Places Nature Centers & Preservesthe NC Estuarium

Wildlife in North Carolina Estuarium

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

326
recent observations
30
species listed
11
birds
4
reptiles & amphibians
8
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 326 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in the NC Estuarium. The most frequently seen is the Pond Slider, with 48 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (11 of the species listed here), followed by reptiles & amphibians (4).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist📋 Printable field sheet

Most-observed species in the NC Estuarium

Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
48 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
40 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
30 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
16 observations
Purple Martin
Progne subis
15 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
12 observations
Common Snapping Turtle
Chelydra serpentina
11 observations
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
10 observations
Bitterweed
Helenium amarum
10 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
9 observations
peppervine
Nekemias arborea
9 observations · iNaturalist
Saltmarsh mallow
Kosteletzkya pentacarpos
8 observations
Eastern Ratsnake
Pantherophis quadrivittatus
8 observations · iNaturalist
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
7 observations
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
7 observations
Common Green June Beetle
Cotinis nitida
7 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
7 observations · iNaturalist
American Lady
Vanessa virginiensis
6 observations
baldcypress
Taxodium distichum
6 observations
ribwort plantain
Plantago lanceolata
6 observations
henbit deadnettle
Lamium amplexicaule
6 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Pondhawk
Erythemis simplicicollis
6 observations
Needham's Skimmer
Libellula needhami
6 observations · iNaturalist
Two-lined Spittlebug
Prosapia bicincta
6 observations · iNaturalist
American Coot
Fulica americana
5 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
5 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
5 observations
North American Luna Moth
Actias luna
5 observations
Common Buckeye
Junonia coenia
5 observations
pink-sorrel
Oxalis articulata
5 observations · iNaturalist

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