Endangered Species Day

Did you know there are quite a few endangered species that make King County their home, or a stop while passing through during migration?

Have you seen any of these species in your neighborhood? Get outside today and celebrate Endangered Species Day. All links open external websites in a new tab/window.

Common name Scientific name Type Federal Status State Status Notes on King County Presence
Larch Mountain Salamander Plethodon larselli Amphibian Federal Species of Concern State Sensitive in King County
Northern Leopard Frog Rana pipiens Amphibian State Endangered
Northern Red-legged frog Rana aurora Amphibian
Oregon Spotted Frog Rana pretiosa Amphibian Federal Threatened State Endangered historic presence; no current populations known
Van Dyke’s Salamander Plethodon vandykei Amphibian Federal Species of Concern State Candidate Eastern King County near Snoqualmie Pass
Western Toad Bufo boreas Amphibian Federal Species of Concern State Candidate Present and breeding in King County
American bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Bird
American three-toed woodpecker Picoides tridactylus Bird Rare in King County with only three BBA records near Cascade crest, including “confirmed” breeding pair at Pyramid Creek. Sparse occurrence does not support generous range on west side of crest mapped by Washington Gap report (Smith et al. 1997).
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Bird State Endangered Eastern WA; rare in K.C.; 5+ records
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bird Federal Species of Concern State Sensitive nesting in King County
Band-tailed pigeon Columba fasciata Bird
Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica Bird
Belted kingfisher Ceryle alcyon Bird
Black scoter Melanitta nigra Bird
Black-Backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus Bird State Candidate confirmed breeding in eastern King County
Blue-winged teal Anas discors Bird
Brandt’s Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus Bird State Candidate winters in King County waters
Brant Branta bernicla Bird
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Bird Federal Endangered State Endangered outer coast; rare in K.C.; 5+ records
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Bird Federal Species of Concern State Candidate E WA; not in King County (fewer than 5 records)
Cassin’s Finch Carpodacus cassinii Bird IUCN list: Near threatened
Cassin’s Auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus Bird Federal Species of Concern State Candidate outer coast; not King County; fewer than 5 records in K.C.
Cinnamon teal Anas cyanoptera Bird
Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus Bird State Endangered
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Bird
Common Loon Gavia immer Bird State Sensitive breeding in King County
Common Murre Uria aalge Bird State Candidate winters in King County waters
Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus Bird State Candidate E WA; not in King County; fewer than 5 records in K.C.
Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Bird State Candidate confirmed breeding in eastern King County
Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus Bird
Harlequin duck Histrionicus histrionicus Bird
Hooded merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Bird
Lewis’ Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis Bird State Candidate E WA; not supposed to be in King County; record from 1900s post-logging on Vashon
Marbled Murrelet Brachyramphus marmoratus Bird Federal Threatened State Endangered probable nesters in King County
Merlin Falco columbarius Bird State Candidate winters in and migrates through King County; no breeding
Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli Bird
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Bird Federal Species of Concern State Candidate few breeding in King County
Northern Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis caurina Bird Federal Threatened State Endangered confirmed breeding
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Bird IUCN list: Near threatened
Oregon Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus affinis Bird State Endangered
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Bird Federal Species of Concern State Sensitive in King County
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus Bird State Candidate confirmed breeding in King County
Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus Bird
Purple Martin Progne subis Bird State Candidate confirmed breeding in King County
Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus Bird Fairly common in hardwood and mixed woodlands at low to middle elevations throughout forested parts of four-county area, especially along brushy riparian corridors.
Sandhill crane Grus canadensis Bird State Endangered Eastern WA breeder; some migrate through K.C.
Sandhill Crane (Greater) Grus canadensis tabida Bird State Endangered
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus Bird Federal Threatened State Endangered SW coast of WA; not their habitat or range; fewer than 5 records in K.C.
Sooty grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus Bird
Streaked Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris strigata Bird Federal Threatened State Endangered extremely unlikely; if in county, extreme NE edge
Surf scoter Melanitta perspicillata Bird
Tufted Puffin Fratercula cirrhata Bird State Endangered
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Bird State Endangered Eastern WA, if in WA at all; fewer than 5 records in K.C.
Vaux’s Swift* Chaetura vauxi Bird State Candidate confirmed breeding in King County
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Bird State Candidate winters in and migrates through King County; no breeding
Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Bird
Western Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus Bird Federal Threatened State Endangered
White-winged scoter Melanitta fusca Bird
Wood duck Aix sponsa Bird
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Bird Federal Threatened State Endangered historic presence; no current populations known in WA
Island Marble Euchloe ausonides Butterfly/Moth Federal Endangered State Endangered
Johnson’s Hairstreak Mitoura johnsoni Butterfly/Moth State Candidate have been recorded in King County in suitable habitat: lowland coniferous forests that contain dwarf mistletoes of the genus Arceuthobium.
Mardon skipper Polites mardon Butterfly/Moth State Endangered
Oregon Silverspot Butterfly Speyeria zerene hippolyta Butterfly/Moth Federal Threatened State Endangered
Taylor’s Checkerspot Euphydryas editha taylori Butterfly/Moth Federal Endangered State Endangered
Valley Silverspot Speyeria zerene bremnerii Butterfly/Moth Federal Species of Concern State Candidate may be in King Co.
Black Rockfish Sebastes melanops Fish State Candidate in King County waters
Bocaccio Rockfish Sebastes paucispinis Fish Federal Endangered State Candidate potentially in King County waters
Brown Rockfish Sebastes auriculatus Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate in King County waters
Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus Fish Federal Threatened State Candidate in King County
Canary Rockfish Sebastes pinniger Fish Federal Threatened State Candidate potentially in King County waters
Chinook Salmon (Puget Sound) Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Fish Federal Threatened State Candidate in King County
chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta Fish
coastal resident/searun cutthroat Oncorhynchus clarki clarki Fish
coho/silver salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch Fish
Copper Rockfish Sebastes caurinus Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate in King County waters
Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma Fish
English sole Parophrys vetulus Fish
Green sturgeon Acipenser Medirostris Fish State Monitor Species
Greenstriped Rockfish Sebastes elongatus Fish State Candidate potentially in King County waters
kokanee salmon Onchorhynchus nerka Fish
lingcod Ophiodon elongatus Fish
longfin smelt Spirinchus thaleichthys Fish
Olympic Mudminnow Novumbra hubbsi Fish State Sensitive possibly in King County; tho’ records could have been from planted fish
Pacific Cod Gadus macrocephalus Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate King County waters
Pacific Hake Merluccius productus Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate King County waters
Pacific Herring Clupea pallasi Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate spawning grounds in Quartermaster Harbor, Vashon-Maury Island
Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus Fish
pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Fish
Pygmy Whitefish Prosopium coulteri Fish Federal Species of Concern State Sensitive in King County
Quillback Rockfish Sebastes maliger Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate in King County waters
rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Fish
Redstripe Rockfish Sebastes proriger Fish State Candidate in King County waters
River Lamprey Lampetra ayresi Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate in King County
rock sole Pleuronectes bilineatus Fish
sockeye/red salmon Onchorhynchus nerka Fish
Steelhead (Puget Sound) Oncorhynchus mykiss Fish Federal Threatened in King County watercourses
surfsmelt Hypomesus pretiosus Fish
Walleye Pollock (So. Puget Sound) Theragra chalcogramma Fish Federal Species of Concern State Candidate possible in King County waters
White sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus Fish
Yelloweye Rockfish Sebastes ruberrimus Fish Federal Threatened State Candidate in King County waters
Yellowtail Rockfish Sebastes flavidus Fish State Candidate in King County waters
Beller’s Ground Beetle Agonum belleri Insect Federal Species of Concern State Candidate In WA, only known in King County
Bog Idol Leaf Beetle
(formerly Long-horned Leaf Beetle)
Donacia idola Insect State Candidate only known in Snohomish County in WA; is new PHS list wrong? Has it as only King county
Hatch’s Click Beetle Eanus hatchii Insect Federal Species of Concern State Candidate Endemic: only known in King County (historically also Snohomish County, but no longer)
Black Right Whale Balaena glacialis Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered coastal – offshore; visitor to King County waters
Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered
Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis Mammal Federal Threatened State Endangered
Columbian black-tailed deer O. h. columbianus Mammal
Columbian White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus leucurus Mammal Federal Threatened State Endangered
Douglas Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasii Mammal
elk in their historic range Cervus canadensis Mammal
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered coastal – offshore; visitor to King County waters
Fisher Martes pennanti Mammal Federal Species of Concern State Endangered extirpated; historically present
Fisher Pekania pennanti Mammal State Endangered
Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus Mammal State Sensitive coastal – offshore; visitor to King County waters
Gray Wolf Canis lupus Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered possible; former range in Cascades of King County
Gray wolf Canis lupus Mammal State Endangered
Grizzly bear Ursus arctos Mammal Federal Threatened State Endangered possible, but highly unlikely in King County
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered coastal – offshore; visitor to King County waters
Killer Whale (Orca) Orcinus orca Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered potentially the entire Sound; in K.C. waters
Lynx Lynx canadensis Mammal Federal Threatened State Threatened extremely unlikely, but theoretically possible in extreme NE corner of county
Marten Martes americana Mammal
mink Mustela vison Mammal
mountain goat Oreamnos americanus Mammal
North Pacific Right Whale Eubalaena japonica Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered
Pacific Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Mammal State Candidate range includes King County waters
Pygmy Rabbit
(Columbia Basin Population)
Brachylagus idahoensis Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered
Sea Otter Enhydra lutris Mammal Federal Species of Concern State Endangered outer coast; visitor to King County
Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered
Steller Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus Mammal Federal Threatened State Threatened outer coast; visitor to King County
Townsend Chipmunk Tamias townsendii Mammal
Townsend’s Big-Eared Bat Corynorhinus townsendii Mammal Federal Species of Concern State Candidate presumed in King County
Wolverine Gulo gulo Mammal Federal Species of Concern State Candidate possible in King County
Woodland Caribou Rangifer tarandus Mammal Federal Endangered State Endangered
Olympia Oyster OSTREA conchaphila Mollusk State Candidate not present currently or historically in King County waters; PHS data indicates otherwise
Oregon floater Anodonta oregonensis Mollusk State Monitor Species
Pinto abalone Haliotis kamtschatkana Mollusk State Endangered
Western pearlshell mussel Margaritifera falcata Mollusk State Monitor Species
Western ridged mussel Gonidea angulata Mollusk State Monitor Species
Alaska harebell Campanula lasiocarpa Plant Sensitive
black lily Fritillaria camschatcensis Plant Sensitive
blue toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus Plant Sensitive
bog clubmoss Lycopodiella inundata Plant Sensitive
branching montia Montia diffusa Plant Sensitive
bristly sedge Carex comosa Plant Sensitive
Canadian St. John’s-wort Hypericum majus Plant Sensitive
Choris’ bog-orchid Platanthera chorisiana Plant Threatened
clubmoss cassiope Cassiope lycopodioides Plant Threatened
few-flowered sedge Carex pauciflora Plant Sensitive
flat-leaved bladderwort Utricularia intermedia Plant Sensitive
golden chinquapin Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. chrysophylla Plant Sensitive
golden paintbrush Castilleja levisecta Plant Endangered Listed Threatened
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba Plant Potential concern
large-awned sedge Carex macrochaeta Plant Threatened
lesser bladderwort Utricularia minor Plant Potential concern
long-styled sedge Carex stylosa Plant Sensitive
Nuttall’s waterweed Elodea nuttallii Plant Potential concern
Oregon goldenaster Heterotheca oregona var.
oregona
Plant Threatened
smooth hornwort Ceratophyllum echinatum Plant Potential concern
spleenwort-leaved goldthread Coptis aspleniifolia Plant Sensitive
stalked moonwort Botrychium pedunculosum Plant Sensitive Species of Concern
swamp sandwort Arenaria paludicola Plant Possibly extinct or Extirpated Listed Endangered
tall bugbane Cimicifuga elata var. elata Plant Sensitive Species of Concern
toothed wood fern Dryopteris carthusiana Plant Potential concern
treelike clubmoss Lycopodium dendroideum Plant Sensitive
triangle-lobed moonwort Botrychium ascendens Plant Sensitive Species of Concern
Vancouver ground-cone Boschniakia hookeri Plant Potential concern
Vancouver Island beggar-ticks Bidens amplissima Plant Potential concern
water lobelia Lobelia dortmanna Plant Threatened
white meconella Meconella oregana Plant Threatened Species of Concern
white-top aster Sericocarpus rigidus Plant Sensitive Species of Concern
Alligator lizard Elgaria coerulea Reptile
Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea Reptile Federal Endangered State Endangered
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta Reptile Federal Endangered State Endangered
western fence lizard Sceloporus occidentalis Reptile
Western Pond Turtle Actinemys marmorata Reptile State Endangered there are just a few historic records in KC
Dungeness crab Metacarcinus magister Shellfish
Geoduck clam Panopea generosa Shellfish
Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus danae Humpback (Coonstripe) Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus eous Ocean (Smooth) Pink Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus goniurus Northern (Rough) Pink Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus hypsinotus Humpy (Coonstripe) Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus jordani Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus platyceros Sidestripe Shellfish
Pandalid shrimp Pandalus species, and Pandalopsis dispar. Spot (Prawn) Shellfish
Red Urchin Strongylocentrotus franciscanus Shellfish

Sources
https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/biodiversity/regulations.aspx
https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/at-risk/listed
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/wapmsmt11993.pdf
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/NHPfieldguide
https://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/archive-documents/wlr/waterres/biodiversity/kingco-rare-species-map.pdf

Translate »