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Louisiana Habitats, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles

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Louisiana

Grasslands
Louisiana has some remaining grasslands, though much of it has been destroyed by agriculture and development.
 The coastal prairie is found along the coastal plain of southwestern Louisiana and is the southernmost tip of the tallgrass prairie that is found in the Midwestern U.S. It was the home to herds of bison, pronghorn antelope and red wolves as well as many smaller mammals, birds and insects. The coastal prairie of Louisiana once covered a million acres, but only 1% remains today - less than 250 acres. The rest was lost to farming and development. Another danger to the remaining coastal prairie is the invasion of non-native plants that compete with the native species. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has made restoration of the coastal prairie one of their top priorities for this region as have other groups (Louisiana Nature Conservancy, Louisiana Heritage Program, Cajun Prairie Restoration Society).
There are also coastal dune grasslands above the tideline in the dunes along the coastline. These grasslands are subjected to repeated battering from hurricanes so must be able to tolerate flooding and saltwater.
Other small grasslands are scattered throughout the state. They are called barrens, clay prairies, saline prairies and slicks. They typically have very acidic soil that may also be salty. They can be kept open by fire or are just too acidic for tree growth.

Louisiana Wetlands
Louisiana has a wide variety of wetlands, both freshwater and saltwater. The state's saltwater wetlands include mangroves, salt marshes intertidal salt flats, and mud flats.

Louisiana has about 40% of the coastal wetlands (of the lower 48 states) in the U.S. Wetlands and 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. Despite this, they have been drained and destroyed all over the U.S. until just recently. Scientists think that as much as 50% of the wetlands in the U.S. are already gone.

Salt marshes are vital, rich ecosystems and important habitat for many animals and plants. They act as a boundary between saltwater wetland habitats and dry land. They are rich with plants and animals life that can tolerate salt and the rising and falling tides. The matted roots of salt marsh plants help protect the coast from erosion and storm surges while polluted runoff from land is filtered before reaching the ocean. They are also an important niche for fish and invertebrate nurseries.

Mangroves are important wetlands for all the reasons already mentioned - they are vital wildlife habitat and offer shoreline protection from erosion and storm surges. They only exist in southern climates and many animals nest and feed among their roots and thick vegetation including osprey, pelican, eagles, herons, ibis, egrets, spoonbills, snails and lizards. Underwater animals like fish, crabs, sea turtles, sponges, shrimp, alligators and even dolphins make use of the mangrove's tangled roots to find safe places to feed or protect young.

Louisiana's freshwater wetlands include marshes, swamps, forested wetlands, bogs, wet prairies, prairie potholes, and vernal pools. The term bayou can refer to any slow-moving stream or wetland found in flat, low-lying areas that may rise and fall with the tide. Bayous are often associated with Louisiana's Mississippi River delta region.

Louisiana's bald cypress swamps have saturated ground almost all year. Though bald cypress trees dominate these swamps, there are other trees that can tolerate "wet feet" like swamp red maple, gum trees, willows, ash and buttonbush. Bottomland hardwood forests line large river floodplains, like the Mississippi, Ouachita and Red River. Live oak forests are found in southeastern Louisiana interspersed with marshes and swamps. Pine flatwoods are found on flat, low wet areas in southwestern Louisiana.

Forests

Louisiana has 14 million acres of forest covering about 50% of the state. Louisiana's many kinds of forest include shortleaf pine, oak-hickory, coastal and barrier island live oak, slash pine, post oak, mixed hardwood, evergreen (longleaf pine), cedar and spruce-pine forests.

Only 9% of the state's forest is owned by the public, while 81% is owned privately. Industries that create wood products own 10% of Louisiana's forest and trees are the state's largest "crop" making up almost 70% of the plant products grown in Louisiana.

Louisiana

Coloring the Animals of this State

Louisiana

Labeling the Animals of this State

Louisiana

List of Mammals for this State

Gulf Mammals:

  • dolphin (bottlenose)
  • manatee
  • whale (blue)
  • whale (finback)
  • whale (sei)
  • whale (sperm)

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Coloring Mammals of this State

Louisiana

Labeling Mammals of this State

Louisiana

List of Amphibians & Reptiles for This State

Amphibians:

  • Amphiuma (three-toed)
  • Amphiuma (two-toed)
  • bullfrog (American)
  • frog (bronze)
  • frog (Cajun chorus)
  • frog (greenhouse)
  • frog (northern cricket)
  • frog (ornate chorus)
  • frog (pickerel)
  • frog (pig)
  • frog (Rio Grande chirping)
  • frog (southern crawfish)
  • frog (southern cricket)
  • frog (southern leopard)
  • frog (Strecker's chorus)
  • mudpuppy
  • newt (eastern)
  • salamander (dwarf)
  • salamander (four-toed)
  • salamander (Gulf coast waterdog)
  • salamander (lesser siren)
  • salamander (Louisiana slimy)
  • salamander (marbled)
  • salamander (Mississippi slimy)
  • salamander (mole)
  • salamander (mud)
  • salamander (red)
  • salamander (small-mouthed)
  • salamander (spotted)
  • salamander (southern dusky)
  • salamander (southern red-backed)
  • salamander (southern two-lined)
  • salamander (spotted dusky)
  • salamander (tiger)
  • salamander (three-lined)
  • salamander (Webster's)
  • spadefoot toad (eastern)
  • spadefoot toad (Hurter's)
  • spring peeper
  • toad (American)
  • toad (eastern narrow-mouthed)
  • toad (Fowler's)
  • toad (Gulf coast)
  • toad (oak)
  • toad (southern)
  • treefrog (barking)
  • treefrog (bird-voiced)
  • treefrog (Cope's gray)
  • treefrog (gray)
  • treefrog (green)
  • treefrog (pine woods)
  • treefrog (squirrel)


Reptiles:

  • alligator (American)
  • lizard (eastern glass)
  • sea turtle (green)
  • sea turtle (hawkbill)
  • sea turtle (Kemp's Ridley)
  • sea turtle (leatherback)
  • sea turtle (loggerhead)
  • skink (southern prairie)
  • snake (banded water)
  • snake (black pine)
  • snake (Brahminy bland)
  • snake (brown)
  • snake (canebrake rattlesnake)
  • snake (coachwhip)
  • snake (common garter)
  • snake (copperhead)
  • snake (cottonmouth)
  • snake (diamondback water)
  • snake (eastern diamondback rattlesnake)
  • snake (eastern hognose)
  • snake (eastern ribbon)
  • snake (eastern worm)
  • snake (flat-headed)
  • snake (glossy crayfish)
  • snake (Graham's crayfish)
  • snake (gray ratsnake)
  • snake (harlequin coral)
  • snake (Louisiana pine)
  • snake (milk)
  • snake (Mississippi green water)
  • snake (mole kingsnake)
  • snake (mud)
  • snake (pine woods)
  • snake (prairie kingsnake)
  • snake (pygmy rattlesnake)
  • snake (racer)
  • snake (rainbow)
  • snake (red-bellied)
  • snake (red corn)
  • snake (ring-necked)
  • snake (rough earth)
  • snake (rough green)
  • snake (salt marsh)
  • snake (scarlet)
  • snake (scarlet king)
  • snake (Slowinski's corn)
  • snake (smooth Earth)
  • snake (southeastern crowned)
  • snake (speckled king)
  • snake (Texas coral)
  • snake (western rat)
  • snake (western ribbon)
  • snake (western worm)
  • snake (yellow-bellied water)
  • turtle (alligator snapping)
  • turtle (diamondback terrapin)
  • turtle (gopher tortoise)
  • turtle (ornate box)
  • turtle (Pascagoula map)
  • turtle (ringed map)
  • turtle (striped-neck musk)


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

Coloring Amphibians & Reptiles of this State

Louisiana

Labeling Amphibians & Reptiles of this State

Louisiana

Bird List for This State

  • anhinga
  • ani (groove-billed)
  • ani (smooth-billed)
  • albatross (yellow-nosed)
  • avocet (American)
  • bittern (American)
  • bittern (least)
  • blackbird (Brewer's)
  • blackbird (red-winged)
  • blackbird (rusty)
  • blackbird (yellow-headed)
  • bluebird (eastern)
  • bluebird (mountain)
  • bobolink
  • bobwhite (northern)
  • booby (brown)
  • booby (masked)
  • booby (red-footed)
  • bunting (indigo)
  • bunting (lazuli)
  • bunting (painted)
  • bunting (snow)
  • bunting (varied)
  • caracara (crested)
  • cardinal (northern)
  • catbird (gray)
  • chat (yellow-breasted)
  • chickadee (Carolina)
  • chuck-will's-widow
  • coot (American)
  • cormorant (double-crested)
  • cormorant (neotropic)
  • cowbird (bronzed)
  • cowbird (brown-headed)
  • cowbird (shiny)
  • crane (sandhill)
  • creeper (brown)
  • crossbill (red)
  • crow (American)
  • crow (fish)
  • cuckoo (black-billed)
  • cuckoo (mangrove)
  • cuckoo (yellow-billed)
  • curlew (long-billed)
  • dickcissel
  • dove (common ground)
  • dove (Eurasian collared)
  • dove (Inca)
  • dove (mourning)
  • dove (white-winged)
  • dowitcher (long-billed)
  • dowitcher (short-billed)
  • duck (American wigeon)
  • duck (black)
  • duck (black scoter)
  • duck (black-bellied whistling)
  • duck (blue-winged teal)
  • duck (bufflehead)
  • duck (canvasback)
  • duck (cinnamon teal)
  • duck (common goldeneye)
  • duck (Eurasian wigeon)
  • duck (fulvous whistling)
  • duck (gadwall)
  • duck (green-winged teal)
  • duck (greater scaup)
  • duck (king eider)
  • duck (lesser scaup)
  • duck (long-tailed)
  • duck (mallard)
  • duck (masked)
  • duck (mottled)
  • duck (northern pintail)
  • duck (northern shoveler)
  • duck (redhead)
  • duck (ring-necked)
  • duck (ruddy)
  • duck (surf scoter)
  • duck (white-winged scoter)
  • duck (wood)
  • dunlin
  • eagle (bald)
  • eagle (golden)
  • egret (cattle)
  • egret (great)
  • egret (reddish)
  • egret (snowy)
  • falcon (peregrine)
  • finch (house)
  • finch (purple)
  • flamingo (American)
  • flicker (northern)
  • flycatcher (Acadian)
  • flycatcher (alder)
  • flycatcher (ash-throated)
  • flycatcher (brown-crested)
  • flycatcher (Cordilleran)
  • flycatcher (crowned slaty)
  • flycatcher (fork-tailed)
  • flycatcher (gray)
  • flycatcher (great-crested)
  • flycatcher (Hammond's)
  • flycatcher (least)
  • flycatcher (olive-sided)
  • flycatcher (Pacific-slope)
  • flycatcher (scissor-tailed)
  • flycatcher (sulphur-belled)
  • flycatcher (vermillion)
  • flycatcher (willow)
  • flycatcher (yellow-bellied)
  • frigatebird (great)
  • frigatebird (magnificent)
  • gallinule (purple)
  • gannet (northern)
  • godwit (black-tailed)
  • godwit (Hudsonian)
  • godwit (marbled)
  • goldfinch (American)
  • goldfinch (lesser)
  • goose (brant)
  • goose (cackling)
  • goose (Canada)
  • goose (greater white-fronted)
  • goose (Ross's)
  • goose (snow)
  • grackle (boat-tailed)
  • grackle (common)
  • grackle (great-tailed)
  • grèbe (eared)
  • grèbe (horned)
  • grebe (least)
  • grèbe (pied-billed)
  • grèbe (red-necked)
  • grèbe (western)
  • gnatcatcher (blue-gray)
  • grosbeak (black-headed)
  • grosbeak (blue)
  • grosbeak (evening)
  • grosbeak (rose-breasted)
  • gull (Bonaparte’s)
  • gull (California)
  • gull (Franklin's)
  • gull (glaucous)
  • gull (great black-backed)
  • gull (herring)
  • gull (kelp)
  • gull (laughing)
  • gull (lesser black-backed)
  • gull (little)
  • gull (ring-billed)
  • gull (Sabine's)
  • gull (Thayer's)
  • gull (western)
  • harrier (northern)
  • hawk (broad-winged)
  • hawk (Cooper's)
  • hawk (ferruginous)
  • hawk (Harris's)
  • hawk (northern goshawk)
  • hawk (red-shouldered)
  • hawk (red-tailed)
  • hawk (rough-legged)
  • hawk (sharp-shinned)
  • hawk (Swainson's)
  • hawk (white-tailed)
  • hawk (zone-tailed)
  • heron (black-crowned night)
  • heron (great blue)
  • heron (green)
  • heron (little blue)
  • heron (tri-colored)
  • heron (yellow-crowned night)
  • horned lark
  • hummingbird (Allen's)
  • hummingbird (Anna's)
  • hummingbird (black-chinned)
  • hummingbird (blue-throated)
  • hummingbird (broad-billed)
  • hummingbird (broad-tailed)
  • hummingbird (buff-bellied)
  • hummingbird (calliope)
  • hummingbird (green violetear)
  • hummingbird (magnificent)
  • hummingbird (ruby-throated)
  • hummingbird (rufous)
  • ibis (glossy)
  • ibis (white)
  • ibis (white-faced)
  • jabiru
  • jaeger (long-tailed)
  • jaeger (parasitic)
  • jaeger (Pomarine)
  • jay (blue)
  • junco (dark-eyed)
  • junco (gray-headed)
  • junco (Oregon)
  • kestrel (American)
  • killdeer
  • kingbird (Cassin's)
  • kingbird (Couch's)
  • kingbird (eastern)
  • kingbird (tropical)
  • kingbird (western)
  • kingfisher (belted)
  • kingfisher (ringed)
  • kinglet (golden-crowned)
  • kinglet (ruby-crowned)
  • kiskadee (great)
  • kite (Mississippi)
  • kite (swallow-tailed)
  • kite (white-tailed)
  • kittiwake (black-legged)
  • longspur (chestnut-collared)
  • longspur (Lapland)
  • longspur (McCown's)
  • longspur (Smith's)
  • loon (common)
  • loon (red-throated)
  • martin (brown-chested)
  • martin (purple)
  • merganser (common)
  • merganser (hooded)
  • merganser (red-breasted)
  • merlin
  • mockingbird (northern)
  • moorhen (common)
  • murrelet (ancient)
  • nighthawk (Antillean)
  • nighthawk (common)
  • nighthawk (lesser)
  • noddy (brown)
  • nutcracker (Clark's)
  • nuthatch (brown-headed)
  • nuthatch (red-breasted)
  • nuthatch (white-breasted)
  • oriole (Baltimore)
  • oriole (Bullock's)
  • oriole (hooded)
  • oriole (orchard)
  • oriole (Scott's)
  • osprey
  • ovenbird
  • owl (barn)
  • owl (barred)
  • owl (burrowing)
  • owl (eastern screech)
  • owl (flammulated)
  • owl (great horned)
  • owl (long-eared)
  • owl (northern saw-whet)
  • owl (short-eared)
  • owl (snowy)
  • oystercatcher (American)
  • parula (northern)
  • parula (tropical)
  • pelican (American white)
  • pelican (brown)
  • phalarope (red)
  • phalarope (red-necked)
  • phalarope (Wilson's)
  • phoebe (eastern)
  • phoebe (Say's)
  • pigeon (band-tailed)
  • pigeon (rock)
  • pine siskin
  • pipit (American)
  • pipit (Sprague's)
  • plover (American golden)
  • plover (black-bellied)
  • plover (lesser sand)
  • plover (piping)
  • plover (semipalmated)
  • plover (snowy)
  • plover (Wilson's)
  • prairie chicken (Attwater's greater)
  • rail (black)
  • rail (clapper)
  • rail (king)
  • rail (Virginia)
  • rail (yellow)
  • raven (Chihuahuan)
  • red knot
  • redstart (American)
  • redstart (painted)
  • roadrunner (greater)
  • robin (American)
  • ruff
  • sanderling
  • sandpiper (Baird's)
  • sandpiper (buff-breasted)
  • sandpiper (curlew)
  • sandpiper (least)
  • sandpiper (pectoral)
  • sandpiper (purple)
  • sandpiper (semipalmated)
  • sandpiper (solitary)
  • sandpiper (spotted)
  • sandpiper (stilt)
  • sandpiper (upland)
  • sandpiper (western)
  • sandpiper (white-rumped)
  • sapsucker (red-naped)
  • sapsucker (Williamson's)
  • sapsucker (yellow-bellied)
  • shearwater (Audubon's)
  • shearwater (Cory's)
  • shearwater (great)
  • shearwater (manx)
  • shrike (loggerhead)
  • solitaire (Townsend's)
  • sora
  • sparrow (American tree)
  • sparrow (Bachman's)
  • sparrow (Baird's)
  • sparrow (Brewer's)
  • sparrow (Cassin's)
  • sparrow (chipping)
  • sparrow (clay-colored)
  • sparrow (field)
  • sparrow (fox)
  • sparrow (grasshopper)
  • sparrow (golden-crowned)
  • sparrow (Harris's)
  • sparrow (Henslow's)
  • sparrow (lark)
  • sparrow (Le Conte's)
  • sparrow (Lincoln's)
  • sparrow (Nelson's)
  • sparrow (Savannah)
  • sparrow (seaside)
  • sparrow (song)
  • sparrow (swamp)
  • sparrow (vesper)
  • sparrow (white-crowned)
  • sparrow (white-throated)
  • spoonbill (roseate)
  • starling
  • stilt (black-necked)
  • stork (wood)
  • storm-petrel (band-rumped)
  • storm-petrel (Leach's)
  • storm-petrel (Wilson's)
  • swallow (bank)
  • swallow (barn)
  • swallow (cave)
  • swallow (cliff)
  • swallow (northern rough-winged)
  • swallow (tree)
  • swan (trumpeter)
  • swan (tundra)
  • swift (chimney)
  • swift (Vaux's)
  • tanager (hepatic)
  • tanager (scarlet)
  • tanager (summer)
  • tanager (western)
  • tern (arctic)
  • tern (black)
  • tern (bridled)
  • tern (Caspian)
  • tern (common)
  • tern (forster's)
  • tern (gull-billed)
  • tern (interior least)
  • tern (least)
  • tern (royal)
  • tern (sandwich)
  • tern (sooty)
  • thrasher (brown)
  • thrasher (curve-billed)
  • thrasher (sage)
  • thrush (gray-cheeked)
  • thrush (hermit)
  • thrush (Swainson's)
  • thrush (varied)
  • thrush (wood)
  • turnstone (ruddy)
  • towhee (eastern)
  • towhee (green-tailed)
  • towhee (spotted)
  • titmouse (tufted)
  • tropicbird (red-billed)
  • turkey (wild)
  • veery
  • vireo (Bell's)
  • vireo (black-whiskered)
  • vireo (blue-headed)
  • vireo (Cassin's)
  • vireo (Philadelphia)
  • vireo (plumbeous)
  • vireo (red-eyed)
  • vireo (warbling)
  • vireo (white-eyed)
  • vireo (yellow-green)
  • vireo (yellow-throated)
  • vulture (black)
  • vulture (turkey)
  • wagtail (white)
  • warbler (bay-breasted)
  • warbler (blackburnian)
  • warbler (black and white)
  • warbler (blackpoll)
  • warbler (black-throated blue)
  • warbler (black-throated gray)
  • warbler (black-throated green)
  • warbler (blue-winged)
  • warbler (Canada)
  • warbler (Cape May)
  • warbler (cerulean)
  • warbler (chestnut-sided)
  • warbler (Connecticut)
  • warbler (hermit)
  • warbler (hooded)
  • warbler (Kentucky)
  • warbler (Lucy's)
  • warbler (MacGillivray's)
  • warbler (magnolia)
  • warbler (mourning)
  • warbler (Nashville)
  • warbler (orange-crowned)
  • warbler (palm)
  • warbler (pine)
  • warbler (prairie)
  • warbler (prothonotary)
  • warbler (red-faced)
  • warbler (Swainson's)
  • warbler (Tennessee)
  • warbler (Townsend's)
  • warbler (Virginia's)
  • warbler (Wilson's)
  • warbler (worm-eating)
  • warbler (yellow)
  • warbler (yellow-rumped)
  • warbler (yellow-throated)
  • waterthrush (Louisiana)
  • waterthrush (northern)
  • waxwing (cedar)
  • wheatear (northern)
  • whimbrel
  • whip-poor-will (eastern)
  • willet
  • woodcock (American)
  • wood-pewee (eastern)
  • wood-pewee (western)
  • woodpecker (downy)
  • woodpecker (hairy)
  • woodpecker (ivory-billed)
  • woodpecker (pileated)
  • woodpecker (red-bellied)
  • woodpecker (red-cockaded)
  • woodpecker (red-headed)
  • 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 specific birds and an illustrated diagram, check our bird database.

Coloring Birds of this State

Louisiana

Labeling Birds of this State

Louisiana

State Symbols of this State

Louisiana

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