Species people mix up

Some of the most important IDs in nature are the trickiest: venomous snake or harmless one, poison plant or lookalike vine, monarch or mimic. Each guide below gives you the two or three field marks that actually settle it.

Snakes

vsCopperhead vs Eastern Rat SnakeIs the snake in my yard venomous?vsCopperhead vs Common WatersnakeHourglasses or saddles - which snake is at the creek?vsCottonmouth vs Common WatersnakeIs that a water moccasin or a harmless watersnake?vsEastern Coral Snake vs Scarlet KingsnakeRed, yellow, black - which one is deadly?vsCommon Garter Snake vs Western RibbonsnakeStriped snake in the garden - garter or ribbon?

Plants

vsPoison Ivy vs Virginia CreeperLeaves of three - or five?vsPoison Hemlock vs Queen Anne's LaceWhite umbrella flowers - carrot or killer?vsPoison Hemlock vs Cow ParsnipTwo giant white umbels - which is which?vsPoison Sumac vs Staghorn SumacIs the sumac on my land the poison kind?

Insects

vsMonarch Butterfly vs ViceroyWhich orange butterfly is on the milkweed?vsEastern Carpenter Bee vs Common Eastern Bumble BeeBig black bee by the deck - carpenter or bumble?vsBald-faced Hornet vs European Paper WaspWhat built the nest under my eave?

Birds

vsCooper's Hawk vs Sharp-shinned HawkWhich hawk is raiding the bird feeder?vsAmerican Crow vs Common RavenBig black corvid - crow or raven?vsTurkey Vulture vs Black VultureWhich vulture is circling overhead?vsBald Eagle vs Golden EagleHuge dark eagle without a white head - which is it?

Mammals

vsCoyote vs Gray WolfThat canine crossing the field - coyote or wolf?vsBobcat vs Mountain LionWild cat in the yard - how big a deal is it?vsRed Fox vs Gray FoxWhich fox is on the trail camera?vsAmerican Black Bear vs Grizzly BearWhich bear is on the trail - and why it changes everythingvsAmerican Mink vs North American River OtterSleek brown animal in the creek - mink or otter?