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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.

2,091,167
recent observations
30
species listed
20
birds
3
reptiles & amphibians
3
plants

Naturalists have logged 2,091,167 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in California. The most frequently seen is the Western Fence Lizard, with 189,210 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
189,210 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
106,244 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
99,499 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
98,714 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
78,989 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
78,277 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
76,584 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
74,082 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
69,402 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
68,473 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
67,162 observations
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
67,036 observations
California Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
66,083 observations
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
61,434 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
61,336 observations
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
60,348 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
59,462 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
57,854 observations
California Towhee
Melozone crissalis
57,817 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
57,554 observations
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
55,701 observations
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
55,591 observations
California Buckwheat
Eriogonum fasciculatum
55,533 observations · iNaturalist
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
54,573 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
54,302 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
54,157 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
52,760 observations
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
51,434 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
51,107 observations
Pacific Chorus Frog
Pseudacris regilla
50,449 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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