The Americas

The Frozen North, where wolves and polar bears vie for food, and walrus sing on rocky shores. As summer arrives, grouse perform mating dances, and salmon race upstream to survive.

The West Coast, where wolves scour shorelines, sea otters dive through surf, and blue whales race and roll in a rare display, and octopuses make the ultimate sacrifice for their young.

The Wild West, where coyotes face a snowbound Yellowstone, rattlesnakes emerge in the hundreds, woodpeckers compete to store food, and cranes gather in vast numbers on their age-old migration.

The Atlantic Coast, where wild horses battle, bald eagles chase ospreys, and sharks protect fish. Raccoons navigate city life, and a 130-year-old oak tree prepares for winter's arrival.

The Gulf Coast, where swamps and wetlands shelter black bears and alligators. Manatees gather in freshwater springs, and a rare ocelot raises her kittens in Texas's thornscrub.

Mexico, where deserts meet tropics. See new footage of fledgling pygmy owls, orca hunting, new species in flooded caves, and orchid bees filmed in incredible detail.

The Caribbean, where sailfish hunt with speed, and sperm whales dive for squid. Hummingbirds defend territories post-hurricane, and on nearby islands, capuchin monkeys use tools to survive.

The Andes, Earth's longest mountain range. Baby bears make treacherous descents, rare hummingbirds compete for mates, all in a land of extremes, from glaciers to deserts.

The largest rainforest on Earth. Drone footage captures giant otters hunting together, while black caiman prey on newly hatched turtles, and army ants on the move reveal new behaviours.

Patagonia, a wilderness at the far south of the Americas. Pumas hunt in snowy mountains, rockhopper penguins brave the waves, orcas learn to hunt, and elephant seals fight for dominance on the coast.

Tom Hanks and the crew reveal a behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary dedication, innovation, humor and heart it took to create The Americas.