Skip to main content
CWF logo
  • Why Support Wildlife
  • |
  • What We Do
  • |
  • Get Involved
Sign In
Username

Password
Forgot?
Not a Member?   Register Today
Français
Donate
Adopt
  • Donate
    • Ways to Give
    • Single
    • Monthly
    • Shop CWF
    • Adopt-an-animal
    • Fundraise
      • Birthday
      • Wedding
      • Anniversary
      • Other Events
    • In Tribute
      • In Honour
      • In Memory
    • Gift of Securities
    • Symbolic Gifts
    • Legacy Giving
    • Corporate
      • Major Gifts
      • Sponsorship
  • About Us
    • Why Canada's Wildlife Needs Us
    • Board Of Directors
    • Senior Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Supporter Centre
    • Funding
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Careers
    • Reports
    • Privacy & Policies
      • Accesssibility
      • Policies
  • What We Do
    • What We Do
    • Endangered Species & Biodiversity
    • Lakes & Rivers
    • Coasts & Oceans
    • Forests & Fields
    • Education & Leadership
    • Connecting With Nature
  • Resources
    • Check out our resources
    • Games
    • For Educators
    • Encyclopedias
    • DIY
    • Reports & Papers
    • Printed Materials
    • Downloads
  • News & Media
    • Blogs
    • Newsletters
    • Press Releases
    • Magazines
    • In the News
    • Brand Guidelines & Logos
  • Blog
  • Magazine
  • Shop
  • Site Search
  • Sign In
  • Français
  • Donate
  • What We Do
  • Resources
  • News & Media
  • About Us
  • Français
  • Site Search
  • Sign In
  • Français
  • Why Support Wildlife
  • |
  • What We Do
  • |
  • Get Involved
Donate
Adopt
Facebook Twitter Wordpress Youtube Instagram Pintrest

Animals

Home > English > Resources > Encyclopedias > Fauna
  • Wildlife
  • Animals
  • Amphibians & Reptiles
  • Birds
  • Fish
  • Insects
  • Mammals
  • Pollinators
  • Problem wildlife

Focus on Fauna

Help the Monarchs

Help the monarchs

Read more

Help the Turtles

Help the Turtles

Read more

Overcoming Barriers
 

Sue Penny

Read more

Wild About Birds

Wild About Birds

Read more

Wild About Sharks

Wild About Sharks

Read more

Marine Animals

Marine Animals

Read more

Animals At-A-Glance

Browse through a few of our Canadian species in these "At A Glance" fact sheets. Each page has basic information on some of our Canadian wildlife, with links to detailed, reputable sources such as Hinterland Who's Who and the Government of Canada. Don't see a species you need? Comments or questions? Let us know!

By Type:
Amphibians & Reptiles | Birds | Fish | Insects | Mammals | Pollinators | Backyard Wildlife

Quick Search:

Items 11 - 20 of 91  Previous12345678910Next
Black-footed ferret - 200

Black-Footed Ferret

Of the three species of ferret in the world, the Black-footed ferret is the only one native to North America. They are impeccably cute: cat-like whiskers sprouting from a white muzzle, plush round ears above eyes set into a bandit’s black mask and sturdy legs in black stockings, supporting a sinuous, sandy-coloured body crowned by a black-tipped tail.
blandings turtle 480

Blanding's Turtle

Highly domed, smooth, dark coloured upper shell with light coloured flecks. Bright yellow chin and neck. Size: 12-27 cm
Blue Shark

Blue Shark

Blue sharks are recognizable for their exceptionally slender body and bright blue coloration. They are dark blue on the back, bright blue on the sides, and white on the underside. The colour quickly changes to a uniform dark grey if the shark is removed from the water. They have a long snout, large eyes, and narrow pointed pectoral fins. Adults range in size from about 2 – 3 m (6 – 10 feet).
blue whale

Blue Whale

The blue whale has a long body with a mottled gray colour pattern that appears light blue when seen through the water. It is the largest animal ever known to exist on earth. It can weigh up to 200 tons and it approximately 80 to 100 feet in length.
Blue Spotted Salamander

Blue-Spotted Salamander

The Blue-spotted Salamander is a small, cold-blooded, nocturnal animal. A large adult will only be about 12 cm long, 40% of that is tail and its body is only about 1 cm wide. It is shiny-black with dusty blue spots mainly on the sides and belly.
Burrowing Owls

Burrowing Owl

Once a common sight in portions of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, the burrowing owl is now much more rare. The Canadian population of this little bird of prey has declined over 95 per cent since 1987, and now occupies a mere 36 per cent of its original distribution in Canada. This alarming rate of decline has motivated scientists to list the species as endangered under the Species at Risk Act.
HinterlandsWhosWho480.jpg

Canada Lynx

This secretive, hard-to-spot resident of Canada’s boreal forest is likely a descendant of the Eurasian lynx and resembles a very large domestic cat. It has a short tail, long legs, large feet and prominent ear tufts. Its winter coat is light grey and slightly mottled with long guard hairs; the under-fur is brownish, and the ear tufts and tip of the tail are black. The summer coat is much shorter than the winter coat and has a definite reddish-brown cast. The average weight of a lynx is 8 to 14 kilograms, measuring around 90 centimetres in length. The average lifespan is 15 to 20 years.
Cdn tiger swallowtail Photo9798 - Diane Taylor.jpg

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail

Adult wingspan is 53–90mm. Adults (butterflies) are yellow with thick black bands coming down from the top of the forewing and some black lines/veins across the hind wings. There are thick black bands along the edge of both the forewing and hind wing, with yellow spots along the forewing and yellow and orange spots on the jagged hind wing. There is a softer band of blue patches on the hind wing. Near the bottom of the hind wing is an extension that, when you look at both wings together, resemble the long, forked tails of some swallows.

Young (larvae/caterpillars), when immature, are brown and white and resemble bird droppings. Older caterpillars are large and green. Their body is fatter just behind the head and has two yellowish spots that look like eyes and a yellow band farther back, giving the impression of a much larger head, which is thought to deter predators.

caribou

Caribou

The caribou is well adapted to its environment. Its short, stocky body conserves heat, its long legs help it move through snow, and its long dense winter coat provides effective insulation, even during periods of low temperature and high wind. The muzzle and tail are short and well haired.
cedar-wing-bird-lauren-nicholl

Cedar Waxwings

Cedar Waxwings are creamy yellow below, have light brown colouring on their heads and upper backs, grey on their lower backs and wings and a black mask across the top of their bills that extends around their eyes. They also have feathers on their heads that form a crest. They have a bright yellow band at the end of their tails. Sometimes you can see a thin red strip on the edge of their secondary wing feathers.
Items 11 - 20 of 91  Previous12345678910Next

 For more species, visit Hinterland Who's Who,  a joint program of the Canadian Wildlife Federation and Environment Canada.

Flora & Fauna:
Amphibians and Reptiles

Discover the world of amphibians and reptiles - their importance on this planet, their needs, their threats

Read More

Flora & Fauna:
Birds

Discover the world of birds - their importance on this planet, their needs, their threats.

Read More

Fish

Canada's Fish

Read More

Flora & Fauna:
Insects

Discover the world of insects - their importance on this planet, their needs, their threats.

Read More

Flora & Fauna:
Mammals

Learn all about Canada's mammals.

Read More

Forests & Fields:
Backyard Wildlife FAQs

Learn more about problem wildlife and how to help.

Read More
arrow

Learn more

Facebook Twitter Wordpress Youtube Instagram Pinterest
CWF

About Us

  • Ways to Give
  • Contact Us
  • Supporter Centre
  • Corporate Sponsorship
  • Careers
  • Funding
  • Board of Directors
  • Reports
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy & Policies

News & Media

  • Articles
  • Blogs
  • Newsletters
  • Press Releases
  • Magazines
  • In the News
  • Branding Guidelines & Logos

What We Do

  • Endangered Species & Biodiversity
  • Lakes & Rivers
  • Coasts & Oceans
  • Forests & Fields
  • Education & Leadership
  • Connecting With Nature

Explore

  • Agriculture & Habitat
  • American Eels
  • Aquaculture
  • Bats
  • Below Zero
  • Canadian Conservation Awards
  • Canadian Conservation Corps
  • #DoMoreForWildlife
  • Freshwater Turtles
  • Gardening For Wildlife
  • Great Canadian Campout
  • Monarchs
  • Mother Goose
  • Photo Club
  • River Barriers
  • Rivers to Oceans Week
  • Wild About Birds
  • WILD Education
  • WILD Family Nature Club
  • WILD Outside
  • WILD Spaces

Resources

  • Games
  • For Educators
  • Encyclopedias
  • DIY
  • Reports & Papers
  • Papers & Manuals
  • Downloads

Partner Websites

  • AquaticHabitat.ca
  • BanWithAPlan.org
  • Canadian Conservation Corps
  • Canadian Marine Animal Response
  • Hinterland Who's Who
  • iNaturalist.ca
  • Love Your Lake
  • Quest for Canada's Great Whales
Français - Accueil

© 2019 Canadian Wildlife Federation. All Rights Reserved.

Charitable registration # 10686 8755 RR0001

Powered by Blackbaud
nonprofit software