St. Charles

Ecosystem Overview

The St. Charles ecosystem supports 87 documented wildlife species across 74 taxonomic genera. Located in Illinois, this area provides critical habitat for regional wildlife. The location hosts 18 frequently observed species and 17 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While Chicago nearby has 13% more documented species, St. Charles offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #95 for species diversity among 594 Illinois natural areas, placing it in the 84th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#95

Regional Rank

Out of 594 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common18 species

Common26 species

Occasional26 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#95 of 594 locations

84th percentile for diversity

vs. Chicago

-13% 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 87 total documented species.

Salix discolor

Large Pussy Willow

Very Common3 obs.

Glechoma hederacea

ground ivy

Very Common2 obs.

Tradescantia ohiensis

Blue-Jacket

Very Common2 obs.

Apios americana

Wild Bean

Very Common2 obs.

Limosa haemastica

Hudsonian Godwit

Very Common2 obs.

Chrysochus auratus

Dogbane Leaf Beetle

Common2 obs.

Melilotus albus

white melilot

Common2 obs.

Claytonia virginica

Eastern Springbeauty

Common2 obs.

Arisaema dracontium

Dragon-Arum

Common2 obs.

Asclepias tuberosa

Chieger-Flower

Common2 obs.

Alliaria petiolata

garlic mustard

Common2 obs.

Symplocarpus foetidus

Skunk Cabbage

Occasional2 obs.

Egretta caerulea

Little Blue Heron

Occasional1 obs.

Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

Parson Spider

Occasional1 obs.

Bromus inermis

Smooth brome

Occasional1 obs.

Juncus dudleyi

Dudley's rush

Occasional1 obs.

Onoclea sensibilis

Polypod Brake

Occasional1 obs.

Trametes versicolor

Turkeytail

Rare1 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare1 obs.

Vanessa atalanta

Red Admiral

Rare1 obs.

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Most Common Species

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Get Your Personalized Field Guide

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

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-7%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Chicago

Importance: 0.78

100 species

-13% vs. current

Illinois

Importance: 0.78

100 species

-13% vs. current

Springfield

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-13% vs. current

Evanston

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-13% vs. current

Peoria

Importance: 0.54

48 species

+81% vs. current

Champaign

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-13% vs. current

Naperville

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-13% vs. current

Rockford

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-13% 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 Illinois.

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

Species Count

-7%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Chicago

Importance: 0.78

100 species

-13% vs. current

Illinois

Importance: 0.78

100 species

-13% vs. current

Springfield

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-13% vs. current

Evanston

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-13% vs. current

Peoria

Importance: 0.54

48 species

+81% vs. current

Champaign

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-13% vs. current

Naperville

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-13% vs. current

Rockford

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-13% vs. current

About This Comparison

Ecosystem Overview

Biodiversity Highlights

Total Species

Documented wildlife species

Genus Diversity

Taxonomic genera represented

Common Species

Frequently observed species

Rare Species

Occasionally documented species

#95

Regional Rank

Out of 594 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common18 species

Common26 species

Occasional26 species

Rare17 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#95 of 594 locations

84th percentile for diversity

vs. Chicago

-13% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 87 total documented species.

Salix discolor

Large Pussy Willow

Very Common3 obs.

Glechoma hederacea

ground ivy

Very Common2 obs.

Tradescantia ohiensis

Blue-Jacket

Very Common2 obs.

Apios americana

Wild Bean

Very Common2 obs.

Limosa haemastica

Hudsonian Godwit

Very Common2 obs.

Chrysochus auratus

Dogbane Leaf Beetle

Common2 obs.

Melilotus albus

white melilot

Common2 obs.

Claytonia virginica

Eastern Springbeauty

Common2 obs.

Arisaema dracontium

Dragon-Arum

Common2 obs.

Asclepias tuberosa

Chieger-Flower

Common2 obs.

Alliaria petiolata

garlic mustard

Common2 obs.

Symplocarpus foetidus

Skunk Cabbage

Occasional2 obs.

Egretta caerulea

Little Blue Heron

Occasional1 obs.

Herpyllus ecclesiasticus

Parson Spider

Occasional1 obs.

Bromus inermis

Smooth brome

Occasional1 obs.

Juncus dudleyi

Dudley's rush

Occasional1 obs.

Onoclea sensibilis

Polypod Brake

Occasional1 obs.

Trametes versicolor

Turkeytail

Rare1 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare1 obs.

Vanessa atalanta

Red Admiral

Rare1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 87 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.