which includes small rodents and insects.
The great grey owl is native to taiga areas in the northern United States and Canada. This owl features a flat, circular head with six ring patterns around its eyes. Great grey owls are nocturnal hunters. These owls swoop silently to grasp their prey, which consists of rodents and small birds.
The elk, or Cervus elaphus, is a herbivorous deer species found in the taiga regions of North American and Asia. Adult males weigh up to 1,000 pounds, while females can weigh approximately 550 pounds. Male elk make a "bugle" call to attract females for mating.
Dall sheep, or Ovis dalli dalli, live in the boreal forests of northern Alaska and Canada. The male has large curled horns. Dall sheep eat shoots, leaves, moss and lichens. When trying to impress a female, males will butt heads in order to achieve superiority.
The ring-necked duck, or Aythya collaris, is a medium-sized duck found in North America's boreal forests during the spring and summer. This duck dives its head into the water when searching for food. Ring-necked ducks have black feathers on the top half of their body, while the underbelly has white feathers.
Trumpeter swans live in the taiga of Alaska and the northwestern region of Canada. This bird is the largest waterfowl species in North America. The diet of trumpeter swans includes fish and plants. The trumpeter swan was endangered for much of the 20th century, due to overhunting. However, they have been removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List since restrictions were placed on hunting them.