ABALONE
Haliotis rufescens
Total length 12in.
So named because its outer shell is dark red with stripes of green or gray. One of the largest abalones. Most prized for food, and its value makes it worth harvesting by divers. Longlived; found in coastal CA and usually subtidal.
ABSINTHE WORMWOOD
Artemisia absinthium
Height up to 3ft.
Highly aromatic, upright perennial. Leaves &frac 1/2-1in long, pinnate, and silvery hairy on both surfaces. Flower heads 1/4in across, yellowish, bell-shaped, and nodding; in spikes (Jul-Sep). Disturbed areas. S Canada and NE US.
AGAVE
Agave sp.
Height up to 12ft.
Impressive evergreen. Leaves 1-2ft.long, broad lanceolate, blue-gray, and fleshy, with spine at tip and along margins; form a basal rosette. Flowers 3/4in long and yellowish; in clusters at top of tall stalk, once in plant's life. SW US. Several species are found in North America.
ALASKA-CEDAR
Chamaecyparis nootkaensis
Height up to 100ft.
Tall evergreen conifer. In maturity, lower trunk bare, crown narrowly conical. Leaves small, scalelike, and yellow-green; in 4 rows. Cones 1/2in across and spherical. Damp mountain slopes. Pacific northwest, mainly BC, WA, and OR.
ALCOHOL INKY
Coprinus atramentarius
Height up to 6in.
Cap egg-shaped and furrowed; grayish white but soon blackening. Gills white, maturing black and liquefying. Stern tall and slim. Causes sickness if eaten with alcohol. Open woods; in clusters (fall in E; spring in W). Throughout North America.
ALLIGATOR GAR
Lepisostells platostomlls
Total length 9ft.
The biggest gar (over 200lb), and one of North America's largest freshwater fish. Dark, olive body, lighter below with a short, wide snout. Spots on tail and fins, dorsal fin far back by tail. Eats almost anything: fish, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Found in quiet waters, bayous, and swamps of the lower Mississippi drainage, coastal TX and E to FL Panhandle.
ALLIGATOR LIZARD
Gerrhonotus (= Elgaria) multicarinatus
Total length 18in.
Large, and closely related to the legless glass lizards. Diurnal and agile, climbing in bushes where it preys on small vertebrates or large insects. When captured, it is aggressive and bites hard; sheds its tail very readily. The female lays up to 3 clutches of up to 40 eggs during the summer. Found in well-vegetated habitats, including grasslands, woodland, and other moist habitats, in coastal CA, OR, and WA. Range overlaps that of the Northern Alligator Lizard.
ALLIGATOR SNAPPER
Macrociemmys temmincki
Total length 2ft.6in.
Very large, up to 2001b, distinguished from the Common Snapper by three ridges down the back of its shell. It often feeds by lying submerged using its tongue as a lure to attract fish. Unlike Common Snapper it rarely basks, and only surfaces to breathe. Range mostly confined to the Mississippi drainage, but also further E.
ALPINE ASTER
Aster alpinus
Height up to l0in
Low-growing plant. Leaves 1-3in long; basal leaves lanceolate, stern leaves becoming narrower. Flower heads lin across with pinkish purple ray florets and yellow disc florets; solitary (Jul-Aug). Grassy tundra. AK and N Canada.
ALPINE AZALEA
Loiseleuria procumbens
Creeping.
Branched, mat-forming shrub. Leaves tiny, evergreen and elliptical; in opposite pairs. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 pinkish purple spreading petals (Jun-Aug). Heathlands and mountains on peaty soil. Widespread AK and Canada; S to NH in NE US.
ALPINE CLUBMOSS
Lycopodium alpinum
Prostrate.
Low-growing clubmoss with flattened, creeping sterns, branches cloaked in flat, scalelike leaves. Cones terminal, ripen brown (Aug-Sep). Mountains, tundra, and upland heathlands on acid soils. Widespread AK and N Canada; further S in uplands.
ALPINE LOCOWEED
Astragalus alpinus
Height up to 1ft.
Hairless, straggling upland perennial. Leaves 4-5in long with 13-23 oval, yellow-green leaflets. Flowers up to 1/2in long, white with reddish tips; in long-stalked clusters (Jun-Aug). Pods black and hairy. Mountains of BC and WA.
ALPINE MILKVETCH (ALPINE LOCOWEED)
Astragalus alpinus
Height up to 1ft.
Hairless, straggling upland perennial. Leaves 4-5in long with 13-23 oval, yellow-green leaflets. Flowers up to 1/2in long, white with reddish tips; in long-stalked clusters (Jun-Aug). Pods black and hairy. Mountains of BC and WA.
AMERICAN AVOCET
Recurvirostra americana
Total length 18in.
A graceful, elegant shorebird with a long, slender upward-curving bill, long bluish legs and black and white plumage, but ochre on the head and neck in breeding. Feeds wading in shallow water, sweeping the bill from side to side. Nests in loose colonies inland in the W. Winters south on both coasts. Fairly common in range.
AMERICAN BADGER
Taxidea taxus
Total length 2ft.9in; tail 6in.
A very heavily built member of the weasel family with a characteristic black and white face pattern. The legs are short, and the paws have long powerful claws. It is normally nocturnal, particularly close to human habitations. It feeds on almost any small animal, including ground squirrels, mice, gophers, prairie dogs, as well as frogs, ground-nesting birds, and also invertebrates. Up to 5 cubs are born in an underground den in spring. It ranges over much of North America Waf the Great Lakes and S to Mexico.
AMERICAN BASSWOOD
Tilia americana
Height up to 100ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 4-6in long, ovate to heart-shaped, and toothed. Flowers 1/4in across, 5 yellowish petals; stalked, in pendant clusters with leafy bract. Fruits 1/4in across, rounded, and hard. NE US and SE Canada.
AMERICAN BEAVER
Castor canadensis
Total length 3ft.l0in; tail 18in.
The largest rodent in North America. Easily recognized by its characteristic flattened tail. Feeds on vegetation. Has 4 or 5 young in a litter. Stores branches underwater for use during the winter to build its lodge, which has an entrance underwater, and also to build dams to adjust the water flow. Confined to slow-moving aquatic habitats. Widespread, and with scattered populations, S from AK and Canada. Absent from most of CA and FL.
AMERICAN BEECH
Fagus grandifolia
Height up to 80ft.
Domed and spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate, dark green above, yellowish below; golden in autumn. Flowers small; males yellowish, females reddish. Fruits 1/2in long, ovoid, and prickly; 2 edible nuts. Widespread E US.
AMERICAN BISON
Bison bison
Total length 12ft; tail 18in.
The Bison (also known as Buffalo), is a massive relative of domestic cattle, with dark brown shaggy fur. The calf is active within hours of birth, following the herd with its mother. Although generally known as a plains-dwelling species, some populations lived in woodlands. Once one of the most numerous mammals in North America, and found from S Canada to Mexico and east to VA, the Bison came close to extinction at the end of the 19th century. Numbers have slowly rebuilt, and there are now numerous herds in national and state parks, as well as on private ranches.
AMERICAN BITTERN
Botaurus lentiginosus
Total length 2ft.4in.
A secretive heron that hides in thick vegetation when alarmed. Often stretches with its bill pointing up, relying on camouflage to escape detection. Predominantly brown with extensive spots and streaks. Slow, flapping flight. Characteristic breeding call a deep boom which carries widely. Decreasing because of wetland loss. Widespread over most of US and S Canada.
AMERICAN COCKROACH
Periplaneta americana
Total length 2in.
The American Cockroach is twice as big as the Oriental Cockroach. Antennae are half again the body length, and sensitive. Light brown in color. Native to the American South. Cockroaches are abundant in wild habitat throughout the S. Only a few species enter homes, where they become pests.
AMERICAN COOT
Fulica americana
Total length 15in.
Often seen with ducks. Uniform gray-black with a white bill; red forehead in breeding. At close range toes are lobed. Omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates and vegetation. Nests on the edge of ponds in dense vegetation. Found on large ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, often in large flocks in winter. Breeds over most of North America from Canada S. Declining.
AMERICAN COPPER
Lycaena phlaeas
Wingspan lin.
A small butterfly with bright orange on the wings. The caterpillar, which is short-bodied and bright green, feeds on sheep sorrel, usually hiding on the underside of the leaves. Most common in and around disturbed habitats, including farmland. Found over much of E US.
AMERICAN CROW
Corvus brachyrynchos
Total length 18in.
Call is a nasal "caw." A scavenger that often feeds on road kills. Found in a wide range of habitats, including suburbs and town parks. The most familiar and widespread crow, residing over most of the continent.
AMERICAN DIPPER
Cinclus mexicanus
Total length 7in.
A chunky, short-tailed bird almost always seen in or close to fast-flowing rivers and streams. Adult is a uniform sooty gray; young is browner, with a yellowish bill. Feeds on insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic life, wading among torrents and using its wings to swim under water. Territorial, and when disturbed will fly up or down stream, finally returning to its territory. It is confined to W North America from AK through the Rockies.
AMERICAN ELDER
Sambucus Canadensis
Height up to 15ft.
Spreading deciduous shrub. Leaves 6-9in long, pinnate with 3-7 elliptical and toothed leaflets. Flowers 1/4in across with 4 or 5 white lobes; in flat clusters. Fruits 1/4in across blackish berries; in clusters. E US and SE Canada.
AMERICAN ELM
Ulmus americana
Height up to 100ft.
Elegant and spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, elliptical, and toothed, sides unequal at base. Flowers small and green. Fruits 1/2in long, reddish, and winged. Widespread in E half of North America. Range reduced by Dutch Elm disease.
AMERICAN FLY HONEYSUCKLE
Lonicera canadensis
Height up to 5ft.
Bushy shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, oblong, opposite, and short-stalked. Flowers lin long, tubular, and yellow (Jun-Aug). Fruits are blue berries. Woodland and scrub. Widespread across Canada and N US.
AMERICAN GLOBE FLOWER
Trollius laxus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Attractive upright perennial. Leaves 2-4in across and palmately divided into toothed lobes. Flowers lin across with 5 yellow petal-like sepals and many small petals (Apr-Jun). Damp meadows and marshes. Local, BC, WA, and Rockies; also NE US.
AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER
Pluvialis dominica
Total length l0in.
In breeding plumage the male is spectacular: jet black on the underside and face, bordered with white and spangled golden on the back and top of the head. Female is duller. Outside breeding, adult and juvenile lack the black belly and white markings. Breeds in the high Arctic of Canada and AK; winters in South America. Seen on migration on the E coast in fall. In spring, flies up the Mississippi Valley.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
Carduelis tristis
Total length Sin
Breeding male spectacular bright yellow with black crown, black wings and tail, duller in winter. Often abundant, feeding in flocks and visiting feeders. Particularly fond of thistle seeds. Widespread from S Canada and most of US, moving S in winter.
AMERICAN HOLLY
Ilex opaca
Height up to 70ft.
Broadly conical, compact evergreen. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, and spiny. Flowers 1/4in across, 4 white petals; in clusters. Separate sex trees. Fruits (female trees only) 1/4in across, red, berrylike. E coast US states, N to VI.
AMERICAN HORNBEAM
Carpinus caroliniana
Height up to 30ft.
Domed, spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, double-toothed. Male flowers in lin long pendant catkins, female in shorter reddish catkins. Fruits paired, ovoid with green scale; in 3in long clusters. E of North America.
AMERICAN HOUSE SPIDER
Achaearanea tepidariorum
Total length less than 1/2in.
Mottled yellow and brown with large, swollen abdomen. House spiders create a web of irregular threads of sticky silk to entangle insects that fly or stumble into them. They are cobweb weavers and feed on the juices of caught insects. Often in human habitations. Worldwide family.
AMERICAN KESTREL
Falco sparverius
Total length l0in.
Small, beautiful. Adult male with blue-gray wings, reddish brown above, rufous, blacktipped tail, white, streaked below. Head gray, brown, and white, black stripes in the face. Females browner. Seen by roadsides perched on telephone wires. Feeds on a wide range of small animals.
AMERICAN LOTUS
Nelumbo lutea Aquatic.
Distinctive water plant.
Leaves 1-2ft.across and rounded; raised on stalks above water level. Flowers 7-10in across with numerous yellow petals; on stalks above water (July-Sep). Still or slow-moving waters. E half of US and S ON.
AMERICAN MARTEN
Martes americana
Total length 2ft; tail 9in.
A large relative of the weasel with dark glossy brown fur above, paler below, often orange or buff on the throat. It is very arboreal, living in coniferous forests, hunting squirrels, mice, and birds, as well as feeding on fruit and insects. The den is usually in a hollow tree, or in an old birds' nest, and 1-5 young are born in spring. Found mainly in the N of the continent, ranging S to NY and New England in the E, and from AK through the Rockies, to northern CA.
AMERICAN MILLIPEDE
Narceus americanus
Total length up to 5in.
Millipedes have long, cylindrical bodies and short legs. They have over 100 pairs oflegs, but not 1,000 as the name implies. They move more deliberately and slowly than centipedes, and are vegetarians rather than active predators. Found from S Canada to Mexico.
AMERICAN MINK
Mustela vison
Total length 2ft.4in; tail 9in.
A large weasel, generally uniform dark brown or blackish, often with a white spot on the chin and throat. Very aquatic, never found far from water, and it preys mostly on fish, amphibians, and water birds, but also feeds extensively on land. In the water it is very agile and easily confused with an otter. A single litter is born in spring, with up to 8 kittens. The Mink has been domesticated to provide furs, and is still extensively trapped, particularly in Canada. It has been introduced into Britain and other parts of Europe. It is found over most of Canada and the US, but is absent from the drier regions of the SW.
AMERICAN MOUNTAIN-ASH
Sorbus americana
Height up to 30ft.
Much-branched, spreading shrub or small tree. Leaves 6-8in long, lanceolate, and toothed. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; in clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, spherical, and red. Damp ground. Widespread temperate NE of North America.
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER
Haematopus palliatus
Total length 18in.
A large, easily identifiable shorebird with black and white plumage and a large, bright orange-red bill, and pink legs. Call is loud and piping. Feeds on marine mollusks and other invertebrates. Strictly coastal; found on beaches, estuaries and mud flats on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. On the Pacific coast it is replaced by the Black Oystercatcher.
AMERICAN PAINTED LADY
Vanessa virginiensis
Wingspan 2in.
An orange-brown butterfly with brown markings, and two blue spots on the rear wings. The black caterpillars are banded with yellow and have black spines. They feed on cudweed and related plants. Widespread over much of North America.
AMERICAN PIKA
Ochotona princeps
Total length 7in.
Short-legged, guinea-pig sized mammal, almost tail-less, with a rounded compact body and short muzzle. The short, dense fur is grayish or buff, but rather variable. The Pika's most distinctive character is its voice, often described as a bleat or whistle, and this can often be heard before the animal is seen. Sun-loving, often basking on rocks. Feeds on vegetation. 3-5 young are born in Mayor June. Found only in the Rockies from Canada to NM.
AMERICAN PLUM
Prunus americana
Height up to 30ft.
Open deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 3-4in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers lin across with 5 white rounded petals; stalked and in clusters. Fruits lin across reddish plums. Mainly E half US, S to CO in W and Appalachians in E.
AMERICAN REDSTART
Setophaga ruticilla
Total length 5in.
The male is black with orange patches on the side ofthe tail and wings, and a white belly; female is mostly gray with yellow patches. Bird often flares its wings and tail to expose color patches. A summer breeder over much of North America, it is common in open woods and secondary forests.
AMERICAN SHAD
Alosa sapidissima
Total length 2ft.6in.
Dark blue above, silvery below, sides compressed with dark spots. Feeds on small invertebrates. An important game fish. Found on E coast from Canada to FL; introduced to entire W coast. Ascends coastal rivers in spring and summer to spawn.
AMERICAN SNOUT
Libytheana carinenta
Wingspan 2in.
Has a distinctive long snout, and the forewings appear to be cut off. The adult often feeds on rotting fruit. It is found in E US, usually close to hackberry trees, which are the food of the dark green, yellow-striped caterpillars.
AMERICAN STAG BEETLE
Lucanus elephus
Total length 2in.
A spectacular scarab beetle; black with enormous jaws. Adult male is over 2in long; female is smaller and without the characteristic large jaws. The head shape is distinct, with the neck and prothorax forming a hood over the head. Found in SE of US, this remarkable animal is always a great find.
AMERICAN TOAD
Bufo americanus
Total length 4in.
Warty skin with large paratoid glands behind the eye and over the eardrum. Nocturnal, emerging in the twilight, and often found in suburban gardens and parks as well as marshes and forests. The breeding call of the male is a long trill lasting up to Ii minute. One of the commonest toads of E North America.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Spizella arborea
Total length 6in.
Male has rufous crown, gray head and neck, and a black spot on the breast. Female also has a black spot, but is streaked. Comes to feeders. Nests in shrubs and on the ground, on the edge of the tundra in N of Canada and AK. Winters S of Canada in small flocks.
AMERICAN VETCH
Vicia americana
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive perennial. Leaves pinnate with 8-12 leaflets, each lin long. Leaves end in coiling tendrils that aid plant's climbing progress. Flowers up to lin long and bluish purple; in open clusters (May-Jul). Grassy places. Throughout North America.
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
Pelecanus erythrorhynchus
Total length 5ft.
A very large waterbird, with a huge wingspan-up to 9ft. Adult is white with black flight feathers. During the breeding season it has a small crest and a fleshy protuberance on the bill. The long bill has a pouch beneath, used to scoop up fish. Winters on coasts and on freshwater lakes and estuaries. Breeds in Great Plains and Rockies from Canada to CA.
AMERICAN WIGEON
Anas americana
Total length 21in.
An abundant and widespread duck recognized in flight by the large white patch on the fore-wing. Black rump bordered by white, white forehead with green patch from eye running across the head, white belly. Feeds on aquatic and terrestrial vegetation, commonly grazing on land. Breeds across Canada to AK and into northern states. Winters on both coasts and at inland reservoirs and lakes into Mexico.
AMERICAN WILLOWHERB
Epilobium ciliatum (Epilobium adenocaulon)
Height up to 2ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves 2-4 in long and lanceolate; in opposite pairs, often pressed close to stern. Flowers 1/2in across with 4 notched, pink petals from axils of upper leaves (Jun-Aug). Disturbed areas. Widespread in N of North America.
AMERICAN WOODCOCK
Scolopax minor
Total length llin.
A squat, round-bodied bird with an exceptionally long bill and large eyes. Plumage a mixture of browns and grays, for camouflage on the forest floor. Nocturnal and secretive, flies at dusk to feed in marshes and pastures, along the margins of ponds and rivers. Often seen when flushed. Found in E North America from S Canada to TX.
ANEMONE
Anemone canadensis
Height up to 9in.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long, deeply divided, arising from base. Flowers 1-2in across with 5 white petal-like sepals and numerous yellow stamens (Apr-May). Prairies. E of Rocky Mountains, E to NJ and QU, S to NM.
ANHINGA
Anhinga anhinga
Total length 2ft.l0in.
Known as the Snake Bird or Darter, this species is unmistakable with its long, snakelike neck, and long pointed bill. When swimming it sits very low in the water and dives by slowly submerging. It spears its fish prey and usually comes to the surface to toss it into the air and swallow it. Characteristic of southern swamps and ponds.
ANNUAL BLUEGRASS
Poa annua
Height up to 1ft.
Annual or short-lived perennial of bare grassland and disturbed areas. Sterns flattened. Leaves pale green, blunt-tipped and often wrinkled. Inflorescence 6-8in long, dense, and cylindrical; on tall, slender sterns (Jun-Aug). Widespread in North America.
ANT LION
Brachynemurus ferox
Total length 1in.
The Ant Lion is a weak-flying, damselflylike adult with flimsy, transparent wings. As a larva it is a large-jawed, highly predacious killer of ants and other insects that fall down the cone-shaped depression that it makes. Larvae feed on the body fluids of victims. Although seldom seen, larvae can be dug out. Found throughout Canada to Mexico wherever soil conditions allow pit formation.
ANTELOPE
Antilocapra americana
Total length 4ft.6in; tail 6in.
Commonly called Antelope, the correct name is Pronghorn. Superficially deerlike, however not closely related to either deer or sheep, but in a family of its own. It is rather stocky, with very distinctive horns unlike any other species, which are shed at the beginning of winter. One of the fastest mammals on land (up to 70mph), it has a cruising speed of about 30mph, but is a very poor jumper and consequently Pronghorns are often killed when they collide with fences. They are confined to open habitats, and once formed huge herds migrating in the Prairies. By the 1920s there were fewer than 20,000, but they are now much recovered. Widespread in W North America from S Canada to N Mexico.
APACHE PLUME
Fallugia paradoxa
Height up to 5ft.
Dense and compact evergreen shrub. Leaves ¼-1/2in long, hairy, and deeply divided, usually into 5 lobes. Flowers lin across with 5 white petals. Fruits comprise small seeds and long feathery plumes. Arid rocky slopes. SW US.
ARCTIC DRYAS
Dryas integrifolia
Height up to 3in.
Low-growing, patch-forming plant. Leaves lin long, dark green, oblong, and untoothed. Flowers lin across with 8 or more white petals and numerous yellow stamens (Jun-Jul). Arctic areas throughout North America and mountains S to MT and NF.
ARCTIC FOX
Alopex lagopus
Total length up to 3ft; tail 13 in.
Small with very variable coloring and relatively small ears. Most are brownish or bluish brown in summer, and turn white in winter, while some are dark bluish in summer, paler in winter. The Arctic Fox has a litter of about 6 young (can be up to 25). Unusually among smaller mammals, it is often migratory, or wanders over large distances. Confined to the N of Canada and AK.
ARCTIC LUPINE
Lupinus arcticus
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive and showy perennial. Leaves long-stemmed and palmate with usually 5-6 ovate leaflets each 2-3in long. Flowers 1-1/2in long and bluish purple; in tall spikes (Jun-Jul). Pods hairy. Dry, open ground. Arctic areas.
ARCTIC RIVER BEAUTY
Epilobium latifolium
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Sprawling perennial. Leaves 1-2in long and oval. Flowers 1-2in across with 4 pink, oval petals; on stalks from axils of upper leaves (Jul-Aug). Shingle bars in rivers and scree slopes. Widespread in N of North America; S to NF in E and CO in W.
ARIZONA CENTIPEDE
Scolopendra heros
Total length under 2in.
Centipedes are long, flat arthropods with one pair of long legs per segment. "Centipede" implies that they have 100 legs, but most species have between 30 and 50 pairs. They are fast, active predators that bite to kill prey. The bite is also painful to people. They can roll into a defensive ball, but usually run to hide in leaf litter. They are found in SW US including AZ.
ARIZONA HAIRY MYGALOMORPH
Aphonopelma cha1codes
Total length over 2in.
This large tarantula has hairy legs and a large, heavy body. Mygalomorphs are active nocturnal predators of insects, invertebrates, or even small reptiles. They rear on their hind legs when threatened. This species is long-lived, particularly the females, and is a ground dweller in holes or among rocks on rubble hillsides. It is found in the deserts ofthe SW US.
ARIZONA PRICKLY POPPY
Argemone platyceras
Height up to 2ft.
Distinctive prickly perennial with yellow sap. Leaves 3-5in long, lobed, spiny, and thistlelike. Flowers 2-3in across with 4-6 white, papery petals and a yellow center (all year). Grassland and roadsides. Deserts of SW US.
ARIZONA WHITE OAK
Quercus arizonica
Height up to 60ft.
Evergreen with rounded crown and lower trunk bare. Leaves 1-3in long, ovate to oblong with shallow-toothed lobes. Acorns up to lin long and ovoid; cup with hairy scales. Uplands and canyons. SW US, mainly AZ and NM.
ARROWHEAD
Sagittaria latifolia
Height up to 3ft.
Distinctive aquatic perennial. Emergent leaves arrowhead-shaped, floating leaves oval, and submerged ones narrow. Flowers lin across with 3 white petals; in branched whorls (Jul-Sep). Widespread in North America, N to S Canada.
ARROWLEAF BALSAMROOT
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Height up to 2ft.
Striking, open-country plant. Leaves up to 1ft.long, ovate to arrowhead-shaped, longstalked, and silvery downy. Flower heads 3-4in across with bright yellow ray florets and orange disc florets (May-Jul). Grassland. E of North America, N to BC.
ARROWSHAPED MICROTHENA
Microthena sagittata
Total length less than 1/2in.
The Arrowshaped Microthena is also an orb weaver, but this species and its many tropical relatives are small, and look like hard colorful thorns. Microthenas make large and complicated geometric webs in tropical gardens, where these miniature predators catch and kill insects.
ARROWWOOD
Viburnum dentatum
Height up to 10ft.
Multi-stemmed, branching deciduous shrub. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate, and toothed with obvious veins. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white lobes; in clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, rounded, and blackish; in clusters. Damp ground. E US.
ARTIST'S CONK
Canoderma applanatum
Up to 2ft.across.
Large bracket fungus; roughly semicircular in outline, up to 1ft.deep and 2in thick. Upper surface with knobbly, reddish brown concentric layers. Underside pale buff, easily bruising. On dead deciduous wood (all year). Throughout North America.
ASPEN
Populus tremuloides
Height up to 70ft.
Narrow deciduous tree. Leaves 2-3in across, rounded to heart-shaped, and toothed; rustle in the breeze. Flowers 1-3in long catkins in pendant sprays. Cottony seeds. Free-draining soils. Widespread Canada and AK. Uplands elsewhere in US.
ATLANTIC COD
Gadus morhua
Total length 6ft.
Green or brown with strong, light lateral line, three dorsal fins, many black spots on sides, and long chin barbel. An omnivorous bottom feeder, found in schools. One of the world's best-known and most important fish. A staple of early colonists, often salted and dried. Found in cold Atlantic waters from Canada to Cape Hatteras.
ATLANTIC DEER COWRY
Cypraea cervus
Total length up to 4in.
The largest member of this group in the N Atlantic. Shell is lustrous brown, covered with small white spots with a central line down the top. Among the most beautiful species in shallow waters. Prefers reefs or rocky bottoms, but can be found at jetties. Found from FL to the Yucatan Peninsula.
ATLANTIC HORSESHOE CRAB
Limulus polyphemus
Total length up to 2ft.
Large, leathery-brown carapace with long, spikelike tail. Five pairs of legs, pincherlike; final pair modified for crushing clams and other prey. One of the oldest species on earth, related to spiders and mites. An intertidal predator of mud flats and sandy beaches from Canada through the Gulf of Mexico.
ATLANTIC PUFFIN
Fratercula arctica
Total length 12in.
The adult is usually described as comical or clownlike during breeding when it has a brightly colored bill and contrasting black and white plumage. Feeds on small fish, such as sand eels, and often returns to its breeding burrow with a row of fish dangling from its bill. Winters at sea, usually well offshore, particularly in rough weather. Confined to Atlantic coast from Canada to New England.
ATLANTIC SALMON
Salmo salar
Total length 5ft.
Silvery with black spots on the sides, single dorsal fin midway and a small, fleshy fin just before the tail. Fast, active hunter; eats other coastal fish. One ofthe best known game fish in North America. Formerly abundant, now endangered by coastal development, pollution, and overfishing. Ascends rivers to spawn over gravel. Many landlocked populations. Found from Greenland to ME.
ATLANTIC SLIPPER SHELL
Crepidula fornicata
Total length 1in.
A common intertidal snail, flattened like a limpet to cling to hard surfaces with suctionlike foot. Top light brown and covered by a thin skin; underside with shelf halfway down the body. Sexes are separate and males are smaller than females. Shells are almost always found along the tideline, from Canada to TX.
ATLANTIC WHITE-CEDAR
Chamaecyparis thyoides
Height up to 90ft.
Aromatic evergreen conifer; in maturity lower trunk bare, crown a domed cone. Leaves short, bluish, and scalelike; opposite, forming fan-shaped sprays. Damp, acid soils in coastal lowlands. E coast states, MS N to ME.
ATLANTIC WOLFFISH
Anarchichus lupus
Total length 5ft.
Olive to blue-gray with prominent dark bars on the sides. Front teeth are conical and protruding, but rear teeth are molar like for cracking starfish, shellfish and urchins. Often caught by bottom fishermen seeking cod and haddock. A common fish on rocky bottoms from Canada to Long Island.
AVOCET
Recurvirostra americana
Total length 18in.
A graceful, elegant shorebird with a long, slender upward-curving bill, long bluish legs and black and white plumage, but ochre on the head and neck in breeding. Feeds wading in shallow water, sweeping the bill from side to side. Nests in loose colonies inland in the W. Winters south on both coasts. Fairly common in range.
BADGER
Taxidea taxus
Total length 2ft.9in; tail 6in.
A very heavily built member of the weasel family with a characteristic black and white face pattern. The legs are short, and the paws have long powerful claws. It is normally nocturnal, particularly close to human habitations. It feeds on almost any small animal, including ground squirrels, mice, gophers, prairie dogs, as well as frogs, ground-nesting birds, and also invertebrates. Up to 5 cubs are born in an underground den in spring. It ranges over much of North America Waf the Great Lakes and S to Mexico.
BAKED-APPLE BERRY
Rubus chamaemorus
Height up to 1ft.
Creeping perennial that lacks prickles. Has up to 3 leaves, each with 5-7 lin-long lobes. Flowers are 3/4in across with 5 white petals (Jun-Aug). Mature fruit orange and berrylike. Open upland areas. Widespread Canada; mountains of NE US.
BALD CYPRESS
Taxodium distichum
Height up to 120ft.
Domed and spreading deciduous conifer. Buttressed trunk and submerged roots. Needles 1/2in long, pale green above, whitish below; in 2 rows. Cones lin across, spherical, and gray. Saturated soils. E coast states, mainly NC to TX.
BALD EAGLE
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Total length 3ft.
Large, blackish brown, white head and tail. National bird of the US. Found near water, builds large stick nests in tall trees. Feeds on fish in summer; scavenges in winter. Canadian populations migrate S in winter. Declining population in S is now recovering; widespread.
BALSAM FIR
Abies
balsamea
Height up to 60ft.
Aromatic evergreen conifer. Broadly conical outline and pointed crown. Needles up to lin long and flat, dark green above with pale bands below. Cones upright, conical, and dark purple. Widespread E Canada, W to AB; limited range in NE US.
BALSAM POPLAR
Populus balsamifera
Height up to 80ft.
Deciduous tree; sticky, balsam-smelling buds. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate with wavy margin and pointed tip. Flowers 2-3in long catkins in pendant sprays. Fruits ovoid and lin long. Widespread Canada; US, mainly NE states around Great Lakes.
BANDED TULIP
Fusciolaria hunteria
Total length 3-4in.
Shell is egg-white with numerous narrow brown lines starting from the first whorl; aperture is long and oval. A predator of other snails and clams. Found from Cape Hatteras to the Gulf of Mexico.
BANK SWALLOW
Riparia riparia
Total length 4in.
The smallest swallow in North America, dark brown above, white below with a narrow brown band across the chest. Nests colonially, often in large numbers, in burrows it excavates in sand banks. A widespread breeder nesting over much of the US. Also widespread in the Old World where it is known as the Sand Martin.
BARN OWL
Tyto alba
Total length 18in.
A very pale owl, often almost pure white on the underside, with a heart-shaped face. Generally nocturnal, but can also be seen hunting by day, particularly after bad weather. Calls include blood-curdling screeches and screams as well as a hissing screech. Hunts rats. Nests in holes or buildings. Often found around human habitations and farms. Widespread from S Canada to Mexico, but absent from SE US.
BARN SWALLOW
Himndo rustica
Total length 7in.
A swallow with a deeply forked tail with long streamers, a blue chest band and reddish throat. The young lack the tail streamers. Builds mud nests in barns and other buildings, particularly near cattle. Widespread over most of the continent (also widespread in the Old World).
BARREL CACTUS
Ferocactus acanthodes
Height up to 10ft.
Extremely spiny cactus, barrel-shaped when young, becoming taller and columnar with age. Spines reddish or yellow and clustered along ribs. Flowers 2in across and reddish yellow (Apr-May). Fruits lin long and yellow. Deserts of S CA and S AZ.
BASSWOOD
Tilia americana
Height up to 100ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 4-6in long, ovate to heart-shaped, and toothed. Flowers 1/4in across, 5 yellowish petals; stalked, in pendant clusters with leafy bract. Fruits 1/4in across, rounded, and hard. NE US and SE Canada.
BAT STAR
Asterina miniata
Total length 8in.
Outline is the classic star any child would draw. Often bright red, but variable to green or brown. Arms are short. Lacks spines; smoother than other sea stars. Feeds on algae and small invertebrates. Common on rocky coasts, around pilings, and on sandy bottoms from intertidal to deep water. Found on W coast from AK to CA.
BAY BOLETE
Boletus budius
Height up to 6in.
Cap is up to 4in across and color ranges from tan to buff; surface sticky when wet. Pores yellow but bruise bluish green. Flesh white but flushes blue when cut. Stern often tapers. Deciduous and coniferous woods (Aug-Nov). NE of North America.
BAY SCALLOP
Aequipectin irradians
Diameter 2-3in.
Strong ribs; shell wavy at margin. Bright blue eyes. Important commercially for the edible muscle that holds the two shells together. Commercial scallops are caught in dredges. Adults are found on sandy bottoms from Canada to Cape Hatteras; they move seasonally.
BEACH PEA
Lathyrus japonicus
Height up to 8in.
Trailing gray-green plant; sterns to 3ft.long. Leaves pinnate; 2-5 pairs of oval leaflets, each 1-2in long. Flowers 3/4in long, bluish purple; in clusters (Jun-Aug). Coastal shingle. Atlantic S to NJ, Pacific N to BC; also Great Lakes.
BEACH PLUM
Prunus maritime
Height up to 3ft.
Low-growing, spreading deciduous shrub. Leaves 1/2-2in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers up to lin across, whitish with 5 rounded petals; stalked. Fruits 1/2in across reddish purple plums. Swales or interdune swales. Atlantic coasts.
BEAKED HAZELNUT
Corylus cornuta
Height up to 20ft.
Much-branched deciduous shrub. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, and toothed. Male flowers in pendant catkins; female flowers small and spiky. Fruits lin long, hard-shelled nuts. Forest understory species. Widespread C and E half of North America.
BEAKED SEDGE
Carex rostrata
Height up to 3ft.
Patch-forming plant. Sterns 3-sided. Leaves 1-3ft.long, yellow-green with rough edges. Inflorescence comprises 2-4 narrow brown spikes of male flowers above 2-5 greenish ovoid to sausage-shaped female ones (May-Jul). Swamps. Widespread in North America.
BEARBERRY (KINNIKINNIK)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Creeping. Low-growing, trailing, and mat-forming perennial. Leaves up to lin long and oblong. Flowers 1/4in long, bell-shaped, and white; stalked, pendant, and terminal groups (Mar-Jun). Open heathlands, tundra and mountains. Canada and AK; further S in US mountains.
BEARD-MOSS LICHEN
Usnea sp.
Tufts up to 5in long.
Widespread group of lichens that are much-branched and gray-green; the branches themselves are usually rather narrow, sometimes almost threadlike, and grooved in parts. Attached to, and often hanging from, tree bark or rocks. Widespread in North America.
BEAVER
Castor canadensis
Total length 3ft.l0in; tail 18in.
The largest rodent in North America. Easily recognized by its characteristic flattened tail. Feeds on vegetation. Has 4 or 5 young in a litter. Stores branches underwater for use during the winter to build its lodge, which has an entrance underwater, and also to build dams to adjust the water flow. Confined to slow-moving aquatic habitats. Widespread, and with scattered populations, S from AK and Canada. Absent from most of CA and FL.
BEAVERTAIL CACTUS
Opuntia basilaris
Height up to 10ft.
A prickly pear-type cactus with jointed, flattened, and spineless gray-green stems. Mature specimens are much-branched. Flowers 2-3in across and reddish pink (Mar-Jun). Fruits lin long, ovoid, and brown. Deserts of S CA, S NV, S UT, and W TX.
BEE BALM
Monarda didyma
Height up to 5ft.
Upright perennial with a square stern. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate, toothed and opposite. Flowers 1-1/2in long, red, and tubular; in terminal clusters above whorl of bracts (Jun-Aug). Damp woods and margins of streams. NE US. Also widely cultivated.
BEECH
Fagus grandifolia
Height up to 80ft.
Domed and spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate, dark green above, yellowish below; golden in autumn. Flowers small; males yellowish, females reddish. Fruits 1/2in long, ovoid, and prickly; 2 edible nuts. Widespread E US.
BEEFSTEAK POLYPORE
Fistulina hepatica
Up to 6in across.
Rubbery bracket fungus. Red when young, oozing bloodlike fluid; texture and color give it a passing resemblance to beefsteak. Bracket darkens with age. On oak trees (Aug-Oct). Widespread where host trees grow; absent from far Nand S.
BELTED KINGFISHER
Ceryle alcyon
Total length 13in.
A robust bird with a long, daggerlike bill, striking blue-gray and white plumage; the female has a broad, rusty-orange band on the belly. Both sexes have a shaggy crest. Always found close to water, where it fishes from a perch, or hovers over the water and dives. The only kingfisher likely to be seen in most of North America.
BELUGA
Delphinapterus leucas
Total length 15ft.
An unmistakable species, also known as the white whale, since the adults are milky white. The new born young are pinkish brown, becoming dark gray before turning white as adults. Lives in groups, which sometime aggregate into several hundreds. It is still hunted by native Americans, although commercial hunting has now stopped. Often found close to pack ice, where it feeds on fish and crustaceans. It is confined to colder waters of the Arctic of Canada and AK, no longer being seen in the waters of New England.
BERMUDA GRASS
Cynodon dactylon
Height up to l0in.
Creeping perennial with narrow, flat leaves. Inflorescence comprises 3-6 fingerlike spikes bearing small spikelets; spikes spread in full flower (Mar-Oct). Cultivated and disturbed areas, lawns; often coastal. Widespread in S.
BIDDIE
Cordulegaster dorsalis
Total length 1in.
This brightly colored western species is one of the most easily identifiable inland. Both fore- and hindwings are clear, thorax and abdomen are black with bright yellow spots on top. Flies slowly and wanders, rather than flying in a straight line. Prefers stream habitats where it patrols territory and hunts for insects. Common in the US from AK to CA.
BIG BROWN BAT
Eptesicus fuscus
Total length 6in; wing span 13in.
Large, with rounded ears and a broad muzzle. Color is variable, but generally dark reddish brown in the E, paler in the W. Fast-flying (up to 40mph). Usually roosts in barns, churches, and other buildings. Breeds in colonies of up to 300. Widespread from S Canada over most of US except S FL and TX.
BIG SAGEBRUSH
Artemisia tridentata
Height up to 9ft.
Branched, silvery gray, and aromatic evergreen shrub with a short trunk. Leaves up to 1/2in long, triangular with blunt teeth. Flowers tiny and greenish; in upright spikes (Aug-Oct). A dominant species in Great Basin deserts.
BIGHORN SHEEP
Ovis canadensis
Total length up to 6ft; tail up to 5in.
A powerfully built sheep, the male has massive curled horns, the female short spikes. Generally brownish, paler in desert areas. These sheep spend most of the year in herds of up to 10, but may aggregate in herds of 100 or more, led by a female in winter. During the rut the males charge and clash horns at over 20mph, with a sound that can be heard over a mile away. Confined to the Rockies, from S Canada to N Mexico, and usually found in areas undisturbed by man.
BIGLEAF MAGNOLIA
Magnolia macrophylla
Height up to 40ft.
Rounded deciduous tree. Leaves 20-30in long, oblong to ovate with 2 basal lobes. Flowers 12in across, bowl-shaped, fragrant with 6 white petals. Fruits 3in long and conelike. Damp soils. Native to SE US; planted elsewhere.
BIRCH POLYPORE
Piptoporus betulinus
Up to l0in across.
Fruiting bodies comprise semicircular brackets up to 2in thick. Upper surface is buffish brown; underside is white with tiny pores. Grows on birch trees, both living and dead. Widespread in N of North America wherever host trees are common.
BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL
Lotus corniculatus
Creeping Trailing perennial. Leaves have 3 leaflets, each 1/2in long, and 2 leaflike stipules at base. Flowers yellow or orange; in heads 1-1/2in across (Jun-Sep). Pods arranged like a bird's foot. Grassy places. Widespread non-native.
BISON
Bison bison
Total length 12ft; tail 18in.
The Bison (also known as Buffalo), is a massive relative of domestic cattle, with dark brown shaggy fur. The calf is active within hours of birth, following the herd with its mother. Although generally known as a plains-dwelling species, some populations lived in woodlands. Once one of the most numerous mammals in North America, and found from S Canada to Mexico and east to VA, the Bison came close to extinction at the end of the 19th century. Numbers have slowly rebuilt, and there are now numerous herds in national and state parks, as well as on private ranches.
BITTERN
Botaurus lentiginosus
Total length 2ft.4in.
A secretive heron that hides in thick vegetation when alarmed. Often stretches with its bill pointing up, relying on camouflage to escape detection. Predominantly brown with extensive spots and streaks. Slow, flapping flight. Characteristic breeding call a deep boom which carries widely. Decreasing because of wetland loss. Widespread over most of US and S Canada.
BITTERNUT HICKORY
Carya cordiformis
Height up to 80ft.
Domed deciduous tree. Leaves pinnately divided; 7-9 narrow ovate leaflets, each 2-6in long, green, yellow in autumn. Flowers small, yellowish, pendant; sexes separate. Fruits lin across and spherical, husk in 4 parts. Widespread in E US.
BITTERROOT
Lewisia rediviva
Height up to 2ft.
Low-growing plant. Leaves 1-2in long, narrow, and fleshy, forming a rosette. Flowers 2in across with 12-18 pinkish red petals; borne on short stalks from center or rosette (May-July). Open rocky ground. BC and Pacific states, E to MT.
BITTERSWEET NIGHTSHADE
Solanum dulcamara
Height up to 4ft.
Branched, climbing perennial. Leaves 1-3in long, oval, with narrow basal lobes or leaflets. Flowers 1/2in across, purplish with yellow stamens; in clusters (Jun-Sep). Berries red. Widespread non-native of grassland, scrub and margins of woods.
BLACK AND YELLOW ARGIOPE
Argiope aurantia
Total length lin.
One of the most spectacular of all North American spiders. The abdomen is striking, black with golden blotches, and the head is silvery; legs are black and yellow. Found regularly in gardens from S Canada to Mexico. It is a lucky gardener that has this beneficial animal in his garden.
BLACK BEAR
Ursus americanus
Total length 6ft; tail 6in.
Usually dark brown, and some are "cinnamon," but can be very pale or bluish; there is sometimes a white patch on the chest. Diet varied. Found principally in forests, often near meadows and farmlands. Hibernates in caves, hollow trees or among tree roots. The most common and widespread bear in North America, although absent from most of the Prairies and the SE.
BLACK CHERRY
Prunus serotina
Height up to 80ft.
Open-crowned, aromatic deciduous tree. Leaves 2-5in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white, rounded petals; in frothy spikes. Fruits 1/2in across, blackish cherries. Widespread across E half of US.
BLACK COTTONWOOD
Populus trichocarpa
Height up to 120ft.
Deciduous tree. Sticky, balsam-smelling buds. Leaves 3-6in across, ovate, and toothed; green, yellow in autumn. Flowers 2-3in long catkins in pendant sprays. Cottony seeds. Damp soils. Widespread within range: BC to WY to CA.
BLACK CRAPPIE
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Total length l2in.
A small, black bass speckled with light spots enlarging toward belly; fins and tail black with white spots; female lighter overall. Male builds a scrape nest in gravel in shallows. Popular as a food and game fish. Prefers clear, cool streams, ponds, and reservoirs. Found from SE Canada to Gulf of Mexico.
BLACK DUCK
Anas rubripes
Total length 23in.
The same size as the Mallard and similar to the female Mallard. Speculum is plain blue (Mallard is blue with white edges). Hybrids occur. Found in almost any marsh or pond, particularly salt marsh. Confined to North America E of the Rockies, S to Gulf of Mexico.
BLACK HAWTHORN
Crataegus douglasii
Height up to 30ft.
Rounded deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 1-3in long, ovate, toothed, and lobed. Flowers 1/2in across, 5 white petals; in clusters in spring. Fruits 1/2in across, stalked, and black; in pendant clusters. Pacific NW and N Rocky Mountains.
BLACK HUCKLEBERRY
Gaylussacia baccata
Height up to 3ft.
Dense and much-branched deciduous shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, and sticky; dark green, reddish in fall. Flowers 1/4in across, reddish, and urn-shaped; in clusters. Berries 1/4in across, spherical, and blackish. NE US and SE Canada.
BLACK JELLY DROP
Bulgaria inquinans
Up to l/1/2in across.
Each jellylike blob consists of a circular base the top of which is rounded, becoming flattopped with age; brown at first but becoming black on upper surface. On bark of recently fallen oak and other trees (Sep-Oct). N of North America.
BLACK JELLY ROLL
Exidia glandulosa
Up to 2in across.
Strange fungus with fruit bodies that are shiny and gelatinous; these resemble blackened knobs of butter. Grows on the twigs and branches of deciduous trees. Found at any time of year except summer. Widespread throughout North America.
BLACK KATIE CHITON
Katharina tunicat"
Total length 5in.
Easily recognized by shiny black color and smooth margin. Dorsal plates clearly visible like a backbone down the middle ofthe chiton. These animals have enormous suction and can cling to rocks in currents and waves. Grazes on algae covering rocks, creating habitat for barnacles, urchins, and anemones. Found intertidally and below from AK to CA.
BLACK MUSTARD
Brassica nigra
Height up to 3ft.
Robust and much-branched grayish green annual. Leaves 2-3in long, stalked, lower ones pinnately lobed, the terminal lobe largest. Flowers 1/2in across with 4 yellow petals; in clusters (May-Sep). Waste ground and fields. Throughout North America.
BLACK RAT
Rattus rattus
Total length 17in; tail l0in.
The Black Rat originated in Asia, arriving via Europe with the Jamestown colonists at the beginning of the 17th century. Nowhere near as common as R. norvegicus, which tends to push it out. Most common around seaports. Still largely absent from the Rockies, the Prairies, and Canada.
BLACK SCOTER
Melanitta nigra
Total length 19in.
A medium-sized black sea duck with a bright yellow-orange knob on the bill. Female dark brown with a light cheek and brown cap. Feeds on mussels and clams. The smallest and most coastal scoter. Winters at sea on both coasts.
BLACK SKIMMER
Rynchops niger
Total length 18in.
A large tern, unusual because its lower mandible is considerably longer than the upper. The wings, back, and cap are black. Feeds with the orange and black lower mandible trailing in the water as it flies close to the surface, dipping to snap up fish. Mainly tropical, but widespread, in CA and the Gulf of Mexico from TX to FL, spreading N to New England.
BLACK SPRUCE (BOG SPRUCE)
Picea mariana Height up to 60ft.
Evergreen conifer. Lower branches often dead or fallen, crown irregularly conical. Needles 2in long, 4-angled, bluish, and pointed. Cones ovoid, pendant on short stalks. Widespread across most of Canada; limited range in NE US.
BLACK SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio polyxenes
Wingspan 3in.
A large, dark swallowtail, with two rows of creamy yellow spots, as well as blue and red spots. The caterpillars are green with yellow-spotted blackish bands; they feed on carrots, parsnips, and their relatives, and can be a pest. Widespread and often common in SE US, less common to the N.
BLACK TERN
Chlidonias niger
Total length l0in.
A small tern often seen in freshwater marshes and around ponds and rivers. The breeding adult is black with gray wings and tail, but outside the breeding season the adult and young have extensive white, particularly on the underside. Nests in small colonies, often on islands in marshes. A widespread summer breeder across W Prairies to New England and SE Canada.
BLACK TUPELO (BLACKGUM)
Nyssa sylvatica
Height up to 100ft.
Deciduous tree with conical outline. Leaves 2-5in long, elliptical; shiny green above, downy below. Flowers small, green; clustered males and solitary females on separate trees. Fruits 1/2in long, berrylike, and black. Damp ground. Mainly E US.
BLACK VULTURE
Coragyps atratus
Total length 2ft.lin.
Smaller than the more common Turkey Vulture, black with bare black head, grayish white on underside of the wings. Often seen with the Turkey Vulture, and feeds on a similar diet, but also found in swamps. Range more restricted than that of the Turkey Vulture; found in E US and W to south NM, but spreading.
BLACK WALNUT
Juglans nigra
Height up to 90ft.
Deciduous, open-crowned tree. Leaves pinnate, with 9-21 leaflets, each 3-5in long. Flowers small and greenish; sexes separate. Fruit 1-3in long, ovoid, and greenish brown; edible seed. Widespread but generally uncommon in E US.
BLACK WIDOW
Latrodectus mactans
Total length up to 5/8in.
One of several poisonous cobweb weavers. Often in human habitation. Characterized by black with red markings on the abdomen. A similar species is common in BC in woods and protected places, but that species has red spots on the abdomen rather than the characteristic "hourglass" of the Black Widow. It is found throughout the US, N to Oregon and New York.
BLACK WILLOW
Salix nigra
Height up to 100ft.
Deciduous, often multi-trunked tree. Leaves :1-5in long, lanceolate, pointed, and toothed. Flowers 1-3in long catkins. Margins of rivers and other saturated ground. Widespread and locally common throughout E half of US, except FL.
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
Mniotilta varia
Total length 5in.
Plumage is unlikely to be confused with any other warbler. Behaves more like a creeper or nuthatch. Nests on the ground close to trees. Nest is cup-shaped, lined with fine grasses and hair. Common in summer over most of North America in deciduous woods E of the Rockies.
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER
Pluvialis squatarola
Total length 11in.
Distinguished from the Golden Plover in flight by its black "armpits." During breeding season the male has a jet black belly, face and neck, a white crown, and black and white back and wings. Outside breeding, both sexes lack black belly and are grayer overall. Nests on the tundra. Winters on mudflats, saltrnarshes, estuaries, and similar open wetland habitats on both coasts and S to the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE
Pica pica
Total length 22in.
A long-tailed relative of the crow, mostly black and white with green and blue iridescence on the wings, white shoulder patches, and a white belly; bill is heavy and black. A closely related species, the Yellow-billed Magpie, is confined to central CA. Widespread over most of W America from AK to E CA and E to the Great Plains.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
Dendroica fusca
Total length 5in.
The attractive male has an orange head and chest with black cheek patch; upper parts black, wide white wing patch and white on the tail. Female and young duller. Breeds in conifers over S Canada, NE US and Appalachians, often elsewhere on migration.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
Poecile atricapillus
Total length 5in.
In winter, found in mixed flocks. Nests in holes. Common in woodland forests, but also common in suburbs and many other habitats. The most familiar and widespread chickadee in North America; found from AK to Newfoundland and S to AZ and NC.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
Archilochus alexandri
Total length 3in.
In sunlight, dark metallic green above, whitish on the belly, black throat with violet sheen (often difficult to see). The male's display flight is a swooping arc, and the wings whirr. Found in drier mountain habitats including deserts, but near water. The most common and widespread hummer in the W, from S TX to S Canada.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
Nicticorax nycticorax
Total length 2ft.
Squat gray, black, and white bird. Flies on rounded wings with neck tucked in and legs barely showing beyond its tail. Often makes a low, croaking call in flight. Most active by night, emerging at dusk to fly to feeding areas. Hides in trees by day. Feeds on amphibians and other aquatic prey, also young of other species of heron. Widespread over US and N to S Canada.
BLACK-EYED SUSAN
Rudbeckia hirta
Height up to 3ft.
Roughly hairy biennial. Leaves 2-3in long, ovate to lanceolate, and hairy. Flower heads 2-3in across with orange-yellow ray florets and chocolate brown disc florets (Jun-Oct). Grassy places. Widespread in US and S Canada.
BLACK-FOOTED FERRET
Mustela nigripes
Total length 22in; tail 5in.
Very similar in appearance to the domestic ferret, with a raccoonlike face mask. It is totally dependent on prairie dogs, living in their burrows and preying on them. It also feeds on other small mammals as well as birds and invertebrates. It has 3-5 young in a litter born in an underground den. Saved from the brink of extinction by captive breeding, the Blackfooted Ferret has been reintroduced into several protected areas. It appears to be thriving, and is once more breeding in the wild. It once was found from S Canada throughout the Plains to TX.
BLACKGUM
Nyssa sylvatica
Height up to 100ft.
Deciduous tree with conical outline. Leaves 2-5in long, elliptical; shiny green above, downy below. Flowers small, green; clustered males and solitary females on separate trees. Fruits 1/2in long, berrylike, and black. Damp ground. Mainly E US.
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE
Rissa tridactyla
Total length 17in.
The adult is recognized in winter by its small size, white head, yellow bill, and black wing tips, a "dipped in ink" appearance. It is a pelagic bird, coming to land during storms or in the breeding season, when it nests on narrow ledges on steep cliffs. On both coasts the breeding colonies often contain several thousand pairs.
BLACK-MANGROVE
Avicennnia germinans
Height up to 40ft.
Evergreen shrub with a dense, domed crown. Leaves lin long, lanceolate, shiny above, downy below. Flowers 1/2in across with 4 white lobes. Fruits lin long flattened ovoid capsules. Marine and brackish silt. Sub-tropical SE US.
BLACK-NECKED STILT
Himantopus mexicanus
Total length 14in.
Unmistakable. A large black and white shorebird with exceptionally long pink legs and a long, needlelike black bill. Nests on dry ground in marshes or near water. Widespread, though patchy breeding distribution extends N into Canada in the Prairies. Winters in CA and the Gulf of Mexico and S. Seen in many coastal areas on migration.
BLACKPOLL WARBLER
Dendroica striata
Total length 5in.
Similar to Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia), but with a solid black cap; does not creep on branches. Call high and insectlike. Feeds on insects. Seen during spring migration over much of E North America. Breeds in spruce forests in Canada and AK.
BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG
Cynomys ludovicianus
Total length 16in; tail 4in.
A large ground squirrel living in colonies which used to be extensive and highly populated. The burrows (towns) are guarded by a sentry which stands on a heap of dirt, and yaps at the approach of danger. A single litter of 4-5 young is born underground in April-May. Found only on short-grass prairie, feeding mostly on grasses. Now mostly confined to isolated populations in protected areas in the plains of the Midwest from Canada to Mexico.
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER
Dendroica caerulescens
Total length 5in.
The male is mostly dark blue above, with a black throat, white belly, and white patch on the wings; the female is olive above, paler below with a white eye stripe. Breeds in deciduous woods and forests, often low down. Nest in a tree fork, at a height of less than 3ft.from the ground, building a bulky cup-shaped nest of twigs, bark, and leaves. Breeds NE US and SE Canada; found on migration in SE US.
BLADDER ROCKWEED
Fucus vesiculosus
Length up to 3ft.
Tough seaweed found on middle shore attached to rocks. Frond olive- or greenish brown; branches regularly. Air bladders in groups of 2 or 3 along length. Spongy reproductive bodies occur at frond tips. Atlantic coast, S to VI. Similar Fucus species occur on Pacific coast.
BLANKET-FLOWER
Gaillardia aristata
Height up to 2ft.
Upright hairy plant. Leaves 1-3in long, narrow, and lobed. Flowers 3-4in across with a domed array of red disc florets and yellow ray florets (May-Sep). Prairies and dry grassland. From BC, S to UT and CO.
BLEEDING MYCENA
Mycena haematopus
Height up to 4in.
Clump-forming fungus. Conical cap up to 3/4in across, gray-brown with radiating lines towards margins. Gills whitish and stern slender and downy. All parts exude bloodlike fluid when damaged. On decaying tree stumps (Jul-Oct). Widespread in North America.
BLOODROOT
Sanguinaria Canadensis
Height up to 1ft.
Delicate woodland floor plant. Roots yield red juice. Leaves 4-6in long, bluish, and palmately divided into 5-globes. Flowers 1-2in across with 8-10 white petals and yellow center. Damp woodlands. Canada and E US.
BLOODSUCKING CONENOSE
Triatoma sanguisuga
Total length lin.
The Bloodsucking Conenose is a species of assassin bug. While most species are black or dark green, the Bloodsucking Conenose has orange on the abdomen. Assassin bugs are distinguished by thick front legs and a protruding head; the abdomen extends sideways and is not fully covered by the wings. They are, as the name implies, significant predators on other insects. Widespread in North America. Found in SE of US, W to TX.
BLUE COLUMBINE
Aquilegill coerulea
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive bushy plant. Leaves much divided into lobed leaflets, each lin long. Flowers 2-3in across with 5 petal-like pale blue sepals and 5 whitish petals (Jun-Aug). Upland woodlands. Mountains from Rockies S to AZ.
BLUE CRAB
Cancer sapidus
Total length 9in.
Green or blue-green above and white below with blue legs. Carapace oval, pointed at the sides. Eyes on stalks. A fast swimmer, darting sideways in the shallows, and an active predator and scavenger, catching and eating a variety of marine invertebrates, even ones caught in baited traps. Called "soft-shelled" crabs when molting. An important shellfish from Cape Cod into Gulf of Mexico.
BLUE GROSBEAK
Clliraca caemlea
Total length 7in
Male is a spectacular indigo blue, larger than Indigo Bunting with a heavier bill. Female and young buff-brown. Summer visitor to much of the US, except NW and S FL, in dense thickets, vines, and low trees. Winters in Central and South America.
BLUE GROUSE
Dendragapus obscurus
Total length 16in.
In display the blue-gray male is spectacular with reddish comb, fanned tail, and exposed bare neck sacs. Low, muffled booms accompany courtship. Female closely barred with brown. Nests on the ground. Found in W North America from Canada to CA in coniferous forests.
BLUE JAY
Cyanocitta cristata
Total length 11in.
Has distinctive "jay-jay-jay" call. Omnivorous, and well-known as a nest predator. Nest of twigs is lined with fibers and grasses. Lays up to 6 freckled eggs. Widespread in woodlands and suburbs. A familiar visitor to feeders over most of North America E of the Rockies.
BLUE MUSSEL
Mytilis edulis
Total length 2in.
Shell outside is dark blue to black, inside, pearly blue; no ribs. Also called the Edible Mussel, it is eaten by fish, birds, sea stars, and ducks, as well as by humans in stews, soups, and paella. Mussels form dense beds where they mat together. Found from Canada S to Cape Hatteras and introduced to Pacific coast.
BLUE SHARK
Prionace glauca
Total length over 12ft.
An elegant, long predator with long, thin pectoral fins. Cobalt blue with white belly. Feeds on fish and even seabirds, resting on water. Dangerous to people in the water at sea. Fast swimmer. Gives birth to several dozen live young per litter. Common worldwide in temperate and tropical seas, often close to shore,
BLUE SPRUCE
Picea pungens
Height up to 100ft.
Tall evergreen conifer. Irregularly cylindrical shape with conical crown. Needles lin long, bluish with white lines, pointed, and 4-angled. Cones 3-4in long, cylindrical, and brown. Mountain valleys; central W US, mainly UT, CO, and NM.
BLUE TANG
Acanthurus coeruleus
Total length 12in.
Disc-shaped surgeonfish, deep blue in color with a whitish spine at the base of the tail. Sub-adults blue with yellow tail; juveniles are all yellow. Diurnal and feeds on algae. Often seen schooling over reefs and isolated coral heads. Common to abundant; found on Atlantic coral reefs, but also N over rocks to Long Island.
BLUE TOAD FLAX
Linaria canadensis
Height up to 2ft.
Slender upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long and grasslike. Flowers l/2in long, bluish, 2-lipped, and spurred; in spikes (Mar-Jul). Grassy places on sandy soil. Widespread across much of North America.
BLUE VERVAIN
Verbena hastata
Height up to 5ft.
Upright, branched plant. Leaves 4-5in long, narrow, and opposite. Flowers tiny, bluish, and 5-petalled; in spikes with only a few flowers opening at a time (Jul-Sep). Damp grassy places. Widespread in E. Similar species elsewhere in North America.
BLUE VIOLET (HOOKED-SPUR VIOLET)
Viola adunca
Height up to 5in.
Low-growing plant. Leaves up to lin long, stalked, and heart-shaped or ovate. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 bluish violet petals and backward-pointing spur (May-Aug). Open grassy places. Widespread in Canada; S to ME in E, CA in W.
BLUE WHALE
Balaenoptera musculus
Total length 90ft.
The largest living animal, but most are now under 80ft. Like most other baleen whales, it is a plankton feeder, engulfing fish and plankton near the surface. It has been hunted to the verge of extinction, but has now been protected for many years and may be recovering. Although it is very rare, it is regularly seen off the Pacific and rarely off the Atlantic coasts.
BLUE YUCCA
Yucca baccata
Height up to 5ft.
Robust evergreen. Leaves up to 3ft.long, narrow, and stiff. Flowers 3-4in long, creamy white, and bell-shaped; in clustered spikes. Fruits 3-10in long cylindrical pods. Arid ground. Widespread across SW US, CA to W TX, N to S CO.
BLUEBLOSSOM
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
Height up to 20ft.
Compact evergreen; domed crown. Leaves 1-2in long, elliptical, finely toothed. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 blue petals; in frothy clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, blackish, stalked, berrylike. Native to coastal N CA and S OR; also planted.
BLUE-EYED GRASS
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Slender and delicate perennial. Leaves up to 1-/12ft.long, grasslike, and tufted. Flowers 1/2in across, blue with a yellow center, the 6 petal-like parts all pointed-tipped (May-Jul). Damp grassy places. Widespread across North America.
BLUEFIN TUNA
Thunnus thynnus
Total length over 10ft.
Enormous: known to exceed l,soolb. Blue-black above, blue sides with white belly; short pectoral fins. A voracious feeder on anything available. Much sought on both coasts and worldwide as a sport fish. Moves N in summer until fall; some are known to cross Atlantic to Europe.
BLUEGILL
Lepomis macrochirus
Total length 9in.
A large sunfish with uncolored fins, black earflap, blue throat, and dark, vertical bars on sides. Adaptable. Feeds on small crustaceans, insects, worms, and other aquatic species. Popular as important food and game fish. Voracious eater, easily caught. Native to E, now stocked continent-wide in ponds, lakes, and creeks.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
Polioptila caerulea
Total length 4in.
Tail longer than that of Kinglet. Male soft.blue-gray above, whitish below, tail blackish with white outer tail feathers; female is paler. An active, scolding species usually heard before seen. Cocks tail up over back. Summer visitor over much of US as far N as New England.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO
Vireo solitarius
Total length 5in.
An attractive bird with white wing bars, bluish gray head, and prominent white spectacles. Widespread over much of Canada below the treeline and S through the Appalachians. Winters in the SE coastal states of the US and the Caribbean.
BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma laterale
Total length 5in.
Smooth, damp-skinned, with coloring reminiscent of the blue-gray flecking of old enamel pots. Breeds in ponds and ditches. Closely related to parthenogenetic species of mole salamander. One ofthe most northerly salamanders, found from the N shore ofthe Gulf of St Lawrence S to New England, with isolated populations as far S as Long Island.
BLUET ,NORTHERN
Enallagma cyathigerum
Total length up to lin.
Wings clear. More robust than Civil Bluet, but similarly colored bright blue with black on the top, increasing to the rear. Flies low and well; prefers still waters of ponds, swamps and bogs. Often abundant in the spring. Widely distributed throughout North America from AK south.
BLUET Enallagma
cyathigerum
Total length up to lin.
Wings clear. More robust than Civil Bluet, but similarly colored bright blue with black on the top, increasing to the rear. Flies low and well; prefers still waters of ponds, swamps and bogs. Often abundant in the spring. Widely distributed throughout North America from AK south.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
Anas discors
Total length 15in.
A small dabbling duck. Male has a grayish, blue-tinged head with a prominent white, crescent-shaped face patch. Female mottled brown with blue wing patch in flight. Breeds in most areas except high Arctic; winters in S US and Mexico.
BLUSHER
Amanita rubescens
Height up to 7in.
Cap is pale buffish brown and covered with pinkish gray fragments of veil. Gills white. Stern has a ring and usually flushes pinkish buff, especially near the base. Mainly deciduous woodland (fall in E; spring in W). E US and CA.
BOBCAT
Lynx rufus
Total length up to 4ft; tail 6in.
Fairly large, with a short "bobbed" tail. Coloring variable but usually yellowish brown, with black barring and tip to the upper side of the tail, and blackish barring on the legs. The back and sides are covered with indistinct spotting. Usually spends the day hidden in its den, and feeds mostly on hares, cottontails, squirrels, and other small mammals. It also occasionally raids poultry and other domestic stock. Widespread over North America, from S Canada to Mexico.
BOBOLINK
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Total length 7in.
Breeding male mostly black with straw-colored back of the head, white on back, upper tail and rump. Call note "pink" in flight and "bob-a-link." Nests on ground in shallow scrape lined with grasses. Breeds in open grasslands of N US and S Canada.
BOBWHITE QUAIL
Colinus virginian us
Total length l0in.
A small, compact quail which runs on the ground. Takes its name from its call, a whistled "bob-white." Nests on the ground. Found in open woodlands, hillsides, farmland and similar open habitats. Widespread resident over most of the E half of the US.
BOG LEMMING, SOUTHERN
Synaptomys cooperi
Total length 6in; tail 3/4in.
Brown above, grayish below, with a tiny tail and inconspicuous eyes and ears. Lives mostly below ground, digging runs and also using the runs of other mammals. Feeds on grasses, clover, and roots. The name is misleading as it is found mostly in meadows and grassy areas in forests. Populations are highly cyclical. It is found in KS and MB, E to QC and NC.
BOG ORCHID
Platanthera hyperborea
Height up to 1ft.
Robust little northern plant. Leaves 2-4in long, narrow with parallel veins. Flowers 1/4in across, greenish yellow, and sweet-scented; in clustered spikes (Jul-Aug). Damp grassy places. Widespread in Arctic and sub-Arctic North America.
BOG ROSEMARY
Andromeda polifolia
Height up to 8in.
Low-growing evergreen shrub. Leaves 1/2in long, narrow, gray-green above, and whitish below with inrolled margins. Flowers 1/4in long, urn-shaped; stalked, pendant, and in terminal clusters (Jun-Jul). Bogs. AK and N Canada.
BOHEMIAN WAXWING
Bombycilla garrulus
Total length 8in.
Larger than the Cedar Waxwing, more black on the chin, yellow on the wing feathers as well as red, and a prominent white wing bar. Nests in conifers. Irruptive and, every few years, found much farther afield. Breeds in W North America and Canada.
BOLL WEEVIL
Anthonomus grandis
Total length 1/4in.
The Boll Weevil is perhaps the best known small snout weevil in North America and is a notorious pest of cotton crops. Attacking the flowers, the weevils prevent the formation of seeds and thus of cotton. Arriving in the US just under 100 years ago, the Boll Weevil spread throughout TX and the American South with the introduction of cotton farming. Many other weevil species are pests of fruit and nut trees.
BONEFISH
Albula vulpes
Total length 3ft.
Long and slender, silvery with blue or green back; single dorsal fin, deeply forked tail. Feeds on snails, worms, shrimps, and other invertebrates. Avidly sought by anglers in sand-covered shallows. A primitive fish of an ancient family found worldwide in tropical waters. Found on both coasts; Cape Hatteras S in E, and San Francisco S in W.
BORING SPONGE
Cliona celata
Diameter up to 12in.
This unique yellow sponge and its relatives secrete chemicals that dissolve shell or rock, allowing the sponge to fill the space. Bores into shells, rocks, and crevices with much of the sponge material hidden below the surface. Individual colonies may reach 1ft.in diameter. Found from intertidal zone to deep water. Occurs worldwide, and found on both North American coasts.
BOTTA'S POCKET GOPHER
Thomomys bottae
Total length 12in; tail 3in.
One of the most widespread pocket gophers but, like other species, it is rarely seen above ground, and even then only ventures a couple of inches from the entrance to its burrow. Highly adapted for burrowing, excavating soil with its huge front teeth, and carrying it to the surface in its fur-lined cheek pouches. Found in a wide variety of habitats including deserts and meadows, from S Oregon to Canada to E TX.
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN
Tursiops truncatus
Total length 13ft.
A fairly large dolphin, with a prominent beak, it is bluish gray, paler below. The most familiar dolphin, frequently exhibited in aquaria and dolphinaria. It feeds in small schools, mostly on fish. It is widespread in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and because it has never been hunted in vast numbers (although it is still killed in some coastal fisheries), it remains fairly numerous. The Pacific population is often regarded as a separate species, T. gilli.
BOTTLENOSE WHALE, NORTHERN
Hyperoodon ampullatus
Total length up to 32ft.
A small whale with a bulbous head, and a very small dorsal fin set well back. Once very common, this species was easy to hunt and numbers are now much depleted. It lives in groups of up to 10 and is often very tame. It feeds on squid, as well as fish such as Herring. It is confined to the N Atlantic.
BOUNCING BET
Saponaria officinalis
Height up to 2ft.
Hairless, straggly non-native perennial. Leaves 2-3in long, lanceolate to oval with striking veins. Flowers lin across with 5 pale pink petals, inrolled at tip (Jul-Sep). Disturbed areas and roadsides. Locally common throughout North America.
BOXELDER
Acer negundo
Height up to 60ft.
Domed and spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 6in long, pinnate with 3-7 ovate leaflets. Flowers 1/4in long, yellowish, 5-lobed; in clusters. Fruits 1-2in long, paired, winged; in clusters. Widespread in E half of US and central S Canada.
BRACKEN
pteridium aquilinum
Height up to 6ft.or more.
North America's most common and widespread fern. Carpets woodland floors and covers hillsides. Favours dry, acid soils. Curled-tipped fronds appear in spring. Mature fronds green and 3-pinnate. Spore cases around leaf margins. Throughout North America.
BRANT GOOSE
Branta bernicla
Total length 2ft.
A relatively small thickset goose, which is dark above, with an almost black head and neck, with some white on the neck. In the W this bird has a dark belly. Found in estuaries or at the coast feeding on aquatic plants, or grazing on grasses and crops. Breeds in the high Arctic of Canada and AK, migrating S for winter.
BRASS BUTTONS
Cotula coronopifolia
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive non-native plant. Leaves 1-2in long, varying from lanceolate to divided with narrow lobes. Flower heads 1/4in across, yellow, and buttonlike; on stalks (all year). Tidal mud banks and salt marshes. Pacific coast; locally New England.
BREADCRUMB SPONGE
Halichondria panicea
Diameter over 12in.
An encrusting sponge, which forms on a hard surface such as a rock and spreads, covering the rock with an irregular shape. Usually light green or yellow, breaks apart like a slice of dry bread when handled. A large colony can cover an area of up to 2 sq. ft. Breadcrumb sponges are found from the intertidal zone to deep water on both coasts.
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Total length 9in.
Male glossy black, green sheen on the body, purple sheen on the head; female and young brown. Nests in small colonies, often near water. Winters in large mixed flocks. Widespread over W US and Canada, breeding E to the Great Lakes.
BRISTLECONE PINE
Pinus aristata
Height up to 40ft.
Irregularly conical evergreen in maturity; ancient specimens (l,000s of years old) gnarled and distorted. Needles up to 1 1/2in long, dark green with white lines; in groups of 5. High altitudes in mountains of SW, mainly CA, NV, UT, and CO.
BRITTLEBUSH
Encelia farinose
Height up to 3ft.
Much-branched, compact, and often domed shrub. Stems whitish and leaves 1/2in long, triangular, and lobed; bluish green after rain but dead, withered whitish in dry months. Flowers 1/2in across, yellow, and daisylike. Deserts of SW US.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD
Selasphorus platycercus
Total length 3in
Similar to Ruby-throated Hummingbird, but male is easily distinguished by the highpitched trilling sound made by its wings. Metallic, rose-red throat, iridescent green back. Widespread in the Rocky Mountains in clearings, meadows, and open woodlands.
BROAD-WINGED HAWK
Buteo platypterus
Total length 16in.
Medium-sized, broad, rounded wings when soaring. Adult dark brown above, rufous, brown barring below and broad bands in tail. Young streaked below. Widespread and abundant over E US and Canada. Migrates in large flocks to Central and S America.
BROOK TROUT
Salvelinus fontinalis
Total length 2ft.
One ofthe most colorful species, with pale blue haloes around red or pink spots along the sides. Ventral fins with a white leading edge against a black line. A top predator in cold, clear streams and small rivers. Not pollution tolerant. Found from E Canada S through the Appalachians, this popular game fish has been introduced widely elsewhere in North America and around the world.
BROOMRAPE
Orobanche fasciculata
Height up to 6in.
Upright root parasite; plant is yellowish brown and lacks chlorophyll. Leaves reduced to 5-10 tiny scales. Flowers 1/2in long, yellow or purple; 5-10 on lin-long stalks (Apr-Aug). Woodland. W of North America.
BROWN BULLHEAD
Ictalurus nebulosus
Total length l8in.
Called Hornpout from spines in pectoral fins used in defense. Brown back grading to yellow with speckled sides and dark barbels. Found in quiet waters of ponds and slow streams over mud, from E coast, W to Dakotas and TX in suitable habitats. Widely introduced elsewhere. Common over range.
BROWN CREEPER
Certhia americana
Total length 5in.
A well-camouflaged, small brown bird, appearing almost mouselike as it runs up trees. It has a long, slender, downward-curving bill. Feeds spiraling up a tree, searching for insects and spiders, then flies to the base of another tree. Call is high pitched "tsee-tsee-tsee." Nests behind loose bark. In winter, often mixes with flocks of chickadees and nuthatches. Widespread from S Canada to N Mexico, breeding in N and Rockies and wintering more widely.
BROWN ELFIN
Caljophrys augustinus
Wingspan lin.
A small brown butterfly. Caterpillars feed on blueberries and azaleas, eating both vegetation and fruits. Found in woodlands and pine barrens. Widespread over North America from AK to TX, absent from the Great Plains.
BROWN PELICAN
Pelecanus occidentalis
Total length 4ft.
Smaller than the White Pelican, and mostly brown with gray back. During the breeding season the adult has an orange-yellow head and the front and back of the neck is rich chocolate. Brown Pelicans are frequently seen flying, and feed by diving on fish. Almost exclusively marine, found on both coasts. Formerly threatened, now recovered.
BROWN RAT
Rattus norvegicus
Total length 18in; tail 8in.
Fur often has a characteristic "greasy" appearance. Generally found close to human habitations, in cities as well as farms and suburbs. A pest species found all over the world, the Brown Rat first reached North America during the Colonial War, and has since spread over most of the US, and as far N as S Canada.
BROWN RECLUSE
Loxosceles reclusa
Total length over 1/2in.
Large, heavy body. Long-lived, particularly the female; a ground-dweller in holes or among rocks. Mygalomorphs are active nocturnal predators of other insects and other invertebrates; may even take small reptiles. Rears on hind legs when threatened. It is found inE and S US.
BROWN SNAKE
Storeria dekayi
Total length 20in.
Small, usually gray, yellowish brown, brown, or reddish brown. Paler belly with small black spots along the sides. Young have a yellowish collar. Feeds mostly on earthworms, slugs, and snails. Found in moist woodland, marshes; margins of swamps, bogs, and ponds; vacant lots, as well as gardens, parks, cemeteries, and golf courses. Widespread from S Canada S to the Florida Keys, through TX and Mexico to Honduras.
BROWN THRASHER
Toxostoma rufum
Total length 11in.
Fairly large, thrushlike bird with a downward-curving bill. Rich brown above, creamy below with extensive streaking. Call note is a harsh "chack." Song a more musical version of the related Catbird's. Usually seen on ground, often noisily feeding among dead leaves under bushes. Found in E North America from S Canada to TX. Northern populations migrate.
BROWN TROUT
Salmo truUa
Total length 3ft.4in.
Brown, with red and black spots encircled in white. Larger and more wary than native Rainbow or Brook Trout; can grow to more than 301b. Feeds on insects, aquatic invertebrates, and fishes. Introduced from Europe; now a widely distributed and often common game fish in cold-water lakes and streams of the N states and Canada.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD
Molothus ater
Total length 8in.
Male has bright red eye and brown head on a black body; female light brown. Common in farmlands, marshes, and suburbs. Brood parasite: lays eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving its host to rear its young. Comes to feeders. Widespread from YT to NF and S through US.
BUCKBEAN
Menyanthes trifoliata
Height up to 9in.
Aquatic perennial. Emergent leaves 4-10in long, trifoliate, and resemble those of broad bean. Flowers l/2in across, star-shaped, pinkish white, and fringed; in open spikes (May-Jul). Shallow water and bogs. AK, Canada and mountains in W US.
BUCKHORN CHOLLA
Opuntia acanthocarpa
Height up to 10ft.
Much-branched cactus. Branches slender and long. Spines with only short sheaths. Flowers lin across; colour variable but usually orange-red or yellowish (Mar-Apr). Fruits 3/4in across and greenish. Deserts of CA, AZ, S NV, and S UT.
BUFFALO
Bison bison
Total length 12ft; tail 18in.
The Bison (also known as Buffalo), is a massive relative of domestic cattle, with dark brown shaggy fur. The calf is active within hours of birth, following the herd with its mother. Although generally known as a plains-dwelling species, some populations lived in woodlands. Once one of the most numerous mammals in North America, and found from S Canada to Mexico and east to VA, the Bison came close to extinction at the end of the 19th century. Numbers have slowly rebuilt, and there are now numerous herds in national and state parks, as well as on private ranches.
BUFFELHEAD
Bucephala albeola
Total length 13in.
Small, compact with a large head. Male has a large white patch on the head; female and immatures grayer with less white. Nests in tree holes in N woodlands and forests. In winter found on open water almost anywhere in the US.
BULBOUS BUTTERCUP
Ranunculus bulbosus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Hairy and branching perennial. Leaves 2-4in across and divided into 3 lobes, each of which is stalked. Flowers lin across with 5 yellow petals and 5 green, reflexed sepals (Apr-Jun). Grassland. Throughout much of North America.
BULL KELP
Nereocystis luetkeana
Length up to 100ft.
Impressive seaweed. A long stalk, attached by holdfast to submerged rocks, ends in airfilled float up to 6in across; suspended from this are strap like fronds. Sub-tidal zone; only the float is visible at surface. Pacific coast.
BULL SHARK
Carcharhinus leucas
Total length 10ft.
Recognized by large dorsal and pectoral fins, short snout, and blunt head, gray above and white below. Eats fish, garbage (at river mouths), rays, and other sharks. Aggressive; attacks bathers and divers. Coastal, and enters estuaries and bays. Found in warm waters from NC S through Gulf.
BULL THISTLE
Cirsium vulgare
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive biennial. Sterns cottony, winged, and spiny between leaves. Leaves 3-6in long, pinnately lobed, and spiny. Flower heads 1-2in across, with purple florets topping ball of spiny bracts (Jul-Sep). Disturbed areas. Throughout North America.
BULLFROG
Ran a catesbeiana
Total length 8in.
The largest frog in North America. Generally greenish or brownish, and the eardrum is very obvious. The male's breeding call is a low resonant call, usually rendered as "jug-orum." Voracious, eating almost any small animal it can swallow. Found around lakes, ponds, and streams. Widely distributed over most of the E of the continent, and has been extensively introduced from CA to BC.
BULLSNAKE
Pituophis melanoleucas
Total length 4ft.to 8ft.
Heavily built, light brown with dark patches on the back and sides. Normally active by day, often nocturnal during the hotter months. Feeds mostly on rodents. When disturbed it sometimes mimics rattlers, hissing, flattening the head, and vibrating the tail, as well as lunging. Generally found in dry woodlands, as well as fields and prairies, desert and other arid habitats. It is found in two main areas: FL and adjacent states, and in the W, but extending to the Great Lakes in the N.
BUMBLEBEE
Megabombus pennsylvanicus
Total length lin.
Bumblebees are large, hairy, black and yellow bees. They nest in the ground or in a natural crevice; some species are solitary but most are colonial. Bumblebees can sting, but generally are not aggressive. They feed on pollen and its products. Commonly seen in flower gardens throughout North America.
BUNCHBERRY
Comus canadensis
Height up to 6in.
Patch-forming plant. Leaves 2-3in long and ovate; in whorls near top of stern. Flowers tiny and yellowish; in cluster surrounded by whorl of white bracts, 1-1/2in across (May-Jul). Fruits are red and berrylike. Damp woods. Canada, AK, and NE US.
BUR REED
Sparganium americanum
Height up to 3ft.
Sedgelike perennial. Leaves 2-3ft.long, bright green, linear, and keeled. Small male flower heads above 5-9 spherical female flower heads lin across (May-Jul). Margins of still and standing fresh water. Widespread in North America.
BURROWING OWL
Athene cunicularia
Total length 9in.
Small, diurnal, often seen on the ground or perched on fence posts. Brown, heavily spotted with white, comparatively long legs. White eyebrows give it a fierce expression. Feeds mostly on insects. Found in open prairies and deserts, and on golf courses and parks. Confined to Great Plains and the Rockies from S Canada to Mexico; also Florida.
BUSH-HONEYSUCKLE
Diervilla sessilifolia
Height up to 5ft.
Bushy shrub. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate, toothed, and opposite. Flowers 3/4in long, tubular, 5-lobed, and yellow; in clusters (Jun-Aug). Upland woodlands. SE of North America. Similar northern bush-honeysuckle L. lonicera found in NE of North America.
BUSHTIT
Psaltriparus minimus
Total length 4in.
Similar to chickadee, but with a proportionally longer tail. Coloring is variable, but generally grayish, with green wings; some populations have blackish faces, others greenish, and some have pink on the flanks. It is found from SW Canada to CA, TX, and Mexico, where it may be seen in noisy, active, fast-moving foraging flocks.
BUTTER-AND-EGGS
Linaria vulgaris
Height up to 4ft.
Upright and branched gray-green perennial. Leaves 1-2in long and grasslike. Flowers lin long, long-spurred, yellow but orange-centered; in terminal clusters (May-Sep). Grassy places. Non-native, now widespread in temperate parts of North America.
BUTTERFLY WEED
Asclepias tuberosa
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive hairy plant; flowers popular with insects. Leaves 3-6in long, ovate and opposite. Flowers l/2in across, orange with 5 reflexed petals and projecting crown; in heads (Jun-Sep). Free-draining soils. SE Canada and E US, W to CO.
BUTTERNUT
Juglans cinerea
Height up to 70ft.
Domed and open-crowned deciduous tree. Leaves pinnate with 11-17 ovate leaflets, each 2-4in long. Flowers small and greenish; sexes separate. Damp soils. Widespread in E US as far S as MO to NE.
BUTTONBUSH
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Height up to 20ft.
Multi-stemmed, spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, ovate, shiny green above, paler below. Flowers tubular and white; in clustered balls, 1-2in across. Fruits lin across brown balls. Damp ground. Native E US; planted elsewhere.
CABBAGE LOOPER
Trichoplusia ni
Wingspan lin.
The Cabbage Looper is one of a very large family of moths found throughout S Canada and North America. They are generally small and brown or gray in color. The larvae move like inchworms. The larvae of some species are major commercial pests and gardeners are familiar with these as cutworms.
CABBAGE PALMETTO
Sabal palmetto
Height up to 40ft.
Evergreen with broad trunk. Leaves 5-7ft.long, broad, and fan-shaped with long narrow leaflets. Flowers small and whitish; in clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, black berries; in clusters. Native to S and coastal FL; also coastal GA and SE.
CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE
Aesculus californica
Height up to 25ft.
Broadly domed deciduous tree. Leaves 4-7 in long, palmate with usually 5 ovate leaflets. Flowers lin long with 5 pink petals and long stamens; in clusters. Fruits 2-3in long smooth, splitting capsules; 1 shiny brown seed. Native to CA.
CALIFORNIA CONE
Conus californicus
Total length lin.
Conical shaped at spire; reddish-brown periostracum. Has poison gland and tooth to inject venom into its prey, which can include worms and also small fish. Found from central CA S; the only cone found on the W coast. Similar species, Alphabet Cone (c. spurius], is common from FL through the Gulf. 2in long with a long, straight aperture. Varies greatly in color; orange and white.
CALIFORNIA GRUNION
Leuresthes tenuis
Total length 7in.
Long and silvery with two small dorsal fins. Spawns on sand beaches of CA and Mexico each spring and summer. Female digs into the sand, tail first, to lay, and male fertilizes eggs through the sand. Egg laying coincides with high tides after full and new moons; hatching occurs 2 weeks later on next series of high tides.
CALIFORNIA GULL
Larus californicus
Total length 21in.
Very similar to the Herring Gull but smaller. Like many other gulls, the California Gull takes four years to acquire adult plumage. Omnivorous but during breeding eats mostly insects. Nests in colonies. Breeds inland on the Great Plains and Rockies, wintering on the Pacific coast.
CALIFORNIA LADY BEETLE
Coccinella californica
Total length 1/4in.
The ladybird beetles are small, round to oval in shape, and often red in color with black spots. They eat aphids and are considered to be one of the most beneficial groups of abundant beetles throughout North America. The California Lady Beetle is unspotted, with a black head and red el ytra. The beetles often hibernate in groups and can be found in the corners of door frames, window sashes, and any other protected places. It is found in WUS.
CALIFORNIA MANTIS
Stagmomantis californica
Total length 1 1/2in.
Green in color and absolutely distinctive. Often called Praying Mantis because the welldeveloped front legs are held like arms in prayer. With them, the mantis catches and holds its prey, which it eats immediately. Praying mantis are ambush feeders and very effective at killing and eating grasshoppers and other garden pests; they are for sale commercially through some garden outlets. Their natural habitat is low vegetation, and gardens are ideal places to find this. They are found from S Canada to Mexico.
CALIFORNIA MORAY
Gymnothorax mordax
Total length 5ft.
Brown or green in color with some mottling on the sides. No pectoral or pelvic fins. A nocturnal hunter of fish, octopus, and other invertebrates. Will bite severely when threatened. Found in shallow waters in rocks or crevices. The W coast equivalent ofthe Green Moray.
CALIFORNIA MUSSEL
Mytilis californian us
Total length 4in.
Larger than Blue Mussel, and shell has obvious ribs. Forms into dense masses on pilings and rocks where it is the favorite food of sea stars, fish, and birds. Capable of concentrating toxins and causing disease: it is important to eat only mussels from a reliable source. It is found from AK to CA.
CALIFORNIA PITCHER PLANT
Darlingtonia californica
Height up to 3ft.
Bizarre-looking carnivorous plant. Leaves 5-20in long, fresh green, tubular, with hooded tips. Flowers 2-3in long with 5 greenish sepals and 5 dark red petals; pendant on long stalk (Apr-Aug). Upland and coastal bogs. OR and N CA.
CALIFORNIA POPPY
Eschscholzia californica
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive wayside plant. Leaves 1-2in long, blue-green, and divided into narrow segments. Flowers 1-2in across with 4 yellow or orange-yellow petals; open fully only in bright sunlight (Feb-Aug). CA, OR, and WA. Also widely cultivated.
CALIFORNIA QUAIL
Callipepla californica
Total length l0in.
Like the Bobwhite in habits, with distinct head plume on both sexes. Male is gray, white and black on the head and neck. Large coveys found in winter. Nests on the ground. Confined to CA, nearby states and Mexico in chaparral, open woodland, farmland and scrub near fresh water.
CALIFORNIA RED FIR
Abies magnifica
Height up to 120ft.
Attractive evergreen conifer with tapering conical outline and rounded tip. Needles 4 sided, curved, and blue-green with white lines; in 2 upward-pointing rows. Cones upright, purple-brown, and cylindrical. Mountains of CA and SW Nevada.
CALIFORNIA SEA CUCUMBER
Stichopus californicus
Total length 12in.
Cucumber-shaped, 2in in diameter. Rows of feet on underside for locomotion. Usually quite colorful: reds, greens, blues, and gray. Occasionally has long projections coming from the body. Often not recognized as an animal when first found along the shore. Ingests mud and debris to extract organic material; can process large volumes. Sea cucumbers are a large and varied group found on sand or mud bottoms subtidally on both coasts.
CALIFORNIA TORREYA
Torreya californica
Height up to 70ft. Broadly conical evergreen. Unpleasantly aromatic. Leaves narrow, pointed-tipped; paired and borne in 2 rows. Seeds resemble nutmegs hence alternative name California-nutmeg. Favours wooded mountain slopes in N CA.
CALIFORNIA WASHINGTONIA
Washingtonia filifera
Height up to 60ft. Evergreen with huge trunk. Leaves 4-5ft.long with narrow leaflets; dead leaves remain hanging. Flowers 1/2in long, white; in clusters. Fruits 1/2in long, black, berrylike, clustered. Native to SW US (stream courses); planted elsewhere in S.
CALYPSO FAIRY SLIPPER
Calypso bulbosa
Height up to 8in.
Charming forest orchid. Single basal leaf, 3in long, ovate and stalked, appears in fall and withers next spring. Flowers 1-2in across and pinkish, expanded lower lip with yellow hairs; 1-2 on stalk (May-Jul). Conifer woods. Canada and N US.
CANADA ANEMONE (MEADOW ANEMONE)
Anemone canadensis
Height up to 9in.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long, deeply divided, arising from base. Flowers 1-2in across with 5 white petal-like sepals and numerous yellow stamens (Apr-May). Prairies. E of Rocky Mountains, E to NJ and QU, S to NM.
CANADA GOLDENROD
Solidago canadensis
Height up to 5ft.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 3-5in long, lanceolate, and hairy. Flower heads small and yellowish; in clusters on curved branches (May-Sep). Grassland and woodland clearings. Widespread throughout much of the North America.
CANADA GOOSE
Branta canadensis
Total length 3ft.9in
All Canada Geese have the distinctive dark head and neck with a pure white chin patch. Size variable, with particularly small birds breeding in the high Arctic. Voice variable, from a high cackle to low honk. The most widespread and familiar goose in North America.
CANADA LILY
Lilium canadense
Height up to 6ft.
Bulbous perennial. Leaves 3-6in long, narrow, and in whorls. Flowers 2-3in across, bellshaped with 6 petal-like segments recurved at mouth, orange or red and dark-spotted inside; nodding, in open clusters (Jun-Aug). Damp ground. E of North America.
CANADA MAYFLOWER
Maianthemum canadense
Height up to 1ft.
Charming, patch-forming perennial. Leaves (1-3 only) 2-3in long and narrow heartshaped. Flowers small, star-shaped, and white; in clustered spikes (May-Jun). Upland and northern woods. NE of North America, S to GA in mountains.
CANADA THISTLE
Cirsium arvense
Height up to 3ft.
Creeping perennial with upright, unwinged sterns. Leaves 5-7in long, pinnately lobed, and spiny. Flower heads lin across and pinkish lilac; in clusters (Jun-Sep). Flowers popular with insects. Grassland and disturbed areas. Throughout North America.
CANADIAN LYNX
Lynx canadensis
Total length up to 3ft.6in; tail 5in.
Similar to the Bobcat, but with longer fur, less distinctly spotted. Prominent ear tufts. The tail tip is black above and below. Less vocal than the Bobcat, but has a piercing scream and a catlike wail. The Lynx lives mostly in dense forest and preys mostly on the Snowshoe Hare, and also on other small mammals and birds. Large well-furred paws help it to run in thick snow. Range confined to the N.
CANARY ISLAND DATE
Phoenix canariensis
Height up to 50ft.
Evergreen with scaly trunk due to leaf-stalk scars. Leaves 15-20ft.long with numerous narrow leaflets; leaf stalks spiny. Flowers small, whitish, and clustered. Fruits 3/4in-long edible dates; in clusters. Planted widely in S US.
CANVASBACK
Aythya valisineria
Total length 21in.
One of the largest diving ducks, bigger and whiter than Redhead. Sloping forehead and bill are distinctive. Gregarious, often concentrating in large rafts in bays and estuaries. Breeds from N states to AK. Winters S and E.
CANYON LIVE OAK
Quercus chrysolepis
Height up to 100ft.
Spreading evergreen. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate to elliptical, shiny green above, often downy yellow below. Acorns 1-2in long, ovoid with scaly and hairy cup. Free-draining canyon slopes. Pacific coasts of CA and S OR; also mountains AR.
CARBON ANTLERS
Xylaria hypoxylon
Height up to 2in.
Widespread and common woodland fungus. Flattened, antler-shaped sterns arise from dead wood; they start off white but gradually blacken as they mature. Usually grows in clusters on stumps. Found all year. Throughout North America.
CARBON BALLS
Daldinia concentrica
Up to 2in across.
Forms hard, knobbly balls on bark of dead and dying branches of deciduous trees. Surface is usually shiny black and fungus is brittle. Concentric rings revealed in cross-section. Found all year. Widespread; absent from hot, dry southern parts.
CARDINAL
Cardinalis cardinalis
Total length 9in.
Male bright red with darker wings, a black face, and red crest. Female and young brownish, with red on wings and tail. Comes to feeders for sunflower seeds. Common over much of US; absent in the W. Range has expanded N due to climate change.
CARDINAL FLOWER
Lobelia cardinalis
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive upright perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, lanceolate, and toothed. Flowers 1-2in long and scarlet; in tall spikes up to 1-1/2ft.tall (Jul-Oct). Damp ground and shady places. Widespread in E and S of North America.
CARIBOU
Rangifer tarandus
Total length 6ft.9in; tail 8in.
Known in the Old World as the Reindeer, the Caribou is adapted to living in extreme conditions. Unusually among the deer family, both sexes carry antlers, although those of the female are smaller than the male's. Caribou are very gregarious, often forming large herds. Most populations are migratory, some covering several hundred miles between their summer and winter feeding grounds. Confined to Canada and the N of the US.
CARP
Cyprinlls carpio
Total length 4ft.
Green body with white belly; two fleshy barbels hang from upper lip; large scales. Grows to over 70lb and can live more than 40 years. Feeds on vegetation, often destroying native habitat. Lays over a million eggs. An abundant Eurasian species introduced to US over 100 years ago; now found throughout S Canada and US except FL.
CASPIAN TERN
Sterna caspica
Total length 21in
The largest tern in North America, with a massive red bill, black feet and legs. During the breeding season the adult has a black cap. Confused with the Royal Tern which has a slimmer, orange bill. Nests in small colonies on beaches and islands, or in marshes. Summer breeders are found on both coasts and inland.
CATALPA
Catalpa bignoides
Height up to 50ft.
Deciduous tree. Leaves 6-10in long, heart-shaped, in 3s. Flowers 1-2in long, bell-shaped, 5 white lobes with orange and purple marks. Fruits 6-12in long, cylindrical, podlike. Damp ground. Native SE US; planted widely and cultivated.
CATBIRD
Dumetella carolinensis
Total length 8in.
A relative of the Mockingbird. Uniform dark gray, black cap and tail, and rufous under the tail. Frequently cocks its tail, giving a catlike mewing call which it intersperses in its song. Excellent mimic. Skulks in thick vegetation. Widespread over E North America.
CATNIP
Nepeta cataria
Height up to 3ft.
Grayish white downy perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, heart-shaped, toothed, stalked, and opposite. Flowers l/2in long and pale lilac; in terminal clusters (Jun-Sep). Waysides and roadsides. Non-native but now widespread. Widely cultivated.
CATTLE EGRET
Bubulcus ibis
Total length 20in.
A small, white heron often tinged on the head with yellow-cream. In the breeding season the bill is bright orange-yellow, but yellow the rest of the time. Nests in colonies with other egrets and herons. The Cattle Egret was an Old World species which colonized North America in the 1950s. Now found throughout the US into Canada and still expanding.
CEDAR WAXWING
Bombycilla cedrorum
Total length 7in.
Plumage warm, pale brown, yellow on the belly. Distinctive crest. Black face mask, tail tipped bright yellow. The young are heavily streaked. Gathers in large flocks in winter. Feeds extensively on fruits and berries, in summer eats flowers and insects. Widespread over N US and S Canada, migrating S in winter.
CELANDINE
Chelidonium majus
Height up to 3ft.
Upright, brittle-stemmed perennial. Leaves 5-8in long, gray-green, and pinnately divided. Flowers 3/4in across with 4 bright yellow, non-overlapping petals (Apr-Aug). Margins of woodland and roadsides. Non-native, widespread in E of North America.
CHAIN PICKEREL
Esox niger
Total length 2ft.
A long fish, round in cross section, with dorsal fin far back in front of the tail; black bar straight below the eye, green with darker chain pattern down length of sides. Feeds on other fishes, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates. Aggressive, important predator. Introduced widely. Found in E in clear, shallow rivers, ponds, and lakes with vegetated borders.
CHAINFRUIT CHOLLA
Opuntia fulgida
Height up to l5ft.
Extremely spiny cactus. Mature specimens comprise a tall dark trunk supporting a muchdivided network of branches. Spines are silvery-sheathed. Flowers 1/2-lin across and purple (Mar-Apr). Fruits ovoid, green, and in chains. Deserts of S AZ.
CHANNEL CATFISH
Ictalurus punctatus
Total length 4ft.
Like Blue Catfish (Ictaillrus fllrcatlls) but with rounded, not straight-edged anal fin, blueblack fading to white below; white barbels. Young green with black spots. Feeds on invertebrates and fish. The most widespread and abundant large catfish in rivers and reservoirs with deep pools. Found in E and central states from S Canada to Gulf of Mexico.
CHANNELED WHELK
Busycon canaliculala
Total length 8in.
One of the largest Atlantic coast snails. Distinguished from other whelks by a deep, channel-like groove running along the base of each whorl. Aperture brownish yellow; shell dirty white to cream. Covered with thin periostracum usually eroded away in large specimens. An active predator. Found from Cape Cod to FL on sandy bottoms.
CHANTERELLE
Cantharellus cibarius
Height up to 4in.
Prized edible fungus. Smells of apricots. Cap bright yellow; rounded at first, becoming funnel-shaped with age. Gill-like ribs run down tapering, short stern. Undisturbed woodland. Throughout North America but time of appearance varies with location.
CHESTNUT COWRY
Cypraea spadicea
Total length 1-2in.
Distinguished from other cowries by having solid brown or chestnut back and bluishwhite bottom. Shell oval. Teeth flank the aperture on the underside of cowries; their color, number and size are helpful in identification. Chestnut Cowry's teeth are white. The only cowry found on the W coast.
CHICKEN MUSHROOM
Laetiporus sulphureus
Up to 2ft.across
Fruiting bodies comprise leathery brackets, up to 2in thick. Upper surface sulfur-yellow; underside orange-yellow and covered with pores. Often grows in overlapping tiers. On deciduous trees (Jul-Nov). Widespread; absent far Nand SW.
CHICKEN TURTLE
Deirochelys reticularia
Total length l0in.
Long-necked, with characteristic striping on the neck. The rear of the thighs are also striped with pale and dark stripes. Widely distributed from VA to TX; generally in ponds, lakes, and swamps, not rivers or flowing waters.
CHICKWEED
Stellaria media
Height up to 8in.
Much-branched non-native annual; often prostrate and spreading. Leaves lin long, oval, fresh green, and in opposite pairs; upper leaves unstalked. Flowers 1/4in across, 5 deeply divided white petals (all year). Disturbed areas throughout North America.
CHICORY
Cichorum intybus
Height up to 3ft.
Branched and stiff perennial. Lower leaves 2-5in long, stalked, and lobed; upper ones smaller, narrow, and clasping. Flower heads 1-2in across and sky blue (Jun-Sep). Bare grassy places and roadsides. Non-native, now locally common throughout North America.
CHIGGER (HARVEST MITE)
Trombicula sp.
Total length 1/100in.
Mites are parasites or blood predators usually too small to see with the naked eye. They burrow into the skin, feeding on blood and body fluids before dropping off. Bites itch, and scratching them can lead to secondary infection. Attracted to tight areas such as around the belt or the tops of socks. Found in S US.
CHIMNEY SWIft.
Chaetura pelagica
Total length 5in.
A cigar-shaped, fast-flying bird with wings held stiff. Nests in chimneys, on cliffs, in barns, or in hollow trees. Noisy in flight. Widespread summer breeder over most of North America E of the Rockies. In the W replaced by the similar, but smaller and paler, Vaux's Swift.
CHINA ROCKFISH
Sebastes nebulosus
Total length 15in.
A handsome species; black with a broad yellow band from the dorsal fin along the side with much yellow spotting. Territorial under rocky ledges and crevices. Unwary, but not much sought by anglers. A common solitary species in AK, diminishing in abundance S to N CA.
CHINOOK SALMON
Oncorhynchus tsahwytscha
Total length 5ft.
Also called King Salmon, this is the largest salmon, weighing up to over l00lb. Silvery gray, becoming darker with age. Despite its loss from many areas, it is still one of the most important food and game fishes in North America. All spawning salmon are a critical food source for bears, eagles and other predators. Found on the entire Pacific coast to Mexico, rarer in the S. Goes far inland to spawn in large rivers and streams.
CHOKECHERRY
Prunus virginiana
Height up to 20ft.
Branching, often multi-trunked shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-3in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white petals; in spikelike clusters. Fruits 1/2in across blackish chokecherries. Across N US and S Canada.
CHORUS FROG, NORTHERN
Pseudacris triseriata
Total length 11in.
A small tree frog without toe pads that is extremely difficult to see, although its chorus is a familiar sound. The call is like a fingernail clicking the teeth of a comb. Markings distinctive, with dark stripes on a pale background. There is always a stripe through the eye, but other stripes and blotches are variable. It has an extensive range over much of North America, extending N into the Northwest Territories of Canada, and S through the Great Plains to TX, and E to NJ.
CHUCKWALLA
Sauromalus obesus
Total length 16in.
One of the largest lizards in North America. Heavily built, dark slate gray, blackish at the front, becoming reddish or yellowish towards the tail. Female and young are often banded with grayish or yellowish. Strictly vegetarian. Confined to rocky desert areas of the sw.
CINEREOUS SHREW
Sorex cinereus
Total length 4in; tail 2in.
One of the most widespread shrews in North America. A relatively small species, brown above, gray below, with a distinctive two-tone tail, dark above and pale below. Like all shrews it is voracious, eating its own weight in insects, slugs, spiders, and other invertebrates each day. Widespread in most habitats in N North America, extending S through the Rockies to northern NM.
CINNAMON TEAL
Anas cyanoptera
Total length 16in.
A small dabbling duck. The male is easily identified by rich cinnamon coloring, but the female is virtually indistinguishable from the female Blue-winged Teal. Cinnamon Teal is confined to western North America, breeding as far N as S Canada; most migrate, to winter S of the US border. Year-round resident in CA.
CIVIL BLUET
Enallagma civile
Total length up to lin.
Head, thorax and abdomen blue with black on top. Wings clear. Slender species. Lives along sandy shores of clear lakes and ponds. One of a large family of damsels and one of the most widespread and common of the North American species.
CLADONIA LICHEN
Cladonia sp.
Spreading. A widespread genus represented by numerous similar species found among low-growing vegetation in habitats ranging from coastal dunes to mountain tops. Form encrusting patches, cushions or mats covered with gray-white scales. Some species have erect stalks topped with red spore-producing bodies. Widespread across N North America
CLAM WORM
Nereis virens
Total length12in.
Has over zoo body segments and may reach over l2in long, but most are smaller. Excellent burrower in sand or mud and can swim rapidly in open water. Nocturnal predator on other marine worms and invertebrates. One of the best known of the marine worms because it is used as fish bait on the E coast. Found from S Canada to Chesapeake Bay.
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER
Nucifraga columbiana
Total length 12in.
Named after the explorer of the American West. A noisy and often conspicuous bird. Pale gray with a white outer tail, and black wings with white patch. Most common near the treeline in coniferous forests. Populations can build, and erupt into lower elevations, but found mainly in the mountains of the W.
CLEAVERS
Galium aparine
Height up to 4ft.
Sprawling annual. Prickles aid plant's scrambling progress. Leaves 1-3in long and lanceolate; in whorls of 6-8. Flowers tiny and white; from leaf axils (May-Jul). Fruits have hooked bristles. Widespread in E and Pacific states.
CLIFF PENSTEMON
Penstemon rupicola
Creeping. Charming patch-forming perennial. Leaves up to 3/4in long, ovate, and opposite. Flowers up to 3/4in long, pink, tubular, and 2-lipped, lower lip 3-lobed, upper 2-lobed; on stalks 3-4in tall (May-Aug). Rocky places. WA, OR, and N CA.
CLIFF SWALLOW
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Total length 5in.
Somewhat like a Barn Swallow but has a shorter, slightly forked tail and a pale rump. A colonial nester on cliffs, under bridges, and also adapted to buildings. Nest is made from pellets of mud lined with grasses and feathers. Up to 6 creamy white eggs. Widespread over most of the continent.
CLIMBING BITTERSWEET
Celastrus scan dens
Climbing. Vigorous, twining vine. Leaves 2-4in long and ovate. Flowers tiny and greenish; in terminal clusters 3-5in long (May-Jun). Orange fruits contain red berrylike seeds inside. Woodland. E of North America.
CLOUDED SULFUR
Colias philodice
Wingspan 2in.
Clear pale yellow with black edges to the wings; a small black spot on the forewing, and small orange spot on the hindwing. It is widespread over most of North America, in open grassy habitats. The caterpillars feed on white clover and other related species.
CLOUDLESS SULFUR
Phoebis sennae
Wingspan 2in.
The male has almost pure yellow wings; the female is yellow or white with some black spots around the edges and a black spot in the middle of the forewing. The caterpillars are yellow or pale green with narrow black bands, and feed on clovers and their relatives. Widespread over the US, particularly in the S.
COAST FLATSTEM ONION
Allium falcifolium
Height up to 6in.
Low-growing, bulbous perennial. Leaves up to 6in long, narrow, flat and tapering. Flowers up to lin long and pinkish purple; borne on short, flattish sterns (May-Jun). Bare, often stony ground, especially on base-rich soils near the sea. Coastal districts in W North America, mainly CA.
COAST LIVE OAK
Quercus agrifolia
Height up to 80ft.
Domed, spreading evergreen with broad-based trunk. Leaves ovate to elliptical, toothed, dark green above, downy yellowish below. Acorns up to 1 1/2in long, narrow-ovoid with scaly cup; stalkless. Valley slopes, coastal CA.
COAST REDWOOD
Sequoia sempervirens
Height up to 300ft.
Immense evergreen conifer; world's tallest tree. Lower trunk bare, crown narrowly conical. Leaves either narrow, 1/2-lin long, flat, and pointed or small and scalelike. Cones ½-lin long, elliptical. Coastal S OR, S to central CA.
COCKLEBUR
Xanthium strumarium
Height up to 5ft.
Roughly hairy upright plant. Leaves 3-6in long, broadly triangular, maplelike and bristly. Flowers in egg-shaped burs, lin long, armed with stiff hooked hairs. Disturbed areas. Widespread in both E and W.
COCKROACH
Periplaneta americana
Total length 2in.
The American Cockroach is twice as big as the Oriental Cockroach. Antennae are half again the body length, and sensitive. Light brown in color. Native to the American South. Cockroaches are abundant in wild habitat throughout the S. Only a few species enter homes, where they become pests.
COHO SALMON
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Total length 3ft.
Blue above and silvery below with black spot on back and tail. Changes color for spawning run to green, red, and black, then dies. Ascends rivers from AK to Mexico to spawn on gravelly streams. Introduced to Great Lakes. One of North America's most important game fish.
COLLARED EARTHSTAR
Ceastrum triplex
Up to 4in across.
Extraordinary-looking fungus. Initially, fruit body resembles an onion. Outer layer then splits into 4-7 segments that fold back and eventually lift.central orb off ground. Spores expelled via pore. Open woods (Aug-Nov). Widespread in North America.
COLLARED LIZARD
Crotaphytus collaris
Total length 14in.
Most of the body and tail is bluish green, heavily spotted, usually with dark bands, and a series of light and dark bands around the neck. The pregnant female has orange spots on her sides. She lays up to 12 eggs in sandy soil, under stones, or in a burrow. Feeds on flowers, insects, and lizards. Found in arid rocky areas, forests, and limestone hills of the Sw.
COLLARED PECCARY
Pecari tajacu
Total length 3ft.6in; tail 2in.
Also known as the Javelina, the Peccary is superficially similar in appearance to the domestic hog, but with a very small tail and a pale "collar." It feeds on a wide range of fruit, such as prickly pears, squashes, also tubers and roots, as well as snakes, lizards, mice, and ground-nesting birds. In the fall it often eats acorns. It breeds in most months of the year, and has litters of 2-6. Peccaries are often gregarious, and in the past were found in herds ("sounders") of 1,000 or more, although at present groups of more than 30 are unusual. It is found in S AZ, S TX, and S NM, and S to South America.
COLTSFOOT
Tussilago farfara
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Creeping perennial. Leaves 5-8in across and heart-shaped; appear after flowers have bloomed. Flower heads lin across and yellow; borne on scaly sterns (Feb-May). Bare, often disturbed areas. NE of North America.
COMMON (GRAY) TREE FROG
Hyla versicolor
Total length 2in.
There are actually two species of Gray Tree Frog: H. versicolor and H. chrysoscelis (Cope's Gray Tree Frog), which are almost identical in appearance. Skin of both is warty; usually gray, it can be greenish, pale brown, and have dark blotches. Both have high-pitched trills, but that of H. versicolor is slower. Found in trees, coming to ground level only to breed. Their ranges overlap extensively over most of E North America from S Canada to TX.
COMMON ATLANTIC OCTOPUS
Octopus vulgaris
Total length 6-8ft.across.
A spectacular mollusk without a shell. Its eight arms have strong suckers up to lin in diameter on the underside. Arm length may reach 3ft. Difficult to keep in captivity, amazing escape artists; very strong. Octopus are excellent swimmers, and voracious predators of crabs and other crustaceans. They can change color to match the ocean bottom. This species is found on rock or mixed rock-sand bottoms, subtidally, from Long Island Sound S to the West Indies.
COMMON BARBERRY
Berberis vulgaris
Height up to 8ft.
Spiny-stemmed shrub. Leaves 2-3in long, ovate, and in clusters. Flowers 1/4in across, yellow with 6 sepals and 6 petals; in pendant clusters (May-June). Fruits ovoid, ripening red. Scrub habitats. NE US and SE Canada.
COMMON BLUE VIOLET
Viola papilionacea
Height up to 8in.
Delicate, low-growing plant. Leaves 3-5in across, heart-shaped, and toothed. Flowers l/2in across, blue or white with 5 veined petals (Mar-Jun). Damp grassland and woodland. Widespread in E of North America, S to TX.
COMMON BUCKEYE
Junonia coenia
Wingspan 2in.
Inconspicuous with closed wings, but when they open, the eyed appearance is startling. There are two broods; the second, which overwinters, is larger and dull red on the underwing. The caterpillars feed on foxgloves, plantains, toadflax, and other plants. Resident in the southern states of the US, migrating N in summer.
COMMON BURDOCK
Arctium minus
Height up to 3ft.
Branched biennial. Leaves up to 1-1/2ft, downy, and heart-shaped. Flower heads up to lin long, ovoid, prickly, and purplish; in open clusters (Jul-Oct). Seed heads prickly. Roadsides, woods and disturbed areas. Widespread in Canada and E US.
COMMON BUTTERCUP
Ranunculus acris
Height up to 3ft.
Branched and hairy perennial. Lower leaves 2-4in long, rounded, and divided into 3-7 lobes; upper leaves unstalked and smaller. Flowers lin across with 5 shiny yellow petals and 5 green sepals (May-Sep). Grassland and disturbed areas throughout North America.
COMMON BUTTERWORT
Pinguicula vulgaris
Height up to 6in.
Carnivorous plant. Basal rosette of yellowish green sticky leaves, 1-2in long and ovate; trap and digest insects. Flowers 1/2in across, violet, and spurred; on slender stalks (Apr-Aug). Bogs. Pacific states and provinces, and across Canada.
COMMON CATTAIL
Typha latifolia
Height up to 9ft.
Impressive sedgelike plant. Leaves gray-green, lin wide, and very long. Flower spikes comprise brown, sausagelike array of female flowers with narrow spire of male flowers above (Jun-Aug). Margins of fresh water. Widespread in North America.
COMMON CHOKECHERRY
Prunus virginiana
Height up to 20ft.
Branching, often multi-trunked shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-3in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white petals; in spikelike clusters. Fruits 1/2in across blackish chokecherries. Across N US and S Canada.
COMMON DANDELION
Taraxacum officinale
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Variable perennial. Leaves up to 1ft.long, lobed, spoon-shaped and forming basal rosette. Flower heads 1-2in across and yellow; on hollow sterns that yield milky sap if broken (Mar-Sep). Grassy places. Widespread except in far Nand S.
COMMON EIDER
Somateria mollissima
Total length 2ft.
A large duck with a sloping forehead and pointed bill. Male has sharply contrasting black and white plumage. Female has rich browns with intricate darker patterning. Nest is lined with down from the breast which is still harvested in some places: eiderdown makes the finest duvets and quilts. Feeds on mussels and other mollusks. Nests in colonies in far N, expanding S to New England. Winters on E coast and AK.
COMMON FIBRE VASE
Thelophora terrestris
Up to 2in across.
Fruiting bodies are reddish brown fans that darken with age; in overlapping whorls or clusters. Surface is covered with radiating fibres that overhang edge as white margin. Grows on ground, usually under pines (all year). N of North America.
COMMON FLEABANE
Erigeron philadelphicus
Height up to 3ft.
Branched, downy plant. Leaves 2-5in long, oblong, and clasping. Flower heads up to lin across, daisy like with pale pink ray florets and yellow disc florets (Apr-Jul). Woods and grassland. Widespread across much of the North America.
COMMON GALLINULE
Callinula chloropus
Total length 14in.
Blackish gray with white under tail and on the flanks, bright red forehead and bill, and long yellow legs which dangle in flight. Young brown. Favors dense vegetation in wetland habitats. Widespread breeder in the E to S Canada; more scattered in W. Declining.
COMMON GARTER SNAKE
Thamnophis sirtalis
Total length 4ft.
Highly variable coloring, but back and side stripes are usually well defined, and red blotches or a double row of alternating black spots are often present between stripes. Feeds on amphibians and earthworms, and occasionally small fish and mice. It is bad-tempered when captured, biting or expelling musk. Gives birth to up to B5 live young. The most widely distributed snake in North America. Found from Atlantic to Pacific coasts, except in the desert regions of the SW, usually near water.
COMMON GOLDENEYE
Bucephala clangula
Total length 18in.
In flight this diving duck has a characteristic whistle created by the wing feathers. Male has black head with an oval white spot and a black and white body. Female gray with a rich brown head. Nests in tree holes close to lakes and ponds. Winters on both coasts. Breeds below the tree line from AK to Newfoundland, wintering S across most of the US.
COMMON GOOSENECK BARNACLE
Lepas anatifera
Total length up to 6in.
Has a long black stalk topped with white shell and body mass. Hangs down, sifting the water for food with its legs. Commonly attached to floating debris, floats, moorings, and ships. Found from AK to Mexico.
COMMON GRACKLE
Quiscalus quiscala
Total length 13in.
Male large, black, long-tailed; female dark brown and black. Male has bronze iridescence in E, purple in S. Tail keel-shaped. Abundant, comes to feeders on migration. Widespread E of Rockies from S Canada to TX. Larger Boat-tailed Grackle (Q. major) is found in SE; Great-tailed Grackle (Q. mexican us] in TX and Sw.
COMMON GREEN DARTER
Axas junius
Total length up to 3in.
One of the most vibrant and largest of the easily seen dragonflies. Abdomen bright blue with black on top, including the tail tip. Thorax and head bright green; wings clear. Common on shorelines of ponds and lakes with significant vegetation. Strong flyer and active mosquito predator. Larvae are aquatic, themselves voracious predators. Found throughout North America from AK to Mexico.
COMMON GROUND DOVE
Columbina passerina
Total length 6in.
Tiny, plump with a short tail. Feathers on head and breast look scaly; in flight the wings are reddish brown. Call is a monotonous, repeated "woo-woo." Range from Mexico N to FL and adjacent states in the E and CA in the W. Declining.
COMMON JUNIPER
Juniperus communis
Height up to 4ft.
Spreading, evergreen shrub. Leaves 1/2in long, narrow, and pointed, white above and yellowish below; in 3s. Cones 1/2in across, berrylike, and bluish white when ripe. Upland slopes. Widespread Canada and AK; mountains only elsewhere in US.
COMMON KING SNAKE
Lampropeltis getulus
Total length up to 7ft.
Large, chocolate brown to black with a very variable pattern. Light-centered scales may form distinct patterns on the back. Belly can be plain white, heavily blotched, or black. The female lays up to 24 creamy white eggs. Found in a wide variety of habitats including pine barrens, swamps, dry rocky hillsides, and coastal marshes, as well as prairies, desert, and chaparral. Found from NJ to FL, and W to the Pacific from OR to Baja CA and Mexico.
COMMON LACCARlA
Laccaria laccata
Height up to 3in.
Variable fungus. Cap usually orange-brown and irregularly rounded, often distorted. Gills pinkish buff and stern twisted, fibrous and same color as cap. Among leaf litter in woods and open places (Jul-Oct). Widespread in North America.
COMMON LOON
Gavia immer
Total length 2ft.8in.
Large, swims low in the water. Large, pointed daggerlike bill. Breeding adult has a distinctive black head and neck with a barred collar. The call is a plaintive yodeling wail, which can be heard all year. An expert diver, feeding on fish. Breeds on northern lakes and ponds. Migrates S in winter.
COMMON LOUSEWORT
Pedicularis canadensis
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Upright hairy plant. Leaves 2-4in long, oblong in outline but deeply divided into toothed lobes; often tinged red. Flowers 3/4in long, tubular, hooded, and red or yellow; in terminal clusters (Apr-Jun). Open woodland. E US and S Canada.
COMMON MERGANSER
Mergus merganser
Total length 2ft.lin.
Large with a long, thin, red bill with a hooked tip. Male's glossy green-black head contrasts with mostly white body. Female and juveniles have red-brown heads. Nests in tree holes in woodlands. Winters on lakes and rivers. Breeds from AK to NF, wintering further S.
COMMON MILKWEED
Asclepias syriaca
Height up to 6ft.
Branched woolly plant with milky sap. Leaves 5-10in long, oblong and opposite. Flowers l/2in across with 5 reflexed pink petals and whitish central 'crown'; in clustered heads (Jun-Aug). Dry, grassy places. S Canada and N US, W to SK and IA.
COMMON MORNING GLORY
Ipomoea purpurea
Climbing. Twining plant with sterns up to 10ft.long. Leaves 2-4in long, heart-shaped and stalked. Flowers 2in across, trumpet-shaped, and red, blue, purple. or white (Jun-Nov). Disturbed and cultivated ground. Non-native, now widespread.
COMMON MULLEIN
Verbascum thapsus
Height up to 6ft.
Upright plant covered in white, woolly hairs. Leaves 4-15in long and ovate; form basal rosette in 1st year, tall leafy stalks appearing in 2nd year. Flowers lin across and yellow; in dense spikes (Jun-Aug). Open ground. Throughout North America.
COMMON MURRE
Uria aalge
Total length 17in.
Similar to the Razorbill, but with a pointed, more slender bill. Nests on cliffs, often with Razorbills and other seabirds. Feeds on fish under water, using its wings to "fly." It is found widely throughout the N hemisphere in both Pacific and Atlantic waters. In the Old World it is known as the Guillemot.
COMMON MYCENA
Mycena galericulata
Height up to 4in.
Clump-forming fungus. Cap up to 2in across and gray to brown with radiating lines towards margins; conical, flattening with age. Gills pinkish. Stern slender and same color as cap. Woodland, on tree stumps (mainly Jul-Dec). Throughout North America.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK
Chordeiles minor
Total length l0in.
Large with long, pointed wings and a long, narrow tail. In flight there are clear white bands on the wings. Nests on the ground or on flat roof tops. Found in open woodlands, on plains, on golf courses, and in cities. Often seen feeding over towns, calling in early evening. The most widely distributed night jar in North America.
COMMON PERIWINKLE
Littorina littorea
Total length lin.
Brown, with a brown to black operculum which keeps the snail from drying out on exposure at low tide. Shell is heavy to prevent damage during severe storms and wave action. Herbivorous, eats algae attached or covering rocks. The most abundant snail in the intertidal zone N of Chesapeake Bay.
COMMON PERSIMMON
Diospyros virginiana
Height up to 60ft.
Narrow deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, ovate, shiny dark green above, paler and downy below. Fragrant flowers 1/2in long, bell-shaped with 4 white lobes. Fruits 1-2in across, brownish orange berry. Damp ground. Native to SE US.
COMMON PIPEWORT
Eriocaulon septangulare
Height up to 8in.
Intriguing aquatic plant. Leaves 1-3in long, narrow, and pointed; form a submerged clump attached to substrate. Flower 1/2in long and white; in terminal heads with gray bracts, borne on leafless sterns (Jul-Sep). Standing water. NE of North America.
COMMON PLANTAIN
Plantago major
Height up to 1ft.
Persistent perennial weed. Leaves up to 1ft.long, broad, and oval with 3-9 veins; form a basal rosette. Flowers tiny and greenish; in dense cylindrical and long-stalked spikes 4-8in long (Jun-Oct). Disturbed areas and lawns. Widespread non-native.
COMMON POORWILL
Phalaenoptilus nuttallii
Total length 7in.
A small night jar with a short, rounded tail, and short, rounded wings. It takes its name from its call, described as a whistled "poor-will." Settles on the ground making short sallies to catch passing insects. Found in open sagebrush and chaparral habitats; usually seen by roadsides hunting for insects. Some hibernate rather than migrate. Widespread summer migrant to W US and into extreme S Canada.
COMMON RAGWEED
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Height up to 5ft..
Branched and hairy annual. Leaves 2-4in long and finely divided. Flowers tiny, greenish, and nodding; males in tall clustered spikes, females in clusters in leafaxils (Jul-Oct). Disturbed areas. Widespread in E of North America.
COMMON RAVEN
Corvus corax
Total length 2ft.
A massive, all-black crow, with a large bill, shaggy throat, and a wedge-shaped tail when seen in flight. Call is a resonant croak. Nests on cliffs and in trees in a variety of habitats, including mountains, canyons, tundra, and desert. It is resident widely across Canada and AK, including the extreme N; also found down the Rockies and Appalachians.
COMMON RAZOR CLAM
Ensis directlls
Total length 6in.
Long, cylindrical animal with two flattened shells. Shell has a dark periostracum and white to light blue interior. Has a powerful digging foot; burrows rapidly and deeply to escape predators. Often used in stews. Lives in sand and sandy mud bottoms from N Canada to FL.
COMMON REDPOLL
Carduelis flammea
Total length 5in.
Streaky, breeding male has a pink breast; both sexes have pinkish red on the forehead; tail is forked. In winter gathers in large flocks, feeds on the ground in open areas often in mixed flocks. Irruptive. Breeds close to Arctic Circle. A winter visitor as far as S Canada andNE US.
COMMON REED
Phragmites communis
Height up to 10ft.
Spreading perennial of freshwater marshes and margins of brackish areas. Often forms vast stands. Robust sterns carry 1-1/2ft-long, broad leaves. Flowers in large, terminal purplish inflorescence (Aug-Sep). Plants turn brown and persist. Widespread in North America.
COMMON SAND DOLLAR
Echinarachinius parma
Diameter 3in.
A flattened, short-spined relative of the sea urchin, Xin deep. Shaped like a small pancake, with a flowerlike pattern with 5 petals on the upper surface. Brown to purple; found in sand from low tide down. White skeleton often found after storms. Abundant. Found from Canada to Chesapeake Bay.
COMMON SCABER STALK
Leccinum scabrum
Height up to l0in.
Cap is up to 6in across, gray-brown and rounded. Pores off-white but bruise darker. Flesh white; does not discolor when cut. Stern tall, white, and covered with blackish scales. Under birch trees (Jul-Nov). Widespread throughout North America.
COMMON SHINER
Notropis cornutus
Total length 6in.
Olive to blue above, silver below, faint side stripes, fins orange-red in breeding. Males dig shallow nest in gravel into which eggs are laid in late spring or summer. Found in cool, clear streams, rivers, or ponds over gravel or rocks, in S Canada, and N central and Estates.
COMMON SNAPPER
Chelydra serpentina
Total length up to l8in.
Large freshwater turtle with a powerful head, hooked jaws, and a long tail. Weighs up to 501b. Feeds on a wide variety of plant and animal matter. Often basks at the water surface. Found in a wide range of habitats, including rivers, ponds, and marshes. Locally common in E North America from TX to S Canada, but declining in many areas.
COMMON SNIPE
Gallinago gallinago
Total length l0in.
A long-billed, short-legged wading bird with brown, white, and cream camouflage markings. Often feeds or roosts in dense vegetation; when accidentally flushed, flies with characteristic zig-zag flight uttering a rasping call. During breeding season male winnows, flies high and dives with outer tail feathers spread, making a low, hollow whistle. Breeds over most of N US and Canada, wintering further S.
COMMON SOW-THISTLE
Sonchus oleraceus
Height up to 5ft.
Upright annual. Broken sterns exude milky sap. Leaves 5-8in long, fleshy, and pinnate with toothed margins and pointed basal lobes. Flowers heads lin across and pale yellow; in clusters (May-Oct). Disturbed areas. S Canada and much of US.
COMMON SPATTERDOCK
Nuphar advena
Aquatic. Floating water plant. Leaves 5-12in across and heart-shaped to rounded; often raised on stalks above water level. Flowers 2in across with numerous showy yellow sepals and smaller petals (May-Aug). Ponds and lakes. E half of US.
COMMON SPEEDWELL
Veronica officinalis
Creeping. Mat-forming perennial. Prostrate sterns are hairy and root at nodes. Leaves 1-2in long, elliptical, and opposite. Flowers 1/4in across, with 4 pale bluish lilac petals; from leaf axils (May-Jul). Open grassy places. NE of North America, S to TN.
COMMON SUNFLOWER
Helianthus annuus
Height up to 12ft.
Familiar upright annual. Leaves up to 1ft.long, ovate to heart-shaped, stalked, and alternate. Flower heads up to 6in across with bright yellow ray florets and darker disc florets (Jul-Nov). Open, grassy places. Widespread except in far N.
COMMON TANSY
Tanacetum vulgare
Height up to 3ft.
Aromatic, downy perennial. Leaves 4-8in long, pinnate with deeply cut lobes. Flower head 1/2in across and yellow; in flat-topped clusters up to 5in across (Jul-Sep). Disturbed areas. S Canada and much of US.
COMMON TERN
Sterna hirundo
Total length 15in.
An elegant seabird with a long, forked tail, pointed wings, and a black cap which extends down the neck. It has a slender, orange-red bill, often dark-tipped. Feeds primarily on fish, but also insects during breeding season. Breeds in large colonies in coastal areas and inland from the Atlantic to the Rockies. Further N it is replaced by the Arctic Tern.
COMMON WEST INDIAN CHITON
Chiton tuberculatus
Total length 3in.
This medium-sized species is distinguished from other chitons in North America by its size and color. Feeds on algae on rocks. Smaller than Pacific species. Can tolerate extreme conditions and varied habitats. One of the most common chitons in tropical waters. Widely distributed in FL and on the Gulf Coast.
COMMON WHITETAIL
Libellula lydia
Total length 1in.
This easily identified dragonfly is unmistakable with a bright, white abdomen, brown head and thorax and wings with large dark bands 3/4 of the way out on fore- and hindwings. Wanders widely and can be encountered in almost any habitat; strongly territorial and chases off other species. Common over ponds, rivers, and streams throughout the US from Canada to Mexico.
COMMON WOOD SORREL
Oxalis montana
Height up to 6in.
Delicate, creeping woodland flower. Leaves 1/2in across and sharorocklike with heartshaped leaflets. Flowers 3/4in across with 5 white or pale pink petals (May-Jul). Damp woodland soils. Widespread in E of North America.
COMMON WOOD-NYMPH
Cercyonis pegala
Wingspan 3in.
Grayish brown with sandy-brown patches on the forewing and prominent white-centered black wing spots. The caterpillar is greenish with short yellow hairs and has a reddish forked tail; it feeds on grasses. Widespread over most of Canada and US except parts of S and S FL.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
Dendroica dominica
Total length 5in.
Male is distinct with a large, black mask and yellow throat. Female is plain olive above with pale yellow throat. Call is a "whitchity, whitchity, whitchity." Common in wide variety of habitats from woods and roadsides to marsh edges. Widespread summer breeder to much of E US, but rare in Canada and a winter visitor to most of FL.
CONCH
Strombus gigas
Total length 12in.
One• of the largest and heaviest marine snails in the world. Spectacular shell with large knobs on the shoulders and a bright pink flaring operculum. Well known in the Caribbean as the basic ingredient of conch chowder. Top predator on sandy bottoms; much prized by shell collectors. In North America, only found S from the Florida Keys.
COOPERS HAWK
Accipiter cooperi
Total length 18in.
Midway in size between Sharp-shinned Hawk and Goshawk, it is similar in general shape, but has a longer tail than Sharp-shinned and lacks the white eyebrow of the Goshawk. Found in open woodlands preying on songbirds and small mammals. Breeds across N US, Canada, and AK; migrates S in winter.
COOT
Fulica americana
Total length 15in.
Often seen with ducks. Uniform gray-black with a white bill; red forehead in breeding. At close range toes are lobed. Omnivorous, feeding on invertebrates and vegetation. Nests on the edge of ponds in dense vegetation. Found on large ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, often in large flocks in winter. Breeds over most of North America from Canada S. Declining.
COOTER
Chrysemys (= Pseudemys) floridiana
Total length l5in.
Carapace brownish with yellowish markings, neck and legs are striped. They often bask in large groups, sometimes mixed with other species. Found in ponds and lakes, also slowmoving rivers and canals. Widespread, often common over E coast states, from New England to TX, more widely distributed in the Mississippi Basin.
COPPER
Lycaena phlaeas
Wingspan lin.
A small butterfly with bright orange on the wings. The caterpillar, which is short-bodied and bright green, feeds on sheep sorrel, usually hiding on the underside of the leaves. Most common in and around disturbed habitats, including farmland. Found over much of E US.
COPPERHEAD
Agkistrodon contortrix
Total length 4ft.3in.
Stout-bodied, with a facial pit on each side of a triangular head. Usually copper, orange, or pink-tinged, with reddish brown cross-bands on the back. Feeds on small rodents, lizards, frogs, and large insects and larvae. Basks during the day in spring and fall, becomes nocturnal in summer. It is found on rocky hillsides near streams or ponds, edges of swamps and seasonally flooded areas, and also dense canebrakes. Found from MA W to NE and S to FL and TX.
CORAL HAIRSTREAK
Satyrium titus
Wingspan lin.
A dark butterfly with orange spots along the edge ofthe hindwing. The male attacks other males. The caterpillars feed on wild cherries and plums and are tended by ants. They are widespread but nowhere common.
CORALLINE SEAWEED
Corallin a sp.
Spreading. Covers rocks with dense, short sward of jointed, cylindrical branches; tough and brittle due to calcium carbonate encrustation. Pink in life but bleaches white when detached and dead. Lower shore and rock pools. Pacific and NE Atlantic coasts.
CORALROOT ORCHID
Corallorhiza trifida
Height up to 1ft.
Saprophytic orchid that is buffish brown and lacks chlorophyll. Leaves reduced to tiny basal scales. Flowers 1/2in long and brown; in open spikes on naked stems (May-Jul). Upland woods. AK, Canada and N US; further S in mountains.
CORN COCKLE
Agrostemma githago
Height up to 2ft.
Densely hairy non-native weed of tillable land. Leaves up to 4in long, narrow, and grasslike. Flowers 2in across with 5 pink petals and long, narrow radiating green sepals (May-Sep). Disturbed areas and tillable fields. Throughout North America.
CORN POPPY
Papaver rhoeas
Height up to 2ft.
Hairy annual weed. Leaves 2-4in long and much-divided. Flowers 2-3in across with 4 papery and overlapping scarlet petals (Jun-Aug). Ovoid seed capsule. Disturbed areas and tillable fields. Widespread across much of US and S Canada.
CORN SNAKE
Elaphe guttata
Total length 6ft.
Long, slender, usually orange or brownish yellow to light gray, with large black-edged red, brown, olive-brown, or dark gray blotches down the middle of the back and two rows of smaller blotches on the sides. Characteristic large rectangular black marks on belly. Feeds on mice, rats, birds, and bats. The female lays a clutch of up to 20 eggs. Found in a very wide range of habitats: rocky hillsides, meadows, farms and derelict houses. Found from NJ south through FL to TX, Mexico, and W to CO and UT.
COTTONMOUTH
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Total length 6ft.
Dark, heavy-bodied water snake, with a broad head, wider than the neck, and a facial pit on the side of the head. Usually uniform olive, brown, or black above, sometimes with dark cross-bands. Young are strongly patterned and have yellow-tipped tails. Unlike other water snakes, it swims with head well out of the water. Feeds on fish, sirens, frogs, snakes, and birds. Lives close to water in swamps, lakes, rivers, ditches, canals, and rice fields. Found from VA to the upper Florida Keys, W to IL and TX.
COUGAR
Puma concolor
Total length up to 8ft.2in; tail up to 2ft.llin.
Also known as the Mountain Lion or Cougar, the Puma is a predator of large mammals, including deer and peccaries as well as domestic livestock, and even humans (although rarely adults). It usually kills large prey by crushing the throat. The Puma is found in a wide variety of habitats, and although almost exterminated from New England and much of the E US by the end of the 19th century, is beginning to make a comeback under protection. It has the widest distribution of any native mammal in the Americas, being found from AK to Tierra del Fuego. PUMA Puma concolor Total length up to 8ft.2in; tail up to 2ft.llin. Also known as the Mountain Lion or Cougar, the Puma is a predator of large mammals, including deer and peccaries as well as domestic livestock, and even humans (although rarely adults). It usually kills large prey by crushing the throat. The Puma is found in a wide variety of habitats, and although almost exterminated from New England and much of the E US by the end of the 19th century, is beginning to make a comeback under protection. It has the widest distribution of any native mammal in the Americas, being found from AK to Tierra del Fuego.
COW PARSNIP
Heracleum lanatum
Height up to 8ft.
Robust perennial with hollow, grooved, and hairy sterns. Leaves up to 2ft.long, broad, and in 3 segments. Flowers small and off-white with unequal petals; in domed umbels up to 8in across (May-Aug). Damp ground. Widespread Canada and N US.
COW VETCH
Vicia cracca
Climbing. Climbing non-native. Stems 3-5ft.long. Leaves pinnate with 8-12 narrow leaflets each lin long. Leaves end in paired tendrils that aid plant's progress. Flowers 1/2in long and pinkish blue; in open spikes (May-Aug). Grassy places. S Canada and N US.
COW WHEAT
Melampyrum lineare
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Upright, branched plant. Leaves 1-2in long, lanceolate, and paired. Flowers 1/2in long, tubular, 2-lipped, and whitish; from upper leaf axils (Jun-Aug). Wooded and open ground. Widespread in Canada; also in mountains of NE and W US.
COYOTE
Canis latrans
Total length 4ft.4in; tail 15in.
Also known as the Prairie Wolf. Resembles a small wolf, and has spread into areas once occupied by wolves. Range extends S into Mexico and N to AK and S Canada, and E to New England. The range continues to expand, and coyotes are often found in suburbs.
COYPU
Myocastor coypu
Total length 4ft; tail l8in.
An aquatic mammal imported from South America in the 20th century and raised on fur farms. In the 1940s some escaped in LA and spread very rapidly. A prolific breeder, and although the gestation period is long (over 4 months), the young are active and swim within 24 hours of birth. Widespread in LA and elsewhere.
CRANE FLY
Tipula illustris
Total length lin.
Crane flies are large, long-legged brown flies that look like gigantic mosquitoes. Larvae are aquatic and feed on invertebrates and vegetative matter. Adults do not bite or draw blood like mosquitoes; generally poorly known. This species is found in the Pacific NW, but other species are broadly distributed from Canada to Mexico.
CREOSOTE BUSH
Larrea tridentata
Height up to 5ft.
Much-branched, partly deciduous shrub. Leaves ¼-1/2in long, resinous, 2-lobed, and winglike. Flowers ¼-1/2in across, with 5 yellow petals; extremely attractive to insects. Fruits 1/4in long, ovoid, and hairy. Arid soils. S US, from CA to TX.
CRESTED WOOD FERN
Dryopteris cristata
Frond length up to 2ft.
Creeping, tufted fern that favors shady, damp woods and bogs. Frond outline narrow and parallel-sided; 1- or 2-pinnate with triangular leaflets. Inner fertile fronds erect; outer sterile ones spreading. Canada and temperate US.
CRICKET FROG, NORTHERN
Acris crepitans
Total length 11in.
Small, warty tree frog with no toe pads. Variable in coloring, usually with a dark triangle between the eyes, and an uneven dark stripe on the thighs. When disturbed it leaps away zig-zagging, up to a yard each leap. Name comes from the male's cricketlike call (also sounds like pebbles being clicked together). Found in marshes, around ponds, lakes, and streams over most of E US and S of Canada.
CRINKLED HAIRGRASS
Deschampsia flexuosa
Height up to 3ft.
Tufted perennial, favoring dry ground and often acid soils. Leaves up to l0in long, inrolled, hairlike, and basal. Inflorescence has open clusters of purplish spikelets on paired branches (Jun-Jul). Open woodland and slopes. Widespread in North America.
CROW
Corvus brachyrynchos
Total length 18in.
Call is a nasal "caw." A scavenger that often feeds on road kills. Found in a wide range of habitats, including suburbs and town parks. The most familiar and widespread crow, residing over most of the continent.
CROWBERRY
Empetrum nigrum
Height up to 6in.
Creeping woody plant. Leaves Y4in long, narrow, stiff, and needlelike; densely crowded on sterns. Flowers tiny with 3 sepals and no petals. Fruits ripen to a black berry. Alpine heathland and tundra, usually on acid soils. Arctic areas.
CROWN VETCH
Securigera varia (Coronilla varia)
Height up to 3ft.
Straggling perennial. Leaves pinnate with 7-12 pairs of oblong leaflets, each 1-1/2in long. Flowers pinkish white, in lin wide heads of 10-20 flowers (Jun-Aug). Grassy places including roadsides. Non-native, but now widespread. E US.
CUCKOOFLOWER
Cardamine pratensis
Height up to 2ft.
Variable upright perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, pinnately divided, and forming a basal rosette. Flowers 3/4in across with 4 pinkish white or pale lilac petals; in terminal clusters (Apr-Jun). Damp meadows and woodlands. E half of North America.
CURLY DOCK
Rumex crispus
Height up to 3ft.
Robust perennial. Leaves narrow, up to 1ft.long, with wavy margins. Flowers oval, flattened, and greenish; in leafless spikes (Jun-Oct). Fruits similar to flowers. Waste and disturbed areas throughout North America.
CURSED BUTTERCUP
Ranunculus scleratus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Annual with fresh green appearance. Lower leaves 2-3in long, celerylike, and divided into 3 lobes. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 yellow petals; in clusters (May-Sep). Damp, often trampled ground. Widespread in W of North America.
CUSHION CACTUS
Coryphantha vivipara
Height up to 5in.
Spherical cactus. Surface concealed by numerous whitish radial spines flattened against stem; longer outward-pointing spines develop with age. Flowers lin across, usually pinkish or yellow (Apr-May). Arid ground SW Canada to CA and TX.
CUSHION MOSS
Leucobryum sp.
Height up to 2in.
A distinctive moss genus of damp woodland and bare upland slopes. Often forms large cushions on the ground, which are easily dislodged. Leaves narrow and gray-green; become almost white in dry weather. Widespread in suitable habitats.
CYPRESS SPURGE
Euphorbia cyparissias
Height up to 1ft.
Tufted plant with milky sap. Leaves lin long and narrow; densely crowded on sterns. Flowers inconspicuous and tiny but surrounded by glands and yellowish petal-like bracts (Mar-Jul). Disturbed areas. Non-native, but now widespread throughout North America.
DAISY BRITTLE STAR
Ophiopholis aculeata
Total length 5in.
Central disc is small with 5-6 radiating 3in arms; color variable, disc often red and arms banded red and white. A scavenger and nocturnal predator. One of the most common, easily seen brittle stars in low tide pools and subtidally. Often found after storms. Range from the Arctic to NJ on E coast and from AK to CA on the W coast.
DAISY FLEABANE
Erigeron annuus
Height up to 4ft.
Branched, hairy plant. Leaves 2-5in long, lanceolate, and toothed. Flower heads 1/2in across, daisylike with pale pink ray florets and yellow disc florets (Jun-Sep). Grassy places and disturbed areas. Widespread in E of North America.
DALL'S PORPOISE
Phocoenoides dalli
Total length 7ft.
A distinctive black and white porpoise. Most of the body is black, with a pure white belly and white edges to the fin and tail flukes. It is only found off the W coast, from AK to CA.
DALL'S SHEEP
Ovis dalli
Total length 5ft; tail 4in.
A very pale, almost white sheep. In the S of the Dall's range it is darker (often nearly black), and known as the Stone Sheep. The male has massive curled horns, the female only small spikes. Very similar to the Bighorn, which is found further to the S. In winter the sheep gather into large herds, and during the rut the rams charge head on and clash horns, the sound of which can be heard from more than a mile away. Found in AK and W Canada.
DARK-EYED JUNCO
Junco hymenalis
Total length 6in.
Variable, known by a wide range of names including Slate-colored, Oregon and Pink-sided Junco. Generally dark on head and breast, with pale bill; back dark slate or brown. Nests on or close to the ground. Common winter feeder throughout its range. Widespread, breeding from AK, Canada, and New England; winters S in US.
DEATH CAP
Amanita phalloides
Height up to 4in.
Highly poisonous fungus; sickly sweet smell. Cap tinged green. Gills and flesh white. White stern has ring; base surrounded by saclike volva. Woodland, both under conifers and broad-leaved trees (fall in E; winter in W). Absent far Nand S.
DEER FERN
Blechnum spicant
Frond length up to 2ft.
Distinctive fern of damp woods and shady banks, usually on acid soils. Bright green, sterile, overwintering fronds are I-pinnate; form spreading clumps. Fertile fronds are erect with very narrow lobes. W of North America, mainly AK to CA.
DEER TICK
Ixodes damani
Total length 1/16in.
The Deer Tick is a distinctive red and dark brown, and is now recognized as a dangerous vector for Lyme's Disease. It goes through an intermediate host, usually a mouse, before reaching deer or people. Tick bites should be reported to a doctor and, in removing a tick, all mouthparts must be removed to minimize infection. The species has spread in the E and Midwest.
DEERMOUSE
Peromyscus maniculatus
Total length 8in; tail 4in.
A very common and widespread mouse, generally rich brown to grayish above, white below, with the tail sharply bicolored, white below. Like most deer mice it has large ears and large eyes. However, it is a very variable species with numerous subspecies described. Feeds on berries, nuts, seeds, and invertebrates. Found in a wide variety of habitats from woodlands to prairies, where it lives in among tree roots and under logs, and sometimes excavates tunnels. Widespread across most of Canada and US except SE US.
DESERT IRONWOOD
Olneya tesota
Height up to 30ft.
Broad-crowned, spiny evergreen. Leaves 1-2in long, compound with 2-10 pairs of oblong leaflets. Flowers 1/2in across, purple, and pealike. Fruits 2in long pods, cylindrical, constricted between seeds. Deserts. S AR and S CA.
DESERT LILY
Hesperocallis undulata
Height up to 4ft.
Showy, bulbous desert plant. Leaves up to 1-1/2ft.long, basal, and narrow with wavy margins. Flowers 2-3in long, trumpet-shaped, and white; in clustered spikes (Mar-May). Sandy desert soils. S CA and AZ.
DESERT MARIGOLD
Baileya multiradiata
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive and woolly desert plant. Leaves 2-3in long, pinnately divided, the lobes toothed. Flower heads 2in across with both the ray and disc florets bright yellow (Apr-Oct). Dry ground, especially roadsides. From S CA to TX.
DESERT NIGHT LIZARD
Xantusia vigilis
Total length 5in.
Despite its name, active during the day, and may also be active at night. Although common within its range, its secretive nature makes it difficult to see. Feeds on termites, ants, and other insects. The female gives birth to up to 3 live young, in late summer. The most widespread ofthe three species of Night Lizard. Confined to a relatively small range in the deserts and other rocky, arid habitats of CA and adjacent states, and Mexico, with isolated populations in AZ.
DESERT PAINTBRUSH
Castilleja chromosa
Height up to 2ft.
Upright plant. Leaves up to 2in long; lower ones lanceolate, upper ones divided into 3 or 5 narrow lobes. Flowers lin long and pinkish; in spikes with red, 5-lobed bracts (Apr-Aug). Deserts. SW US.
DESERT TORTOISE
Gopherus agassizi
Total length l4in.
Domed carapace,
with short stumpy legs. Mostly vegetarian, feeding on grasses, fruits, and other vegetation. Terrestrial, confined to arid habitats with creosote bush, cacti, and other desert plants, from S CA and NV to Mexico. An endangered species. Closely related species found in FL and TX.
DESERT-WILLOW
Chilopsis linearis
Height up to 20ft.
Multi-stemmed, open deciduous shrub. Leaves 3-6in long, narrow, willowlike, and curved. Flowers lin across, bell-shaped with 5 pinkish white lobes; in clusters. Fruits 4-8in long, slender, and cylindrical. Deserts. S CA to S NM.
DEVIL'S-FIG
Argemone mexicana
Height up to 3ft.
Leafy blue-green plant. Leaves up to 7in long, lobed, and thistlelike. Flowers up to 3in across with 4-6 yellow petals (May-Sep); sepals drop as flower opens. Fruit is a spiny capsule. Disturbed areas and waste ground. SE US, W to TX.
DIAPENSIA
Diapensia lapponica
Creeping. Mat-forming evergreen plant. Leaves 1/2in long, leathery, narrow and blunt. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white spreading lobes (Jun-Jul). Bare stony ground and mountain tops. AK, Arctic Canada, and mountains of SE Canada and NE US.
DIFFERENTIAL GRASSHOPPER
Melanoplus differentialis
Total length lin.
Brown to green, with short antennae no more than one-third of the body length, and strong jumping legs with black bands. A capable singer, it uses its wings and legs for sound. Can be a major pest species, eating more than ten times its weight each day. May be the most abundant and widely known grasshopper in \Iorth America, and is found throughout the continent.
DINGY GROUND BEETLE
Harpaills sp.
Total length to lin.
Uniform black or dark in color. Has threadlike antennae and lines that seem to be sculpted into the upper wing covers. Generally oval in shape, can grow to be lin long. Nocturnal and attracted to lights. Common and widely distributed.
DIPPER
Cinclus mexicanus
Total length 7in.
A chunky, short-tailed bird almost always seen in or close to fast-flowing rivers and streams. Adult is a uniform sooty gray; young is browner, with a yellowish bill. Feeds on insects, crustaceans, and other aquatic life, wading among torrents and using its wings to swim under water. Territorial, and when disturbed will fly up or down stream, finally returning to its territory. It is confined to W North America from AK through the Rockies.
DOG TICK
Rhipicesphalus sallguineus
Total length less than 1/4in.
The Dog Tick is a mottled reddish brown with black. It is not usually attracted to people (unlike its close relative the Wood Tick).Ticks are the largest relatives of mites. They are widespread in grass and brush, and may be vectors of diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
DOGWOOD
Cornus florida
Height up to 30ft.
Spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 1-2in long, elliptical with wavy margin. Flowers tiny and tightly packed but surrounded by 4 white petal-like bracts, each 2in long. Fruits 1/4in long, red, and berrylike. Widespread E US; also SE Canada.
DOLLY VARDEN TROUT
Salvelinus malma
Total length 2ft.
Breeding male is red to orange below, otherwise the color is highly variable from dark to bright with numerous pale spots. Usually anadromous, but some landlocked populations. Found in clear, cool lakes and streams with deep pools and runs. Widely distributed on the N Pacific coasts in North America from AK to CA.
DOLPHIN
Coryphaena hippurus
Total length 6ft.
Brilliantly colored blue-green above, flashing golden-green on the sides, numerous tiny, dark spots. High forehead with continuous dorsal fin. Feeds on fish and squid. A fast swimmer. Called mahi mahi in Hawaii. Found in oceans worldwide.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
Phalacrocorax auritus
Total length 3ft.
The most widespread cormorant in North America, and the most common. Black, and during the breeding season has white tufts above the eye (the tufts are darker in eastern populations), with an orange throat pouch. Immature birds are brown, with whitish bellies. Breeds on sea coasts and also inland lakes and reservoirs; increasing and spreading.
DOUGLAS-FIR
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Height up to 200ft.
Huge evergreen conifer. In maturity, lower trunk is bare, crown narrowly conical. Needles lin long, dark green, and flat; in 2 rows. Cones 2-3in long, ovoid, and brown. Widespread in W of North America, from BC to CA and W to CO and NM.
DOUGLAS'S SQUIRREL
Tamiasciurus douglasii
Total length 14in; tail 6in.
Very similar to the Red Squirrel, but grayer above and yellowish brown below. It is a very vocal squirrel with a range of trills and chattering calls. Like other squirrels, it often hides food for use in winter. Found mostly in coniferous forests, and the mounds of eaten pine cones are often very obvious. It is confined to W North America, from British Columbia, S to CA, and E to the Rockies.
DOWNY WOODPECKER
Picoides pubescens
Total length 6in.
Abundant, small, widespread. Black and white with a bright red patch on the back of the head of the male. Common in woodland, regular visitor to feeders, especially for suet. Very tame. Shares most of its range with the Hairy Woodpecker.
DOWNY YELLOW VIOLET
Viola pubescens
Height up to 1ft.
Delicate, downy plant. Leaves 2-3in across, toothed, and heart-shaped. Flowers up to 3/4in across with 5 yellow petals, the lower 3 with dark veins (May-Jun). Undisturbed woodlands. NE of North America.
DUCKWEED
Lemna sp.
Aquatic.
Floating, perennial freshwater plant. Often forms a carpet over the surface of suitable ponds and lakes by summer months. Leaflike thallus, up to 1/4in across, has a single, dangling root. Multiplies by division. Still waters. Widespread in North America.
DULSE
Rhodymenia palmata
Length up to 1ft.
Edible seaweed with a texture like rubber. Frond is broad, sometimes divided in a fingerlike manner, and usually dark red. Grows attached to rocks from lower shore into sublittoral zone. Atlantic coast, from NY northwards.
DUNGENESS CRAB
Cancer magister
Total length 6in.
Large, with a carapace width to almost lOin. Gray or brown. Strong but small claws. A predator of clams and other mollusks, and a scavenger. Molts and changes its exoskeleton to accommodate growth. Important commercially and prized by seafood lovers. Common in quiet waters. Found from AK to CA.
DUNLIN
Calidris alpina
Total length 8in.
Small, with slightly down-curved bill. Distinctive black belly and red back in breeding plumage; gray with black in winter. Flight call is rasping "chee-it chee-it." Common. Usually in small flocks, with other shorebirds. Breeds in the high Arctic, wintering on frostfree marshes, mudflats, coasts, and other wetlands.
DUSKY SALAMANDER, NORTHERN
Desmognathus fuscus
Total length 5in.
Yellowish brown with some dark spotting, and usually a darker line or spots extending down either side and along the tail. Has a characteristic pale line from the eye to the jaw. Nocturnal. The female lays a cluster of eggs under or on a log or stone, close to the water's edge. Common in its range, which extends from QC and NB S to LA. Absent from FL and most of GA and the Carolinas.
DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES
Dicentra culcullaria
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive plant. Leaves 3-6in long, gray-green, and much-divided into feathery leaflets. Flowers 3/4in long, white, and angular heart-shaped; borne in clusters (Apr-May). Undisturbed woodlands. E Canada and mountains of E US, WA and OR.
DUTCHMAN'S PIPE
Aristolochia durior
Climbing. Scrambling climber with long twining stems. Leaves 6-12in long and heart-shaped. Flowers 2in long, curved, and pipe-shaped; 3 maroon to brown petallike sepal lobes at mouth (Apr-Jun). Humid woodlands, mainly S Appalachians.
DWARF BIRCH
Betula nana
Height up to 1 1/2ft.
Low-growing deciduous shrub. Leaves 1/2in across, rounded, and toothed; turn orange in autumn. Male flowers in pendant catkins, females in greenish upright catkins. Seed-bearing cones 1/2in long. Tundra and mountains in N.
DWARF RATTLESNAKE PLANTAIN
Goodyera repens
Height up to 1ft.
Creeping woodland orchid. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, evergreen, and mainly basal. Flowers 1/4in long, white, and barely opening; in a spirally twisted spike (Jul-Aug). Conifer woodland. NE of North America, and further S in E US in mountains.
DWARF SIREN
Pseudobranchus striatus
Total length l0in.
The smallest of the sirens, it is thoroughly aquatic and retains external gills throughout its life. It has a long eel-like body, brownish with pale stripes, tiny forelegs with 3 toes, and no hind legs. The eggs are laid singly on water plants. It lives in ditches, swamps, and overgrown ponds; it is often abundant in waters that have been colonized by water hyacinth. Confined to SE US from SC to FL.
EARED GREBE
Podiceps nigricollis
Total length 13in.
A medium-sized grebe, which usually swims with its bill pointed upwards. Breeding plumage is brownish black, with golden-orange tufts on the cheeks. Nests in colonies on lakes and ponds in W North America from Canada to TX; winters further S.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD
Siala sialis
Total length 7in.
Male is deep blue above, red on throat and belly, and white under the tail; female grayer. Nests in old tree holes; readily uses nest boxes. Male Western Bluebird (5. mexican a) is a darker blue with a blue throat. Mountain Bluebird (5. currucoides] is pale blue on the underside, sky-blue above. Found in open woodlands, gardens, farmlands, and similar habitats, in E North America from S Canada to TX. Northern populations migrate S in winter.
EASTERN BOX TURTLE
Terrapene carolina
Total length 8in.
Domed carapace; lower shell (plastron) is hinged so it can be closed to create a boxlike protection. Feeds on a wide variety of fruit, invertebrates, and fungi. Terrestrial, found in forests and meadows from ME to FL and west to TX. A closely related species, the Western Box Turtle (T. ornate), is found in the Midwest, S to Mexico.
EASTERN CHIPMUNK
Tamias striatus
Total length llin; tail 4in.
A very common ground-dwelling squirrel. Very vocal, with rapid trilling calls. Lives in burrows, but is an agile climber. Feeds on nuts, berries, and seeds, as well as insects and other small animals, and stores food for use after emerging from hibernation. Litters of up to 5 are born in May and midsummer. Most common in woodland, around stonewalls, gardens, and similar habitats. Found over much of E Canada and US.
EASTERN CHOKECHERRY (COMMON CHOKECHERRY)
Prunus virginiana
EASTERN COMMA
Polygonia comma
Wingspan 2in.
The commalike marking is on the underside of the wing. The caterpillars feed on nettles and hops, often rolling the leaves to help protect them. They can be a pest on hops. A widespread and often abundant butterfly in North America E of the Rockies.
EASTERN CORAL SNAKE
Micrums fulvius
Total length 4ft.
Distinctive, with bright "warning" coloration. Red and black rings separated by narrow yellow rings; usually some black spotting on the red rings. Feeds almost exclusively on other snakes and lizards. Not normally aggressive, but the venom is extremely toxic and can cause respiratory failure. Occurs in densely vegetated hammocks near ponds or streams, forests, pinewoods, rocky hillsides, and canyons. Found in SE US as far N as NC.
EASTERN COTTONWOOD
Populus deltoides
Height up to 100ft.
Open, spreading deciduous tree. Leaves triangular to heart-shaped with toothed margin; green, yellow in autumn. Flowers 2-3in long catkins; in pendant sprays. Damp soils. Widespread in E half of US, W to TX and MT. Also Canadian Rockies.
EASTERN DIAMOND-BACKED RATTLESNAKE
Crotalus adamanteus
Total length 8ft.
The largest rattlesnake in North America. Heavy-bodied, with a large head sharply divided from the neck. Back is patterned with dark, light-centered diamonds. Loud rattle. Feeds on large rodents such as squirrels, rabbits, and birds. Very venomous. It is found in dunes, sandhills or pine and oak country, and other dry habitats, as well as abandoned farmland. Found from NC to Florida Keys, and W to MS and E of LA.
EASTERN FENCE LIZARD
Sceloporus undulatus
Total length 7in.
One of the most widespread lizards, and also one of the most variable in pattern and coloring. Usually brownish or grayish with darker sides and some irregular bands. Found in sunny areas, often basking on logs, in woodland, dunes, grasslands. Found over much of E North America as far N as DE.
EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL
Sciurus niger
Total length 2ft.3in; tail 13in.
The largest North American tree squirrel, with very variable coloring. Some are all black; others brown above, orange below, or gray above and white below. Feeds on nuts, shoots, berries, and also eggs and small animals. Found in wooded habitats, and also swamps. Widespread in E North America, and introduced in several places in W US. Declining over much of its range.
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL
Sciurus carolinensis
Total length 19in; tail 9in.
A fairly large squirrel, with a bushy tail, Although mostly gray, it often has a brownish tinge to the back. Feeds on nuts, buds, berries, and also eggs and small animals. It makes a large nest of leaves, or nests in a tree hole, and produces 1 or 2 litters of 2-3 young. Found in a wide range of wooded habitats, as well as parks and gardens. Naturally widespread over E North America from S Canada to E TX, widely introduced elsewhere.
EASTERN HEMLOCK
Tsuga canadensis
Height up to 70ft.
Evergreen conifer; conical outline almost ground level; leader often droops. Needles 1in long, flat, green above, and 2 white lines below; in 2 rows. Cones ½-3/4in long, ovoid, and brown. Temperate NE, mainly NS to WI, S to Appalachians.
EASTERN HOGNOSE SNAKE
Heterodon platyrhinos
Total length 4ft.
Stout-bodied, with a pointed, slightly upturned snout and a wide neck. Coloring variable, but usually yellowish, tan, brown, gray, or reddish, with rectangular dark blotches on the back interspersed with round dark blotches. All-black individuals are known. Feeds mostly on amphibians. The female lays up to 60 thin-shelled eggs. It is most common on open, sandy soils, on thinly wooded upland hillsides, in cultivated fields, and meadows. Wide distribution: MN to southern NH, S to FL, W to TX and KS.
EASTERN KINGBIRD
Tyrannus tyrannus
Total length 8in.
Large flycatcher. Slaty black head and upper parts, white below, with a white tip to the tail; red patch on the top of the head difficult to see. Common perched high around farms, in woodland clearings, and over water. Nests overhang water. Widespread over much of E North America. Summer breeder, winters in Central and South America.
EASTERN MOLE
Scalopus aquaticus
Total length 8in; tail lin.
A typical mole, with dense velvety dark fur, and large shovel-like forepaws. The eyes are vestigial and covered with skin. It feeds almost exclusively on invertebrates, particularly earthworms. It has a single litter each year of 2-5 young, born naked and helpless in an underground nest. Found in habitats with loamy well-drained soils, often in woodlands, meadows, and grasslands, and also lawns. It is widespread over much of E North America from S Canada to southern TX, with isolated populations in southwest TX and Mexico. There are also other species of mole in W US.
EASTERN NEWT
Notophthalmus viridescens
Total length 3in.
Unusual, starting life as an aquatic larva, then spending 2-3 years on land as an eft, before returning to water to breed, remaining in the water afterwards. The terrestrial eft.is bright orange-red, with black-edged red spots which persist in the adult when the rest of the skin turns greenish or brownish. The coloring is a warning to potential predators that it has toxins in the skin. Range extends over most of the US E of the Rockies, and N to S Canada. In the SE of its range neotenous forms are common (in which the larval characters are retained], and the terrestrial stage does not occur.
EASTERN PIPISTRELLE
Pipistrellus subflavus
Total length 3"in; wing span l0in.
The smallest bat over most of North America, also one of the commonest. It emerges earlier than most bats, and can be seen in the evening light, hunting for insects and spiders. Generally found around farmland, open woodland and parks, where it roosts in trees, migrating in the fall to hibernate in caves and mines. It is found in E North America from SE Canada to TX.
EASTERN RED BAT
Lasiurus borealis
Total length 4in; wing span 13in.
One of the few small mammals to show obvious sexual dimorphism-male is more brightly colored than female. Reddish, with white patches on the shoulder, and white tips to the hair. Unusually, this bat gives birth to 4, occasionally 5, young. Found mostly in wooded habitats. Widespread in E from S Canada. It is migratory in N.
EASTERN REDBUD
Cercis canadensis
Height up to 40ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 3-4in long, heart-shaped; green, yellow in autumn. Flowers 1/2in long, pink, pealike; in spring before leaves. Fruits 3in long, flat pods; beanlike seeds. Native to E US, N to IN; planted elsewhere.
EASTERN RIBBON SNAKE
Thamnophis sauritus
Total length 3ft.3in.
A slender, streamlined garter snake, with a long tail. Usually has three bright, well-defined stripes contrasting sharply with dark back and sides. Stripes range from reddish brown, yellow, green-tinged, orange to blue; velvety black or dark brown back. Feeds on amphibians, leeches and fish. Very aquatic. Found E of the Mississippi River to ME, and S to FL.
EASTERN SCREECH OWL
Otus asio
Total length 8in.
A very small owl with prominent ear tufts. It is found in two main color forms: a reddish brown form which is most common in the south of its range and a grayish form which is commoner in the north. Nests in old woodpecker holes and other cavities in trees. Widespread E of the Rockies. In the W replaced by the Western Screech Owl.
EASTERN SPADEFOOT
Scaphiopus holbrooki
Total length 2 ½ in.
Like other spadefoots, has a characteristic vertical pupil, giving it a catlike eye. Male's breeding call is a sharp, often repeated "quonk." The only spadefoot ofE North America; four others found in W US. It is found in sandy habitats and floodplains from New England to TX. Range is in two distinct populations separated by the Mississippi floodplain.
EASTERN SPOTTED SKUNK
Spilogale putorius
Total length 22in; tail 8in.
A small black skunk with rows of large spots that often form incomplete stripes. When cornered or attacked it stands on its forepaws and sprays a foul-smelling scent at the intruder-it can reach over 12ft.away. It is an omnivore, feeding on carrion, fruit, small mammals, lizards, and insects. A litter of 4-5 young is born in spring, usually in an underground den. It is found in a wide range of habitats including woodland and farmland, and often takes over disused woodchuck burrows. It is a frequent road kill. Found over much of E US, but absent from New England and the Atlantic coast.
EASTERN TAILED-BLUE
Everes comyntas
Wingspan lin.
A small blue butterfly with short, thin "tails" on the hindwings; the female is grayer. The caterpillars feed on clovers and their relatives. They often gather in groups around puddles. Found in a wide range of habitats over most of the US and SE Canada.
EASTERN TENT CATERPILLAR
Malacosoma americanum
Total length 5/8in.
Tent caterpillars are familiar to most everyone from S Canada and throughout the US. Adults lay their eggs in large, silken tents created by many adults to act as communal nurseries. Caterpillars feed at night and retreat to the safety of the tent during the day. Although there are relatively few species (about 35) in the family, they are common and well distributed.
EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio glaucus
Wingspan 5in.
A spectacular large butterfly. Although normally yellow with black markings, and red spots on the edge of the hindwing, some females, particularly in the SE of their range, are bluish black. The caterpillars feed on tree leaves, such as cherry and willow, and are often found in city parks. Common in the E of US and Canada, rarer elsewhere.
EASTERN WHITE PINE
Pinus strobes
Height up to 100ft.
Evergreen conifer; lower trunk bare, foliage irregularly cylindrical in outline in maturity. Needles 3-4in long and bluish; in 5s. Cones 4-8in long, cylindrical, and brown. Widespread on sandy soils in E, mainly MN to NS, S to Appalachians.
EBONY JEWELWING
Calopteryx maculata
Total length up to 2in.
One of the easiest damselflies to identify, with its iridescent bright green body and black wings. Has fluttery flight compared to darters. Found over small streams and brooks; prefers moving water. One of five species of blackwing damsels in North America. Common from S Canada to FL and W to TX.
ECCENTRIC SAND DOLLAR
Dendraster excentricus
Total length 3in.
Thicker and heavier than the previous species, with short purple to brown spines. A filter feeder. Commonly seen alive along sandy beaches after storms; its gray and white skeleton with the characteristic 5-petal pattern is often found on the tideline. These are sometimes called "sea cookies." Found on the W coast from AK to CA
ELDER
Sambucus Canadensis
Height up to 15ft.
Spreading deciduous shrub. Leaves 6-9in long, pinnate with 3-7 elliptical and toothed leaflets. Flowers 1/4in across with 4 or 5 white lobes; in flat clusters. Fruits 1/4in across blackish berries; in clusters. E US and SE Canada.
ELEPHANT SEAL, NORTHERN
Mirounga angustirostris
Total length 21ft.
The male is the second largest seal in the world, weighing up to 5,000Ib, but the female is less than 11ft.long. The name comes from the male's trunklike snout, which is inflated during the breeding season. At one time the Northern Elephant Seal teetered on the verge of extinction, having been slaughtered for its oil. By 1911 there were probably as few as 20 surviving. Under protection, numbers have recovered: by the 1980s there were 70,000, and in 2000 over 100,000. This is one of the most easily seen seals, in the parts of southern CA where it breeds. Breeding is mostly on small offshore islands, but the smell of the colonies is noticeable on the mainland.
ELM
Ulmus americana
Height up to 100ft.
Elegant and spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, elliptical, and toothed, sides unequal at base. Flowers small and green. Fruits 1/2in long, reddish, and winged. Widespread in E half of North America. Range reduced by Dutch Elm disease.
EMETIC RUSSULA
Russula emetica
Height up to 3in.
Colorful, poisonous fungus. Cap is bright red, domed at first but flattened later; sticky and shiny when wet. Gills creamy white. Stern and flesh white. In conifer woodland on damp ground (Aug-Oct). Widespread in North America.
ENGELMANN'S PRICKLY PEAR
Opuntia engelmannii
Height up to 5ft.
Much-branched and spreading cactus with jointed, flattened, and spiny gray-green stems; stem segments are up to 1ft.long. Flowers 2in across and yellow (Mar-Jun). Fruits lin long, ovoid, and reddish purple. Deserts of S CA, S AZ, S NM, and W TX.
ENGLISH DAISY
Bellis perennis
Height up to 6in.
Attractive perennial. Leaves lin long and spoon-shaped; form prostrate rosette from which flower stalk arises. Flower heads 1/2-lin across; white ray florets and yellow disc florets (Mar-Oct). Lawns and short grass. Widespread but local.
ENGLISH PLANTAIN
Plantago lanceolata
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Familiar, and usually unwelcome perennial. Leaves up to 1ft.long, narrow and ribbed. Flowers tiny and greenish white; borne in dense cylindrical spikes up to 1-1/2ft.long (Apr-Oct). Grassy places; a lawn weed. Non-native but now widespread.
ENSATINA SALAMANDER
Ensatina eschscholtzii
Total length 5in.
Easily distinguished from other salamanders by the narrow constriction at the base of its tail, which snaps if grasped by a predator, enabling it to escape. Pattern and coloring extremely variable, uniform brown, spotted, or barred. When disturbed it goes rigid and arches its tail. Found in forests at altitudes of 4,000-10,000ft.along the W coast from BC to Baja CA.
ERMINE
Mustela erminea
Total length 13in; tail 3in.
Ermine was originally the name for the white winter coat ofthe short-tailed weasel. In the northern parts of its range it turns completely white except for the black tip of the tail. It is a voracious predator, feeding mostly on mice, but also mammals up to the size of baby cottontails. It kills with a bite to the base of the skull or neck, and often drinks the blood of its prey. Very vocal, and can also be attracted by "squeaking" or by using bird calls. Its fur was traditionally used for trimming robes of the European nobility.
EUROPEAN BEECH
Fagus Sylvatica
Height up to 70ft.
Domed, deciduous tree. Leaves 2-3in long, ovate, toothed, and parallel-veined; dark green above, paler below, golden in autumn. Flowers inconspicuous, greenish. Fruits lin long, ovoid, prickly; 2 brown nuts. Non-native but planted widely.
EUROPEAN EARWIG
Forficula auricularia
Total length 3/4in.
The large, spinelike protrusions from its abdomen and the lack of wings make this species easily recognizable. Although it has wings, it is functionally flightless and lives under rocks in cracks and in damp soil. Nocturnal, and feeds on a wide variety of plants. Sometimes it is a pest in flower gardens. Cosmopolitan in distribution and probably introduced into the US early in the last century.
EUROPEAN HONEYBEE
Apus mellifera
Total length 3/4in.
The honeybee was introduced from Germany as part of the introduction of many agricultural plants and animals to provide food for colonists. German bees are tractable and centuries of cultivation have made them perfect for raising honey. Care needs to be taken since they can become alarmed and sting. In TX and some parts of the SW, German honeybees are crossbreeding with African bees and becoming more aggressive. In addition, African bees seem to be invading and colonizing parts of the US.
EUROPEAN MANTIS
Mantis religiosa
Total length 3in.
Introduced from Europe, this predator is green or brown, like other mantis, and has highly modified front legs for catching and holding prey. An ambush hunter with excellent vision, and a strong flyer whose wing spread is 4-5in. The most abundant mantis throughout the N US, and the one seen most commonly in gardens.
EUROPEAN STARLING
Sturnus vulgaris
Total length 9in.
Plumage black with light spots (more prominent in fall); bill bright yellow in breeding. Young birds are grayer. Aggressive, and often competes with native birds for nest holes. Omnivorous. Introduced from Europe, now widespread.
EUROPEAN WHITE BIRCH
Betula pendula
Height up to 80ft.
Open-crowned tree. Branches pendulous towards tips. Leaves 1-2in long, oval to triangular, toothed; turn yellow in autumn. Male flowers in pendant catkins, females in small upright catkins. Damp soils. Planted widely throughout North America.
EVENING GROSBEAK
Coccothraustes vespertinus
Total length 8in.
Striking, with heavy bill and white patches on the blackish wings prominent in flight. Male yellowish and dark brown, female grayer, and the young more buff. Resident over much of N US and Canada, S through the Rockies, but can erupt Sand E in large numbers.
EVENING-PRIMROSE
Oenothera biennis
Height up to 5ft.
Branched and upright biennial. Leaves 5-8in long and lanceolate; form basal rosette in first year, in second year borne up stern. Flowers 1-2in across with 4 yellow petals; open at night and in dull weather (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. Widespread in North America.
EYEBRIGHT
Euphrasia sp.
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Variable upright plant; several similar species. Leaves up to 1/2in long, ovate, toothed, and opposite. Flowers 1/4-1/2in long, white with purple and orange marks; in spikes with toothed bracts (Jun-Sep). Grassland. Widespread in N of North America.
EYED CLICK BEETLE
Alaus oculatus
Total length 1in.
This spectacular beetle has two large black spots surrounded by yellow on its pronotum, and has speckled gray upper wing covers. Click beetles are so named because adults can arch their back and snap themselves up into the air when they are placed or fall on their backs, a performance that is often accompanied by a loud, snapping sound. This is the largest North American species, and is found in E North America.
FAIRY RING MUSHROOM
Marasmius oreades
Height up to 4in.
Ring-forming fungus associated with lawns and short grassland. Cap is usually pale buffish tan but sometimes stained darker. Gills white and widely spaced. Flesh is white. Stern is same color as cap. Widespread (mainly Jul-Oct).
FALSE HELLEBORINE
Veratrum viride
Height up to 6ft.
Poisonous plant. Leaves 6-12in long, broadly ovate, parallel-veined and clasping. Flowers 1/2in across with 6 greenish petal-like segments; in branching, clustered spikes (May-Jul). Damp ground. N of North America; S in mountains to OR in W, GA in E.
FALSE SOLOMON'S-SEAL
Smilocina racemosa
Height up to 3ft.
Perennial with arching sterns. Leaves 3-7in long, ovate, and parallel-veined. Flowers tiny with 6 petal-like white segments; in branched, terminal spikes (Apr-Jul). Damp and shady wooded areas. Widespread throughout much of North America.
FEATHER MOSS
Pleurozium sp.
Height up to 2in.
Tough little moss with reddish sterns and branches that are cloaked in yellowish, oval, and translucent leaves that overlap one another. Cushion-forming in woods, usually on acid soils. Widespread in North America.
FEATHER PEABUSH
Dalea formosa
Height up to 3ft.
Untidy-looking low shrub. Leaves 1/2in long with 7 or 9 leaflets. Flowers 1/2in across, purple except for yellow upper petal (Mar-May). Dry habitats including deserts and plains. Central S US.
FELTLEAF WILLOW
Salix alaxensis
Height up to 25ft.
Hardy deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical; green and smooth above, felty white below. Flowers 2-3in long catkins. Fruits woolly. Damp soils and tundra valleys. Widespread in AK and NW Canada.
FEN ORCHID
Liparis loeselii
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves (usually 2) 4-6in long, oblong, basal, and opposite. Flowers l/2in across and yellow-green; in spikes of 2-10 (Jun-Jul). In bogs and other saturated ground. S Canada and NE US; in E, further S in mountains.
FENNEL
Foeniculum vulgare
Height up to 8ft.
Distinctive gray-green perennial. Leaves up to 1ft.long, divided into threadlike leaflets. Flowers small and yellow; in compound umbels up to 6in across (July-Sep). Grassy places. Non-native; widespread in temperate parts of North America.
FERRET, BLACK-FOOTED
Mustela nigripes
Total length 22in; tail 5in.
Very similar in appearance to the domestic ferret, with a raccoonlike face mask. It is totally dependent on prairie dogs, living in their burrows and preying on them. It also feeds on other small mammals as well as birds and invertebrates. It has 3-5 young in a litter born in an underground den. Saved from the brink of extinction by captive breeding, the Blackfooted Ferret has been reintroduced into several protected areas. It appears to be thriving, and is once more breeding in the wild. It once was found from S Canada throughout the Plains to TX.
FEW-FLOWERED SHOOTING STAR
Dodecatheon pulchellum
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate plant. Leaves 3-15in long and lanceolate; form a basal rosette. Flowers lin long with 5 backward-pointing deep pink petals and projecting stamens; in terminal clusters on tall stalk (Apr-Aug). Grassy places. Widespread in W.
FIELD BINDWEED
Convolvulus arvensis
Creeping or climbing. Perennial that twists around other plants to assist its progress; sterns up to 9ft.long. Leaves 1-2in long, arrowhead-shaped and long-stalked. Flowers up to lin across, funnel-shaped, and pale pink with white stripes (May-Sep). S Canada and US.
FIELD CHICKWEED
Cerastium arvense
Height up to 1 1/2ft.
Downy perennial, often prostrate and spreading. Leaves lin long, narrow, and lanceolate. Flowers lin across with 5 white, notched petals (Apr-Sep). Favors free-draining grassy places, often on lime. Widespread at temperate latitudes.
FIELD CRICKET
Gryllus assimilis
Total length lin.
The Field Cricket is distinguished from other crickets by having a light-colored head with dark markings. Wings clear except for a rectangular spot on fore- and hindwings. One of the most vocal species, singing any time of day, particularly from dark areas. The most common and widely distributed cricket that is found closely associated with people, often coming into houses and basements.
FIELD HORSETAIL
Equisetum arvense
Height up to 2-1/2ft.
The commonest horsetail, forming spreading patches in dry, grassy places, and on disturbed areas. Sterile shoots have ridged sterns and carry whorls of unbranched branches. Fertile sterns appear in early spring and ripen in May. Throughout North America.
FIN WHALE
Balaenoptera physalus
Total length 78ft.
One of the largest whales, surpassed only by the Blue Whale. Like other baleen whales it is a fast-swimming species, with a very streamlined shape. It is dark colored, whitish below, and has a small dorsal fin, well back towards the tail. Identified by prominent white streaking on the back, and a high straight spout. Tends to surface exposing the head and blowhole, then blowing and exposing the back and fin as it dives. It is one of the more frequently seen whales, particularly off the Atlantic coast of New England and Canada. It migrates from warm subtropical waters to the Arctic for the summer, returning S in the fall, and on migration often comes close to shore.
FIR CLUBMOSS
Lycopodium selago
Height up to 6in.
Tufted, upright clubmoss with sterns cloaked in green, needlelike leaves give plant more than a passing resemblance to a young conifer. Spore cases borne along stern. Dry, acid soils. AK and Canada; S in US in uplands.
FIRE ANT
Solenopsis xyloni
Total length less than 1/8in.
Red in color and inflicts a painful bite. Fire ants live in enormous colonies and scavenge for plants and animals; they have become a major predator of ground-nesting birds and even small mammals. They are invasive into the US, having spread from TX and FL across most of the S. Control has been unsuccessful.
FIREWEED
Chamerion angustifolium (Epilobium angustifolium)
Height up to 5ft.
Patch-forming perennial. Leaves 5-8in long and lanceolate. Flowers lin across with 4 pink petals; in terminal spikes (Jul-Sep). Seeds silky and wind-dispersed. Disturbed, cleared, and burned ground. Widespread in N, S to CA in W, NC in E.
FISH CROW
Corvus caurinus
Total length 16in
Smaller than the American Crow, it is most easily identified by its call which is a fairly highpitched "kaar." Nests in trees, often in small colonies. Generally found near water, in marshes, along rivers, estuaries, and the seashore. Confined to E US from New England to NE TX.
FISHER
Martes pennanti
Total length 3ft.4in; tail 16in.
A large relative of the weasel, slightly larger than the closely related Marten. It is also darker, and lacks a pale throat patch. It feeds on a wide variety of animals including porcupines, hares, rodents, and birds' eggs, and fruit and berries. A litter of 2-5 young is born in a den, usually among rocks or in a hollow tree. Found in a wider variety of habitats than the Marten, but generally confined to mature forests and woodlands. It has a similar range to the Marten, but not as far S, and is absent from AK.
FISHHOOK BARREL CACTUS
Ferocactus wislizenii
Height up to 6ft.
Impressive barrel-shaped cactus. Ribs are coated with clusters of spines; central spine in each cluster is hooked-tipped. Flowers 1-2in across and reddish yellow (Aug-Sep). Fruits lin long and yellow. Deserts of S AZ and SW NM.
FISHHOOK CACTUS
Mammilaria microcarpa
Height up to 6in.
Spherical to cylindrical cactus. Spines arranged in radiating clusters; central spine is hooked-tipped. Flowers lin across and pinkish (Apr-May). Fruits lin long and reddish. Deserts and dry grassland. S CA to W TX.
FIVE-LINED SKINK
Eumeces inexpectatus
Total length 8in.
A dark skink with five pale stripes on the back, which gradually fade with age; older adult is a uniform brown, the male has an orange-brown head. Young are brightly marked, with a blue tail. Often burrows, but is also a good climber. The female lays a clutch of up to 11 eggs which she guards. This species is poisonous to domestic cats. Found in damp woods, meadows, and also drier habitats over E US from MD to FL and LA.
FLAT-HEADED BORER
Buprestis gibbsi
Total length 3/4in.
The wood-boring beetles are large, colorful, t1attened beetles that live under the bark of many commercially important trees. The Flat-headed Borer is a large species that attacks oaks. Iridescent and much sought by beetle collectors, this borer is yellow and black. The elytra have a sculptured appearance with deep lines running toward the back. It is found in SE US.
FLICKER, NORTHERN
Colaptes auratus
Total length 12in.
A large woodpecker found in two color forms: the eastern Yellow-shafted Flicker is yellowish on the underside of the wings; the western Red-shafted Flicker is tinged orangered under the wings. Nests in tree holes in open woodlands, cacti, telegraph poles, and in nest boxes. Widely distributed over most of North America from AK to Newfoundland.
FLORIDA CROWN CONCH
Melongena corona
Total length 2 1/2in.
Shell has sharp spines along shoulders; brown with interspersed black and white bands. An active predator, partial to oysters and clams, but also other snails. Common species of brackish water where it frequents oyster beds, mangrove forests, and tidal shallows in FL and the Gulf Coast.
FLORIDA HORSE CONCH
Pleuroploca gigantea
Total length l8in.
The largest snail in North America, reaching up to 1 lift.in length. Brown periostracum usually worn in older specimens; B-9 whorls. Early whorls have distinct knobs absent in older specimens. Common in eelgrass; a predator of snails and bivalves. Found from Cape Hatteras to FL.
FLOWERING DOGWOOD
Cornus florida
Height up to 30ft.
Spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 1-2in long, elliptical with wavy margin. Flowers tiny and tightly packed but surrounded by 4 white petal-like bracts, each 2in long. Fruits 1/4in long, red, and berrylike. Widespread E US; also SE Canada.
FLUTED WHITE HELVELLA
Helvella crispa
Height up to 8in.
Has strangely convoluted and distorted cap resembling melted plastic. Cap is creamy white; usually slightly paler than stern which is grayish white and furrowed. Roadsides and grassy woodland. Widespread; absent from far N and hot, dry S.
FLY AGARIC
Amanita muscaria
Height up to l0in.
Distinctive toadstool. Cap is red and covered with white flecks (remains of veil) that are washed off in heavy rain. Gills white and stern white with a ring and bulbous base. Woodland, usually under birch. E of North America.
FLY HONEYSUCKLE
Lonicera canadensis
Height up to 5ft.
Bushy shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, oblong, opposite, and short-stalked. Flowers lin long, tubular, and yellow (Jun-Aug). Fruits are blue berries. Woodland and scrub. Widespread across Canada and N US.
FLYING SQUIRREL, SOUTHERN
Glaucomys volans
Total length 9in; tail 4in.
A very small nocturnal squirrel. Its fur is soft.and silky, grayish above, white below. A fold of skin between the fore limbs and the hind limbs is used to glide from tree to tree. It nests in old woodpecker holes, and also uses nest boxes, and attics. It hoards food for winter use, but also feeds extensively on insects and other small animals. Usually has 2 litters of up to 6 young. Found in woodland. Range extends over most of E North America, and also S into Central America.
FORBES' SEA STAR
Asterias forbesi
Diameter 9-10in.
Usually five arms; short blunt spines; color highly variable, orange, brown, green, or purple. A major predator of snails, clams, and particularly oysters in southern waters. Fast moving over rocks in pursuit of prey. Found from New England to the Gulf of Mexico, this is the common intertidal sea star.
FORK-TAILED BUSH KATYDID
Scudderia furcata
Total length up to 2in.
Bush katydids have well-developed, transparent wings which are twice as long as the abdomen. They are usually green and large. Antennae are as long as the wings, as are the hind legs which, when stretched out, go well beyond the tip of the wings. Songs are loud and important for sex recognition at breeding. Common in trees, bushes, and weed patches throughout North America.
FOX SPARROW
Passerella iliaca
Total length 7in.
Relatively large and chunky, variable in coloring from dark gray to rufous, heavily spotted and streaked below. Distinct red tail. Usually solitary, comes to feeders. Many subspecies and geographical variations. Fairly common. Breeds mainly in Canada and AK; winters in SE US and far W coast in undergrowth, thickets, and brush.
FRAGILE FERN
Cystopteris fragilis
Frond length up to 3ft.
Delicate fern that grows in tufts arising from crevices in rocks and stone walls, mostly on limestone. Fronds 2- or 3-pinnate and appear Apr-Oct. Spore cases rounded. Widespread AK, Canada, and temperate parts of US.
FRAGRANT WATER LILY
Nymphaea odorata
Aquatic. Aquatic plant. Leaves 5-12in across, rounded, and dissected to leaf stalk; floating, green above, reddish below. Flowers 4-5in across, fragrant with numerous whitish or pinkish petals (Jun-Sep). Ponds and backwaters. Throughout North America.
FRILLED ANEMONE
Metridium senile
Diameter 9in.
This lovely large anemone, 9in in diameter and twice as high, is often white in color but can be brown or dusky red. It often grows in groups reproducing by asexual budding, and can move and change locations. It lives in quiet waters attached to rocks, pilings, or shells along the W coast.
FRINGED LOOSESTRIFE
Lysimachia ciliata
Height up to 4ft.
Attractive perennial. Leaves 3-5in long, narrow ovate, and in opposite pairs; stalks fringed with hairs. Flowers 3/4in across with 5 yellow petals; on stalks from leafaxils (Jun-Aug). Damp woods and margins of water. Widespread throughout North America.
FROG ORCHID
Coeloglossum viride
Height up to l0in.
Intriguing orchid. Basal leaves 2-3in long, oval, and form basal rosette; stern leaves narrower, partly sheathing. Flowers 1/4in across and reddish green; sepals and upper petals form a hood; in open spikes (Jun-Aug). Grassy places. N of North America.
FULMAR
Fulmarus glacialis
Total length 18in.
A gull-like member of the shearwater family, with a short, tube-nosed bill. Color varies from almost white to very dark. Typical stiff-winged flight. Often seen close to the shore. It usually breeds on cliffs with other seabirds. Found in northern waters of the Atlantic and Pacific, moving south in winter.
GADWALL
Anas streptera
Total length 22in.
Similar in size to the Mallard. Both sexes have white on the inner wing feathers which is visible even when they are swimming. The male is gray with characteristic black feathers above and below the tail. The female is similar to the female Mallard, but easily identified in flight by the white wing patches. Found on ponds and in marshes throughout the US from S AK and Canada.
GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH
Bagre marinus
Total length 2ft.
Blue-gray above and silvery white below. Named for the long barbels extending back from the mouth and the long filaments on the dorsal and pectoral fins. Often caught by coastal fishermen. Found from Cape Cod S, but most common in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
GANNET
Sula bassanus
Total length 3ft. A diving seabird with a long pointed bill, a pointed tail and narrow pointed wings. Adult is white with black wing tips, with orange tinge to head, the young ones are dark brownish gray, with white speckling, and gradually become white until mature in the third year. When feeding on fish, garmets dive head first at great speed from a considerable height. Found in the N.
GAR, ALLIGATOR
Lepisostells platostomlls
Total length 9ft.
The biggest gar (over 200lb), and one of North America's largest freshwater fish. Dark, olive body, lighter below with a short, wide snout. Spots on tail and fins, dorsal fin far back by tail. Eats almost anything: fish, birds, mammals, and reptiles. Found in quiet waters, bayous, and swamps of the lower Mississippi drainage, coastal TX and E to FL Panhandle.
GARDEN EEL
Heteroconger halis
Total length 20in.
Slender; brown to gray, with a light spot behind the large eye. Lives in mucous tubes in the sand near coral reefs. It feeds on plankton which is picked from the water without the fish leaving its home. A colony of feeding eels seems to wave in synchronization like flowers in the wind, hence its common name. A colonial species of S FL and the Caribbean
GEM-STUDDED PUFFBALL
Lycoperdon perlatum
Height up to 3in.
The club-shaped fruit bodies are found in clusters. Fruit body off-white with dark spines when young; mature specimens are brown and wrinkled; spores expelled via terminal pore. On dead and part-buried decaying wood (Aug-Nov). Widespread in North America.
GENTIAN
Gentianella (Gentiana) amarella
Height up to 1ft.
Upright biennial. Leaves up to 1-1/2in long and oblong; form basal rosette in 1st year which withers before flowering stern appears in 2nd year. Flowers1/2in long, purple, and 4- or 5 lobed;, in clusters (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. N and W of North America.
GIANT ACORN BARNACLE
Balanus nubilus
Total length 4in.
The largest barnacle in North America. Because of its size, often has other species living on its outside, and when dead, its inside provides shelter for other organisms. Spectacular and unmistakable. Often grows in colonies, forming a great mass. Common in the Pacific in shallow water on pilings and rocks up to the edge of low tide.
GIANT CHINKAPIN
Castanopsis chrysophylla
Height up to 80ft.
Domed, evergreen tree. Leaves 2-5in long, lanceolate; dark green above, yellowish below. Flowers small and white, in 2in long catkins. Fruits 1 1/2in across, spherical, very spiny; 1-2 ovoid edible nuts. Pacific coast, WA and CA,
GIANT EASTERN MUREX
Muricanthus fllivescens
Total length 5-6in.
Recognized by its ornate and attractive shell, which is whitish and marked with darker lines. Note the conical spire that is adorned with hollow, pointed spines. Shell aperture is whitish and lip is toothed. Favors sandy substrates and locally common in coastal seas off SE USA.
GIANT GREEN ANEMONE
Anthopleura xanthogrammica
Diameter 12in.
Anemones are like jellyfish, attached by their heads and waving their stinging tentacles in the water to trap unwary small animals. The Giant Green Anemone is l2in wide and 6in high. Vibrant green in color from food-making algae incorporated into its body, which give the anemone some nutrition. Found on rocks below midtide on W coast from AK to CA.
GIANT PACIFIC OYSTER
Crassostrea gigas
Total length 6in.
Purple muscle scar on white interior. The oysters live attached to hard surfaces or to each other. Edible; best raw when young and small, larger ones excellent as fried oysters or in soups and stews. Found from W Canada to CA.
GIANT PERENNIAL KELP
Macrocystis sp.
Length up to 200ft.
The continent's largest seaweed. Entirely submerged but sometimes washed up on shore. A branching stalk is attached by holdfast to rock. Along its length are round floats from which 1ft-long blades arise. Widespread on Pacific coast.
GIANT SEQUOIA
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Height up to 250ft.
Massive evergreen conifer. Trunk huge and reddish; lower half bare. Crown open and irregular in maturity. Leaves 2in long, narrow, scalelike, bluish green with 2 white lines. Cones 2-3in long, ovoid, and pendant. CA only (Sierra Nevada).
GIANT SUNFLOWER
Helianthus giganteus
Height up to 10ft.
Roughly hairy plant. Leaves 3-6in long, lanceolate, toothed, and usually stalkless. Flower heads 2-3in across with bright yellow ray florets and darker disc florets (Jul-Oct). Damp grassland and marshes. Widespread in E of North America.
GIANT TRILLIUM
Trillium chloropetalum
Height up to 2ft.
Shade-loving plant. Leaves 3-5in long, mottled purple, and broadly ovate; 3, borne in a whorl on stout stern. Flowers 2in long and greenish with 3 upright petals; borne just above leaves (Feb-May). Damp woods. Coastal WA and OR, S to CA.
GIANT WATER BUG
Belostoma flumineum
Total length 2in.
The largest aquatic bug. A voracious predator, it can inflict a painful bite. Like Praying Mantis, its front legs catch and hold prey including small fish. It can fly, and is attracted to lights at night, where it is most readily seen. Relatively common in permanent ponds or pools.
GIGARTINA (TUFTED RED WEED)
Gigartina stellata
Length up to 4in.
A low-growing seaweed, fronds of which are flat, divided, and often curled; blades expand towards their tips where they are studded with short outgrowths. Grows attached to rocks on lower to middle shore. Atlantic, mainly N from NY.
GILA MONSTER
Heloderma suspectum
Total length 2ft.
Unmistakable, heavily built lizard. One of only two venomous lizards known, though rarely fatal to humans. It has small beadlike scales, and is strikingly patterned with black and orange, pinkish, or yellowish. Feeds on small birds, rodents, and lizards. Unlike snakes, it poisons its prey by chewing. The female lays up to 5 eggs, in fall or winter. Generally nocturnal, hiding by day in burrows and under rocks. Confined to desert areas in the extreme SW of the US and adjacent Mexico.
GINKGO (MAIDENHAIR-TREE)
Ginkgo biloba
Height up to 70ft.
Elegant and distinctive tree. Spreading habit with age but retains pyramidal-shaped crown. Leaves lobed, fan-shaped; light green turning yellow in autumn. Originally from Asia, now planted widely, mainly in E and W coastal districts.
GINSENG
Panax quinquefolium
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate woodland plant. Leaves 6-2in long with 5 oval, toothed leaflets; in whorls of 3. Flowers tiny and greenish white; in umbels lin across (May-Aug). Fruits are red berries. Damp woodlands. E of North America, N to MB and QC.
GLOBE FLOWER
Trollius laxus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Attractive upright perennial. Leaves 2-4in across and palmately divided into toothed lobes. Flowers lin across with 5 yellow petal-like sepals and many small petals (Apr-Jun). Damp meadows and marshes. Local, BC, WA, and Rockies; also NE US.
GLOBE FLOWER
Trollius laxus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Attractive upright perennial. Leaves 2-4in across and palmately divided into toothed lobes. Flowers lin across with 5 yellow petal-like sepals and many small petals (Apr-Jun). Damp meadows and marshes. Local, BC, WA, and Rockies; also NE US.
GLOSSY IBIS
Plegadis falcinellus
Total length 2ft.
Easily distinguished from herons by its dark, glossy coloring and long downward-curving bill. Active and sociable, feeding in small flocks while wading through shallow pools or damp meadows. Flies with neck outstretched and legs trailing; short glides alternate with several rapid wing flaps. Confined to E coastal areas from S Canada to MS.
GOLDEN EAGLE
Aquila chrysaetos
Total length 3ft.
A large, dark brown eagle with a golden brown head. Flight feathers spread when soaring and wings in a "V". Feeds on rodents, rabbits, other medium-sized mammals, and carrion. Nests on cliffs. It is found mostly in or near mountains and wilderness. Widespread over much of North America; generally low density.
GOLDEN PLOVER
Pluvialis dominica
Total length l0in.
In breeding plumage the male is spectacular: jet black on the underside and face, bordered with white and spangled golden on the back and top of the head. Female is duller. Outside breeding, adult and juvenile lack the black belly and white markings. Breeds in the high Arctic of Canada and AK; winters in South America. Seen on migration on the E coast in fall. In spring, flies up the Mississippi Valley.
GOLDEN RAGWORT
Senecio aureus
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive creeping plant. Basal leaves 3-6in long, heart-shaped, and long-stalked; stern leaves shorter and pinnate. Flower heads lin across with yellow ray florets and orange disc florets; in clusters (Apr-Jul). Damp ground. E of North America.
GOLDEN SAXIFRAGE
Saxifraga aizoides
Height up to 5in.
Attractive and clump-forming perennial. Leaves up to 1/2in long, narrow, fleshy, and light green. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 narrow, yellow petals. Favors damp ground including margins of streams. Arctic and sub-Arctic areas of AK and Canada.
GOLDEN SHINER
Notemigonus crysoleucus
Total length 12in.
Gold or silver in color with small head and compressed body; large scales. Feeds on aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Sticky eggs laid on aquatic vegetation. Found in shallows of lakes and ponds. Widespread over most of US, S Canada, absent Pacific NW.
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET
Regullus satrapa
Total length 4in.
Tiny, greenish, golden-orange crown bordered with black, and white eye-stripe. Call thin and high. Usually seen flitting around the tops of conifers. Widespread, summer visitor to Canada and mountain areas of US; winters widely in the US, often mixing with chickadees.
GOLDFINCH
Carduelis tristis
Total length 8in
Breeding male spectacular bright yellow with black crown, black wings and tail, duller in winter. Often abundant, feeding in flocks and visiting feeders. Particularly fond of thistle seeds. Widespread from S Canada and most of US, moving S in winter.
GOLDFISH
Carassius auratus
Total length 16in.
Familiar to many as a household pet. Darkens with age. Pollution tolerant. Feeds on algae and other aquatic vegetation. Readily interbreeds with the introduced and related Common Carp. Introduced to North America from Asia, now found in slow or still warm waters I from Canada throughout the US.
GOPHER TORTOISE
Gopherus polyphemus
Total length l4in.
Dome-shelled terrestrial turtle with elephantine hind feet and more shovel-like fore feet. Confined to FL and adjacent states in dry habitats, usually with sandy well-drained soils where they excavate burrows, in which they spend the heat of the day. The tunnels are often long; the record is 47ft. Threatened by loss of habitat, and by collecting for the pet trade.
GOSHAWK
Accipiter gentilis
Total length 2ft.
Medium-sized, round-winged when soaring, with long tail. Female one-third larger than male. Adult uniform gray above; dark brown in females and immatures. Prominent pale stripe above the eye. Found in coniferous forest and woodland. Captures birds up to the size of small ducks, and mammals such as rabbits. Widespread in Canada and N US.
GRAND FIR
Abies grandis
Height up to 200ft.
Towering narrowly conical evergreen conifer. Needles curved, up to 2in long, dark green above, and silvery below; in 2 rows. Cones cylindrical, upright, and green or brown. Pacific NW mountains (mainly BC, WA, and OR) and Rocky Mountains.
GRASS CARP
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Total length over 3ft.
Large vegetarian fish which reaches 100lb. Identified by single dorsal fin, light color, large scales, and large size. Numerous eggs are free-floating and distributed widely, hastening its spread. It is introduced in most states for weed control, but this is controversial since it can destroy much valuable habitat for native species, so it is prohibited in some states.
GRASS PICKEREL
Esox americanus
Total length 15in.
A long species with dorsal fin far back in front of the tail, black line down from the eye, angled backward; green with darker side bars. Smaller than Chain Pickerel, but they do not coexist. Active predator. Found in clear, slow-moving and quiet streams, ponds and lakes with vegetation. Widely distributed in E except in the Appalachians; introduced elsewhere.
GRASS PINK
Calopogon pulchellus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Attractive little orchid. Single leaf, up to 1ft.long, is basal and grasslike. Flowers lin across with spreading pink petals and sepals and bearded lip; in spikes (mainly Apr-Aug). Saturated acid soils. E of North America.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW
Ammodramus savannarum
Total length 5in.
Flat head, with a pale, buffish stripe bisecting the crown, a complete eye ring, and a short tail. Usually found in colonies. Nests on the ground. Found in open, grassy habitats including prairies and pastures. Widespread over US and N to extreme S of Canada. More scattered in W. Declining over most of its range.
GRASS-OF-PARNASSUS
Parnassia palustris
Height up to 1ft.
Distinctive perennial. Basal leaves 2in across, heart-shaped, and stalked. Flowers lin across with 5 white petals; solitary on erect stalks with clasping leaves (Jun-Sep). Damp, usually lime-rich, meadows. NE North America.
GRAY BEARDTONGUE
Penstemon canescens
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive downy perennial. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate, and opposite. Flowers up to 1-1/2in long, pinkish purple, tubular, and 2-lipped, lower lip 3-lobed, upper 2-lobed; in clusters (May-Jul). Woodland. E US, from IN to PA, S to GA.
GRAY FOX
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Total length 3ft.6in; tail 17in.
Colorful, with grizzled gray fur above, and orange on the sides and under the tail. Relatively arboreal. Feeds on a wide range of small animals, fruits, birds' eggs, and carrion. Has a single litter of up to 7 cubs. Widespread and often common, although seldom seen by day.
GRAY HAIR STREAK
Strymon melinus Wingspan 1in.
A delicate, pale gray butterfly, with red markings and short "tails" on the hindwings. The caterpillar feeds on flowers and fruits of a wide range of plants including beans and cotton. Often found along roadsides and other disturbed habitats, and widely distributed throughout North America.
GRAY JAY
Perisorells canadensis
Total length 11in.
A variable species. Most of the underparts are gray, with varying amounts of gray on the head and a short, black bill. Usually very tame and often found in campsites. Found in coniferous forests across Canada and the US, and further S in the Rockies.
GRAY SEAL
Halichoerus grypus
Total length 7ft.6in.
A large seal, usually grayish or blackish, with darker and paler blotches. It breeds in small colonies, and the single white-coated pup is born in late winter. Gray seals feed on fish, and are often accused of damaging fisheries. They do indeed steal from nets, and often damage nets. Numbers have declined greatly, mostly due to persecution by fishermen. Where the seals are protected from persecution and disturbance they generally increase rapidly. Found in the Atlantic from Newfoundland S to New England, where it occurs mostly in coastal waters.
GRAY WOLF
Canis lupus
Total length 6ft.6in; tail 18in.
Similar to a large dog. Usually grayish, but can be almost pure white or blackish, with a long, usually black-tipped, tail. Can be confused with Coyote although Coyote is smaller. Wolves live in packs of usually fewer than 10. Vocal, with a range of howls, yelps, and barks. Confined to AK, Canada, and N US states around the Great Lakes and Rockies.
GRAYING YELLOW RUSSULA
Russula claroflava
Height up to 4in.
Cap is up to 3in across, bright yellow and smooth; margins sometimes grooved. Gills and stern are off-white, becoming gray with age; flesh is white. Woodland, both coniferous and deciduous (Aug-Sep). Widespread in North America.
GRAYSBY
Epinephelus cruentatus
Total length 12in.
Orange-brown spots cover the body over a pale reddish or gray base. Distinguished by 3-5 black spots at the base of the single, long dorsal fin and a round caudal fin. Solitary and generally unwary of divers. One ofthe most common groupers seen by divers and snorkelers on Atlantic coral reefs around FL and the Gulf of Mexico.
GREAT BARRACUDA
Sphyraena barracuda
Total length 6ft.
Body shape is similar to that of the freshwater Northern Pike; long and slender, silvery sides and belly, with partial bands and a few black blotches on the sides. A fast predator of fish near shore and on reefs. Curious; investigates swimmers and disturbances. Human attacks rare but documented. Found in warm waters of Atlantic and Gulf.
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
Larus marinus
Total length 2ft.6in.
A huge gull with a wingspan of over 5ft. Adult black on the back, attained by fourth year. Immatures mottled brown on back and belly, gradually becoming white on the belly and black on the back. Feeds on offal from fishing fleets; scavenges at landfills. Nests in colonies and is a major predator of other seabirds. Range eastern.
GREAT BLUE HERON
Ardea herodias
Total length 3ft.l0in.
A large heron, mostly bluish gray, with a black stripe on the head ending in a small plume. In south FL the population is white. In flight the neck is folded, and the bird often makes a harsh croaking call. Nests in the tops of trees, over water, or on islands, building a platform of sticks. One of the most widespread and common herons. They eat the ever-loving hell out of fish and will drive you totally crazy if you have fish in your backyard pond much less if you run a hatchery. Believe me, I know all about it.
GREAT CORMORANT
Phalacrocorax carbo
Total length 3ft.
A large waterbird with yellowish bill and yellow throat patch. Adult has only a small amount of white around throat and on flanks, but young have a dirty white belly and are brownish elsewhere. Characteristic silhouette in flight, humped, tapering to the front and back with head held low. Found on coasts or estuaries. Breeds in Canada; winters S to the Carolinas.
GREAT EGRET
Egretta alba
Total length 3ft.3in.
A large white heron with long head plumes during the breeding season. The legs are black and the bill is yellow. Feeds on fish, reptiles, amphibians, and other aquatic species. Outside the breeding season it is found mostly in frost-free coastal areas. Found worldwide. Common in wetlands over most of the US but sparse in the Rockies.
GREAT HORNED OWL
Bubo virginian us
Total length 2ft.l0in.
A massive owl with long ear tufts, a well-defined facial disc, and yellow-orange eyes. Mostly nocturnal, but often seen by day roosting in trees. Call is a deep, repeated "hoot." Feeds on animals up to the size ofrabbits and skunks. Found throughout North America.
GREAT PLAINS NARROW-MOUTHED TOAD
Gastrophryne olivacea
Total length 1 1/2in.
A small, very plump, but smooth-skinned toad with a pointed snout, and a fold of skin across the back of its head. Rarely seen outside the breeding season, spending the day in burrows. It breeds soon after heavy rain during the summer months and the male's call is a faint, high-pitched buzz of up to 2 seconds followed by a squeak. Found in deserts, grasslands, and woodland from NE S to Mexico.
GREAT PLAINS TOAD
Bufo cognatus
Total length 3in.
Easily distinguished from all other American toads by its pattern of paired, pale-edged dark blotches. The male has a high-pitched metallic call lasting up to 50 seconds. After heavy rain in spring or summer huge numbers often gather to breed in ditches, ponds, and even flooded fields. Found from extreme S of Canada to Mexico.
GREAT SOUTHERN WHITE
Ascia monuste
Wingspan 3in.
A large white butterfly, with black tips to the forewings; female is grayer than male. It is found in coastal habitats from FL to TX, migrating N in summer, up the E coast and up the Mississippi Valley.
GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY
Speyeria cybele
Wingspan 3in.
A fast-flying butterfly of open meadows and woodlands. The adult feeds on nectar ofthistIes and milkweed. The caterpillars feed on violets, and are blackish with orange at the base ofthe spines. Found over much of the US and S Canada.
GREAT WHITE SHARK
Carcharodon carcharias
Total length 25ft.
Dark gray to black above, with characteristic white below; deep-bodied, with a large triangular dorsal fin; very large triangular teeth. Popularized as the most dangerous shark because of its method of attack, using one massive initial bite. It is in fact a rare species, possibly endangered, which feeds on marine mammals, sea otters, seals, porpoises and whales as well as other sharks and fishes. Found in N Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
GREATER BLADDERWORT
Utricularia vulgaris
Aquatic.
Unusual freshwater plant. Submerged sterns have finely divided leaves and small, flaskshaped bladders that trap tiny invertebrates. Flowers 1/2in long, spurred, and yellow; on emergent stalks 4-6in long (Jun-Aug). Still waters. Throughout North America.
GREATER PRAIRIE CHICKEN
Tympanuchus cupido
Total length 17in.
A barred, brownish chickenlike bird of the Prairies. Sexes superficially similar, but in courtship display the male inflates large, bright yellow-orange neck sacs and erects its crest while making a low, booming call. Flies with few rapid wing beats, then glides. Widespread in eastern and Midwestern grasslands; now rare.
GREATER SCAUP
Aythya marila
Total length 18in.
Male is distinguished from Ring-necked Duck by its gray back. Female has an extensive area of white around the bill. Found in fresh and salt water; feeds on mussels and other mollusks. Often seen in large flocks resting on the water in rafts in winter. Breeds in N Canada and AK, wintering in coastal waters further S.
GREATER SHEARWATER
Puffinus gravis
Total length 18in
A large ocean bird which has a black cap and dark brown back, with a whitish band on the neck and a white base to the tail. It has a typical shearwater flight on stiff wings, often held at right angles to the sea, skimming close to the waves. Found in the Atlantic in summer and fall. Breeds on islands in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean.
GREATER SIREN
Siren lacertina
Total length 3ft.
A large eel-like salamander, completely aquatic, with external gills, and tiny forelegs with four toes. It is usually grayish or brownish, with yellowish markings on the back and sides, but can be almost black. Like other sirens it is mostly nocturnal, hiding by day, and emerging at night to feed on invertebrates, fish, and plants. It is found in shallow slow-moving rivers, muddy-bottomed lakes and ponds, and weed-choked ditches. When the ponds dry up it burrows into the mud and aestivates in a cocoon secreted by the skin glands. It is found in the coastal plain ofE US from VA south to FL,
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
Tringa melanoleuca
Total length 14in.
A medium-sized, fairly abundant shorebird, heavily spotted, with long yellow legs and a long, thin, slightly upturned bill. Similar to the Lesser Yellowlegs and most easily distinguished by call. One of the most familiar shorebirds seen on migration in any suitable habitat. Nests across Canada to AK. Winters S on both coasts.
GREEK-VALERIAN
Polemonium caeruleum
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive perennial. Leaves 6-8in long and pinnate with 7-15 ovate lobes. Flowers 1/2in across, purplish blue with 5 lobes; in clusters (May-Jun). Found in upland meadows and grassy places. Widespread in W US and Canada.
GREEN ANOLE
Anolis carolinensis
Total length 8in.
A long-tailed, slender lizard, usually bright green. However, it can change its color very rapidly to brown, and various shades of green or brown. The male has a pinkish throat flap. Seen on trees and fence posts; at night it shows up bright yellowish in torchlight. Widespread over S US from VA to TX. Several other species have been introduced from the Caribbean into FL.
GREEN ASH
Fraxinus pennsylvanica
Height up to 60ft.
Deciduous tree; dense, domed crown. Leaves 6-10in long, pinnate, usually with 7 lanceolate leaflets. Flowers small and greenish; in clusters. Fruits 2in long, narrow, winged keys; in clusters. Damp ground. E US and S central to SE Canada.
GREEN ENTEROMORPHA
Enteromorpha sp.
Length up to 3ft.
Fronds membranous and green, forming long gutlike tubes that become inflated; sometimes constricted along their length. Attached to rocks or floating in rock pools, brackish lagoons, and estuaries. Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
GREEN FROG
Rana c1amitans
Total length 4in.
Medium-sized, very variable coloring. Although usually green, can also be bronze or brownish. Extremely prominent eardrum, and ridges down its sides. The male's call is like the twang of the lowest string on a banjo when it breaks. Found in shallow water around ponds and lakes, in swamps and other shallow water. The range extends over most of E North America from NS to TX.
GREEN HERON
Butorides virescens
Total length 18in.
A small heron that looks dark when flying. Underparts are a rich reddish brown; the wings and back are dark greenish and blue-gray. Young birds are much browner, with pale streaking below. Usually solitary, perched along ponds and streams. Nests in bushes. Feeds by spearing fish and other aquatic animals.
GREEN LACEWING
Chrysopa carnea
Total length 3/4in.
The Green Lacewing is related to the Ant Lion, but the adult lacewing is a far better flyer and a highly attractive species. The wings are transparent and the veins obvious. Wings are folded over the abdomen. Abundant, and attracted to lights in open areas throughout North America.
GREEN MORAY
Gymnothorax funebris
Total length 7ft.
This crevice- and reef-dwelling fish holds its mouth open with long, thin teeth, presenting a fearsome appearance to divers or snorkelers from its hiding hole. Uniform green to brown color. Dorsal fin long from neck to tail tip; no pectoral fins. Feeds on fish and invertebrates. Found in warm water of E coast.
GREEN SEA URCHIN
Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis
Total length 3in.
Short green spines 1/2in long; body 3 1/2in in diameter. Sticky tube feet on underside keep it firmly attached in currents and waves. Grazes, scouring surface of rocks for algae. A favorite food of sea stars. Numerous on rocky bottoms and in tide pools. Found on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts in cold waters.
GREEN STINK BUG, SOUTHERN
Nazara viridula
Total length 1in.
Stink bugs are shield-shaped with the elytra only partially covering the underwings. A triangular, central piece of carapace, the scutellum, points backward. Usually uniformly colored green or brown, stink bugs also have bright colors. They produce a musky liquid when handled. Often seen sitting on leaves raised up on their front legs; wary and alert. Widely distributed throughout North America.
GREEN TREE FROG
Hyla cinerea
Total length 2in.
Small, bright green, often with a pale yellow or white stripe down the side, and large toe pads. Nocturnal, hiding among vegetation during the day, and hunting at night. The male's call is a "quonk-quonk," which from a distance sounds like cow-bells. Confined to E US, and found close to ponds, lakes, and swamps, usually surrounded by thick vegetation.
GREEN TURTLE vChelonia mydas
Total length up to 5ft.
Large marine turtle, with a dark olive shell. This was the species most prized for its flesh and for making turtle soup. Small numbers still nest in FL; outside the breeding season, they are found further N, as far as New England. Like all other species its populations are seriously depleted and it is threatened over most of its range.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
Anas crecca
Total length 17in.
A small dabbling duck. Male has buff patch on tail, green wing patch, rufous and green head. Female mottled brown with green on the wing. Widespread, breeding over most of Canada and northern states. Migrates S in winter.
GRIZZLY BEAR vUrsus arctos
Total length up to 7ft; tail 3in.
Large, with the largest individuals being found in the NW of its range. Omnivorous, food varies seasonally. Cubs (1-4) tiny at birth, weighing less than 1 lb. Hibernates underground or in a hollow tree. Once found over most of the Rockies, S into Mexico, now confined to the AK and Canada with scattered populations in NW US.
GROUND-IVY
Glechoma hederacea
Height up to 6in.
Softly hairy, strong-smelling perennial. Creeping sterns root regularly. Leaves l/2-lin long, kidney-shaped, stalked. Flowers l/2-lin long and violet; in whorls of 2-4 (Mar-Jun). Grassy places. Non-native; widespread, except in central and N North America.
GULFWEED
Sargassum sp.
Length up to 2ft.
Floating seaweed. Found far out to sea but frequently washed on to shores after gales. Comprises branched mass of narrow fronds, flattened towards tips and with pealike air bladders along length. Atlantic coast, mostly in S.
GULL-BILLED TERN
Sterna nilotica
Total length 14in.
A fairly large tern, distinguished from gulls by its forked tail clearly visible in flight, black cap (not hooded like some gulls), and a more pointed black bill. Feeds on insects and small fish, skimming the water with a graceful, swallowlike flight. Often common, it breeds in coastal colonies from the mid-Atlantic to TX. Northern populations migrate S in winter.
GYPSY MOTH
Porthetria dispar
Wingspan 1 1/2in.
The Gypsy Moth was accidentally introduced into North America in MA and has since spread to become a major pest on ornamental trees throughout NE North America. At the peak of its abundance cycle, the caterpillars are everywhere: on cars, on screens, in gutters and driveways. In the forest you can actually hear them feeding as a rain of detritus falls to the forest floor. The eggs are covered with a brown, silken cocoon to overwinter.
GYRFALCON
Falco rusticolus
Total length 2ft.
The largest falcon, with a wingspan up to 5ft. It is found in several color phases including gray and pure white with black spotting. Slower flying than Peregrine; can hover. Feeds on larger birds up to the size of geese, and rabbits and other mammals. Found on the high tundra of AK and Canada, and occasionally S to the lower states.
HACKBERRY
Celtis occidentalis
Height up to 90ft.
Domed, open-crowned deciduous tree. Leaves 2-5in long, ovate, and pointed; green above, whitish below, yellow in autumn. Flowers small, green. Fruits "in across reddish drupes on long stalks. Damp ground. Central E US, MN to OK eastwards.
HAIRCAP MOSS
Polytrichum commune
Height up to 9in.
Upright moss of damp woods and open slopes, usually on acid soils. Leaves narrow, needlelike, and pointed; held almost at right-angles to sterns creating clubmoss-like appearance. Box-shaped spore capsules brown when ripe; on slender sterns. Widespread across N North America.
HAIRLEAF WATER BUTTERCUP
Ranunculus aquatilis
Aquatic.
Floating annual or perennial. Has threadlike submerged leaves and floating ones that are lin across with toothed lobes. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white petals (Apr-Aug). Slowflowing and still waters. Throughout most of North America.
HAIRY PARCHMENT
Stereum hirsutum
Up to 2in across.
Forms irregular tiers of thin, rubbery but tough brackets that have wavy margins. Upper surface grayish and hairy. Underside variable but usually orange-yellow. Grows on dead wood (all year). Widespread; absent from hot, dry S.
HAIRY VETCH
Vicia villosa
Climbing
Climbing plant with sterns 2-3ft.long. Leaves pinnate with 5-10 narrow leaflets, each up to lin long. Flowers 1/2in long and bluish pink; in one-sided spikes (May-Oct). Grassy places. Throughout North America; cultivated and naturalized.
HAIRY WILLOWHERB
Epilobium hirsutum
Height up to 5ft.
Hairy-stemmed perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, lanceolate, toothed, and hairy. Flowers lin across with 4 notched and pinkish purple petals; on stalks from axils of upper leaves (Jul-Sep). Grassy and waste areas. NE North America.
HAIRY WOODPECKER
Picoides villosus
Total length 9in.
Similar to the Downy Woodpecker, but larger with a longer bill. Darker in W with fewer spots. Male drums on branches of dead trees as part of its territorial display. Feeds on grubs of wood-boring insects. A common visitor to feeders during the winter months, attracted to suet and peanuts. Resident over most of North America, except extreme Nand S TX.
HARBOR PORPOISE
Phocoena phocoena
Total length 5ft.
A small compact cetacean, with a small dorsal fin. Usually seen in small groups (10-15), swimming near the surface ("porpoising"). Feeds mostly on fish such as herring, as well as squid and crustaceans. These porpoises are still hunted by native Americans, and are drowned in gill nets, seines, and trawls. Formerly very widespread and abundant in coastal waters, and although still found along both Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the species is not as common. Two other closely related species are also found in Pacific waters.
HARBOR SEAL
Phoca vitulina
Total length 5ft.6in.
A small seal, with very variable coloring and markings, but generally grayish blue above with dark blotches. The pup is born in early summer, and is well developed and able to swim within a few hours of birth. Feeds mostly on fish, as well as mollusks, crustaceans, and squid. Some populations have declined, and the species is very vulnerable not only to oil spills and other pollution, but also to disturbance. However, the Harbor Seal is recovering and is still common in many parts of its range. It is generally confined to coastal waters, rarely venturing into deep waters, but often traveling inland up rivers. Found in both Atlantic and Pacific waters, with some populations in land-locked lakes.
HAREBELL
Campanula rotundifolia
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate perennial. Rounded basal leaves soon wither; stem leaves 1-2in long and narrow. Flowers ½-lin long, bell-shaped, nodding, and blue; in clusters (Jun-Sep). Dry grassy places. Widespread in N; S in uplands to OR in W and NJ in E.
HARESTAIL COTTONGRASS
Eriophorum vaginatum
Height up to 1ft.
Tussock-forming perennial. Leaves very narrow. Upright, stalked flower spike emerges from inflated sheath (May-Jun). Fruits have white, cottony hairs. Acid bogs and peaty soil. Widespread in N of North America, including Arctic and sub-Arctic.
HARLEQUIN DUCK
Histrionicus histrionicus
Total length 17in.
Male is patterned with contrasting patches of chestnut, blue, gray, black, and white. Female is brown with a white spot on the head. Breeds along fast-flowing streams and rivers, mostly in Canada and AK. Winters along both coasts, preferring rocky areas.
HARP SEAL
Phoca groenlandica
Total length 6ft.6in.
A medium-sized seal, which often has a dark harp-shaped marking on the back of the male. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. The white-coated pups are born in late winter, and have been hunted commercially in large numbers. Although their numbers may have been reduced, like other seals they are likely to recover well when protected. Normally confined to Arctic waters of the Atlantic, breeding on the pack ice in large numbers.
HARRIER, NORTHERN
Circus cyaneus
Total length 2ft.
Large, long-tailed, with white rump; owl-like facial disc. Male gray above and white below. Female and young brown. Prefers open areas including marshes, heaths, and fields. Hunts low with wings in a "V". Prey includes small animals, rodents, snakes, and waterbirds. Nests on the ground. Widespread.
HARVEST MITE
Trombicula sp.
Total length 1/100in.
Mites are parasites or blood predators usually too small to see with the naked eye. They burrow into the skin, feeding on blood and body fluids before dropping off. Bites itch, and scratching them can lead to secondary infection. Attracted to tight areas such as around the belt or the tops of socks. Found in S US.
HAWKSBEARD (SMOOTH HAWKSBEARD)
Crepis capillaris
Height up to 3ft.
Hairless annual or biennial. Leaves up to 8in long; lower ones lobed, forming a basal rosette, upper ones arrow-shaped and clasping. Flower heads 1/2-lin across bright yellow; in branched clusters (May-Jul). Non-native, widespread in N US.
HAYSCENTED FERN
Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Frond length up to 1-1/2ft.
Brittle-stemmed and spreading fern that often covers large patches. Favors dry woods and open slopes. Fronds yellowish green, 2- to 3-pinnate with narrow-oblong leaflets. Stalk darkening towards base. E Canada and NE US.
HAZEL ALDER
Alnus serrulata Height up to 20ft. Multi-trunked deciduous shrub. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate, often rounded at tip. Male flowers in pendant catkins, females in cones. Seed-bearing cones 1/2in long, brown. Widespread from Great Lakes E, S to Appalachians, N to NS.
HEAL-ALL (SELF-HEAL) Prunella vulgaris
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Creeping, downy perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, oval and paired. Flowers l/2in long and bluish violet; in dense clusters with hairy bracts on leafy sterns (May-Sep). Areas of short grassland, including lawns. Non-native, now widespread.
HEARTLEAF ARNICA
Arnica cordi folia
Height up to 2ft.
Distinctive upland plant. Leaves 2-5in long, heart-shaped, and stalked; 2-3 pairs. Flower heads 2-3in across with yellow ray florets and orange disc florets (May-Aug). Shady woods. Widespread in mountains in W of North America.
HEDGE BINDWEED
Calystegia sepium
Climbing.
Twining plant with stems up to 9ft.long. Leaves 4-6in long and arrowhead-shaped. Flowers 1-2in across, white, and funnel-shaped; on stalks arising from leaf axils (Jun-Sep). Hedgerows and margins of woods. Widespread in temperate parts of North America.
HEDGE MUSTARD
Sisymbrium officinale
Height up to 2ft.
Tough, upright plant. Leaves 2-6in long; lower ones deeply divided, stem leaves narrow. Unbranched upper part has cylindrical pods pressed close to stem and terminal head of tiny yellow 4-petalled flowers. Disturbed areas throughout North America.
HELLBENDER
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis
Total length usually less than 18in.
One of the world's largest salamanders (its record length is reported to be 2ft.5in), related to the giant salamanders of Asia. Also known as the Water Dog or Allegheny Alligator, it is entirely aquatic, with a very flattened head and body. Brownish or olive with some blotches or mottling, and paler on the underside. Feeds on crayfish, mollusks, and other invertebrates, and the female lays up to 200 eggs in a mass of long strings, in a nest cavity under logs or stones, which the male guards. Found from southern NY to GA and AL, with some isolated populations.
HENBIT
Lamium amplexicaule
Height up to 9in.
Annual that often trails on ground. Leaves lin long, rounded, and toothed; clasp sterns in pairs. Flowers 1/2in long, pinkish purple; in clusters (Feb-Oct). Cultivated and disturbed areas. Widespread throughout much of North America.
HERB ROBERT
Geranium robertianum
Height up to 2ft.
Straggly, shade-loving plant; sterns and leaves often tinged red. Leaves 2-3in across and palmate with 3-5 toothed lobes. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pink petals; stalked and in clusters (May-Oct). Shady woodland. SE Canada and NE US.
HERMIT THRUSH
Catharus guttatus
Total length 6in.
Small, grayish brown bird. Underside spotted, tail rufous. Distinctive song is clear and flutelike with phrases repeated several times. Most common with conifers. Widespread summer breeder in N; winters over much of the US into Mexico.
HERRING GULL
Larus argentatus
Total length 2ft.
A large, widespread gray-backed gull with black and white wingtips.Sometimes difficult to identify because its plumage is variable; takes four years to molt into its final adult plumage. Many closely related species. Most common in the E, becoming less common further W. Breeds from AK to Newfoundland and S to the Great Lakes.
HIBISCUS
Hibiscus coccineus
Height up to 10ft.
Attractive, shrubby plant. Leaves palmate with narrow lobes, each up to 9in long. Flowers 6-8in across with 5 bright red petals (Jun-Sep). Wetlands; tolerates brackish conditions. SE US only.
HOARY BAT
Lasiurus cinereus
Total length 6in; wing span 15in.
A very large bat with distinctive, frosted fur. Ears are rounded and blackish. Has a very obvious white mark on the wrist, and an orange-brown collar. It usually roosts in crevices in trees, or among vegetation, emerging at dusk to feed on moths and other large insects. The most widely distributed bat in North America, found even in Hawaii.
HOARY MARMOT
Marmota caligata
Total length 2ft.6in; tail 9in.
Similar to the Woodchuck with silver-gray fur, and a black and white face. Hibernates from October through February or March. A litter of 4 or 5 young is born underground about 6 weeks after the end of hibernation. The mound of dirt from the burrow is often very obvious. Usually found in mountainous rocky habitats in the N Rockies from ID to AK.
HOARY PLANTAIN
Plantago media
Height up to 1ft.
Low-growing perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, short-stalked with downy gray hairs; form a flat basal rosette. Flowers tiny; borne in dense cylindrical spikes up to 1ft.long (Jun-Aug). Dry grassy places. E of North America.
HOLLY
Ilex opaca
Height up to 70ft.
Broadly conical, compact evergreen. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, and spiny. Flowers 1/4in across, 4 white petals; in clusters. Separate sex trees. Fruits (female trees only) 1/4in across, red, berrylike. E coast US states, N to VI.
HOLLY
Ilex opaca
Height up to 70ft.
Broadly conical, compact evergreen. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, and spiny. Flowers 1/4in across, 4 white petals; in clusters. Separate sex trees. Fruits (female trees only) 1/4in across, red, berrylike. E coast US states, N to VI.
HONEY MUSHROOM
Armillaria mellea
Height up to 6in.
Cap is up to 4in across, brown and slightly scaly; domed at first but expanding and flattening with age. Gills pale buff. Stern brown and bears a ring. Woodland, growing on stumps or at tree bases (Aug-Nov). Widespread in North America.
HONEYLOCUST
Gleditsia triacanthos
Height up to 80ft.
Spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 4-8in long, pinnately or bipinnately divided with paired, ovate leaflets. Flowers 1/2in across, yellowish, bell-shaped with 5 petals. Fruits 10-15in long, flat pods. C US states; planted elsewhere.
HOODED LADY'S-TRESSES
Spiranthes romanzoffiana
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Robust little orchid. Leaves up to 8in long, mainly basal but smaller ones up stern. Flowers ¼-1/2in long, white, and tubelike; in 3 spiral rows in crowded spike (Jul-Oct). Damp meadows and bogs. AK and Canada; further S in US in mountains.
HOODED MERGANSER
Lophodytes cucullatus
Total length 18in.
Round, slightly crested head with a thin bill. Male has black and white; female is dull brown with a brown crest. Breeds near ponds, rivers, and other waters close to woodlands. It is found widely in the E, less common in the W. Migrates S in winter.
HOP CLOVER
Trifolium campestre
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Charming annual. Leaves trifoliate, each leaflet wedge-shaped and 1/2in long. Flowers 1/4in long and yellow; in spherical heads of 20-30 flowers (Jun-Sep), which brown with age to resemble miniature hops. Roadsides and fields. Widespread non-native.
HORNBEAM
Carpinus caroliniana
Height up to 30ft.
Domed, spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, double-toothed. Male flowers in 1in long pendant catkins, female in shorter reddish catkins. Fruits paired, ovoid with green scale; in 3in long clusters. E of North America.
HORNED GREBE
Podiceps auritus
Total length 14in.
An elegant waterbird, with a thin pointed bill. The breeding adult is spectacularly plumaged with orange-golden cheeks and tufts, contrasting with the black head and chestnut body; gray and white in winter. Breeds over most of NW North America, and migrates to winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
HORNED LARK
Eremophila alpestris
Total length 6in.
Sparrow-sized, usually seen on the ground in open places. Brown body with dark streaking. Head has variable vibrant black and yellow markings, but mostly with black "horns" above the eyes. Nests in open areas. Breeds widely from the tundra to TX.
HORNPOUT
Ictalurus nebulosus
Total length 18in.
Called Hornpout from spines in pectoral fins used in defense. Brown back grading to yellow with speckled sides and dark barbels. Found in quiet waters of ponds and slow streams over mud, from E coast, W to Dakotas and TX in suitable habitats. Widely introduced elsewhere. Common over range.
HORNWORT
Ceratophyllum demersum
Aquatic.
Freshwater perennial. Long sterns carry whorls of dark green, rigid, and minutely toothed leaves; each is divided 1 or 2 times into narrow segments up to lin long. Flowers tiny and at leaf nodes (Jul-Sep). Still waters. NE of North America.
HORSE LUBBER
Taeniopoda eques
Total length 2in.
A heavy-bodied grasshopper, striking black with yellow markings on the face and body. The forewings are black edged in yellow and the hindwings red with black borders. A short-horned grasshopper, with antennae that are not much longer than the length of its head. A spectacular species found in dry areas of the SW. A similar species is found in the American SE.
HORSE MUSHROOM
Agaricus arvensis
Height up to 4in.
Robust edible fungus. Cap creamy white and up to 10in across; domed at first but flattening with age. Gills pale pink at first, maturing brown. Stern bears ring of 3/4 membranes. Grassy meadows (summer and fall in E; spring in W). Throughout North America.
HORSECHESTNUT
Aesculus hippocastanum
Height up to 70ft.
Spreading deciduous tree. Leaves 3-7in long, palmate with 7 obovate leaflets. Flowers lin long with 5 white petals, red-spotted at base; in clusters. Fruits 2in across spiny capsules with 2 shiny brown seeds. Non-native but planted widely.
HORSESHOE CRAB
Limulus polyphemus
Total length up to 2ft.
Large, leathery-brown carapace with long, spikelike tail. Five pairs of legs, pincherlike; final pair modified for crushing clams and other prey. One of the oldest species on earth, related to spiders and mites. An intertidal predator of mud flats and sandy beaches from Canada through the Gulf of Mexico.
HORSEWEED
Erigeron canadensis
Height up to 6ft.
Much-branched upright plant. Leaves 1-3in long, narrow, hairy, and toothed. Flower heads up to 1/4in across, greenish white with insignificant white ray florets (Jul-Oct). Grassy places and disturbed areas. Widespread in E of North America.
HOTTENTOT FIG
Carpobrotus edulis (Mesembryonthemum edule)
Creeping.
Mat-forming plant with trailing and rooting stems. Leaves 1-2in long, 3-sided, curved, and fleshy. Flowers 2-3in across, yellow with numerous petals; open fully only in sun (Apr-Aug). Non-native but naturalized CA; often coastal.
HOUSE FINCH
Carpodacus mexicanus
Total length 6in.
A small streaked finch, the male has a bright orange-pink breast and forehead; in the SW this can be yellowish instead. Resident, often associated with humans. Originally confined to arid habitats in W, introduced to E US in the 1940s where it spread rapidly. Now widespread and often abundant, found over almost the entire US and S through Mexico. Resident Purple Finch is declining where the two species overlap.
HOUSE FLY
Musca domestica
Total length 1/2in. vBlack with blue-tinted wings; long hairs cover much of the body. Found everywhere, House Flies may act as vectors for disease with bacteria clinging to the numerous body hairs. Does not bite, but feeds on vegetative and animal matter, any debris, or exposed food. Part of a large family of flies common throughout the continent. Found in all of North America.
HOUSE SPIDER
Achaearanea tepidariorum
Total length less than 1/2in.
Mottled yellow and brown with large, swollen abdomen. House spiders create a web of irregular threads of sticky silk to entangle insects that fly or stumble into them. They are cobweb weavers and feed on the juices of caught insects. Often in human habitations. Worldwide family.
HOUSE WREN
Troglodytes aedon
Total length 4in.
Closely barred brown, with a long tail which it cocks up. A loud and constant singer at the nest site. Usually builds nest in a cavity, including holes in walls, using a variety of plant material, feathers, paper, etc. Normally has two broods. A common breeding bird over much of S Canada and the US N of FL and TX; migrates S for winter.
HUCKLEBERRY vGaylussacia baccata
Height up to 3ft.
Dense and much-branched deciduous shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, and sticky; dark green, reddish in fall. Flowers 1/4in across, reddish, and urn-shaped; in clusters. Berries 1/4in across, spherical, and blackish. NE US and SE Canada.
HUMPBACK WHALE
Megaptera novaeangliae
Total length 40ft.
A large, slow-moving whale, with characteristic long, narrow flippers-the longest of any whale. The dorsal fin is small, but distinct. Very acrobatic, often leaping out of the waterbreaching-and also slapping the surface with its flippers or tail. These whales are found in all oceans, but are much depleted as they were one of the easiest species to kill. However, they are believed to be increasing and are among the easiest to see, particularly on migration, when they are often in shallow coastal waters of CA and New England.
ICARIOIDES BLUE
Icaricia icarioides
Wingspan 1in.
A small, lilac blue dark bordered butterfly (male). The female is normally browner. They feed on lupine species and are tended by ants. Found in forest clearings, dunes, praries and fields. Widespread in W N America but some localised sub-species critically endangered.
INDIAN BLANKET
Gaillardia pulchella
Height up to 2ft.
Upright, branched plant. Leaves 1-3in long, narrow, and toothed. Flower heads 2in across with reddish disc florets and yellow ray florets (May-Jul). Deserts and free-draining soils. From NE and E CO, S to AZ and TX.
INDIAN GRASS
Sorghastrum nutans
Height up to 8ft.
Attractive, clump-forming perennial. Important prairie species; sometimes forms pure stands. Leaves 1-2ft.long and narrow. Flowers have twisted bristles; golden brown when flowering and in feathery heads (Aug-Sep). Widespread, except in W.
INDIAN PAINTBRUSH
Castilleja coccinea
Height up to 2ft.
Upright plant. Lower leaves 2-3in long, oblong; in a basal rosette. Stem leaves shorter and 3-5 lobed. Flowers green and tubular, hidden by scarlet, lobed bracts lin long; in terminal spikes (May-Jul). Grassland. E of North America, N to S Canada.
INDIGO BUNTING
Passerina cyanea
Total length 5in.
Darker and smaller than Blue Grosbeak. Found in open scrub and woodland edges. Widespread over most of North America E of the Rockies and N to S Canada.Related Lazuli Bunting is found in the Wand has an orange breast and white on the wings.
INDIGO SNAKE
Drymarchon corais
Total length up to 8ft.
The largest non-poisonous North American snake. Heavy-bodied, lustrous blue-black or brownish and black with chin, throat, and sides of head suffused with cream. Feeds on frogs, small mammals and birds, other snakes, lizards, and young turtles. Found in pine and oak woods, dry grassland, and palmetto stands near water, orange groves, and tropical hammocks, often hiding in burrows. Confined to the SE US, S to Mexico. It is protected in the US.
INTERIOR LIVE OAK
Quercus wislezenii
Height up to 70ft.
Tall, rounded-crowned evergreen. Leaves 1-2in long, lanceolate, and toothed; dark green above, yellowish below. Acorns 1-1 1/2in long, ovoid with a deep scaly cup. Lower mountain slopes. CA only.
IRISH MOSS
Chondrus crispus
Length up to 9in
Variable seaweed that branches repeatedly into broad, flat branches that look crinkly at the tips. Color forms include red, green, and brown. Attached by short stern to rocks on lower shore. Atlantic coast, N from New England.
IRONWOOD
Olneya tesota
Height up to 30ft.
Broad-crowned, spiny evergreen. Leaves 1-2in long, compound with 2-10 pairs of oblong leaflets. Flowers 1/2in across, purple, and pealike. Fruits 2in long pods, cylindrical, constricted between seeds. Deserts. S AR and S CA.
JACK PINE
Pinus banksiana
Height up to 70ft.
Evergreen conifer with irregular domed outline. Needles 1-2in long, green, and twisted; in pairs. Cones 1-2in long, yellowish, and curved upwards. Sandy soils. Widespread across S half of Canada, W to SK. In US, mainly MI, WI, and MN.
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT
Arisaema triphyllum
Height up to 3ft.
Intriguing perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate, and stalked; 1 or 2 only. Flowers 4-5in tall, with clublike spadix of densely packed flowers shrouded by hooded brown and green spathe (Apr-Jun). Fruits are red berries. Woods. E of North America.
JACOB'S-LADDER OR SHOWY POLEMONIUM
Polemonium pulcherrimum
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive upright perennial. Leaves 3-5in long, pinnate with 11-23 narrow-ovate leaflets; stickily hairy. Flowers 1/2in cross with 5 pale blue petal lobes; in terminal clusters (May-Aug). Upland grassy places. Pacific states.
JAGUAR
Panthera onca
Total length over 7ft; tail 2ft.
A large, heavily built cat, generally nocturnal, shy and very difficult to see. Feeds on Peccary and other mammals and large birds. The Jaguar can be found in a wide range of habitats from tropical rainforests to scrubby hillsides. Widespread in South and Central America, it once occurred in SE US, through TX and perhaps as far N as AR. It still is found in Mexico, and there are occasional sightings in TX, NM, and AZ. With strict protection it is possible that a small population could survive.
JAPANESE BEETLE
Papilla japonica
Total length 1/2in.
Generally oval in shape, and an iridescent green or brown in color, with very strong hooks on its legs. This may be one of the most familiar garden insect pests in North America. It feeds on a wide variety of plants, eating leaves, flowers, and fruit. It is particularly damaging to roses, but also attacks grape arbors and other commercially valuable species. It can become super-abundant, so that shaking a rose bush can set hundreds of the beetles into flight. It is trapped in gardens in bags set with female pheromones. It is found throughout North America.
JAPANESE HONEYSUCKLE
Lonicera japonica
Climbing.
Vigorous woody vine. Leaves 2-3in long, ovate, opposite, and hairy. Flowers 1-1/2in long, tubular, and whitish with projecting stamens (Apr-Jul). Fruits are black berries. Woods, scrubs and roadsides. Non-native escape, now widespread in E of North America.
JAVALINA
Pecari tajacu
Total length 3ft.6in; tail 2in.
Also known as the Javelina, the Peccary is superficially similar in appearance to the domestic hog, but with a very small tail and a pale "collar." It feeds on a wide range of fruit, such as prickly pears, squashes, also tubers and roots, as well as snakes, lizards, mice, and ground-nesting birds. In the fall it often eats acorns. It breeds in most months of the year, and has litters of 2-6. Peccaries are often gregarious, and in the past were found in herds ("sounders") of 1,000 or more, although at present groups of more than 30 are unusual. It is found in S AZ, S TX, and S NM, and S to South America.
JOJOBA
Simmondsia chinensis
Height up to 10ft.
Compact evergreen shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, rounded-ovate, opposite, leathery, and yellow-green. Flowers small and reddish green; clustered males on separate plants from solitary females. Fruits lin-long acornlike nuts. Arid land. CA and AZ.
JOSHUA-TREE
Yucca brevifolia
Height up to 30ft.
Distinctive evergreen with open, branched appearance. Leaves 10-14in long, narrow, toothed, and bluish. Flowers 1 1/2in long, bell-shaped, and creamy; in clusters. Fruits 3-4in long, brown, and clustered. Mojave Desert, SW US.
JUMPING CHOLLA (CHAINFRUIT CHOLLA)
Opuntia fulgida
Height up to 15ft.
Extremely spiny cactus. Mature specimens comprise a tall dark trunk supporting a muchdivided network of branches. Spines are silvery-sheathed. Flowers 1/2-lin across and purple (Mar-Apr). Fruits ovoid, green, and in chains. Deserts of S AZ.
KESTREL
Falco sparverius
Total length 10in.
Small, beautiful. Adult male with blue-gray wings, reddish brown above, rufous, blacktipped tail, white, streaked below. Head gray, brown, and white, black stripes in the face. Females browner. Seen by roadsides perched on telephone wires. Feeds on a wide range of small animals.
KILLDEER
Charadrius vociferus
Total length 10in.
A large plover with double breast band, and a loud, piercing "kill-deer" call. Adult Killdeer performs a "broken wing" act to lure intruders from near nest. Nests in pastures and other open, grassy habitats, plowed fields, marshes and even gravel driveways. Nest is a simple scrape. Breeds over almost all of North America except the high Arctic.
KILLER WHALE
Orcinus orca
Total length 31ft.
A very distinctive medium-sized whale, with a very large, pointed dorsal fin, and a characteristic black and white pattern. Carnivorous, preying on seals, young whales, sea lions, birds, as well as squid and fish. Hunts in groups ("pods") of up to 25, and is an extremely effective predator. These whales often tear young whales, larger than themselves, to pieces, and will play with baby seals for some time before eating them. Found in all oceans, and frequently comes close to shore.
KING BOLETE
Boletus edulis
Height up to 1ft.
Prized edible fungus. Cap is up to 10in across, brown and often dimpled or lobed. Pores white at first, becoming creamy or yellow. Stern is fat and bulbous. Both deciduous and coniferous woodland (Jul-Oct). Widespread in North America.
KNAWEL
Scleranthus annuus
Height up to 6in.
Yellowish green non-native annual; often prostrate and spreading. Leaves up to 1/2in long, narrow, and pointed; in opposite pairs along stems. Flowers small, with green, pointed sepals, and no petals (May-Aug). Dry, bare soil. Widespread in W.
KNOTTED ROCKWEED
Ascophyllum nodosum
Length up to 4ft.
Comprises greenish sterns that are rough, leathery, and flat. Air bladders occur at regular intervals along sterns, which branch repeatedly. Yellowish green reproductive bodies resemble sultanas. Atlantic coast, N from New England.
LABRADOR TEA
Ledum groenlandicum (palustre)
Height up to 2-1/2ft.
Dwarf woody shrub. Reddish downy hairs on stern and leaf underside. Leaves 1-2in long and ovate; margins inrolled. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; in terminal clusters (Jun-Jul). Heathlands and mountains. AK and Canada; S to OR in W.
LADY FERN
Athyrium filix-femina
Frond length up to 4ft.
Large but rather delicate-looking fern, forming large clumps in damp woods, on banks and on hillsides. Fronds pale green and 2-pinnate. Pinnules pointed and toothed. Spore cases curved, ripening in fall. Widespread in suitable habitats.
LADY'S-FINGER
Anthyllis vulneraria
Height up to 1ft.
Patch-forming hairy perennial. Leaves pinnate with 1-13 leaflets, each up to lin long. Flowers up to 1/2in long; in paired heads, the pairs kidney-shaped (May-Jul). Grassy places, usually base-rich soils. Local in NE US and SE Canada.
LADY'S-THUMB
Persicaria maclllosa (Polygonllm persicaria)
Height up to 2ft.
Upright or sprawling annual; much-branched reddish stems. Leaves 2-6in long, narrowoval, and typically with dark central mark. Flowers small and pink; borne in cylindrical, terminal spikes (Jun-Oct). Damp, disturbed areas throughout North America.
LAMB'S QUARTERS
Chenopodium album
Height up to 3ft.
Upright annual weed. Leaves green but look matt and whitish due to mealy coating; leaf shape varies from oval to diamond-shape. Flowers small and whitish; in spikes (Jun-Oct). Disturbed and cultivated soils. Non-native; widespread throughout North America.
LAPLAND HEATHER
Cassiope tetragona
Height up to 8in.
Low-growing, woody plant. Leaves up to 1/4in long, narrow-oval, and overlapping on stern. Flowers 1/4in long, white, and bell-shaped with 5 spreading lobes at mouth; stalked and pendant (Jul-Aug). Arctic heathlands and mountains. AK, Canada, and Rocky Mts.
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Calcarius lapponicus
Total length 6in.
Sparrowlike, with a long hind claw visible only at close range. Breeding male has a jetblack face, and neck and breast edged with white. Winters in open habitats of much of the US, breeds in high Arctic close to the snow line.
LAPLAND ROSEBAY
Rhododendron lapponicum
Prostrate.
Creeping, mat-forming evergreen. Leaves 1/4in long, elliptical, and leathery. Flowers 1/4in across, 5-lobed, bell-shaped, pink; in clusters. Arctic and sub-Arctic North America; also bare mountain summits SE Canada, NE US.
LARGEMOUTH BASS
Micropterus salmoides
Total length 3ft.
Largest freshwater bass identified by having corner ofthe mouth ending directly below or beyond the eye. Common in wide variety of clear waters, lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and reservoirs. A favorite of anglers. Native to E and central US and Canada, now introduced widely in W.
LAUGHING GULL
Larus atricilla
Total length 17in.
A relatively small gull which, as a breeding adult, has a black hood, dark red bill and black legs. The immatures are brown, taking three years to molt into adult plumage. Call is a penetrating "ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haa-haa-haaaa." A common gull from Nova Scotia to TX, and uncommon on the W coast where there are scattered breeding colonies.
LEACH'S STORM PETREL
Oceanodroma leucorhoa
Total length 8in.
A very small seabird, rarely seen from shore. At sea, flutters erratically across the tops of waves, often with feet dangling. It is dark, with a white rump and a forked tail. The only other petrel commonly seen in the Atlantic is Wilson's, which has yellow webbing in the feet. Nests in rock crevices and burrows, and returns to its nest at night. Found in both Atlantic and Pacific waters.
LEAF BARNACLE
Pollicipes polymerus
Total length 3in.
Stalk dark gray to reddish; shell gray and red. Stalk is flexible and bends in waves. Opercula dark red. Often grows in clumps on exposed rocks washed by the waves; can be seen sticking upright like stubby fingers. Found attached to rocks from the intertidal into shallows on the W coast.
LEAFY ASTER
Aster foliaceus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Clump-forming perennial. Leaves 4-8in long; lanceolate at base, becoming narrower up stern. Flower heads 1-2in across with pinkish purple ray florets and yellow disc florets; in clusters (Jul-Sep). Damp woodland. W of North America.
LEAST CHIPMUNK
Tamias minimus
Total length 8in; tail 4in.
A small, very pale chipmunk Although generally terrestrial, it is an agile climber and sometimes nests in trees, though usually in burrows. Often sunbathes on rocks or branches. High-pitched call is very similar to that ofthe Eastern Chipmunk. The single litter of up to 7 young is born in May. Found mostly in open habitats, including open pine woods, as well as grasslands, prairies, sagebrush, and desert. Range includes most of S Canada from Ontario westwards, and S into the Rockies.
LEAST FLYCATCHER
Empidonax minimus
Total length 5in.
The smallest of 11 species of Empidonax in North America. Often difficult to identify. Generally olive, brownish, or greenish above, whitish or yellowish below with pale bars on the wings. Hunts flying insects from a perch. Call is a "chebek," repeated. Breeds in open woodlands from AK to Nova Scotia, S to northern states.
LEAST SANDPIPER
Calidris minutilla
Total length 6in.
Tiny, with a thin, down-curving bill, yellow-greenish legs, and buff breast. Flight call is a thin "kreeet." Breeds across Arctic tundra. Passage migrant on both coasts; winters in frost-free coastal areas.
LEAST SHREW
Cryptotis parva
Total length 3in; tail 1in.
A very small shrew, but with a shorter tail than the Pygmy Shrew. It is browner than the other short-tailed shrews. Like other shrews it has a voracious appetite, feeding on invertebrates up to the size of grasshoppers, beetle grubs, and earthworms. It is one of the smallest mammals in North America, weighing around 1/5th oz when adult. It is found in woods and fields, but is less common in marshes than other shrews. It is widespread in E US from SD to TX.
LEAST SKIPPER
Ancyloxypha numitor
Wingspan 1in.
A small, mothlike butterfly with dark forewings with an orange center. The caterpillar, which is green, feeds on grasses, including cultivated rice. Widespread over much of E North America, in habitats with long grass.
LEAST WEASEL
Mustela nivalis
Total length 8in; tail 1in.
One of the smallest carnivores in the world, it preys on small mammals (and also birds and other animals] and can pursue mice down their holes. It is brown above and white below, but in the N of its range it turns completely white in winter. Unlike the other weasels it lacks a black tip to its tail. It is widespread across N North America (and also the Old World].
LEOPARD FROG, NORTHERN
Rana pipiens
Total length 5in.
Distinctive, with long legs, a pointed snout, pale stripes running the length of the body, and characteristic black spots. The male's breeding call is a rattling snore. Often abundant, and outside breeding season may migrate up to a mile from its breeding ponds. Found in damp meadows, pasture, marshes, bogs, prairie potholes, and close to rivers and streams. Range extends from S Canada and New England, W to the Rockies.
LESSER TWAYBLADE
Listera cordata
Height up to 5in.
Delicate and easily overlooked perennial. Leaves ½-lin long and heart-shaped; borne as a single, basal pair. Flowers tiny and reddish green; in a small, terminal cluster (May-Jul). Woods and heathlands. Widespread across N of North America.
LESSER WINTERGREEN
Pyrola minor
Height up to 8in.
Distinctive perennial. Leaves 1-2in long and rounded to oval; on stalks and in a basal rosette. Flowers up to 1/2in across with 5 white or pinkish petals; stalked, pendant and in terminal spikes (Jun-Aug). Conifer woods. Canada, AK, and NE US.
LICHEN
Parmelia sp.
Spreading.
Encrusting, patch-forming lichens found on rock or mature tree bark, depending on the species. In most, patches are gray-green and comprise rounded lobes. Surface usually dotted with flat-topped, spore-producing discs. Widespread in North America.
LICHEN
Ramalina sp.
Tufts up to 2in. long
A varied group of tufted lichens that grow attached to rocks (coastal and upland) or on bark, depending on species. All have a thallus that is strap-shaped, often twisted and uniformly gray or grayish-green on both sides. Widespread in North America.
LICHEN
Verrucaria sp.
Spreading.
Encrusting lichen found growing on rocks and stabilized shingle on the coast. Tolerant of periodic immersion in sea water as well as salt spray. Surface is sooty black and covered with a network of cracks. Widespread on N coasts.
LIGHTNING BUG
Photuris pennsylvanica
Total length 3/4in.
The Lightening Bug (also called Firefly) is one of the most delightful and familiar insects of suburbs and countryside. It is easily distinguished in the hand by the pronotum, which is shaped as a large half circle and covers the head and mouthparts when viewed from above. The elytra and abdomen are soft.compared with most beetles. Light is produced by a chemical process; these light flashes are important for courtship and sex recognition. The Lightning Bug is neither a bug nor a fly, but a beetle, and is found mostly in E US.
LIGHTNING WHELK
Busycon contrarium
Total length 6in.
Aperture is on the left.side of the spire rather than the right. Smaller than the previous species with bright, lightninglike browns, reds, and oranges. More slender and delicate than other whelks. Found in shallow waters from Cape Hatteras S; most abundant in warmer water.
LINED CHITON
Tonicella lineata
Total length 2in.
One of the most handsome common chiton species. Oval, with 8 plates visible on top; brown or reddish-brown lines alternate with white across the plates. Margin smooth, not hairy, and brown with white spots; grazes on algae, and is eaten by sea stars. Intertidal and below on rocks. Found from AK to Mexico.
LINED SEAHORSE
Hippocampus erectus
Total length 5in.
Related to pipefish but with a prehensile tail and fan-shaped tail fin; body armored. Color changes with vegetation background, making it inconspicuous and hard to find. Feeds by filtering plankton. Male broods and protects young. Locally common in coastal grasses and seaweed from Canada to Mexico.
LION'S MANE JELLYFISH
Cyanea capillata
Diameter 18in.
One of the largest and most spectacular jellyfish. Rich golden brown or yellow. Bell more than 1 lift.in diameter and tentacles can be over 30ft.long. Catches fish and other marine life in its long, stinging tentacles. Found in surface waters; dangerous to swimmers and divers. Occurs on both coasts from Canada to FL and Baja CA.
LITTLE BLUE HERON
Egretta caerulea
Total length 2ft.
A medium-sized heron. Adult a dark slaty blue with a bi-colored bill. Young birds are almost pure white. Eats fish, frogs, and insects, feeding in ponds, marshes and salt marsh. Breeds widely in the E with scattered breeding colonies in the W. Once in trouble from hunting, has recovered and is still spreading N.
LITTLE BROWN BAT
Myotis lucifugus
Total length 3in; wing span 10in.
Breeds in colonies of up to 800, but occasionally up to 30,000, which are found in buildings. Despite the size of some colonies, it is probably declining. It hibernates in caves, and derelict mines and tunnels, and sometimes enters homes in search of an overwintering site. Probably the commonest bat over most of North America, but rarer in the S.
LITTLE WOOD-SATYR
Megisto cymela
Wingspan 2in.
A round-winged sandy-brown butterfly, with two white-edged black spots on each wing; similar on the underside. The caterpillar has a white forked tail and feeds on grasses. Confined to E US, and extreme SE Canada.
LIVE OAK
Quercus virginiana
Height up to 50ft.
Broadly spreading evergreen. Leaves 2-4in long, elliptical, and lobed; shiny green above, yellowish below. Acorns 1/2-lin long, narrow-ovoid, and pointed; cup scaly and stalked. Sandy soils in coastal districts. E coast states, TX to VI.
LIZARD'S TAIL
Saururus cernuus
Height up to 5ft.
Distinctive wetland plant. Leaves up to 6in long and heart-shaped. Flowers tiny and white; in a narrow spike, up to 6in long, with a drooping tip (Jun-Sep). Margins of water. E US and S ON.
LOBSTER
Homarus americanus
Total length 2ft.
Famous for its two large front claws, used in catching and crushing prey. Usually over 2ft.long, rarely 3ft; can weigh well over zolb. Most commercial lobsters weigh 1 ½ - 2lb and are about 1ft.long. Lays many thousands of eggs, depending on size of female. Larvae planktonic after hatching. Found from Canada to DE; widely introduced elsewhere.
LOBSTER, NORTHERN
Homarus americanus
Total length 2ft. vFamous for its two large front claws, used in catching and crushing prey. Usually over 2ft.long, rarely 3ft; can weigh well over zolb. Most commercial lobsters weigh 1 ½ - 2lb and are about 1ft.long. Lays many thousands of eggs, depending on size of female. Larvae planktonic after hatching. Found from Canada to DE; widely introduced elsewhere.
LOCOWEED
Oxytropis splendens
Height up to 1ft.
Tufted and silkily hairy perennial. Leaves 1/2in long; in clusters, these are arranged in whorls. Flowers 1/2in long and pinkish lilac; in long-stalked spikes (Jun-Aug). Open, grassy places. Widespread across W of North America.
LODGEPOLE PINE
Pinus contorta
Height up to 80ft.
Narrowly conical evergreen conifer; older specimens lose many lower branches. Needles 1-3in long, green, and often twisted; in pairs. Cones 1-2in long, ovoid, and pale brown. Mountains in W half of North America, mainly BC and AK, S to CO.
LOGGERHEAD
Caretta caretta
Total length up to 4ft.
Marine turtle with heart-shaped shell, forelimbs modified into paddles. Feeds on a wide variety of marine animals including echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks, and seaweed. Found in warmer waters of Pacific and Atlantic. Like all species of marine turtle its numbers are seriously depleted.
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
Lanius ludovicianus
Total length 9in.
Smaller than the Northern Shrike and generally darker, with a less distinctively hooked bill. Somewhat similar to Mockingbird, but with smaller white patches on the wings. Found in open habitats, hunting from a prominent perch for insects, birds, lizards, and mice. Its range is constricting S over much of the US.
LONG-BILLED CURLEW
Numenius americanus
Total length 2ft.
Recognized by its exceptionally long, downward-curving bill which makes up over onethird of the bird's total length. Adults brown and cinnamon. In flying, the distinctive cinnamon-brown underwing is visible. Noisy, with loud musical "cur-leew" call. In winter found on fields, marshes, pastures, mudflats, and tidal estuaries. Winters S to CA, Mexico, and coastal TX. Breeds in W US and S Canada Prairies. Decreasing.
LONG-FINNED SQUID
Loligo pealei
Total length 2ft.
Medium-sized squid with 10 arms, 8 short tentacles, and 2 long, hunting tentacles. Body is long and cylindrical; has internal skeleton, often used in parrot cages for beaks. Important food for fish, marine mammals, and birds. Commercially important. Common in the Atlantic Ocean from Canada to the Caribbean.
LONGLEAF PINE
Pinus palustris
Height up to 100ft.
Tall evergreen conifer. In maturity lower trunk bare, crown open and irregular. Needles 1ft.long and dark green; in 3s. Cones up to 1-2in long, cylindrical to conical, and brown. Lowland sandy soils, E coastal states from TX to VA.
LONG-NOSED LEOPARD LIZARD
Gambelia wislizenii
Total length 15in.
Fairly large with prominent eyes. Coloring is variable, but usually has well-defined black spots on a pale gray or buff background; the color becomes paler as the lizard warms up. Agile and fast-running, often hiding around bushes, and darting out after insects and small lizards. Confined to arid habitats in SW.
LONG-TAILED DUCK
Clangula hyemalis
Total length 22in.
Male identified by its long tail, clearly visible when flying. Breeding male predominantly black, brown, and white. Female mostly white and brown. Nests in high Arctic tundra. Winters on sea coasts, rivers, and estuaries, and also on the Great Lakes.
LONG-TAILED JAEGER
Stercorarius longicaudis
Total length 22in.
Similar to the Parasitic Jaeger, and also found in two color forms, but easily distinguished by its long central tail in summer. Nests on dry ground in the Arctic tundra and migrates to the southern oceans in winter. Seen offshore on migration, but only very rarely inland.
LONG-TAILED SALAMANDER
Eurycea longicauda
Total length 7in.
Slender, tail longer than body. Coloring variable, ranging from bright orange or yellowish, with numerous blackish spots, stripes or barring. The female lays about 90 eggs in rock crevices close to water. Found in streams, springs, caves, and often in woodlands. Widespread over much of the E but absent from most of FL.
LONG-TAILED SKIPPER
Urbanus proteus
Wingspan 2in.
The body is green, contrasting with brown wings and forked "tail," which trails. The underside is gray-brown. The caterpillar feeds on beans and their relatives and is sometimes a pest of agriculture (known as the Bean Leaf Roller). It is common in the southern US, rarer in the N.
LONG-TAILED WEASEL
Mustela frenata
Total length 22in; tail 6in.
A medium-sized weasel, easily distinguished from other weasels by its long tail. It feeds mostly on mammals, including squirrels, rabbits, and small rodents, but also often takes poultry. It is found in a wide range of habitats, from forests and marshes to grasslands and tillable land, though usually close to water. It occurs over most of North America from S Canada to TX, and is also found in Central and South America.
LOTUS
Nelumbo lutea
Aquatic.
Distinctive water plant. Leaves 1-2ft.across and rounded; raised on stalks above water level. Flowers 7-10in across with numerous yellow petals; on stalks above water (July-Sep). Still or slow-moving waters. E half of US and S ON.
LOUISIANA HERON
Egretta tricolor
Total length 2ft.3in.
Formerly known as the Tricolored Heron. Upper parts mostly dark, slaty blue with a contrasting white belly. Young birds have extensive chestnut, on the neck and wings. Like most herons, feeds on aquatic animals. Found in marshes, estuaries, and mangroves. Occurs in coastal areas of the E, but occasionally inland and in CA.
LUNA MOTH
Actias luna
Wingspan 3in.
The Luna Moth is one of the large nocturnal moths called Saturnids. There are yellow eyes pots on the fore- and hindwings; large, dark featherlike antennae; long "tails" on the hindwings and a dark brown leading edge to the forewing. Widely distributed in E North America.
LYNX
Lynx canadensis
Total length up to 3ft.6in; tail 5in.
Similar to the Bobcat, but with longer fur, less distinctly spotted. Prominent ear tufts. The tail tip is black above and below. Less vocal than the Bobcat, but has a piercing scream and a catlike wail. The Lynx lives mostly in dense forest and preys mostly on the Snowshoe Hare, and also on other small mammals and birds. Large well-furred paws help it to run in thick snow. Range confined to the N.
MAGNIFICENT FRIGATE BIRD
Fregata magnificens
Total length 3ft.4in.
A very large thin seabird, with huge narrow pointed wings, and long, deeply forked tail. The bill is long with a hooked tip. Frigate birds seldom settle on the sea. They are piratical, chasing other seabirds to force them to drop prey, which they then swoop and catch. Largely tropical, they nest in mangroves, trees, and bushes, usually on islands.
MAGNOLIA WARBLER
Dendroica magnolia
Total length 5in.
Male mostly black above with a gray crown, white eye stripe, and yellow rump. Underside yellow with black streaks on the lower breast and white on the wings. Female and young are less contrasting and more heavily streaked. Breeds across the N of US and much of Canada. Seen during migration over most of the US E of the Rockies.
MALE FERN
Dryopteris filix-mas
Frond length up to 4ft.
Robust, clump-forming fern of woods and shady banks. Fronds remain green through winter; broadly oval in outline, 2-pinnate with pale brown scales on stalk. Spore cases round. Widespread across Canada and temperate parts of US, except SE.
MALLARD
Anas platyrynchos
Total length 22in.
One of the most familiar of all ducks. Iridescent green head and brown chestnut breast separated by a narrow white band easily identifies the male; female is mottled brown. Feeds on aquatic vegetation by tipping up, "dabbling." The Mallard is the ancestor ofthe farmyard duck, with which it freely interbreeds. Widespread over most of North America.
MANED NUDIBRANCH
Aeolidia papillosa
Total length 4in.
A spectacular species with two rows of papillae along its sides. Also called Plumed Sea Slug. Found in tide pools, where it feeds on anemones. Stinging cells from anemones are incorporated into its filaments for protection. Common from Arctic to Chesapeake Bay;
MAP LICHEN
Rhizocarpon geographicum
Spreading.
Encrusting lichen of rocks in uplands and mountains; also coastal in N. Surface yellowish, etched with black spore-producing bodies. Borders of neighboring colonies defined by black margins creating maplike appearance. Widespread in North America.
MAP TURTLE
Graptemys geographica
Total length 10in.
Olive in color, with an intricate pattern of pale lines, which gradually fade in older animals. Female larger than male. Very aquatic, in ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, where it feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, including mollusks, crayfish, insects and their larvae, as well as plants and carrion. Found S and E of Great Lakes, with scattered populations in E.
MARBLED GODWIT
Limosa fedoa
Total length 18in.
A large shorebird, with a long, upturned bill, flesh-colored at the base and blackish at the tip. On breeding, buff-brown with fine, black barring on the underside; in winter, uniformly lighter brown. Call is "godwit-godwit." Nests in grassy meadows in the N Prairies, usually close to water. Winters on both coasts on seashores, estuaries, and mudflats.
MARE'S-TAIL
Hippuris vulgaris
Aquatic.
Distinctive freshwater plant. Submerged part of plant produce emergent sterns, up to 1ft.tall, that carry narrow leaves in whorls or 6-12; each leaf is up to 3/4in long. Flowers minute. Ponds and lakes; avoids acid waters. Widespread in North America.
MARIJUANA
Cannabis sativa
Height up to 8ft.
Branching upright plant with narcotic properties. Leaves palmate, with 5-7 narrow, toothed leaflets. Flowers small, green, and clustered (Jun-Oct); separate sex plants. Nonnative but widely naturalized on waste and disturbed areas.
MARKET SQUID
Loligo opalescens
Total length 12in.
Color variable; like octopus, can change color. Large eyes and very wary; can maneuver rapidly. An active predator that feeds on crustaceans, fishes, or other squid; catches prey with two long tentacles. Found in near-shore waters, like many squid species. Common in schools over sand and mud bottoms from AK to Mexico.
MARSH ARROWGRASS
Triglochin palustris
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Very similar to saltmarsh arrowgrass but leaves, which are up to 1ft.long, are deeply furrowed at base. Flowers are tiny and 3-petalled; borne in tall spikes, up to 6in long (Jun-Aug). Marshes and wet meadows. N of North America.
MARSH CINQUEFOIL
Potentilla palustris
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, grayish, and divided into 3-5 toothed, ovalleatlets. Flowers 3/4in across, star-shaped with 5 reddish sepals and smaller purple petals (May-Jul). Bogs and damp meadows. Widespread except in S of North America.
MARSH FERN
Thelypteris palustris
Frond length up to 1-1/2ft.
Delicate, creeping fern of saturated ground in woods, wetland meadows, and margins of water. Fronds pale green and 2-pinnate. Spore cases rounded, under inrolled margins of pinnules. Widespread in E half of North America; locally common NE US.
MARSH HAWK
Circus cyaneus
Total length 2ft.
Large, long-tailed, with white rump; owl-like facial disc. Male gray above and white below. Female and young brown. Prefers open areas including marshes, heaths, and fields. Hunts low with wings in a "V". Prey includes small animals, rodents, snakes, and waterbirds. Nests on the ground. Widespread.
MARSH MALLOW
Althaea officinalis
Height up to 3ft.
Downy and upright gray-green perennial. Leaves variable but mostly 2-4in long, triangular to heart-shaped with shallow toothed lobes. Flowers 1-2in across with 5 pink petals (Aug-Oct). Margins of wetlands. Atlantic coast of US, S to VA.
MARSH MARIGOLD
Caltha palustris
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive perennial with stout stems. Leaves 3-7in across, kidney- to heart-shaped, and glossy. Flowers 1-2in across with 5 yellow petal-like sepals (Apr-Jun). Damp woodland, marshes, and wet meadows. Throughout Canada and NE US.
MARSH PERIWINKLE
Littorina irrorata
Total length 1in.
The spiral is more sharply pointed than the Common Periwinkle and it is not as heavybodied. Lighter in color, creamy or gray with interrupted black streaking. The columella is brown. Lives on eel grass and rocks. Abundant in the right habitat. The common periwinkle of the Gulf Coast.
MARSH SKULLCAP
Scutellaria galericulata
Height up to 2ft.
An often hairy perennial with square sterns. Leaves 1-2in long, oval, stalked, and toothed. Flowers ½-lin long and bluish violet; on upright leafy sterns (Jun-Sep). Damp ground, often beside streams. W of North America, in suitable habitats.
MARSH ST JOHN'S-WORT
Hypericum virginicum
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate with translucent dots; in opposite pairs. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pink petals; in clusters (Jul-Aug). Damp ground. Widespread along Atlantic coast from NS to FL. Local inland in E.
MARSH-PURSLANE
Ludwigia palustris
Creeping.
Spreading waterside plant. Sterns and leaves often reddish. Leaves 1/2in long and in opposite pairs. Flowers 1/4in long, greenish, and bell-shaped with 4 sepals with spreading, pointed tips; in leaf axils (Jun-Sep). Margins of water. Widespread in North America.
MARTEN
Martes americana
Total length 2ft; tail 9in.
A large relative of the weasel with dark glossy brown fur above, paler below, often orange or buff on the throat. It is very arboreal, living in coniferous forests, hunting squirrels, mice, and birds, as well as feeding on fruit and insects. The den is usually in a hollow tree, or in an old birds' nest, and 1-5 young are born in spring. Found mainly in the N of the continent, ranging S to NY and New England in the E, and from AK through the Rockies, to northern CA.
MASSASAUGA
Sistrurus catenatus
Total length 4ft.
Head more oval than that of other species of rattlesnake. Has a short tail with a moderately developed rattle. Well-defined, rounded dark blotches on back and sides. It feeds on lizards, small rodents, and frogs. Found in bogs, swamps, marshland, and flood plains (in the E) as well as dry woodland, rocky hillsides, sagebrush prairie, and desert grassland (in the W). It has a wide, though patchy, range from ON and PA, S to Mexico.
MAYWEED
Anthemis cotula
Height up to 2ft.
Unpleasant-smelling annual. Leaves 1-2in long, oval in overall outline but finely divided. Flower heads lin across and daisy like with yellow disc florets and white ray florets; long stalked and solitary (Jun-Oct). Disturbed areas. Widespread in North America.
MEADOW ANEMONE
Anemone canadensis
Height up to 9in.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long, deeply divided, arising from base. Flowers 1-2in across with 5 white petal-like sepals and numerous yellow stamens (Apr-May). Prairies. E of Rocky Mountains, E to NJ and QU, S to NM.
MEADOW DEATH CAMAS
Zigadenus venosus
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive, poisonous plant. Leaves up to 1-1/2ft.long, grasslike, and basal. Flowers 1/4in across with 6 petal-like segments; in crowded spikes (May-Jul). Damp meadows. Widespread in W US.
MEADOW GRASSHOPPER
Conacephalus brevipennis
Total length 1in.
Meadow grasshoppers, like bush katydids, are characterized by very long antennae, but have very short wings that do not extend beyond the abdomen. They are generally small and green with very long rear legs. The song is high-pitched and buzzy. The Meadow Grasshopper, as the name implies, prefers wet meadows and damp, marshy grasses. It is a common and widely distributed species.
MEADOW JUMPING MOUSE
Zapus hudsonicus
Total length 10in; tail 6in.
An agile mouse with a very long tail. Can jump up to 4ft.in a single bound. When disturbed it makes several leaps then freezes. Omnivorous, also eats underground fungi. Unlike many other rodents it does not hoard food, but accumulates fat and hibernates. It is found in damp habitats such as woodland, marshes, and overgrown fields, mostly across much of Canada, S AK and S to GA and OK.
MEADOW MUSHROOM
Agaricus campestris
Height up to 4in.
Familiar edible fungus. Cap pale buffish brown, flattening with age. Gills pink at first but darkening with maturity. Flesh smells mushroomy. Stern has ring that is easily lost. Grassy places (mostly Aug-Dec). Widespread throughout North America.
MEADOW VOLE
Microtus pennsylvanicus
Total length 7in; tail 2in.
A typical vole, and one of the most widespread and abundant within its range. Variable in coloring. Its extensive runs, which often contain little heaps of grass and other stems, can indicate its presence. Found over most of Canada, extending to AK and S to much of N US. A related species, the reddish brown Pine or Woodland Vole (M. pinetorum), is found in established deciduous woodlands over much of E North America.
MEADOWSWEET
Spiraea latifolia
Height up to 4ft.
Attractive shrubby plant. Leaves pinnate with 7-15 toothed leaflets, each 2-3in long. Flowers small and white; in dense cylindrical spikes (Jun-Aug). Damp ground including meadows. Widespread in NE of North America, MI to NF, S to NC.
MELISSA BLUE
Lycaeides melissa
Wingspan 1in.
The male is pale blue, the female more like copper, with orange-edged brown wings. The caterpillars feed mainly on lupins and their relatives, and are tended by ants. Found mostly in W North America in dry grassy areas, and threatened in many parts of the eastern limits ofthe range.
MERLIN
Falco columbarius
Total length 12in.
Small, fast-flying. Gray above, streaked below, banded tail. Feeds mostly on small birds, but also takes insects. It is found in a wide range of habitats in winter, including sea coasts, woods, and forests. Nests in Canada, AK and S into the W.
MEXICAN FREE-TAILED BAT
Tadarida brasiliensis
Total length 4in; wing span 11in.
Unlike that of most bats, the tail of this species is not contained within a membrane, but is lYtin long and mouselike. Roosts in caves, often in colonies of 10,000+, but numbers have undergone massive decline in recent years. Mainly tropical, it is found over much of Central and South America, extending as far N as FL and TX.
MICA CAP
Coprinus micaceus
Height up to 4in.
Clump-forming fungus. Cap buffish yellow, darkest towards center and covered with glistening granules; these are lost with age and cap darkens generally. Gills white but blacken with age. On dead wood (mainly Jun-Nov). Throughout North America.
MILK SNAKE
Lampropeltis triangulum
Total length 3ft.
Extremely variable, with several well defined subspecies. The eastern form is generally grayish with black-edged brown blotches. Other populations, notably the "scarlet kingsnakes" from FL and SE US, are banded red, yellow, and black, closely mimicking coral snakes. Feeds on lizards, snakes, rodents, and birds. The female lays up to 17 eggs, under a log or in leaf litter. Found over most of E US, from the Rockies to TX, and N to ME and S Canada, in a wide range of habitats.
MILLIPEDE
Narceus americanus
Total length up to 5in.
Millipedes have long, cylindrical bodies and short legs. They have over 100 pairs oflegs, but not 1,000 as the name implies. They move more deliberately and slowly than centipedes, and are vegetarians rather than active predators. Found from S Canada to Mexico.
MINK
Mustela vison
Total length 2ft.4in; tail 9in.
A large weasel, generally uniform dark brown or blackish, often with a white spot on the chin and throat. Very aquatic, never found far from water, and it preys mostly on fish, amphibians, and water birds, but also feeds extensively on land. In the water it is very agile and easily confused with an otter. A single litter is born in spring, with up to 8 kittens. The Mink has been domesticated to provide furs, and is still extensively trapped, particularly in Canada. It has been introduced into Britain and other parts of Europe. It is found over most of Canada and the US, but is absent from the drier regions of the SW.
MINKE WHALE, NORTHERN
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Total length 30ft.
The smallest and one of the fastest of the "rorqual" whales. It has bright white bands on its flippers. This is the species most likely to be seen on whale-watching excursions because of its abundance and wide distribution.
MISSISSIPPI KITE
Ictinia mississippiensis
Total length 15in.
A medium-sized bird of prey with long wings and a slightly forked tail. Adult gray, with blackish tail and wings, pale gray head, and pale gray wing patches. Eyes red. Young brown with heavy streaking. Often colonial, feeds on large insects such as grasshoppers and locusts captured on the wing. Rapidly expanding range; frequents golf courses. Confined to SE US from W NM to VA. Isolated population in AZ.
MISTLETOE
Phoradendron serotinum
Up to 1ft.across.
Semi-parasitic plant; forms clumps on branches of deciduous trees. Leaves 1-5in long and lanceolate. Flowers small, yellowish, and 3-lobed (Sep-Oct); separate sex plants. Fruits small, white, and berrylike. Temperate areas of E US.
MOCKINGBIRD
Mimus polyglotta
Total length 10in.
White outer tail feathers and wing patches obvious in flight. Imitates other birds' songs and calls and even telephones. Wide range of habitats, expanding N into Canada.
MOLE CRICKET, NORTHERN
Gryllotalpa hexadactyla
Total length 1in.
The Mole Cricket is unmistakable with its large, bulbous head, heavy body, spadelike front legs, and many body hairs. As the name implies, it is subterranean, burrowing into moist earth and feeding on plant and animal material. Seldom seen, it is nonetheless widely distributed and common in places.
MONARCH
Danaus plexippus
Wingspan 4in.
A very large butterfly. The caterpillars are banded black, yellow, and white, and are poisonous to most birds and other predators. Widespread, found wherever milkweed grows. Successive broods migrate N during the summer, and in winter they migrate to S US and Mexico to hibernate in huge agglomerations, numbering millions.
MONEYWORT
Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping.
Low-growing, trailing plant. Leaves up to lin across and rounded; borne in pairs. Flowers lin across with 5 yellow petals; on stalks arising from leafaxils (Jun-Aug). Areas of short grass on damp ground. Non-native, but now widespread in NE.
MONK PARAKEET
Myiopsitta monachus
Total length 12in.
The native Carolina Parakeet is extinct in the wild; however, several exotic parakeets have been intIoduced, including the Monk Parakeet from S America. Builds nest of twigs. Widespread in scattered colonies from TX to FL and N to Boston; still spreading.
MOON JELLYFISH
Aurelia aurita
Diameter 9in.
A medium-sized and translucent white jellytlsh shaped like a flattened ball. May appear yellow or brown. Has four obvious white horseshoe-shaped gonads from above. More than 95 per cent water. Feeds by trapping organisms in short, stinging tentacles at the edge of the bell. Common in temperate seas on both coasts.
MOONWORT
Botrychium lunaria
Height up to 9in.
Unusual fern of grassy uplands, mountain slopes, and undisturbed meadows. Single stalk bears a solitary frond, pinnately divided into 3-9 rounded lobes. Spores borne on divided, fertile spike. Widespread; absent from hot, dry parts of S.
MOORHEN
Callinula chloropus
Total length 14in.
Blackish gray with white under tail and on the flanks, bright red forehead and bill, and long yellow legs which dangle in flight. Young brown. Favors dense vegetation in wetland habitats. Widespread breeder in the E to S Canada; more scattered in W. Declining.
MOOSE
Alces alces
Total length up to 9ft; tail 6in.
The largest deer in the world, standing up to 7ft.or more at the shoulder and weighing up to 1,4001b. Easily recognized by its distinctive long-legged build and large muzzle. Despite its size it is capable of galloping at speeds of more than 30m ph. The male has massive spreading antlers, which can be over 6ft.across, and a roaring bellow in the rutting season. Moose are solitary most of the year, but occasionally groups are found near water, particularly when trying to escape black fly. They are generally considered potentially dangerous, particularly when they have calves; they may charge intruders and even vehicles. Found in N North America from New England to AK, and S through Rockies to CO and UT.
MORMON METALMARK
Apodemia mormo
Wingspan 1in
A small butterfly speckled with bright orange, white, and dark brown. The caterpillars, which are purplish, feed on buckwheat. Found mostly in the Rockies, in arid habitats.
MOSCHATEL
Adoxa moschatellina
Height up to 4in.
Delicate and charming, low-growing perennial. Leaves 1/2-lin long and 3-lobed; basal leaves form a carpet, stern leaves in opposite pairs. Flowers tiny and greenish; in stalked heads of 5 (Jun-Jul). Shady woods. Widespread in N of North America.
MOSQUITOFISH
Gambusia affinis
Total length 2in.
Small head, rounded tail, single dorsal fin; last third of body constricted and belly looks swollen. Female larger by half, with black spots. Feeds on insect larvae and other invertebrates. Gives birth to live young. Widespread and abundant in shallow, vegetated pools, ditches, canals, and ponds throughout the SE but widely introduced elsewhere.
MOSS CAMPION
Silene acaulis
Up to 9in across.
Compact, cushion-forming perennial. Leaves 1/2in long, narrow, densely packed, and overlapping. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pink petals (Jun-Aug). Widespread in Arctic and alpine zones of mountains of Canada and US, S to NH in E, AZ in W.
MOSSY CHITON
Mopalia muscosa
Total length 3in.
Distinguished by the long, dark hairs which cover the girdle around its dark brown or gray plates. Feeds on organic materials adhering to rocks. A common intertidal species. Tolerant of brackish water and found in estuaries, and on rocky shores from AK to CA.
MOTHER WORT
Leonurus cardiaca
Height up to 3ft.
Hairy perennial. Lower leaves 2-4in long, palmate with 3-7 lobes; upper ones shorter and 3-lobed. Flowers 1/2in long, pink or white; in whorls with conspicuous bracts (Mar-Nov). Disturbed grassy places. Temperate E half of North America.
MOUNTAIN ALDER
Alnus tenuifolia
Height up to 30ft.
Deciduous tree with domed, open crown. Leaves ovate, toothed, and lobed. Male flowers in yellow catkins, females in brown catkins. Seed-bearing cones 1/2in long, ovoid, and dark. Damp ground. AK and BC, S through mountains to CA and NM.
MOUNTAIN AVENS
Dryas octopetala
Height up to 3in.
Low-growing, patch-forming plant. Leaves 1in long, dark green, oblong, and toothed. Flowers 1in across with 8 or more white petals and many yellow stamens (Jun-Jul). Tundra and mountains. Widespread in N of North America, S to OR and CO in W.
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
Poecile gambeli
Total length 5in.
Very similar to the Black-capped Chickadee, but with a distinctive black stripe through the eye. Like other chickadees, nests in holes. Gregarious outside the breeding season, forming flocks mixed with other species such as nuthatches and kinglets. Found in coniferous forests of the W, from S Canada to S CA and northwest TX.
MOUNTAIN CRANBERRY
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Creeping.
Evergreen shrub. Leaves l/2in long, oval and leathery with black dots on underside. Flowers 1/4in long, pink and bell-shaped; in terminal clusters on upright sterns (Jun-Jul). Fruits are dark red berries. Heathlands and bogs. AK, Canada, and ME.
MOUNTAIN GOAT
Oreamnos americanus
Total length 5ft.9in; tail 8in.
Easily identified by its yellowish white fur. Mainly active in early morning and evening, and also on moonlit nights. The single kid (rarely 2 or 3) is born in Mayor June. During summer it moves to higher altitudes, and is normally found in very steep, precipitous habitats. Accidental falls are one of the main causes of mortality. Confined to the higher altitudes of the N Rocky Mountains and Sierras.
MOUNTAIN LION
Puma concolor
Total length up to 8ft.2in; tail up to 2ft.11in.
Also known as the Mountain Lion or Cougar, the Puma is a predator of large mammals, including deer and peccaries as well as domestic livestock, and even humans (although rarely adults). It usually kills large prey by crushing the throat. The Puma is found in a wide variety of habitats, and although almost exterminated from New England and much of the E US by the end of the 19th century, is beginning to make a comeback under protection. It has the widest distribution of any native mammal in the Americas, being found from AK to Tierra del Fuego.
MOUNTAIN SHEEP
Ovis canadensis
Total length up to 6ft; tail up to 5in.
A powerfully built sheep, the male has massive curled horns, the female short spikes. Generally brownish, paler in desert areas. These sheep spend most of the year in herds of up to 10, but may aggregate in herds of 100 or more, led by a female in winter. During the rut the males charge and clash horns at over 20mph, with a sound that can be heard over a mile away. Confined to the Rockies, from S Canada to N Mexico, and usually found in areas undisturbed by man.
MOUNTAIN SORREL
Oxyria digyna
Height up to 10in.
Low-growing perennial. Leaves kidney-shaped and fleshy. Flowers small and reddish or yellowish; in spikes (Jun-Sep). Fruits reddish and similar to flowers. Rocky places. Tundra and mountains of Canada and AK; mountains of Pacific states.
MOUNTAIN-ASH
Sorbus americana
Height up to 30ft.
Much-branched, spreading shrub or small tree. Leaves 6-8in long, lanceolate, and toothed. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; in clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, spherical, and red. Damp ground. Widespread temperate NE of North America.
MOUNTAIN-LAUREL
Kalmia latifolia
Height up to 20ft.
Multi-stemmed, spreading deciduous shrub. Leaves 3-4in long, narrow-ovate, dark green above, paler below. Flowers 1in across, bowl-shaped with 5 white lobes; in clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, stalked, black. Appalachians, S to AL, N to NY.
MOURNING DOVE
Zenaida macroura
Total length 12in.
Widespread and abundant, one of the largest doves. Buff, with black spots on the upper parts of the wings. Long, tapering tail. Nests in trees, buildings, and other structures; common at feeders. Wide range of habitats from S. Canada to Mexico.
MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED
Cerastium fontanum (vulgatum)
Height up to 1ft.
Much-branched annual non-native. Often prostrate and spreading. Leaves 1/2in long, oval, fresh green, in opposite pairs, unstalked. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white, deeply divided petals (Apr-Oct). Disturbed areas throughout North America.
MOUSE-EAR HAWKWEED
Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella)
Height up to 1ft.
Spreading perennial. Leaves 1-4in long, spoon-shaped, green and hairy above, white downy below; form a basal rosette. Flower heads 1in across, pale yellow with red stripes below (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. Non-native; now found in NE of North America.
MOUSETAIL
Myosurus minimus
Height up to 5in.
Curious, tufted buttercup-relative. Leaves 2-3in long, narrow, and arising from base. Spikelike flowers resemble miniature plantain heads but with 5 petals and 5 sepals at base (Apr-Jun). Margins of tillable fields. Throughout most of North America.
MOZAMBIQUE TILAPIA
Tilapia mossambica
Total length 15in.
Black to olive above, blue upper lip, white chin, single dorsal fin elongated toward the tail. Feeds on aquatic vegetation and invertebrates. Common in warm, shallow waters, ditches, canals, ponds, and in the Salton Sea of CA. A valued food fish, widely introduced to North America from Africa.
MUD PUPPY
Necturus maculosus
Total length up to 18in or more.
A large aquatic salamander with external gills (which the Hellbender lacks] and hind feet (which the sirens lack). Five external-gilled species are found in North America, and the Mudpuppy is the most widespread, being found over much of E US, but absent from the SE and most of the coastal plain. The female guards up to lBO eggs, laid under logs or stones, until they hatch.
MUD-DAUBER
Sceliphron sp.
Total length 1in.
Distinguished from Yellow Jacket by short neck or pronotum, and wings that fold across the back not along the sides. Nests are of fine mud lined with either insects, pollen or nectar, depending on species, to feed young. Some nest in sand, in the ground, or in natural cavities. Major predators of insects, spiders, and invertebrates. Common throughout North America, with different species inhabiting different areas.
MUDWORT
Limosella aquatica
Height up to 6in.
Hairless annual with creeping runners. Leaves 2-5in long, narrow spoon-shaped, and long-stalked or linear; form a basal rosette. Flowers tiny, 5-lobed, and white; on stalks at plant base (May-Aug). Bare mud beside lakes and streams. W of North America.
MULE DEER
Odocoileus hemionus
Total length 6ft.6in; tail 9in.
Similar to the White-tailed Deer, the Mule Deer is best distinguished by its black-tipped tail. It also has rather large ears and antlers in which both the main beams branch. It is active in the early mornings and evening, and although it rarely forms large herds, families stay together in small groups. The newborn young are hidden in dense vegetation for the first month after birth. Found mostly in well-wooded areas or habitats close to forests or woodlands, and in mountainous areas migrates to lower altitudes to avoid snow. Confined to W North America.
MULTIFLORA ROSE
Rosa multiflora
Height up to 15ft.
Scrambling perennial with arching stems and curved thorns. Leaves pinnate with 7-9 oval leaflets, each 1in long. Flowers 1in across with 5 white petals; in dense clusters (May-Jun). Fruits are fleshy hips. Margins of woods, and scrub. E US.
MUSK OX
Ovibos moschatus
Total length up to 8ft; tail 6in.
A close relative of sheep, the Musk Ox is easily identified by its size, long wool, and distinctive down-curving horn shape. It grazes on grasses, lichens, willows and sedges. The animals live in small herds (up to 100) and, when attacked, form defensive circles to protect their calves. This defense, evolved to deal with wolves, makes the Musk Ox easy prey to hunters with rifles. It was hunted to the edge of extinction, but protection combined with reintroductions has allowed it to recover slowly. Mostly found in open exposed habitats. Confined to the extreme N of Arctic Canada, and there are semi-domesticated herds in AK.
MUSKFLOWER
Mimulus moschatus
Height up to 1ft.
Stickily hairy perennial. Leaves 1-2in across, ovate, and opposite. Flowers 3/4in long, 2-lipped, and yellow; from leaf axils (Jun-Sep). Margins of rivers, and damp ground. E Canada and NE US; in W, found from BC to CA and Rocky Mountains.
MUSKRAT
Ondatra zibethicus
Total length 2ft; tail 12in.
A large aquatic relative of the voles. Distinguished from the beaver by its thin, rounded tail. Builds smaller lodges made from aquatic vegetation and does not construct dams. Widespread over most of North America, except the S, and in FL where it is replaced by the smaller Round-tailed Muskrat (Neofiber alleni).
MUSTANG
Equus caballus
Total length 7ft.10in.
A feral horse descended from horses introduced by the Spanish and other European colonists, which have reverted to a wild state. Mustangs are indistinguishable from domestic ponies. Together with burros (feral donkeys) they have now become a significant factor in the ecosystem in some parts of the W US. However, because of a lack of predators in much of their range, it is believed that they are degrading much of their habitat.
MUTE SWAN
Cygnlus olor
Total length 5ft.
Bill is orange-red and black. When swimming it holds its neck in a curve. Makes hissing noises at nest intruders and has a trumpeting call, rarely heard. Feeds mostly on aquatic vegetation. A European species, now widespread and common in many parts of the NE, particularly in town parks and on golf courses. Now controlled.
NANNYBERRY
Viburnum lentago
Height up to 20ft.
Much-branched deciduous shrub. Leaves 3-4in long, elliptical and toothed with obvious veins. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white lobes; in clusters. Fruits 1/2in long, blackish, and ovoid; in clusters. Damp ground. E half of N US and SE Canada.
NARWHAL
Monodon monoceros
Total length 16ft.
Generally larger than the Beluga, and heavily dappled dark gray, but its most distinctive feature is the single long tusk carried by the male. This can be up to 10ft.long, and in medieval Europe was prized as the unicorn's horn. The Narwhal is found in almost exactly the same area as the Beluga.
NETLEAF WILLOW
Salix reticulata
Low shrub.
Prostrate Spreading deciduous shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, rounded-ovate, shiny dark green with conspicuous netted veins. Flowers 2-3in long reddish catkins; upright on stalks. Tundra and mountains. Widespread Arctic and upland Canada and AK.
NOBLE DORIS
Anisodoris nobilis
Total length 8in.
A giant sea slug also called Sea Lemon for its lemon-yellow color. Red, brown or black speckles. Six branchial plumes; leaflike on the back end. Papillae are short, giving a rough texture; antennae are also short. Hermaphrodite; eats sponges. Found on rocky shores and under seaweed, but is confined to CA.
NOBLE FIR (RED FIR)
Abies procera
Height up to 150ft.
Tall evergreen conifer; conical outline but domed crown. Needles flat, often notched, and blue-green; in 2 rows. Cones upright, cylindrical; green ripening purplish brown. High altitudes in Coastal Ranges and Cascades, mainly OR and WA.
NODDING THISTLE
Carduus nutans
Height up to 3ft.
Upright biennial. Sterns winged, spiny, and cottony. Leaves 2-9in long, pinnate, and spiny. Flower heads 1-2in across with pinkish purple florets and purple spiny bracts; stalked and nodding (Jun-Oct). Dry grassland. Local, US and S Canada.
NORTH AMERICAN DEERMOUSE
Peromyscus maniculatus
Total length 8in; tail 4in.
A very common and widespread mouse, generally rich brown to grayish above, white below, with the tail sharply bicolored, white below. Like most deer mice it has large ears and large eyes. However, it is a very variable species with numerous subspecies described. Feeds on berries, nuts, seeds, and invertebrates. Found in a wide variety of habitats from woodlands to prairies, where it lives in among tree roots and under logs, and sometimes excavates tunnels. Widespread across most of Canada and US except SE US.
NORTH AMERICAN PORCUPINE
Erithizon dorsatum
Total length 3ft; tail 11 in.
Unmistakable. The quills (up to 30,000) are only loosely attached to the skin, and when cornered or attacked, very easily become embedded in the attacker. Exclusively vegetarian, feeding on leaves, shoots, and bark. Arboreal, descending to the ground only to walk between trees, or to find a den. Found in W US from AK across Canada, and S to PA.
NORTHERN BLUET
Enallagma cyathigerum
Total length up to 1in.
Wings clear. More robust than Civil Bluet, but similarly colored bright blue with black on the top, increasing to the rear. Flies low and well; prefers still waters of ponds, swamps and bogs. Often abundant in the spring. Widely distributed throughout North America from AK south.
NORTHERN BOG ORCHID
Platanthera hyperborea
Height up to 1ft.
Robust little northern plant. Leaves 2-4in long, narrow with parallel veins. Flowers 1/4in across, greenish yellow, and sweet-scented; in clustered spikes (Jul-Aug). Damp grassy places. Widespread in Arctic and sub-Arctic North America.
NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALE
Hyperoodon ampullatus
Total length up to 32ft.
A small whale with a bulbous head, and a very small dorsal fin set well back. Once very common, this species was easy to hunt and numbers are now much depleted. It lives in groups of up to 10 and is often very tame. It feeds on squid, as well as fish such as Herring. It is confined to the N Atlantic.
NORTHERN CHORUS FROG
Pseudacris triseriata
Total length 11in.
A small tree frog without toe pads that is extremely difficult to see, although its chorus is a familiar sound. The call is like a fingernail clicking the teeth of a comb. Markings distinctive, with dark stripes on a pale background. There is always a stripe through the eye, but other stripes and blotches are variable. It has an extensive range over much of North America, extending N into the Northwest Territories of Canada, and S through the Great Plains to TX, and E to NJ.
NORTHERN CRICKET FROG
Acris crepitans
Total length 11in.
Small, warty tree frog with no toe pads. Variable in coloring, usually with a dark triangle between the eyes, and an uneven dark stripe on the thighs. When disturbed it leaps away zig-zagging, up to a yard each leap. Name comes from the male's cricketlike call (also sounds like pebbles being clicked together). Found in marshes, around ponds, lakes, and streams over most of E US and S of Canada.
NORTHERN DUSKY SALAMANDER
Desmognathus fuscus
Total length 5in.
Yellowish brown with some dark spotting, and usually a darker line or spots extending down either side and along the tail. Has a characteristic pale line from the eye to the jaw. Nocturnal. The female lays a cluster of eggs under or on a log or stone, close to the water's edge. Common in its range, which extends from QC and NB S to LA. Absent from FL and most of GA and the Carolinas.
NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL
Mirounga angustirostris
Total length 21ft.
The male is the second largest seal in the world, weighing up to 5,000Ib, but the female is less than 11ft.long. The name comes from the male's trunklike snout, which is inflated during the breeding season. At one time the Northern Elephant Seal teetered on the verge of extinction, having been slaughtered for its oil. By 1911 there were probably as few as 20 surviving. Under protection, numbers have recovered: by the 1980s there were 70,000, and in 2000 over 100,000. This is one of the most easily seen seals, in the parts of southern CA where it breeds. Breeding is mostly on small offshore islands, but the smell of the colonies is noticeable on the mainland.
NORTHERN FLICKER
Colaptes auratus
Total length 12in.
A large woodpecker found in two color forms: the eastern Yellow-shafted Flicker is yellowish on the underside of the wings; the western Red-shafted Flicker is tinged orangered under the wings. Nests in tree holes in open woodlands, cacti, telegraph poles, and in nest boxes. Widely distributed over most of North America from AK to Newfoundland.
NORTHERN GENTIAN
Gentianella (Gentiana) amarella
Height up to 1ft.
Upright biennial. Leaves up to 1-1/2in long and oblong; form basal rosette in 1st year which withers before flowering stern appears in 2nd year. Flowers1/2in long, purple, and 4- or 5 lobed;, in clusters (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. N and W of North America.
NORTHERN HARRIER
Circus cyaneus
Total length 2ft.
Large, long-tailed, with white rump; owl-like facial disc. Male gray above and white below. Female and young brown. Prefers open areas including marshes, heaths, and fields. Hunts low with wings in a "V". Prey includes small animals, rodents, snakes, and waterbirds. Nests on the ground. Widespread.
NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG
Rana pipiens
Total length 5in.
Distinctive, with long legs, a pointed snout, pale stripes running the length of the body, and characteristic black spots. The male's breeding call is a rattling snore. Often abundant, and outside breeding season may migrate up to a mile from its breeding ponds. Found in damp meadows, pasture, marshes, bogs, prairie potholes, and close to rivers and streams. Range extends from S Canada and New England, W to the Rockies.
NORTHERN LOBSTER
Homarus americanus
Total length 2ft.
Famous for its two large front claws, used in catching and crushing prey. Usually over 2ft.long, rarely 3ft; can weigh well over zolb. Most commercial lobsters weigh 1 ½ - 2lb and are about 1ft.long. Lays many thousands of eggs, depending on size of female. Larvae planktonic after hatching. Found from Canada to DE; widely introduced elsewhere.
NORTHERN MINKE WHALE
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Total length 30ft.
The smallest and one of the fastest of the "rorqual" whales. It has bright white bands on its flippers. This is the species most likely to be seen on whale-watching excursions because of its abundance and wide distribution.
NORTHERN MOLE CRICKET
Gryllotalpa hexadactyla
Total length 1in.
The Mole Cricket is unmistakable with its large, bulbous head, heavy body, spadelike front legs, and many body hairs. As the name implies, it is subterranean, burrowing into moist earth and feeding on plant and animal material. Seldom seen, it is nonetheless widely distributed and common in places.
NORTHERN OXYTROPE
Oxytropis campestris
Height up to 1ft.
Tufted gray-green perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, hairy, and pinnate with 10-15 oval leaflets. Flowers 1/2in long and creamy white; in clusters (Jun-Jul). Dry stony places. Widespread in Arctic; widespread but local further S on mountains in W.
NORTHERN PARULA
Parula americana
Total length 4in.
Breeding male is blue-gray above, with a yellow throat and belly, a dark band across the breast, two prominent white wing bars, and white around the eye. Female and immatures grayer. Nests in damp woodlands. Cup-shaped nest is lined with plant down and fine fibers. Summer visitor to E North America from SE Canada to TX.
NORTHERN PIKE
Esox lucius
Total length 4ft.4in.
Green with yellow-green spots, light belly; black spots on fins. Top predator of fish, water birds, small aquatic mammals; eats most anything. Important sport fish. Found in cold, clear lakes and rivers with vegetation. A fish of AK, Canada, and the N states ofthe Midwest and NE.
NORTHERN PIPEFISH
Syngnothus fuscus
Total length 12in.
This large pipefish is mottled brown in color with under 20 hard rings around the body creating armour plating for protection. It is long and cylindrical, with a single dorsal fin and a fan-shaped rounded tail. Feeds on small zooplankton sucked into its tube-shaped mouth. Often found in eelgrass beds. Found from S Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
NORTHERN PITCHER PLANT
Sarracenia purpurea
Height up to 1ft.
Carnivorous plant with rosette of inflated and hollow, flagon-shaped, greenish-maroon leaves that collect water and trap insects. Flowers 2in across and reddish purple with 5 petals; on long stalks (May-Aug). Bogs in E of North America.
NORTHERN QUAHOG
Mercenaria mercenaria
Total length to 5in.
Shell has numerous closely spaced lines and a brown periostracum; interior white and purple. A heavy-bodied clam, adapted to the surf line, or to shallow water where there is wave action. Abundant intertidally in sand from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
NORTHERN RACCOON
Procyon lotor
Total length 2ft.6in; tail 16in.
Familiar mammal, grayish with a banded tail, and "robber's mask" face pattern. It occurs in almost all habitats, and is found in most towns, where it often raids garbage. A true omnivore, eating almost anything edible. A single litter of up to 8 is born in late spring. Found over much of North America.
NORTHERN RED OAK
Quercus rubra
Height up to 90ft.
Deciduous tree with rounded crown and lower trunk bare in maturity. Leaves 4-Sin long, lobed, and toothed; dark green above, paler and hairy below. Acorns 1in long, ovoid with scaly cup. Widespread in E, Great Lakes to NS, S to AR and GA.
NORTHERN ROCK BARNACLE
Balanus balanoides
Total length 1in.
A white, flattened cone about Iiin high, about 1in wide. Feeds by using its legs to trap animals moving by in the water. Barnacles are among the most abundant and most visible of marine animals. They are found in groups at the water's edge, attached to rocks, pilings, or ocean debris, from Canada to Delaware Bay.
NORTHERN ROUGH PERIWINKLE
Littorina saxatilis
Total length 1&1/2in.
Gray, brown, or black, with a strong shell to withstand pounding from coastal waves and severe intertidal weather. One of the smallest of the periwinkles. Common at the highest of the high tide lines on rocky shores. Found N of Puget Sound to AK; replaced farther S by the Eroded Periwinkle L. planaxis.
NORTHERN SHORT-TAILED SHREW
Blarina brevicauda
Total length 5in; tail 3in.
The largest North American shrew, it is a uniform dark gray, and has a relatively short tail. Its minute eyes and ears are largely hidden in its fur. It feeds on invertebrates, earthworms, and young rodents; its saliva is venomous and is used to paralyze its prey. It makes a nest, usually under a log, and its litter consists of 3-7 young, born blind and naked. Found in a variety of habitats including woodland, grasslands, and swamps. Often found in cultivated areas. It is relatively abundant and is found over much of NE North America.
NORTHERN SHRIKE
Lanius excubitor
Total length 10in.
Small predator with hooked bill and black face. Gray above, whitish below, black wings and tail. Hunts large insects, mice, and birds; sometimes stores prey items impaled on thorns or barbed wire. Often seen perching in open habitats. Breeds in far N, winters over S Canada and N US.
NORTHERN SNOW BEDSTRAW
Galium boreale
Height up to 3ft.
Scrambling perennial with smooth sterns. Leaves 1-2in long and lanceolate; in whorls of 4. Flowers 1/4in across, white, and 4-lobed; in terminal clusters (Jun-Aug). Rocky ground. Widespread AK and Canada; found S in mountains to CA in W.
NORTHERN SUNDEW
Drosera anglica
Height up to 10in.
Insectivorous plant with rosette of 1 -1/2in long, reddish, narrow leaves borne upright on long stalks and covered in sticky, insect-trapping hairs. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; on tall stalks (Jun-Aug). Wet bogs. Canada and N US.
NORTHERN WATER SNAKE
Nerodia sipedon
Total length 4ft.6in.
Usually reddish, brown, or gray to brownish black, with dark crossbands on neck region, and alternating dark blotches on back and sides. It darkens with age, becoming black. The young are more vivid. Frequently seen basking on rocks or logs. Can produce up to about 100 young, but normally fewer than 30. Found in most aquatic habitats, where it feeds on small fish and amphibians. Range from ME, GA, AL, and W to CO and NE to ON and QC.
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH
Seiurus novaboracensis
Total length 5in.
Small, usually seen in dense undergrowth near water. Walks (does not hop), bobbing its tail. Nests among tree roots, under fallen logs, or in decayed stumps. Call a distinctive, metallic "chink". Widespread on migration, breeding in extreme N of US, Canada and AK.
NORTHERN WHITE-CEDAR
Thuja occidentalis
Height up to 70ft.
Evergreen conifer; resinous and aromatic. Leaves small, scalelike, yellow-green above, bluish below; in 4 rows. Cones 1/2in long, ovoid, and brown. Neutral to calcareous soils. Widespread central E of North America, from ON and MN, E to NS. NURSE SHARK Ginglymostoma cirratum Total length 12ft. Recognized by barbels hanging from nostrils, long upper lobe of tail, and two dorsal fins placed far down the back. Brown above, white below. Feeds on invertebrates such as crabs, lobsters, urchins, and squid. Non-aggressive, but bites if harassed. Often seen on reefs by divers and snorkelers. Bottom dweller in shallow, warm water in the E.
NUTRIA
Myocastor coypu
Total length 4ft; tail 18in.
An aquatic mammal imported from South America in the 20th century and raised on fur farms. In the 1940s some escaped in LA and spread very rapidly. A prolific breeder, and although the gestation period is long (over 4 months), the young are active and swim within 24 hours of birth. Widespread in LA and elsewhere.
NUTTALL BLISTER BEETLE
Lytta nuttalli
Total length 3in.
Blister beetles have a rectangular head from above (i.e. wider than the neck or pronotum), and a long and slender abdomen. There are more than 300 species. Generally they are dark, but this species is an iridescent blue-green. When caught, these beetles can exude a liquid toxin that can cause the skin to blister. Sometimes a commercial pest, from Canada to Mexico.
OAK FERN
Gymnocarpium dryopteris
Frond length up to 1-1/2ft.
Delicate, creeping fern of damp woods, shady and cool banks, and mountains. Fronds bright green, broadly triangular in outline and 3-pinnate; held horizontally. Stalks darken towards base. Widespread AK, Canada, and cooler parts of US.
OCATILLO
Fouquieria splendens
Height up to 25ft.
Cactuslike desert plant comprising long, slender, and spiny branches that radiate out from base forming a funnel shape. Leaves 2in long, ovate, and clustered. Flowers 1in long, 5lobed, red, clustered (Mar-Jun). S US from S CA to TX.
OCELOT
Leopardus pardalis
Total length up to about 4ft; tail up to 15in.
A medium-sized spotted cat. Fur color varies from yellowish golden to grayish with blackbordered brown spots (very variable in shape), which often have a tendency to form rows. The Ocelot is very agile, often climbing and preying on birds, but also feeding on reptiles, mammals, and even fish and frogs. Often hunts in pairs. Mostly found in Central and South America, with a small population in TX and adjacent states.
OCHRE SEA STAR
Pisaster ochraceus
Diameter 12in.
Often orange; surface rough with numerous white spines. Uses sticky feet radiating from inside the grooves in the arms to cling tenaciously to rocks in surf, and uses this suction to pull apart clams and mussels to eat. Extrudes stomach to dissolve the victim in place before ingestion. An important predator. Common intertidally from AK to CA.
OCTOPUS
Octopus dofleini
Total length up to 20ft. across
A giant, although larger specimens are rare; long-lived and perhaps the most intelligent of the cephalopods. Pacific octopus have been implicated in attacks on divers, and large individuals should be considered dangerous. Octopus are widely eaten wherever they are found and considered an expensive delicacy. An active predator of crabs, mollusks, and other octopus. Range from AK to CA.
OLIVE
Olea europaea
Height up to 20ft.
Dense and irregularly domed evergreen. Leaves 1-3in long, lanceolate, grayish green above, silvery below. Flowers 1/4in long, whitish, and 4-lobed. Fruits 1in long, ovoid olives; green, ripening black. Planted commercially in SW US.
ONE-FLOWERED WINTERGREEN
Moneses uniflora
Height up to 5in.
Distinctive perennial. Leaves rounded to ovate and toothed; in whorls near base of stern. Flowers 3/4in across, solitary and disclike with 5 pale pink or white petals. Conifer woodlands. Widespread Canada and AK; S in mountains to CA and NM.
ONE-SIDED WINTERGREEN
Orthilia (Pyrola) secunda
Height up to 8in.
Patch-forming evergreen. Leaves 1-2in long, rounded to ovate; in a basal rosette. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 whitish petals; in a one-sided spike (Jun-Aug). Conifer woodland. Widespread Canada, AK, and N US.
ORANGE HAWKWEED
Pilosella aurantiaca (Hieracium aurantiacum)
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate, hairy plant. Leaves 2-4in long and narrow; form a basal rosette. Flower heads 3/4in across, orange, ray florets only (Jun-Aug). Grassy places including roadsides. Nonnative, now found in NE of North America and locally in Pacific northwest.
ORANGE PEEL
Aleuria aurantia
Up to 3in across.
Distinctive fungus that comprises a wavy-edged, saucer-shaped disc. Upper surface is bright orange and smooth. Lower surface is grayish orange with a powdery texture. On bare ground (Jun-Oct). Widespread throughout North America.
ORANGE SULFUR
Colias eurytheme
Wingspan 2in.
A deep yellow with dark borders to the wings, an orange spot on the hind wing, and a black spot on the forewing. The caterpillar is dark green with white stripes on the sides, and feeds on alfalfa and clover, sometimes becoming a pest. It is widespread over North America, but rare in the N.
ORANGE-LATEX MILKY
Lactarius deliciosus
Height up to 3in.
Cap is up to 3in across, buffish yellow but zoned with orange and greenish hues. Gills decurrent and pale pink, turning green with age or damage. Flesh yellowish when cut and milk orange. Conifer woodlands (Aug-Oct). Widespread in North America.
ORANGE-YELLOW LICHEN
Xanthoria parietina
Spreading.
Colorful lichen. Forms bright orange-yellow patches on rocks, walls, brickwork, and the bark of some trees. Encrustation comprises leafy, narrow scales. Common on coasts; also on mountains and some inland lowland areas too. Widespread in North America.
ORCHARD GRASS
Dactylis glomerata
Height up to 4ft.
Tufted, tussock-forming perennial. Non-native, grown for fodder, now naturalized in grassy places. Leaves rough with inrolled margins. Flowers in purplish inflorescence; heads spread to resemble a bird's foot (May-Sep). Widespread in North America.
ORCHARD ORIOLE
Ictrus spurious
Total length 7in.
Adult male chestnut-brown below, black above and on the chest, white wing bar. Female and young yellowish. Feeds on insects, fruit nectar, and blossoms. Nests in open woodlands, orchards, mesquite, and scrub. Breeds in E US and SE Canada.
ORD'S KANGAROO RAT
Dipodomys ordii
Total length 11in; tail 6in.
One of the most widespread of the kangaroo rats. Like all the kangaroo rats it is strictly nocturnal and hops on its hind legs, using its long tail to balance. Although active all the year round in the S, in Canada it spends the winter underground, and plugs up the entrance. It feeds mostly on seeds, which it stores underground for winter. Found from S Canada to TX.
OREGON ASH
Fraxinus latifolia
Height up to 80ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree with tapering outline. Leaves 6-12in long, pinnate, usually with 5 or 7 elliptical leaflets. Flowers small, greenish, and clustered; separate sex trees. Damp ground. Coastal WA, OR, and N CA; also C CA.
OREGON CRAB-APPLE
Malus fusca
Height up to 30ft.
Multi-trunked deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 1-3in long, ovate, and toothed. Flowers 1in across with five pinkish rounded petals; stalked and in clusters. Fruits 3/4in long reddish apples. Pacific coast, mainly BC, WA and OR.
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS
Stenocereus thurberi
Height up to 20ft.
In maturity has numerous spiny, ridged, pipelike branches; these arise from central point and curve at base. Flowers 1-2in across, whitish, and terminal (May-Jun). Fruits 2in long and spiny. Found only in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ.
OSPREY
Pandion haliaetus
Total length 2ft.
Dark chocolate-brown above, whitish below. Hovers before diving into water to capture fish which it then carries to a perch to devour. Rarely seen far from water. Nest of sticks close to water. Once declining, now widespread through reintroduction.
OSTRICH FERN
Matteuccia struthiopteris
Height up to 5ft.
Distinctive fern. Often forms a shuttlecock array of dark green sterile fronds that are 2-pinnate; fancifully resemble ostrich plumes; fertile fronds are shorter, denser and brown. Wet woods and margins of rivers. AK, Canada, and NE US.
OTTER
Lontra canadensis
Total length 4ft; tail 18in.
A large, slender, aquatic mammal, nearly always seen in or close to water. It is brown above, whitish buff below, with a long tapering tail. Feeds on fish and other aquatic animals, including crayfish, mollusks, mammals, frogs, and water birds. A litter of up to 6 young is born in an underground den, usually among tree roots, close to water. The River Otter is found in rivers, estuaries, lakes, and ponds, and although once common over most of the continent it is rare or extirpated in many areas.
OVENBIRD
Seiurus aurocapillus
Total length 6in.
Thrushlike, ground-dwelling warbler distinguished by an orange patch on crown and head stripes, and a distinct white eye ring. Forages on the ground in leaf litter. Call is a distinctive "teach'er-teach'er-TEACHER." Breeds in woods in North America E of the Rockies.
OXEYE DAISY
Leucanthemum vulgare (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
Height up to 2-1/2ft.
OXYTROPE
Oxytropis campestris
Height up to 1ft.
Tufted gray-green perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, hairy, and pinnate with 10-15 oval leaflets. Flowers 1/2in long and creamy white; in clusters (Jun-Jul). Dry stony places. Widespread in Arctic; widespread but local further S on mountains in W.
OYSTER MUSHROOM
Pleurotus ostreatus
Up to 5in. across
Bracket-shaped fungus with a rubbery texture. Cap up to liin thick; color variable but usually dark gray or pale buff. Gills whitish and widely spaced; run down short lateral stern. Grows on deciduous trees (all year). Widespread in North America.
OYSTER PLANT (SALSIFY)
Tragopogon porrifolius
Height up to 4ft.
Upright, hairless perennial. Leaves up to 9in long, narrow, and grasslike. Flower heads 1-2in across, reddish purple and opening in morning sunshine only (Apr-Jun). Rough grassy places. Widespread in S Canada and much of US.
OYSTERCATCHER
Haematopus palliatus
Total length 18in.
A large, easily identifiable shorebird with black and white plumage and a large, bright orange-red bill, and pink legs. Call is loud and piping. Feeds on marine mollusks and other invertebrates. Strictly coastal; found on beaches, estuaries and mud flats on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. On the Pacific coast it is replaced by the Black Oystercatcher.
PACIFIC CORDGRASS
Spartina foliosa
Height up to 3ft.
Tufted perennial of mudflats and salt marshes. Tolerant of inundation by sea. Leaves graygreen and tough. Flowers in a yellowish green elongated cluster (Jun-Sep). Locally common in suitable habitats on Pacific coast.
PACIFIC DOGWOOD
Cornus nuttallii
Height up to 45ft.
Domed deciduous tree. Leaves 3-4in long, elliptical with wavy margins. Flowers small, greenish, tightly packed; surrounded by 4 white bracts, each 2in long. Fruits 1/2in long, red, berrylike; in compact heads. Pacific coast, Be to CA.
PACIFIC GIANT CHITON
Cryptochiton stelleri
Total length 12in.
Identified by its amazing size and its leathery, reddish-brown covering. Also called the Gumboot Chiton, it is the largest chiton in the world. It can live over ZO years; slow growing. Grazes on red algae, keeping rocks available for other life forms to settle. Found from AK to central CA.
PACIFIC GIANT OCTOPUS
Octopus dofleini
Total length up to 20ft. across
A giant, although larger specimens are rare; long-lived and perhaps the most intelligent of the cephalopods. Pacific octopus have been implicated in attacks on divers, and large individuals should be considered dangerous. Octopus are widely eaten wherever they are found and considered an expensive delicacy. An active predator of crabs, mollusks, and other octopus. Range from AK to CA.
PACIFIC MADRONE
Arbutus menziesii
Height up to 70ft.
Domed evergreen. Leaves 1-3in long, elliptical; shiny green above, pale below. Flowers 1/4in long, white, vase-shaped; pendant, stalked, in clusters. Fruits 1/4in long, orange, and berrylike; stalked and in clusters. Pacific Coast, CA to BC.
PACIFIC RHODODENDRON
Rhododendron macrophyllum
Height up to 10ft.
Dense, evergreen shrub; can form extensive patches. Leaves 2-3in long, elliptical, and shiny green. Attractive flowers 1-2in across, 5-lobed, and pink. Damp slopes. Pacific Coast, from BC to CA.
PACIFIC SILVER FIR
Abies amabilis
Height up to 150ft.
Tall narrowly conical evergreen conifer; downcurved branches. Needles curved, 1-2in long, dark green above, and silvery below; in 2 rows. Cones 4-6in long, cylindrical, and purplish. Pacific coastal belt and mountains from S AK to OR.
PACIFIC TREE FROG
Hyla regilla
Total length 2in.
Lives close to water, often hiding among rocks, in rodent burrows, or thick vegetation. The male's call is a high-pitched "kreck-kek," and because the species is common in southern CA, is often heard as the background sound in movies filmed in this area. Confined to W North America from S BC to Baja CA, at altitudes of over 11,000ft.in the S of its range.
PACIFIC YUCCA (BLUE YUCCA)
Yucca baccata
Height up to 5ft.
Robust evergreen. Leaves up to 3ft.long, narrow, and stiff. Flowers 3-4in long, creamy white, and bell-shaped; in clustered spikes. Fruits 3-10in long cylindrical pods. Arid ground. Widespread across SW US, CA to W TX, N to S CO.
PACKRAT
Neotoma micropus
Total length 20in; tail 7in.
A widely distributed woodrat, THE SOUTHERN PLAINS WOODRAT, is also known as a pack rat. It is famous for its habit of building stick houses. These houses can be very large, and are usually placed by a cactus. Generally grayish or dark charcoal above, white below, with a hairy tail. Confined to the Mexican US border area, N to S Kansas and S Colorado.
PADDLEFISH
Polydon spathula
Total length 7ft.
An amazing fish with oar-shaped snout and a large spotted and pointed ear flap. Feeds on plankton, with mouth open like Basking Shark. A sport fish, growing to over 1501b. Prefers quiet, slow waters. Found in the Mississippi River basin and E and W along the Gulf. Formerly in the Great Lakes drainage.
PAINTED BUNTING
Passerina ciris
Total length 5in.
Male is purple, green, and rose-red all year. Female and young are much duller. Breeds in TX and adjacent states, and also in the coastal areas of the Carolinas to GA. Some winter in S FL and come to feeders, but most winter in Central America.
PAINTED LADY
Vanessa cardui
Wingspan 2in.
The caterpillars have a greenish yellow body and generally feed on thistles, but also burdock and knapweeds. Although widespread over North America, the species may be a recent colonist which arrived with the Europeans.
PAINTED LADY
Vanessa virginiensis
Wingspan 2in.
An orange-brown butterfly with brown markings, and two blue spots on the rear wings. The black caterpillars are banded with yellow and have black spines. They feed on cudweed and related plants. Widespread over much of North America.
PAINTED TURTLE
Chrysemys picta
Total length 10in.
Shell is relatively flat, generally dark olive or blackish on the carapace, with red or yellow markings around the edges, and yellow or red stripes on the neck and legs. Attractive; hatchlings often sold as pets. Found in slow- moving rivers, lakes, and ponds, with muddy bottoms. Widespread, from the Canadian border S to GA and LA.
PAPER BIRCH
Betula papyrifera
Height up to 70ft.
Elegant deciduous tree with domed crown. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate, and toothed. Male flowers in pendant catkins, females in short, erect catkins. Cones 2in long, cylindrical, and brown. Widespread across Canada, also uplands in N US.
PAPER WASP
Popistes exclamans
Total length 1in.
Generally black with few obvious markings. A fierce stinger, and needs to be treated with caution. Six-sided paper cells are created in small open nests; each cell containing a larval wasp. Often nests are attached to porches, in light fixtures, under eaves, and in other human structures. Most common in the W, but some found throughout the country.
PARASITIC JAEGER
Stercorarius parasiticus
Total length 20in.
Jaegers are parasitic seabirds that chase gulls and terns to make them disgorge their prey. Superficially like a dark brown gull. Two color phases: one is white on the underside, with white patches at the base of the flight feathers, the other uniformly dark. Nest is a shallow depression on the ground close to gull colonies in the Arctic. Found in the high Arctic.
PARASOL
Lepiota procera
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Distinctive fungus. Cap is pale buff and marked with brown scales; egg-shaped when young but flattens with age. Gills white and sterns brown with scaly patterns. Open, grassy places (Aug-Nov). E of North America. Similar species in W.
PARULA, NORTHERN
Parula americana
Total length 4in.
Breeding male is blue-gray above, with a yellow throat and belly, a dark band across the breast, two prominent white wing bars, and white around the eye. Female and immatures grayer. Nests in damp woodlands. Cup-shaped nest is lined with plant down and fine fibers. Summer visitor to E North America from SE Canada to TX.
PASQUEFLOWER
Anemone patens
Height up to 8-14in.
Upright silky-hairy plant. Leaves up to 3in long, palmately divided into fine segments. Flowers 2-3in across with 5-7 purplish white petal-like sepals (Apr-Jun). Fruits are feathery. Meadows across E half of North America.
PEARL CRESCENT
Phyciodes tharos
Wingspan 1in.
The caterpillars are dark brown with yellow bands and brown tubercles; they feed on asters, stripping the leaves and leaving a skeleton. Often seen on disturbed ground, farmland, and meadows. A common butterfly over most of North America.
PEARLY EVERLASTING
Anaphalis margaritacea
Height up to 3ft.
Upright, white-woolly plant. Leaves 3-4in long and narrow. Flower heads 1/4in across with whitish disc florets and pearly bracts only; in flat clusters (Jul-Sep). Free-draining soils. Widespread AK and Canada; in mountains further S.
PECAN
Carya illinoensis
Height up to 100ft.
Domed, spreading deciduous tree. Leaves pinnate, with 11-17 ovate to lanceolate leaflets, each 2-7in long. Flowers small and greenish; sexes separate. Fruits 1-2in long, ovoid, and ridged; edible seed. Native to E US but planted widely.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER
Calidris melanotus
Total length 9in.
Medium-sized with prominent streaking on the breast, separated from the belly in a clean line. Found on both coasts, but more often in wet meadows, mudflats, estuaries, and saltmarshes. Nests in the tundra of Canada and AK, winters in S America.
PELAGIC CORMORANT
Phalacrocorax pelagicus
Total length 2ft.2in.
The smallest cormorant found on the W coast. Like other cormorants it is predominantly black, with conspicuous white patches on the flanks. The breeding adult has a dark red face, a small tufted crest, and some fine white on the neck. Young are dark brown. Breeds colonially in coastal areas from CA to AK.
PENNYROYAL
Mentha pulegium
Height up to 1ft.
An often creeping perennial. Leaves 1in long, oval and toothed. Flowers 1/4in long and pink; in dense and discretely separated whorls along sterns (Jun-Sep). Damp grassy, and sometimes grazed, places. CA and OR.
PEPPERY BOLETE
Boletus piperatus
Height up to 4in.
Cap is up to 4in across and orange-brown; shiny when dry, sticky when wet. Pores are orange-tan. Flesh stains yellow and tastes peppery. Stern is same color as cap. Woodland, mainly under conifers (mainly Aug-Nov). Widespread in North America.
PEREGRINE FALCON
Falco peregrinus
Total length 20in.
Characteristic hooded appearance, gray above, barred below; young browner. Large, wingspan over 3ft. Fast-flying with pointed wings and narrow tail. Knocks birds such as ducks out of the sky by hitting them at high speed.
PERIWINKLE (MYRTLE)
Vinca minor
Height up to 9in.
Creeping, trailing evergreen. Leaves 1in long, oblong to ovate, glossy, and in opposite pairs. Flowers 1in across, bluish purple with 5 lobes (Apr-May). Roadsides and margins of woodland. Non-native. Now widespread in US and S Canada.
PERSIMMON
Diospyros virginiana
Height up to 60ft.
Narrow deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, ovate, shiny dark green above, paler and downy below. Fragrant flowers 1/2in long, bell-shaped with 4 white lobes. Fruits 1-2in across, brownish orange berry. Damp ground. Native to SE US.
PEYOTE
Lophophora williamsii
Width up to 3in.
Curious cactus resembling a flattened dome or button; surface is spineless and blue-gray. In maturity several buttons often grow in abutting clusters. Flowers 1in across and pink (May-Sep). Fruits 1/2in long and red. Deserts of S TX.
PHOEBUS PARNASSIAN
Parnassius phoebus
Wingspan 3in.
A moderately large, attractive, white butterfly with two large white-centered red spots on each hindwing, and red and black markings on the forewing. The caterpillars feed on stonecrops, and overwinter to complete development the following year. It is found near mountain tops in the Rockies, and N through Canada to the Alaskan tundra.
PICKEREL FROG
Rana palustris
Total length 3in.
Similar to Northern Leopard Frog, but generally smaller, with larger spots, and rarely found far from water. When it is disturbed, it leaps into the water and dives and hides in mud. It has a poisonous skin secretion that deters many predators. The male has a low snoring breeding call. Found from S Canada, S to TX, and E to WI, generally in cool, clear mountain streams, lakes, meadows, and bogs, with dense vegetation.
PICKERELWEED
Pontederia cordata
Height up to 2ft.
Creeping aquatic plant. Leaves 5-10in across, heart-shaped, and tapering. Flowers 1/2in across, funnel-shaped, and purple; in cylindrical spikes (Jun-Nov). Marshes and wetlands. From ON to FL eastwards.
PIED-BILLED GREBE
Podylimbus podiceps
Total length 13in.
The most widespread of the grebes. Brownish with a large head and short stubby bill, which in the breeding season has a dark band on it. Appears tailless. Breeds on lakes and ponds over much of North America, winters S into Mexico and Central America.
PIGEON
Columba livia
Total length 13in.
The ancestor of a wide range of domestic pigeons, this species is variable in plumage. Introduced from Europe, it is now established over most of North America. In some places it has reverted to its natural habitat of rocky cliffs and canyons.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT
Cepphus columba
Total length 14in.
Mostly black, with white wing patches in the breeding season, the Pigeon Guillemot has a slender, pointed black bill. Mostly white in winter, this common species breeds in crevices on rocky cliffs and on pilings. Like most auks. can be found inland after ocean gales. Confined to coast of western North America, from AK and Aleutians S to CA.
PIGSKIN POISON PUFFBALL
Scleroderma citrinum
Up to 4in across.
Resembles old, cracked tennis ball. Fruit body brown with darker, flaky scales; expands and surface cracks with age showing paler inner layer. Mature fruit body splits irregularly to liberate spores. Woodland (Aug-Nov). Widespread in North America.
PIGWEED
Amaranthus retroflexus
Height up to 4ft.
Hairy annual weed. Leaves 4-6in long, oval, alternate, and toothed. Flowers small, greenish; in 3in-long dense and clustered spikes (Aug-Oct). Favors disturbed and cultivated soils. Widespread throughout North America.
PIKA
Ochotona princeps
Total length 7in.
Short-legged, guinea-pig sized mammal, almost tail-less, with a rounded compact body and short muzzle. The short, dense fur is grayish or buff, but rather variable. The Pika's most distinctive character is its voice, often described as a bleat or whistle, and this can often be heard before the animal is seen. Sun-loving, often basking on rocks. Feeds on vegetation. 3-5 young are born in Mayor June. Found only in the Rockies from Canada to NM.
PILEATED WOODPECKER
Dryocopus pileatus
Total length 17in.
The largest surviving woodpecker in North America. Mostly black with white; male has a red-crested crown. Nests high in trees, excavating a hole up to 2ft.deep in dead wood. Residents of dense, mature woodlands over most of North America.
PILLBUG
Glomeris sp.
Total length up to 1/2in.
The Pillbug is actually a very short relative of the millipede, usually with a dozen or fewer segments and pairs of legs. Generally brown, but varies by species. It can curl into a tight ball when threatened. Pillbugs are found in damp areas such as in leaf litter or under rotting bark.
PIN OAK
Quercus palustris
Height up to 90ft.
Tall, narrowly domed deciduous tree. Has pinlike twigs. Leaves 4-5in long, elliptical, and lobed; dark green above, paler and downy below, red in autumn. Acorns 1/2in long with shallow cup. Damp soils. Central E US, mainly MO to VI.
PINE SAP
Monotropa hypopitys
Height up to 1ft.
Waxy, parasitic plant. Has upright reddish stern that is curved at tip; leaves reduced to scales pressed close to stern. Flowers 1/4in long and yellowish or red; terminal and pendant (Jun-Sep). Shady woods. Canada, AK, and S in US mountains.
PINE SAWYER, SOUTHERN
Monochamus titillator
Total length 1in.
Gray in color with mottling; antennae longer than body length; spectacular looking and always a great find. However, the Southern Pine Sawyer is a major pest of coniferous pine plantations. Larvae bore into the bark and mine through heartwood, affecting the marketability and strength of the lumber. Pine sawyers can propagate with incredible speed to take advantage of natural disasters affecting forests. Adults feed on needles and other growing parts of the trees. It is found in SE US.
PINE SISKIN
Carduelis pinus
Total length 5in.
Small, heavily streaked, with a forked tail, thin bill, and wide yellow wing bar. Often mixes with goldfinches and, like the Goldfinch, has a bouncing flight. Breeds in northern conifer forests, migrates S in winter. Found over most of the US.
PINEAPPLE WEED
Matricaria discoidea (M. matricarioides)
Height up to 1ft.
Pineapple-scented perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, finely divided, and feathery. Flower heads up to 1/2in long and ovoid, comprising yellow disc florets only; on stalks (May-Nov). Disturbed areas, paths and tracks. Widespread in North America.
PINK LADY'S-SLIPPER
Cypripedium acaule
Height up to 1ft.
Beautiful orchid. Leaves (1 pair) 6-8in long, basal, conspicuously veined, and ovate. Flowers 2-3in across; inflated lip petal pinkish red, 2 other petals and 3 sepals brown or green (Apr-Jul). Woodland. E of North America, S to GA and AL.
PINTAIL
Anas acuta
Total length 22in-2ft.4in.
Elegant duck with a long, slender neck, and long pointed tail; sits high in the water. Male has a chocolate head and upper neck, contrasting with white lower neck, long black-andwhite plumes on lower back. Female mottled brown. Found on shallow ponds and in marshes, breeding in most of northern half of North America from AK to NF, and wintering as far S as Mexico.
PINYON JAY
Cymnorhinus cyanocephalus
Total length 11in.
A uniformly blue jay, with white streaking on the throat, and a long pointed bill; the young are grayer. Feeds on insects, fruit, berries, and seeds, in particular the seeds of pinyon pine. Gregarious outside the breeding season. Nests in colonies. It is found throughout the Rockies in the pinyon pine-juniper zone.
PIPISSEWA
Chimaphila umbellata
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive woodland plant. Leaves 1-2in long, oval, toothed, dark green, and shiny; in whorls of 3-6 up stern. Flowers O6in across with 5 waxy pink petals; in terminal clusters (Jun-Aug). Dry woodland. Canada and AK, S to GA in E and CA in W.
PITCH PINE
Pinus rigida
Height up to 60ft.
Evergreen conifer with irregularly domed outline. Needles 3-5in long, yellowish, and usually twisted; in 3s. Cones 1-3in long, ovoid, and yellowish brown. Favors free-draining soils. Widespread from MA S to Appalachians.
PITCHER PLANT
Sarracenia purpurea
Height up to 1ft.
Carnivorous plant with rosette of inflated and hollow, flagon-shaped, greenish-maroon leaves that collect water and trap insects. Flowers 2in across and reddish purple with 5 petals; on long stalks (May-Aug). Bogs in E of North America.
PLAIN-BELLIED WATER SNAKE
Nerodia erythrogaster
Total length 5ft.
Reddish brown, brown, greenish, or gray, lighter on the sides. Young have vivid dark blotches on the back, alternating with dark crossbars on sides. Belly red, orange, or yellow. It is found close to water, fresh, brackish, and salt, in lakes, ponds, cypress and mangrove swamps, marshes, where it feeds on fish, frogs, and tadpoles. Found from DE to northern FL, and W to TX and NM. Scattered populations in MI, OH, and IA.
PLAINS GARTER SNAKE
Thamnophis radix
Total length 4ft.
Characterized by a bright yellow or orange back stripe, yellow side stripes, and a double row of squarish black spots between side and back stripes. Feeds on amphibians and small rodents. Up to 60 or more live young are born in summer. Usually found in wet meadows, prairies along margins of lakes, streams, and marshes, as well as urban areas. Common through much of its range. Found from IN through the Great Plains to the Rockies, with numerous scattered, isolated populations.
PLAINS POCKET GOPHER
Ceomys bursarius
Total length 14in; tail 4in.
Pocket gophers are highly modified for a life spent almost completely underground and are very similar in appearance. This species is one of the more widespread, though it is rarely seen above ground. However, its mounds of dirt are often very obvious-they can be up to 1ft.high and 2ft.across. It is active all year round, feeding on roots and tubers and other vegetable matter. Does not hibernate, but digs deeper down in winter. Found not only in prairies, but also in tillable land, pastures, and gardens, from ND, WI, and MN, S to LA and TX.
PLAINS WOODRAT, SOUTHERN
Neotoma micropus
Total length 20in; tail 7in.
A widely distributed woodrat, also known as a pack rat. It is famous for its habit of building stick houses. These houses can be very large, and are usually placed by a cactus. Generally grayish or dark charcoal above, white below, with a hairy tail. Confined to the Mexican US border area, N to S Kansas and S Colorado.
PLUM
Prunus americana
Height up to 30ft.
Open deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 3-4in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers 1in across with 5 white rounded petals; stalked and in clusters. Fruits 1in across reddish plums. Mainly E half US, S to CO in W and Appalachians in E.
<
POISON HEMLOCK
Conium maculatum
Height up to 8ft.
Highly poisonous biennial; purple-blotched sterns. Leaves up to 1ft.long, 2-4 times pinnately divided into fine leaflets. Flowers small and white; in domed umbels up to 8in across (Jun-Jul). Damp wayside ground. Widespread in North America.
POISON IVY
Rhus radicans
Climbing.
Spreading plant. Contact causes skin irritation. Leaves divided into 3 ovate, glossy leaflets each 2-3in long. Flowers small and yellowish; in clusters 2-5in long (May-Jul). Fruits are white berries. Woodland. Widespread in E.
POISON PAXILLUS
Paxmus involutus
Height up to 5in.
Cap is up to 4in across and tawny brown; flattened then funnel-shaped but with margin inrolled. Gills brown and decurrent down brown stern. Woodlands, often under birch (Jul-Oct). Widespread throughout North America.
POISON SUMAC
Rhus vernix
Height up to 15ft.
Much-branched poisonous shrub. Leaves up to 1ft.long with 6-12 pairs of oval leaflets and a terminal leaflet. Flowers small and yellowish; in open clusters 2-4in long (May-Jul). Fruits are white berries. Wetlands. E of North America.
POKEWEED
Phytolacca americana
Height up to 9ft.
Upright, branched plant with reddish sterns. Leaves up to 1ft.long. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white petal-like sepals; in clustered spikes (Jul-Sep). Fruits are poisonous blackish purple berries. Woods. E of North America.
POLAR BEAR
Ursus maritimus
Total length 8ft; tail 5in.
Huge and unmistakable, white or yellow-white, can weigh up to 1,4001b. Swims and preys mostly on seals, particularly Ringed Seal, but also eats carrion, birds, and eggs, and grass and berries. Litters of 1-3 tiny, helpless young, are born every 2-4 years in a den in snow, in mid-winter. Confined to the Arctic, living on pack ice or in coastal regions.
POLYPHEMUS MOTH
Antheraea polyphemus
Wingspan 6in.
Like the Luna this large nocturnal moth does not feed as an adult. Has large yellow eyespots on the fore- and hind wings, the hindwing spot incased in black on yellow-brown wings; has large, dark feathery antennae. Found throughout North America.
PONDEROSA PINE
Pinus ponderosa
Height up to 130ft.
Impressive evergreen conifer with tapering conical outline. Needles 5-8in long and dark green; in groups of 2 or 3. Cones 3-6in long, reddish brown, and ovoid to conical. Widespread in mountains of W, from NM to MT westwards, N to BC.
PORCUPINE
Erithizon dorsatum
Total length 3ft; tail 11 in.
Unmistakable. The quills (up to 30,000) are only loosely attached to the skin, and when cornered or attacked, very easily become embedded in the attacker. Exclusively vegetarian, feeding on leaves, shoots, and bark. Arboreal, descending to the ground only to walk between trees, or to find a den. Found in W US from AK across Canada, and S to PA.
PORCUPINEFISH
Diodon hystrix
Total length 3ft.
Brown to olive back with white belly; very large, dark eyes; body covered with short spines. Can inflate body by swallowing water or air to erect the spines for defense. Feeds on mollusks, particularly snails, with beaklike, fused teeth. Can change color. Found in a wide variety of coastal waters from river mouths to coral reefs as well as in plankton in open water, from Cape Cod through the Gulf of Mexico.
PRAIRIE ACACIA
Acacia angustissima
Height up to 5ft.
Much-branched shrub. Leaves 2-3in long, compound with 10-50 pairs of narrow leaflets. Flowers in dense clusters, 3/4in across, with protruding stamens. Fruits are oblong seedpods. Free-draining rocky soils. AR to TX.
PRAIRIE BLAZING STAR
Liatris pycnostachya
Height up to 6ft.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 4-10in long, narrow and linear. Flower heads 1/2in across, comprising reddish purple disc florets only; in dense spikes (Jul-Oct). Damp grassland and prairies. Central parts of North America, from MN and WI, S to TX.
PRAIRIE FALCON
Falco mexicanus
Total length 18in.
Slightly smaller than the more widespread Peregrine. Like a pale Peregrine but with black armpits from below. Feeds on small mammals and birds. Found in open habitats including prairies, deserts, canyons, and open areas in mountains. Nests on ledges on rocky cliffs. Confined to W North America, S to Mexico.
PRAIRIE SMOKE
Geum triflorum
Height up to 15in.
Attractive downy perennial. Leaves 4-8in long, pinnate with toothed leaflets. Flowers 3/4in long with 5 pinkish petals (Apr-Jul). Fruits have long feathery plumes. Open woodland and prairies. Widespread across North America.
PRAIRIE SUNFLOWER
Helianthus petiolaris
Height up to 3ft.
Coarsely hairy plant. Leaves up to 5in long, narrow ovate to narrow heart-shaped, longstalked, and untoothed. Flower heads 3-4in across with bright yellow ray florets and darker disc florets (Jun-Sep). Prairies. Central parts of North America.
PRAIRIE WARBLER
Dendroica discolor
Total length 5in.
Yellow with olive back, dark wings and tail. Male has black streaking on yellow sides and black on the head. In E US and SE Canada it is one of the commonest breeders in a wide range of habitats from mangroves to open woodlands.
PREDACIOUS DIVING BEETLE
Dytiscus harrisi
Total length 1in.
Generally black with some brown, predacious diving beetles are large aquatic predators that eat a variety of aquatic insects and invertebrates. The largest species can take even small fish. Predacious diving beetles are generally found in permanent water bodies, where they overwinter. Adults are attracted to lights at night and this is where they are most readily seen. Broadly distributed across the continent.
PRICKLY SALTWORT
Salsola kali
Height up to 4ft.
Much-branched, forming dense rounded clumps; when detached from ground these are blown by wind. Leaves short, narrow, bractlike, and spine-tipped. Flowers insignificant; seeds resemble pinkish flowers. Arid open ground, W US.
PROLIFERATING ANEMONE
Epiactis prolifera
Diameter 2in.
This small anemone is usually red, pink, or green. Being small, it attaches to a wide variety of surfaces including kelp, and is often abundant. Young are born inside the cavity of the adult and as they mature they often stay on or close to the parent. Grows in clusters intertidally and in shallow water from AK to CA.
PRONGHORN
Antilocapra americana
Total length 4ft.6in; tail 6in.
Commonly called Antelope, the correct name is Pronghorn. Superficially deerlike, however not closely related to either deer or sheep, but in a family of its own. It is rather stocky, with very distinctive horns unlike any other species, which are shed at the beginning of winter. One of the fastest mammals on land (up to 70mph), it has a cruising speed of about 30mph, but is a very poor jumper and consequently Pronghorns are often killed when they collide with fences. They are confined to open habitats, and once formed huge herds migrating in the Prairies. By the 1920s there were fewer than 20,000, but they are now much recovered. Widespread in W North America from S Canada to N Mexico.
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
Protonotaria citrea
Total length 5in.
Large, beautiful species of wet woods and swamps. Adult male is bright yellow, olive on the back, and blue-gray on the wings and tail. Female similar with duller head and neck. The only warbler that commonly nests in holes in trees. Widespread over E US.
PUMPKINSEED
Lepomis gibbosus
Total length 9in.
A pretty sunfish with yellow belly, orange and ochre spots, blue lines on face, and otherwise brown. Nests in shallow water of vegetated ponds, lakes, or streams in summer. Male builds nest and defends area. Schools in deep water in winter. Originally eastern, now introduced widely including Pacific NW.
PURPLE CONEFLOWER
Echinacea angustifolia
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Robust upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long, narrow, and tapering. Flower heads 1in across with 1in long swept-back pinkish ray florets and a dome of brown disc florets (Jun-Aug). Prairies. Central parts of North America, from TX, N to SK and MN.
PURPLE FINCH
Carpodacus purpureus
Total length 6in.
Male rose-red (rather than purple), female and young brown-streaked. Sharp "zit" call in flight. Found in a range of woodland edge habitats high in conifers or in deciduous forests. Breeds across Canada and US, also along coastal areas to CA.
PURPLE GALLINULE
Porphyrula martinica
Total length 14in.
A bright purple waterbird with a greenish purple sheen, red bill, and long, yellow legs with unwebbed toes. Young are brown but, like adult, white under the tail. Walks on surface vegetation hunting aquatic invertebrates. Nests on vegetation floating in reeds. Found in freshwater lakes and swamps; common within range. Breeds along Gulf states and N to S Carolina. After breeding season, can turn up almost anywhere.
PURPLE JELLY DROPS
Ascocoryne sarcoides
Up to 1/2in across.
Unusual fungus that comprises reddish purple jellylike blobs that are clustered together. In maturity, blobs become flat-topped. Grows on the bark of fallen deciduous trees and stumps (Sep-Nov). Widespread across North America.
PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE
Lythrum salicaria
Height up to 4ft.
Attractive upright perennial. Leaves 2-4in long and lanceolate. Flowers up to 3/4in across with 4-6 pinkish purple, wrinkled petals; in spikes (Jun-Sep). Wetlands. Invasive and generally unwelcome non-native. Widespread in NE of North America.
PURPLE MARTIN
Pragne subis
Total length 8in.
A large, dark swallow. Male is uniform purplish blue, female and young are gray below. Declining, probably due to loss of nest holes in old trees and competition from house sparrows and starlings. Adapts well to artificial nests. Widespread, being found mostly in E US and Canada with scattered populations in the W.
PURPLE SANDPIPER
Calidris maritima
Total length 7in.
Small, dark, with a slender, down-curved bill. Spotted in breeding, uniform purple-gray in winter. Feeds among seaweed-covered rocks on rocky shores and jetties. Breeds in the high Arctic; winters on the Atlantic coast of Canada, S to NY.
PURPLE SAXIFRAGE
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Creeping Mat-forming perennial.
Trailing stems bearing opposite pairs of small, dark green leaves. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pinkish purple petals. Rocky slopes. Arctic and sub-Arctic areas; also S in mountains through Canada to NE US.
PURPLE SEA URCHIN
Strongylocentrotus purpuratus
Total length 3in.
Like the Green Sea Urchin in size, but the spines are longer and the base color is dark purple for body and light purple for spines. Difficult to dislodge when wedged into a crevice. A grazer, feeding on algae and bacterial scum on rocks. The preferred food of many marine predators. Found from AK to CA in tide pools to subtidally.
PURPLE SHORE CRAB
Hemigrapsus nudus
Total length 2in.
Carapace 2in in diameter, slightly wider than it is deep. Pinchers are distinctive with dark purple spots; general body color dark purple, although it varies. Feeds on detritus, algae, and other organic material; a scavenger. Common intertidally where it hides in crevices and under rocks. Found on the entire Pacific coast to Mexico.
PURPLE TRILLIUM
Trillium erectum
Height up to 1ft.
Foul-smelling plant. Leaves 3-6in long, broadly ovate, and net-veined; 3, in a whorl on stout stern. Flowers 2-3in across with 3 reddish purple petals and 3 green sepals (Apr-Jun). Shady woods. NE of North America, S to GA in mountains.
PURPLISH COPPER
Lycaena helloides
Wingspan 1in.
A small orange-brown butterfly; the male has a purple sheen and bright orange markings on the hindwing. The caterpillar is green with yellow strips and feeds on docks. Widespread in North America, but absent from the S and E US.
PUSSY WILLOW
Salix discolor
Height up to 20ft.
Deciduous multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate to lanceolate, toothed. Flowers 1-3in long catkins with long, silky hairs. Damp soils. Widespread Canada in zone from BC to NS; in US, mainly NE states.
PYGMY NUTHATCH
Sitta pygmaea
Total length 4in.
A small, chickadeelike nuthatch with a black cap, a white spot on the nape, and a short, pointed bill. Nests in cavities which it excavates in dead wood, or uses a woodpecker hole. It is found in yellow pine and other coniferous forests. Confined to the W, from S BC to CA and Mexico. Similar species in southeastern conifers.
PYGMY RATTLESNAKE
Sistmms miliarius
Total length 2ft.6in.
Small, with a tiny buzzing rattle. Usually gray to reddish, with brown to black blotches along the middle of the back; and up to three rows of spots on the sides. It feeds mostly on lizards, small snakes, mice, and insects. The female gives birth to up to 32 (usually fewer than 10) live young. Occurs in a variety of habitats, including prairie, palmetto, pinewoods, sandhills, mixed forest, and close to lakes and marshes. Found from NC to Florida Keys, and W to OK and TX.
PYGMY SHREW
Sorex hoyi
Total length 4in; tail 3in.
The smallest mammal in North America, and one of the smallest in the world (weighs less than Ytooz). Brownish gray above, paler below. It feeds on small invertebrates. Litters of 3-8 are born in late summer. It is fairly rare throughout its range, but is found in a wide variety of habitats, including marshes, meadows, and woods. It has an extensive, if patchy, distribution from AK and Canada, several parts of N US and down the Appalachians to NC.
QUACKGRASS
Elytrigia (Agropyron) repens
Height up to 2-1/2ft.
Spreading, unbranched perennial. Important grassland component but also an aggressive invader of cultivated ground. Leaves narrow and mainly basal. Flowers flat and in clusters; in 10-12in-long spikes (May-Jul). Widespread throughout North America.
QUAHOG, NORTHERN
Mercenaria mercenaria
Total length to 5in.
Shell has numerous closely spaced lines and a brown periostracum; interior white and purple. A heavy-bodied clam, adapted to the surf line, or to shallow water where there is wave action. Abundant intertidally in sand from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
QUAKING ASPEN
Populus tremuloides
Height up to 70ft.
Narrow deciduous tree. Leaves 2-3in across, rounded to heart-shaped, and toothed; rustle in the breeze. Flowers 1-3in long catkins in pendant sprays. Cottony seeds. Free-draining soils. Widespread Canada and AK. Uplands elsewhere in US.
QUEEN ANGELFISH
Holocanthus ciliaris
Total length 10in.
One of the most spectacular of the reef angelfishes. Dark blue with yellow pectoral, pelvic and tail fins and extensive yellow in the face. Yellow edges to the body scales. Diurnal; feeds on sponges and other invertebrates. Found in FL and the Gulf of Mexico. Not abundant, but often seen by snorkelers and divers.
QUEEN ANNE'S LACE
Daucus carota
Height up to 3ft.
Distinctive, hairy plant. Leaves 4-8in long, 2-3 times pinnately divided into narrow leaflets. Flowers small, pinkish in bud, white in flower; in flat-topped umbels 4-6in across, central flower red (May-Sep). Grassland. Widespread in North America.
QUEEN CONCH
Strombus gigas
Total length 12in.
One of the largest and heaviest marine snails in the world. Spectacular shell with large knobs on the shoulders and a bright pink flaring operculum. Well known in the Caribbean as the basic ingredient of conch chowder. Top predator on sandy bottoms; much prized by shell collectors. In North America, only found S from the Florida Keys.
QUEEN CUP
Clintonio uniflora
Height up to 6in.
Delicate woodland plant. Leaves up to 6in long, broadly ovate to oblong. Flowers 1in long with 6 petal-like white segments; usually solitary on slender stalk (May-Aug). Damp conifer woods. Pacific states and provinces, E to MT.
QUEEN
Danaus gilippus
Wingspan 3in.
Superficially similar to the Monarch. It has white spots and no obvious black veins on the wings from above. Caterpillars and adults feed on poisonous milkweeds, and are poisonous to most predators. Has a more southerly distribution than the Monarch but is not migratory, though it does move N during summer.
QUESTIONMARK
Polygonia interrogationis
Wingspan 3in.
Takes its name from a silvery comma and dot forming a question mark on the underside of the wing (some imagination is needed). The upperside is orange with black markings and with some violet on the edges. The caterpillars are striped with branched spines and they feed on elm, and hops. Widespread over SE Canada and E US, except S FL.
QUILLWORT
Isoetes sp.
Height up to 8in.
Aquatic or amphibious tufted perennial; several similar species in North America. Upright or spreading quill-like leaves arise from bulbous or cormlike base, attached to substrate. Widespread in shallow, clear water or margins of lakes.
RABBIT'S-FOOT CLOVER
Trifolium arvense
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Distinctive annual. Leaves with 3 narrow leaflets, each 1/2in long. Flowers small and pale pink; in dense cylindrical heads up to 1in long (May-Sep). Grassy places on free-draining soils. Widespread throughout North America.
RACCOON
Procyon lotor
Total length 2ft.6in; tail 16in.
Familiar mammal, grayish with a banded tail, and "robber's mask" face pattern. It occurs in almost all habitats, and is found in most towns, where it often raids garbage. A true omnivore, eating almost anything edible. A single litter of up to 8 is born in late spring. Found over much of North America.
RACCOON, NORTHERN
Procyon lotor
Total length 2ft.6in; tail 16in.
Familiar mammal, grayish with a banded tail, and "robber's mask" face pattern. It occurs in almost all habitats, and is found in most towns, where it often raids garbage. A true omnivore, eating almost anything edible. A single litter of up to 8 is born in late spring. Found over much of North America.
RACER
Coluber constrictor
Total length 6ft.
Large, slender, agile, and fast-moving. Usually black, blue, brown, or greenish above, and white, yellow, or dark gray below. Young are gray, marked with dark spots on sides and dark gray, brown, or reddish brown blotches down the back. Feeds on large insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, small rodents, and birds. Occurs in a wide range of habitats, including overgrown fields, grassland, prairies, woodland, meadows, and rocky wooded hillsides. Found from S BC and ON through the US to Guatemala.
RAG WORT
Senecio jacobaea
Height up to 3ft.
Poisonous non-native biennial or perennial. Leaves 2-6in long, pinnate with a blunt end lobe. Flower heads 1/2-1in across, yellow ray florets and orange disc florets; in clusters (Jul-Aug). Grassland. Coastal NE and Pacific NW of North America.
RAGGED ROBIN
Lychnis flox-cuculi
Height up to 2ft.
Distinctive non-native perennial. Leaves 2-3inlong, narrow, grasslike, and rough; upper ones in opposite pairs. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pink petals, each divided into 4 lobes (May-Jul). Naturalized in damp grassland, NE US.
RAINBOW DARTER
Etheostoma caeruleurn
Total length 2in.
A colorful fish: breeding male is dark red with dark, vertical blue bars; colors fade in nonbreeding. Male defends nesting territory. Eggs laid and fertilized in gravel where they develop. Feeds on insects and other invertebrates. Lives in clear, cold streams with gravel bottoms, in the central states S to LA.
RAINBOW TROUT
Salmo gairdneri
Total length 3ft.
Sea-going Rainbow, called Steelhead, is silvery with black spots. Freshwater populations variable in color, but usually with broad, red or pink band on side and black spots. Seagoing adult usually survives after spawning in coastal streams. Important, common game fish of the NW, widely introduced throughout North America and elsewhere.
RAT SNAKE
Elaphe obsoleta
Total length up to 8ft.
Long, powerful constrictor that is found in three main color phases: plain, striped, and blotched. Plain is generally blackish with white showing between the scales. Striped is red, orange, yellow, brown, or gray with four dark stripes. Blotched is light gray, yellow, or brown with dark blotches down back. The young are vividly blotched. Lives in forests, wooded canyons, swamps, rocky areas, farmland, old fields, barnyards. Found from MI, ON and VT S to Florida Keys, and W TX and Mexico
RATTLESNAKE WEED
Hieracium venosum
Height up to 2ft.
Upright plant. Leaves 2-6in long, spoon-shaped to elliptical, green with reddish veins; form a basal rosette. Flowers up to 3/4in across and yellow; in open clusters (May-Sep). Open woodland. Widespread in NE US.
RAZORBILL
Alea torda
Total length 17in.
A penguinlike seabird which is normally found only in and close to the sea. Similar to the Common Murre, but has a broader bill. Makes no nest but lays its single, conical egg on a bare ledge. Breeds on rocky cliffs on Atlantic coasts from N Canada and Greenland S to New England; also found in the Old World.
RED ABALONE
Haliotis rufescens
Total length 12in.
So named because its outer shell is dark red with stripes of green or gray. One of the largest abalones. Most prized for food, and its value makes it worth harvesting by divers. Longlived; found in coastal CA and usually subtidal.
RED ADMIRAL
Vanessa atalanta
Wingspan 2in.
An easily identified butterfly, dark with bright red bands and white spots. The caterpillars live in groups, and curl the leaves of their food plants, which include nettles and hops. Summer migrant over most of US and Canada. Resident in SE from TX to Vancouver.
RED BANDED LEAFHOPPER
Graphocephala coccinea
Total length 1/4in.
Basically yellow or green body with green and red bands across wings and thorax. Feeds on sap of plants and flowers. Some species are garden pests. Leafhoppers discharge through the anus a liquid containing sugar, called honeydew, which ants and other insects utilize. A small, common insect of gardens and roadsides throughout North America.
RED BANEBERRY
Actaea rubra
Height up to 2ft.
Much-divided plant. Leaves pinnately divided into numerous ovate to maplelike, toothed leaflets each 2-3in long. Flowers 1/4in across with whitish petals that soon drop (May-Jul). Clusters of red berries in fall. NE US and Pacific states.
RED CLOVER
Trifolium pratense
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive perennial. Leaves with 3 oval leaflets, each 1-2in long with pale 'V' mark. Flowers 1/2in long and reddish; in dense, spherical heads (May-Sep). Grassy places. Throughout North America. Non-native, widely cultivated but also naturalized.
RED CROSSBILL
Loxia curvirostra
Total length 6in.
Crossed tips of the bill clearly visible at close range. Male variable, a rosy red or scarlet; female (and some males) yellowish and the young streaked. Feeds on pine nuts. Found across S Canada and N US down through the Rockies to Mexico.
RED FESCUE
Festuca rubra
Height up to 3ft.
Clump-forming, tufted perennial. Leaves up to 1ft.long, narrow, wiry, and stiff. Inflorescence 2-9in long, comprising spikelets that are usually reddish (May-Jul). Dry grassy places. Sometimes used in lawns. Widespread in North America.
RED FOX
Vulpes vulpes
Total length 3ft.3in; tail up to 18in.
Variable in color, but usually reddish brown above, with black on the back of the ears and on the paws. The underparts and tail tip are white. Very adaptable, found in a wide range of habitats. Widespread and often abundant over most of North America except the SW. Its range has expanded greatly, partly due to the introduction of European Red Foxes in the S.
RED KNOT
Calidris tenuirostris
Total length 10in.
In breeding a rich, reddish below, gray above, spangled with brown and black. In winter, uniform gray. Short, black bill, black legs and feet. On passage congregates in large roosting and feeding flocks. Feeds on mudflats and sandy beaches, on horseshoe crab eggs. Nests in high Arctic, migrates to Central and S America.
RED MAPLE
Acer rubrum
Height up to 80ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 3-4in long with 3 broad, pointed, and toothed lobes. Flowers small, greenish, and in clusters. Fruits 1in long, paired, winged, and forked keys; in clusters. Damp ground. E half of US and locally SE Canada.
RED MULBERRY
Morus rubra
Height up to 60ft.
Rounded deciduous tree. Leaves 4-7in long, ovate, toothed, and in 2 rows; dark green, turn yellow in autumn. Flowers small and greenish. Fruits small, spherical, and reddish; in cylindrical, edible mulberries. Widespread across E US.
RED OAK
Quercus rubra
Height up to 90ft.
Deciduous tree with rounded crown and lower trunk bare in maturity. Leaves 4-Sin long, lobed, and toothed; dark green above, paler and hairy below. Acorns 1in long, ovoid with scaly cup. Widespread in E, Great Lakes to NS, S to AR and GA.
RED SALAMANDER
Pseudotritin ruber
Total length 6in.
Bright orange-red, with small black spots. Coloring mimics the poisonous terrestrial form of the Eastern Newt. Breeds in cold streams and springs. Found in damp woodlands and meadows at altitudes of up to 5,000ft. Range extends from NY to LA.
RED SPRUCE
Picea rubens
Height up to 80ft.
Evergreen conifer with a distinctly conical outline. Needles up to 2in long, dark green with white lines, 4-angled, and pointed. Cones up to 1in long, cylindrical, brown, and pendant. Mountains of NE, NS S to Appalachians.
RED SQUIRREL (CHICKAREE)
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Total length 15in; tail 6in.
A small reddish brown tree squirrel, which has prominent ear tufts in winter. Often very vocal, making chattering noises. Feeds on pine nuts, berries, and fungi, often leaving abundant remains. It nests in old woodpecker holes or builds a leaf nest, and has 2 litters of 3-7 young in spring and late summer. Found in wooded habitats, particularly coniferous. Very widespread across N North America, being found from AK to E Canada and S down the Rockies and Appalachians.
RED-BACKED SALAMANDER
Plethodon cinereus
Total length 5in.
Slender salamander. It is found in two color phases: the more widespread has a broad redbrown or yellow-brown stripe down the back, the other is uniform dark gray-black. Abundant, found in cool humid woodlands and forests from NS and ON, S to MO and SC. In W it is replaced by P. vehiculum.
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Melanerpes carolinus
Total length 9in.
Heavily barred above with a red head and nape, grayish white on the underside tinged with red; the rump white in flight. Eats mostly insects, but comes to bird feeders in suburban gardens for suet and seed. Nests in tree cavities up to 1ft.deep. Breeds over most of E US. In recent years its range has expanded northward.
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Sitta canadensis
Total length 4in.
Similar in shape and behavior to the White-breasted, but with prominent black stripe running through the eye, white eyebrows, rusty-buff belly. Loud, nasal call. A coniferous forest species more widely distributed than the White-breasted, breeding as far N as S AK and Newfoundland, moving S in winter and often seen at suburban feeders near conifers.
RED-CRACKED BOLETE
Boletus chrysenteron
Height up to 4in.
Distinctive fungus. Cap is buffish brown at first but soon cracks, especially around margins, revealing red flesh. Pores buffish yellow. Stern flushed red. Deciduous woods, especially under oak (mainly Jul-Nov). Widespread in North America.
REDEAR SUNFISH
Lepomis microlophus
Total length 15in.
A large blue-gray fish with dark, irregular vertical bars, black earflap with red edge, yellow-orange chin and breast. Cracks and eats snails as main food source. Found in warm, shallow ponds and quiet streams, by fallen logs, rocks, and debris, in SE states, FL to TX.
RED-EYED VIREO
Vireo olivaceus
Total length 6in.
The most common vireo. Blood-red eye can be clearly seen at close quarters. Builds a round nest of spider webs suspended in a horizontal fork of a bush or tree. Feeds on insects. It is found in woodland over much of North America; scattered in the Sw.
RED-GILLED NUDIBRANCH
Coryphella verrucosa
Total length 1in.
A small species, fairly slender; characterized by long, red papilla tipped in white. Body white, tapering to a point in the rear; two long-pointed antennae. Spiral egg masses found on rocks or in crevices. Feeds on hydroids. Found intertidally on seaweed and rocks on the E coast from Canada to NJ.
REDHEAD
Aythya americana
Total length 19in.
A small diving duck with a red head, black chest, and gray back. Male bill blue-gray with a black tip. Female uniform soft.brown. The Redhead is widespread but decreasing and is a species of conservation concern. Breeds in the prairies of the Wand in AK. Winters on both coasts and on freshwater reservoirs, ponds, lakes, and rivers.
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Total length 9in.
Distinctive, with bright red head and neck, pure white belly, black wings with white patches, and black tail. Widely distributed over most ofE US and S Canada. Northern populations migratory. Declining.
RED-NECKED GREBE
Podiceps grisegena
Total length 18in.
A large, long-necked grebe with a characteristic long tapering bill, which is yellow with a black tip. In breeding the neck is orange-red. It is the most loonlike of all the grebes, but when flying it has white wing patches (all loons lack patches). It breeds in Canada and AK, and in a few northern states; winters at sea on both coasts.
RED-OSIER DOGWOOD
Cornus stolonifera
Height up to 10ft.
Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub; young twigs reddish. Leaves 1-3in long, elliptical; green above, downy white below. Flowers small, 4 white petals; in 2in wide flat clusters. Fruits 1/4in across, whitish. Sub-Arctic Canada and N US.
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
Buteo lineatus
Total length 18in.
Medium-sized, with characteristic broad, rounded wings, and a pale patch at the base of the flight feathers from below. Adult has a reddish shoulder patch and a rufous chest. Feeds on insects, snakes, birds, and other small prey. Favors damp woodlands. Common in E US and Canada, in CA and OR.
RED-SPOTTED ADMIRAL
Limenitis arthemis
Wingspan 3in.
A large, dark butterfly with broad white bands on the wings. The caterpillar is humpbacked with spines, and feeds on willows and birches. Confined to E North America, usually around woodlands.
REDSTART
Setophaga ruticilla
Total length 5in.
The male is black with orange patches on the side ofthe tail and wings, and a white belly; female is mostly gray with yellow patches. Bird often flares its wings and tail to expose color patches. A summer breeder over much of North America, it is common in open woods and secondary forests.
RED-TAILED HAWK
Buteo jamaicensis
Total length 19in.
The most common large hawk. Very variable in plumage, but most adults have a broad red tail. Feeds on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and carrion. Found in all open habitats from deserts to open woodlands. Often soars, and is also seen perched along roadsides or on telephone poles. Breeds throughout the US and most of Canada.
RED-THROATED LOON
Gavia stellata
Total length 2ft.
Smaller and slimmer than the Common Loon, with a gray head, rusty throat patch, and black and white markings on the neck and shoulders; in winter it is dark gray, paler below. Like other loons, builds its nest at the water's edge from mud and vegetation. Breeds in the high Arctic, migrating to the Great Lakes and coastal waters for the winter.
REDTOP
Agrostis gigantea (alba)
Height up to 4ft.
Creeping perennial; roots at nodes. Leaves up to 8in long and 1/4in wide. Conical inflorescence of 1-flowered spikelets borne on spreading branches; reddish purple when in flower [Jun-Aug). Meadows, disturbed areas and lawns. Widespread in North America.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
Agelaius phoeniceus
Total length 9in.
Adult male black with red shoulder patches edged with yellow; female and immature browner and streaked.Breeds in marshes, wet meadows, and swamps. Loud and obvious at breeding sites. Widespread over most of North America.
REDWOOD
Sequoia sempervirens
Height up to 300ft.
Immense evergreen conifer; world's tallest tree. Lower trunk bare, crown narrowly conical. Leaves either narrow, 1/2-1in long, flat, and pointed or small and scalelike. Cones ½-1in long, elliptical. Coastal S OR, S to central CA.
REGAL MOTH
Citheronia regalis
Wingspan 5in.
The Regal Moth is the largest of the royal moths. It is a spectacularly beautiful moth with reddish wings with yellow spots, and a large red and yellow body; small antennae. Adults feed on the leaves of nut trees. Spines on the caterpillars can irritate the skin. It is found in E North America.
REINDEER MOSS
Cladonia rangiferina
Height up to 4in.
Cushion-forming gray lichen comprising interwoven curved branches. Widespread on tundra and Alpine heathlands of Arctic and sub-Arctic North America. Further S in mountains.
REINDEER
Rangifer tarandus
Total length 6ft.9in; tail 8in.
Known in the Old World as the Reindeer, the Caribou is adapted to living in extreme conditions. Unusually among the deer family, both sexes carry antlers, although those of the female are smaller than the male's. Caribou are very gregarious, often forming large herds. Most populations are migratory, some covering several hundred miles between their summer and winter feeding grounds. Confined to Canada and the N of the US.
RHINOCEROS AUKLET
Cerorhinca monocerata
Total length 15in.
The largest auklet, it is a fairly uniform gray with a large head and a yellowish "horn" at the base of the bill. It also has two whitish plumes on either side of the head. Nests in burrows on islands. It is confined to Pacific waters and breeds from the Aleutians and AK south to CA.
RICHARDSON'S GROUND SQUIRREL
Spermophilus richardsonii
Length 14in; tail 3in.
Similar to prairie dogs, but with a longer tail. One of the most widespread and abundant mammals within its range. When danger approaches it stands on its hind legs and gives a whistling warning. It lives in colonies in burrows, feeding on grasses and other vegetation, as well as insects and even carrion. Gives birth to a single litter of 2-11 young in an underground nest. Hibernates, storing food underground for the winter. Found in the Rockies from S Canada to CO and NV.
RING-BILLED GULL
Lams delawarensis
Total length 18in.
A medium-sized gull similar to the California Gull but smaller, and has a yellow bill with a black band around the tip. Takes three years to molt into adult plumage. Nests on islands in lakes and ponds across North America in a belt running from the Rockies of northern CA to Newfoundland.
RINGED SEAL
Phoca hispida
Total length 5ft.
A very small seal, usually grayish above marked with pale oval rings, with darker centers. It lives close to the ice, often keeping a breathing hole clear, and feeds on fish and plankton. The single white-coated pup is born in a den which the mother excavates in the ice in spring. This seal is found all around the North Pole, and as far S as Labrador and Newfoundland in the E and Point Barrow in AK.
RINGNECK SNAKE
Diadophis punctatus
Total length 2ft.6in.
A small, slender snake, gray, olive, brownish, or black; with a bright yellow, orange, or red belly, frequently marked with black spots. The characteristic yellow, cream, or orange neck ring may be obscure. The female lays a clutch of up to 10 elongate, white or yellowish eggs, in communal nesting sites. Found in damp habitats including forest, grassland, as well as rocky hillsides, chaparral, and upland desert. Found from NS to the Florida Keys, W to the Pacific coast, and S to Mexico.
RING-NECKED DUCK
Aythya collaris
Total length 17in.
A small, handsome diving duck with a peaked head. The male is mostly black, with gray sides separated from the back of the neck by a white crescent. Bill is blue and white with black tip. Female is brown with white eye ring. Found on freshwater ponds and small lakes. Widespread, breeding mostly in Canada, wintering S.
RING-NECKED PHEASANT
Phasianus colchicus
Total length 21in.
Male is generally brightly colored with a bare, red face, green head, and white neck ring. Body is metallic bronze with brown and black spots. Female is dull brown, like many gamebirds, with a long tail. Generally runs or flies short distances before gliding down. An Old World species, extensively introduced as a gamebird, now widespread across the US and Canada.
RINGTAIL (CACOMISTLE)
Bassariscus astutus
Total length 2ft.6in; tail 17in.
Rather like a slender cat, grayish yellow above, buff below with a long, distinctively banded, bushy tail. A very agile climber, making its den among rocks or in a hollow tree. It is generally nocturnal, and when attacked or cornered emits a foul-smelling scent from its anal gland. Feeds mostly on insects, small mammals, fruit berries, reptiles, amphibians, and also scorpions. A litter of 2--4 young is born in late spring or summer. Widespread in Central America, its range extending N to southwest OR, OK and KS.
RIVER BIRCH
Betula nigra
Height up to 80ft.
Domed, spreading deciduous tree; open crown. Leaves 2-3in long, ovate, toothed; green above, downy white below. Male flowers in pendant catkins, females in small, erect catkins. Cones 1in long, brown, cylindrical. Widespread E US.
RIVER OTTER
Lontra canadensis
Total length 4ft; tail 18in.
A large, slender, aquatic mammal, nearly always seen in or close to water. It is brown above, whitish buff below, with a long tapering tail. Feeds on fish and other aquatic animals, including crayfish, mollusks, mammals, frogs, and water birds. A litter of up to 6 young is born in an underground den, usually among tree roots, close to water. The River Otter is found in rivers, estuaries, lakes, and ponds, and although once common over most of the continent it is rare or extirpated in many areas.
ROADRUNNER
Ceococcyx californianus
Total length 2ft.
A large, terrestrial relative of the cuckoos. Brown and white with a shaggy crest, large bill and long tail. Rarely takes flight, avoiding intruders by running. Feeds on lizards. snakes, large insects, small mammals, and birds. In deserts and other habitats from S CA to AR.
ROBIN
Turdus migratorius
Total length 11in. Familiar garden bird. Chest and belly rusty, red-brown in male, more orange in female; both sexes have whitish throats. Juvenile heavily spotted on the underparts. Builds a bulky nest of fiber, rag, twigs, and grasses. Favors open woodland habitats, parks, and suburban gardens. Breeds over most of North America from the tundra to the S.
ROCK BARNACLE
Balanus balanoides
Total length 1in.
A white, flattened cone about Iiin high, about 1in wide. Feeds by using its legs to trap animals moving by in the water. Barnacles are among the most abundant and most visible of marine animals. They are found in groups at the water's edge, attached to rocks, pilings, or ocean debris, from Canada to Delaware Bay.
ROCK BARNACLE, NORTHERN
Balanus balanoides
Total length 1in.
A white, flattened cone about Iiin high, about 1in wide. Feeds by using its legs to trap animals moving by in the water. Barnacles are among the most abundant and most visible of marine animals. They are found in groups at the water's edge, attached to rocks, pilings, or ocean debris, from Canada to Delaware Bay.
ROCK BASS
Amblophites rupestris
Total length 18in.
This common bass prefers hiding under roots or ledges in small, clear streams or lakes with vegetated borders. Deep-bodied and dark above with a large mouth and rows of dark spots on the sides and belly. Feeds on fish, crayfish, and insects. Native to the Midwest Great Lakes and S Canada.
ROCK DOVE
Columba livia
Total length 13in.
The ancestor of a wide range of domestic pigeons, this species is variable in plumage. Introduced from Europe, it is now established over most of North America. In some places it has reverted to its natural habitat of rocky cliffs and canyons.
ROCK SQUIRREL
Spermophilus variegatus
Total length 20in; tail 9in.
A large ground squirrel, with a long bushy tail. Usually most active in morning and evening. Alarm call high-pitched and followed by a trill. Feeds on berries, nuts, cacti, and fruit. An agile climber, making its den in a burrow under rocks. 2 litters a year of up to 7 young. Often lives among oak and juniper, and is seen sunbathing on rocks. Found in open rocky gullies, gorges, and canyons in southwest US and N Mexico.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELDER
Acer glabrum
Height up to 30ft.
Deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-4in long with 3 or 5 broad and pointed lobes. Flowers small, greenish, and in clusters. Fruits 1in long, paired, winged, and forked keys. Damp ground. Mountains and valleys in W, mainly from CA to Be.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN IRIS
Iris missouriensis
Height up to 1-1/2ft.I
mpressive, clump-forming perennial. Leaves up to 1-1/2ft.long, sword-shaped and robust. Flowers 3-4in across and bluish purple; in clusters on leafless sterns (May-Jul). Damp ground. From BC to CA, E to Rocky Mountain states.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
Pheucticus ludovicianus
Total length 8in.
Attractive, with a large triangular bill. Mostly black and white, adult male has uniform black upper parts as well as rose-pink breast and underwings. Seen on migration to Central America and Caribbean; breeds in deciduous woodlands of the E.
ROSE-CROWN
Sedum rhodanthum
Height up to 1ft.
Succulent plant with clusters of robust stems. Leaves up to 1in long, fleshy, and narrowovate. Flowers up to 1/2in long, pinkish white with 4 sepals and 4 petals; in clusters (May-Aug). Damp rocky places. Mountains in W of North America.
ROSEROOT
Sedum rosea (Rhodiola rosea)
Height up to 1ft.
Succulent plant. Clusters of stout stems. Leaves ½-1in long, overlapping on stem, and fleshy. Flowers tiny and yellow; in dense terminal and rounded clusters (Jun-Aug). Mountains and N coastal cliffs. Across N parts of North America, S to N US.
ROUGH EARTH SNAKE
Virginia striatula
Total length 12in.
Uniform reddish brown, brown or gray, paler on the belly, with a pointed snout. The young often have a pale band on the back of the head, which disappears as they grow. Feeds on invertebrates and amphibians. Mostly nocturnal. Very secretive and rarely seen, hiding in leaf litter or under logs, and preyed on by other snakes and even shrews. Up to 13 young are born late June to mid-September. Found from VA to northern FL, and W to TX in dry coastal plains, woodland, as well as forests.
ROUGH GREEN SNAKE
Opheodrys aestivus
Total length up to 3ft.10in.
Distinctive, plain green, paler on the head with a pale belly. It is a good climber, and is frequently found above the ground, where it feeds on caterpillars, grasshoppers, crickets, and spiders. It is only normally active by day, sleeping in bushes and trees at night. A clutch consisting of up to 14 elongate eggs with thin, leathery shells is laid in summer. Most frequently found in damp habitats near water. Ranges from NJ through FL, W to KS, and S to TX and Mexico.
ROUGH KEYHOLE LIMPET
Diodora aspera
Total length up to 3in.
Gray with darker gray radiating lines. Pumps water over its gills and out of a hole at the apex. Eats a great variety of species clinging to rocks and opens areas for colonists. A commensal worm is often found associated with a live limpet. Nocturnal predator; eaten by sea stars. Found low in the intertidal zone and subtidally from AK to CA.
ROUGH PERIWINKLE
Littorina saxatilis
Total length 1&1/2in.
Gray, brown, or black, with a strong shell to withstand pounding from coastal waves and severe intertidal weather. One of the smallest of the periwinkles. Common at the highest of the high tide lines on rocky shores. Found N of Puget Sound to AK; replaced farther S by the Eroded Periwinkle L. planaxis.
ROUGH PERIWINKLE, NORTHERN
Littorina saxatilis
Total length 1&1/2in.
Gray, brown, or black, with a strong shell to withstand pounding from coastal waves and severe intertidal weather. One of the smallest of the periwinkles. Common at the highest of the high tide lines on rocky shores. Found N of Puget Sound to AK; replaced farther S by the Eroded Periwinkle L. planaxis.
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
Buteo lagopus
Total length 22in.
Large. Identified by the dark "wrist" patches on the underside and white rump. Dark birds occur. Wings in "V" formation in flight. Hovers. Found in open habitats where it feeds on rodents and birds. Breeds in far N above tree line; migrates to N US in winter.
ROUGH-SKINNED NEWT
Taricha granulosa
Total length 8in.
Black or dark brown above, with a yellow, orange, or red underside. When attacked, it curls the head backwards and the tail over the body, exposing the bright colors as a warning to predators that it is poisonous, with highly toxic skin secretions. The female lays eggs singly attached to vegetation under water. The most aquatic ofthe newts, found in or close to water, often near rainforests or wet meadows. The most widespread of the western newts, being found from southern AK, along the Pacific coast to central CA, at altitudes of up to 9000ft.
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW
Stelgopteryx serripennis
Total length 5in.
A rather nondescript swallow, gray-brown above and dirty white below, with a slight fork in the tail. Nests in burrows or crevices close to water, under bridges, or on river banks. It is found throughout most of the US and S Canada.
ROUND-LEAVED SUNDEW
Drosera rotundifolia
Height up to 8in.
Distinctive insectivorous plant. Has a basal rosette of reddish, round leaves, 1/2in long, that are stalked and covered in sticky hairs that trap insects. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; on upright spikes (Jun-Aug). Bogs. Throughout North America.
ROUND-LOBED HEPATICA
Hepatica Americana
Height up to 6in.
Charming woodland floor plant. Leaves 2in across with 3 round lobes. Flowers 1in across with 5-9 purple petal-like sepals; borne on hairy stalks (Mar-Jun). Dry woodland, usually on rocks. E half of North America.
ROYAL FERN
Osmunda regalis
Height up to 6ft.
Large and impressive fern that forms sizeable clumps. Favors swamps and wet woodlands, usually on acid soils. Fronds up to 5ft.long, 2-pinnate with oblong leaflets. Brown spore cases terminal on central fronds. E half of North America.
RUBBER BOA
Charina bottae
Total length 2ft.
One of two species of boa found in the US. Uniform brownish coloring, and rubbery appearance. Generally nocturnal, spending the day hidden in leaf-litter, in rotten logs, or under rocks, and emerging in the early evening. It is a constrictor and feeds on lizards, birds, and rodents. When captured it rolls into a ball. Found mostly in damp habitats, including woodland, forests, meadows, and close to streams, at altitudes of up to 9,200ft. Has a wide range over much of W US, N to S Canada.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
Archilochus colubris
Total length 3in.
Male has a bright, metallic red throat; female is whitish on underside. Wings make a characteristic whirr as it darts back and forth; hummingbirds actually fly backwards for short distances. A familiar garden bird easily attracted to feeders or garden flowers. The only hummer found over most of E North America.
RUDDY DUCK
Oxyura jamaicensis
Total length 15in.
Small, sits high in the water with tail held stiffly upright. Male mostly chestnut with a white face and a bright bluish bill. Female and immatures duller with a white face. Nests in thick vegetation. Breeds throughout W US and Canada; winters in S and E.
RUDDY TURNSTONE
Arenaria interpes
Total length 9in.
A spectacular shorebird in breeding plumage, otherwise drab. Breeding adult has colorful plumage of chestnut, black and white; female duller. In flight distinctive black and white wing, rump and tail markings are seen. The Black Turnstone of the Pacific coast is similar. An active forager, usually in small flocks, overturning shells, driftwood and seaweed for crustaceans and other invertebrates. Nests on the Arctic tundra; winters on both coasts.
RUFFED GROUSE
Bonasa umbellus
Total length 17in.
A plump, chickenlike bird, gray or rufous above with a mottled dark neck and black bars on the sides. Male has ruff of feathers on the neck raised in courtship display. Wings fanned to produce a drumming sound as part of courtship. Often over N US and Canada in deciduous woodland: fairly common.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
SelasphoIlls rufus
Total length 3in.
A distinctive hummer, rufous on the tail and back. The adults have varying amounts of metallic green on the back, and the adult male has a metallic, orange-red throat. Almost identical to Allen's Hummingbird. A summer breeder as far N as AK. Winters in Mexico and Central America.
RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Total length 7in.
Long-tailed, usually seen on the ground. Female is brown where the male is black, with orange-rufous sides and white belly. It is found over most of E North America. Replaced in W by the Spotted Towhee, male with extensive white spotting on back.
RUSSIAN TUMBLEWEED (PRICKLY SALTWORT)
Salsola kali
Height up to 4ft.
Much-branched, forming dense rounded clumps; when detached from ground these are blown by wind. Leaves short, narrow, bractlike, and spine-tipped. Flowers insignificant; seeds resemble pinkish flowers. Arid open ground, W US.
RUSTY WOODSIA
Woodsia ilvensis
Height up to 6in.
Tough, tufted fern. Fronds narrow-oblong in outline and 2-pinnate; undersurface hairy and stalks brown. Spore capsules rounded. Grows from crevices in acid rocks. Widespread AK, Canada, and cooler northern parts of US.
SAGE GROUSE
Centrocercus urophasianus
Total length 2ft.4in.
A large grouse with a black belly and long, pointed tail feathers. Larger courting males puff out the white breast feathers and fan and raise the tail while making a loud, popping sound. Nests on the ground. Found in sagebrush habitats. Resident in W US, N to SK. Declining throughout range.
SAGE THRASHER
Oreoscoptes montanus
Total length 9in.
Paler than Brown Thrasher, with a stubbier bill. Builds nest low down in a dense bush, rarely above 3ft. Summer migrant confined to the W, breeding in sagebrush habitats from S Canada to CA and AZ; winters in similar habitats further S into Mexico.
SAGUARO
Cereus giganteus
Height up to 40ft.
Immense cactus with ribbed, spiny stem. Young specimens columnar, unbranched. Older ones have armlike branches arising roughly ½ way up plant. Flowers 3in across, creamy, and short-lived (May-Jun). Fruits 3in long, ovoid. Mainly SE AZ.
SALTMARSH ARROWGRASS
Triglochin maritima
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Plantainlike tufted perennial. Leaves are up to 1ft.long, narrow, and unveined. Flowers are tiny and 3-petalled; borne in a long narrow spike, up to 6in long, which is itself longstalked (May-Sep). Salt marshes. Pacific coast.
SALT-MARSH ASTER
Aster tenuifolius
Height up to 2ft.
Delicate, straggling plant. Leaves 2-5in long, narrow, and fleshy. Flowers up to 1in across with pale pinkish purple ray florets and yellow disc florets (Aug-Sep). Coastal salt marshes. Atlantic coast of US.
SALTMARSH MOSQUITO
Aedes taeniorhynchus
Total length 1/2in.
A serious pest and a major vector of diseases. Has a painful, itching bite. Larvae are aquatic and are a major food source for other coastal aquatic insects, fish, and birds. They are found in tidal pools, brackish marshes, and saltwater ponds. Abundant and widely distributed. Controls included ditching and drainage of most of the tidal marshes of the E.
SALT-MARSH PINK
Sabatia stellaris
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Delicate, slender plant. Leaves 1in long, narrow, and in opposite pairs. Flowers 1in across, star-shaped with 5 pink petals and yellow stamens (Jul-Sep). Coastal brackish grassland and marshes. Atlantic coast N to MA.
SALVIA
Salvia coccinea
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive perennial with a square stern. Leaves up to 2in long, oval with lobed margin. Flowers 1in long, bright red; in whorls forming an open spike (May-Oct). Open woods on free-draining soils. Coastal SE US.
SAND FIDDLER CRAB
Uca pugilator
Total length 1 1/4in.
Carapace lliin wide. Male has one large claw. Feeds on algae and decaying debris. Can be found in enormous concentrations. Lives in burrows in muddy sand or mud at the edge of the tideline. Males wave to females from the mouth of their burrows. Fiddler crabs are an important food for numerous coastal birds and fish. Found from Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico.
SAND TIGER SHARK
Odontaspis taurus
Total length 10ft.
This large species is one of the most common sharks of coastal waters. Dark brownish gray above, fading to light belly; long dorsal fins. An active predator of other fishes; teeth distinct, symmetrical, long and pointed. Not usually considered dangerous in North America, but close relatives elsewhere attack humans. Found in the Atlantic from Canada to Argentina.
SANDERLING
Calidris alba
Total length 8in.
Small, pale with black bill, legs and feet. Feeds on small invertebrates uncovered by the receding waves. Common on Atlantic and Pacific coasts in winter in small flocks along the edge of the surf. Breeds in the high Arctic in tundra habitats.
SANDHILL CRANE
Grus canadensis
Total length up to 4ft.
A large, long-legged bird. Wingspan up to 7ft. Uniform gray with bald, red face and crown. Young birds brown. Nests on a large mound of vegetation on the ground in a marsh. Breeds on tundra, prairies, and marshes, mostly in Canada and AK, with a few populations in the N US. Winters in C and the Gulf states. Resident populations in FL and MS.
SASSAFRAS
Sassafras albidum
Height up to 60ft.
Open-crowned deciduous tree; aromatic roots. Leaves 3-5in long, elliptical with basal lobes; shiny green above, downy below. Flowers 1/2in long and yellowish. Fruits 1/2in long blackish berries on red stalks. Damp ground. E half of North America.
SAVANNAH SPARROW
Passerculus sandwichensis
Total length 5in.
Variable, but with distinctive, streaky head and yellow above eye when breeding. Widespread and common on ground in tillable fields, marshes, barren ground, and beaches. Breeds over most of N US and Canada, N to the high Arctic; winters in S US and Mexico.
SAW-WHET OWL
Aegolius acadius
Total length 8in.
Smaller than the Screech Owl and lacking any ear tufts. It is reddish brown above with white spots, and white below with reddish brown streaks. Very vocal in spring, making a monotonous "too-too-too-too-too" whistle, repeated endlessly up to 130 times a minute. Strictly nocturnal. Feeds on mice, voles, and nocturnal insects. Breeds across S Canada, S to NY, and throughout the Rockies. Some populations move S.
SCALY PHOLIOTA
Pholiota squarrosa
Height up to 6in.
Clump-forming fungus. Cap is up to 3in across, deep yellow and covered in dark brown scales; domed but flattening with age. Gills yellow. Stern has similar ground color and scales as cap. Woods, at base of trees (Aug-Oct). Throughout North America.
SCARLET CUP
Sarcoscypha coccinea
Up to 2in across.
Colorful and distinctive fungus that grows as well-formed cups or bowls. Inner surface is bright scarlet and smooth. Outer surface is pale with a chalky texture. On part-buried wood (Jan-Apr). E and NW of North America.
SCARLET FRITILLARY
Fritillaria recurva
Height up to 3ft.
Striking perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, gray-green, narrow, and straplike. Flowers 1in long, scarlet, and bell-shaped with recurved segment tips; nodding, on upright sterns (Mar-Jun). Wooded slopes. OR and CA.
SCARLET GAURA
Gaura coccinea
Height up 1 to 2ft.
Upright, much-branched plant. Leaves 1-2in long, narrow-Ianceolate, and crowded up stern. Flowers 1/2in across with 4 petals, turning white to deep pink after dawn (May-Sep). Dry grassy places. W of North America, N to S central Canada.
SCARLET OAK
Quercus coccinea
Height up to 80ft.
Domed, open deciduous tree. Leaves 3-7in long, deeply divided into 7 pointed lobes; green above, yellow below, scarlet in autumn. Acorns ½-1in long, ovoid with deep, bowl shaped cup. Uplands in E, mainly ME to GA, W to TN.
SCARLET PIMPERNEL
Anagallis arvensis
Creeping.
Trailing, hairless annual. Leaves ¼-1/2in long, oval, and in opposite pairs. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 petal lobes, usually red but also blue or white; on stalks, opening only in sun (Jun-Aug). Disturbed areas. Non-native but now widespread.
SCARLET SNAKE
Cemophora coccinea
Total length up to 2ft.6in.
Superficially similar to a coral snake, but the black-bordered yellow bands separating the scarlet are narrower, and do not completely encircle the body. Rarely seen, as it is largely nocturnal, burrowing in loose soil, or under logs during the day. Its principal food is eggs of other reptiles. It produces up to 8 eggs; the young are about 6in long when they hatch. Found in SE US from NJ to E TX, and S to FL, where it occurs in open wooded areas.
SCARLET TANAGER
Piranga olivacea
Total length 7in.
Male is bright scarlet with black wings and tail; the female, young, and fall males are olive. Breeds in E US and Canada north of SC where it forages in deciduous canopies. Winters in tropical forests of Central America.
SCARLET WAXY CAP
Hygrophorus coccineus
Height up to 3in.
Striking, bright red fungus. Cap 1-2in across; conical or rounded at first, expanding and flattening with age. Gills red but with yellow margins. Flesh reddish. Grassy woodlands (Aug-Nov). E of North America; locally in Pacific states.
SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER
Tyrannus forficatus
Total length 13in.
A spectacular flycatcher with a very long, deeply forked tail. Underside is salmon; head pink and shoulders gray, with back, wings and tail black. Young birds lack long tail feathers. Found in open countryside, often around farms, ranches, and other human habitations in TX and adjacent southwestern states. Winters in Central America.
SCOURING-RUSH
Equisetum hyemale
Height up to 4ft.
Slender, unbranched horsetail forming large patches in suitable sites. Sterns dark green with rough ridges. Cones pointed and ripe in early spring. Favours damp and saturated ground; often on river banks. Widespread throughout North America.
SCREWBEAN MESQUITE
Prosopis pubescens
Height up to 20ft.
Much-branched, spiny deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-3in long, compound with 5-8 pairs of oblong leaflets. Flowers 1/4in long, yellow, in clusters. Fruits 1-2in long spiral pods. Desert washes. Mainly S CA; locally AR and NM.
SEA BINDWEED (BEACH MORNING GLORY)
Calystegia soldanella
Creeping.
Attractive coastal perennial. Leaves 1-2in across, kidney-shaped, and long-stalked. Flowers 2in across, funnel-shaped, and pink with white stripes (Apr-Sep). Coastal sand dunes. Pacific coast, from CA, N to BC.
SEA LETTUCE
Ulva lactuca
Length up to 1-1/2ft.
Delicate green and membranous seaweed. Grows attached to rocks on sheltered shores; often thrives in rock pools on upper and middle shores, even if detached from substrate. Widespread on both Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
SEA LUNG WORT
Mertensia maritima
Creeping.
Trailing plant with sterns up to 2ft. Leaves up to 1in long, ovate, gray-green, and fleshy. Flowers 1/4in across, bell-shaped, and blue (pink in bud); in clusters (Jun-Aug). High tide line on shingle and sandy beaches. Atlantic coast, S to MA.
SEA MILKWORT
Glaux maritima
Height up to 10in.
Low-growing succulent plant. Leaves up to 1/2in long, oval, and fleshy; in opposite pairs. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 pink sepals; in leaf axils (May-Sep). Coastal salt marshes. Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
SEA OATS
Uniola paniculata
Height up to 6ft.
Striking, clump-forming grass of coastal sands. Leaves up to 10in long. Flowers in spikelets, borne in 1ft-long clusters on curved sterns (Jun-Jul). Widespread on coasts of SE US. Also planted here and elsewhere to combat dune erosion.
SEA OTTER
Enhydra lutris
Total length 5ft.6in; tail 14in.
A large, almost entirely marine otter. Feeds by diving among kelp to gather abalone, urchins, and other shellfish which it crushes with stones on its chest. The single young is born at sea, and the otters sleep at sea, using kelp as an anchor. Found only in or close to the sea, on the W coast. Rarely comes to the shore, but normally remains within about a mile of the coast. Sea otters can survive among high waves and storms. Although once widely distributed, there are now two main populations, in southern CA and in AK.
SEA PALM
Postelsia palmaeformis
Length up to 1-1/2ft.
Distinctive seaweed with passing resemblance to a miniature palm tree. A robust stalk is anchored to rocks by holdfast and produces palm frondlike blades at tip. Exposed coasts on upper shore. Pacific coast, from BC to CA.
SEA PLANTAIN
Plantago maritima
Height up to 2ft.
Distinctive perennial. Leaves up to 1ft.long, narrow and linear with 3-5 veins; in upright basal rosette. Flower tiny and greenish white; in dense cylindrical spikes up to 1-1/2ft.long (Jun-Aug). Coastal cliffs and salt marshes. NE of North America.
SEA ROCKET
Cakile maritima
Height up to 1ft.
Straggling, fleshy annual. Leaves 3-5in long, toothed, shiny, and lobed. Flowers 1/4in across with 4 pale lilac petals; in dense clusters (Jun-Sep). Restricted to stabilized coastal shingle and sand. Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America.
SEA STAGHORN
Codium fragile
Length up to 3ft.
Green seaweed that branches frequently and equally; branches are tubular and up to \1in in diameter with a spongy texture. Attached to rocks, pebbles or shells in sheltered waters on lower shore. Pacific coast; locally N Atlantic shores.
SEABEACH SANDWORT
Honckenya peploides
Prostrate.
Distinctive perennial. Often forms large mats that comprise creeping stems bearing opposite pairs of fleshy, oval leaves. Flowers greenish white and 1/2in across (May-Aug). Stable sands and shingle. Atlantic coasts of US and Canada.
SEA-BLITE
Suaeda maritime
Height up to 1 1/2ft.
Much-branched and clump-forming annual. Leaves usually swollen and cylindrical. Leaves and stem vary in colour from yellow-green to reddish. Flowers tiny and yellowish (Aug-Oct). Salt marshes. Atlantic coasts of US and Canada.
SEASIDE EVENING-PRIMROSE
Oenothera humifusa
Height up to 2ft.
Branched and hairy plant. Leaves 2-5in long; basal leaves with pinnate lobes, stern leaves narrow and entire. Flowers up to 1in across with 4 pale yellow petals (Jun-Sep). Coastal sand dunes. Atlantic coast, mainly NJ, S to FL.
SEASIDE GOLDENROD
Solidago sempervirens
Height up to 8ft.
Striking coastal plant. Leaves 3-8in long, oblong, and fleshy; becoming smaller up stern. Flower heads 1/4in long and yellow; in curved clusters (Jul-Nov). Coastal salt marshes. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, from NF to TX.
SEI WHALE
Balaenoptera borealis
Total length nearly 60ft.
A large whale, most easily distinguished from other baleen whales by its dorsal fin, which is further forward than in other species. Found in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, it is very similar to Bryde's Whale (B. edeni), which lives in warmer waters.
SEMI-OVATE PANEOLUS
Paneolus semiovatus
Height up to 4in.
Distinctive fungus. Cap is pale creamy buff and shaped like the pointed half of an egg. Gills black and spotted. Stern tall, slim and same color as cap. Grows from horse dung (Jul-Oct). Widespread but local because of habitat requirements.
SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER
Charadrius semipalmatus
Total length 7in.
Distinguished from Snowy by its dark back. It is named from the small amount of webbing between the toes. Its call is a piping "tsee-wee." Feeds along the tideline on invertebrates. Breeds in the high Arctic of Canada and AK. Winters on southern shores and estuaries. Moves inland on migration. Abundant and widespread.
SENITA
Lophocereus schottii
Height up to 20ft.
In maturity, has upright branches arising from central point, curved at base; these have a few prominent ribs armed with clusters of spines. Flowers ½- 1in across and pink (Jun). Fruits 1/2in long and red. Found only in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ.
SENSITIVE FERN
Onoclea sensibilis
Height up to 2ft.
Creeping fern of damp and shady woods, banks, and meadows. Sterile fronds broadly triangular in outline and pinnate with wavy-margined leaflets; fertile fronds shorter, more compact, and brown. Sensitive to frost. Central and E parts of North America.
SEQUOIA
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Height up to 250ft.
Massive evergreen conifer. Trunk huge and reddish; lower half bare. Crown open and irregular in maturity. Leaves 1/2in long, narrow, scalelike, bluish green with 2 white lines. Cones 2-3in long, ovoid, and pendant. CA only (Sierra Nevada).
SERGEANT MAJOR
Abudefduf saxatilis
Total length 6in.
Abundant tropical dams elfish. Yellow back grades to silvery gray below with S black, vertical bars. Small mouth; feeds on plankton and algae, in Sargassum. Found in large schools in tropical areas worldwide, but diminishing in number in cooler waters as far N as Long Island in the Atlantic. A common marine aquarium species.
SERPULID TUBE WORM
Serpula vermicularis
Total length 3-4in.
This common subtidal marine worm lives in a white lime tube which it secretes, attached to algae, snails, rocks or other firm surfaces. Also called Plume Worm after the feeding filaments, which are a vivid red on a reddish-orange body. A numerous family found on all coastlines: often seen attached to debris on the shore after storms.
SEVENTEEN-YEAR CICADA
Magicicada sp.
Total length 1 1/4in.
Spends 13-17 years as a larva underground before climbing a tree, truck, or bush and changing into adult. Wings are strong and clear. Red legs, eyes, and wing veins. Male sings a very loud buzzy song familiar to anyone who has lived in the S or SE. Discarded exoskeletons of the larvae can be seen gripping tree trunks. Range primarily E US.
SHAD
Alosa sapidissima
Total length 2ft.6in.
Dark blue above, silvery below, sides compressed with dark spots. Feeds on small invertebrates. An important game fish. Found on E coast from Canada to FL; introduced to entire W coast. Ascends coastal rivers in spring and summer to spawn.
SHAGBARK HICKORY
Carya ovata
Height up to 100ft.
Broad deciduous tree with shaggy bark. Leaves pinnate, with 5 ovate leaflets, each 4-7in long; yellowish, golden in autumn. Flowers small and greenish; sexes separate. Fruits 1 1/2-2in spherical, green then brown. Widespread across E US.
SHAGGY INKY
Coprinus comatus
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Distinctive fungus. At first, cap shrouds stern and is egg-shaped and whitish with shaggy fibres; expands with age and, with gills, blackens and liquefies. Grows on roadsides and other grassy places (mainly Aug-Nov). Throughout North America.
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
Accipiter striatus
Total length 12in.
Smallest of three Accipiters, best distinguished by shorter, square tail, gray above, rufous below. An expert hunter and flyer, feeding almost exclusively on songbirds. Fairly common in mixed woodlands. It is found over most of North America either breeding or migrating.
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
Tympanuchus phasianellus
Total length 17in.
Chickenlike bird with spotted, not barred, underside. Male has purplish-pink neck sacs, inflated during courtship; call is low "coo-oo". Feeds on insects, buds, and seeds. Nests on the ground. Widespread over much of the N Prairies to AK.
SHEEP'S SORREL
Rumex acetosella
Height up to 1ft.
Short, upright perennial. Leaves arrow-shaped but with basal lobes pointing forwards. Flowers small and reddish; in spikes (May-Aug). Fruits reddish; similar to flowers. Bare ground, especially on acid soils. Throughout North America.
SHEPHERD'S-NEEDLE
Scandix pecten-veneris
Height up to 1ft.
Low-growing plant covered in bristly hairs. Leaves 2-4in long, pinnate into numerous small leaflets. Flowers tiny and white; in umbels up to 1in across (Apr-Jul). Fruits needlelike and 1in long. Disturbed areas. Widespread in US and BC.
SHEPHERD'S-PURSE
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Upright annual. Leaves vary from lobed to entire; basal ones 2-4in long, upper ones smaller and toothed. Flowers tiny with 4 white petals; in terminal clusters (Mar-Nov). Seedpods green and triangular. disturbed areas throughout North America.
SHORT HORNED LIZARD
Phrynosoma douglasii
Total length 6in.
A typical horned lizard, with a flat body, short tapering tail, and "horns" on the back of the head. Coloring is variable, but generally sandy, grayish, or brownish, with darker markings. The female gives birth to live young. Found in a wide range of habitats. The most widespread of the horned lizards, being found from Canada to Mexico, up to g,oooft.
SHORT-BEAKED COMMON DOLPHIN
Delphinus delphis
Total length 8ft.
One of the smaller dolphins, with a prominent beak, and variable gray, white, and buff-yellow on the sides. The back and dorsal fin are black. Feeds on fish, and often gathers in large numbers: up to 1,000 or more on rich feeding grounds, and over 100,000 have been recorded. They also ride the bow wave of boats regularly. Large numbers are drowned in fishing gear, particularly those involved in the tuna fisheries, since they often associate with tuna. This dolphin lives mostly in deeper waters, but often comes close to both coasts. More rarely it will swim up estuaries and rivers.
SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE
Clobicephala macrorhynchus
Total length 22ft.
A medium-sized whale, generally black all over, except for a pale strip down the center of the underside. The front of the head has a characteristic dome, known as the "melon". Mostly nocturnal, feeding on squid. Almost invariably found in "pods", often of up to 200 individuals. Has a wide range in the Atlantic Ocean, mostly in deep water. It is found N to New England and is also widespread in the Pacific.
SHORT-TAILED SHREW
Blarina brevicauda
Total length 5in; tail 3in.
The largest North American shrew, it is a uniform dark gray, and has a relatively short tail. Its minute eyes and ears are largely hidden in its fur. It feeds on invertebrates, earthworms, and young rodents; its saliva is venomous and is used to paralyze its prey. It makes a nest, usually under a log, and its litter consists of 3-7 young, born blind and naked. Found in a variety of habitats including woodland, grasslands, and swamps. Often found in cultivated areas. It is relatively abundant and is found over much of NE North America.
SHORT-TAILED SHREW, NORTHERN
Blarina brevicauda
Total length 5in; tail 3in.
The largest North American shrew, it is a uniform dark gray, and has a relatively short tail. Its minute eyes and ears are largely hidden in its fur. It feeds on invertebrates, earthworms, and young rodents; its saliva is venomous and is used to paralyze its prey. It makes a nest, usually under a log, and its litter consists of 3-7 young, born blind and naked. Found in a variety of habitats including woodland, grasslands, and swamps. Often found in cultivated areas. It is relatively abundant and is found over much of NE North America.
SHOVELER
Anas clypeata
Total length 20in.
Distinguished by a long spatulate bill in both sexes. Female drab; male distinct with dark green head, white belly, and chestnut sides. Feeds in shallow water, skimming the surface with its bill. Most common in W North America, breeding from AK to CA. Also breeds on the Prairies and scattered to the E coast, where it is increasing.
SHOWY EVENING-PRIMROSE
Oenothera speciosa
Height up to 2ft.
Patch-forming stiffly hairy plant. Leaves 2-4in long, lanceolate with wavy-lobed margins. Flowers 2-3in across with 4 white or pale pink petals (May-Jul). Dry grassy places including roadsides. E central US.
SHOWY ORCHIS
Orchis spectabilis
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive and fragrant perennial. Leaves 3-8in long, ovate, and sheathing. Flowers 1in long with white lip and purple hood; in spikes (Apr-Jun). Damp ground, including woods. E of North America, S to GA.
SHRIKE, NORTHERN
Lanius excubitor
Total length 10in.
Small predator with hooked bill and black face. Gray above, whitish below, black wings and tail. Hunts large insects, mice, and birds; sometimes stores prey items impaled on thorns or barbed wire. Often seen perching in open habitats. Breeds in far N, winters over S Canada and N US.
SHRUBBY CINQUEFOIL
Potentilla fruticosa
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive shrubby perennial. Leaves 1/2in long, pinnate usually with 5 downy leaflets. Flowers 1in across with 5 yellow petals (Jun-Aug). All sorts of open habitats from tundra to grassy plains. Throughout North America.
SIBBALDIA
Sibbaldia procumbens
Creeping.
Prostrate and densely hairy perennial. Leaves 1/4-1/2in long, bluish green, and trifoliate with wedge-shaped leaflets, toothed at tip. Flowers tiny with 5 narrow yellow petals (Jul-Aug). Arctic North America and mountain tops S to CA and NH.
SIDE BLOTCHED LIZARD
Uta stansburiana
Total length 6in.
Variable, but often distinctively marked. It normally has a characteristic blue or blackish spot on each side, behind the forelimb. Terrestrial, rarely climbs. Feeds almost entirely on insects. In the N torpid in winter, but in the S active year round. Wide though patchy distribution in arid habitats.
SILVER ARGIOPE
Argiope argentata
Total length 1in.
Body mostly silver with black, brown, and white on the abdomen. Like its relatives, it holds its legs together in pairs so that it appears to have 4 legs when, in fact, there are B. Creates spectacular large webs 2ft.across. A tropical species found in FL. These spiders are part of a family called orb weavers, which is abundant worldwide.
SILVER MAPLE
Acer saccharinum
Height up to 80ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 4-6in long with 5 broad, pointed, and toothed lobes. Flowers small, greenish, and in clusters. Fruits 2in long, paired, winged, and forked keys. Damp ground. E half of US, except far south; locally SE Canada.
SILVERFISH
Thermobia domestica
Total length 1 1/4in.
A soft-bodied, wingless, primitive insect with long antennae and long tails from its abdomen. A nocturnal scavenger, feeding on a wide variety of materials including paper and glues used in book bindings. Clearly adaptable, and unchanged for millions of years. Often found in damp situations in homes and basements.
SILVER-HAIRED BAT
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Total length 4in; wing span 11in.
Medium-sized, with dark fur tipped with silvery white, giving it a frosted appearance. A slow-flying bat, emerging from its roost early in the evening. Sometimes collides with buildings. Found in woodland, roosting in old woodpecker holes, in hollow trees, and behind bark. It is found over S Canada and US and in fall migrates S.
SILVERWEED
Potentilla anserine
Creeping.
Creeping perennial with trailing stems that root at the nodes. Leaves up to 1in long, divided into up to 12 pairs of silvery leaflets with tiny ones between. Flowers 1in across with 5 yellow petals (Mar-Jun). Open places. Widespread in North America.
SILVERY-VIOLET CORT
Cortinarius alboviolaceus
Height up to 4in.
Cap up to 2in across, whitish but tinged violet; bell-shaped at first but flattening with age. Gills bluish becoming brown and flesh bluish white. Stern is same color as cap, marked with fibrous lines. Woodland (Sep-Oct). Widespread in North America.
SITKA SPRUCE
Picell sitchensis
Height up to 160ft.
Massive evergreen conifer with broadly conical outline. Needles up to 1in long, dark green, flat, and pointed. Cones 2-4in long, cylindrical, reddish brown, and pendant. Native to foggy coastal areas of Pacific northwest.
SIX-LINED RACE RUNNER
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus
Total length 10in.
Brownish with creamy paler stripes on the sides; despite the name some populations have seven stripes. Young have bluish tails. Small and fast-moving. Active in the morning, often hiding during the heat of the day. In the northern parts of its range and at higher altitudes it hibernates, as do some other lizards in the W. The female lays two clutches of up to 6 eggs. Closely related species of race runner are all female (parthenogenetic), and reproduce asexually. Found in dry open habitats, including prairies and open woodlands. Often abundant, with a wide distribution over much of the Rockies and E US, and S to Mexico.
SKUNK CABBAGE
Symplocarpus foetidus
Height up to 2ft.
Intriguing plant with a fetid odor. Leaves 1-2ft.long; rolled, then flat and broadly ovate. Flowers comprise a 4-6in long spathe, mottled brown and green, shrouding a spherical spadix (Feb-May). Damp ground. S Canada and N US.
SLASH PINE
Pinus elliotii
Height up to 100ft.
Tall evergreen conifer. In maturity, lower trunk bare, crown open and domed. Needles 7-10in long, green, and stiff; in pairs or 3s. Cones 3-6in long, ovoid, and dark brown. Coastal SE US, mainly FL, GA, AL, and MS.
SLENDER COTTONGRASS
Eriophorum gracile
Height up to -1/2ft.
Creeping perennial with 3-sided sterns and very narrow leaves. Inflorescence comprises drooping, stalked clusters of spikelets (May-Jun). Most distinctive when in fruit, seeds having cottony hairs. Bogs and swamps. Widespread in N.
SLENDER GLASSWORT
Salicornia europaea
Height up to 1ft.
Fleshy leafless annual; recalls a miniature cactus. Usually much-branched, segmented, and yellowish green. Flowers minute and green; at leaf junctions (Aug-Oct). Atlantic coast salt marshes; also locally inland on saline soil.
SLIDER
Chrysemys scripta
Total length 11in.
Olive with some yellow on the carapace, yellowish stripes on neck, and a prominent yellowish spot behind the eye. Similar in habits to the Painted Turtle and often basks in large numbers. Closely related to the Painted Turtle, but with a more southerly distribution, from VA to TX and Mexico
SLIMY SALAMANDER
Plethodon glutinosus
Total length 8in.
Shiny black with whitish spots. The female lays her eggs in a burrow or under a log, and the fully metamorphosed young hatch in late summer to fall. Nocturnal. Active all the year round in the S of its range, but hibernates in the N. One of a group of at least 25 species confined to North America. Widespread over much of E US, N to New England.
SLIPPERY JACK
Suillus luteus
Height up to 5in.
Cap up to 3in across, chestnut-colored and covered with gluten which becomes slippery in wet weather. Pores dirty yellow and flesh whitish. Stern whitish at base, yellowish towards top. Under conifers (Sep-Nov). E of North America.
SMALL CRANBERRY
Vaccinium oxycoccos
Height up to 4in.
Trailing evergreen shrub. Leaves 1/4in long, ovate with inrolled margins. Flowers l/2in long, recall tiny Fuchsia flowers with 4 reflexed pale pink petals and projecting anthers (Jun-Aug). Fruits are red berries. Bogs. E Canada and NE US. Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has larger paler flowers, larger flat leaves, and produces luscoius red berries. Range similar to Small cranberry.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Micropterus dolomieu
Total length 2ft.
Large game fish identified by having corner of the mouth ending before the eye; black tail, dark olive-green or brown fading to white on the belly, double dorsal fin with front fin spiny and rear soft-rayed. Nests in depression in mud or sand; guarded by male. Active, aggressive predator, which has been introduced throughout the US.
SMOOTH SOFTSHELL
Trionyx maticas
Total length up to 14in.
Smooth shell is covered by soft.leathery skin. Olive brown with darker spots. Aquatic, found in rivers with muddy or sandy bottoms, where they feed on small invertebrates, fish, and amphibians. Widespread in the rivers of the Great Plains, from ND south to TX.
SMOOTH SOLOMON'S-SEAL
Polygonatum biflorum
Height up to 3ft.
Elegant woodland perennial with arching stems. Leaves 2-5in long, ovate, and parallelveined. Flowers 1/2in long, greenish white, and bell-shaped; nodding, single or paired from leaf axils (May-Jun). E of North America, N to ON.
SMOOTH SUMAC
Rhus glabra
Height up to 20ft.
Distinctive, open-crowned shrub or small tree. Leaves 12in long, compound with 11-31 leaflets; green, red in autumn. Flowers small with 5 white petals; in 8in-long clusters. Fruits small, reddish; in clusters. Widespread, mainly E US.
SNOOK
Centropoffius undecimalis
Total length 4ft.
Dark to light brown with prominent black lateral line, two dorsal fins, protruding lower jaw. Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Primarily marine, but penetrates estuaries, streams, ponds, and lakes connected to the sea. Found in tropical waters of both coasts, Snook are important game fish.
SNOUT
Libytheana carinenta
Wingspan 2in.
Has a distinctive long snout, and the forewings appear to be cut off. The adult often feeds on rotting fruit. It is found in E US, usually close to hackberry trees, which are the food of the dark green, yellow-striped caterpillars.
SNOW BEDSTRAW
Galium boreale
Height up to 3ft.
Scrambling perennial with smooth sterns. Leaves 1-2in long and lanceolate; in whorls of 4. Flowers 1/4in across, white, and 4-lobed; in terminal clusters (Jun-Aug). Rocky ground. Widespread AK and Canada; found S in mountains to CA in W.
SNOW BUNTING
Plectrophenax nivalis
Total length 6in.
Plump, sparrowlike bird, pale in winter; appears mostly white in flight. Breeding male has black on back, wings, and tail. General plumage snowy white. Usually found in flocks, often mixed with Longspurs. Nests in high Arctic; winters south to S Canada and N US.
SNOW GOOSE
Chen caerulescens
Total length 2ft.2in-2ft.9in.
A goose with variable plumage, found in two principal forms. One is pure white with black flight feathers; the young are pale buff and whitish. The other form, the "Blue Goose", has a gray-brown body tinged with bluish on the upper wings; the young are dark brown. Breeds in the high Arctic, and migrates S to feed on farmlands.
SNOWBERRY
Symphoricarpos albus
Height up to 4ft.
Much-branched shrub. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, and opposite. Flowers 1/4in long, pale pink, and bell-shaped, the mouth 5-lobed. Fruits l/2in across, white, and berrylike. Scrub and roadsides. A garden escape, mostly in NE of North America.
SNOWY EGRET
Egretta thula
Total length 2ft.
A medium-sized heron, pure white with a thin black bill, black legs and bright yellow feet. During the breeding season it has plumes on the head, neck, and back, for which these birds were once hunted. The young can be confused with those of Little Blue Heron. Nests colonially in bushes and trees, and feeds on aquatic animals. Found widely over the US in the breeding season, and in winter in southern wetlands.
SNOWY OWL
Nyctea scandiaca
Total length 2ft.
North America's largest owl. Old males are often almost pure white; immatures and females have varying amounts of gray and black. Feeds on lemmings, hares and grouse. In winter found in open country, often at the coast. Breeds in high Arctic.
SNOWY TREE CRICKET
Oecanthus fultoni
Total length 3/4in.
A small, brown cricket with a strong characteristic song that reveals its presence even though it is somewhat reclusive and hides in bushes from its numerous predators. Usually dark brown with long antennae, longer than its body length, including the extended ovipositors. It is found in S Canada and throughout the US.
SOAPTREE YUCCA
Yucca elata
Height up to 15ft.
Evergreen shrub; usually unbranched. Leaves 1-2ft.long, narrow, and spine-tipped. Flowers 2in long, white, and bell-shaped; in clustered spikes. Fruits 2-3in long podlike capsule. Deserts and arid ground. W TX, NM, and AZ.
SOCKEYE SALMON
Oncorhynchus nerka
Total length 2ft.6in.
Also called Red Salmon, the male has a bright red body, green head and white lower jaw when the fish return to freshwater streams to breed. Formerly an abundant species, now much reduced in number. Breeds from AK to CA, but eliminated from many southern streams by dams and poor water quality. Some landlocked populations exist.
SOFT ARNICA
Arnica mollis
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive hairy plant. Leaves 2-5in long, lanceolate to narrow ovate, and unstalked. Flower heads 2in across with yellow ray and disc florets (Jun-Sep). Damp upland ground. Mountains of Pacific states and provinces; E across Canada.
SOFT RUSH
Juncus effusus
Height up to 4ft.
Tall perennial. Sterns green and smooth-looking. Pale brown flowers borne in a loose, rounded cluster topped by a narrow bract (May-Jul). Grassland, mostly on acid soils; often an indication of over-grazing. Widespread in North America.
SOFT-SHELL CLAM
Mya arenaria
Total length 3in.
Shell oval to slightly rectangular with dirty brown periostracum often peeling or eroded. Internal surfaces are white. Siphon on top and muscular foot below to dig into soft.mud and sand. Common on mud or sandy mud bottoms. A major commercial clam from Canada to Cape Hatteras. Widely introduced elsewhere.
SOLITARY SEA SQUIRT
Pyura haustor
Total length 2in.
Variable in color and globular; large in-current and ex-current siphon. A filter feeder, taking in water through red siphons and straining it for food. Often has internal commensals such as worms, crabs, or amphipods. Found attached to rocks and debris. Occurs from NK through NW.
SONG SPARROW
Melospiza melodia
Total length 6in.
Streaked above and below with white chin bordered by black throat stripes and large central breast spot. The loud song is a pleasant background sound in spring. Comes to feeders. Found in hedgerows, forest edges, brush piles, and marshes. The most common and widespread sparrow.
SOOTY SHEARWATER
Puffinus griseus
Total length 17in.
An abundant, large shearwater. Dark above and below; underside of wings pale. Feeds on crustaceans and fish at the surface of the sea. Can dive underwater and swim for food. Breeds south ofthe equator, spending the spring and summer in waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
SORA
Porzana carolina
Total length 8in.
Small, plump, gray and brown with a short, yellow bill. In breeding, black on the face, throat and breast. Difficult to see, hides in dense vegetation. Call a high-pitched, descending whinny and a sharp "kek." It is found in wetlands, brackish marshes, tidal creeks, rice and grain fields. Nests on the ground in marshes. Winters in Gulf states and CA.
SOUTHEASTERN FIVE-LINED SKINK
Eumeces inexpectatus
Total length 8in.
A dark skink with five pale stripes on the back, which gradually fade with age; older adult is a uniform brown, the male has an orange-brown head. Young are brightly marked, with a blue tail. Often burrows, but is also a good climber. The female lays a clutch of up to 11 eggs which she guards. This species is poisonous to domestic cats. Found in damp woods, meadows, and also drier habitats over E US from MD to FL and LA.
SOUTHERN BLUE FLAG
Iris virginica
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive perennial. Leaves up to 2-1/2ft.long, straplike and tapering. Flowers 3-4in across with bluish-purple sepals and petals, the sepals yellow and veined towards the base; borne in stalked clusters (May-Jul). Favors marshes and damp grassland. Widespread in temperate E of North America.
SOUTHERN BOG LEMMING
Synaptomys cooperi
Total length 6in; tail 3/4in.
Brown above, grayish below, with a tiny tail and inconspicuous eyes and ears. Lives mostly below ground, digging runs and also using the runs of other mammals. Feeds on grasses, clover, and roots. The name is misleading as it is found mostly in meadows and grassy areas in forests. Populations are highly cyclical. It is found in KS and MB, E to QC and NC.
SOUTHERN CATALPA
Catalpa bignoides
Height up to 50ft.
Deciduous tree. Leaves 6-10in long, heart-shaped, in 3s. Flowers 1-2in long, bell-shaped, 5 white lobes with orange and purple marks. Fruits 6-12in long, cylindrical, podlike. Damp ground. Native SE US; planted widely and cultivated.
SOUTHERN CRAB-APPLE
Malus angustifolia
Height up to 30ft.
Open-crowned deciduous tree. Leaves 1-3in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers 1-2in across with five pinkish white, rounded petals; stalked and in clusters. Fruits 1in across, yellow-green, stalked apples. SE states of US.
SOUTHERN FLYING SQUIRREL
Glaucomys volans
Total length 9in; tail 4in.
A very small nocturnal squirrel. Its fur is soft.and silky, grayish above, white below. A fold of skin between the fore limbs and the hind limbs is used to glide from tree to tree. It nests in old woodpecker holes, and also uses nest boxes, and attics. It hoards food for winter use, but also feeds extensively on insects and other small animals. Usually has 2 litters of up to 6 young. Found in woodland. Range extends over most of E North America, and also S into Central America.
SOUTHERN GREEN STINK BUG
Nazara viridula
Total length 1in.
Stink bugs are shield-shaped with the elytra only partially covering the underwings. A triangular, central piece of carapace, the scutellum, points backward. Usually uniformly colored green or brown, stink bugs also have bright colors. They produce a musky liquid when handled. Often seen sitting on leaves raised up on their front legs; wary and alert. Widely distributed throughout North America.
SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA
Magnolia grandiflora
Height up to 80ft.
Broadly conical evergreen. Leaves 6-8in long, narrow-ovate, shiny green above, downy rusty below. Flowers 6-8in across, bowl-shaped, fragrant; 3 white sepals and 6+ petals. Fruits 4in long, conelike. Native coastal SE states of US.
SOUTHERN MAIDENHAIR FERN
Adiantum capillus-veneris
Frond length up to 2ft.
Distinctive tufted fern. Spreading, hairlike sterns carry green leaflets that are broadly triangular and 2-3 lobed. Favors humid settings, often among limestone rocks dampened by seepage or splashed by water. S US, N to NC and CO.
SOUTHERN PINE SAWYER
Monochamus titillator
Total length 1in.
Gray in color with mottling; antennae longer than body length; spectacular looking and always a great find. However, the Southern Pine Sawyer is a major pest of coniferous pine plantations. Larvae bore into the bark and mine through heartwood, affecting the marketability and strength of the lumber. Pine sawyers can propagate with incredible speed to take advantage of natural disasters affecting forests. Adults feed on needles and other growing parts of the trees. It is found in SE US.
SOUTHERN PLAINS WOODRAT
Neotoma micropus
Total length 20in; tail 7in.
A widely distributed woodrat, also known as a pack rat. It is famous for its habit of building stick houses. These houses can be very large, and are usually placed by a cactus. Generally grayish or dark charcoal above, white below, with a hairy tail. Confined to the Mexican US border area, N to S Kansas and S Colorado.
SOUTHERN RED OAK
Quercus falcata
Height up to 80ft.
Domed, open-crowned deciduous tree. Leaves 4-Sin long, elliptical, and lobed; sbiny green above, downy below, brown in autumn. Acorns 1/2in long, rounded with a conical cup. Widespread in SE US, TX to NJ, W to MO
SOUTHERN TOAD
Bufo terrestris
Total length 3in.
A relatively large, plump toad, variable in color but usually brown, reddish, or dark brown, with dark spotting, and sometimes a pale stripe down the back. The breeding call of the male is a loud, high-pitched trill. Breeds throughout the warmer months, often in temporary pools of water after rains. It is found in sandy areas, often excavating burrows. It also comes to suburban gardens to feed on insects attracted by porch and garden lights. Found in coastal E US from VA to FL and LA.
SPANISH MOSS
Tillandsia usneoides
Epiphytic.
Forms dense mosslike masses of scaly stems attached to, and cascading from, tree branches. Flowers 1/2in long, yellow, and 3-petalled (Apr-Jun). Leaves 2in long and slender. Coastal woodland of SW US, from VA to TX.
SPECKLED ALDER
Alnus rugosa
Height up to 20ft.
Multi-stemmed deciduous shrub. Leaves 1-1 1/2in long, ovate, toothed. Male flowers pendant in catkins, females in reddish cones. Seed-bearing cones 1/2in long and dark. Widespread in sub-Arctic Canada; also locally NE border states of US.
SPERM WHALE
Physeter catodon
Total length up to 50ft.
A massive whale with a huge head. Male much larger than female. The jaw is long and narrow, the back lacks a dorsal fin, but has a series of bumps, and the blowhole points forwards. Before diving this whale may blow up to 20 times, and it can descend to depths of over 2" miles. It feeds almost entirely on squid, and lives in groups of 20-30. Where the whales are protected they can often be approached. It can be seen in almost all deep oceanic waters, moving to warmer tropical waters to breed.
SPHAGNUM MOSS (BOG MOSS)
Sphagnum sp.
Height up to 2in.
Widespread genus of mosses that favor boggy habitats or wet, peaty ground. Upright sterns, clusters of branches, and terminal head are all cloaked in leaves that are fresh green and often look inflated. Throughout North America in suitable habitats.
SPICEBUSH SWALLOWTAIL
Papilio trolius
Wingspan 4in.
A large, dark swallowtail. Like other swallowtails, the adults are fast-flying. The caterpillar is green with an enlarged front end, with two eye spots. It is nocturnal, feeding on sassafras and spice bushes. Found in E US.
SPINE LEAF MOSS
Atrichium undulatum
Height up to 2in.
Common and widespread moss of woodlands, found on most soil types except base-rich ones. Leaves long, narrow and dark green with wavy, toothed-edged margins. Curved brown spore capsules borne on long stalks and held at an angle. Widespread across N North America
SPINY LOBSTER
Panulirus argus
Total length 12in.
Bright red and white, spectacular looking. A familiar crustacean with long antennae and without large claws. Covered with sharp spines, it darts forward in defense, driving the spines at its attacker. Commercially important. Found from NC throughout the Caribbean. Related species in CA.
SPINY SOFTSHELL
Trionyx spiniferus
Total length 20in.
Large, pancakelike shell, soft.rather than horny. Muddy colored with black spots. Neck is long and flexible, snout elongated. Found in rivers and streams with sandy or muddy bottoms, also lakes and ponds. Range SE US, N to Great Lakes; introduced into several other areas, including CA, AZ, and NJ.
SPOTTED GROUND SQUIRREL
Spermophilus spilosoma
Total length 10in; tail 3in.
A small, gray-brown ground squirrel with indistinct spots and bold stripes-most ground squirrels are striped. Black tip to tail. Feeds mostly on seeds, vegetation, and insects. Lives in burrows under bushes or rocks in relatively arid habitats, often pine woods. Range extends from MI and SD to TX and NM.
SPOTTED JOE-PYE WEED
Eupatorium maculatum
Height up to 6ft.
Upright perennial. Sterns usually purple spotted. Leaves 3-7in long, lanceolate, toothed; in whorls of 4-5. Pinkish flowers in terminal heads 4-6in across (Jul-Sep). Damp grassland, lime-rich soils. S Canada, N US; further S in mountains.
SPOTTED MORAY
Gymnothorax moringa
Total length 3ft.6in.
This beautiful nocturnal eel is yellow or white in color with numerous black or brown spots. Morays have no pectoral or pelvic fins but the dorsal fin is continuous with the tail and anal fins to form one long fin. Teeth are long, sharp and cylindrical. Not aggressive unless provoked, but can give a painful bite which often becomes infected. Hides in coral and rock crevices during the day. Ranges from Carolinas through Caribbean.
SPOTTED SALAMANDER
Ambystoma maculatum
Total length up to 10in.
Similar to the Tiger Salamander, it is usually soft-skinned, blackish with yellow or orangeyellow spots. Breeds in winter in the S of its range and spring in the N, migrating to traditional breeding ponds that do not contain fish, which prey on salamanders. Found in deciduous forests and woodland. Distribution more north-easterly, found as far N as NS.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER
Actitis macularia
Total length 7in.
A common brown-backed shorebird seen singly along streams, rivers, and creeks, and edges of wetland pools, around ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. Numerous black spots on white chest and belly. Forages with constant, characteristic bobbing movement. Flies stiffwinged, uttering a shrill "tweet-tweet" call note. Breeds over most of N North America. Winters in CA E to FL and S.
SPOTTED SKUNK
Spilogale putorius
Total length 22in; tail 8in.
A small black skunk with rows of large spots that often form incomplete stripes. When cornered or attacked it stands on its forepaws and sprays a foul-smelling scent at the intruder-it can reach over 12ft.away. It is an omnivore, feeding on carrion, fruit, small mammals, lizards, and insects. A litter of 4-5 young is born in spring, usually in an underground den. It is found in a wide range of habitats including woodland and farmland, and often takes over disused woodchuck burrows. It is a frequent road kill. Found over much of E US, but absent from New England and the Atlantic coast.
SPOTTED TOUCH-ME-NOT (JEWELWEED)
Impatiens capensis
Height up to 5ft.
Bushy, branched plant. Leaves 2-3in long and ovate. Flowers 1in long, helmet-shaped with wide mouth; orange with dark red spots (Jul-Oct). Ripe fruits explode when touched. Damp ground. Widespread in N; S to OR and FL.
SPREADING DOGBANE
Apocynum androsaemifolium
Height up to 2ft.
Poisonous branched plant with milky sap. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate and opposite. Flowers 1/2in long, pink, trumpet-shaped with 5 spreading lobes at mouth; in clusters (Jun-Aug). Grassy places. Widespread across US and S Canada.
SPREADING PHLOX
Phlox diffusa
Height up to 1ft.
Low-growing, mat-forming plant. Leaves 1/2-1in long. needlelike, yellowish, and often pressed close to stern. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pale pink petal lobes; terminal on leafy sterns (May-Aug). Mountain slopes. Pacific states.
SPRING PEEPER
Hyla crucifer
Total length 11in.
Small, with characteristic large toe pads, and a distinctive "X" mark on its back. Its noisy chorus, which sounds like jingling bells, is one of the best known sounds of spring. The male usually calls from inside or close to the breeding ponds, and the individual call is a birdlike "peep-peep." Found in ponds and swamps, usually in well-wooded areas. Abundant, and found over most of E North America.
SPRING-CRESS
Cardamine bulbosa
Height up to 2ft.
Elegant upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long; basal ones oval and stalked, stem leaves narrow and unstalked. Flowers 1/2in across with 4 white petals; in terminal clusters (Mar-Jun). Marshes and margins of rivers. E half of North America.
STAG BEETLE
Lucanus elephus
Total length 2in.
A spectacular scarab beetle; black with enormous jaws. Adult male is over 2in long; female is smaller and without the characteristic large jaws. The head shape is distinct, with the neck and prothorax forming a hood over the head. Found in SE of US, this remarkable animal is always a great find.
STAGHORN CHOLLA
Opuntia versicolor
Height up to 15ft.
Impressive and much-branched treelike cactus with short spines; branches are long and slender. Flowers 1in across; color variable but often reddish or yellow (Mar-Jun). Fruits 1in long, greenish, and spineless. Deserts around Tucson, AZ.
STAGSHORN SUMAC
Rhus typhina
Height up to 30ft.
Deciduous shrub or small tree with open crown and bare lower trunk. Leaves 1-2ft.long, compound with 11-31 lanceolate leaflets. Flowers small; in 8in long reddish clusters. Fruits red and beadlike; in clusters. NE US and SE Canada.
STARFLOWER
Trientalis arctica
Height up to 6in.
Low-growing perennial. Leaves 2-3in long, lanceolate; in whorls of 5-9 around the stern. Flowers liin across with (usually) 7 white petals and yellow anthers; solitary atop upright stern (Jun-Jul). Woods and upland slopes. AK and N Canada.
STAR-FLOWERED SOLOMON'S-SEAL
Smilacina stellata
Height up to 2ft.
Perennial with arching sterns. Leaves 3-6in long, ovate, parallel-veined, and clasping. Flowers 1/4in across with 6 petal-like white segments; in terminal unbranched spikes (May-Jun). Shady woods. Pacific Coast, from AK to CA.
STAR-NOSED MOLE
Condylura cristata
Total length 9in; tail 3in.
Easily distinguished from other moles by the bizarre cluster of 22 pink tentaclelike projections on the tip of its nose. Like other moles, with short velvety black fur, vestigial eyes, and massive forepaws. It has a relatively long tail, which increases in size, probably to provide a food reserve when it is breeding. It is found close to water in wet meadows, and swims well, often hunting fish when the ground is frozen. Its distribution covers NE US and SE Canada, with isolated populations S to GA.
STARRY CAMPION
Silene stellata
Height up to 3ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, narrow, and hairless; usually in whorls of 4. Flowers 3/4in across with 5 deeply divided white petals; in clusters (Jun-Sep). Favours open woodland. Widespread in E half of US.
STEELHEAD
Salmo gairdneri
Total length 3ft.
Sea-going Rainbow, called Steelhead, is silvery with black spots. Freshwater populations variable in color, but usually with broad, red or pink band on side and black spots. Seagoing adult usually survives after spawning in coastal streams. Important, common game fish of the NW, widely introduced throughout North America and elsewhere.
STELLER'S JAY
Cyanocitta stelleri
Total length 11in.
Named after the Russian naturalist who identified the jay on the Bering Sea Expedition. Sooty black head and large crest. Darker but similar in shape to the Blue Jay, which it replaces in the far W from S AK to CA. A coniferous forest species.
STICKLEBACK, THREE-SPINE
Gasterostells aculeatus
Total length 4in.
Has three dorsal spines (two long, one short), numerous bony plates on sides, big eye. Brown or green above, lighter below; fins red or pink in breeding. Nest of cemented small twigs and debris, built on or near bottom. Found in ponds, small streams, and tidemarsh pools. A common native of Wand E coasts from Hudson Bay to Chesapeake Bay and inland to Lake Ontario.
STIFF CLUBMOSS
Lycopodium annotinum
Height up to 1ft.
Low-growing clubmoss with creeping sterns and upright branches, these cloaked in spreading leaves and constricted at points along their length. Cones solitary and terminal, ripe Aug-Sep. Margins of drier swamps on acid soils. AK, Canada, and N US.
STILT SANDPIPER
Calidris haemantopus
Total length 8in.
Slender, long-legged, with slender bill, slightly down-curved at the tip. Generally grayer in fall. In breeding, dark bars on the belly, white eyebrow, and reddish brown cheek patches. Rare on migration in W; most often seen on E coast in fall. Breeds in the Arctic tundra; winters in marshes, mudflats, and ponds of S FL, TX and Central and South America.
STINGING NETTLE
Urtica dioica
Height up to 3ft.
Stinging herbaceous plant. Leaves 2-4in long, oval, toothed, and pointed-tipped; borne in opposite pairs and covered with sharp hairs. Flowers in pendulous catkins (Jun-Oct); separate sex plants. Disturbed areas throughout North America.
STINKHORN
Phallus impudicus
Height up to 6in.
Striking fungus. Seen initially as a soft, white ball, 3/4-3in across, from which phallus like fruit body emerges. Stalk's oval tip is coated with spore-laden, stinking mucus on which flies feed. Rotten tree stumps (Jul-Oct). Widespread in North America.
STINKPOT
Stenotherus odoratas
Total length 5in.
Small, with a large head, pointed snout, and two pairs of barbels under the chin, Found in slow-moving rivers, ponds, and swamps with muddy bottoms. Feeds on the bottom on crustaceans and mollusks. Widespread over much of E North America from S Canada to TX.
STONE SHEEP
Ovis dalli
Total length 5ft; tail 4in.
A very gray, sometimes almost black sheep, even though it is closely related to the all white Dall Sheep. In the S of the Dall's range it is darker (often nearly black), and known as the Stone Sheep. The male has massive curled horns, the female only small spikes. Very similar to the Bighorn, which is found further to the S. In winter the sheep gather into large herds, and during the rut the rams charge head on and clash horns, the sound of which can be heard from more than a mile away. Found in AK and W Canada.
STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH
Sparisoffia viride
Total length 2ft.
A common, deep green reef species. Adult male has a bright yellow spot above the pectoral fin and two bands of yellow on the tail. Young males and females are mottled white on reddish brown with red on fins and tail. One of a spectacular group which have strong teeth for eating coral or algae on coral. Spits unwanted debris in a cloud. Found in S FL and Gulf of Mexico.
STORKSBILL
Erodium cicutarium
Height up to 1ft.
Tufted, low-growing perennial. Leaves deeply divided and fernlike; form a basal rosette. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 pink petals; in open clusters (Apr-Sep). Fruit resembles a bird's beak. Disturbed areas. Widespread non-native.
STRAIGHT-BRANCHED CORAL
Ramaria stricta
Height up to 3in.
Stiffly upright, highly branched fungus. Warm buff color but often paler at tips of branches. Grows on rotting stumps and part-buried, decaying timber (Aug-Oct). Found in both coniferous and deciduous woodland. Widespread throughout North America.
STRAWBERRY CACTUS
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
Height up to 10ft.
Large cylindrical cactus. Spines arranged in clusters on ribs. Flowers 2in across and bright red (Apr-May). Fruits 2in long, rounded, and red. Deserts and dry slopes. S CA to TX, N to CO and S UT.
STRIPED CORALROOT
Corallorhiza striata
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Saprophytic pinkish orchid that lacks chlorophyll. Leaves reduced to tiny basal scales. Flowers 1in long and reddish pink; in open spikes on naked stern (May-Aug). Shady woodlands. S Canada and N US; further S in mountains to CA and TX.
STRIPED MAPLE
Acer pensylvanicum
Height up to 30ft.
Deciduous tree, much-branched from near base. Leaves 5-7in long with 3-pointed and toothed lobes. Flowers small, yellow, and in clusters. Fruits 1in long, paired, winged, and forked keys. Damp ground. Uplands of NE US and SE Canada.
STRIPED SKUNK
Mephitis mephitis
Total length 2ft.6in; tail 15in.
A very familiar mammal, but usually seen (and smelled) dead by the roadside. It is black with white stripes extending from the head to the rump. Feeds on almost any small animal, as well as fruit and other plant matter. It carries rabies in many areas, but the risk to humans is generally much lower than that posed by domestic dogs. Found in a wide range of habitats, including farmland, desert, suburban gardens, and woodlands. It is very widespread and is found throughout most of the US, and much of Canada.
SUGAR MAPLE
Acer saccharum
Height up to 100ft.
Domed, much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 4-5in long with 5 pointed and toothed lobes; green, turning red and golden in fall. Flowers small, yellowish, and in clusters. Fruits 1in long, paired, winged, and shallow-forked. NE US and SE Canada.
SUGAR PINE
Pinus lambertiana
Height up to 160ft.
Immense evergreen conifer; in maturity lower trunk bare and foliage forms irregularly conical outline. Needles 3-4in long, twisted, blue-green with pale lines; in 5s. Cones l-2ft.long, cylindrical, pendant. Mountains of OR and CA.
SUGAR SUMAC
Rhus ovata
Height up to 15ft.
Compact evergreen shrub or small tree. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, and leathery. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; in clusters. Fruits 1/4in across and red; in clusters. Free draining soils of valley slopes. S CA and AZ.
SUGAR WRACK
Laminaria saccharina
Length up to 5ft.
A robust stalk up to 3ft.long, attached to rocks by holdfast, gives rise to a broad blade with a ruffled margin. Sometimes forms dense stands in suitable locations. Lower shore and sub-tidal zone. N Pacific and N Atlantic coasts.
SUMMER TANAGER
Piranga rubra
Total length 8in.
Male red, bill yellow, darker wings and tail. Forages in canopy of deciduous woods. Feeds on insects. Winters in South and Central America. Breeds from CA, E to NJ.
SUNDEW
Drosera anglica
Height up to 10in.
Insectivorous plant with rosette of 1 -1/2in long, reddish, narrow leaves borne upright on long stalks and covered in sticky, insect-trapping hairs. Flowers 1/4in across with 5 white petals; on tall stalks (Jun-Aug). Wet bogs. Canada and N US.
SUNFLOWER
Helianthus annuus
Height up to 12ft.
Familiar upright annual. Leaves up to 1ft.long, ovate to heart-shaped, stalked, and alternate. Flower heads up to 6in across with bright yellow ray florets and darker disc florets (Jul-Nov). Open, grassy places. Widespread except in far N.
SUNFLOWER STAR
Pycnopodia helianthoides
Diameter 3ft.or more.
Red, orange, or purple in color; color changes with food availability. The most spectacular of the W coast sea stars, also the largest sea star in the world and a major predator of sea urchins. As it grows, new legs are added so a large adult can have over 20 legs. Found from AK to S CA.
SWALLOW-TAILED KITE
Elanoides forficatus
Total length 2ft.
A beautiful bird of prey with a long, deeply forked tail. Blackish above, white below with white head. Very agile, swooping on insects, lizards, birds, and other small animals. Gregarious, often seen in groups. Breeding in the deep south, it migrates to S America in winter.
SWAMP BEACON
Mitrula paludosa
Height up to 1-1/2in.
Intriguing little fungus. Spore-producing head is rounded or club-shaped and bright yellow or yellow-orange. Borne on long, slender white stern. Wet habitats including among sphagnum moss and woodland puddles (Apr-Jul). Throughout North America.
SWAMP CURRANT
Ribes lacustre
Height up to 3ft.
Much-branched woody shrub with prickly sterns. Leaves 1-2in long, palmate with 3-5 toothed lobes. Flowers small, red, and pendant. Fruits are black, hairy berries. Damp margins of woodland, and meadows. Widespread in N of North America.
SWAMP HORSETAIL
Equisetum fluviatile
Height up to 3ft.
Horsetail of marshes and margins of ponds and lakes. Tall, unbranched sterns are jointed and thin with whorls of narrow, jointed branches. Spores in conelike structures at ends of fertile sterns. AK, Canada, and N US.
SWAMP MILKWEED
Asclepias incarnata
Height up to 4ft.
Branched leafy plant with milky sap. Leaves 2-4in long, narrow ovate, and opposite. Flowers 1/4in across, flesh pink with 5 petals with reflexed lobes; in clustered heads (Jun-Aug). Wetlands. E of North America, N to MB and NS.
SWAMP SMARTWEED
Polygonum coccineum
Height up to 3ft.
Variable herbaceous plant. Leaves 8in long and lanceolate when growing on land; shorter, narrower with heart-shaped base, and floating when aquatic. Flowers small and pink; in 2-6in long spikelike clusters (Jul-Sep). Wetlands, E of North America.
SWAMP WHITE OAK
Quercus bicolor
Height up to 70ft.
Upright, irregular, and open deciduous tree. Leaves ovate and lobed: shiny green above, downy white below, reddish in autumn. Acorns 1in long, ovoid with a scaly cup. Damp lowlands. E of North America, mainly MO and lA, E to ME and Ne.
SWEET VERNAL GRASS
Anthoxanthum odoratum
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Tufted perennial that smells of new-mown hay when dry. Leaves 1-3in long. Inflorescence a spikelike array of spikelets, fresh green at first then reddish brown (Apr-Jun). Meadows and roadsides. Widespread except in hot, dry areas.
SWEETFLAG
Acarus calamus
Height up to 4ft.
Emergent aquatic perennial. Leaves up to 3ft.long, narrow and stiff. Flowers small greenish; crowded into a dense club like spadix 2-4in long (May-Aug). Wetlands. Widespread in E of North America; more local in central and W.
SWEETGUM
Liquidambar styraciflua
Height up to 100ft.
Open, rather conical deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, divided into 5 pointed lobes; green, reddish in autumn. Flowers small and greenish. Fruiting heads 1in across, stalked, prickly balls of numerous fruits. SE ofline from TX to VI.
SWIFT FOX
Vulpes velox
Total length 2ft.3in; tai1 13in.
Small, sandy-gray with very large ears and a black-tipped tail. Emerges at dusk to feed mostly on rodents and rabbits. A single litter of up to 6 cubs is born in spring. Confined to short-grass prairies and similar open habitats, in S Canada to N TX and W NM.
SWOLLEN-STINGER SCORPION
Anuroctorus phaeodactylus
Total length to 2 1/2in.
Scorpions are among the most easily recognized of arthropods. Characterized by large pinchers for the front legs, and an abdomen that bends to the side or up and over the back, ending with a terminal stinger. Body color is sandy to black. Scorpion bites are painful but seldom life-threatening. Nocturnal, hiding by day in crevices, under rocks, or in litter. Widely distributed in the American SW.
SWORDFISH
Xiphias gladius
Total length 15ft.
Few have seen this gigantic oceanic fish. It has a large, flattened bill, with no scales or pectoral fins, and is brown to gray-black, dirty-wbite on belly. A deep water species, rising at night to feed on fish and squid. Found worldwide in temperate and tropical seas. Threatened by over-fishing by long-liners in some areas.
SYCAMORE
Platanus occidentalis
Height up to 100ft.
Elegant deciduous tree with a domed, open crown. Leaves 4-5 in long, with 3 or 5 toothed and pointed lobes. Flowers small and greenish. Fruiting heads 1in across, stalked, brown; comprise many seeds. Widespread across E half of US.
TALL MEADOWRUE
Thalictrum polygamum
Height up to 8ft.
Impressive waterside plant. Leaves bluish green and pinnately divided into 3-lobed leaflets, each 1in long. Flowers 1/4in across with whitish sepals that fall and no petals (Jun-Aug). Marshes, margins of rivers. E of North America, W to ON, S to GA.
TAMARACK (EASTERN LARCH)
Larix lllricinll
Height up to 80ft.
Deciduous conifer with spreading horizontal branches. Needles narrow, 3-angled and in clusters; blue-green, yellow in autumn. Cones ovoid with rounded scales. Damp, peaty soils. Widespread northern North America.
TAMARIND
Tamarindus indica
Height up to 80ft.
Domed and dense-crowned evergreen tree. Leaves 5-8in long, pinnate with 10-15 pairs of elliptical leaflets. Flowers small with 5 yellow petals; in spikelike clusters. Fruits 5-8in long brownish edible pods. S US; planted widely.
TAWNY GRISETTE
Amanita fulva
Height up to 5in.
Distinctive fungus. Tawny brown cap is sometimes marked with radial streaks around the margin. Gills and flesh are white. Stern white, lacking a ring; grows from a saclike volva at base. Woodland (mainly Aug-Nov). Throughout North America.
TEASEL
Dipsacus fullonum
Height up to 6ft.
Biennial. Leaves 5-15in long and spiny; as basal rosette in 1st year, paired and fused around stern in 2nd year. Flowers tiny, numerous, and purple; in ovoid spiny clusters 1-3in long, on tall sterns (Jul-Oct). Disturbed areas. NE US.
TEDDY BEAR CHOLLA
Opuntia bigelovii
Height up to 10ft.
Densely divided and extremely spiny cactus. Stems are blackish and branches are relatively short with golden-sheathed spines. Flowers 1in across and greenish (Mar-Apr). Fruits 3/4in long and yellowish. Rocky slopes, S CA to S AZ.
TENLINED JUNE BEETLE
Polyphylla decemlineata
Total length 1in.
There are more than 1500 species of scarab beetle in North America, of which around 500 are in the June beetle group. They are identified by their large, clubbed antennae, large size (up to 1 1/2in), and stripes on the elytra. Larvae live in the ground and feed on roots and tubers. Commonly seen at night on screen doors and around lights. Formerly more abundant; adversely affected by pesticides. It is now found in central and SW US.
TENNESSEE CAVE SALAMANDER
Gyrinophilus palleucus
Total length up to 8in.
A neotenous species that retains its bright pink feathery gills as an adult. It is found in underground rivers and lakes in south TN and adjacent states. The limits of its range are poorly known and it is possible more than one species is involved.
TESOTA (DESERT IRONWOOD)
Olneya tesota
Height up to 30ft.
Broad-crowned, spiny evergreen. Leaves 1-2in long, compound with 2-10 pairs of oblong leaflets. Flowers 1/2in across, purple, and pealike. Fruits 2in long pods, cylindrical, constricted between seeds. Deserts. S AR and S CA.
TEXAS BANDED GECKO
Coleonyx brevis
Total length 5in.
This lizard is pinkish, banded with brown. Pattern very distinct when young, gradually becoming less distinct with time. The scales are very fine, and the toes slender (no pads, unlike some geckos). When alarmed, it squeaks. The female lays a clutch of 2 eggs. Nocturnal, and often seen on highways, feeding on insects. Spends the day hiding in rock crevices, under logs. Confined to S TX, NM, and adjacent Mexico.
TEXAS BLIND SNAKE
Leptotyphlops dulcis
Total length up to 8in.
Small, shiny, slender and wormlike, with no obvious neck, and only vestigial eyes. Brownish or tinged purple, or silvery pink, blunt tail. Feeds almost exclusively on termites, ants, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates. Has teeth only in the lower jaw. Lives almost entirely underground in desert and semi-arid habitats with sandy soils, emerging after dusk to feed. Confined from SW Kansas to SE Arizona and Mexico.
THICK-BILLED MURRE
Uria lomvia
Total length 18in.
One of the largest of the murres, it is similar to both Razorbill and Common Murre, but with a bill intermediate between the two. Nests on cliffs where the single, conical egg spins in a circle in the wind. Found in northern waters of both Atlantic and Pacific oceans, breeding in Canada and AK and wintering offshore further S.
THIN-MAZE FLAT POLYPORE
Daedaleopsis confragosa
Up to 6in across.
Tough bracket fungus. Upper surface is concentrically zoned with brown and buff. Underside has white pores which bruise reddish and darken with age. Found on dead branches of deciduous trees. Widespread but absent from hot, dry parts of SW.
THREE-SPINE STICKLEBACK
Gasterostells aculeatus
Total length 4in.
Has three dorsal spines (two long, one short), numerous bony plates on sides, big eye. Brown or green above, lighter below; fins red or pink in breeding. Nest of cemented small twigs and debris, built on or near bottom. Found in ponds, small streams, and tidemarsh pools. A common native of Wand E coasts from Hudson Bay to Chesapeake Bay and inland to Lake Ontario.
THRIFT
Armeria maritima
Height up to 10in.
Cushion-forming perennial. Leaves 2-4in long, dark green, and grasslike. Flowers 5-lobed and pink; in globular heads up to 1in across and on stalks 6-8in long (Apr-Aug). Coastal cliffs and Arctic. Pacific coast, NE Atlantic coast, and Arctic NA.
TICKSEED
Coreopsis tinctoria
Height up to 4ft.
Branched upright plant. Leaves 2-4in long, highly divided into narrow segments. Flower heads 1-2in across with yellow ray florets and reddish purple disc florets (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. Central plains and W of North America; garden escape in E.
TIGER BEETLE
Megacephala carolina
Total length 3/4in.
Tiger beetles are solitary, fast-moving, aggressive, and aware beetles that hunt other insects. Many species are spectacularly iridescent blue or green, with or without spots. They pounce on prey, can move rapidly, and are very difficult to catch. They are found in open, sandy areas on the ground where they run and hunt by day. They have a characteristic habit of facing danger, in particular, beetle collectors. They are found throughout North America.
TIGER SALAMANDER
Ambystoma tigrinum
Total length 13in.
The world's largest land-dwelling salamander. Heavily built, with a smooth damp skin, blackish with pale spots, blotches, or bars. It is found close to ponds in woodlands, but also in pine savanna and sagebrush. Widespread from S Canada to Mexico, but absent from the W, and the NE, where it is replaced by related species.
TIGER SHARK
Galeocerdo cuvieri
Total length 20ft.
One ofthe largest sharks. Young sharks have bars on the sides which fade with age. Adults grayish brown, broad snout. Will eat anything that gets its attention, including debris. Dangerous, often in shallow waters, bays and river mouths. Found worldwide in warm to temperate water. Seems to be migrating in the Pacific, with set routes coinciding with food availability.
TILAPIA
Tilapia mossambica
Total length 15in.
Black to olive above, blue upper lip, white chin, single dorsal fin elongated toward the tail. Feeds on aquatic vegetation and invertebrates. Common in warm, shallow waters, ditches, canals, ponds, and in the Salton Sea of CA. A valued food fish, widely introduced to North America from Africa.
TIMOTHY
Phleum pratense
Height up to 4ft.
Tufted perennial of meadows, agricultural land and waysides. Often cultivated for hay. Leaves gray-green and flat. Inflorescence up to lOin long, dense, and cylindrical; on tall, slender stern (Jun-Aug). Widespread and common.
TINDER POLYPORE
Fames fomentarius
Up to 1ft.across.
Tough and rigid fungus that looks surprisingly like a hoof. Gray surface bears darker, horizontal ridges. In the past, used for tinder. Grows on birches and other deciduous trees. Widespread in N half of North America; absent from hot, dry S.
TOAD
Bufo americanus
Total length 4in.
Warty skin with large paratoid glands behind the eye and over the eardrum. Nocturnal, emerging in the twilight, and often found in suburban gardens and parks as well as marshes and forests. The breeding call of the male is a long trill lasting up to Ii minute. One of the commonest toads of E North America.
TOAD RUSH
Juncus bufonius
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Tufted and branching annual. Narrow, grooved leaves arise at base of plant and on sterns. Inflorescence comprises short, spreading clusters along branches and in branch forks (May-Jul). Damp, bare ground including wheel ruts. Widespread in North America.
TOAD, SOUTHERN
Bufo terrestris
Total length 3in.
A relatively large, plump toad, variable in color but usually brown, reddish, or dark brown, with dark spotting, and sometimes a pale stripe down the back. The breeding call of the male is a loud, high-pitched trill. Breeds throughout the warmer months, often in temporary pools of water after rains. It is found in sandy areas, often excavating burrows. It also comes to suburban gardens to feed on insects attracted by porch and garden lights. Found in coastal E US from VA to FL and LA.
TOWNSEND'S BIG-EARED BAT
Plecotus townsendii pallescens
Total length 4in; wing span 11in.
Easily distinguished by its huge ears-up to1 ½ in long-half of its body length. Ears are curled up when roosting, but extended when active. Emerges after dusk, feeding on moths and spiders which it picks off leaves while hovering. The females gather in nursery colonies of up to 1,000; males are usually solitary. Widely distributed in W of US, with scattered populations in WV and VA.
TREE SPARROW
Spizella arborea
Total length 6in.
Male has rufous crown, gray head and neck, and a black spot on the breast. Female also has a black spot, but is streaked. Comes to feeders. Nests in shrubs and on the ground, on the edge of the tundra in N of Canada and AK. Winters S of Canada in small flocks.
TREE SWALLOW
Tachycineta bicolor
Total length 6in.
A small swallow, glossy blue-green (appearing black) above, and pure white below, with a short, slightly forked tail. Has characteristic, graceful flight, usually in wide circles, consisting of short wing flaps followed by a glide. Nests in tree holes or nest boxes. Widespread summer breeder over most of North America, below the treeline of the Arctic; winters in Mexico and Central America.
TREE-EAR
Auricularia auricula
Up to 4in across.
Unusual gelatinous fungus. Partly translucent when seen against the light and often distinctly ear-shaped. Hollow of 'ear' faces down and back often has vein like wrinkles. Mainly on deciduous branches (Oct-Jun). Throughout North America.
TREMBLING MERULIUS
Merulius tremullosus
Up to 2in across.
Fruiting body forms soft, gelatinous brackets that are usually roughly semicircular. Upper surface cloaked in woolly, whitish hairs; underside has pinkish orange pores. On decaying deciduous wood. Widespread throughout North America.
TROUT LILY
Erythronium americanum
Height up to 10in.
Attractive spring flower. Leaves 2-6in long, elliptical, and mottled brown; 2 only. Flowers 1in across, orange-yellow with 6 petal-like segments, recurved towards tips; nodding, on bare stalks (Mar-Jun). Woods. E of North America, S to GA.
TRUE FORGET-ME-NOT
Myosotis scorpioides
Height up to 1ft.
Creeping perennial with upright flowering shoots. Leaves 1-2in long, narrow, and oblong. Flowers 1/4in across, sky-blue, and 5-lobed; in clusters (May-Sep). Watery habitats. Nonnative but now widespread in E of North America.
TRUMPET CREEPER
Campsis radicans
Climbing.
Vinelike plant. Leaves 3-5in long, pinnate with 7-11 ovate and toothed leaflets. Flowers 2-3in long, orange, and trumpetlike; in clusters (Jul-Sep). Margins of woods, and scrub. E US; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.
TRUMPET HONEYSUCKLE
Lonicera sempervirens
Climbing.
Vigorous but slender vine. Leaves 1-3in long and opposite; mainly fused and perfoliate, pierced by stern. Flowers 1-2in long, tubular, and red on outside, yellow inside; in terminal whorls (Apr-Aug). Red berries. Woods. E of North America.
TRUMPETER SWAN
Cygnus buccinator
Total length 5ft.
One of the heaviest flying birds. Similar to the Whistling Swan, but larger, and with a more restricted range. Loud, musical honking call. Once on the verge of extinction. Now widespread in W North America from AK to CA and throughout much of the Rockies.
TRUMPETS
Sarracenia flava
Height up to 3ft.
Carnivorous plant with 1-3ft.tall, hooded, and hollow leaves that collect water and trap insects. Flowers 3-5in across with 5 sepals and 5 petals; on long stalks (Apr-May). Bogs and saturated pine forest. SE US.
TUFTED HAIRGRASS
Deschampsia cespitosa
Height up to 3ft.
Tufted, clump-forming perennial. Leaves dark green, wiry and narrow with rough edges. Spreading clusters of 2-flowered, silvery purple spikelets are borne in open inflorescences on tall sterns (Jun-Aug). Damp grassy places. Widespread in North America.
TUFTED LOOSESTRIFE
Lysimachia thyrsiflora
Height up to 3ft.
Upright wetland plant. Leaves 2-6in long, lanceolate, and in opposite pairs. Flowers comprise 5 narrow yellow lobes; in dense, stalked clusters arising from leaf axils (May-Jul). Wetlands. Widespread throughout much of North America.
TUFTED PUFFIN
Lunda cirrhata
Total length 15in.
A thickset bird with spectacular, massive orange bill and long, pale orange plumes on either side of the head. The rest of the plumage is black, with a white face. In winter it loses its plumes and is a uniform dark gray with a pale cheek. Breeds along the Pacific coast from CA to AK, nesting colonially in burrows on offshore islands.
TUFTED SAXIFRAGE
Saxifraga cespitosa
Height up to 10in.
Perennial with 3- or 5-lobed leaves arranged as tufted basal rosette. Flowers 1in across, cup-shaped with 5 white petals; borne in clusters on erect stalks (May-Sep). Rocky ground. Arctic and sub-Arctic areas; also mountains in W US.
TUFTED TITMOUSE
Baeolophus bicolor
Total length 6in.
Uniform gray with orange-buff on flanks and a noticeable crest. Dark forehead in most of US; Mexican ssp. is found in S TX. Common in suburban gardens, city parks and feeders. In W more uniformly gray. Widespread over E North America in a wide range of habitats. Juniper and Oak Titmouses also may be found.
TUMBLEWEED (PRICKLY SALTWORT)
Salsola kali
Height up to 4ft.
Much-branched, forming dense rounded clumps; when detached from ground these are blown by wind. Leaves short, narrow, bractlike, and spine-tipped. Flowers insignificant; seeds resemble pinkish flowers. Arid open ground, W US.
TUNDRA SWAN
Cygnus columbiana
Total length 4ft.4in.
A smaller version of the Trumpeter Swan, having a black bill often with a yellow spot. Swims with a straight neck. Call is a loud yodel, often uttered in flight. Feeds on aquatic vegetation. Breeds in the high Arctic of Canada and AK, migrating S to winter in the W Rockies and on the E coast.
TURKEY OAK
Quercus laevis
Height up to 40ft.
Elongate, open deciduous tree. Leaves 4-sin long with 3-5 narrow lobes; shaped like a bird's foot. Acorns up to 1in long, ovoid with hairy and scaly cup. Free-draining soils. SE coastal states of US, from NC to MS.
TURKEY VULTURE
Cathartes aura
Total length 2ft.
Large (wingspan nearly 7ft), black bird, with pale gray on underwings and tail. Head has bare, red skin in adult but is gray in young birds. In flight, wings held in a shallow "V". Wonderful flier, often seen soaring. Feeds by scavenging on rubbish dumps, roadkills, and carrion. Widespread over most of North America and expanding N into Canada.
TURKEY-TAIL
Trametes versicolor
Up to 3in across.
Brackets are broadly semicircular in outline, often with lobed margins. Upper surface zoned with many colors, ranging from buffish pink to black. Underside pale buff with fine pores. On decaying wood (all year). Throughout North America.
TURK'S-CAP LILY
Lilium superbum
Height up to 7ft.
Elegant bulbous perennial. Leaves 3-6in long, narrow, upper ones in whorls. Flowers 2-3in across with 6 orange, dark-spotted petal-like segments recurved so that flower can appear almost spherical (Jul-Sep). Damp ground. E US.
TURTLEHEAD
Chelone glabra
Height up to 4ft.
Upright, branched plant. Leaves 3-5in long, lanceolate, toothed, and opposite. Flowers 1in long, tubular, white and pink with fanciful resemblance to a turtle's head; in terminal clusters (Jul-Sep). Damp ground. AK and S Canada; also NE US.
TUSSOCK MOTH
Hemerocampa plagiata
Wingspan 1in.
Like gypsy moths, these moths can do serious damage to commercial forests and ornamental trees. Tussock moths are named because of hairlike protrusions on the back ofthe caterpillar that can be irritating to the skin when handled. The moths are generally medium-sized to small with mottled gray, brown and black coloration. Widely distributed in S Canada and the US.
TWINFLOWER
linnaea borealis
Creeping.
Delicate mat-forming perennial. Leaves 1/2-1in long, ovate or rounded, and on long, wiry sterns. Flowers 1-1/2in long and bell-shaped; in nodding pairs on slender stalks (Jun-Aug). Conifer woods. Widespread AK and Canada; further S in US mountains.
TWO-LINED SALAMANDER
Eurycea bislineata
Total length 4in.
Slender, buff-brown with a broad yellowish stripe down the back bordered by a dark line from the eye to the tail. The female guards the cluster of eggs, which are laid under a stone in running water. Found alongside streams and swamps. It spends the day hiding under stones, bark, and logs, in or close to the water's edge. Common in E.
TWO-SPOTTED LADY BEETLE
Adalia bipunctata
Total length 1/4in.
Like the California Lady Beetle but slightly smaller and with one large black spot on each elytra. Some species in this group are black with red spots, reversing the common pattern. Feeds on aphids and scale insects; beneficial and welcomed in gardens. Can be abundant, and is found throughout North America.
up to 20ft. Branching, often multi-trunked shrub or small tree. Leaves 2-3in long, elliptical, and toothed. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 white petals; in spikelike clusters. Fruits 1/2in across blackish chokecherries. Across N US and S Canada.
VEERY
Catharus fuscescens
Total length 7in.
Warm brown above, pale below, with indistinct spotting on the throat and breast. Song is a series of descending "veer-veer-veer-veer" notes. Builds nest on or close to the ground. Widespread breeder in damp, deciduous woodlands in S Canada, N US, and further S in the Appalachians and Rockies.
VELVET FOOT
Flammulina velutipes
Height up to 5in.
Cap is up to 2in across, orange or yellow-buff, darker around margins. Gills yellowish. Stern tough and orange with velvet texture towards base. Deciduous woodland, on tree stumps (mainly late winter and early spring). Widespread in North America.
VELVET GRASS
Holcus lanatus
Height up to 3ft.
Tufted perennial that is gray-green with downy leaves and sterns. Flower head up to 5in long, tightly packed at first, then spreading; comprises reddish-tipped, gray-green, 2-flowered spikelets (May-Aug). Meadows and disturbed areas. Widespread in North America.
VENUS FLYTRAP
Dionaea muscipula
Height up to 1ft.
Bizarre insectivorous plant with rosette of 2-5in-long, folding, bristle-fringed, leaves that snap shut in response to insects landing on them. Flowers 1in across, pale yellow with 5 petals (May-Jun). Sandy ground. Local, NC.
VETCH
Vicia americana
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive perennial. Leaves pinnate with 8-12 leaflets, each lin long. Leaves end in coiling tendrils that aid plant's climbing progress. Flowers up to 1in long and bluish purple; in open clusters (May-Jul). Grassy places. Throughout North America.
VICEROY
Limenitis archippus
Wingspan 3in.
A large butterfly which mimics the Monarch, but has thicker black veins. The caterpillar mimics a bird-dropping on a leaf, and feeds on willows and their relatives. The male's flight is slow, with gliding interspersed with wing flaps. Widespread over most of North America from NT to Mexico.
VIOLET GREEN SWALLOW
Tachycineta thalassina
Total length 5in.
Glossy black, with violet and green sheen on the upper parts in certain lights. Underparts pure white with white on the cheeks and white patches on the sides of the rump. A hole nester, with up to six white eggs. A summer visitor to the W of North America as far north asAK.
VIPER'S-BUGLOSS
Echium vulgare
Height up to 2ft.
Upright biennial covered with stiff hairs. Leaves 2-5in long, narrow, and pointed; basal leaves stalked. Flowers 3/4in long, blue, and funnel-shaped with protruding red stamens; in clusters (Jun-Oct). Dry, sandy, or calcareous soil. E US.
VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS
Mertensia virginica
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 2-7 in long, ovate, fleshy, and grayish green. Flowers 1in long, trumpet-shaped, and blue (pink in bud); in clusters (Mar-Jun). Damp woodlands. SE Canada and NE US, S to VA and AR.
VIRGINIA CREEPER
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Climbing.
Familiar twining perennial. Leaves 2-5in long and vine- or maplelike; fresh green in spring, turning red in autumn. Flowers tiny, greenish and clustered (May-Jun). Fruits are small bluish berries. Woods. E of North America. Also planted.
VIRGINIA OYSTER
Crassostrea virginica
Total length 3in.
Chalky brown with rough, layered shell and irregular margin. Individuals modify calcium shells to fit tightly packed oyster bed. Tolerates low salinity; oyster bars often upriver. Innumerable predators. A valuable shellfish. Abundant from Cape Cod to Gulf of Mexico; widely transplanted elsewhere.
VIRGIN'S BOWER
Clematis virginiana
Climbing.
Twining, vinelike plant. Leaves divided into a leaflets, each toothed and 1-2in long. Flowers 1in across with 4-5 whitish petal-like sepals and numerous stamens (Jul-Sep). Fruits are feathery-tailed seeds. Margins of woods and scrub. E of North America.
WALKING CATFISH
Clarias batrachlus
Total length 16in.
Brownish above, white below, rear flecked with white, large head tapering to small tail. Found over mud in weedy ditches, canals, swamps, and ponds. On wet nights, can walk overland to new habitat using spines in pectoral fins for support. Introduced to FL by aquarium trade; now common and spreading N to adjacent states.
WALKING STICK
Diapheromera femorata
Total length 4in. or more.
The Walking Stick is very large, and flightless throughout its life. Shaped like a long tube, it resembles a twig, and is found on bushes and trees where it feeds on plants. Some tropical species are a foot long, and camouflaged gray or brown. Difficult to see, but can be quite common. Attracted to nightlights placed in the forest. Found in S US.
WALRUS
Odobenus rosmarus
Total length 11ft.
A very large seal, with bare skin, which is usually pinkish or brownish, but can be reddish when sunburnt. Male is much larger than female, but both sexes carry tusks (the males' are larger). The tusks are used for gouging up mollusks on the sea bed. During the breeding season, walruses gather in large colonies on beaches. They have been extensively hunted in the past (mostly for their ivory), and are still hunted by native Americans. Found all around the North Pole, and those found in Alaskan waters are larger than those in the N Atlantic.
WAPITI
Cervus elephus
Total length 9ft.6in; tail 8in.
Also known as the Elk, this large deer can be distinguished from White-tailed and Blacktailed Deer by its larger size and generally much darker fur coloring. The male has large, branching antlers, and a shaggy throat. During the rut (late fall) the male has a short call also described as a resonant belch. The powerful "bugling," which ends in a shrill whistle and a series of grunts, can be heard for a considerable distance during the fall. Although often found in wooded areas, the Wapiti was once abundant in the Prairies. Widely distributed in the Rockies and N across Canada, its range in the E US is more restricted, but it is beginning to spread again.
WATER ARUM
Calla palustris
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive wetland plant. Leaves 4-6in long, heart-shaped and long-stemmed. Flowers up to 2in tall with clublike spadix of densely packed greenish flowers shrouded by white spathe (Jun-Aug). Ponds and bogs. Widespread N half of North America.
WATER BIRCH
Betula occidentalis
Height up to 25ft.
Narrowly domed deciduous tree; lower branches droop. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, toothed. Males flowers in pendant catkins, females in short, erect catkins. Cones 1in long, cylindrical, brown. Widespread but local. Mountains, W US.
WATER BOATMAN
Notonecta undulata
Total length 1/2in.
The last pair of legs is modified with long hairs to act as oars, allowing it to swim rapidly with long strokes. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates and vegetation. Common in still water or ponds, slow streams, and near weedy vegetation. Widely distributed in North America. The closely related Back Swimmer bites, and is larger.
WATER FERN
Azolla caroliniana
Aquatic.
Surface-floating fern that sometimes carpets whole ponds or backwaters. Fronds are yellowish green, but often tinged red in bright light; comprise small, overlapping leaves. Locally common in SE US; occasionally further N.
WATER HICKORY
Carya aquatica
Height up to 100ft.
Deciduous narrowly domed tree. Leaves pinnate, with 9-13 leaflets, each 2-5in long. Flowers small and greenish; sexes separate. Fruits 1-2in long, ovoid, and brown, husk in 4 parts. Damp lowlands. Mainly E seaboard and Gulf states of US.
WATER HYACINTH
Eichhornia crassipes
Floating.
Aquatic plant. Leaves 2-5in across, shiny green, rounded to kidney-shaped; swollen bases are air-filled floats. Flowers 2in across, 6-lobecl, funnel-shaped, purple; in spikes (all year). Wetlands. Non-native; common in SE states.
WATER LETTUCE
Pistia stratiotes
Floating.
Fast-spreading aquatic plant. Leaves 3-9in long, fresh green, downy, and conspicuously ribbed; form a rosette. Flowers tiny and whitish; borne on a short spadix with a whitish spathe (Apr). Standing water. SE US.
WATER OAK
Quercus nigra
Height up to 100ft.
Open-crowned deciduous tree. Leaves ovate to oblong and 3-lobed; bluish above, pale green below, yellowish in autumn. Acorns 1/2in long, rounded with shallow cup. Damp soils, mainly lowlands. SE states, mainly NC to TX.
WATER PIPIT
Anthus spinoletta
Total length 6in.
Small bird, streaked buff-brown, spotted below. Seen on the ground or flying off with a "pip-pit" call. Nests on the ground. Undulating flight. Breeds on the tundra and high in the Rockies, wintering in open areas in S US and Mexico and coastal areas.
WATER PLAINTAIN
Alisma subcordatum
Height up to 3ft.
Emergent aquatic perennial. Emergent leaves 2-5in long, elliptical, and parallel-veined; submerged ones narrow. Flowers tiny with 3 white petals; in much-branched whorls (Jun-Oct). Margins of water. Widespread except in far N.
WATER SEDGE
Carex aquatilis
Height up to 3ft.
Creeping perennial. Sterns brittle and 3-sided. Leaves yellowish green and 1-3ft.long. Inflorescence comprises 2-3 spikes of reddish brown male flowers above 2-5 brown, sausage shaped female flowers (May-Jul). Margins of water. Widespread in North America.
WATER SHREW
Sorex palustris
Total length 6in; tail 3in.
A dark shrew, blackish above, gray below. One of the largest North American shrews, though in the Pacific states an even larger species of water shrew, the Masked Shrew (5. bendirii), is found. Distinctive fringes of hair on the hind feet help it swim and run on the water's surface. When diving it appears silvery, due to the air trapped in the fur. Feeds on invertebrates, and has litters of up to 8 young. It is found near water in marshes, streams and rivers, usually in well-wooded areas. Widely distributed, but absent from most ofthe Plains states and the SE.
WATER SMARTWEED
Polygonum amphibium
Height up to 1 & 1/2;ft. Amphibious perennial growing at margins of ponds and on dry land. Has floating stems and oval leaves 2-4in long when aquatic; leaves shorter in terrestrial forms. Flowers small and pink; in cylindrical spikes (Jun-Sep). Throughout North America.
WATER SNAKE, NORTHERN
Nerodia sipedon
Total length 4ft.6in.
Usually reddish, brown, or gray to brownish black, with dark crossbands on neck region, and alternating dark blotches on back and sides. It darkens with age, becoming black. The young are more vivid. Frequently seen basking on rocks or logs. Can produce up to about 100 young, but normally fewer than 30. Found in most aquatic habitats, where it feeds on small fish and amphibians. Range from ME, GA, AL, and W to CO and NE to ON and QC.
WATER STRIDER
Gerris remigis
Total length 3/4in.
Brown, long and cylindrical in shape; first pair of legs small, next two long. Water striders are among the most well known aquatic insects, readily visible skating on a cushion of air under their feet across the surface of pools, ponds, and permanent water bodies. Predacious, feeds on insects. Found throughout North America.
WATER TUPELO
Nyssa aquatica
Height up to 100ft.
Deciduous tree; bare, broad-based lower trunk and domed crown. Leaves 2-4in long, ovate. Flowers small and green; clustered males and solitary females on separate trees. Fruits 1in long, purple, and berrylike. Seasonally flooding sites, SE US.
WATERCRESS
Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Nasturtium officinale)
Height up to 1ft.
Aquatic and emergent water perennial. Leaves 1-5in long, pinnately divided into 5-9 segments. Flowers tiny with 4 white petals; in 1in wide terminal clusters (May-Oct). Streams and ditches. Introduced non-native. Widespread throughout North America.
WATER-STARWORT
Callitriche sp.
Aquatic.
Variable freshwater and marginal plant. Appearance varies with growing site. Leaves up to 3/4in long, ovate to elliptical; upper ones form a rosette. Flowers minute and at leaf axils (Apr-Sep). Ponds and mud. Widespread in temperate North America.
WATERTHRUSH, NORTHERN
Seiurus novaboracensis
Total length 5in.
Small, usually seen in dense undergrowth near water. Walks (does not hop), bobbing its tail. Nests among tree roots, under fallen logs, or in decayed stumps. Call a distinctive, metallic "chink". Widespread on migration, breeding in extreme N of US, Canada and AK.
WATERWEED
Elodea canadensis
Aquatic.
Fast-growing freshwater plant. Submerged and rather brittle sterns carry narrow, backcurved unstalked leaves, each up to 1/2in long, in whorls of 3. Flowers are tiny and seldom seen. Still waters. Widespread in temperate parts of North America.
WAVYLEAF SILKTASSEL
Garrya elliptica
Height up to 20ft.
Compact, evergreen. Leaves 2-3in long, elliptical, and opposite with wavy margins; shiny green above, downy below. Flowers tiny and green; in 3-5in long catkinlike tassels. Fruits 1/4in across and blackish; in clusters. Pacific Coast, CA and OR.
WEAKFISH
Cyoscion regalis
Total length 3ft.
This long food fish is greenish olive above and pale below with numerous rows of small, dark spots above the lateral line. The common name comes from the tendency of hooks to rip out of its fleshy mouth. Found over shallow, soft.bottoms in coastal waters. Found from Canada through N FL in the Atlantic.
WEASEL, LONG-TAILED
Mustela frenata
Total length 22in; tail 6in.
A medium-sized weasel, easily distinguished from other weasels by its long tail. It feeds mostly on mammals, including squirrels, rabbits, and small rodents, but also often takes poultry. It is found in a wide range of habitats, from forests and marshes to grasslands and tillable land, though usually close to water. It occurs over most of North America from S Canada to TX, and is also found in Central and South America.
WESTERN BISTORT
Polygonum bistortoides
Height up to 2ft.
Elegant herbaceous plant. Leaves 4-8in long and lanceolate. Flowers small and whitish with 5 segments; in 2in long rounded terminal clusters on long reddish stems (May-Aug). Damp upland meadows. Mountains of Pacific states and provinces.
WESTERN CANADA VIOLET
Viola canadensis
Height up to 1ft.
Charming perennial. Leaves 2-3in long, heart-shaped, and stalked. Flowers up to 1in across with five white petals and a backward-projecting spur; on stalks (May-Jul). Damp woodland. Pacific states and provinces; also Rocky Mountains.
WESTERN CRAB-APPLE (OREGON CRAB-APPLE)
Malus fusca
Height up to 30ft.
Multi-trunked deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 1-3in long, ovate, and toothed. Flowers 1in across with five pinkish rounded petals; stalked and in clusters. Fruits 3/4in long reddish apples. Pacific coast, mainly BC, WA and OR.
WESTERN DIAMOND-BACKED RATTLESNAKE
Crotalus viridis
Total length 5ft.
Variable, usually with brownish blotches along the back which become cross-bars near the tail. It feeds on small mammals, birds, and lizards, hunting mostly at night during the summer. The female gives birth to about 20 young. It is very venomous and, like all rattlers, frequently persecuted. Wide range of habitats, including rocky mountainsides, cliffs, and canyons, and often associated with prairie dog towns. Widespread over most of the Rockies and W America at altitudes of up to 11,000ft.
WESTERN FENCE LIZARD
Sceloporus occidentalis
Total length 9in.
Variable, rough-skinned. Usually brownish or grayish above with irregular bars across the back, and bluish on the sides. Male has blue throat, which he bobs when displaying. Diurnal and easily seen. Found in forests and many other habitats; often seen on fence posts, rocky walls, and derelict buildings, up to g,OOOft. Confined to W US from WA to CA, and E to UT.
WESTERN HARVEST MOUSE
Reithrodontomys megalotis
Total length 5in; tail 2in.
A small brownish mouse superficially similar to a house mouse, with a long tail. Feeds mainly on seeds and shoots, and makes a store in its nest, which is usually above ground. There are several closely related species of harvest mice, mostly associated with marshes and overgrown grassy habitats such as grassy fields, bramble patches, and overgrown wet areas. This species is widespread in dry habitats in W US and extreme S Canada.
WESTERN HEMLOCK
Tsuga heterophylla
Height up to 150ft.
Evergreen conifer, narrowly conical in outline. Needles 1/2in long, flat, dark green above, with 2 white lines below; in 2 rows. Cones 1in long, ovoid, and brown. Damp, acid soils. Coastal Pacific northwest and Rocky Mountains.
WESTERN JUNIPER
Juniperus occidentalis
Height up to 30ft.
Evergreen shrub or small tree. Domed, conical outline. Leaves small, scalelike, and grayish green. Cones 1/2in across, berrylike, bluish-black when ripe. Rocky ground and mountains at high altitudes. Mainly WA to central CA.
WESTERN LARCH
Larix occidentalis
Height up to 150ft.
Impressive narrowly conical deciduous conifer. Needles up to 1 1/2in long, borne in clusters; light green, yellow in autumn. Cones ovoid, upright, and brown, with rounded scales and pointed bracts. Free-draining slopes in northwest.
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
Sturnella neglecta
Total length 9in.
Identified by yellow breast and large black "V" on the chest. Ground-dwelling, but frequently seen perched on posts, telephone poles, or wires. Range extends E to Great Lakes where it overlaps with similar eastern species. Western is paler with a flutelike song.
WESTERN MONKSHOOD
Aconitum columbianum
Height up to 6ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves 3-8in across, palmately lobed, and toothed. Flowers 1in long, bluish purple, and hooded comprising 5 petal-like sepals (Jun-Aug). Damp woodland and mountain meadows. Pacific states and provinces; also Rocky Mountains.
WESTERN PIPISTRELLE
Pipistrellus hesperus
Total length 3in; wing span 10in.
Even smaller than the Eastern species, weighing about 1/4th oz. Emerges early in the evening, like the Eastern Pipistrelle, and is very slow-flying. Seen flying in broad daylight more frequently than most other species of bat. Lives in desert and scrub areas, roosting in caves and buildings. Confined to the W of the US.
WESTERN RED-CEDAR
Thuja plicata
Height up to 175ft.
Evergreen conifer; broad-based trunk and tapering conical outline. Leaves small, scalelike, dark green above, whitish below; in 4 rows. Cones 2in long, ovoid, and brown. Damp, acid soils. Pacific northwest and Rocky Mountains.
WESTERN SCRUB JAY
Aphelocoma californica
Total length 11in.
A large blue jay with a long tail, gray underside and a whitish throat. Often stores acorns for winter. It is found in SW US and adjacent Mexico. Closely related species are found in AZ, Santa Cruz Island and in FL, in mostly dry habitats.
WESTERN SERVICEBERRY
Amelanchier alnifolia
Height up to 30ft.
Multi-trunked deciduous shrub or small tree. Flowers 1in across, 5 white petals; in terminal clusters. Fruits 1/2in across, blackish, edible; in stalked clusters. Widespread temperate and sub-Arctic W half of North America, S to NE and OR.
WESTERN SHOVELNOSE SNAKE
Chionactis occipitalis
Total length 18in.
Secretive, with head modified for digging in loose, sandy desert soil. Although it can be aggressive, it has only tiny teeth, and feeds mostly on insects, centipedes, and scorpions. Generally nocturnal, it is rarely seen, but may be encountered as it crosses roads at night. The female lays up to 4 eggs. Confined to S CA and adjacent states, and Mexico.
WESTERN SKINK
Eumeces skiltonianus
Total length 9in.
Similar to E. inexpectatus, but the striped pattern is more persistent. Like many other skinks, the young are more brightly marked and have blue tails. Active by day, feeding on invertebrates. The female lays a clutch of up to 6 eggs, in a burrow or under a rock, which she guards. The Western Skink lives in mostly rocky habitats, in woodland or grassland, hiding under logs and stones, or in leaf litter. Found from S BC to Baja CA, and E to N AZ.
WESTERN TANAGER
Piranga ludoviciana
Total length 7in.
Highly colored and mainly tropical, a few species of tanager migrate to North America to breed. Western Tanager mostly yellow; breeding male has bright, orange-red head and throat, black wings and tail. Breeds in coniferous forests from Canada to AZ.
WESTERN WALLFLOWER
Erysimum capitatum
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves 2-5in long, narrow; in basal rosette and up lower stem. Flowers 3/4in across with 4 orange or orange-yellow flowers; in terminal heads (Mar-Jul). Dry, open ground, often stony. W North America.
WESTERN WHIPTAIL
Cnemidophorus tigris
Total length 12in.
Variable in coloring and markings, but generally fairly unremarkable mottled brown. Tail twice as long as the body; in young is usually bright blue. The most widely distributed of the western species of whiptails. Found from OR and ill, E UT and S to TX and Mexico.
WESTERN WIDOW
Libellula forensis
Total length 1in.
The western counterpart of the Whitetail, but the abdomen is more of a blue-white. Foreand hindwings have large black bands with black at the bases. Highly territorial and aggressive, this species defends its ponds and still-water habitats against other dragonflies of the same and other species. Found from W Canada, S to Mexico.
WESTERN WOOD PEEWEE
Contopus sordidulus
Total length 6in.
A rather nondescript flycatcher. It is mostly a dull brown, with blackish wings and tail, a whitish chin and under-tail, and faint wing bars. Its call is a nasal "peewee" or "peeeer." It is a summer visitor to the W of the continent from S AK to CA; it winters in N South America.
WHIMBREL
Numenius phoeopus
Total length 17in.
Somewhat like the Long-billed Curlew, but the bill is proportionally shorter and the head is striped. Flight call a series of 6 or 7 short whistles at the same pitch. Breeds in the high Arctic tundra; winters S to both Atlantic and Pacific coasts in marshes, tidal mudflats, and other wetland habitats. The only curlew common on the Atlantic coast.
WHIP-POOR-WILL
Caprimulgus vociferus
Total length 10in.
Nocturnal bird which emerges after sunset to feed on moths and night-flying insects. Mottled and barred plumage provides camouflage by day. Owl-like face and large eyes, with long, narrow wings, long tail and great agility in flight. Nests on ground in open woodlands in E North America.
WHIRLIGIG BEETLE
Gyrinus limbatus
Total length 1/4in.
Seen on permanent water, where it swims rapidly in circles, supported on the surface film. It feeds on dead plants and animals, and kills minute aquatic organisms as needed. A good flyer, readily colonizing new habitat. Compound eyes allow it to see both under and above water simultaneously. It is confined to E US.
WHITE ASH
Fraxinus Americana
Height up to 80ft.
Domed, much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 8-12in long, pinnate, usually with 7 ovate leaflets. Flowers small and reddish; in clusters. Fruits 1-2in long, narrow, winged, and brown keys; in clusters. Widespread E US and SE Canada.
WHITE CAMPION (EVENING LYCHNIS)
Silene latifolia (alba)
Height up to 3ft.
Hairy non-native perennial. Leaves 2-4in long and oval; in opposite pairs. Flowers 1in across with 5 white deeply notched petals (Jun-Oct). Favors grassy places including roadsides. Widespread, especially in E and SW of North America.
WHITE CLOVER
Trifolium repens
Height up to 1ft.
Distinctive perennial. Long-stalked leaves with 3 oval leaflets, each up to 1in long. Flowers up to 1/2in long and white or pale pink; in long-stalked, rounded clusters (May-Sep). Grassy places including lawns. Widespread non-native.
WHITE FIR
Abies concolor
Height up to 160ft.
Impressive evergreen conifer. Tapering conical outline with pointed crown. Needles 1-3in long, flat, and bluish with white lines; in 2 rows. Cones 4-7in long, cylindrical, and purplish green. Widespread in mountains of SW US.
WHITE OAK
Quercus alba
Height up to 100ft.
Domed deciduous tree. Leaves 4-5in long, broadly ovate with 5-9 rounded lobes; green above, pale below, reddish in autumn. Acorns 1/2-1in long, ovoid with shallow cup. Free draining soils. E of North America, mainly WI to ME, S to TX and FL.
WHITE PELICAN
Pelecanus erythrorhynchus
Total length 5ft.
A very large waterbird, with a huge wingspan-up to 9ft. Adult is white with black flight feathers. During the breeding season it has a small crest and a fleshy protuberance on the bill. The long bill has a pouch beneath, used to scoop up fish. Winters on coasts and on freshwater lakes and estuaries. Breeds in Great Plains and Rockies from Canada to CA.
WHITE RHODODENDRON
Rhododendron albiflorum
Height up to 10ft.
Dense, evergreen shrub. Leaves 2-4 in long, narrow-ovate, shiny green. Attractive flowers 1in across, 5-lobed, bell-shaped, and white; in clusters. Favors damp ground. Upland areas of BC, WA, OR, and MT.
WHITE SPRUCE
Picea glauca
Height up to 100ft.
Tall evergreen conifer with tapering, irregular conical outline. Needles 3/4in long, bluish green with pale lines, 4-angled, and pointed. Cones up to 1-3in long, cylindrical, and brown. Widespread across northern North America, mainly AK and Canada.
WHITE SWEET CLOVER
Melilotus albus
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive, bushy biennial. Leaves with 3 narrow leaflets, each 1/2-1in long. Flowers ½-1in long and white; in tall spikes (Jun-Oct). Grassy places including roadsides. Non-native, but now widespread throughout North America.
WHITE WOOD ASTER
Aster divaricatus
Height up to 3ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves 2-6in long, heart-shaped, and stalked. Flower heads 1in across with whitish ray florets and disc florets yellow, turning purple; in flat-topped clusters (Jul-Oct). Dry woodland. Canada and NE US.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Sitta carolinensis
Total length 5in.
A small woodpeckerlike bird that can face downward on trees as well as up. Pointed bill, pure white face, throat and chest, but often has rusty tinges on the belly. Gray back with back of head and neck black. A woodland bird that also frequents suburban gardens and feeders. Common in deciduous woods over much of North America.
WHITE-CEDAR
Thuja occidentalis
Height up to 70ft.
Evergreen conifer; resinous and aromatic. Leaves small, scalelike, yellow-green above, bluish below; in 4 rows. Cones 1/2in long, ovoid, and brown. Neutral to calcareous soils. Widespread central E of North America, from ON and MN, E to NS.
WHITE-FOOTED DEERMOUSE
Peromyscus leucopus
Total length 8in; tail 3in.
Very similar to the Deer Mouse. Like most other mice it is active all year, but in winter lives in runs and tunnels beneath snow, and may remain in the nest in extreme cold. Implicated in the spread of Lyme's disease, which is carried by ticks. Range confined to North America E of the Rockies, and mostly S of the Canadian border. There are several other closely related species of Peromyscus mice in North America, most with more restricted ranges.
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Anser albifrons
Total length 2ft.4in.
A medium-sized goose, mostly grayish brown, with orange feet. The pink bill is surrounded by pure white, from which it takes its name. Often found in flocks of several thousand, particularly in protected wetlands. Breeds in the high Arctic and migrates south to CA and the Gulf states in winter.
WHITE-LINED SPHINX
Cilerio lineata
Wingspan 3in.
Sphinx moths have a characteristic birdlike shape with long, narrow wings and a large body. The long proboscis is used to suck nectar from flowers. Sometimes mistaken for hummingbirds, sphinx moths are abundant and broadly distributed throughout S Canada and North America, with more than 100 species.
WHITE-TAILED ANTELOPE SQUIRREL
Ammospermophilus leucurus
Total length 9in; tail 3in.
Like a pale chipmunk, with a characteristic jumping gait, and tail carried over its back. Often active during the day. Excavates burrows or lives in rock crevices, feeding mostly on seeds and insects. A single litter of 5-14 is born underground. Found in arid habitats, including desert and creosote country. Confined to the S Rockies from OR and ID to Baja CA.
WHITE-TAILED DEER
Odocoileus virginianus
Total length 6ft.6in; tail 12in.
The young fawn of the White-tail is Walt Disney's Bambi, and is heavily spotted. Adults are reddish brown above, and white below in summer, grayish in winter. The inside of the ear and the underside of the tail are white. When alarmed, the deer flashes its white rump patch and the underside of its tail as it bounds away. Where they are not hunted, these deer are often seen by day. They range over most of the US except the SW, S Canada, and S through Mexico to Brazil.
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
Zonotrichia albicollis
Total length 6in.
Handsome, with conspicuous black and white head stripes and distinct white throat patch. Long, musical call of two or three long followed by three short whistles is a sure sign of spring. Found close to the ground in brush and thickets. Comes to bird feeders. Common; breeds over most of Canada, winters in the Sand E US. Rare in W.
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER
Melanitta fusca
Total length 21in
. A large duck with white patches on the wing clearly visible in flight. Male is almost black with a small patch of white behind the eye, and orange on the bill. Female is dark brown. Feeds on mussels. Breeds close to lakes and ponds, in Canada and AK. Winters at sea on both coasts and also on reservoirs, lakes, and estuaries.
WHITLOW GRASS
Erophila verna
Height up to 9in.
Low-growing annual. Leaves up to 1in long, narrow, and toothed; form basal rosette. Flowers tiny with 4 white and deeply notched petals (Mar-Jun). Dry, bare places including margins of fields, and tracks. E US.
WIGEON
Anas americana
Total length 21in.
An abundant and widespread duck recognized in flight by the large white patch on the fore-wing. Black rump bordered by white, white forehead with green patch from eye running across the head, white belly. Feeds on aquatic and terrestrial vegetation, commonly grazing on land. Breeds across Canada to AK and into northern states. Winters on both coasts and at inland reservoirs and lakes into Mexico.
WILD BASIL
Clinopodium vulgare
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Aromatic hairy perennial. Leaves up to 1in long, ovate, short-stalked, and opposite. Flowers 1/2in long and pinkish purple; in whorls with bristly bracts (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. SE Canada and NE US.
WILD BLEEDING HEART
Dicentra exima
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Distinctive perennial. Leaves up to gin long and much divided into narrow leaflets; all leaves basal. Flowers 3/4in long, pendant, heart-shaped, and pinkish red; borne in rows (May-Aug). Rocky ground. E US.
WILD BLUE PHLOX
Phlox divaricata
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Attractive spreading plant. Sterns sticky. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, and opposite. Flowers 1in across with 5 pale blue petals; in clusters (Apr-Jun). Grassy places and open woodlands. SE Canada and E half of US except far S.
WILD BOAR
Sus scrofa
Total length 6ft; tail 12in.
Superficially very similar to the Peccary, but much larger, with the male (boar) weighing up to 4001b. It can also be distinguished by its heavily striped piglets. The Wild Boar builds a nest and has litters of 4-12 young. In some areas it has interbred with escaped (feral) hogs, to which it is very closely related. A native of Europe that has been introduced into many parts of the US and Hawaii.
WILD CELERY
Apium graveolens
Height up to 3ft.
Branched biennial smelling strongly of celery. Leaves up to 6in long and 1-2 times pinnate. Flowers small and greenish white; in umbels 1-2in across (May-Jul). Damp grassy places. Widespread in CA.
WILD COLUMBINE
Aquilegia canadensis
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive bushy plant. Leaves 5-6in across, divided into numerous 3-lobed leaflets. Flowers 1-2in long, red with 5 spurred petals and 5 sepals (Apr-Jul). Fruits podlike. Wooded, rocky ground. SE Canada and E US, S to WI.
WILD FLAX
linum perenne
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive, tufted perennial. Leaves 1/2in long and narrow. Flowers 1in across with 5 pale blue flowers; borne in branched clusters (May-Jul). Dry grassy places including prairies. Widespread in W of North America.
WILD GERANIUM
Geranium moculotum
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive, branched plant. Leaves 3-6in across and deeply divided into 5 toothed lobes. Flowers 1in across with 5 pinkish lilac flowers; in open clusters (Apr-Jun). Open woods and meadows. Locally common in E of North America, S to GA.
WILD GINGER
Asarum canadense
Height up to 1ft.
Long-stalked leaves arise from ground level and are 4-6in across, heart- or kidney-shaped, and hairy. Flowers 1in across with three maroon pointed lobes; on short stalk from ground level (Apr-May). Temperate woods in NW of North America.
WILD HORSE
Equus caballus
Total length 7ft.10in.
A feral horse descended from horses introduced by the Spanish and other European colonists, which have reverted to a wild state. Mustangs are indistinguishable from domestic ponies. Together with burros (feral donkeys) they have now become a significant factor in the ecosystem in some parts of the W US. However, because of a lack of predators in much of their range, it is believed that they are degrading much of their habitat.
WILD LEEK
Allium tricoccum
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Delicate bulbous plant. Leaves 8-12in long, lanceolate, and basal; wither before flowers appear. Flowers 1/4in across and white; in umbel-like clusters on tall stalk (Jun-Jul). Woods and rough grassland. SE Canada and NE US.
WILD LUPINE
Lupinus perennis
Height up to 2ft.
Elegant perennial. Leaves palmate with 7-11 narrow leaflets, each 1-2in long. Flowers 3/4in long and blue; in tall spikes (Apr-Jul). Pods hairy. Dry grassy places and margins of woodland. E US.
WILD MADDER
Galium mollugo
Height up to 4ft.
Scrambling perennial. Sterns smooth and oval. Leaves up to 1in long, narrow-oval, pointed-tipped with a single vein; in whorls of 6-8. Flowers tiny, white, and 4-lobed; in terminal clusters (Jun-Sep). Grassy places. NE of North America.
WILD MINT
Mentha arvensis
Height up to 2ft.
Mint-scented perennial. Leaves 1-/2in long, oval, and short-stalked. Flowers 1/4in long and lilac; in dense whorls at intervals up sterns (Jul-Sep). Damp tillable land, paths, and disturbed areas. Throughout except SE of North America.
WILD OATS
Uvularia sessilifolia
Height up to 1ft.
Delicate-looking plant. Leaves 2-3in long, stemless, oblong and conspicuously veined. Flowers 1in long, creamy white and bell-shaped; 1 or 2, nodding at top of stern (Apr-Jun). Woods and shady places. SE Canada and NE US.
WILD POINSETTIA
Euphorbia heterophylla
Height up to 3ft.
Distinctive perennial. Broken sterns exude milky sap. Leaves 2-3in long, ovate, and often lobed. Flowers small and green; surrounded by 1in long reddish leaflike bracts (Aug-Sep). Open woods on free-draining soils. SE US.
WILD STRAWBERRY
Fragaria virginiana
Height up to 6in.
Creeping perennial with long, rooting runners. Long-stalked leaves 1in long, with 3 oval, toothed leaflets. Flowers 3/4in across with 5 white petals (Apr-Jun). Fruits fleshy strawberries, studded with seeds. Woods and fields throughout North America.
WILD TURKEY
Meleagris galloparva
Total length 4ft.
Similar to the farmyard Turkey (and descended from it), but more slender and with iridescent plumage. Female smaller than male. Male's gobbling call carries over a mile. Feeds on the ground on nuts, berries, and small animals; prefers to run not fly. Roosts in trees at night. Nests on the ground. Widespread natural range, but introduced for hunting.
WILDCAT
Lynx rufus
Total length up to 4ft; tail 6in.
Commonly called the Bobcat. Fairly large, with a short "bobbed" tail. Coloring variable but usually yellowish brown, with black barring and tip to the upper side of the tail, and blackish barring on the legs. The back and sides are covered with indistinct spotting. Usually spends the day hidden in its den, and feeds mostly on hares, cottontails, squirrels, and other small mammals. It also occasionally raids poultry and other domestic stock. Widespread over North America, from S Canada to Mexico.
WILLET
Catroptrophorus semipalmatus
Total length 15in.
A relatively large shorebird, fairly heavily built with long, straight bill. Nondescript until it takes flight and shows unmistakable black and white wings. Name from loud call, "pilly willy willet." Two populations: western birds are larger with a longer bill and nest in wetlands in the Prairies from Canada to NV; they winter in CA. Eastern birds nest along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to TX. Widespread but not abundant.
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER
Sphyrapicus thyroides
Total length 9in.
Male mostly black, with white rump, white wing patches, yellow belly, dark red chin, white stripes on the side of the head. Female barred black and white on back, wings, and breast; yellow belly. Drills evenly spaced rows of holes for sap, and feeds on insects attracted by the sap. Fairly common in dry pine forests in the Rockies.
WILLOWHERB
Epilobium ciliatum (Epilobium adenocaulon)
Height up to 2ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves 2-4 in long and lanceolate; in opposite pairs, often pressed close to stern. Flowers 1/2in across with 4 notched, pink petals from axils of upper leaves (Jun-Aug). Disturbed areas. Widespread in N of North America.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE
Phalaropus tricolor
Total length 9in.
A delicate, colorful shorebird with a slender bill. Female is more brightly colored than male. Male incubates the eggs. Non-breeding plumage is gray above, whitish below. Feeds on land and also in water, swimming in a tight circle, stirring up mud. Breeds in prairies and other wetland habitats from S Canada with scattered outlying populations.
WILSON'S WARBLER
Wilsonia pusilla
Total length 5in.
The male is yellow with a solid black cap; both sexes olive on the back and dark in the wings. Nests on the ground in alder and willow thickets and open areas with dense undergrowth and boggy habitats. Breeds over most of Canada, S into the Rockies and W to CA and CO. Seen on migration in most parts of the US.
WINGED ELM
Ulmus alata
Height up to 80ft.
Open-crowned deciduous tree. Leaves 1 1/2-2 1/2in long, elliptical, toothed, hairless above, downy below; green, yellow in autumn. Flowers small and green. Fruit 1in long, reddish, elliptical, and winged. SE US, mainly TX to MO, E to FL and NC.
WINGED KELP
Alaria sp.
Length up to 10ft.
Frond comprises broad blade up to loin wide with a conspicuous midrib along its length. At base of main blade, smaller, narrower reproductive blades project from main stalk. Attached to rocks; lower shore. Pacific and NE Atlantic coasts.
WINGED SUMAC
Rhus copallina
Height up to 25ft.
Branched shrub or small tree. Leaves pinnate with a winged midrib and ovate, pointed leaflets 2-3in long. Flowers small and greenish; in clusters 4-6in long (Jul-Sep). Dry woodland. E US.
WINTER WREN
Troglodytes troglodytes
Total length 4in.
The smallest wren, with a short tail often held upright. It builds a domed nest, laying 5-8 eggs. Migratory over most of its range, it nests in a broad band across Canada and S into the Rockies and Appalachians. A winter visitor over most of E and S US. Also found in Eurasia.
WITCHES' BUTTER
Tremella mesenterica
Up to 4in across.
Conspicuous jellylike fungus. Fruit body comprises a convoluted, brainlike mass that is bright yellow when fresh; darkens and hardens with age. On deciduous wood, usually on dead branches that have not yet fallen (Nov-Mar). Throughout North America.
WITCH-HAZEL
Hamamelis virginiana
Height up to 30ft.
Multi-stemmed spreading deciduous shrub or small tree. Leaves 4-5in long, ovate to rounded with wavy margin. Flowers 1in across with 4 yellow, thin petals. Fruits 1/2in across, ovoid with 4 points. Damp ground. E half of North America.
WOLF SPIDER
Lycosa lenta
Total length up to 1in.
Large, and generally light and dark brown in color. Wolf spiders eat other insects, pouncing and killing them within their legs. Females carry the egg sacs with them until the young are born. The young ride the mother's abdomen through at least the first molt. Common from S Canada to Mexico.
WOLVERINE
Gulo gulo
Total length 3ft.6in; tail 10in.
A large weasel superficially resembling a small bear, and with a rather shambling gait. It is a voracious predator, tackling prey up to the size of deer and young moose, giving rise to its other name of "glutton." It also follows trappers to steal their catches. It marks any uneaten food with a foul-smelling scent to deter other scavengers. It also feeds on fruit and other plant matter. Up to 5 cubs in a litter are born in a den among rocks, in a burrow, or under a bush. Now mostly confined to the Arctic regions, but once more widespread in the Rockies.
WOOD ANEMONE
Anemone quinquefolia
Height up to 8in.
Delicate woodland flower often forming carpets. Leaves palmate with 3 or 5 toothed segments, each 1in long. Flowers 1in across with 4-9 white petal-like sepals; solitary and stalked (Apr-Jun). Fruits hairy. Open woodland. E of North America.
WOOD DUCK
Aix sponsa
Total length 18in.
One of the best known ducks, the male's plumage is exceptionally colorful; the female has spotted flanks and white around the eye. Nests in a tree hole 20ft.or more above the ground. The young hatch and tumble to the ground, "parachuting" on their downy feathers. Frequently uses special nest boxes. Found over most of North America from S Canada southwards, except the Rockies.
WOOD FROG
Rana sylvatica
Total length 3in.
Medium-sized, reddish brown, with a dark brown "mask". The male's breeding call is a series of short ducklike quacks. In the US it is found in damp woodlands, but in the N it is found in tundra habitats, and it often breeds before the ice has disappeared. Widely distributed in the N of the continent, and the only frog found N of the Arctic Circle. Range also extends S in E US, to SC.
WOOD SAGE
Teucrium canadense
Height up to 3ft.
Striking, showy perennial. Leaves 3-4in, narrow-oval; lower leaves broader than upper ones, toothed. Flowers up to 1/2in across, pinkish-blue with lobed lip; in tall, terminal spikes (Jun-Aug). Favors shady woodland rides and clearings. Widespread in E of North America.
WOOD STORK
Mycteria americana
Total length 3ft.4in.
A large wading bird with black flight feathers and tail, and a stout, black, slightly downcurved bill. Nests colonially in tall trees and feeds by standing motionless in shallow water by the back or edge of pools. A strong flier, often gliding and sailing in high thermals. Breeds in FL and SE, but can be found N to ME and W to CA.
WOOD THRUSH
Hylocichla mustelina
Total length 7in.
Rich, reddish brown above, cream below, clear, dark brown spots. White eye-ring can be seen up close. Powerful, musical song often sung in the evening. Favors damp mixed woodlands, but during fall and spring migrations is found in a wide variety of habitats. Widespread summer breeder E of the Rockies from SE Canada to E TX; rarely seen elsewhere.
WOOD TURTLE
Clemmys insculpata
Total length 9in.
Distinctive carapace, with distinct growth ridges. Underside orange and black. Aquatic in spring, often basking close to water. In summer may wander into woodlands, but returns to hibernate underwater. Northerly distribution from S Canada to N VA.
WOODCHUCK
Marmota monax
Total length 2ft.3in; tail 6in.
Large, ground-dwelling rodent with a short tail. Coloring is variable, but generally reddish brown. In fall becomes very fat, and hibernates from October through March. Feeds on grasses and other vegetable matter. A single litter of 2-6 young is born in April or May. Found close to burrows, mostly in E North America.
WOODCOCK
Scolopax minor
Total length 11in.
A squat, round-bodied bird with an exceptionally long bill and large eyes. Plumage a mixture of browns and grays, for camouflage on the forest floor. Nocturnal and secretive, flies at dusk to feed in marshes and pastures, along the margins of ponds and rivers. Often seen when flushed. Found in E North America from S Canada to TX.
WOODHOUSE'S TOAD
Bufo woodhousei
Total length 4in.
Differs from the American Toad in having a pale stripe down the center of its back. The male's call is rather like a bleating sheep. Found in many habitats, including suburban gardens, woodland and desert arroyos, and close to beaches. Familiar species, often seen hunting insects attracted to porch lights. Range extends from N US to TX and Mexico.
WOODRUSH
Luzula multiflora
Height up to 2ft.
Tufted perennial with creeping runners. Leaves fresh green, fringed with downy white hairs. Inflorescence comprises a terminal clusters of 3-10 stalked, oval heads (May-Jun). Woods and dry grassy places, usually on acid soils. Widespread in North America.
WORM SNAKE
Carphophis amoenus
Total length few in.
Tiny, glossy, with a cylindrical body and a short tail tapering to a sharp point. Plain brown, gray, or black, with a bright reddish pink belly. Very secretive; most likely to be seen in spring while its habitat is still moist. Up to 8 elongate, thin-shelled eggs are laid in June or July. Lives in damp woodlands, grassy hillsides, and farmland bordering woodlands, and feeds mostly on earthworms. Found from S New England to GA, W to NE, and S to NE TX.
WOUNDWORT
Stachys palustris
Height up to 3ft.
Downy perennial. Leaves 1/2-1in long, narrow-oblong, and most unstalked. Flowers ½-1in long, pinkish purple with white markings; in spikes (Jul-Sep). Roadsides and grassy places, usually on damp ground. Widespread in E of North America.
YARROW
Achillea millefolium
Height up to 3ft.
Strong-smelling perennial. Leaves up to 6in long, dark green, finely divided, and feathery. Flower heads 1/4in across comprise yellowish disc florets and whitish pink ray florets; in flat-topped clusters (Jun-Oct). Grassy places. Widespread in North America.
YELLOW BIRCH
Betula allegheniensis
Height up to 100ft.
Tall, domed evergreen tree. Leaves 3-5in long, ovate to elliptical, and toothed; dark green above, yellowish below. Male flowers in pendant catkins, females in small erect catkins. Seed-bearing cones 1in long and oblong. Widespread NE US.
YELLOW BUCKEYE
Aesculus octandra
Height up to 90ft.
Much-branched deciduous tree. Leaves 5-8in long, palmate, with 5-7 obovate, toothed leaflets. Flowers 1in long, 4 yellow petals; in clusters. Fruits 2-3in across smooth, splitting capsules; 1-3 shiny brown seeds. Mainly Appalachians.
YELLOW BULLHEAD
Ictalurus natalis
Total length 16in.
A fish with white whiskers (barbels) above and below mouth. Skin without scales; yellowbrown. Feeds on aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Prefers slow, quiet waters, oxbows, natural and manmade ponds, over mud or soft.sediments. Native to E US, barely into Canada; widely introduced elsewhere.
YELLOW CLINTONIA
Clintonia borealis
Height up to 1ft.
Delicate, low-growing plant. Leaves 6-10in long, broadly ovate to oblong. Flowers 1in long, bell-shaped, and yellow; in nodding heads of 3-8 (May-Aug). Fruits are blue berries. Damp woodlands, often in uplands. NE of North America.
YELLOW DESERT EVENING-PRIMROSE
Oenothera primiveris
Height up to 2ft.
Attractive, low-growing plant. Leaves 2-5in long, narrow and usually deeply lobed; in a basal rosette. Flowers 1-3in across with 4 yellow petals fading reddish; on upright stalks (Mar-May). Deserts from S CA to TX.
YELLOW FAWN-LILY
Erythronium grandiflorum
Height up to 1ft.
Charming upland flower. Leaves (2 only) 4-6in long and narrow-ovate. Flowers 1-2in across, with 6 petal-like yellow segments and projecting stamens; stalked and nodding (Mar-Jul). Mountain woodland. W of North America, from BC to CA, E to CO and WY.
YELLOW FLAG
Iris pseudacorus
Height up to 4ft.
Attractive, robust perennial. Leaves 3-4ft, gray-green, sword-shaped, and often wrinkled. Flowers 3-4in across and bright yellow; in clusters of 2-3 on tall sterns (Jun-Aug). Margins of water, and marshes. SE Canada and E US, S to GA.
YELLOW FLOATING HEARTS
Nymphoides peltata
Floating.
Aquatic plant. Leaves 2-4in across, round and floating. Flowers 1in across with 5 yellow finged petal lobes; (Jul-Sep). Slow-flowing and still water. Naturalised in E USA. Similar Floating Hearts Nymphoides aquatica has similar range but white flowers.
YELLOW FRINGED ORCHID
Habenaria ciliaris
Height up to 3ft.
Attractive upright plant. Leaves up to 10in long, lanceolate; largest at base, getting smaller up stern. Flowers 1/2in across, orange or yellow, with strikingly fringed lip; in clustered spikes (Jul-Sep). Damp ground. E US.
YELLOW HORNED-POPPY
Glallcium flavum
Height up to 2ft.
Clump-forming blue-gray perennial. Leaves 4-6in long and pinnately divided; upper ones clasping and lobed. Flowers 2-3in across with 4 yellow petals (Jun-Aug). Seedpods curved and 6-12in long. Coastal shingle, Atlantic and Pacific US.
YELLOW JACKET
Vespuda maculifrons
Total length 3/4in.
Black with yellow bands on the thorax and abdomen, this familiar wasp holds its wings along its sides rather than across the back. Can sting repeatedly without losing its stinger. They are called "paper wasps," because hives are made from chewed material; they are attached to eaves of houses and sheltered places. Broadly distributed throughout North America.
YELLOW LADy'S-SLIPPER
Cypripedium calceolus
Height up to 2ft.
Striking orchid. Leaves 3-8in long, broadly ovate with parallel veins. Flowers (usually 1) 1-2in across with inflated yellow lip petal, the other 2 petals and 3 sepals brown or green (Apr-Jul). Woodland. S Canada and N US; S in mountains.
YELLOW MONKEYFLOWER
Mimulus guttatus
Height up to 2ft.
Upright perennial. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, and opposite. Flowers 1-2in across, 2-lipped and yellow marked with red spots on throat (Jun-Sep). Margins of rivers, and wetlands. Native to W half of North America but naturalized elsewhere.
YELLOW MOREL
Morchellus esculenta
Height up to 1ft.
Distinctive edible fungus, prized for its delicious flavor. Head pear-shaped to rounded and fawn colored; surface is honeycombed. Stern thick and white, swollen at base. Open woodland and grassy places. Widespread throughout North America.
YELLOW PALOVERDE
Cercidium microphyllum
Height up to 25ft.
Open, much-branched tree. Greenish yellow bark. Leafless in most months; leaves with rows of tiny rounded leaflets appear briefly in spring. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 yellow petals. Fruits 3in long pods. Sonoran desert, mainly AZ.
YELLOW PERCH
Perca flavescens
Total length over 12in.
Yellow with broad, brown vertical bars and a double dorsal fin. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small fish. Prefers clear, cool lakes and ponds, hiding in vegetation from predators. One of the most abundant and best-known fish of the NE US and S Canada.
YELLOW POND LILY
Nuphar variegatium
Aquatic.
Distinctive water plant. Leaves 5-10in across and heart-shaped to rounded; floating on water. Flowers 2in across with 6 yellow sepals and many smaller petals; borne on stalks (May-Sep). Ponds and backwaters. E half of North America.
YELLOW SKUNK CABBAGE
Lysichiton americanum
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Distinctive clump-forming plant. Leaves up to 6in long, oval and stalked; in clusters. Flowers comprise yellow spathe and clublike spadix of tiny flowers; on stalks (Apr-Jul). Saturated ground. Pacific states and provinces; also CO and MT.
YELLOW SWEET CLOVER
Melilotus officinalis
Height up to 4ft.
Distinctive, branched biennial. Leaves comprise 3 oblong leaflets, each 1/2-1in long. Flowers 1/4in long and yellow; in tall clustered spikes (May-Sep). Grassy areas and waste ground. Non-native, but now widespread throughout North America.
YELLOW THISTLE
Cirsium horridulum
Height up to 4ft.
Branched, spiny plant. Leaves 6-9in long, pinnately lobed, spiny, and clasping. Flower heads 2-3in across with yellow florets topping ball cloaked in spiny bractlike leaves (May-Aug). Sandy and peaty soil. Atlantic and Gulf coasts of US.
YELLOW WARBLER
Dendroica petechia
Total length 5in.
An all-yellow warbler with olive wings and tail. The male has streaks on the breast; female and young are paler with olive on the upper parts. Song is often transliterated as "sweet, sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet." One of the most widespread warblers in North America.
YELLOW WOOD SORREL
Oxalis europaea
Height up to 1ft.
Attractive, spreading perennial. Leaves shamrocklike with 3 leaflets, each 1/2in long. Leaves open only during daylight hours. Flowers 1/2in across with 5 yellow petals (May-Sep). Open ground. Widespread in North America.
YELLOW-BELLIED MARMOT
Marmota flaviventris
Total length 2ft.3in; tail 8in.
Similar to the Woodchuck, but yellow-brown above, and yellowish below, with a larger, bushier tail. Feeds mostly on green vegetation. Makes an underground den among rocks or in a burrow, in which a litter of 5 young is born in March or April. Found in rocky hillsides, in the Rockies from British Columbia S to CA and northern NM.
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER
Sphyrapicus varius
Total length 8in.
Mostly black and white, with red forehead and throat, and whitish yellow underside. White wing patches and rump are clear in flight. The only sapsucker found in the E. Common summer visitor to deciduous woods from AK to Newfoundland, S into N US and Appalachians.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
Coccyzus americanus
Total length 12in.
Brown above, creamy white below, long tail with prominent white spots on the underside. Bill and skin around the eye are yellow, unlike the related Black-billed Cuckoo. The most widespread cuckoo in North America. Winters into Central America.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
Nyctanassa violaceo
Total length 2ft.
Similar to the Black-crowned, but with no black on the back, yellow crown, and black and white facial pattern. Juveniles have longer legs than Black-crowned. Habits similar. Call is higher and shorter. Range is mostly E of the Rockies.
YELLOW-PINE CHIPMUNK
Tamias amoenas vTotal length 9in; tail 4in.
Smaller than the Eastern Chipmunk, and although very similar in markings, more brightly colored, with a heavily striped face. The most widely distributed of about 16 species of western chipmunks, found in the Rockies from N BC to N California.
YELLOW-POPLAR (TULIPTREE)
Liriodendron tulipifera
Height up to 120ft.
Tall and rather slender deciduous tree. Leaves 3-6in long, roughly square with 4 pointed lobes; fresh green, yellow in autumn. Flowers 2in across, 6 greenish petals. Fruits 3in long, conelike. Damp soils. E US; planted on W coast.
YELLOW-RATTLE
Rhinanthus crista-galli
Height up to 1-1/2ft.
Upright plant. Leaves 1-2in long, ovate, toothed, and opposite. Flowers 1/2in long, hooded, and yellow with inflated green calyx at base; in spikes (Jun-Sep). Seeds rattle in pods. Grassland. Widespread in AK and Canada; local NE US.
ZEBRA
Eurytides marcellus
Wingspan 3in.
A large, attractive butterfly with contrasting black and white stripes, and long "tails." Its flight is fast and swooping. The adults often gather around puddles or stream edges to drink. Confined to the SE of the US, close to pawpaw plants on which the large green caterpillars feed.
ZEBRA HELICONIAN
Heliconius charitonius
Wingspan 3in.
An elegant, large butterfly with unmistakable wide wings, black with yellow bands. Caterpillars are white with long black spines. Caterpillars feed on poisonous passion flowers, and retain the poisons to protect them from predators. Found in the S US.
