Washington NatureMapping Program

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Definition of "Developed" - General Code 200: Significant human influence. Surface development includes buildings, pavement, etc. Excludes agricultural land and clear cuts.

Developed: Low Density Residential (231)

Developed - Low Density
Descriptive Habitat Code: This schoolyard is "developed" (2) has more vegetation (>75%) than development (3) and is in a residential (1) neighborhood.
Photo: KMD


American robin
Turdus migratorius
Code: TUMI
Photo: TFK
Distribution and Habitat:
In North America, American Robins breed from Alaska east to Newfoundland, Canada and south to California and east to Florida. The American Robin can be found in farmlands, suburbs and urban neighborhoods.

Diet:
The American Robin eats earthworms, insects and berries.

Interesting fact:
American Robins are Neotropical migrants, although they are found year-round in mild climates.

American Robin Fact Sheet »



Ensatina
Ensatina eschsholtzi
Code:ENES
Photo: WDFW
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found under bark, logs and rocks in coniferous and deciduous forests; both in open and wooded settings.

Diet:
The ensatina feeds primarily on insects.

Interesting fact:
During cold periods, this salamander may be found in burrows of meadow mice or gophers.

Ensatina Fact Sheet »



Coyote
Canis latrans
Code: CALAT
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in mountainous areas, grasslands, deciduous and mixed coniferous forests and even urban areas.

Diet:
It feeds on whatever it can find, mostly mammals and carrion, although it also eats birds, fruit, and insects.

Interesting fact:
Efforts to exterminate coyotes have taken place during the 20th century. Their numbers are still increasing.

Coyote Fact Sheet »



Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Code: SCCA
Photo: TFK
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout deciduous woodland areas of North America as well as being a common inhabitant of developed areas of towns, cities, residential and even industrial areas.

Diet:
It feeds on seeds, nuts, fruits, insects, and fungi.

Interesting fact:
The Eastern gray squirrel is responsible for causing extensive damage to certain species of trees by stripping off large sections of bark, chewing holes in bird nest boxes, and damaging flower beds.

Eastern Gray Squirrel Fact Sheet »



Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Photo: TFK
Distribution and Habitat:
Honey bees are not native to the Americas but were introduced by European settlers. It is found across the state in fields and gardens.

Diet:
Honey bees harvest nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein) from flowering plants.

Interesting fact:
Worker bees do all the different tasks needed to operate and maintain the hive. They are all sterile females with a straight, barbed stinger.

Honey Bee Fact Sheet »



House sparrow
Passer domesticus
Code: PADO
Photo: RA
Distribution and Habitat:
It is native to Europe and was introduced into the United States in 1850 where it has become a permanent fixture in developed areas.

Diet:
It is an omnivore and it feeds largely upon seeds, although it eats other food including insects and their larvae.

Interesting fact:
The house sparrow is a cavity nester and will out-compete the native birds for nest boxes.



Long-toed salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum
Code: AMMA
Photo: WDFW
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in semi-dry sagebrush areas, rocky shores of lakes, alpine meadows, and even developed areas, in rotting wood and under rocks near lakes, ponds, wetlands and other areas of standing water.

Diet:
It feeds on spiders, crickets, earthworms, snails, slugs, beetle larvae, and small invertebrates.

Interesting fact:
The long-toed salamander is found in habitats occurring from sea level to elevations of over 10,000 feet.



Pacific tree frog
Hyla regilla
Code:PSRE
Photo: WDFW
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout the Pacific Northwest, never too far from small ponds.

Diet:
It feeds on a variety of small insects.

Interesting fact:
The Pacific tree frog and the bullfrog are the only 2 frogs you can easily hear croaking in Washington State. The Pacific tree frog is smaller in size than a chicken egg and may be shades or green or brown.

Pacific Treefrog Fact Sheet »



Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Code: PRLO
Photo: KMD
Distribution and Habitat:
It is native throughout most of the United States and southern Canada, but has also been introduced into Europe and Asia. It is a common inhabitant of agricultural and residential areas.

Diet:
It feeds upon crayfish, insects, small birds, small rodents, insects, fruits, nuts, and garbage.

Interesting fact:
The raccoon is largely nocturnal in its habits and uses riparian (stream) corridors to travel. When it searches for food in water, it keeps its head up watching for predators and lets its hands find the food.

Raccoon Fact Sheet »



Red-winged blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Code: AGPH
Photo: Natures Pics
Distribution and Habitat:
Red-winged Blackbirds roost and breed in a variety of habitats, but tend to prefer wetlands. They have been known to live in fresh and saltwater marshes. On drier ground, red-winged blackbirds gravitate towards open fields (often in agricultural areas) and lightly wooded deciduous forests.

Diet:
It is an omnivore and feeds on seeds and a variety of insects, including caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles.

Interesting fact:
The red-winged blackbird always nests in swampy places, usually in reeds. The most dominant males set up their territory in the middle of the marsh, which is more protected from predators.

Red-winged Blackbird Fact Sheet »



Steller's jay
Cyanocitta stellari
Code: CYST
Photo: RA
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout conifer forests and developed areas with large trees.

Diet:
It is an omnivore, feeding upon seeds, nuts, fruits and a variety of insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles. During nesting time it may also eat the eggs of other birds, as well as small mammals.

Interesting fact:
Steller's jays cache (store) food in the ground and cover it with a leaf or plant material to mark the location. Two Steller's jays are able to cache 100,000 nuts in a period of three months.

Steller's Jay Fact Sheet »



Sharp-shinned hawk
Accipiter striatus
Code: ACST
Photo: RA
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout North America from Alaska and Canada southward to Panama. It is a neo-tropical migrant.

Diet:
It feeds primarily on other birds such as quails, doves, woodpeckers, flickers, swifts, sparrows, warblers, threshers, wrens, bluebirds, and occasionally small rodents and insects as well.

Interesting fact:
The sharp-shinned hawk generally nests in tall conifers in the mountains and visits the lowlands during the winter. One common source of food are small birds at backyard feeders.



Virginia oposum
Didelphis virginiana
Code: DIVI
Photo: RA
Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including temperate and tropical forests, mountains, grasslands and urban (developed) settings.

Diet:
It feeds upon insects, carrion, garbage, other small mammals, fruit, worms, etc.

Interesting fact:
They are the only marsupial in North America. Oposums have apposable first digits on the hind feet that assist with climbing trees. A female can carry fertilized eggs and have young in her pouch at the same time.


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