Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Rhode Island

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. American Herring Gull American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus 1,323 records
  2. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 1,205 records
  3. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 976 records
  4. Song Sparrow Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 950 records
  5. Canada Goose Branta canadensis 907 records
  6. Northern Cardinal Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 851 records
  7. Double-Crested Cormorant Double-Crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum 823 records
  8. Gray Catbird Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis 723 records
  9. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 704 records
  10. Wild Turkey Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo 702 records
  11. Mourning Dove Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 694 records
  12. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens 685 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Rhode Island

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Rugosa Rose Rosa rugosa 1,271 records
  2. Common Mugwort Common Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris 952 records
  3. Striped Wintergreen Striped Wintergreen Chimaphila maculata 909 records
  4. Asian Bittersweet Asian Bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus 901 records
  5. Sweet Pepperbush Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnifolia 881 records
  6. Eastern White Pine Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus 809 records
  7. Multiflora Rose Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora 802 records
  8. Common Milkweed Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca 800 records
  9. Eastern Skunk Cabbage Eastern Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus 785 records
  10. Ghost Pipe Ghost Pipe Monotropa uniflora 752 records
  11. Autumn Olive Elaeagnus umbellata 751 records
  12. Sensitive Fern Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis 716 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Rhode Island

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Common Eastern Bumble Bee Common Eastern Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens 1,651 records
  2. Asian Lady Beetle Harmonia axyridis 881 records
  3. Monarch Monarch Danaus plexippus 759 records
  4. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 745 records
  5. Spotted Lanternfly Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula 558 records
  6. Brown-Belted Bumble Bee Brown-Belted Bumble Bee Bombus griseocollis 377 records
  7. Blue Dasher Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis 364 records
  8. Eastern Carpenter Bee Eastern Carpenter Bee Xylocopa virginica 341 records
  9. Broad-Necked Root Borer Broad-Necked Root Borer Prionus laticollis 320 records
  10. Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle Reddish-Brown Stag Beetle Lucanus capreolus 316 records
  11. Zabulon Skipper Zabulon Skipper Lon zabulon 302 records
  12. Isabella Tiger Moth Isabella Tiger Moth Pyrrharctia isabella 301 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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