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Wildlife in Boston National Historical Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Boston right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

9,906
recent observations
30
species listed
23
birds
2
mammals
5
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 9,906 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Boston. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 1,428 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (23 of the species listed here), followed by mammals (2).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Boston

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
1,428 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
1,213 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
995 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
845 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
833 observations
American Herring Gull
Larus smithsonianus
521 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
396 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
390 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
371 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
309 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
305 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
288 observations
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
248 observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
169 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
141 observations
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
137 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
133 observations
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
131 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
130 observations
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
103 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
102 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
95 observations
Common Loon
Gavia immer
87 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
86 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
86 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
81 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
77 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
75 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
66 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
65 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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