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Wildlife in Washington, D.C.

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

103,131
recent observations
30
species listed
10
birds
11
plants
7
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 103,131 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Washington, D.C.. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 6,613 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (10 of the species listed here), followed by plants (11).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Washington, D.C.

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
6,613 observations
Spotted Lanternfly
Lycorma delicatula
6,233 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
5,456 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
5,088 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
4,940 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
4,902 observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
4,693 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
4,097 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
4,067 observations
Amur honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
3,789 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
3,660 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,458 observations
Porcelain Berry
Ampelopsis glandulosa
3,449 observations · iNaturalist
American pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
3,226 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
3,225 observations
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
3,214 observations
lesser celandine
Ficaria verna
2,984 observations · iNaturalist
Huron Skipper
Atalopedes huron
2,914 observations · iNaturalist
garlic mustard
Alliaria petiolata
2,624 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
2,510 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
2,487 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,269 observations
mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
2,257 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
2,225 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
2,206 observations
box elder
Acer negundo
2,164 observations
eastern poison ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
2,156 observations
wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
2,089 observations
American tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
2,087 observations
common ivy
Hedera helix
2,049 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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