Wildlife Species Library

Wildflowers

Welsh Poppy

Papaver cambricum

A burst of sunshine in the shadiest corners, the Welsh Poppy is a hardy mountain native that has found a second home ...

Reptiles

West African slender-snouted crocodile

Mecistops cataphractus

The West African slender-snouted crocodile is a master of camouflage and a symbol of the pristine rainforest waterway...

Mammals

West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

The West Indian Manatee is a gentle aquatic giant, often called the 'sea cow' for its peaceful grazing habits. Found ...

Birds

West Indian Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna arborea

A rare and elegant Caribbean resident, the West Indian Whistling-Duck is famous for its haunting nightly calls and it...

Birds

West Peruvian Dove

Zenaida meloda

With its soulful melodic song and striking blue 'eyeliner,' the West Peruvian Dove is a charming staple of coastal So...

Insects

Western Black Carpenter Ant

Camponotus modoc

The Western Black Carpenter Ant is a forest architect recognizable by its impressive size and signature reddish-maroo...

Fish

Western Blacknose Dace

Rhinichthys obtusus

Meet the Western Blacknose Dace, the sleek 'racing stripe' minnow of North America's clear-running streams. These sma...

Birds

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

A flash of cobalt blue against a rusty breast marks the arrival of the Western Bluebird, one of the most beloved back...

Wildflowers

Western Bog Laurel

Kalmia microphylla

A hardy jewel of the mountain wetlands, Western Bog Laurel dazzles with its bowl-shaped pink blossoms and fascinating...

Birds

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus bonelli

A minimalist beauty of the Mediterranean woods, the Western Bonelli’s Warbler is best known for its bright white plum...

Insects

Western Bumble Bee

Bombus occidentalis

Recognizable by the snowy white tip of its abdomen, the Western Bumble Bee is a master of buzz pollination and a vita...

Birds

Western Cattle-Egret

Ardea ibis

The Western Cattle Egret is the bold explorer of the heron world, trading the swamp for the open field. Famous for hi...

Amphibians

Western Chorus Frog

Pseudacris triseriata

The Western Chorus Frog is the tiny, striped herald of spring, famous for a call that sounds like a comb's teeth clic...

Insects

Western Corn Rootworm

Diabrotica virgifera

A striking yellow-and-black beetle with a big reputation, the Western Corn Rootworm is a fascinating study in miniatu...

Mammals

Western Deer Mouse

Peromyscus sonoriensis

Meet the Western Deer Mouse, a wide-eyed and nimble nocturnal acrobat. While they may be small, these native rodents ...

Insects

Western Drywood Termite

Incisitermes minor

The Western Drywood Termite is a master of hidden architecture, living entirely within the wood it consumes. While th...

Birds

Western Emerald

Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus

A living jewel of the Andes, the Western Emerald dazzles with its metallic green feathers and acrobatic flight. This ...

Birds

Western Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

A master of the shaded understory, the Western Flycatcher is a small but spirited bird known for its distinctive tear...

Insects

Western Forktail

Ischnura perparva

The Western Forktail is a miniature marvel of the backyard pond, sporting a brilliant green thorax and an electric-bl...

Mammals

Western Gorilla

Gorilla gorilla

The Western Gorilla is a symbol of the African rainforest’s untamed majesty, known for its incredible strength and co...

Mammals

Western Gray Squirrel

Sciurus griseus

The 'silver ghost' of the Western woods, this elegant squirrel is known for its spectacular plume-like tail and shy d...

Mammals

Western Greater Long-nosed Armadillo

Dasypus pastasae

The Western Greater Long-nosed Armadillo is a prehistoric-looking titan of the Amazonian undergrowth. Bulkier and mor...

Birds

Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Witness the spectacular 'water-dance' of the Western Grebe, a master of the wetlands with a swan-like neck and pierci...

Fish

Western Gregory

Plectroglyphidodon obreptus

The feisty 'farmer' of the shallow reef, the Western Gregory is a small fish with a massive personality. Watch as thi...

Birds

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

The charismatic king of the West Coast shoreline, the Western Gull is a master of adaptation and a constant companion...

Wildflowers

western hawkweed

Hieracium scouleri

A shaggy, silver-haired survivor of the western mountains, Scouler's woollyweed brightens dry slopes with its golden,...

Amphibians

Western Japanese Common Toad

Bufo praetextatus

A stoic and nocturnal guardian of the garden, the Western Japanese Common Toad is a master of camouflage and a legend...

Birds

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

A fearless aerial acrobat with a sunny disposition, the Western Kingbird is the undisputed ruler of the backyard fenc...

Conifers

western larch

Larix occidentalis

The western larch is the golden giant of the Northwest mountains, a rare deciduous conifer that sets the forest ablaz...

Amphibians

Western Leopard Toad

Sclerophrys pantherina

A vibrant jewel of the Cape, the Western Leopard Toad is famous for its striking patterns and its dramatic annual mig...

Birds

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

The Western Marsh Harrier is the graceful ghost of the wetlands, easily recognized by its steady, low-level glide and...

Birds

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

The Western Meadowlark is a vibrant symbol of the open prairie, easily recognized by its brilliant yellow chest and i...

Fish

Western Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis

The ultimate backyard survivor, the Western Mosquitofish is a tiny powerhouse known for its voracious appetite for pe...

Birds

Western Orphean Warbler

Curruca hortensis

With its piercing pale eyes and sophisticated song, the Western Orphean Warbler is a crown jewel of the Mediterranean...

Mammals

Western Polecat

Mustela putorius

The wild ancestor of the domestic ferret, the Western Polecat is a masked marauder of the night. Once rare, this elus...

Insects

Western Pondhawk

Erythemis collocata

The Western Pondhawk is the 'blue bomber' of the garden, a fierce and beautiful aerial acrobat that provides natural ...