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Kentucky Habitats, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles

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Kentucky

Kentucky is a state of forests, prairies, wetlands, and caves and the only state bordered on three sides by rivers – the Mississippi River in the west, the Ohio River in the north, and the Big Sandy River and Tug Fork in the east. Kentucky has about 12.5 million acres of forest covering almost half the state. Almost 90% of Kentucky' forest is owned privately. 75% of the forest is oak-hickory, though the most numerous tree species found in Kentucky’s forests is red maple. Kentucky, like many states, has lost much of its native habitats. It once had extensive wetlands in the floodplains of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, but generations of coal mining and ecologically damaging agricultural activities have destroyed most of them. Its native prairies and savannahs have also disappeared with less than 1% of the original 2-3 million acres of grassland remaining today.

Kentucky is often divided into five primary regions.

1. The Cumberland Plateau forms the southeastern section of the state and is part of the southern Appalachian Plateau west of the Appalachian Mountains. It has large stretches of oak-hickory-pine forests on dry, upland sites and is considered the most heavily forested part of the state. It is also rich with biodiversity - many different species of plants, animals and fungi.

2. The Bluegrass Region is found in north-central Kentucky and was historically vast native prairie (all grass) and savannah (grassland with a scattering of huge oaks). It was home to the American bison and elk. The fertile land and relatively mild winters made this the settlement region of choice for the pioneers. Even today it is the most populated part of Kentucky. The Bluegrass region is often broken-down into two regions. The Inner Bluegrass includes Lexington and a 90-mile circle around it. The Outer Bluegrass forms a donut around that and is made up of short, steep, narrow hills.

3. The Pennyroyal Plateau (or Mississippi Plateau) is found in south-central and western Kentucky. It is rolling hills good for farming and has caves beneath.

4. The Western Coal Fields are in the west-central part of the state and are surrounded on three sides by the Pennyroyal Plateau as if held in a cupped hand. They are made up of sandstones, shales and coal seams.

5. The Jackson Purchase makes up the western corner of the state and is bordered by the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and Tennessee River to the east making it a region rich bottomland swamps. It was bought from the Chickasaw Indians in 1818.

Kentucky

List of Mammals for this State

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Coloring Mammals of this State

Kentucky

Labeling Mammals of this State

Kentucky

List of Amphibians & Reptiles for This State

Amphibians

  • amphiuma (three-toed)
  • bullfrog
  • frog (Blanchard’s cricket)
  • frog (bronze)
  • frog (green)
  • frog (mountain chorus)
  • frog (northern crawfish)
  • frog (northern leopard)
  • frog (northern spring peeper)
  • frog (pickerel)
  • frog (southern leopard)
  • frog (upland chorus)
  • frog (wood)
  • hellbender (eastern)
  • mudpuppy
  • salamander (Black Mountain)
  • salamander (cave)
  • salamander (central)
  • salamander (Cumberland Plateau)
  • salamander (eastern hellbender)
  • salamander (eastern newt) or red eft
  • salamander (eastern tiger)
  • salamander (eastern zigzag)
  • salamander (four-toed)
  • salamander (green)
  • salamander (Jefferson)
  • salamander (Kentucky spring)
  • salamander (long-tailed)
  • salamander (marbled)
  • salamander (Midland mud)
  • salamander (Mississippi slimy)
  • salamander (mole)
  • salamander (mountain dusky)
  • salamander (northern dusky)
  • salamander (northern red)
  • salamander (northern slimy)
  • salamander (northern spring)
  • salamander (ravine)
  • salamander (red-backed)
  • salamander (seal)
  • salamander (small-mouthed)
  • salamander (southern red)
  • salamander (southern two-lined)
  • salamander (spotted dusky)
  • salamander (spotted)
  • salamander (streamside)
  • salamander (three-lined)
  • salamander (Wehrle's)
  • salamander (western lesser siren)
  • spadefoot (eastern)
  • toad (American)
  • toad (dwarf American)
  • toad (eastern narrowmouth)
  • toad (Fowler’s)
  • treefrog (barking)
  • treefrog (bird-voiced)
  • treefrog (Cope’s gray)
  • treefrog (gray)
  • treefrog (green)

Reptiles

  • lizard (common wall)
  • lizard (northern coal)
  • lizard (northern fence)
  • lizard (six-lined racerunner)
  • skink (broad-head)
  • skink (five-lined)
  • skink (ground)
  • skink (northern coal)
  • skink (southeastern five-lined)
  • skink (southern coal)
  • snake (black kingsnake)
  • snake (black rat)
  • snake (broad-banded water)
  • snake (copperbelly water)
  • snake (corn)
  • snake (diamond water)
  • snake (eastern coachwhip)
  • snake (eastern garter)
  • snake (eastern hognose)
  • snake (eastern ribbon)
  • snake (eastern smooth earth)
  • snake (eastern worm snake)
  • snake (gray rat)
  • snake (Kirkland's)
  • snake (Midland brown)
  • snake (Midland water)
  • snake (midwest worm snake)
  • snake (milk)
  • snake (Mississippi green watersnake)
  • snake (Mississippi ringneck)
  • snake (northern black racer)
  • snake (northern brown)
  • snake (northern copperhead)
  • snake (northern pine)
  • snake (northern red-belly)
  • snake (northern ringneck)
  • snake (northern scarlet)
  • snake (prairie kingsnake)
  • snake (queen)
  • snake (red milk)
  • snake (rough green)
  • snake (scarlet milk)
  • snake (southeastern crowned)
  • snake (southern black racer)
  • snake (southern copperhead)
  • snake (timber rattlesnake)
  • snake (western cottonmouth)
  • snake (western mud)
  • snake (western ribbon)
  • snake (western smooth earth)
  • turtle (alligator snapping)
  • turtle (common map)
  • turtle (common musk)
  • turtle (common snapping)
  • turtle (eastern box)
  • turtle (eastern river cooter)
  • turtle (eastern spiny softshell)
  • turtle (false map)
  • turtle (Hieroglyphic river cooter)
  • turtle (Midland painted)
  • turtle (Midland smooth softshell)
  • turtle (Mississippi map)
  • turtle (Mississippi mud)
  • turtle (Ouachita map)
  • turtle (red-eared slider)
  • turtle (southern painted)

For more information about Kentucky Amphibians and Reptiles (including Latin names) click on individual animal links or for another (off-site) resource: LINK

Coloring Amphibians & Reptiles of this State

Kentucky

Labeling Amphibians & Reptiles of this State

Kentucky

Bird List for This State

  • ani (groove-billed)
  • avocet (American)
  • bittern (least)
  • blackbird (Brewer’s)
  • blackbird (red-winged)
  • blackbird (rusty)
  • blackbird (yellow-headed)
  • bluebird (eastern)
  • bluebird (mountain)
  • bobolink
  • bobwhite (northern)
  • bunting (indigo)
  • bunting (painted)
  • bunting (snow)
  • cardinal (northern)
  • catbird (gray)
  • chat (yellow-breasted)
  • chickadee (black-capped)
  • chickadee (Carolina)
  • chimney swift
  • chuck-will’s-widow
  • cowbird (brown-headed)
  • crane (sandhill)
  • crane (whooping) - reintroduced
  • creeper (brown)
  • crossbill (red)
  • crossbill (white-winged)
  • crow (American)
  • crow (fish)
  • cuckoo (black-billed)
  • cuckoo (yellow-billed)
  • dickcissel
  • dove (common ground)
  • dove (European collared-) - introduced
  • dove (inca)
  • dove (mourning)
  • dove (white-winged)
  • dowitcher (long-billed)
  • dowitcher (short-billed)
  • duck (American black)
  • duck (American wigeon)
  • duck (black scoter)
  • duck (bufflehead)
  • duck (canvasback)
  • duck (cinnamon teal)
  • duck (common goldeneye)
  • duck (common merganser)
  • duck (Eurasian wigeon)
  • duck (fulvous whistling)
  • duck (gadwall)
  • duck (greater scaup)
  • duck (green-winged teal)
  • duck (harlequin)
  • duck (hooded merganser)
  • duck (king eider)
  • duck (lesser scaup)
  • duck (long-tailed duck)
  • duck (mallard)
  • duck (masked)
  • duck (mottled)
  • duck (northern pintail)
  • duck (northern shoveler)
  • duck (red-breasted merganser)
  • 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 (house) - introduced
  • finch (purple)
  • flicker (northern)
  • flycatcher (Acadian)
  • flycatcher (alder)
  • flycatcher (ash-throated)
  • flycatcher (greater crested)
  • flycatcher (least)
  • flycatcher (olive-sided)
  • flycatcher (scissor-tailed)
  • flycatcher (vermilion)
  • flycatcher (willow)
  • flycatcher (yellow-bellied)
  • gallinule (purple)
  • gannet (northern)
  • gnatcatcher (blue-gray)
  • godwit (Hudsonian)
  • godwit (marbled)
  • goldfinch (American)
  • goldfinch (lesser)
  • goose (Brant)
  • goose (cackling)
  • goose (Canada)
  • goose (greater white-fronted)
  • goose (Ross’s)
  • goose (snow)
  • grackle (common)
  • grebe (eared)
  • grebe (horned)
  • grebe (pied-billed)
  • grebe (red-necked)
  • grebe (western)
  • grosbeak (black-headed)
  • grosbeak (blue)
  • grosbeak (evening)
  • grosbeak (rose-breasted)
  • grouse (ruffed)
  • gull (black-headed)
  • gull (Bonaparte’s)
  • gull (California)
  • gull (Franklin’s)
  • gull (glaucous)
  • gull (great black-backed)
  • gull (herring)
  • gull (Iceland)
  • gull (laughing)
  • gull (lesser black-backed)
  • gull (little)
  • gull (ring-billed)
  • gull (Sabine's)
  • gull (Thayer's)
  • harrier (northern)
  • hawk (broad-winged)
  • hawk (Cooper’s)
  • 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 (reddish)
  • heron (tricolored)
  • heron (yellow-crowned night)
  • horned lark
  • hummingbird (black-chinned)
  • hummingbird (green violet-ear)
  • hummingbird (ruby-throated)
  • hummingbird (rufous)
  • ibis (glossy)
  • ibis (white)
  • ibis (white-faced)
  • jay (blue)
  • junco (dark-eyed)
  • kestrel (American)
  • killdeer
  • kingbird (eastern)
  • kingbird (western)
  • kingfisher (belted)
  • kinglet (golden-crowned)
  • kinglet (ruby-crowned)
  • kite (Mississippi)
  • kite (white-tailed)
  • kittiwake (black-legged)
  • longspur (Lapland)
  • longspur (Smith's)
  • loon (common)
  • loon (Pacific)
  • loon (red-throated)
  • loon (yellow-billed)
  • martin (purple)
  • meadowlark (eastern)
  • merlin
  • mockingbird (northern)
  • moorhen (common)
  • murrelet (long-billed)
  • nighthawk (common)
  • nuthatch (brown-headed)
  • nuthatch (red-breasted)
  • nuthatch (white-breasted)
  • oriole (Baltimore)
  • oriole (Bullock's)
  • oriole (orchard)
  • oriole (Scott's)
  • osprey
  • ovenbird
  • owl (barn)
  • owl (barred)
  • owl (eastern screech-)
  • owl (great horned)
  • owl (long-eared)
  • owl (northern saw-whet)
  • owl (short-eared)
  • owl (snowy)
  • parula (northern)
  • pelican (American white)
  • pelican (brown)
  • petrel (band-rumped storm-)
  • petrel (black-capped)
  • phalarope (red)
  • phalarope ((red-necked)
  • phalarope (Wilson’s)
  • phoebe (eastern)
  • pigeon (band-tailed)
  • pigeon (rock) - introduced
  • pipit (American)
  • plover (American golden-)
  • plover (black-bellied)
  • plover (piping)
  • plover (semipalmated)
  • rail (king)
  • rail (Virginia)
  • rail (yellow)
  • raven (common)
  • red knot
  • redpoll (common)
  • redstart (American)
  • robin (American)
  • ruff
  • sanderling
  • sandpiper (Baird’s)
  • sandpiper (buff-breasted)
  • sandpiper (curlew)
  • sandpiper (least)
  • sandpiper (pectoral)
  • sandpiper (semipalmated)
  • sandpiper (solitary)
  • sandpiper (stilt)
  • sandpiper (upland)
  • sandpiper (western)
  • sandpiper (white-rumped)
  • shearwater (Audubon's)
  • shrike (loggerhead)
  • shrike (northern)
  • skimmer (black)
  • snipe (Wilson’s)
  • sora
  • sparrow (American tree)
  • sparrow (Bachman’s)
  • sparrow (chipping)
  • sparrow (clay-colored)
  • sparrow (Eurasian tree) - introduced
  • sparrow (field)
  • sparrow (fox)
  • sparrow (grasshopper)
  • sparrow (Harris's)
  • sparrow (Henslow’s)
  • sparrow (house) - introduced
  • sparrow (lark)
  • sparrow (Le Conte’s)
  • sparrow (Lincoln’s)
  • sparrow (sage)
  • sparrow (Savannah)
  • sparrow (song)
  • sparrow (swamp)
  • sparrow (vesper) 
  • sparrow (white-crowned)
  • sparrow (white-throated)
  • spoonbill (roseate)
  • starlings (European)
  • stilts (black-necked)
  • stint (little)
  • stork (wood)
  • swallow (bank)
  • swallow (barn)
  • swallow (cliff)
  • swallow (northern rough-winged)
  • swallow (tree)
  • swan (mute)
  • swan (tundra)
  • tanager (scarlet)
  • tanager (summer)
  • tern (Caspian)
  • tern (common)
  • tern (Forster’s)
  • tern (gull-billed)
  • tern (least)
  • tern (sooty)
  • thrasher (brown)
  • thrush (gray-cheeked)
  • thrush (hermit)
  • thrush (Swainson’s)
  • thrush (varied)
  • thrush (wood)
  • titmouse (tufted)
  • towhee (eastern)
  • towhee (green-tailed)
  • towhee (spotted)
  • turkey (wild)
  • turnstone (ruddy)
  • veery
  • vireo (Bell's)
  • vireo (blue-headed)
  • vireo (Philadelphia)
  • vireo (red-eyed)
  • vireo (warbling)
  • vireo (white-eyed)
  • vireo (yellow-throated)
  • vulture (black)
  • vulture (turkey)
  • warbler (Bachman's)
  • warbler (black-&-white)
  • warbler (bay-breasted)
  • warbler (Blackburnian)
  • warbler (black-throated blue)
  • warbler (black-throated gray)
  • warbler (black-throated green)
  • warbler (blackpoll)
  • warbler (blue-winged)
  • warbler (Canada)
  • warbler (Cape May)
  • warbler (cerulean)
  • warbler (chestnut-sided)
  • warbler (Connecticut)
  • warbler (golden-winged)
  • warbler (hooded)
  • warbler (Kentucky)
  • warbler (magnolia)
  • warbler (mourning)
  • warbler (Nashville)
  • warbler (orange-crowned)
  • warbler (palm)
  • warbler (pine)
  • warbler (prairie)
  • warbler (prothonotary)
  • warbler (Swainson’s)
  • warbler (Tennessee)
  • warbler (Wilson’s)
  • warbler (worm-eating)
  • warbler (yellow-rumped)
  • warbler (yellow-throated)
  • warbler (yellow)
  • waterthrush (Louisiana)
  • waterthrush (northern) 
  • waxwing (cedar)
  • whimbrel
  • whip-poor-will
  • willet
  • woodcock (American)
  • wood-pewee (eastern)
  • woodpeckers (downy)
  • woodpeckers (hairy)
  • woodpeckers (pileated)
  • woodpeckers (red-bellied)
  • woodpeckers (red-headed)
  • woodpeckers (yellow-bellied sapsucker)
  • wren (Bewick’s)
  • wren (Carolina)
  • wren (house)
  • wren (marsh)
  • wren (rock)
  • wren (sedge)
  • wren (winter)
  • yellowlegs (greater)
  • yellowlegs (lesser)
  • yellowthroat (common)

For more information about Kentucky birds (including Latin names) click on individual animal links or for another (off-site) resource: LINK

Coloring Birds of this State

Kentucky

Labeling Birds of this State

Kentucky

State Symbols of this State

Kentucky

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