Species library

Western Black Carpenter Ant

Camponotus modoc

The Western Black Carpenter Ant is a forest architect recognizable by its impressive size and signature reddish-maroo...

Insects

Western Blacknose Dace

Rhinichthys obtusus

Meet the Western Blacknose Dace, the sleek 'racing stripe' minnow of North America's clear-running streams. These sma...

Fish

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

A flash of cobalt blue against a rusty breast marks the arrival of the Western Bluebird, one of the most beloved back...

Birds

Western Bonelli's Warbler

Phylloscopus bonelli

A minimalist beauty of the Mediterranean woods, the Western Bonelli’s Warbler is best known for its bright white plum...

Birds

Western Brook Lamprey

Lampetra richardsoni

A mysterious 'living fossil' of the Pacific Northwest, the Western Brook Lamprey is a non-parasitic, jawless fish tha...

Fish

Western Bumble Bee

Bombus occidentalis

Recognizable by the snowy white tip of its abdomen, the Western Bumble Bee is a master of buzz pollination and a vita...

Insects

Western Cattle-Egret

Ardea ibis

The Western Cattle Egret is the bold explorer of the heron world, trading the swamp for the open field. Famous for hi...

Birds

Western Chorus Frog

Pseudacris triseriata

The Western Chorus Frog is the tiny, striped herald of spring, famous for a call that sounds like a comb's teeth clic...

Amphibians

Western Corn Rootworm

Diabrotica virgifera

A striking yellow-and-black beetle with a big reputation, the Western Corn Rootworm is a fascinating study in miniatu...

Insects

Western Deer Mouse

Peromyscus sonoriensis

Meet the Western Deer Mouse, a wide-eyed and nimble nocturnal acrobat. While they may be small, these native rodents ...

Mammals

Western Drywood Termite

Incisitermes minor

The Western Drywood Termite is a master of hidden architecture, living entirely within the wood it consumes. While th...

Insects

Western Emerald

Chlorostilbon melanorhynchus

A living jewel of the Andes, the Western Emerald dazzles with its metallic green feathers and acrobatic flight. This ...

Birds

Western Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

A master of the shaded understory, the Western Flycatcher is a small but spirited bird known for its distinctive tear...

Birds

Western Forktail

Ischnura perparva

The Western Forktail is a miniature marvel of the backyard pond, sporting a brilliant green thorax and an electric-bl...

Insects

Western Foxsnake

Pantherophis ramspotti

A harmless, hard-working rodent hunter of the American Midwest, the Western Foxsnake is easily recognized by its vibr...

Reptiles

Western Gaboon Viper

Bitis rhinoceros

The Western Gaboon Viper is a masterpiece of natural engineering, boasting the longest fangs and the most sophisticat...

Reptiles

Western Gorilla

Gorilla gorilla

The Western Gorilla is a symbol of the African rainforest’s untamed majesty, known for its incredible strength and co...

Mammals

Western Gray Squirrel

Sciurus griseus

The 'silver ghost' of the Western woods, this elegant squirrel is known for its spectacular plume-like tail and shy d...

Mammals

Western Greater Long-nosed Armadillo

Dasypus pastasae

The Western Greater Long-nosed Armadillo is a prehistoric-looking titan of the Amazonian undergrowth. Bulkier and mor...

Mammals

Western Grebe

Aechmophorus occidentalis

Witness the spectacular 'water-dance' of the Western Grebe, a master of the wetlands with a swan-like neck and pierci...

Birds

Western Gregory

Plectroglyphidodon obreptus

The feisty 'farmer' of the shallow reef, the Western Gregory is a small fish with a massive personality. Watch as thi...

Fish

Western Ground Snake

Atractus occidentalis

A secretive inhabitant of the Ecuadorian forest floor, the Western Ground Snake is a master of the subterranean world...

Reptiles

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

The charismatic king of the West Coast shoreline, the Western Gull is a master of adaptation and a constant companion...

Birds

Western Japanese Common Toad

Bufo praetextatus

A stoic and nocturnal guardian of the garden, the Western Japanese Common Toad is a master of camouflage and a legend...

Amphibians

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

A fearless aerial acrobat with a sunny disposition, the Western Kingbird is the undisputed ruler of the backyard fenc...

Birds

Western Leopard Toad

Sclerophrys pantherina

A vibrant jewel of the Cape, the Western Leopard Toad is famous for its striking patterns and its dramatic annual mig...

Amphibians

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

The Western Marsh Harrier is the graceful ghost of the wetlands, easily recognized by its steady, low-level glide and...

Birds

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

The Western Meadowlark is a vibrant symbol of the open prairie, easily recognized by its brilliant yellow chest and i...

Birds

Western Mosquitofish

Gambusia affinis

The ultimate backyard survivor, the Western Mosquitofish is a tiny powerhouse known for its voracious appetite for pe...

Fish

Western Natal Green Snake

Philothamnus occidentalis

A vibrant, emerald-green jewel of the garden, the Western Natal Green Snake is a harmless arboreal hunter that thrive...

Reptiles

Western Orphean Warbler

Curruca hortensis

With its piercing pale eyes and sophisticated song, the Western Orphean Warbler is a crown jewel of the Mediterranean...

Birds

Western Patch-nosed Snake

Salvadora hexalepis

Meet the desert’s most specialized excavator. The Western Patch-nosed Snake is a sleek, striped speedster known for t...

Reptiles

Western Polecat

Mustela putorius

The wild ancestor of the domestic ferret, the Western Polecat is a masked marauder of the night. Once rare, this elus...

Mammals

Western Pondhawk

Erythemis collocata

The Western Pondhawk is the 'blue bomber' of the garden, a fierce and beautiful aerial acrobat that provides natural ...

Insects

Western Rainbow Boa

Epicrates cenchria

Witness the living jewel of the Amazon, a serpent world-renowned for its shimmering, holographic scales and gentle na...

Reptiles

Western Ratsnake

Pantherophis obsoletus

The Western Ratsnake is North America's master climber, a powerful and harmless constrictor that serves as an essenti...

Reptiles