Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Indiana

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Indiana. A starting field list, drawn from iNaturalist research-grade observations, for what is likely living near you.

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Birds

Birds Commonly Recorded In Indiana

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 4,498 records
  2. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 3,686 records
  3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 3,599 records
  4. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 3,270 records
  5. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 2,627 records
  6. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 2,612 records
  7. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens 2,434 records
  8. Mourning Dove Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 2,357 records
  9. Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 2,354 records
  10. Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 2,258 records
  11. American Goldfinch American Goldfinch Spinus tristis 2,228 records
  12. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 1,964 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Indiana

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Amur Honeysuckle Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii 4,874 records
  2. Mayapple Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum 4,625 records
  3. Virginia Springbeauty Claytonia virginica 4,584 records
  4. American Pokeweed American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana 3,790 records
  5. Prairie Trillium Trillium recurvatum 3,651 records
  6. Bloodroot Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis 3,115 records
  7. Common Pawpaw Common Pawpaw Asimina triloba 3,089 records
  8. Cut-Leaved Toothwort Cut-Leaved Toothwort Cardamine concatenata 3,075 records
  9. Common Milkweed Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca 3,009 records
  10. American Tuliptree American Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera 2,799 records
  11. Common Jewelweed Common Jewelweed Impatiens capensis 2,753 records
  12. Ground-Ivy Ground-Ivy Glechoma hederacea 2,748 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Indiana

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 4,710 records
  2. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 3,816 records
  3. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 3,698 records
  4. Margined Calligrapher Margined Calligrapher Toxomerus marginatus 3,345 records
  5. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 3,326 records
  6. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus 3,317 records
  7. Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica 2,428 records
  8. Brown-Belted Bumble Bee Brown-Belted Bumble Bee Bombus griseocollis 2,273 records
  9. Small White Small White Pieris rapae 2,056 records
  10. Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 1,971 records
  11. North American Wheel Bug North American Wheel Bug Arilus cristatus 1,934 records
  12. Red Admiral Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta 1,812 records

Go Deeper

Use the live finder to narrow this to your town and season. Then read Who Lives Here, how to attract wildlife to your yard, and planting for local wildlife. For tools and field guides, see the recommended gear.

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