Portsmouth

Ecosystem Overview

The Portsmouth ecosystem supports 100 documented wildlife species across 95 taxonomic genera. Located in Virginia, this area provides critical habitat for regional wildlife. 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 #2 for species diversity among 363 Virginia natural areas, placing it in the 99th 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 363 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 363 locations

99th percentile for diversity

vs. Virginia

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.

Danaus plexippus

monarch

Very Common18 obs.

Papilio polyxenes

American Swallowtail

Very Common10 obs.

Xylocopa virginica

Carpenter bee

Very Common4 obs.

Poecile carolinensis

Carolina Chickadee

Very Common4 obs.

Argiope aurantia

Yellow Garden Spider

Very Common4 obs.

Nyctanassa violacea

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Common4 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Common4 obs.

Oncopeltus fasciatus

Large Milkweed Bug

Common3 obs.

Papilio glaucus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Common3 obs.

Vanessa atalanta

Red Admiral

Common3 obs.

Euptoieta claudia

Variegated Fritillary

Common3 obs.

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican (Southern)

Occasional3 obs.

Hemaris diffinis

Snowberry Clearwing

Occasional3 obs.

Gasteracantha cancriformis

Spinybacked orbweaver

Occasional3 obs.

Vanessa virginiensis

American Lady

Occasional3 obs.

Sialia sialis

Eastern Bluebird

Occasional3 obs.

Sitta pusilla

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Occasional3 obs.

Leptoglossus phyllopus

Rare3 obs.

Schistocerca obscura

Obscure Bird Grasshopper

Rare3 obs.

Celithemis eponina

Halloween Pennant

Rare3 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 Portsmouth. Perfect for outdoor adventures, education, and nature exploration.

$6.99

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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+1%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Virginia

Nearby Natural Areas

Virginia

Importance: 0.75

100 species

0% vs. current

Richmond City

Importance: 0.60

100 species

0% vs. current

Norfolk

Importance: 0.58

100 species

0% vs. current

Charlottesville

Importance: 0.55

100 species

0% vs. current

Alexandria

Importance: 0.52

100 species

0% vs. current

Newport News City

Importance: 0.51

88 species

+14% vs. current

Virginia Beach

Importance: 0.50

100 species

0% vs. current

Roanoke

Importance: 0.50

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 Virginia.

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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Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

100

Species Count

+1%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in Virginia

Nearby Natural Areas

Virginia

Importance: 0.75

100 species

0% vs. current

Richmond City

Importance: 0.60

100 species

0% vs. current

Norfolk

Importance: 0.58

100 species

0% vs. current

Charlottesville

Importance: 0.55

100 species

0% vs. current

Alexandria

Importance: 0.52

100 species

0% vs. current

Newport News City

Importance: 0.51

88 species

+14% vs. current

Virginia Beach

Importance: 0.50

100 species

0% vs. current

Roanoke

Importance: 0.50

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 363 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common21 species

Common30 species

Occasional30 species

Rare19 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#2 of 363 locations

99th percentile for diversity

vs. Virginia

0% species diversity

Most Common Species

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

Danaus plexippus

monarch

Very Common18 obs.

Papilio polyxenes

American Swallowtail

Very Common10 obs.

Xylocopa virginica

Carpenter bee

Very Common4 obs.

Poecile carolinensis

Carolina Chickadee

Very Common4 obs.

Argiope aurantia

Yellow Garden Spider

Very Common4 obs.

Nyctanassa violacea

Yellow-Crowned Night Heron

Common4 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Common4 obs.

Oncopeltus fasciatus

Large Milkweed Bug

Common3 obs.

Papilio glaucus

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Common3 obs.

Vanessa atalanta

Red Admiral

Common3 obs.

Euptoieta claudia

Variegated Fritillary

Common3 obs.

Pelecanus occidentalis

Brown Pelican (Southern)

Occasional3 obs.

Hemaris diffinis

Snowberry Clearwing

Occasional3 obs.

Gasteracantha cancriformis

Spinybacked orbweaver

Occasional3 obs.

Vanessa virginiensis

American Lady

Occasional3 obs.

Sialia sialis

Eastern Bluebird

Occasional3 obs.

Sitta pusilla

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Occasional3 obs.

Leptoglossus phyllopus

Rare3 obs.

Schistocerca obscura

Obscure Bird Grasshopper

Rare3 obs.

Celithemis eponina

Halloween Pennant

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.