Western Redcedar - Coniferales Cupressaceae Thuja plicata Identification & Description: The western redcedar is found mainly in Western Canada and the United States. In the past, Amerindians sculpted totem poles and dugout canoes up to 20 metres long from western redcedar logs. One of these canoes is on display at the [...]
Western Yew - Taxales Taxaceae Taxus brevifolia Identification & Description: Taxus brevifolia, popularly known as the pacific or western yew, is a coniferous tree which inhabits the temperate rainforest of the Pacific Northwest.. The trunk features either a straight or contorted shape and is comprised of a heavy and resistant wood. The [...]
Opossums - Marsupalia Didelphidae virginiana Identification & Description: Opossums make up the family Didelphidae, of the order Marsupialia. The common Virginia opossum is classified as Didelphis virginiana, the yapock as Chironectes minimus. Opossum, common name for any of 77 marsupial mammals found only in the western hemisphere. The opossum ranges [...]
Townsend's Vole - Rodentia Muridae Microtus townsendi Identification & Description: The Townsend's Vole is from the order Rodentia. The largest group of mammals is the Rodentia. A rough generalisation is most non-flying mammals are rodents. Prairie Dogs, beavers, porcupines and many others are classified as rodents. The Townsend's Vole has a single [...]
Raccoon - Carnivora Procyonidae Procyon lotor Identification & Description: Raccoons make up the genus Procyon of the family Procyonidae. The common North American raccoon is classified as Procyon lotor, and the crab-eating raccoon as Procyon cancrivorus. The raccoon is a reddish-brown above and black or greyish below. The most prominent characteristics are the bushy [...]
Black-tailed Jackrabbit - Lagomorpha Leporidae Lepus californicus Identification & Description: The jackrabbit belongs to the family Leporidae, in the order Lagomorpha. The white-tailed jackrabbit is classified as Lepus townsendii, the white-sided jackrabbit as Lepus callotis, and the black-tailed or California jackrabbit as Lepus californicus. The Black-tailed Jack Rabbit is 18 [...]
Douglas Squirrel - Rodentia Sciuridae Tamiasciurus douglasii Identification & Description: Like all squirrels, the Douglas Squirrel are mammals who belong to the Order Rodentia. One characteristic which they all share is they have orange front teeth which constantly grow and must be worn down by chewing. Two common species of Squirrels live in the [...]
Deer Mouse - Rodentia Muridae Peromyscus maniculatus Identification & Description: Deer mice are members of the family Muridae. The common deer mouse is classified as Peromyscus maniculatus. Deer mice are the prototype for "field mice" with large, bulging eyes, big ears, a bicolored pattern and a long tail. They are larger than the harvest [...]
Coyote - Carnivora Canidae Canis latrans Identification & Description: The coyote is a member of the dog family. In size and shape the coyote is like a medium-sized Collie dog, but its tail is round and bushy and is carried straight out below the level of its back. Coyotes found in low deserts and [...]
Wood Duck - Anseriformes Anatidae Aix sponsa Identification & Description: • Medium-sized duck. • A medium-sized duck with a long crest on head • Long-winged and long-tailed • Blue-green speculum with white rear border • White patches in face. • Size: 47-54 cm (19-21 in) • Wingspan: 66-73 cm (26-29 in) • Weight: 454-862 [...]
Western Screech-Owl - Strigiformes Strigidae Ottus kennicutti Identification & Description: • Length: 8? inches Wingspan: 22? inches • Small, nocturnal, predatory bird • Large, rounded head with feathered ear tufts • Yellow eyes • Dense streaking on underparts with finer barring • Dark gray or brown upperparts • Gray or gray-brown with small black [...]
Steller's Jay - Passeriformes Corvidae Cyanocitta stellari Identification & Description: • Large songbird. • Black sturdy bill • Crest on head dark blue or black • Forehead and throat may have some white flecks • Wings, tail, and body deep blue. • Wings and tail have dark bars • Dark legs • Size: 30-34 [...]
Spotted Towhee - Passeriformes Emberizidae Pipilo erythrophthalmus Identification & Description: • Medium-sized songbird. • Conical bill • Red eye • Rusty sides • White belly • Buffy undertail coverts • Chest and belly white. • Sides and flanks rufous. • White wing bars and spots on back • Long tail with white outer tail [...]
Snipe - Charadriiformes Scolopacidae Gallinago gallinago Identification & Description: • Stocky, short-legged, pointed-winged shorebird • Explosive takeoff when flushed, rapid zigzag flight • Very long, straight bill • Legs olive • Head patterned with alternating dark and pale stripes • Pale breast with darker spots and bars • Strongly patterned back [...]
Red-winged Blackbird - Passeriformes Ictidae Agelaius phoeniceus Identification & Description: • Large hawk. • Medium-sized songbird. • Moderately long and slender bill. • Tail of medium length. • Male plumage is well described by the name. • Size: 17-23 cm (7-9 in) • Wingspan: 31-40 cm (12-16 in) • Weight: 32-77 g (1.13-2.72 ounces) [...]
