Species Profiles
Wetlands are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in British Columbia, supporting a wide array of plant and animal life. This collection of species profiles highlights some of the incredible creatures that call these habitats home—from the secretive amphibians hidden in the reeds to the iconic birds soaring overhead.
Explore the posts below to learn more about the wetland species found across the province, their unique adaptations, and the important roles they play in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Species Profile — American Mink
The American Mink (Neovison vison) is an intriguing and often overlooked member of British Columbia’s wetland ecosystems. Native to North America, its range has expanded to Europe—and, to a lesser extent, parts of South America—largely due to fur farming and accidental or intentional releases. While it resembles a typical weasel, its larger, more robust form…
Species Profile — Moose
When we think of wetland species we often think of animals such as birds, amphibians, and aquatic insects. However, wetlands are renowned for being an ecological hotspot that house a surprising list of tenants – one of them being moose. Moose (Alces alces) aren’t always thought of as a wetland species, but they’re frequently seen…
The Secret World of Wetland Fungi
Wetland fungi play a vital role in shaping wetland ecosystems and habitat for a huge variety of fish and wildlife, according to the B.C. Wildlife Federation’s resident “fun guy,” amateur mycologist, Todd Huang. These humble mushrooms form partnerships with plants, increase soil fertility, and even clean the water of pollutants, all without drawing much attention…
Species Profile — Red-winged Blackbird
We often see them dancing on telephone wires or hear their song as spring returns. The red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is one of the most common birds in North America, with a range stretching coast to coast across southern Canada. As is often the case in nature, the sleek black body and vibrant red-and-yellow shoulder…
Species Profile — Belted Kingfisher
The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a medium-sized bird commonly found near rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands across North America. Ranging from 28 to 30 cm in height, with a wingspan of 48 to 58 cm, this striking species is known for its shaggy crest, sharp dagger-like bill, and loud, mechanical rattle call. Its plumage…
Species Profile — Grizzly Bear
Grizzly bears are one of British Columbia’s most iconic and ecologically vital species. These powerful mammals are a subspecies of the brown bear. While both are part of the same species (Ursus arctos), grizzly bears are specifically known as Ursus arctos horribilis. In other words, all grizzlies are brown bears, but not all brown bears…
Species Profile — Pacific Tree Frog
Meet Hyla regilla – or, as many call it, the Pacific Tree Frog. It is entirely possible that you have never seen one despite their abundance in British Columbia. After all, a full-grown adult is typically less than 5 centimetres long. It may be helpful to think of them as the raccoons of Amphibia – they can be found in…
Species Profile — Bog Star
With its bright, star-like white petals standing out against the darker greens and browns of wetland groundcover, the Northern Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia palustris)—commonly called the Bog Star—is a striking and unmistakable wetland plant. Its five radiant petals sit atop a solitary upright stem, with most foliage concentrated at the base, creating a simple yet elegant bloom…
Species Profile — Long-Billed Dowitcher
The long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) is a medium-to-large shorebird often seen in British Columbia during its fall migration along the Pacific Flyway. Though less commonly spotted in winter, some individuals remain in southern parts of the province before continuing their journey as far south as Central America during colder months. This species is a classic…
Species Profile — Western Red-Backed Salamander
Camouflaged among dead leaves and humus, the Western Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon vehiculum) is perfectly suited to the shaded, damp environments of British Columbia’s forests. Its rusty dorsal stripe blends seamlessly into the forest floor, making it a challenge to spot unless you’re looking closely. This small terrestrial amphibian ranges from B.C. to southern Oregon and…
Species Profile — Long-tailed Duck
Waterfowl are perhaps the most interesting animals on the planet. From high north to the deep south, and from desert to wetlands, you can find waterfowl almost anywhere. One of our favorites of all, however, is a rather hard-to-find resident of British Columbia’s coast: the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). As can be seen in the…
Species Profile — Trumpeter Swan
There’s no denying it: wetlands play a critical role in providing habitats for a variety of life. Studies have found that over 900 species require wetlands, with 64% of all endangered and threatened animal species needing access to them during some point in their life. In Canada, approximately 45 of the 95 species classified as…
Species Profile — Six-Spotted Fishing Spider
There are over 43,000 species of spiders across the globe, about 3,400 of which are found in North America, and 729 confirmed to be found in B.C. Spiders are one of the smallest creatures to instil such great amounts of fear in people. The species of nursery web spider that will be the focus of…
Species Profile — Coastal Tailed Frog
The Coastal Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) is very unique species whose range extends from northern B.C. to California. Tadpoles may grow to about 3 centimeters in length and may be greyish brown, reddish brown, and black in colour. Mature coastal tailed frogs grows to about 3 centimeters in length and may be light brown, greyish…
Species Profile — Round-Leaved Sundew
For those who grew up with a Venus flytrap on the windowsill, the BogBlog’s first-ever plant feature in the Species Profile series may spark a familiar fascination—the insectivorous round-leaved sundew! Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is found widely across the circumboreal region of the northern hemisphere. Common throughout British Columbia, these voracious little plants can often…
Species Profile — Rufous Hummingbird
Ah, the Rufous Hummingbird—a common yet seemingly rare bird that captures our attention and makes us stare in awe at its fiery feathers and futuristic flight. Their flight pattern is mesmerizing, darting and hovering in a way that resembles something like a spaceship. Given their status as such a captivating creature, let’s take a closer…
Species Profile — Rough-skinned Newt
Taricha granulosa, or the ‘Rough-skinned Newt’, is the only newt species in British Columbia. Confined to the coast, the Rough-skinned Newt relies on wetlands for breeding, while foraging is conducted in open seral and mixed forests near permanent water (including wetlands). Their principal targets when foraging are slugs and worms, while also commonly preying on…
Species Profile — Long-Toed Salamander
The long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) is a small but fascinating amphibian found throughout much of British Columbia. Named for the distinctive elongated fourth toe on each hind foot, this species is a common—though often overlooked—resident of wetland habitats across the province. These salamanders are highly adaptable and occupy a variety of moist environments, including forests,…
Species Profile — Steller’s Jay
As the weather warms and the daylight extends, we being to hear an active chorus of springtime birds. Commonly seen foraging for food around campgrounds and parks, Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) are the blue-winged symbol of B.C.’s healthy evergreen forests, as well as, our provincial bird! They’re known for their unmistakably blue feathers, triangle-crested heads, and…
Species Profile — Bald Eagle
Question: What is up to 4 metres deep, 2.5 metres wide, and nearly one metric ton in weight? No, the answer we are looking for is not a boat. Rather, a bald eagle’s nest. With such incredible size, it is no surprise that it houses an incredibly large bird. bald eagles have a wingspan that reaches 2.3 metres,…
Species Profile — Western Painted Turtle
The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) lives in relatively slow-moving fresh waters, with a large range across North America; in fact, it is the continent’s most widespread native turtle. During the last ice age, four subspecies evolved based on their regional distribution. The western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) can be found in British Columbia and…
Species Profile — Virginia Rail
The Virginia Rail: a small, secretive bird of North American wetlands that inhabits southern British Columbia during the summer breeding months. Despite its rather compact body, the Virginia Rail (and other Rail species) have the highest ratio of leg muscles to flight muscles of any bird. Perhaps more fascinating is its creation of “dummy nests”,…
Species Profile — Great Blue Heron
Given how common they are around wetlands, it only makes sense to learn a bit about them. That way, the next time someone points one out, you’ll be able to rattle off a few fun facts and earn the title of Heron Expert—because really, who doesn’t want that? In British Columbia, two subspecies of Great…
Species Profile — American White Pelican
Every last member of our wetlands team voted for this shot of an American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) to feature as our Photo of the Week. The bird certainly makes a striking impression both frozen in an image and when spotted in person. It was taken at the Scout Island Nature Centre in Williams Lake, BC this July by Tania…
BCWF Watershed Team 