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Idaho Habitats, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles

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Idaho

Idaho is a rugged, beautiful state with mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, lakes and rangelands. Scientists categorize Idaho as having 5 ecoregions. They are sagebrush grasslands found across southern Idaho (18.5 million acres), juniper woodlands in small areas in southwestern and south-central Idaho (1.6 million acres), salt‐desert shrublands in a small area in southwestern Idaho (1.5 million acres), Pacific bunchgrass in a band along the border of west-central Idaho (1.2 million acres) and coniferous forests in a thick swath from central Idaho up through the panhandle and along the eastern edge of the state (22 million acres).

Forests cover 40% of Idaho. Most of Idaho's forests are conifer forests made up of about 28% Douglas fir, 28% fir/spruce, 13% lodgepole pine, 10% ponderosa pine and 4% western white pine. Other conifers include hemlock, western larch, western red cedar, Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and grand fir.

Idaho's wetlands include marshes, swamps, potholes and peatlands. Wetlands are very important habitats. They provide valuable wildlife habitat, stabilize shorelines and protect the land from storm surges and flooding. They act as filters to pollutants that run off the land from farms, towns and cities. Yet, for generations, people saw wetlands as wasted land and set about filling them in and covering them over for building roads, housing developments, farms, and industry. Idaho rivers and streams provided early trappers with beaver pelts until the beaver was trapped out (by 1830). Then came the gold miners panning for gold. Panning was a destructive process that involved dredging and sluicing and ruined riparian habitats that lined the streams. Though the waterways were valued by early pioneers, the adjacent wetlands were not and they were routinely drained for farming and "flood control." It wasn't until late in the 1900s that people realized the vital importance of wetlands and started protecting and reclaiming them.


Idaho's marshes have soft-stemmed plant matter like cattails, rushes and sedges that are often emergent (rising out of the water). Idaho's swamps have woody-stemmed plants - mainly trees like cottonwood, willow, red-osier dogwood, alder, river birch, and hawthorn. These are often called riparian areas in Idaho, lining waterways and important habitats for migrating birds and other wildlife. Peatlands are wetlands that have collected so much dead and rotting plant material that it can't decompose it all and over many centuries forms a mat of "peat." Idaho has what are called sedge fens characterized by thick peat beds of undecomposed sedges, scouring rushes and cattails.

Idaho

List of Mammals for this State


For more information about Idaho's mammals (including Latin names) click on individual animal links or for another (off-site) resource: LINK or LINK

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Coloring Mammals of this State

Idaho

Labeling Mammals of this State

Idaho

List of Amphibians & Reptiles for This State

Amphibians

  • bullfrog (American)
  • frog (boreal chorus)
  • frog (Columbia spotted)
  • frog (northern leopard)
  • frog (Pacific chorus)
  • frog (Rocky Mountain tailed)
  • frog (spotted)
  • frog (tailed)
  • frog (western chorus)
  • frog (wood)
  • newt (rough-skinned)
  • salamander (Coeur d'Alene)
  • salamander (Idaho giant)
  • salamander (long-toed)
  • salamander (tiger)
  • spadefoot (Great Basin)
  • toad (western)
  • toad (Woodhouse's)
  • treefrog (Sierran)



Reptiles

  • lizard (desert horned)
  • lizard (longnose leopard)
  • lizard (Mojave black-collared)
  • lizard (northern alligator)
  • lizard (sagebrush)
  • lizard (short-horned)
  • lizard (side-blotched)
  • lizard (western fence)
  • lizard (western whiptail)
  • skink (western)
  • snake (common garter)
  • snake (gopher)
  • snake (ground)
  • snake (longnose)
  • snake (night)
  • snake (racer)
  • snake (ringneck)
  • snake (rubber boa)
  • snake (striped whipsnake)
  • snake (western ground)
  • snake (western rattlesnake)
  • snake (western terrestrial garter)
  • turtle (painted)

Coloring Amphibians & Reptiles of this State

Idaho

Labeling Amphibians & Reptiles of this State

Idaho

Bird List for This State

  • accentor (Siberian)
  • avocet (American)
  • bittern (American)
  • bittern (least)
  • blackbird (Brewer's)
  • blackbird (red-winged)
  • blackbird (rusty)
  • blackbird (yellow-headed)
  • bluebird (mountain)
  • bluebird (western)
  • bobolink
  • bobwhite (northern)
  • brambling
  • bunting (indigo)
  • bunting (lark)
  • bunting (lazuli)
  • bunting (snow)
  • bushtit
  • caracara (crested)
  • catbird (gray)
  • chat (yellow-breasted)
  • chickadee (black-capped)
  • chickadee (boreal)
  • chickadee (chestnut-backed)
  • chickadee (mountain)
  • coot (American)
  • cormorant (double-crested)
  • cowbird (brown-headed)
  • crane (sandhill)
  • crane (whooping)
  • creeper (brown)
  • crossbill (red)
  • crossbill (white-winged)
  • crow (American)
  • cuckoo (black-billed)
  • cuckoo (yellow-billed)
  • curlew (long-billed)
  • dickcissel
  • dipper (American)
  • dove (band-tailed pigeon)
  • dove (Eurasian collared)
  • dove (mourning)
  • dove (white-winged)
  • dowitcher (long-billed)
  • dowitcher (short-billed)
  • duck (American black)
  • duck (American widgeon)
  • duck (Barrow's goldeneye)
  • duck (black scoter)
  • duck (blue-winged teal)
  • duck (bufflehead)
  • duck (canvasback)
  • duck (cinnamon teal)
  • duck (common goldeneye)
  • duck (Eurasian widgeon)
  • duck (gadwall)
  • duck (garganey)
  • duck (greater scaup)
  • duck (green-winged teal)
  • duck (harlequin)
  • duck (lesser scaup)
  • duck (long-tailed)
  • duck (mallard)
  • duck (northern pintail)
  • duck (northern shoveler)
  • duck (redhead)
  • duck (ring-necked)
  • duck (ruddy)
  • duck (surf scoter)
  • duck (tufted)
  • duck (white-winged scoter)
  • duck (wood)
  • dunlin
  • eagle (bald)
  • eagle (golden)
  • egret (cattle)
  • egret (great)
  • egret (snowy)
  • falcon (peregrine)
  • falcon (prairie)
  • finch (black rosy)
  • finch (Cassin's)
  • finch (gray-crowned rosy)
  • finch (house)
  • finch (purple)
  • flicker (northern)
  • flycatcher (ash-throated)
  • flycatcher (Cordilleran)
  • flycatcher (dusky)
  • flycatcher (fork-tailed)
  • flycatcher (gray)
  • flycatcher (Hammond's)
  • flycatcher (least)
  • flycatcher (olive-sided)
  • flycatcher (scissor-tailed)
  • flycatcher (willow)
  • goldfinch (American)
  • goldfinch (lesser)
  • goose (brant)
  • goose (cackling)
  • goose (Canada)
  • goose (emperor)
  • goose (great white-fronted)
  • goose (Ross's)
  • goose (snow)
  • grackle (common)
  • grackle (great-tailed)
  • grèbe (black-necked)
  • grèbe (Clark's)
  • grèbe (horned)
  • grèbe (pied-billed)
  • grèbe (red-necked)
  • grèbe (western)
  • gnatcatcher (blue-gray)
  • godwit (Hudsonian)
  • godwit (marbled)
  • grosbeak (black-headed)
  • grosbeak (blue)
  • grosbeak (evening)
  • grosbeak (pine)
  • grosbeak (rose-breasted)
  • grouse (dusky)
  • grouse (greater sage)
  • grouse (ruffed)
  • grouse (sharp-tailed)
  • grouse (spruce)
  • gull (Bonaparte’s)
  • gull (California)
  • gull (Franklin's)
  • gull (glaucous)
  • gull (glaucous-winged)
  • gull (great black-backed)
  • gull (herring)
  • gull (Iceland)
  • gull (lesser black-backed)
  • gull (little)
  • gull (mew)
  • gull (ring-billed)
  • gull (Ross's)
  • gull (Sabine's)
  • gull (slaty-backed)
  • gull (Thayer's)
  • gull (western)
  • gyrfalcon
  • harrier (northern)
  • hawk (broad-winged)
  • hawk (Cooper's)
  • hawk (ferruginous)
  • hawk (northern goshawk)
  • hawk (red-shouldered)
  • hawk (red-tailed)
  • hawk (rough-legged)
  • hawk (sharp-shinned)
  • hawk (Swainson's)
  • heron (black-crowned night)
  • heron (great blue)
  • heron (green)
  • heron (little blue)
  • heron (tricolored)
  • horned lark
  • hummingbird (Anna's)
  • hummingbird (broad-billed)
  • hummingbird (broad-chinned)
  • hummingbird (broad-tailed)
  • hummingbird (calliope)
  • hummingbird (Costa's)
  • hummingbird (ruby-throated)
  • hummingbird (rufous)
  • ibis (glossy)
  • ibis (white)
  • ibis (white-faced)
  • jaeger (long-tailed)
  • jaeger (parastic)
  • jaeger (pomarine)
  • jay (blue)
  • jay (gray)
  • jay (pinyon)
  • jay (Stellar's)
  • jay (western scrub)
  • junco (dark-eyed)
  • kestrel (American)
  • killdeer
  • kingbird (Cassin's)
  • kingbird (eastern)
  • kingbird (western)
  • kingfisher (belted)
  • kinglet (golden-crowned)
  • kinglet (ruby-crowned)
  • kite (white-tailed)
  • kittiwake (black-legged)
  • longspur (chestnut-collared)
  • longspur (Lapland)
  • longspur (McCown's)
  • loon (common)
  • loon (Pacific)
  • loon (red-throated)
  • loon (yellow-billed)
  • magpie (black-billed)
  • martin (purple)
  • meadowlark (western)
  • merganser (common)
  • merganser (hooded)
  • merganser (red-breasted)
  • merlin
  • mockingbird (northern)
  • moorhen (common)
  • murrelet (ancient)
  • murrelet (long-billed)
  • nighthawk (common)
  • nuthatch (pygmy)
  • nuthatch (red-breasted)
  • nuthatch (white-breasted)
  • oriole (Baltimore)
  • oriole (Bullock's)
  • oriole (hooded)
  • oriole (Scott's)
  • osprey
  • ovenbird
  • owl (barn)
  • owl (barred)
  • owl (burrowing)
  • owl (great grey)
  • owl (great horned)
  • owl (flammulated)
  • owl (long-eared)
  • owl (northern hawk)
  • owl (northern pygmy)
  • owl (northern saw-whet)
  • owl (short-eared)
  • owl (snowy)
  • owl (western screech)
  • oystercatcher (American)
  • partridge (chukar)
  • partridge (gray)
  • parula (northern)
  • pelican (American white)
  • phalarope (red)
  • phalarope (red-necked)
  • phalarope (Wilson's)
  • pheasant (ring-necked)
  • phoebe (black)
  • phoebe (eastern)
  • phoebe (Say's)
  • pigeon (band-tailed)
  • pigeon (rock dove)
  • pine siskin
  • pipit (American golden)
  • plover (black-bellied)
  • pipit (American)
  • plover (mountain)
  • plover (semipalmated)
  • plover (snowy)
  • poorwill (common)
  • ptarmigan (white-tailed)
  • quail (California)
  • quail (gambel's)
  • quail (mountain)
  • rail (Virginia)
  • rail (yellow)
  • raven (common)
  • red knot
  • redpoll (common)
  • redpoll (hoary)
  • redstart (American)
  • robin (American)
  • ruff
  • sanderling
  • sandpiper (Baird's)
  • sandpiper (buff-breasted)
  • sandpiper (least)
  • sandpiper (pectoral)
  • sandpiper (semipalmated)
  • sandpiper (sharp-tailed)
  • sandpiper (solitary)
  • sandpiper (spotted)
  • sandpiper (stilt)
  • sandpiper (upland)
  • sandpiper (western)
  • sandpiper (white-rumped)
  • shrike (loggerhead)
  • shrike (northern)
  • snipe (Wilson's)
  • solitaire (Townsend's)
  • sora
  • sparrow (American tree)
  • sparrow (black-throated)
  • sparrow (Brewer's)
  • sparrow (Cassin's)
  • sparrow (chipping)
  • sparrow (clay-colored)
  • sparrow (fox)
  • sparrow (golden-crowned)
  • sparrow (grasshopper)
  • sparrow (Harris's)
  • sparrow (house)
  • sparrow (lark)
  • sparrow (Le Conte's)
  • sparrow (Lincoln's)
  • sparrow (Nelson's sharp-tailed)
  • sparrow (sage)
  • sparrow (Savannah)
  • sparrow (song)
  • sparrow (swamp)
  • sparrow (vesper)
  • sparrow (white-crowned)
  • sparrow (white-throated)
  • starling (European)
  • stilt (black-necked)
  • stork (wood)
  • swallow (bank)
  • swallow (barn)
  • swallow (cliff)
  • swallow (northern rough-winged)
  • swallow (tree)
  • swallow (violet-green)
  • swan (trumpeter)
  • swan (tundra)
  • swift (black)
  • swift (Vaux's)
  • swift (white-throated)
  • tanager (scarlet)
  • tanager (summer)
  • tanager (western)
  • tern (Arctic)
  • tern (black)
  • tern (Caspian)
  • tern (common)
  • tern (Forster's)
  • tern (least)
  • thrasher (brown)
  • thrasher (curve-billed)
  • thrasher (sage)
  • thrush (gray-cheeked)
  • thrush (hermit)
  • thrush (Swainson's)
  • thrush (varied)
  • titmouse (tufted)
  • towhee (eastern)
  • towhee (green-tailed)
  • towhee (spotted)
  • turkey (wild)
  • turnstone (ruddy)
  • veery
  • vireo (Bell's)
  • vireo (blue-headed)
  • vireo (Cassin's)
  • vireo (Philadelphia)
  • vireo (plumbeous)
  • vireo (red-eyed)
  • vireo (warbling)
  • vireo (yellow-throated)
  • vulture (turkey)
  • warbler (bay-breasted)
  • warbler (blackburnian)
  • warbler (blackpoll)
  • warbler (black-and-white)
  • warbler (black-throated blue)
  • warbler (black-throated gray)
  • warbler (black-throated green)
  • warbler (blue-winged)
  • warbler (Cape May)
  • warbler (chestnut-sided)
  • warbler (Connecticut)
  • warbler (golden-winged)
  • warbler (hermit)
  • warbler (hooded)
  • warbler (Lucy's)
  • warbler (MacGillivray's)
  • warbler (magnolia)
  • warbler (Nashville)
  • warbler (orange-crowned)
  • warbler (palm)
  • warbler (pine)
  • warbler (prothonotary)
  • warbler (Tennessee)
  • warbler (Townsend's)
  • warbler (Virginia)
  • warbler (Wilson's)
  • warbler (yellow)
  • warbler (yellow-rumped)
  • warbler (yellow-throated)
  • waterthrush (northern)
  • waxwing (Bohemian)
  • waxwing (cedar)
  • whimbrel
  • willet
  • woodpecker (American three-toed)
  • woodpecker (downy)
  • woodpecker (hairy)
  • woodpecker (Lewis's)
  • woodpecker (pileated)
  • woodpecker (red-bellied)
  • woodpecker (red-breasted sapsucker)
  • woodpecker (red-headed)
  • woodpecker (red-naped)
  • woodpecker (white-headed)
  • woodpecker (Williamson's sapsucker)
  • woodpecker (yellow-bellied sapsucker)
  • wood-pewee (western)
  • wren (Bewick's)
  • wren (canyon)
  • wren (house)
  • wren (marsh)
  • wren (rock)
  • wren (winter)
  • yellowlegs (greater)
  • yellowlegs (lesser)
  • yellowthroat (common)

For more information about Idaho's mammals (including Latin names) click on individual animal links or for another (off-site) resource: LINK

Coloring Birds of this State

Idaho

Labeling Birds of this State

Idaho

State Symbols of this State

Idaho

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