Wildlife Checklist

Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges

and Environs

Welcome

The Upper Klamath Basin watershed in southern Oregon and northern California is an inland area

of approximately 5,700 square miles providing rich and diverse wildlife habitats. Historically, the

Klamath Basin was dominated by approximately 185,000 acres of shallow lakes and freshwater

marshes. These extensive wetlands attracted peak fall concentrations of many millions of waterfowl

and supported abundant populations of other waterbird including American white pelican, doublecrested cormorant and several species of herons, egrets, grebes and rails. During the early 1900s

many wetlands were converted to agricultural lands. Today, less than 25 percent of the historical

wetlands remain, most of which are protected in refuges and wildlife areas.

At the heart of the Klamath Basin, six national wildlife refuges and two state wildlife areas offer a

haven for wildlife and excellent opportunities to view the species listed in this leaflet. National

Wildlife Refuges include Lower Klamath, Tule Lake and Clear Lake in northern California and

Upper Klamath, Klamath Marsh and Bear Valley in southern Oregon. The Klamath Wildlife Area

and Butte Valley Wildlife Area are managed for wildlife by the states of Oregon and California

respectively.

Diverse Habitats Support Diverse Wildlife

The Klamath Basin is comprised of a variety of habitats including rivers, lakes, freshwater marshes,

riparian shorelines, grassy meadows, agricultural lands, sagebrush and juniper habitats, coniferous

forests, mountain meadows and rocky slopes. These habitats support diverse and abundant

populations of resident and migratory wildlife with 489 species of birds, mammals, reptiles,

amphibians and fishes known to occur in the Klamath Basin. 

Viewing Wildlife in the Klamath Basin

The Klamath Basin offers excellent, year-round wildlife observation opportunities. The recently

established Klamath Basin Birding Trail provides many possibilities to view birds and other wildlife

along established roads. The 300 mile loop trail with 47 identified birding sites is described in detail

on the web site “klamathbirdingtrails.com.” Auto tour routes, canoe trails and

photography/observation blinds on four of the Klamath Basin Refuges provide abundant wildlife

viewing opportunities throughout the year. Detailed information about on-refuge opportunities may

be obtained at the refuge visitor center five miles west of Tulelake, California (open weekdays and

weekends),by contacting the refuge at (530) 667-2231or by accessing the refuge web site at

“klamathbasin refuges.fws.gov.” 
Binoculars, a spotting scope, and wildlife field guides will enhance your viewing experience.

Staying in your vehicle, when practical, will increase your observation opportunities and reduce

disturbance to wildlife. 

Birds

The Klamath Basin is internationally renowned for its great abundance and diversity of birdlife. Of

special interest are the large concentrations of waterfowl during spring and fall migratory periods.

Peak numbers generally occur in early November and late March or April. Klamath Basin wetlands

are among the most prolific waterfowl and marsh bird production areas in the Pacific Northwest.

During the spring and summer, large numbers of waterfowl and other water bird young can be

viewed. The Klamath Basin is also host to the largest concentration of wintering bald eagles in the

contiguous United States. Some years more than 1,000 of these majestic birds are present with most

daytime use occurring at Tule Lake and Lower Klamath Refuges.

The following lists contain 274 regularly occurring bird species. Another 77 casual and accidental

species are shown on a separate list. The checklists were prepared in accordance with the latest

edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds (44th Supplement)

in cooperation with several Klamath Basin birding authorities. 

The sighting likelihood of a bird may vary within a season. The chance of observing each bird on

this list represents the highest chance of seeing the species within that season. 

Seasons

Sp - Spring March - May

S - Summer June - August

F - Fall September - November

W - Winter December - February

Sighting Likelihood

a - Very common, often in large numbers; sighting likelihood excellent in appropriate habitat

c - Commonly observed; sighting likelihood good in appropriate habitat

u - Uncommonly observed; sighting likelihood fair in appropriate habitat

r - Rarely observed; unlikely to be seen even in appropriate habitat

* Birds known to breed in the Klamath Basin

# Species listed as endangered or threatened

+ Birds on the Casual and Accidental List that have been observed only 1-3 times the past 25

years

^ Additional data needed to determine if one or both these species are present in the Klamath

Basin

LOONS Sp S F W

___ Pacific Loon TL,UK r-r-

___ Common Loon TL,UK u - u r
GREBES Sp S F W

___ Pied-billed Grebe* cccc

___ Horned Grebe u - u r

___ Red-necked Grebe* uuu-

___ Eared Grebe* TL,LK caau

___ Western Grebe* caar

___ Clark’s Grebe* cccr

PELICANS Sp S F W

___ American White Pelican* cccr

CORMORANTS Sp S F W

___ Double-crested Cormorant* cccr

BITTERNS, HERONS, and EGRETS Sp S F W

___ American Bittern* uuur

___ Least Bittern* rr--

___ Great Blue Heron* cccc

___ Great Egret* cccu

___ Snowy Egret* u c c -

___ Cattle Egret rrr-

___ Green Heron TL,UK rrr-

___ Black-crowned Night-Heron* cccu

IBIS LK Sp S F W

___ White-faced Ibis* cccr

AMERICAN VULTURES Sp S F W

___ Turkey Vulture uuuSWANS, GEESE AND DUCKS Sp S F W

___ Greater White-fronted Goose a r a c

___ Emperor Goose TL,LK r-r-

___ Snow Goose a r a c

___ Ross' Goose TL,LK a r a c

___ Canada Goose* acac

___ Brant r-rr

___ Tundra Swan c r c a

___ Trumpeter Swan* rrrr

___ Wood Duck* UK,KM uuur

___ Gadwall* ccau

___ Eurasian Wigeon TL,LK u - u u

___ American Wigeon* a u a c

___ Mallard* acac

___ Blue-winged Teal* TL,LK uuu-

___ Cinnamon Teal* cacr

___ Northern Shoveler* acac
___ Northern Pintail* acac

___ Green-winged Teal* c r a u

___ Canvasback* c u c u

___ Redhead* cccu

___ Ring-necked Duck* KM uuuu

___ Greater Scaup r-rr

___ Lesser Scaup* c u c c

___ Surf Scoter TL,LK,UK --r-

___ White-winged Scoter TL --rr

___ Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw) r-rr

___ Bufflehead* c r c u

___ Common Goldeneye c r u c

___ Barrow's Goldeneye rrru

___ Hooded Merganser* u r u u

___ Common Merganser* c r c c

___ Red-breasted Merganser r-rr

___ Ruddy Duck* acac

OSPREY Sp S F W

___ Osprey* UK,KM uuuHAWKS, KITES, HARRIERS AND EAGLES Sp S F W

___ White-tailed Kite UK,KM r-rr

___ Bald Eagle*# c u u a

___ Northern Harrier* cccc

___ Sharp-shinned Hawk* uuuu

___ Cooper's Hawk* uuuu

___ Northern Goshawk* BV,KM uuuu

___ Red-shouldered Hawk ---r

___ Swainson's Hawk* rrr-

___ Red-tailed Hawk* cccc

___ Ferruginous Hawk* rrrr

___ Rough-legged Hawk c - c c

___ Golden Eagle* uuuu

FALCONS Sp S F W

___ American Kestrel* cccc

___ Merlin u - u u

___ Peregrine Falcon rrrr

___ Prairie Falcon* TL,LK,KM uuuu

PHEASANTS and PARTRIDGES Sp S F W

___ Chukar* TL rrrr

___ Ring-necked Pheasant* TL,LK cccc

GROUSE Sp S F W

___ Ruffed Grouse* UK uuuu
___ Greater Sage-Grouse* CL rrrr

___ Blue Grouse* KM uuuu

TURKEYS Sp S F W

___ Wild Turkey uuuu

QUAIL Sp S F W

___ Mountain Quail* BV,UK uuuu

___ California Quail* TL,BV cccc

RAILS AND COOTS Sp S F W

___ Yellow Rail* KM,UK rr--

___ Virginia Rail* uuur

___ Sora* uuur

___ American Coot* aaac

CRANES Sp S F W

___ Sandhill Crane* LK,KM uuur

PLOVERS Sp S F W

___ Black-bellied Plover LK u r u -

___ American Golden Plover LK r-r-

___ Snowy Plover* LK rrr-

___ Semipalmated Plover LK u r u -

___ Killdeer* LK cccu

STILTS AND AVOCETS Sp S F W

___ Black-necked Stilt* c c u -

___ American Avocet* cccr

SNIPES, SANDPIPERS and OTHER SHOREBIRDS Sp S F W

___ Greater Yellowlegs c u c r

___ Lesser Yellowlegs uuu-

___ Solitary Sandpiper r-r-

___ Willet* LK c c u -

___ Spotted Sandpiper* uuu-

___ Whimbrel LK rrr-

___ Long-billed Curlew* LK,KM uuu-

___ Marbled Godwit LK u - u -

___ Ruddy Turnstone TL,LK r-r-

___ Red Knot TL,LK r---

___ Sanderling TL,LK rrr-

___ Semipalmated Sandpiper r-r-

___ Western Sandpiper LK aca-

___ Least Sandpiper LK aca-

___ Baird's Sandpiper LK u r u -

___ Pectoral Sandpiper LK r u u -
___ Dunlin LK c r u r

___ Short-billed Dowitcher LK u r r -

___ Long-billed Dowitcher LK ccc-

___ Wilson’s Snipe (Common Snipe)* LK,KM uuur

___ Wilson's Phalarope* LK,KM c c u -

___ Red-necked Phalarope TL,LK,KM uuuGULLS AND TERNS Sp S F W

___ Franklin's Gull* LK u u r -

___ Bonaparte's Gull uuu-

___ Mew Gull ---r

___ Ring-billed Gull* caac

___ California Gull* cccu

___ Herring Gull u - u u

___ Thayer's Gull --rr

___ Glaucous-winged Gull --rr

___ Caspian Tern* CL,TL,LK c c u -

___ Common Tern TL,LK --r-

___ Forster's Tern* ccc-

___ Black Tern* c c u -

DOVES, PIGEONS Sp S F W

___ Rock Pigeon* TL uuuu

___ Mourning Dove* cccr

BARN OWLS Sp S F W

___ Barn Owl* cccc

OWLS Sp S F W

___ Flammulated Owl* UK -r--

___ Western Screech-Owl* BV,UK,KM rrrr

___ Great Horned Owl* cccc

___ Northern Pygmy-Owl* BV,UK,KM uuuu

___ Burrowing Owl* TL rrr-

___ Spotted Owl*# UK rrrr

___ Barred Owl* rrrr

___ Great Gray Owl* UK,KM rrrr

___ Long-eared Owl* rrrr

___ Short-eared Owl* TL,LK uuuu

___ Northern Saw-whet Owl* BV,UK,KM rrrr

NIGHTHAWKS and POORWILLS Sp S F W

___ Common Nighthawk* u c c -

___ Common Poorwill* uuuSWIFTS Sp S F W

___ Vaux's Swift* uuu-
___ White-throated Swift* TL u u - -

HUMMINGBIRDS Sp S F W

___ Black-chinned Hummingbird r---

___ Anna’s Hummingbird rr--

___ Calliope Hummingbird* BV,UK,KM u u - -

___ Rufous Hummingbird* TL uuuKINGFISHERS Sp S F W

___ Belted Kingfisher* uuuu

WOODPECKERS Sp S F W

___ Lewis' Woodpecker* BV,UK,KM rrr-

___ Acorn Woodpecker uuuu

___ Williamson's Sapsucker* BV,UK,KM uuuu

___ Red-naped Sapsucker* UK,KM rrrr

___ Red-breasted Sapsucker* UK,KM uuur

___ Downy Woodpecker* BV,UK,KM uuuu

___ Hairy Woodpecker* BV,UK,KM uuuu

___ White-headed Woodpecker* BV,UK,KM uuur

___ American Three-toed Woodpecker* rrrr

___ Black-backed Woodpecker* UK,KM rrrr

___ Northern Flicker* cccc

___ Pileated Woodpecker* BV,UK,KM uuuu

FLYCATCHERS Sp S F W

___ Olive-sided Flycatcher* BV,UK,KM uuu-

___ Western Wood-Pewee* BV,UK,KM c c u -

___ Willow Flycatcher* UK uuu-

___ Hammond's Flycatcher* BV,UK u u r -

___ Gray Flycatcher* CL uuu-

___ Dusky Flycatcher* BV,UK,KM u u r -

___ Pacific-slope/Cordilleran Flycatcher*^ KM rrr-

___ Black Phoebe r---

___ Say's Phoebe* TL c u c r

___ Ash-throated Flycatcher* CL,TL uuu-

___ Western Kingbird* TL c c u -

SHRIKES Sp S F W

___ Loggerhead Shrike* TL cccu

___ Northern Shrike TL,KM r - u u

VIREOS Sp S F W

___ Cassin’s Vireo* BV,UK,KM uuu-

___ Warbling Vireo* BV,UK,KM c c u -
JAYS, MAGPIES, RAVENS and CROWS Sp S F W

___ Gray Jay* UK,KM rrrr

___ Steller's Jay* BV,UK,KM cccc

___ Western Scrub Jay* CL,TL uuuu

___ Pinyon Jay* CL rrrr

___ Clark's Nutcracker* UK,KM rrrr

___ Black-billed Magpie* TL cccc

___ American Crow rrr-

___ Common Raven* cccc

LARKS Sp S F W

___ Horned Lark* CL,TL,LK cccc 

MARTINS and SWALLOWS Sp S F W

___ Purple Martin uuu-

___ Tree Swallow* ccc-

___ Violet-green Swallow* uuu-

___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow* uuu-

___ Bank Swallow* uuu-

___ Cliff Swallow* LK a a u -

___ Barn Swallow* TL cccCHICKADEES AND TITMICE Sp S F W

___ Black-capped Chickadee* UK rrrr

___ Mountain Chickadee* BV,UK,KM cccc

___ Chestnut-backed Chickadee* UK uuuu

___ Oak/Juniper Titmouse^ CL uuuu

BUSHTITS Sp S F W

___ Bushtit* uuur

NUTHATCHES Sp S F W

___ Red-breasted Nuthatch* BV,UK,KM cccu

___ White-breasted Nuthatch* BV,UK,KM uuuu

___ Pygmy Nuthatch* BV,UK,KM uuuu

CREEPERS Sp S F W

___ Brown Creeper* BV,UK,KM uuuu

WRENS Sp S F W

___ Rock Wren* CL,TL uuur

___ Canyon Wren* CL,TL uuuu

___ Bewick's Wren* uuuu

___ House Wren* uuu-

___ Winter Wren* uuuu

___ Marsh Wren* LK,UK,TL cccu
DIPPERS Sp S F W

___ American Dipper* rrrr

KINGLETS Sp S F W

___ Golden-crowned Kinglet* BV,UK,KM cccc

___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet* c r c r

GNATCATCHERS Sp S F W

___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher* u u - -

THRUSHES, BLUEBIRDS and SOLITAIRES Sp S F W

___ Western Bluebird* u r u r

___ Mountain Bluebird* KM uuuu

___ Townsend's Solitaire* TL,BV u u c c

___ Swainson's Thrush* rrr-

___ Hermit Thrush* BV,UK uuur

___ American Robin* cccc

___ Varied Thrush KM,UK r-rr

WRENTIT Sp S F W

___ Wrentit rrrr

MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS Sp S F W

___ Sage Thrasher* CL uuur

STARLING Sp S F W

___ European Starling* cccc

PIPITS Sp S F W

___ American Pipit u - u r

WAXWINGS Sp S F W

___ Bohemian Waxwing r-rr

___ Cedar Waxwing* uuur

WOOD WARBLERS Sp S F W

___ Orange-crowned Warbler* UK,BV ccc-

___ Nashville Warbler* UK c c u -

___ Yellow Warbler* uuu-

___ Yellow-rumped Warbler* BV,UK cccr

___ Black-throated Gray Warbler* rrr-

___ Townsend Warbler UK u - u -

___ Hermit Warbler* BV,UK c c u -

___ MacGillivray's Warbler* UK c c u -

___ Common Yellowthroat* UK uuu-

___ Wilson's Warbler* UK c c u -

___ Yellow-breasted Chat TL r---
TANAGERS Sp S F W

___ Western Tanager* UK,KM c c u -

TOWHEES, SPARROWS and BUNTINGS Sp S F W

___ Green-tailed Towhee* BV,UK u u r -

___ Spotted Towhee* cccu

___ California Towhee* TL uuuu

___ American Tree Sparrow TL,LK r-rr

___ Chipping Sparrow* BV uuu-

___ Brewer's Sparrow* CL ccc-

___ Vesper Sparrow* KM,CL,LK uuu-

___ Lark Sparrow* uuu-

___ Black-throated Sparrow rr--

___ Sage Sparrow* CL rr--

___ Savannah Sparrow* cccu

___ Fox Sparrow* BV,UK uuur

___ Song Sparrow* cccc

___ Lincoln's Sparrow* uuur

___ White-throated Sparrow r-rr

___ Harris' Sparrow r-rr

___ White-crowned Sparrow c - c u

___ Golden-crowned Sparrow c - c u

___ Dark-eyed Junco* UK,KM cccc

___ Lapland Longspur TL,LK u - u u

___ Snow Bunting TL,LK r-rr

GROSBEAKS Sp S F W

___ Black-headed Grosbeak* UK c c u -

___ Lazuli Bunting* uuuBLACKBIRDS, MEADOWLARKS and ORIOLES Sp S F W

___ Red-winged Blackbird* TL,LK aaaa

___ Tricolored Blackbird* TL,LK c c u r

___ Western Meadowlark* TL,LK cccc

___ Yellow-headed Blackbird* TL,LK cccu

___ Brewer's Blackbird* TL,LK aaac

___ Brown-headed Cowbird* cccr

___ Bullock's Oriole (Northern Oriole)* TL,LK c c u -

FINCHES Sp S F W

___ Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch ---r

___ Purple Finch* UK,KM uuuu

___ Cassin's Finch* UK,KM uuuu

___ House Finch* cccc

___ Red Crossbill* KM uuuu

___ Pine Siskin* UK,KM uuuu

___ Lesser Goldfinch* TL uuuu
___ American Goldfinch* uuuu

___ Evening Grosbeak* BV uuuu

HOUSE SPARROWS Sp S F W

___ House Sparrow* TL cccc

Casual and Accidental Bird Species

This separate list of birds indicates species which are extremely rare to the point of not being observed

every year in the Klamath Basin. Any observation of a species on this list should be thoroughly

documented to be considered a valid sighting. Observations of birds on this list should be reported to the

Klamath Basin Audubon Birding Hotline at (541) 850-3805. Species on the casual/accidental list which

are highlighted with a plus symbol (+) have been observed only one to three times in the past 25 years and

their reappearance in the Klamath Basin in the future should be considered problematic. 

+ Red-throated Loon

+ Yellow-billed Loon

Little Blue Heron

Whooper Swan

+ American Black Duck

+Garganey

+ Baikal Teal

+ Tufted Duck

Harlequin Duck

Gyrfalcon

+ Black Scoter

Common Moorhen

+ Mountain Plover

+ Wandering Tattler

Upland Sandpiper

Hudsonian Godwit

+ Black Turnstone

+ White-rumped Sandpiper

+ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

+ Curlew Sandpiper

Stilt Sandpiper

+ Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Ruff

+ Red Phalarope

Parasitic Jaeger

Long-tailed Jaeger

+ Laughing Gull

Heermann’s Gull

Western Gull

+ Glaucous Gull

Sabine’s Gull

Black-legged Kittiwake

Common Tern

+ Arctic Tern

+ Band-tailed Pigeon

+ Yellow-billed Cuckoo

+ Snowy Owl

+ Boreal Owl

Costa’s Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

+ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

+ Least Flycatcher

+ Eastern Phoebe

Black Phoebe

Eastern Kingbird

+ Bell’s Vireo

+ Plumbeous Vireo

+ Hutton’s Vireo

+ Red-eyed Vireo

+ Blue Jay

+ Gray Catbird

+ Northern Mockingbird

+ Brown Thrasher

+ Tennessee Warbler

+ Virginia’s Warbler

+ Northern Parula

+ Chestnut-sided Warbler

+ Bay-breasted Warbler

+ Blackpoll Warbler

+ Black-and-white Warbler

+ American Redstart

+ Prothonotary Warbler
+ Ovenbird

+ Northern Waterthrush

+ Hooded Warbler

+ Black-chinned Sparrow

+ Lark Bunting

Grasshopper Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

McCown’s Longspur

+ Chestnut-collared Longspur

+ Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

+ Bobolink

+ Common Grackle

Great-tailed Grackle

+ Hooded Oriole

Pine Grosbeak

+ White-winged Crossbill

Common Redpoll
MAMMALS

The sighting likelihood of any particular species is dependent upon many factors including its size, color,

habitat preference, relative abundance, and behavior. Generally, wild mammals are not as readily

observable as birds due to their often secretive and nocturnal habits.

The following list contains 78 species that are known or suspected to occur in the Klamath Basin. For

easy reference it is categorized by family in accordance with Mammal Species of the World (Honacki, et

al.,1982). The common names and their order follow the Revised Checklist of North American Mammals

North of Mexico (Jones, et al., 1982).

SORICIDAE - Shrews

Vagrant Shrew

Water Shrew

Pacific Water Shrew

Trowbridge's Shrew

Merriam's Shrew

TALPIDAE - Moles

Shrew-Mole

Broad-footed Mole

VESPERTILIONIDAE - Vesper Bats

Little Brown Myotis

Yuma Myotis

Long-eared Myotis

Fringed Myotis

Long-legged Myotis

California Myotis

Small-footed Myotis

Silver-haired Bat

Western Pipistrelle

Big Brown Bat

Hoary Bat

Townsend's Big-eared Bat

Pallid Bat

MOLOSSIDAE - Free-tailed Bats

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat

CANIDAE - Coyote, Foxes, and Allies

Coyote

Red Fox

Gray Fox

URSIDAE - Bears

Black Bear
PROCYONIDAE - Ringtails, Raccoons

Ringtail

Raccoon

MUSTELIDAE - Weasels, Skunks, and Allies

Fisher

Marten

Short-tailed Weasel (Ermine)

Long-tailed Weasel

Mink

Badger

Western Spotted Skunk

Striped Skunk

River Otter

FELIDAE - Cats

Mountain Lion

Bobcat

CERVIDAE - Elk, Deer, and Allies

Elk

Mule Deer

Blacktail Deer and/or Blacktail-Mule hybrids in Klamath County and Foothills

BOVIDAE - Ungulates

Pronghorn (Antelope)

SCIURIDAE - Squirrels

Least Chipmunk

Yellow-pine Chipmunk 

Allen's Chipmunk

Yellow-bellied Marmot

Belding's Ground Squirrel

California Ground Squirrel

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Western Gray Squirrel

Douglas' Squirrel

Northern Flying Squirrel

GEOMYIDAE - Pocket Gophers

Botta's Pocket Gopher

Northern Pocket Gopher

Western Pocket Gopher

HETEROMYIDAE - Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats

Great Basin Pocket Mouse

California Kangaroo Rat
CASTORIDAE - Beaver

Beaver

CRICETIDAE - Deer Mice, Wood Rats and Allies

Western Harvest Mouse

Deer Mouse

Canyon Mouse

Brush Mouse

Pinon Mouse

Northern Grasshopper Mouse

Dusky-footed Woodrat

Bushy-tailed Woodrat

ARVICOLIDAE - Voles and Allies

Montaine Vole

Long-tailed Vole 

Sagebrush Vole

Muskrat

MURIDAE - Old World Rats and Mice

Norway Rat

House Mouse

ZAPODIDAE - Jumping Mice

Western Jumping Mouse

ERETHIZONTIDAE - Porcupine

Porcupine

OCHOTONIDAE - Pikas

Pika

LEPORIDAE - Rabbits and Hares

Nuttall's Cottontail

Snowshoe Hare

White-tailed Jackrabbit

Black-tailed Jackrabbit
AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

A variety of reptiles and amphibians are found in the Klamath Basin. Amphibians prefer marshes,

ditches, and streams while reptiles are usually found in grassy, rocky, dry upland areas. These creatures

are usually secretive by nature and require an effort on the visitor's part to be seen. They are only seen

from spring through fall, choosing to hibernate during the winter. Amphibians are best heard and observed

during their breeding seasons. Amphibians can be very habitat specific but some such as the Pacific

Chorus Frog are common in many wetland areas. Snakes are often present but may be difficult to see due

to their secretive habits. The Western Rattlesnake and the Night Snake are the only venomous reptiles

present in the Basin. Visitors should be aware of their presence but not become overly concerned as they

are uncommon and normally not aggressive. If known, the likelihood of observing any of the amphibians

and reptiles listed below in appropriate habitats and seasons is indicated in parenthesis following the

species name.

AMPHIBIANS

Long-toed Salamander (common)

Rough-skinned Newt (rare)

Great Basin Spadefoot (rare)

Cascade Frog (rare)

Oregon Spotted Frog (uncommon)

Western Toad (common)

Pacific Treefrog (common)

Bullfrog (common)

REPTILES

Western Pond Turtle (common)

Short-horned Lizard (uncommon)

Sagebrush Lizard (abundant)

Western Fence Lizard (abundant)

Side-blotched Lizard

Northern Alligator Lizard

Western Skink (common)

Rubber Boa (uncommon)

Racer (uncommon)

Ringneck Snake

Night Snake

Striped Whipsnake (rare)

Gopher Snake (common)

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (uncommon)

Common Garter Snake (common)

Western Rattlesnake (uncommon) 
FISHES

A variety of fish species are present in the waters of the Klamath Basin. Many of these play an important

role by serving as an abundant food source for the many fish-eating species in the Klamath Basin. The

following fishes are listed by family in accordance with " Inland Fishes of California”, Revised and

Expanded, 2002 by Peter B. Moyle.

LAMPREYS

Pit-Klamath Brook Lamprey

Klamath Lake Lamprey

Klamath River Lamprey

Miller Lake Lamprey

STURGEONS

White Sturgeon

TROUTS

Redband Trout

Brown Trout

Brook Trout

Kokanee Salmon 

Bull Trout #

MINNOWS

Tui Chub

Blue Chub

Fathead Minnow

Speckled Dace

Goldfish

Golden Shiner

SUCKERS

Lost River Sucker #

Klamath Largescale Sucker

Shortnose Sucker #

Klamath Smallscale Sucker

CATFISHES

Brown Bullhead

Black Bullhead

Yellow Bullhead

Channel Catfish
SUNFISHES

Sacramento Perch

Green Sunfish

Pumpkinseed

Bluegill

Largemouth Bass

White Crappie

Black Crappie

PERCHES

Yellow Perch

SCULPINS

Klamath Lake Sculpin

Marbled Sculpin

Slender Sculpin

LIVEBEARERS

Mosquitofish