The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a fairly common backyard bird with a few distinguishing characteristics that make it east to pick out. Females are mostly gray and white and the juveniles look very similar to a Savannah Sparrow, but … Continue reading
Thanks for the viewer mail on this one – we have ourselves a Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura). I caught this sucker at Millington Wildlife Management Area, which – if I haven’t said it on a ton of other posts – … Continue reading
The Orchard-Orb-Weaver (Leucauge venusta) is one of the more beautiful, common and recognizable orb-weaver spiders in Maryland. I have run across this particular orb-weaver species at Milllington Wildlife Management Area, Elk Forest WMA and White Clay Creek in Delaware, so … Continue reading
The Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) is at the northern extent of its U.S. range in Maryland. The Southern Leopard is common in the southeastern part of the U.S. and is not found north of Maryland. Within the state, it … Continue reading
Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) or the Common Snapping Turtle is an extremely widespread snapper that inhabits most of the United States, including all parts of Maryland. Turtles are common at almost all wildlife areas in Maryland, especially along the Chesapeake … Continue reading
The Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) is a ground beetle common in forest areas in all parts of Maryland. The beetle is found in most of the northeastern United States, north into Canada and to south, around Kentucky. It can fly, obviously, … Continue reading
The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small member of the heron family. It has much shorter legs than some of the other waterfowl you will see in Maryland, like egrets and the Great Blue Heron. The Green Heron is … Continue reading
The Great Egret (Ardea alba) is a tall, white, wading bird very common in the state of Maryland. On the scale of commonality, I would have to rank this one right up there with the Great Blue Heron. It’s like, … Continue reading