Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Pennsylvania

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

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 16,333 records
  2. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 13,205 records
  3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 11,215 records
  4. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 10,519 records
  5. Mourning Dove Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 9,828 records
  6. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 9,792 records
  7. Red-Tailed Hawk Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 9,305 records
  8. Great Blue Heron Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 9,175 records
  9. Song Sparrow Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 8,943 records
  10. Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 8,384 records
  11. Blue Jay Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata 8,191 records
  12. White-Throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis 8,065 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Pennsylvania

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata 12,149 records
  2. Mayapple Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum 10,421 records
  3. American Pokeweed American Pokeweed Phytolacca americana 8,948 records
  4. Multiflora Rose Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora 8,817 records
  5. Eastern Skunk Cabbage Eastern Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus 8,214 records
  6. Dame's Rocket Dame's Rocket Hesperis matronalis 8,190 records
  7. Ground-Ivy Ground-Ivy Glechoma hederacea 7,960 records
  8. Virginia Springbeauty Claytonia virginica 7,810 records
  9. White Snakeroot White Snakeroot Ageratina altissima 7,668 records
  10. Common Milkweed Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca 7,557 records
  11. Common Mugwort Common Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris 7,310 records
  12. Lesser Celandine Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna 7,106 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Pennsylvania

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Spotted Lanternfly Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula 17,107 records
  2. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 11,593 records
  3. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 11,476 records
  4. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 10,362 records
  5. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 9,540 records
  6. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus 8,178 records
  7. Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica 5,950 records
  8. Huron Skipper Atalopedes huron 5,793 records
  9. Isabella Tiger Moth Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella 4,972 records
  10. Small White Small White Pieris rapae 4,896 records
  11. Silver-Spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus 4,659 records
  12. Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes 4,555 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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