Game Species, Common Fish Species, Etc.
The following includes many of North Dakota's game species as well as common fish species descriptions.
Game Species
(The list below is not comprehensive. Only a subset of game species are represented.)
Ungulates
Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis)
Bison
(Bison bison)
Elk
(Cervus elaphus)
Moose
(Alces alces)
Mule Deer
(Odocoileus hemionus)
Pronghorn
(Antilocapra americana)
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Furbearers
Badger
(Taxidea taxus)
Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
Bobcat
(Lynx rufus)
Coyote
(Canis latrans)
Fisher
(Pekania pennanti)
Mink
(Mustela vison)
Mountain Lion
(Puma concolor)
Muskrat
(Ondatra zibethicus)
Raccoon
(Procyon lotor)
Red Fox
( Vulpes vulpes)
River Otter
(Lontra canadensis)
Weasels
(spp)
Other Mammal
Flying Squirrel
(Glaucomys sabrinus)
Fox Squirrel
(Sciurus niger)
Gray Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)
Red Squirrel
(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Waterfowl
American Coot
(Fulica americana)
American Wigeon
(Anas americana)
Blue-winged Teal
(Anas discors)
Bufflehead
(Bucephala albeola)
Canvasback
(Aythya valisineria)
Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala clangula)
Gadwall
(Anas strepera)
Green-winged Teal
(Anas crecca)
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)
Lesser Scaup
(Aythya affinis)
Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)
Northern Pintail
(Anas acuta)
Northern Shoveler
(Anas clypeata)
Redhead
(Aythya americana)
Ring-necked Duck
(Aythya collaris)
Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
Wood Duck
(Aix sponsa)
Canada Goose
(Branta canadensis)
Greater White-fronted Goose
(Anser albifrons)
Lesser Snow Goose (and Ross' Goose)
(Chen caerulescens (Ross' Goose - Chen rossii))
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus)
Other Game Birds
Hungarian Partridge (Gray Partridge)
(Perdix perdix)
Ring-necked Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)
Wild Turkey
(Meleagris gallopavo)
Common Fish Species
Northern Pike
(Pike Family)
Muskellunge
(Pike Family)
Walleye
(Perch Family)
Sauger
(Perch Family)
Yellow Perch
(Perch Family)
Johnny Darter
(Perch Family)
Largemouth Bass
(Sunfish Family)
Smallmouth Bass
(Sunfish Family)
Bluegill
(Sunfish Family)
Orangespotted Sunfish
(Sunfish Family)
Pumpkinseed
(Sunfish Family)
Green Sunfish
(Sunfish Family)
Black Crappie
(Sunfish Family)
White Crappie
(Sunfish Family)
White Bass
(Temperate or True Bass Family)
Freshwater Drum
(Drum Family)
Channel Catfish
(Catfish Family)
Black Bullhead
(Catfish Family)
Paddlefish
(Paddlefish Family)
Shortnose Gar
(Gar Family)
Shovelnose Sturgeon
(Sturgeon Family)
Pallid Sturgeon
(Sturgeon Family)
Rainbow Trout
(Trout Family)
Brown Trout
(Trout Family)
Chinook Salmon
(Trout Family)
Burbot
(Cod Family)
Goldeye
(Mooneye Family)
White Sucker
(Sucker Family)
Bigmouth Buffalo
(Sucker Family)
Blue Sucker
(Sucker Family)
Shorthead Redhorse
(Sucker Family)
Fathead Minnow
(Minnow Family)
Northern Redbelly Dace
(Minnow Family)
Creek Chub
(Minnow Family)
Common Carp
(Minnow Family)
Brook Stickleback
(Stickleback Family)
Rainbow Smelt
(Smelt Family)
Blacknose Shiner
Flathead Chub
Hornyhead Chub
Northern Pearl Dace
Trout Perch
Current North Dakota Fish Species
Miscellaneous Species
American Marten
(Martes Americana)
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
Gray Wolf
(Canis lupis)
Virginia Opossum
(Didelphis virginiana)
Other Wildlife Identification Resources
- Checklist of North Dakota Birds (pdf)
- The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (USGS) website is an excellent resource for more information on species and ecology in North Dakota.
- Centralflyway.org, a website maintained by the Central Flyway Council describes the flyway, its habitats and birds.
- eBird, a website maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon, is a tremendous resource for both birders and casual wildlife observers alike. The site includes a searchable database of recent species observations in North Dakota and the world.
- All About Birds, another website maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is an excellent bird identification website.
- North Dakota Herp Atlas - Amphibians and reptiles of North Dakota