Bay Field Guide

The Bay Field Guide profiles many of the plants and animals that live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Explore the Field Guide to learn about more than 200 species of algae, bay grasses, birds, fish, insects, invertebrates, mammals, plants and trees, and reptiles and amphibians. Each month, the Field Guide grows as we add a new Critter of the Month.

You can browse the Field Guide by type of critter or by habitat. You can also click on the images below to explore some of the newest and most popular species in our Field Guide.

We've launched a new Field Guide! Improved navigation makes entries easier to find. A Quick Facts box highlights essential information at a glance. And our mobile-friendly design makes it easier to learn about critters from your cell phone or tablet. Check it out! And let us know what you think of this beta version by contacting us.

Critter Of The Month

Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus

The northern bobwhite is a small, rounded bird that lives in patchworks areas of fields, forests and cropland.