Laguna Niguel

Ecosystem Overview

The Laguna Niguel ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 95 taxonomic genera. Located in Orange County, California, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 21 frequently observed species and 19 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. This location ranks #9 for species diversity among 73 Orange County County natural areas, placing it in the 88th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 73 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#9 of 73 locations

88th percentile for diversity

vs. Anaheim

0% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

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Biodiversity Highlights

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Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

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Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common10 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common5 obs.

Cynara cardunculus

Cardoon

Very Common5 obs.

Plegadis chihi

White-faced Ibis

Very Common5 obs.

Quiscalus mexicanus

Great-tailed Grackle

Very Common5 obs.

Glycaspis brimblecombei

Common4 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common4 obs.

Nassella pulchra

purple needlegrass

Common4 obs.

Verbena lasiostachys

vervain

Common4 obs.

Otospermophilus beecheyi

California ground squirrel

Common4 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Common4 obs.

Geothlypis trichas

Common Yellowthroat (Arizela Group)

Occasional3 obs.

Buteo lineatus

Red-Shouldered/Broad-Winged Hawk

Occasional3 obs.

Quercus agrifolia

Coast Live Oak

Occasional3 obs.

Sisyrinchium bellum

Occasional3 obs.

Oenothera speciosa

white evening-primrose

Occasional3 obs.

Artemisia californica

California sagebrush

Occasional3 obs.

Encelia californica

Rare3 obs.

Isocoma menziesii

Rare3 obs.

Sceloporus occidentalis

Pacific blue-bellied lizard

Rare3 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Want the Complete Field Guide?

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

Download a professional PDF field guide featuring all the species found in Laguna Niguel. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+4%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Orange County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Anaheim

Importance: 0.59

100 species

0% vs. current

Orange County

Importance: 0.55

100 species

0% vs. current

Santa Ana

Importance: 0.50

69 species

+45% vs. current

Fullerton

Importance: 0.47

100 species

0% vs. current

Costa Mesa

Importance: 0.46

100 species

0% vs. current

Orange

Importance: 0.46

100 species

0% vs. current

Newport Beach

Importance: 0.46

100 species

0% vs. current

Mission Viejo

Importance: 0.44

100 species

0% vs. current

About This Comparison

These comparisons are based on documented wildlife observations from citizen science data. Locations with higher species counts may have more observation activity, different habitat types, or larger coverage areas. Regional rankings help identify biodiversity hotspots and unique natural areas within Orange County County.

Regional Comparison

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Regional Ranking

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Species Count

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vs. Regional Average

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Nearby Natural Areas

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About This Comparison

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+4%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Orange County County, California

Nearby Natural Areas

Anaheim

Importance: 0.59

100 species

0% vs. current

Orange County

Importance: 0.55

100 species

0% vs. current

Santa Ana

Importance: 0.50

69 species

+45% vs. current

Fullerton

Importance: 0.47

100 species

0% vs. current

Costa Mesa

Importance: 0.46

100 species

0% vs. current

Orange

Importance: 0.46

100 species

0% vs. current

Newport Beach

Importance: 0.46

100 species

0% vs. current

Mission Viejo

Importance: 0.44

100 species

0% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

100

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

Regional Rank

Out of 73 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#9 of 73 locations

88th percentile for diversity

vs. Anaheim

0% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 100 total documented species.

Branta canadensis

Canada goose

Very Common10 obs.

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common5 obs.

Cynara cardunculus

Cardoon

Very Common5 obs.

Plegadis chihi

White-faced Ibis

Very Common5 obs.

Quiscalus mexicanus

Great-tailed Grackle

Very Common5 obs.

Glycaspis brimblecombei

Common4 obs.

Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Crow

Common4 obs.

Nassella pulchra

purple needlegrass

Common4 obs.

Verbena lasiostachys

vervain

Common4 obs.

Otospermophilus beecheyi

California ground squirrel

Common4 obs.

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Common4 obs.

Geothlypis trichas

Common Yellowthroat (Arizela Group)

Occasional3 obs.

Buteo lineatus

Red-Shouldered/Broad-Winged Hawk

Occasional3 obs.

Quercus agrifolia

Coast Live Oak

Occasional3 obs.

Sisyrinchium bellum

Occasional3 obs.

Oenothera speciosa

white evening-primrose

Occasional3 obs.

Artemisia californica

California sagebrush

Occasional3 obs.

Encelia californica

Rare3 obs.

Isocoma menziesii

Rare3 obs.

Sceloporus occidentalis

Pacific blue-bellied lizard

Rare3 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 100 species with 3-4 high-quality images each, detailed descriptions, and a downloadable PDF for offline use.

Premium field guide includes identification tips, seasonal patterns, and professional layout optimized for field use.