Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Missouri

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

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 4,148 records
  2. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 4,139 records
  3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 2,884 records
  4. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 2,483 records
  5. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens 2,140 records
  6. Mourning Dove Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 2,109 records
  7. American Goldfinch American Goldfinch Spinus tristis 2,108 records
  8. Red-Tailed Hawk Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2,067 records
  9. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 1,992 records
  10. Eastern Bluebird Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 1,949 records
  11. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 1,946 records
  12. White-Throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis 1,889 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Missouri

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Amur Honeysuckle Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii 3,831 records
  2. Virginia Springbeauty Claytonia virginica 3,396 records
  3. Mayapple Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum 3,392 records
  4. Eastern Redbud Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis 2,836 records
  5. Blue Phlox Blue Phlox Phlox divaricata 2,753 records
  6. American Pokeweed American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana 2,720 records
  7. Common Pawpaw Common Pawpaw Asimina triloba 2,365 records
  8. White Clover White Clover Trifolium repens 2,162 records
  9. Fragrant Sumac Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica 2,042 records
  10. Carolina Horsenettle Carolina Horsenettle Solanum carolinense 2,024 records
  11. Tall Bellflower Tall Bellflower Campanulastrum americanum 1,925 records
  12. Virginia Bluebells Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica 1,867 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Missouri

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Brown-Belted Bumble Bee Brown-Belted Bumble Bee Bombus griseocollis 8,925 records
  2. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 8,435 records
  3. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 7,540 records
  4. Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica 5,981 records
  5. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 5,402 records
  6. Ligated Furrow Bee Ligated Furrow Bee Halictus ligatus 3,479 records
  7. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 3,397 records
  8. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus 2,872 records
  9. Great Spangled Fritillary Argynnis cybele 2,830 records
  10. Common Buckeye Common Buckeye Junonia coenia 2,768 records
  11. Two-Spotted Bumble Bee Two-Spotted Bumble Bee Bombus bimaculatus 2,546 records
  12. North American Wheel Bug North American Wheel Bug Arilus cristatus 2,458 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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