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Wildlife in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge

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

8,303
recent observations
30
species listed
24
birds
5
plants
1
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 8,303 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Jamaica Bay. The most frequently seen is the Northern Yellow Warbler, with 481 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (24 of the species listed here), followed by plants (5).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist📋 Printable field sheet

Most-observed species in Jamaica Bay

Northern Yellow Warbler
Setophaga aestiva
481 observations
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
445 observations
rugosa rose
Rosa rugosa
387 observations · iNaturalist
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
385 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
377 observations
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
363 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
337 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
329 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
319 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
283 observations
shining sumac
Rhus copallinum
281 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
280 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
275 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
259 observations
Lesser Yellowlegs
Tringa flavipes
258 observations
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Calidris pusilla
257 observations
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
253 observations
Brant
Branta bernicla
253 observations
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellus
244 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
228 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
221 observations
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
216 observations
low pricklypear
Opuntia humifusa
208 observations
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
202 observations
American trumpet vine
Campsis radicans
199 observations
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
197 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
197 observations
common soapwort
Saponaria officinalis
191 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Lanternfly
Lycorma delicatula
190 observations
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
188 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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