Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Kentucky

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 2,895 records
  2. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 2,252 records
  3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 1,473 records
  4. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 1,392 records
  5. Mourning Dove Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 1,357 records
  6. Wild Turkey Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 1,218 records
  7. Northern Mockingbird Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 1,144 records
  8. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 1,118 records
  9. American Goldfinch American Goldfinch Spinus tristis 1,018 records
  10. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1,001 records
  11. Red-Tailed Hawk Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 998 records
  12. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 984 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Kentucky

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Virginia Springbeauty Claytonia virginica 3,033 records
  2. Mayapple Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum 2,920 records
  3. Christmas Fern Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides 2,630 records
  4. Amur Honeysuckle Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii 2,626 records
  5. Rue Anemone Rue Anemone Thalictrum thalictroides 2,542 records
  6. Blue Phlox Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata 2,516 records
  7. Dwarf Larkspur Dwarf Larkspur Delphinium tricorne 2,431 records
  8. American Pokeweed American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana 2,359 records
  9. Fortune's Spindle Euonymus fortunei 2,281 records
  10. Red Deadnettle Red Deadnettle Lamium purpureum 2,238 records
  11. Common Pawpaw Common Pawpaw Asimina triloba 2,167 records
  12. American Tuliptree American Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera 2,078 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Kentucky

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus 3,187 records
  2. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 2,932 records
  3. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 2,316 records
  4. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 2,169 records
  5. Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica 1,804 records
  6. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 1,758 records
  7. Red-Spotted Admiral Red-Spotted Admiral Limenitis arthemis 1,735 records
  8. Huron Skipper Atalopedes huron 1,696 records
  9. Pearl Crescent Pearl Crescent Phyciodes tharos 1,596 records
  10. Spicebush Swallowtail Spicebush Swallowtail Papilio troilus 1,411 records
  11. Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 1,408 records
  12. Great Spangled Fritillary Argynnis cybele 1,345 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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