Species library
Field marks, habits, and camera tips for the wildlife that visits backyard habitats.
Marbled Murrelet
Brachyramphus marmoratus
The ghost of the old-growth forest, the Marbled Murrelet is a mysterious seabird that links the deep Pacific to the a...
Birds
Marbled Torpedo
Torpedo marmorata
A master of bio-electric warfare, the Marbled Torpedo hides beneath the sand, ready to stun its prey with 80 volts of...
Fish
Margay
Leopardus wiedii
The Margay is nature’s ultimate high-wire act—a small wild cat capable of descending trees head-first and leaping thr...
Mammals
Margined Burying Beetle
Nicrophorus marginatus
Meet the 'sexton' of the insect world, a colorful recycler that performs a vital role in our ecosystems. With its bri...
Insects
Margined Flyingfish
Cheilopogon cyanopterus
Witness the spectacular gliders of the deep blue sea. The Margined Flyingfish is an iridescent acrobat capable of soa...
Fish
Maritime Striped Squirrel
Tamiops maritimus
A master of the canopy, the Maritime Striped Squirrel is a pint-sized acrobat distinguished by its striking racing st...
Mammals
Markhor
Capra falconeri
With its spectacular corkscrew horns and gravity-defying climbing skills, the markhor is the undisputed monarch of th...
Mammals
Maroon-bellied Parakeet
Pyrrhura frontalis
Meet the charming Maroon-bellied Parakeet, a social acrobat of the South American canopy. Known for its playful perso...
Birds
Marsh Bluet
Enallagma ebrium
A jewel of the wetlands, the Marsh Bluet brings a flash of brilliant sky-blue to backyard ponds. This delicate damsel...
Insects
marsh click beetle
Actenicerus siaelandicus
A metallic marvel of the wetlands, the marsh click beetle is an aerial acrobat with a built-in spring mechanism. Watc...
Insects
Marsh Frog
Pelophylax ridibundus
The Marsh Frog is the undisputed heavyweight of the European pond world. Known for its boisterous 'laughing' call and...
Amphibians
Marsh Mongoose
Atilax paludinosus
Master of the African riverbanks, the Marsh Mongoose is a secretive, shaggy-haired specialist that hunts by touch in ...
Mammals
Marsh Rabbit
Sylvilagus palustris
The Marsh Rabbit is the Southeast's most elusive swimmer, a compact and hardy cottontail cousin that thrives in the d...
Mammals
Marsh Sandpiper
Tringa stagnatilis
An elegant, long-legged traveler of the world's wetlands, the Marsh Sandpiper stands out with its needle-thin bill an...
Birds
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustris
The Marsh Tit is a glossy-capped marvel of memory, famous for hiding thousands of seeds across its territory. A shy b...
Birds
Marsh Warbler
Acrocephalus palustris
A master of vocal disguise, the Marsh Warbler weaves the songs of dozens of other birds into a breathtaking acoustic ...
Birds
Marsh Wren
Cistothorus palustris
The spirited voice of the wetlands, the Marsh Wren is a master of camouflage and construction. Famous for building do...
Birds
Martha's Pennant
Celithemis martha
A small but brilliant jewel of the summer wetlands, Martha’s Pennant is famous for its habit of flagging from the tal...
Insects
Martial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
As Africa's largest eagle, the Martial Eagle is a master of the high-altitude hunt. With a wingspan reaching over eig...
Birds
Masked Booby
Sula dactylatra
Meet the largest of the booby family, a striking white-and-black seabird known for its dramatic plunge-dives and icon...
Birds
Masked Duck
Nomonyx dominicus
A master of disappearance, the Masked Duck is the ultimate prize for wetland observers. With its striking cinnamon pl...
Birds
Masked Flowerpiercer
Diglossa cyanea
With its striking ultramarine plumage and piercing red eyes, the Masked Flowerpiercer is a jewel of the Andean cloud ...
Birds
Masked Lapwing
Vanellus miles
The bold architect of the suburban lawn, the Masked Lapwing is impossible to miss with its striking yellow wattles an...
Birds
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
Meet the Masked Shrew, a tiny powerhouse of the northern wilderness. Despite weighing less than a nickel, this energe...
Mammals
Masked Tanager
Stilpnia nigrocincta
A jewel of the Amazonian canopy, the Masked Tanager dazzles with its pale turquoise head and striking black mask. The...
Birds
Masked Trogon
Trogon personatus
A mist-dwelling marvel of the Andes, the Masked Trogon captivates with its brilliant crimson plumage and iconic black...
Birds
Maxwell's Duiker
Philantomba maxwellii
A secretive and graceful inhabitant of West Africa's dense rainforests, the Maxwell's Duiker is a master of the under...
Mammals
McKay's Bunting
Plectrophenax hyperboreus
The McKay's Bunting is the 'Ghost of the Bering Sea,' a stunningly white songbird that thrives in some of the harshes...
Birds
Meadow Grasshopper
Pseudochorthippus parallelus
The Meadow Grasshopper is the rhythmic soul of the summer garden, famous for its 'sewing-machine' song and vibrant gr...
Insects
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensis
The Meadow Pipit is a master of the open fields, famous for its 'parachuting' song flight and its resilient nature. A...
Birds
Meadow Spittlebug
Philaenus spumarius
A master of physics and foam, the Meadow Spittlebug is famous for its bubbly 'cuckoo spit' nurseries and record-break...
Insects
Mealy Amazon
Amazona farinosa
One of the largest and most social parrots of the Americas, the Mealy Amazon is famous for its 'dusted' green plumage...
Birds
Mealybug Destroyer
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
The Mealybug Destroyer is the garden's ultimate secret agent, using a brilliant 'wolf in sheep's clothing' disguise t...
Insects
Median Wasp
Dolichovespula media
The Median Wasp is a master of aerial engineering, building impressive hanging paper nests in the heart of suburban g...
Insects
Mediterranean Gull
Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
With its velvet-black hood and snow-white wingtips, the Mediterranean Gull is the most sophisticated-looking visitor ...
Birds
Mediterranean Horse Mackerel
Trachurus mediterraneus
A silver streak of the sea, the Mediterranean Horse Mackerel is a master of collective motion. Found in shimmering sc...
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