Hughes County

Ecosystem Overview

The Hughes County ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 82 taxonomic genera. Located in Hughes County, South Dakota, 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 Pierre, Hughes County hosts 41% more species diversity. This location ranks #1 for species diversity among 5 Hughes County County natural areas, placing it in the 80th 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 5 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#1 of 5 locations

80th percentile for diversity

vs. Pierre

+41% 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.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Very Common15 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Very Common13 obs.

Dryobates pubescens

Downy Woodpecker

Very Common12 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Very Common11 obs.

Cardinalis cardinalis

Northern Cardinal

Very Common9 obs.

Junco hyemalis

dark-eyed junco

Common8 obs.

Pseudacris maculata

Boreal Chorus Frog

Common8 obs.

Spinus tristis

American goldfinch

Common7 obs.

Passer domesticus

House Sparrow

Common6 obs.

Spizella pallida

Clay-Coloured Sparrow

Common5 obs.

Cathartes aura

Turkey Vulture

Common5 obs.

Colaptes auratus

common flicker

Occasional5 obs.

Bombus bimaculatus

Two-Spotted Bumble Bee

Occasional5 obs.

Zenaida macroura

Mourning Dove

Occasional5 obs.

Streptopelia decaocto

collared dove, eurasian collared dove

Occasional5 obs.

Sciurus niger

Cat Squirrel

Occasional5 obs.

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Occasional5 obs.

Pipilo maculatus

Spotted Towhee (Maculatus Group)

Rare5 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare4 obs.

Sylvilagus floridanus

Lapin A Queue Blanche

Rare4 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 Hughes County. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+285%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 4 nearby locations in Hughes County County, South Dakota

Nearby Natural Areas

Pierre

Importance: 0.47

71 species

+41% vs. current

Capitol Lake

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+9900% vs. current

Farm Island

Importance: 0.33

21 species

+376% vs. current

Laframboise Island

Importance: 0.33

9 species

+1011% 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 Hughes 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

+285%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 4 nearby locations in Hughes County County, South Dakota

Nearby Natural Areas

Pierre

Importance: 0.47

71 species

+41% vs. current

Capitol Lake

Importance: 0.35

1 species

+9900% vs. current

Farm Island

Importance: 0.33

21 species

+376% vs. current

Laframboise Island

Importance: 0.33

9 species

+1011% 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 5 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#1 of 5 locations

80th percentile for diversity

vs. Pierre

+41% species diversity

Most Common Species

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

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Very Common15 obs.

Turdus migratorius

American Robin

Very Common13 obs.

Dryobates pubescens

Downy Woodpecker

Very Common12 obs.

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red-Winged Blackbird (Red-Winged)

Very Common11 obs.

Cardinalis cardinalis

Northern Cardinal

Very Common9 obs.

Junco hyemalis

dark-eyed junco

Common8 obs.

Pseudacris maculata

Boreal Chorus Frog

Common8 obs.

Spinus tristis

American goldfinch

Common7 obs.

Passer domesticus

House Sparrow

Common6 obs.

Spizella pallida

Clay-Coloured Sparrow

Common5 obs.

Cathartes aura

Turkey Vulture

Common5 obs.

Colaptes auratus

common flicker

Occasional5 obs.

Bombus bimaculatus

Two-Spotted Bumble Bee

Occasional5 obs.

Zenaida macroura

Mourning Dove

Occasional5 obs.

Streptopelia decaocto

collared dove, eurasian collared dove

Occasional5 obs.

Sciurus niger

Cat Squirrel

Occasional5 obs.

Melanerpes carolinus

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Occasional5 obs.

Pipilo maculatus

Spotted Towhee (Maculatus Group)

Rare5 obs.

Larus delawarensis

Ring-billed Gull

Rare4 obs.

Sylvilagus floridanus

Lapin A Queue Blanche

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.