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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.

105,248
recent observations
30
species listed
10
birds
7
insects & arthropods
11
plants

Naturalists have logged 105,248 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Washington, D.C.. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 6,756 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (10 of the species listed here), followed by insects & arthropods (7).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Washington, D.C.

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
6,756 observations
Spotted Lanternfly
Lycorma delicatula
6,504 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
5,523 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
5,197 observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
4,988 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
4,982 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
4,971 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
4,215 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
4,182 observations
Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
3,886 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
3,710 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,531 observations
Porcelain Berry
Ampelopsis glandulosa
3,529 observations · iNaturalist
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
3,271 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
3,270 observations
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
3,262 observations
Huron Skipper
Atalopedes huron
3,024 observations · iNaturalist
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
2,987 observations · iNaturalist
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
2,626 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
2,571 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
2,548 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,329 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
2,270 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
2,263 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
2,236 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
2,173 observations
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
2,163 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
2,119 observations
Wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
2,098 observations
Common Ivy
Hedera helix
2,064 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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