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Wildlife near Kansas City, MO

Illustrated wildlife of Kansas City

Kansas City straddles the Missouri River right where the eastern forest gives way to the prairie, and both worlds show up. The river and its bluffs draw bald eagles, pelicans, and great blue herons, the neighborhoods hold fox squirrels, cottontails, and northern cardinals, and the restored prairies at the city’s edge bring back meadowlarks and the occasional coyote. Monarchs pour through on the central flyway each fall.

Everything below is pulled live from recent research-grade observations near Kansas City. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

22,824
recent observations
30
species listed
10
birds
7
plants
6
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 22,824 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species near Kansas City. The most frequently seen is the American Robin, with 1,525 recorded sightings.

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

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species near Kansas City

American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,525 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
1,324 observations
Amur honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
1,238 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
1,148 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
965 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
935 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
856 observations
North American Wheel Bug
Arilus cristatus
811 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
801 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
734 observations
American pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
732 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
729 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
718 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
703 observations
mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
689 observations
Blanchard's Cricket Frog
Acris blanchardi
685 observations · iNaturalist
Common Five-lined Skink
Plestiodon fasciatus
681 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
647 observations
common pawpaw
Asimina triloba
622 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
599 observations
eastern redbud
Cercis canadensis
598 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
596 observations
common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
596 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
586 observations
American Toad
Anaxyrus americanus
568 observations
Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus
562 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
550 observations
garlic mustard
Alliaria petiolata
548 observations
Hackberry Emperor
Asterocampa celtis
540 observations
American Bullfrog
Lithobates catesbeianus
538 observations

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