​T​An Incomplete List of Backyard Species from Illinois

Mammalia
Groundhog (Marmota monax)
Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster)
Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicaudia)
Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
White-footed Mouse (Peromyscus leucopus)
Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Coyotes (Canis latrans)
White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)
Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylviligus floridinus
Stray People (Homo sapiens unfamiliaris)
Stray Cat (Felis silvestris catus)
Stray Dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

Insecta Lepodoptera
Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)
Common Sooty Wing (Pholisora catullus)
Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona)
Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor)
Gray Comma (Polygonia progne)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)
Clouded Sulphur-Orange Sulphur (Colias philodice-Colias eurytheme)
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Buckeye (Junonia coenia)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Amphibia
American Toad (Bufo Americanus)
Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis)

Sauropsida
Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix)
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Aves
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinenis)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis)
Tufted Titmouse (Parus bicolor)
Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglotto)
Baltimore Oriole (Icrrus galbula)
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea)
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonottrichia leucophrys)
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erthrophthalmus)
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedorum)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescebs)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiccula)
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Crows are extremely intelligent birds. They are known for their problem-solving skills and amazing communication skills. For example, when a crow encounters a threatening human, it will teach other crows how to identify the human. In fact, research shows that crows don’t forget a face.

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​Music & Images by Artotems Co.

Variety in nature is an amazing aspect of the world around us. We often see the variety of color and shape but to a lesser degree the texture, touch and feel. In this series of photos I explore the incredible textures of nature's creations. ​

Textures - It's Natures Way
​Music & Images by Artotems Co.