Jun 8, 2026
Morton Arboretumi
Photo attribution
(c) Belinda Ramos, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Region Guide
Wildlife and nature in Illinois
Prairies, wetlands, woodlands, and migratory birds
Illinois combines prairie heritage with rivers, wetlands, lakeshores, and woodland habitats, offering family nature experiences that range from bird migration corridors to local parks and river landscapes.
Sightings
2,296
Places
445
Species
582
Latest Sightings
Recent sightings in Illinois
A recent look at wildlife sightings across Illinois.
Jun 6, 2026
West Argyle Street Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Jeremy Atherton, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
West Argyle Street Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Jeremy Atherton, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
West Argyle Street Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Ronni :), some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 6, 2026
Oak Park Conservatoryi
Photo attribution
(c) Jessica W., some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 5, 2026
Shedd Aquariumi
Photo attribution
(c) Nick S., some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sightings Map
See where snaps are happening
Start wide, then zoom in to see how snaps spread across Illinois.
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Places to Start
Parks, reserves, and local nature spots
Good starting points if you want to turn Illinois' guide into an actual day out.
Park129 sightings15 species
Illinois, US
Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park
You might spot Wood Duck, Red-Winged Blackbird, and Duck.
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Park122 sightings14 species
Illinois, US
River Park
You might spot Duck, American Robin, and Black-Crowned Night Heron.
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Park98 sightings9 species
Illinois, US
Northerly Island
You might spot Canada Goose, Ring-Billed Gull, and Red-Winged Blackbird.
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Park95 sightings8 species
Illinois, US
Jackson Park
You might spot Great Blue Heron and American Herring Gull.
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Zoo30 sightings19 species
Illinois, US
Brookfield Zoo
You might spot Polar Bear, Brown Bear, and American Bison.
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Park30 sightings12 species
Illinois, US
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden
You might spot Cassin's 13-Year Cicada, Duck, and White-Tailed Deer.
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Popular Species
Popular species in Illinois
A quick look at the species showing up most often in sightings across Illinois.
Category Guides
Check out our category guides for Illinois
Browse birds, wildflowers, and bugs of Illinois.
Birds
Birding in Illinois
Browse birdlife, migration patterns, shoreline species, and the birds people are most likely to notice across Illinois.
905 Sightings121 Species
View guide →
Flowers
Flowers in Illinois
Follow native blooms, seasonal colour, and wildflower-rich places across Illinois.
40 Sightings252 Species
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Bugs
Bugs in Illinois
Focus on butterflies, bees, beetles, and other small species that make close-up exploring in Illinois feel richer.
489 Sightings134 Species
View guide →