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Wildlife in Tennessee

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

261,788
recent observations
30
species listed
11
plants
9
birds
6
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 261,788 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Tennessee. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 15,215 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (11 of the species listed here), followed by birds (9).

Rarer finds confirmed in Tennessee include Spotted Wintergreen - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Spotted Wintergreen
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Tennessee

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
15,215 observations
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Papilio glaucus
12,690 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
12,333 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
11,642 observations
Christmas Fern
Polystichum acrostichoides
10,805 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
10,668 observations
Common Box Turtle
Terrapene carolina
10,574 observations
Pipevine Swallowtail
Battus philenor
10,353 observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
9,874 observations
Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
9,553 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
9,123 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
8,996 observations
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
8,411 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
8,076 observations
Central Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
8,009 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
7,666 observations
Downy Rattlesnake Plantain
Goodyera pubescens
7,657 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
7,646 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
7,390 observations
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
7,358 observations
Striped Wintergreen
Chimaphila maculata
7,127 observations
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
7,038 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
7,029 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
6,808 observations
Great Rhododendron
Rhododendron maximum
6,774 observations
American Cancer-root
Conopholis americana
6,769 observations
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
6,626 observations
American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis
6,597 observations
Galax
Galax urceolata
6,498 observations · iNaturalist
Common Jewelweed
Impatiens capensis
6,483 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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