Biodiversity of Westchester County, New York
Plants
There are 1,168 species of vascular plants in Westchester County, according to the Parks Department.[1] Literary environmental writer Alex Shoumatoff hailed it as the "most richly diversified deciduous forest in the world" in a 1978 The New Yorker profile, at the time estimating 4,200 species.[2]
Endangered plants:[3]
- Bog clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata
- Netted chain fern Woodwardia areolata
- Yellow harlequin Corydalis flavula
- Spring avens Geum vernum
- Winter grape Vitis vulpina
- Tall thistle Cirsium altissimum
- Purple everlasting Gnaphalium purpureum
- Stiff-leaf goldenrod Solidago rigida
- Bicknell’s sedge Carex bicknellii
- Soft fox sedge Carex conjuncta
- Cat-tail sedge Carex typhina
- Long-beaked bald rush Rhynchospora scirpoides
- Large twayblade Liparis lilifolia
Threatened plants:[3]
- Purple milkweed Asclepias purpurascens
- Swamp cottonwood Populus heterophylla
- Rattlebox Crotalaria sagittalis
- Swamp agrimony Agrimonia parviflora
- Featherfoil Hottonia inflata
- Slender pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
- Shrubby St. Johnswort Hypericum prolificum
- Mudwort Limosella australis
- Winged monkeyflower Mimulus alatus
- Slender saltmarsh aster Aster tenuifolius
- Spongy arrowhead Sagittaria montevidensis spongiosa
- Strap-leaf arrowhead Sagittaria subulata
- Spotted pondweed Potamogeton pulcher
- Angled spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata
- Lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor
- Yellow lady slipper Cypripedium parviflorum
Special concern plants:[3]
- Walking fern Asplenium rhizophyllum
- Purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
- Eastern prickly pear Opuntia humifusa
- Trailing arbutus Epigaea repens
- Grass-of-Parnassus Parnassia glauca
- Pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea
- Four-leaf milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia
- River birch Betula nigra
- Striped maple Acer pensylvanicum
- American holly Ilex opaca
- Prickly hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum
- Dittany Cunilla origanoides
- Stiff yellow flax Linum striatum
- Wild pink Silene caroliniana
- Blunt mountain mint Pycnanthemum muticum
- Small floating bladderwort Utricularia radiata
- Large yellow-eyed grass Xyris smalliana
- Showy orchis Galearis spectabilis
Birds
There are 311 species of birds in Westchester County, as documented by the Parks Department.[1] The local Audubon Society chapter records 368 bird species.[4]
Endangered birds:[3]
- Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus
- Loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus
- Least bittern Ixobrychus exilis
- Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- King rail Rallus elegans
- Common tern Sterna hirundo
- Henslow’s sparrow Ammodramus henslowii
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus
- Cooper’s hawk Accipiter cooperii
- Northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis
- Red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus
- Golden-winged warbler Vermivora chrysoptera
- Cerulean warbler Dendroica cerulea
- Vesper sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
- Grasshopper sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
- Seaside sparrow Ammodramus maritimus
- Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
- Kentucky warbler Oporornis formosus
Threatened birds:[3]
- Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens
- Common barn owl Tyto alba
- Common raven Corvus corax
- American woodcock Scolopax minor
- Saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow Ammodramus caudacutus
- Eastern meadowlark Sturnella magna
- Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Special Concern birds:[3]
- Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor
- Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus
- American black duck Anas rubripes
- Wood thrush Hylocichla mustelina
- Prairie warbler Dendroica discolor
- Worm-eating warbler Helmitheros vermivorus
- Canada warbler Wilsonia canadensis
Mammals
There are 33 species of mammals in Westchester County.[1]
Special concern mammals:[3]
- River otter Lutra canadensis
- Bobcat Lynx rufus
Reptiles
There are 19 species of reptiles in Westchester County.[1]
Endangered reptiles:[3]
- Bog turtle Clemmys muhlenbergi
- Wood turtle Clemmys insculpta
- Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
Threatened reptiles:[3]
- Spotted turtle Clemmys guttata
- Eastern box turtle Terrapene carolina
- Northern fence lizard Sceloporus undulatus
- Eastern ribbon snake Thamnophis sauritus
Special concern reptiles:[3]
- Five-lined skink Eumeces fasciatus
- Northern copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix
- Eastern hognose snake Heterodon platyrhinos
- Worm snake Carphophis amoenus
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Biodiversity Research Program List". Westchestergov.com. Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ↑ Shoumatoff, Alex (1978-11-13). "Profiles: Westchester County". The New Yorker.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Westchester County Endangered Species List" (PDF). Westchestergov.com. Westchestergov.com. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ↑ "A guide to the Birds of Westchester County". Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester. 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
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