Wildlife Identification Study Guide
Updated 01/22/08
Wildlife Identification
BIRD SPECIES
Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae
Gavia immer, common loon
Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae
Podilymbus podiceps, pied-billed grebe
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Pelecanidae
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, American white pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis, brown pelican
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Phalacrocorax auritus, double-crested cormorant
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae
Ardea herodias, great blue heron
Ardea alba, great egret
Egretta thula, snowy egret
Egretta caerulea, little blue heron
Bubulcus ibis, cattle egret
Butorides virescens, green heron
Nycticorax nycticorax, black-crowned night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea, yellow-crowned night-heron
Family: Cathartidae
Coragyps atratus , black vulture
Cathartes aura, turkey vulture
Family: Ciconiidae
Mycteria americana, wood stork
Family: Threskiornithidae
Eudocimus albus, white ibis
Plegadis falcinellus, glossy ibis
Plegadis chihi, white-faced ibis
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Subfamily: Dendrocygninae
Dendrocygna autumnalis, black-bellied whistling-duck
Dendrocygna bicolor, fulvous whistling-duck
Subfamily: Anserinae
Anser albifrons, greater white-fronted goose
Chen caerulescens, snow goose
Branta canadensis, Canada goose
Cygnus buccinator, trumpeter swan
Cygnus columbianus, tundra swan
Subfamily: Anatinae
Aix sponsa, wood duck
Anas acuta, northern pintail
Anas americana, American wigeon
Anas clypeata, northern shoveler
Anas crecca, green-winged teal
Anas discors, blue-winged teal
Anas fulvigula, mottled duck
Anas platyrhynchos, mallard
Anas rubripes, American black duck
Anas strepera, gadwall
Aythya americana, redhead
Aythya affinis, lesser scaup
Aythya collaris, ring-necked duck
Aythya marila, greater scaup
Aythya valisineria, canvasback
Bucephala albeola, bufflehead
Bucephala clangula, common goldeneye
Lophodytes cucullatus, hooded merganser
Mergus merganser, common merganser
Mergus serrator, red-breasted merganser
Oxyura jamaicensis, ruddy duck
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Charadrius vociferus, killdeer
Charadrius melodus, piping plover
Family: Laridae
Larus argentatus, herring gull
Larus atricilla, laughing gull
Larus delawarensis, ring-billed gull
Rynchops niger, black skimmer
Sterna antillarum, least tern
Sterna hirundo, common tern
Sterna sandvicensis, sandwich tern
Family: Scolopacidae
Gallinago gallinago, Wilsons snipe
Scolopax minor, American woodcock
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Zenaida macroura, mourning dove
Columbina passerina, common ground-dove
Streptopelia decaocto, Eurasian collared-dove
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae
Coccyzus americanus, yellow-billed cuckoo
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Pandion haliaetus, osprey
Accipiter striatus, sharp-shinned hawk
Accipiter cooperii, Cooper's hawk
Aquila chrysaetos, golden eagle
Buteo jamaicensis, red-tailed hawk
Buteo lineatus, red-shouldered hawk
Buteo platypterus, broad-winged hawk
Circus cyaneus, northern harrier
Elanoides forficatus, swallow-tailed kite
Ictinia mississippiensis, Mississippi kite
Haliaeetus leucocephalus, bald eagle
Family: Falconidae
Caracara cheriway, crested caracara
Falco columbarius, merlin
Falco peregrinus, peregrine falcon
Falco sparverius, American kestrel
Order: Galliformes
Family: Cracidae
Ortalis vetula, plain chachalaca
Family: Phasianidae
Bonasa umbellus, ruffed grouse
Tympanuchus cupido, greater prairie-chicken
Tympanuchus pallidicinctus, lesser prairie-chicken
Meleagris gallopavo, wild turkey
Family: Odontophoridae
Colinus virginianus, northern bobwhite
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Coturnicops noveboracensis, yellow rail
Laterallus jamaicensis, black rail
Rallus longirostris, clapper rail
Rallus limicola, Virginia rail
Porzana carolina, sora
Gallinula chloropus, common moorhen
Porphyrio martinica, purple gallinule
Family: Gruidae
Grus americana, whooping crane
Grus canadensis, sandhill crane
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae
Tyto alba, barn owl
Family: Strigidae
Megascops asio, eastern screech-owl
Strix varia, barred owl
Bubo virginianus, great-horned owl
Aegolius acadicus, northern saw-whet owl
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae
Chordeiles minor, common nighthawk
Caprimulgus carolinensis, chuck-will's-widow
Caprimulgus vociferus, whip-poor-will
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae
Chaetura pelagica, chimney swift
Family: Trochilidae
Archilochus colubris, ruby-throated hummingbird
Order: Coraciformes
Family: Alcedinidae
Ceryle alcyon, belted kingfisher
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Melanerpes erythrocephalus, red-headed woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus, red-bellied woodpecker
Sphyrapicus varius, yellow-bellied sapsucker
Picoides villosus, hairy woodpecker
Picoides borealis, red-cockaded woodpecker
Colaptes auratus, northern flicker
Dryocopus pileatus, pileated woodpecker
Campephilus principalis, ivory-billed woodpecker
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Sayornis phoebe, eastern phoebe
Myiarchus crinitus, great crested flycatcher
Tyrannus tyrannus, eastern kingbird
Family: Hirundinidae
Progne subis, purple martin
Tachycineta bicolor, tree swallow
Hirundo rustica, barn swallow
Family: Corvidae
Cyanocitta cristata, blue jay
Corvus brachyrhynchos, American crow
Family: Paridae
Poecile carolinensis, Carolina chickadee
Baeolophus bicolor, tufted titmouse
Family: Sittidae
Sitta carolinensis, white-breasted nuthatch
Sitta pusilla, brown-headed nuthatch
Family: Certhiidae
Certhia americana, brown creeper
Family: Troglodytidae
Thryothorus ludovicianus, Carolina wren
Troglodytes aedon, house wren
Family: Turdidae
Sialia sialis, eastern bluebird
Turdus migratorius, American robin
Hylocichla mustelina, wood thrush
Family: Regulidae
Regulus calendula, ruby-crowned kinglet
Family: Sylviidae
Polioptila caerulea, blue-gray gnatcatcher
Family: Mimidae
Dumetella carolinensis, gray catbird
Mimus polyglottos, northern mockingbird
Toxostoma rufum, brown thrasher
Family: Bombycillidae
Bombycilla cedrorum, cedar waxwing
Family: Laniidae
Lanius ludovicianus, loggerhead shrike
Family: Sturnidae
Sturnus vulgaris, European starling
Family: Vireonidae
Vireo griseus, white-eyed vireo
Vireo flavifrons, yellow-throated vireo
Vireo olivaceus, red-eyed vireo
Family: Parulidae
Vermivora chrysoptera, golden-winged warbler
Vermivora pinus, blue-winged warbler
Vermivora bachmanii, Bachmans warbler
Parula americana, northern parula
Dendroica cerulea, cerulean warbler
Dendroica coronata, yellow-rumped warbler
Dendroica dominica, yellow-throated warbler
Dendroica pinus, pine warbler
Mniotilta varia, black-and-white warbler
Setophaga ruticilla, American redstart
Protonotaria citrea, prothonotary warbler
Geothlypis trichas, common yellowthroat
Icteria virens, yellow-breasted chat
Family: Thraupidae
Piranga rubra, summer tanager
Piranga olivacea, scarlet tanager
Family: Cardinalidae
Cardinalis cardinalis, northern cardinal
Passerina caerulea, blue grosbeak
Passerina cyanea, indigo bunting
Passerina ciris, painted bunting
Spiza americana, dickcissel
Family: Emberizidae
Pipilo erythrophthalmus, eastern towhee
Ammodramus henslowii, Henslows sparrow
Aimophila aestivalis, Bachmans sparrow
Spizella passerina, chipping sparrow
Spizella pusilla, field sparrow
Passerella iliaca, fox sparrow
Melospiza melodia, song sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis, white-throated sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys, white-crowned sparrow
Junco hyemalis, dark-eyed junco
Family: Icteridae
Dolichonyx oryzivorus, bobolink
Agelaius phoeniceus, red-winged blackbird
Sturnella magna, eastern meadowlark
Quiscalus quiscula, common grackle
Quiscalus major, boat-tailed grackle
Molothrus ater, brown-headed cowbird
Icterus spurius, orchard oriole
Icterus galbula, Baltimore oriole
MAMMAL SPECIES
Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
Didelphis virginiana, Virginia opossum
Order: Insectivora
Family: Soricidae
Blarina brevicauda, northern short-tailed shrew
Cryptotis parva, least shrew
Sorex palustris, water shrew
Order: Insectivora
Family: Talpidae
Condylura cristata, star-nosed mole
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Eptesicus fuscus, big brown bat
Lasiuris borealis, eastern red bat
Lasiuris cinereus, hoary bat
Myotis grisescens, gray myotis
Order: Xenarthra
Family: Dasypodidae
Dasypus novemcinctus, nine-banded armadillo
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Sylvilagus aquaticus, swamp rabbit
Sylvilagus floridanus, eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus palustris, marsh rabbit
Lepus californicus, black-tailed jackrabbit
Lepus americanus, snowshoe hare
Order: Rodentia
Family: Sciuridae
Glaucomys volans, southern flying squirrel
Marmota monax, woodchuck
Sciurus carolinensis, eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus niger, eastern fox squirrel
Tamias striatus, eastern chipmunk
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, red squirrel
Family: Castoridae
Castor canadensis, American beaver
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Neotoma magister, Allegheny wood rat
Ochrotomys nuttalli, golden mouse
Oryzomys palustris, marsh rice rat
Peromyscus leucopus, white-footed mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus, deer mouse
Sigmodon hispidus, hispid cotton rat
Clethrionomys gapperi, southern red-backed vole
Synaptomys cooperi, southern bog lemming
Microtus pennsylvanicus, meadow vole
Ondatra zibethicus, common muskrat
Mus musculus, house mouse
Rattus norvegicus, Norway rat
Rattus rattus, black rat
Family: Erethizontidae
Erethizon dorsatum, porcupine
Family: Myocastoridae
Myocastor coypus, nutria
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Ursus americanus, American black bear
Ursus arctos, brown bear
Ursus maritimus, polar bear
Family: Procyonidae
Procyon lotor, raccoon
Family: Felidae
Felis concolor, mountain lion
Felis catus, house cat
Lynx rufus, bobcat
Family: Canidae
Canis latrans, coyote
Canis familiaris, domestic dog
Canis lupus, gray wolf
Vulpes vulpes, red fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus, gray fox
Family: Mustelidae
Lutra canadensis, river otter
Mephitis mephitis, striped skunk
Mustela frenata, long-tailed weasel
Mustela vison, mink
Mustela nivalis, least weasel
Martes pennanti, fisher
Taxidea taxus, badger
Gulo gulo, wolverine
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Odocoileus virginianus, white-tailed deer
Odocoileus hemionus, mule deer
Cervus elaphus, elk
Alces alces, moose
Rangifer tarandus, caribou
Family: Antilocapridae
Antilocapra americana, pronghorn
Family: Bovidae
Bison bison, bison
Bos taurus, cow
Capra hircus, domestic goat
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Equus caballus, horse
WILDLIFE FOODS LIST
Deer Food Plants
Alabama supplejack, Berchemia scandens
American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana
blackberry / dewberry, Rubus spp.
blueberry / huckleberry, Vaccinium spp.
dogwood, Cornus spp.
greenbrier, Smilax spp.
hawthorn, Crataegus spp.
Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica
oak, Quercus spp.
common persimmon, Diospyros spp.
plum, Prunus spp.
possumhaw, Viburnum spp.
water and black tupelo, Nyssa spp.
wild grape, Vitis spp.
yellow-poplar, Liriodendron tulipifera
American strawberry-bush, Euonymus americanus
trumpet-creeper, Campsis radicans
vetch, Vicia spp.
milk pea, Galactia spp.
clover, Trifolium spp.
American beech, Fagus grandifolia
honeylocust, Gleditsia triacanthos
Squirrel Food Plants
American beech, Fagus grandifolia
pecan / hickory, Carya spp.
pine, Pinus spp.
oak, Quercus spp.
Alabama supplejack, Berchemia scandens
common persimmon, Diospyros spp.
plum, Prunus spp.
black cherry, Prunus spp.
possumhaw, Viburnum spp.
red mulberry, Morus rubra
water and black tupelo, Nyssa spp.
wild grape, Vitis spp.
dogwood, Cornus spp.
eastern hop-hornbeam, Ostrya spp.
ironwood, Carpinus spp.
fungi
black walnut, Juglans nigra
yellow popular, Liriodendron tulipifera
maple, Acer spp.
Corn, Zea spp.
Quail Food Plants
partridge pea, Chamaecrista fasciculata
common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia
beggar lice, Desmodium spp.
milk-pea, Galactia spp.
butterfly pea, Centrosema spp.
3-seeded mercury, Acalypha gracilens
lespedezas, Lespedeza spp.
crotons, Croton spp.
vetch, Vicia spp.
low panic grass, Dichanthelium spp.
millets, Echinochloa sp.
grain sorghum, Sorghum spp.
blackberry / dewberry, Rubus spp.
blueberry / huckleberry, Vaccinium spp.
poison-ivy, Toxicodendron spp.
wild grape, Vitis spp.
black cherry, Prunus spp.
plum, Prunus spp.
American beautyberry, Callicarpa americana
common persimmon, Diospyros spp.
dogwood, Cornus spp.
black tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica
pine, Pinus spp.
oak, Quercus spp.
Dove Food Plants
doveweed, Croton spp.
evening primrose, Oenothera spp.
common pokeweed, Phytolacca americana
common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Carolina geranium, Geranium spp.
lespedezas, Lespedeza spp.
low panic grass, Dichanthelium spp.
crabgrass, Digitaria spp.
foxtail, Setaria spp.
pine, Pinus spp.
Duck Food Plants
wild millet, Echinochloa spp.
smartweed, Polygonum spp.
pondweed, Potamogeton spp.
bullrush, Scirpus spp.
umbrella sedges, Cyperus spp.
rice cutgrass, Leersia spp.
wild rice, Zizania spp.
Turkey Food Plants
oak, Quercus spp.
blackberry / dewberry, Rubus spp.
blueberry / huckleberry, Vaccinium spp.
hollies, Ilex spp.
poison-ivy, Toxicodendron spp.
wild grape, Vitis spp.
black cherry, Prunus spp.
clover, Trifolium spp.
low panic grass, Dichanthelium spp.
millets, Echinochloa sp.
beggartick, Bidens spp.
plum, Prunus spp.
common persimmon, Diospyros spp.
dogwood, Cornus spp.
black tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica
American beech, Fagus grandifolia
chufa, Cyperus spp.
Revised October 31, 2006