Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Mississippi

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

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 2,225 records
  2. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1,426 records
  3. Northern Mockingbird Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 1,363 records
  4. Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 1,230 records
  5. Great Egret Great Egret Ardea alba 1,196 records
  6. Little Blue Heron Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 1,010 records
  7. Laughing Gull Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla 909 records
  8. Red-Bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus 896 records
  9. Carolina Wren Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 873 records
  10. Yellow-Rumped Warbler Yellow-Rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata 851 records
  11. Blue Jay Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 805 records
  12. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 800 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Mississippi

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Pale Pitcher Plant Pale Pitcher Plant Sarracenia alata 1,465 records
  2. American Beautyberry American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana 1,456 records
  3. American Sweetgum American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 1,151 records
  4. Lyreleaf Sage Lyreleaf Sage Salvia lyrata 1,126 records
  5. Blue Mistflower Blue Mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum 993 records
  6. Yaupon Holly Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria 984 records
  7. Bristle Thistle Bristle Thistle Cirsium horridulum 983 records
  8. Southern Magnolia Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora 907 records
  9. Saw Greenbrier Smilax bona-nox 882 records
  10. Chinese Privet Chinese Privet Ligustrum sinense 876 records
  11. Chinese Tallow Chinese Tallow Triadica sebifera 870 records
  12. American Persimmon Diospyros virginiana 847 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Mississippi

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Gulf Fritillary Gulf Fritillary Dione vanillae 1,698 records
  2. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus 1,333 records
  3. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 1,293 records
  4. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 1,276 records
  5. Common Buckeye Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 1,217 records
  6. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 1,201 records
  7. Eastern Pondhawk Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis 1,009 records
  8. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 995 records
  9. Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica 906 records
  10. Eastern Lubber Grasshopper Romalea microptera 850 records
  11. Red-Spotted Admiral Red-Spotted Admiral Limenitis arthemis 846 records
  12. Blue Dasher Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis 819 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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