Wildlife Species Library

Identification guides, behavior notes, and camera tips for the wildlife visiting backyard habitats across the EverydayEarth community.

Showing 1-36 of 157 species

Laced Moray
Fish

Laced Moray

Gymnothorax favagineus

The Laced Moray is the stunning 'leopard' of the ocean, draped in a high-contrast honeycomb pattern that provides per...

Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Birds

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Dryobates scalaris

A spirited desert specialist, the Ladder-backed Woodpecker brings a splash of red and striking geometric patterns to ...

lady fern
Ferns

lady fern

Athyrium filix-femina

Elegant, feathery, and remarkably resilient, the Lady Fern is the 'grand dame' of the shady garden. Its delicate fron...

Lady's Bedstraw
Wildflowers

Lady's Bedstraw

Galium verum

Transforming meadows into golden carpets, Lady's Bedstraw is a fragrant perennial that brings a touch of ancient suns...

Lake Trout
Fish

Lake Trout

Salvelinus namaycush

The ghost of the deep, the Lake Trout is a powerful, long-lived predator that thrives in the frigid depths of North A...

Lake Whitefish
Fish

Lake Whitefish

Coregonus clupeaformis

The 'humpback' silver ghost of the Great Lakes, the Lake Whitefish is a cold-water icon known for its shimmering scal...

Lane Snapper
Fish

Lane Snapper

Lutjanus synagris

A vibrant inhabitant of Western Atlantic reefs, the Lane Snapper is easily identified by its 'thumbprint' spot and st...

Lapland Longspur
Birds

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

A master of the open tundra, the Lapland Longspur brings a touch of the Arctic to winter fields. With its striking ch...

Lappet-faced Vulture
Birds

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Meet the powerhouse of the savanna. With a nine-foot wingspan and a beak that can tear through hide, the Lappet-faced...

Large-billed Crow
Birds

Large-billed Crow

Corvus macrorhynchos

Often mistaken for ravens due to their massive size and heavy beaks, Large-billed Crows are the master tacticians of ...

large-flowered beardtongue
Wildflowers

large-flowered beardtongue

Penstemon grandiflorus

The crown jewel of the prairie, the large-flowered beardtongue commands attention with its towering spikes of oversiz...

Large-footed Finch
Birds

Large-footed Finch

Pezopetes capitalis

Meet the 'Bigfoot' of the cloud forest. With its oversized claws and bold personality, this unique highland specialis...

Large Pine Aphid
Insects

Large Pine Aphid

Cinara pinea

The Large Pine Aphid is a master of the miniature forest, a 'spider-like' insect that thrives in the needles of the S...

Large Rose Sawfly
Insects

Large Rose Sawfly

Arge pagana

A striking visitor to the summer garden, the Large Rose Sawfly is easily identified by its vibrant orange abdomen and...

Large Skipper
Insects

Large Skipper

Ochlodes sylvanus

Meet the 'jet fighter' of the butterfly world. With its stout, furry body and unique angled-wing resting pose, the La...

Large Waxy Willow Aphid
Insects

Large Waxy Willow Aphid

Plocamaphis flocculosa

Often mistaken for a patch of summer snow or fuzzy mold, the Large Waxy Willow Aphid is a master of disguise. These '...

Large White
Insects

Large White

Pieris brassicae

A bold and powerful flyer, the Large White is a staple of the summer garden. Known for its brilliant white wings and ...

Large Yellow Underwing
Insects

Large Yellow Underwing

Noctua pronuba

A frequent visitor to backyard porch lights, the Large Yellow Underwing hides a brilliant secret beneath its drab ext...

largeflower Mexican clover
Wildflowers

largeflower Mexican clover

Richardia grandiflora

Transforming lawns into blankets of 'Florida snow,' the largeflower Mexican clover is a resilient, low-growing wildfl...

Larger Citronella Ant
Insects

Larger Citronella Ant

Lasius interjectus

Known for their striking golden color and surprising lemon scent, Larger Citronella Ants are the "invisible gardeners...

Largescale Stoneroller
Fish

Largescale Stoneroller

Campostoma oligolepis

The industrious architect of the stream bed, the Largescale Stoneroller is famous for its 'rock-rolling' behavior and...

Lark Sparrow
Birds

Lark Sparrow

Chondestes grammacus

Boasting one of the most beautiful facial patterns of any North American sparrow, the Lark Sparrow is a bold, ground-...

Lattice-tailed Trogon
Birds

Lattice-tailed Trogon

Trogon clathratus

A secretive gem of the Caribbean slope, the Lattice-tailed Trogon is famous for the intricate white patterns beneath ...

Laughing Dove
Birds

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Named for its distinctive bubbling coo that sounds just like a human chuckle, the Laughing Dove is a dainty and color...

Laughing Gull
Birds

Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

Meet the boisterous comedian of the coastline. Known for their raucous calls and striking summer hoods, Laughing Gull...

Lawrence's Goldfinch
Birds

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

The 'Gray Ghost' of the West, Lawrence’s Goldfinch is a nomadic treasure that graces backyards with its subtle charco...

Lazuli Bunting
Birds

Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena

Bring the brilliant azure of the West to your screen. The Lazuli Bunting is a summer jewel whose vibrant colors and c...

Leaf Scorpionfish
Fish

Leaf Scorpionfish

Taenianotus triacanthus

The ocean's most remarkable mimic, the Leaf Scorpionfish sways in the current like a fallen leaf, hiding a lightning-...

Leafy Filefish
Fish

Leafy Filefish

Chaetodermis penicilligerus

The ultimate master of marine disguise, the Leafy Filefish uses elaborate skin tassels and a swaying motion to transf...

Least Auklet
Birds

Least Auklet

Aethia pusilla

Meet the smallest seabird in the Northern Hemisphere, a pint-sized powerhouse that thrives in the world's most turbul...

Least Bittern
Birds

Least Bittern

Botaurus exilis

Meet the ultimate marshland ghost. The Least Bittern is a tiny, secretive acrobat that prefers climbing through reeds...

Least Brook Lamprey
Fish

Least Brook Lamprey

Lampetra aepyptera

Meet the Least Brook Lamprey, a harmless, ancient resident of North American streams that spends years hidden in the ...

Least Chipmunk
Mammals

Least Chipmunk

Neotamias minimus

The smallest of all chipmunks, the Least Chipmunk is a frantic bundle of stripes and speed. Watching them navigate th...

Least Flycatcher
Birds

Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus

The smallest and spunkiest of the eastern flycatchers, this tiny bird is a master of aerial interceptions and backyar...

Least Killifish
Fish

Least Killifish

Heterandria formosa

Meet North America's smallest fish, a tiny livebearer that thrives in the hidden jungles of backyard ponds and southe...

Least Sandpiper
Birds

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

The Least Sandpiper may be small enough to fit in your palm, but this 'peep' is a giant of migration. Recognizable by...

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