Term
Opossum,
Didelphis virginiana |
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Definition
| Whitish-gray; size of house cat but body heavier, legs shorter, nose more pointed; ears black; prehensile tail which is scaly. |
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Term
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Definition
| Front feet broad; snout pointed (star-nosed has finger-like, fleshy projections around nose); tail naked; no external ears; tiny eyes; fur silvery sheen although generally brown in color |
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Term
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Definition
| Small mouse-shaped animals; bead like eyes; ear concealed in fur; long pointed nose. |
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Term
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Definition
| Brown winged mammals; hand formed into membrane wing, membrane connecting legs and including tail; relatively large ears; small beady ears |
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Term
Black Bear,
Ursus americanus |
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Definition
| All black or all brown color; large wide head; face always brown; no hump on shoulders; foot with claws |
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Term
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Definition
| Medium sized like a small dog; tail is somewhat bushy with rings of yellow and black; body color is "salt and pepper" mixture; black mask over eyes |
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Term
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Definition
| Small doglike in shape; normally reddish yellow body, darkest on back, belly white; bushy tail more black than body and tipped with white; legs and feet black. |
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Term
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Definition
| Dog-like in appearance and size; gray or reddish gray body; rusty legs, feet and ears; throat and belly whitish; more pointed tail that is bushier than normal in dogs |
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Term
| Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis |
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Definition
| Size of house cat; black body with narrow white stripe up middle of forehead which divides into V at about shoulder region and white lines extend to base of tail; tail is bushy. |
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Term
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Definition
| Catlike in having short face, round ears, retractile claws; short tail black only on top at tip; tail is bushy |
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Term
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Definition
| Heavy-bodied, short legged, yellowish-gray mammal having a median white stripe from nose over top of head; white cheeks; black spot in front of each ear; black feet; long front claws. |
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Term
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Definition
| Like mink, have long slender bodies; short legs; short rounded ears; brown body in summer with white underparts; white body during winter |
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Term
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Definition
| Rich dark brown with a white chin patch and sometimes with scattered small white spots on belly; tail slightly bushy. |
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Term
Gray Squirrel,
Sciurus carolinensis |
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Definition
| Body gray; in summer the tail is bordered or fringed with white hair. |
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Term
Fox Squirrel,
Sciurus niger |
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Definition
| Northern form has rusty body which includes belly; tail bordered with yellowish orange; similar in size to gray squirrel |
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Term
| Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus |
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Definition
| Upper-parts reddish; belly white; white eye ring; smallest of squirrels. |
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Term
Woodchuck,groundhog
Marmota monax |
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Definition
| Heavy-bodied, short-legged animal; yellowish-brown to brown body although belly is paler; body hairs have frosted appearance; feet dark; tail looks thick with fur but not considered bushy. |
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Term
Muskrat,
Ondatra zibethicus |
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Definition
| Fur dense, rich brown; belly silvery; tail long and naked, scaly and black and flattened from side to side. |
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Term
Beaver,
Castor canadensis |
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Definition
| Large rodent; rich brown; tail naked, scaly, shaped like a paddle up to 6 inches wide; hind feet webbed. |
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Term
Porcupine,
Erethizon dorsatum |
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Definition
| Large, blackish rodent with an overlay of yellow-tipped hair; most of body, especially rump and tail thickly set with long sharp spines. |
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Term
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Definition
| Small rodents with stripes on black (both dark and light stripes); brown sides of body; semi-bushy tail. |
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Term
13-lined ground squirrel,
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus |
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Definition
| Slender rodent with broken stripes (with spots) on sides and back; thin tail; small ears. |
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Term
| Vole=meadow mouse, Microtus pennsylvanicus |
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Definition
| Brownish gray to brown body which appears very short and roundish; relatively short tail; fur is long and soft. |
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Term
| Deer Mouse, Peromyscus spp. |
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Definition
| Dorsal color is pale to rich reddish brown, belly and feet white; beady eyes; large ears. |
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Term
House mouse,
Mus musculus |
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Definition
| Grayish brown body with gray or buffy belly although usual color is about same above and blow the body; tail scaly; fur fairly short. |
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Term
Pocket gopher,
Geomys bursarius wisconsinensis |
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Definition
| Brown, medium-sized rodent; having external cheek pouches; large front claws; eyes and ears small; silky texture to fur; large front teeth always exposed. |
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Term
| Cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus |
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Definition
| Body brownish or grayish; cottony tail white; feet whitish; relatively long ears. |
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Term
Snowshoe hare,
Lepus americanus |
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Definition
| Large footed; dark brown in summer, white in winter; ears relatively small for hares, long compared to other mammals. |
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Term
White-tailed deer,
Odocoileus virginianus |
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Definition
| Hoofed mammal having antlers that are shed each year; brown body, white under tail; split hoof. |
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Term
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Definition
| Moderately large-body; black and white aquatic diver; pointed bill; feet exit from body far to rear of bullet-shaped body; webbed feet. |
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Term
Canada goose,
Branta canadensis |
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Definition
| Large; grey waterfowl with webbed feet; white chin "strap"; long neck. |
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Term
Mallard duck,
Anas platyrhynchos |
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Definition
| Moderately large; brownish body with green head on male; inside back margins of wings have white and blue bands. |
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Term
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Definition
| Medium size; colorful male, drab brown female; long crest feathers hang over back of male's head. |
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Term
Goldeneye duck,
Bucephala clangula |
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Definition
| Medium size-moderately large; black and white duck; more white on back and white patch on face. |
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Term
Snow goose,
chen caerulescens |
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Definition
| Large; waterfowl; all white body; black wing tips. |
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Term
Blue-winged teal,
Anas discors |
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Definition
| Medium size; small brown duck; dark head on male with white elliptical patch on face. |
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Term
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Definition
| Medium size; black and white duck; grey back; dark tail and head. |
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Term
American merganser,
Mergus merganser |
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Definition
| Moderately large; large duck; bright orange bill and feet; black and white body with dark head. Note: mergansers catch fish therefore bill is narrow with serrated or saw-like edges. |
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Term
Whistling swan,
Cygnas columbianus |
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Definition
| Large to very large; all white waterfowl with long neck; black feet |
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Term
Bald Eagle,
Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
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Definition
| Large; brown body; white head and tail; wide wings; hooked bill; strong toes with claws. |
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Term
Red-tailed hawk,
Buteo jamaicensis |
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Definition
| Large; brown back; light underparts; reddish-brown tail; hooked bill and strong feet like all hawks. |
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Term
Sparrow Hawk= Kestrel,
Falco sparverius |
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Definition
| Medium size; pointed wings like all falcons; brown body with blue wings; vertical stripes on sides of face; hooked bill |
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Term
Marsh hawk=Harrier,
Circus cyaneaus |
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Definition
| Moderately large; slim shaped hawk; streaked brown or grayish white body; all color phases have white rump patch (dorsal surface at base of tail). |
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Term
Ring-necked pheasant,
Phasianus colchicus |
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Definition
| Moderately large; brown; chicken-like bird; male with long tail. |
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Term
Ruffed grouse,
Bonasa umbellus |
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Definition
| Medium size to moderately large; brown chicken-like bird; black band near tip of tail. |
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Term
Prairie chicken,
Tympanuchus cupido |
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Definition
| Medium size to moderately large; brown chicken-like bird; bands on ventral surface run from side to side; male shows yellow skin sacs on neck when in courtship display. |
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Term
Coot= Mudhen,
Fulica americana |
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Definition
| Moderately large; all black bird with a white bill with brown ring and a white patch under tail but not a duck; chicken-like bill; feet are lobbed, not webbed. |
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Term
Sandhill crane,
Grus canadensis |
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Definition
| Large; very tall grey brown bird; long neck; long legs; reddish skin patch on top of head. |
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Term
Sora rail,
Porzana carolina |
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Definition
| Medium size; a small rail; yellow bill and legs; black face at base of bill; remainder of body color is brownish; very short tail. |
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Term
Great blue heron,
Ardea herodias |
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Definition
| Large; tall grey-blue bird; long neck and legs. |
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Term
American bittern,
Botaurus lentiginosus |
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Definition
| Moderately large; medium-sized heron; brown color with streaks on ventral surface. |
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Term
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Definition
| Moderately small; brown, roundish body; moderately long legs and very long bill. |
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Term
Killdeer,
Charadius vociferus |
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Definition
| Medium size; shorebird; long legs, moderately long bill; two black bands on neck. |
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Term
Herring gull,
Larus smithsonianus |
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Definition
| Medium size-moderately large; nearly all white with black wing tips; yellow-orange bill and feet; webbed toes. |
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Term
Black tern,
Chlidonias niger |
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Definition
| Moderately small; black gull-like bird; pointed bill and wings; short legs with webbed toes. |
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Term
| Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura |
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Definition
| Moderately small; brownish pigeon relative; pointed wings; relatively small head; pointed tail. |
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Term
Screech owl,
Megascops asio |
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Definition
| Medium size; brown or gray color; short "ear" tufts; round head; eyes located on front of head, hooked bill; strong toes with claws. |
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Term
Great horned owl,
Bubo virginianus |
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Definition
| Large; brown with barring patterns on breast feathers; white throat patch; large noticeable "ear" tufts. |
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Term
Nighthawk,
Chordeiles minor |
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Definition
| Moderately small; (not a hawk) body modified to catch insects on the wing; very pointed wings; brown body; white spots on wings; white chin patch; short legs; large eyes. |
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Term
Ruby-throated hummingbird,
Archilochus colubris |
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Definition
| Tiny; green back; light gray ventral; red throat on male. |
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Term
King fisher,
Megaceryle alcyon |
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Definition
| Moderately small; blue body; heavy looking head and bill; short legs and tail; bands of blue, or blue and brown on light colored breast. |
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Term
Red-headed woodpecker,
Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
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Definition
| Moderately small; three colors-red head, white ventral and portion of wings, black back and tail. |
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Term
Downy woodpecker,
Picoides pubescens |
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Definition
| Moderately small; small woodpecker that clings to vertical bark surfaces; black and white with black stripe on face through eye region; white streak down back. |
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Term
Eastern kingbird flycatcher,
Tyrannus tyrannus |
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Definition
| Moderately small; black and white flycatcher; black head, tail and back; white ventral and tip of tail. |
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Term
| Barn swallow, Hirundo rustica |
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Definition
| Small; streamlined body shape; blue-black back, reddish ventral color; forked tail. |
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Term
Purple martin(swallow),
Progne subis |
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Definition
| Small; largest swallow; male is all purple-black short wide bill like all swallows; pointed wigs; slightly forked tail. |
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Term
American crow,
Corvus brachyrhynchos |
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Definition
| Medium size; all black bird, no spots; heavy appearance to bill; rounded shape when tail is spread. |
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Term
White-breasted nuthatch,
Sitta carolinensis |
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Definition
| Small; black and white to bluish gray bird; creeps on bark or hangs upside down on tree; black crown and top of neck; no black chin. |
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Term
Robin(thrush),
Turdus migratorius |
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Definition
| Moderately small; grey back; darker on head; reddish-brown to orange underparts. |
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Term
Cedar waxwing,
Bombycilla cedrorum |
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Definition
| Moderately small; crest; yellow green to brown body color; black. |
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Term
| Yellowthroat(warbler), Geothlypis trichas |
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Definition
| Small; another warbler; brownish back; yellow ventral surface; black mask. |
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Term
Meadowlark,
Sturnella neglecta |
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Definition
| Moderately small; yellow ventral surface; streaked brown back; black V on breast. |
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Term
Song sparrow,
Melospiza melodia |
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Definition
| Small; brown streaked sparrow; short conical shaped bill, darker streaks leading back from base of bill. |
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Term
American goldfich,
Carduelis tristic |
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Definition
| Small; yellow body with black wings and tail; black forehead. |
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Term
Starling,
Sturnus vulgaris |
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Definition
| Moderately small; pointed yellow bill; all black or slightly spotted body. |
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Term
Phoebe flycatcher,
Sayornis phoebe |
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Definition
| Small; dark brown flycatcher; difficult to identify, but remember flycatchers have wide, flat bills with a small hook on the tip of the upper mandible. |
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Term
Tree swallow,
Tachycineta bicolor |
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Definition
| Small; black and white swallow; dark back, white ventral; a slightly forked tail. |
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Term
Blue jay,
Cyanocitta cristata |
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Definition
| Moderately small; bright blue body; white face; crest on top of head. |
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Term
Black-capped chickadee,
Poecile atricapillus |
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Definition
| Tiny; small greyish bird; black on top of head, back of neck, and chin; light underparts. |
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Term
House wren,
Troglodytes aedon |
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Definition
| Tiny-small; all brown; slight streaking in body and wings; pointed thin bill; tail held cocked up. |
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Term
Catbird,
Dumetella carolinensis |
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Definition
| Small; all gray bird; black crown; brown under base of tail; pointed bill. |
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Term
Yellow warbler,
Setophaga petechia |
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Definition
| Small; pointed bill like all warblers; body all yellow with some reddish-brown streaks on ventral surface of male. |
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Term
Red-winged blackbird,
Agelaius phoeniceus |
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Definition
| Moderately small; blackbird with red on top of wing; yellow band of color between red and black; pointed beak. |
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Term
Baltimore oriole= Northern oriole,
Icterus galbula |
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Definition
| Moderately small; black and bright orange body; pointed bill. |
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Term
Chipping sparrow,
Spizella passerina |
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Definition
| Small; brown streaked back; gray ventral surface; brown crown, black streak through eye. |
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Term
Cardinal,
Cardinalis cardinalis
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Definition
| Moderately small; all red finch with conical shaped bill. |
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Term
English sparrow
=House sparrow,
Passer domesticus |
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Definition
| Small; short, black conical bill; gray crown; brown on top of neck; brown streaked body; black bib on throat. |
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Term
Red bellied snake,
Storeria occipitomaculata |
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Definition
| Usually less than 12 inches long; dorsal scales keeled; anal plate divided; belly reddish in life, white in preserved specimens. |
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Term
Eastern garter snake,
Thamnophis sirtalis |
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Definition
| Longitudinal stripes, lateral stripes on two scale rows only; usually up to 2 feet in length; anal plate no divided; scales keeled. |
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Term
Fox snake,
Pantherophis vulpinus |
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Definition
| Called a "timber snake" in Ohio and parts of Michigan, a "pine snake" in Wisconsin and adjacent states, and a "spotted adder" to many people who cannot think of a better name; size normally between 36-54 inches; color usually dark brown blotches on a yellowish ground; belly yellow, strongly checkered with black; dorsal scales smooth or weakly keeled; anal plate divided; behavior is to vibrate its tail when nervous and thus many people misidentify it as a rattler. |
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Term
Northern water snake,
Nerodia sipdon |
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Definition
| More than 12 inches long; dorsal scales keeled; anal plate divided; dark cross bands on neck and forepart of body, but alternating dorsal and lateral blotches on rest of body; dark markings wider than spaces between them; black or reddish half-moons on belly. |
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Term
Hog-nosed snake,
Heterodon platirhinos |
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Definition
| Usually up to 30 inches in length; upturned snout (meaning upper line of nose curved in lateral view); normally a spotted snake, underside of tail lighter than belly; dorsal scales keeled; anal plate divided. |
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Term
Timber rattlesnake,
Crotalus horridus |
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Definition
| Venomous; deep pit between eyes and nostril; tail with rattles; size range usually from 36-54 inches; two color phases--yellow or black; crown of head covered by a mixture of large and small scales. |
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Term
Massasauga,
Sistrurus catenatus |
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Definition
| Also known as "swamp rattler" or "black snapper"; a spotted rattler with a row of large black or dark brown blotches down the back and 3 rows of smaller or lighter spots on each side of body; size range 20-30 inches; tail with rattles. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Found in Wisconsin are Northern Prairie skink. Five-lined skink; smooth, shiny, alert, and active lizards that are difficult to catch and hold; light, longitudinal stripes on back; scales on back not keeled. |
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Term
Six-lined racerunner,
Cnemidophorus sexlineatus |
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Definition
| A dull(not shiny) lizard with a long whip-like tail; 6 light stripes on back; scales on back are keeled. |
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Term
Snapping turtle,
Chelydra serpentina |
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Definition
| Aquatic; long neck, powerful jaw; carapace (upper shell) with sharp toothed rear edge; small plastrom (under shell); adults 18 inches and over. |
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Term
Blandings turtle,
Emys blandingii |
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Definition
| Aquatic or semi-equatic; the "semi-box turtle" meaning its hinge across plastron permits the movable lobes to be pulled well upward toward carapace, but closure is far less complete than in box turtle; plastron notched at back; webbed feet but no hooked bill; bright yellow on chin and throat; many light spots on carapace. |
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Term
Wood turtle,
Glyptemys insculpta |
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Definition
| Largely terrestrial; plastron deeply notched; carapace slightly keeled with concentric grooves in each plate; orange on head and legs; the "sculptured turtle". |
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Term
| Soft-shelled turtle, Family trionychidae |
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Definition
| Found in Wisconsin are Eastern Spiny Softshell, Smooth Softshell, Western Spiny Softshell; aquatic, actually a hard shell with soft edge; with or without (according to species) tubercules along the front edge of carapace; long neck; sharp beak; adult about 18 inches. |
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Term
Painted turtle,
Chrysemys pictae |
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Definition
| Aquatic or semi-aquatic; small (5-6 inches); smooth, unkeeled shells and attractive patterns of red, yellow, and black; upper jaw notched in front with a small projection on each side; smooth edged carapace. |
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Term
Mudpuppy,
Necturus maculosus |
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Definition
| Tailed throughout life; hind limbs present; toes and fingers 4-4; external gills present in adults; up to 17 inches in length; aquatic throughout life having external feathery gills. |
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Term
Tiger salamander,
Ambystoma tigrinum |
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Definition
| Tail and hind limbs present; no external gills in adults; up to 10 inches; black with irregular yellow blotches, belly olive-yellow. |
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Term
Spotted salamander,
Ambystoma tigrinum |
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Definition
| Similar to above but with irregular row of light spots along each side of the back, belly slate-grey. |
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Term
Red-backed salamander,
Plethodon cinereus |
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Definition
| Up to 4.5 inches; dark with reddish band running from head to tail (red is lost on preserved specimens). |
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Term
American toad,
Bufo americanus |
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Definition
| Warty skin; large parotid glands on neck; dark blotches containing one or two warts; up to 4.5 inches. |
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Term
Spring peeper,
Pseudacris crucifer |
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Definition
| Up to 1.25 inches; dark X on back; toe discs small. |
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Term
Leopard frog,
Rana pipiens |
|
Definition
| Common meadow or grass frog; greenish with oval or round spots on back; up to 4 inches. |
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|
Term
Green frog,
Rana clamitans |
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Definition
| Conspicuous dorsolateral ridges present; normal sized ear drum; up to 4 inches. |
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|
Term
Chorus frog,
Pseudacris triseriata |
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Definition
| Up to 1.5 inches; three longitudinal dark stripes on back. |
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|
Term
Gray tree frog,
Hyla versicolor
|
|
Definition
| (Also improperly called common gray tree toad); 2.25 inches; gray or green; conspicuous toe discs. |
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|
Term
Wood frog,
Rana sylvatica |
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Definition
| Brownish with black mask to ear drum; up to 3.75 inches. |
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|
Term
Bull frog,
Rana catesbeiana |
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Definition
| No dorsolateral ridges present; large sized ear drum; large body; up to 8 inches. |
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Term
Northern pike,
Esox lucius |
|
Definition
| Mandibular pores 10 or fewer (meaning 5 or fewer pairs); fully scaled cheek and half-scaled operculum; adult has horizontal light markings; rounded caudal fin tips. |
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Term
Muskellunge,
Esox masquinongy |
|
Definition
| Mandibular pores 11 or more (meaning 5+ pairs); half-scaled cheek and operculum; adult has vertical dark markings; pointed caudal fin tips. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| Canine teeth (unusually long teeth) present on the jaws and palatine bones; black "ink" spot on posterior base of first dorsal fin; lower lobe of caudal fin usually whitish. |
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Term
Yellow perch,
Perca flavescens |
|
Definition
| Similar to walleye but no canine teeth present; no "ink" spot on posterior base of first dorsal fin; deeper bodied than walleye; vertical dark bars on side of body. |
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Term
Smallmouth bass,
Micropterus dolomieu
|
|
Definition
| Maxillary bone (upper jaw) in the adult not extending beyond the posterior margin of eye; mouth of medium size; 12 or more rows of scales on the cheeks; dorsal fin usually continuous, not split. |
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Term
Largemouth bass,
Micropterus salmoides |
|
Definition
| Maxillary bone (upper jaw) in the adult extending beyond the posterior margin of eye; mouth large; 9-12 rows of scales on the cheeks; young with irregular dark stripe along side (indistinct in old individuals); dorsal fin usually split into two lobes. |
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|
Term
Pumpkinseed,
Lepomis gibbosus |
|
Definition
| No dark spot on posterior of dorsal fin; opercular flap black with red spot (becomes white in preserved specimens). |
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|
Term
Bluegill,
Lepomis macrochirus |
|
Definition
| Dark spot on posterior of dorsal fin; opercular flap black. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| Deep indentation behind head in profile; dorsal fin more posterior on body than on other fishes; dorsal fin and the anal fin almost opposite and nearly equal in size. |
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|
Term
Rock bass,
Ambloplites rupestris |
|
Definition
| Dorsal fin much longer than the anal; body deep and short like sunfishes, but has six spines in anal fin (contrasts to three spines in bluegill and pumpkinseed). |
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Term
Rainbow trout,
Oncorhynchus mykiss |
|
Definition
| Dark scattered spots on sides, usually on light background; rose color streak on sides (faded in some, especially preserved specimens); caudal fin speckled. |
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|
Term
Brook trout,
Salvelinus fontinalis |
|
Definition
| Light worm-like markings on back; blue spots with red borders (spots are white in preserved specimens); white edges on ventral fins. |
|
|
Term
Channel catfish,
Ictalurus punctatus |
|
Definition
| Adipose fin (a fleshy rayless fin posterior to the dorsal fin) is conspicuous and body not covered with scales; head with eight barbels; dorsal and pectoral fins each with a stout spine; caudal fin deeply forked; silvery gray sides. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| Adipose fin conspicuous, body not covered with scales; head with eight barbels; dorsal and pectoral fins each with a stout spine; caudal fin not deeply forked; various species have variable body color (yellow, brown, or black bullheads). |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| Dorsal and anal fins each with a strong spine which i serrated behind; two barbels (slender, fleshy structures) at each corner of mouth (one may not be readily visible); large scales. |
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|
Term
White sucker,
Catostomus commersonii |
|
Definition
|
|
