Identify!

One of the largest challenges when taking learning outdoors is not knowing what you might find.  Determining what you’ve encountered with the help of your students is a rewarding activity that can build trust and confidence.  The following resources can help you with identification.

Plant Identification Resources

• Common Leaves of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  
• Key to Common Broadleaf Trees from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• LeafSnap from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution
  Tree identification app
• Virginia Tech Dichotomous Leaf Key from Virginia Tech
• Invasive Plant ID cards for Kids

Invertebrate Identification Resources

• Bumblebees of the Eastern United States from the Xerces Society
  
• Bug Guide
  Online guide to spiders, insects, arthropods, etc. with photographs
• Common Bees of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Common Butterflies of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Common Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• ​​Common Schoolyard Invertebrates
• Common Spiders of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Maryland Butterflies List from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• “What’s the Buzz: All About Pollinators” from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  Website with additional pollinator resources
  

Bird Identification Resources

• All About Birds from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• Common Birds of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  
• Guide to North American Birds from The National Audubon Society
• Maryland Birds List from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  
• Merlin from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  Bird identification app
  

Photo by: Steven Kersting, Flickr Creative Commons

Mammal Identification Resources

• Common Mammals of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Maryland Mammals List from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Mammal Track Book from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  
• Skull Key from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  

Reptile and Amphibian Identification Resources

• Common Reptiles and Amphibians of Maryland from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  
• Frog Call Lookup from the U.S. Geological Survey at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
  Online database of frog calls and sounds
• Frog Observer Cards from the Encyclopedia of Life (PDF)

Other Resources

• iNaturalist
  Users participate in a community of naturalists sharing observations, photos, etc.
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
  Participants submit records of species in their area to assist with an online, searchable catalogue of  all living species found in Maryland