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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.

104,687
recent observations
30
species listed
10
birds
7
insects & arthropods
11
plants

Naturalists have logged 104,687 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Washington, D.C.. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 6,719 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
6,719 observations
Spotted Lanternfly
Lycorma delicatula
6,451 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
5,505 observations
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
5,176 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
4,972 observations
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
4,942 observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee
Bombus impatiens
4,863 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
4,177 observations
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
4,160 observations
Amur Honeysuckle
Lonicera maackii
3,868 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
3,694 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,516 observations
Porcelain Berry
Ampelopsis glandulosa
3,498 observations · iNaturalist
American Pokeweed
Phytolacca americana
3,259 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
3,255 observations
Eastern Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
3,255 observations
Huron Skipper
Atalopedes huron
3,000 observations · iNaturalist
Lesser Celandine
Ficaria verna
2,987 observations · iNaturalist
Garlic Mustard
Alliaria petiolata
2,624 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
2,565 observations
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
2,539 observations
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
2,318 observations
Mayapple
Podophyllum peltatum
2,262 observations
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
2,254 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
2,234 observations
Box Elder
Acer negundo
2,170 observations
Eastern Poison Ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
2,161 observations
American Tuliptree
Liriodendron tulipifera
2,109 observations
Wineberry
Rubus phoenicolasius
2,095 observations
Common Ivy
Hedera helix
2,059 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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