There are about 29 native species of ducks in North America today, from mallards and pintails to redheads and gadwalls – just to name a few. That does not even include the various species of mergansers, grebes, loons and geese.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Beetles are among the most common insect species on Earth. In fact, there are over 400,000 species of beetles known today, and those are just the species we know about right now. More species are being discovered and named every year.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Enormous Bugling Elk
In the western United States, the second largest member of the deer family roams the mountains and meadows. This is the elk, or wapiti as they were known to Native Americans when Europeans first appeared on the continent.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Ant-Eating Northern Flicker
The Northern Flicker is a large woodpecker that lives throughout the United States and most of North America. These birds are a bit larger than an American Robin and are often seen on the ground, similar to Robins.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Speedy Western Pronghorn
In the western United States, the fastest land animal is the Pronghorn. They look like antelope, and many people called these animals “pronghorn antelope” and “prairie antelope”, but they are actually not antelope at all.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Stinging Bald-Faced Hornet
Hornets! Bald-Faced Hornets! When some people hear those words, their first thought is to run! But there is no need to fear bald-faced hornets in most cases.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Fly-Catching Eastern Phoebe
The Eastern Phoebe is a very accomplished flycatcher. This bird is dark brown on its back, head and wings (dark gray on some individuals), and has a white or off-white belly and breast.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Subterranean Crawfish Frog
Of all the different frog species in North America, one of the most unusual and interesting is the Crawfish Frog. These shy frogs spend most of their lives underground, so few people ever see them.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Intelligent American Crow
American Crows are large, common birds that can be found throughout most of the United States and even much of Canada during the breeding season. One area that they really avoid is the dry, desert regions of the southwest USA.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Beneficial Midland Water Snake
A lot of people do not like snakes. But snakes are actually a valuable part of the environment, and they have an important role to play wherever they live. Most snakes are totally harmless, too.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Elusive Red-Eyed Vireo
There are many birds that are often heard but rarely seen. One of those is the elusive Red-Eyed Vireo. These birds are a dull olive-green color above with a white breast.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Multi-Colored Striped Shiner
Minnows are interesting fish that most people never think about. When people do think of minnows, they usually think about them as being used as bait to catch bigger fish.