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Wildlife in California

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

2,102,949
recent observations
30
species listed
20
birds
3
reptiles & amphibians
3
plants

Naturalists have logged 2,102,949 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Western Fence Lizard, with 189,954 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (20 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (3).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in California

Western Fence Lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
189,954 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
107,230 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
99,959 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
99,188 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
79,373 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
78,636 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
76,873 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
74,560 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
69,927 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
68,937 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
67,596 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
67,571 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
66,434 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
61,568 observations
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
61,516 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
60,780 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
59,914 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
58,201 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
58,190 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
57,826 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
56,160 observations
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
55,860 observations
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
55,694 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
55,255 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
54,541 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
54,336 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
52,936 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
51,746 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
51,413 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
50,775 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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