McHenry County

Ecosystem Overview

The McHenry County ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 92 taxonomic genera. Located in McHenry County, Illinois, 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. Compared to nearby Crystal Lake, McHenry County hosts 100% more species diversity. This location ranks #2 for species diversity among 11 McHenry County County natural areas, placing it in the 82th 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 11 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 11 locations

82th percentile for diversity

vs. Crystal Lake

+100% species diversity

Ecosystem Overview

‌
‌
‌
‌

Biodiversity Highlights

‌

Species Distribution

Very Common‌

Common‌

Occasional‌

Rare‌

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

‌

Most Common Species

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

Sorghastrum nutans

Yellow Indiangrass

Very Common7 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Very Common7 obs.

Daucus carota

wild carrot

Very Common7 obs.

Rosa multiflora

Many-Flower Rose

Very Common7 obs.

Dactylis glomerata

Orchardgrass

Very Common6 obs.

Silphium perfoliatum

Cup Plant

Common6 obs.

Verbena hastata

Wild Hyssop

Common6 obs.

Sambucus canadensis

Canada elderberry

Common6 obs.

Rhus glabra

Scarlet Sumach

Common6 obs.

Trifolium pratense

red clover

Common6 obs.

Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot

Common6 obs.

Asclepias syriaca

Virginia-Silk

Occasional5 obs.

Cirsium arvense

Creeping Thistle

Occasional5 obs.

Arnoglossum atriplicifolium

pale Indian-plantain

Occasional5 obs.

Taraxacum officinale

common dandelion

Occasional5 obs.

Verbena stricta

Mullein-Leaved Vervain

Occasional5 obs.

Pisaurina mira

American Nursery Web Spider

Occasional4 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Rare4 obs.

Bombus bimaculatus

Two-Spotted Bumble Bee

Rare4 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Rare4 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.

Most Common Species

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

Want the Complete Field Guide?

‌
‌

‌

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

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

$6.99

Get Your Personalized Field Guide

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

Email Address (for delivery)

Your field guide will be delivered to this email address. Please double-check for accuracy.

$6.99

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+335%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in McHenry County County, Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Crystal Lake

Importance: 0.49

50 species

+100% vs. current

Woodstock

Importance: 0.36

5 species

+1900% vs. current

Lake Atwood

Importance: 0.35

32 species

+213% vs. current

Lake Defiance

Importance: 0.35

13 species

+669% vs. current

McHenry

Importance: 0.34

4 species

+2400% vs. current

Cary

Importance: 0.33

22 species

+355% vs. current

Lake In The Hills

Importance: 0.32

50 species

+100% vs. current

Johnsburg

Importance: 0.32

5 species

+1900% 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 McHenry County County.

Regional Comparison

‌

Regional Ranking

‌

Species Count

‌

vs. Regional Average

‌

Nearby Natural Areas

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

About This Comparison

‌
‌
‌

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+335%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in McHenry County County, Illinois

Nearby Natural Areas

Crystal Lake

Importance: 0.49

50 species

+100% vs. current

Woodstock

Importance: 0.36

5 species

+1900% vs. current

Lake Atwood

Importance: 0.35

32 species

+213% vs. current

Lake Defiance

Importance: 0.35

13 species

+669% vs. current

McHenry

Importance: 0.34

4 species

+2400% vs. current

Cary

Importance: 0.33

22 species

+355% vs. current

Lake In The Hills

Importance: 0.32

50 species

+100% vs. current

Johnsburg

Importance: 0.32

5 species

+1900% 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 11 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 11 locations

82th percentile for diversity

vs. Crystal Lake

+100% species diversity

Most Common Species

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

Sorghastrum nutans

Yellow Indiangrass

Very Common7 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Very Common7 obs.

Daucus carota

wild carrot

Very Common7 obs.

Rosa multiflora

Many-Flower Rose

Very Common7 obs.

Dactylis glomerata

Orchardgrass

Very Common6 obs.

Silphium perfoliatum

Cup Plant

Common6 obs.

Verbena hastata

Wild Hyssop

Common6 obs.

Sambucus canadensis

Canada elderberry

Common6 obs.

Rhus glabra

Scarlet Sumach

Common6 obs.

Trifolium pratense

red clover

Common6 obs.

Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot

Common6 obs.

Asclepias syriaca

Virginia-Silk

Occasional5 obs.

Cirsium arvense

Creeping Thistle

Occasional5 obs.

Arnoglossum atriplicifolium

pale Indian-plantain

Occasional5 obs.

Taraxacum officinale

common dandelion

Occasional5 obs.

Verbena stricta

Mullein-Leaved Vervain

Occasional5 obs.

Pisaurina mira

American Nursery Web Spider

Occasional4 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Rare4 obs.

Bombus bimaculatus

Two-Spotted Bumble Bee

Rare4 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Rare4 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.