Topsail Island

Ecosystem Overview

The Topsail Island ecosystem supports 56 documented wildlife species across 51 taxonomic genera. Located in North Carolina, this area provides critical habitat for regional wildlife. The location hosts 12 frequently observed species and 11 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While North Carolina nearby has 44% more documented species, Topsail Island offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #158 for species diversity among 534 North Carolina natural areas, placing it in the 70th 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

#158

Regional Rank

Out of 534 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common12 species

Common17 species

Occasional16 species

Rare11 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#158 of 534 locations

70th percentile for diversity

vs. North Carolina

-44% 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 56 total documented species.

Tringa semipalmata

Willet

Very Common6 obs.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Very Common5 obs.

Gaillardia pulchella

firewheel

Very Common5 obs.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Very Common3 obs.

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing Gull

Very Common3 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Common3 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Common3 obs.

Lamarcka imbricata

Common3 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common2 obs.

Sabatia stellaris

Common2 obs.

Bombus pensylvanicus

American Bumblebee

Common2 obs.

Tringa melanoleuca

Greater Yellowlegs

Occasional2 obs.

Morus bassanus

Northern Gannet

Occasional2 obs.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Occasional2 obs.

Ocypode quadrata

Atlantic ghost crab

Occasional1 obs.

Armadillidium nasatum

Occasional1 obs.

Chelonibia testudinaria

Occasional1 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Rare1 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Rare1 obs.

Oxycopis notoxoides

Rare1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 56 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 Topsail Island. 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 Topsail Island. 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

Species Count

-44%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

North Carolina

Importance: 0.70

100 species

-44% vs. current

Charlotte

Importance: 0.65

100 species

-44% vs. current

Raleigh

Importance: 0.65

100 species

-44% vs. current

Greensboro

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-44% vs. current

Winston-salem

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-44% vs. current

Durham

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-44% vs. current

Asheville

Importance: 0.52

100 species

-44% vs. current

Wilmington

Importance: 0.51

100 species

-44% 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 North Carolina.

Regional Comparison

‌

Regional Ranking

‌

Species Count

‌

vs. Regional Average

‌

Nearby Natural Areas

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

About This Comparison

‌
‌
‌

Regional Comparison

Regional Ranking

Species Count

-44%

vs. Regional Average

Compared to 8 nearby locations in North Carolina

Nearby Natural Areas

North Carolina

Importance: 0.70

100 species

-44% vs. current

Charlotte

Importance: 0.65

100 species

-44% vs. current

Raleigh

Importance: 0.65

100 species

-44% vs. current

Greensboro

Importance: 0.54

100 species

-44% vs. current

Winston-salem

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-44% vs. current

Durham

Importance: 0.53

100 species

-44% vs. current

Asheville

Importance: 0.52

100 species

-44% vs. current

Wilmington

Importance: 0.51

100 species

-44% 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

#158

Regional Rank

Out of 534 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common12 species

Common17 species

Occasional16 species

Rare11 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking

#158 of 534 locations

70th percentile for diversity

vs. North Carolina

-44% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 56 total documented species.

Tringa semipalmata

Willet

Very Common6 obs.

Hydrocotyle bonariensis

Very Common5 obs.

Gaillardia pulchella

firewheel

Very Common5 obs.

Anolis carolinensis

Green anole

Very Common3 obs.

Leucophaeus atricilla

Laughing Gull

Very Common3 obs.

Quiscalus major

Boat-tailed Grackle

Common3 obs.

Borrichia frutescens

sea oxeye

Common3 obs.

Lamarcka imbricata

Common3 obs.

Larus smithsonianus

American Herring Gull

Common2 obs.

Sabatia stellaris

Common2 obs.

Bombus pensylvanicus

American Bumblebee

Common2 obs.

Tringa melanoleuca

Greater Yellowlegs

Occasional2 obs.

Morus bassanus

Northern Gannet

Occasional2 obs.

Haemorhous mexicanus

House Finch

Occasional2 obs.

Ocypode quadrata

Atlantic ghost crab

Occasional1 obs.

Armadillidium nasatum

Occasional1 obs.

Chelonibia testudinaria

Occasional1 obs.

Bombus griseocollis

Brown-belted Bumblebee

Rare1 obs.

Bombus impatiens

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Rare1 obs.

Oxycopis notoxoides

Rare1 obs.

Want the Complete Field Guide?

Get all 56 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.