Places CitiesNorfolk

Wildlife near Norfolk, VA

Illustrated wildlife of Norfolk

Norfolk sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, threaded with tidal rivers and inlets. Ospreys nest on every channel marker and piling, brown pelicans and great blue herons work the water, and bottlenose dolphins come right into the harbor in summer. The neighborhoods hold gray squirrels and cardinals, and the bay draws huge numbers of wintering ducks, tundra swans, and snow geese to the surrounding marshes.

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

33,276
recent observations
30
species listed
13
birds
6
insects & arthropods
2
mammals

Naturalists have logged 33,276 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species near Norfolk. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 3,028 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (13 of the species listed here), followed by insects & arthropods (6).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species near Norfolk

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
3,028 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
2,056 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
1,821 observations
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
1,595 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
1,463 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
1,303 observations
Yellow Garden Spider
Argiope aurantia
1,246 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
1,234 observations
Pond Slider
Trachemys scripta
1,109 observations
white clover
Trifolium repens
1,025 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,018 observations
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
1,003 observations
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
988 observations
Great Egret
Ardea alba
988 observations
Atlantic Ghost Crab
Ocypode quadrata
976 observations · iNaturalist
Double-crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
954 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
950 observations
Black Swallowtail
Papilio polyxenes
942 observations
Common Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
900 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
866 observations
American sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
853 observations
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
837 observations
North American Wheel Bug
Arilus cristatus
806 observations
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
801 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
799 observations
loblolly pine
Pinus taeda
785 observations
Laughing Gull
Leucophaeus atricilla
782 observations
Northern Cottonmouth
Agkistrodon piscivorus
736 observations
American trumpet vine
Campsis radicans
723 observations
Southern Toad
Anaxyrus terrestris
689 observations

Get rare-sighting alerts for Norfolk

We’ll email you when an uncommon or rare species is spotted here. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

More wildlife near Norfolk

Exploring Norfolk?

Take Huck with you. Identify any wildlife you find in seconds, and watch the live map of what is being spotted near Norfolk right now.

Get Huck

Exploring Norfolk? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what naturalists are finding - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.