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Cottonwood Lake

Ecosystem Overview

The Cottonwood Lake ecosystem supports 28 documented wildlife species across 27 taxonomic genera. Located in santa clara county, california, this area provides critical habitat with diverse natural communities. The location hosts 6 frequently observed species and 5 occasionally documented species, creating a balanced ecosystem with both resident and visiting wildlife. While San José nearby has 72% more documented species, Cottonwood Lake offers unique wildlife observation opportunities. This location ranks #25 for species diversity among 96 santa clara county County natural areas, placing it in the 74th percentile for biodiversity.

Biodiversity Highlights

28
Total Species
Documented wildlife species
27
Genus Diversity
Taxonomic genera represented
15
Common Species
Frequently observed species
13
Rare Species
Occasionally documented species
#25
Regional Rank
Out of 96 locations

Species Distribution

Very Common6 species
Common9 species
Occasional8 species
Rare5 species

Regional Context

Regional Ranking
#25 of 96 locations
74th percentile for diversity
vs. San José
-72% species diversity

Most Common Species

Showing 20 most frequently observed species out of 28 total documented species.

Podilymbus podiceps

Podilymbus podiceps

Pied-billed grebe

Very Common3 obs.
Fulica americana

Fulica americana

American Coot

Very Common2 obs.
Charadrius vociferus

Charadrius vociferus

Killdeer

Very Common2 obs.
Tachycineta thalassina

Tachycineta thalassina

Violet-green Swallow

Very Common2 obs.
Vespula pensylvanica

Vespula pensylvanica

Very Common1 obs.
Bombus vosnesenskii

Bombus vosnesenskii

Vosnesensky bumble bee

Common1 obs.
Apis mellifera

Apis mellifera

Western Honey Bee

Common1 obs.
Tramea lacerata

Tramea lacerata

Black Saddlebags

Common1 obs.
Recurvirostra americana

Recurvirostra americana

American avocet

Common1 obs.
Sayornis nigricans

Sayornis nigricans

black phoebe

Common1 obs.
Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Common1 obs.
Sialia mexicana

Sialia mexicana

Western Bluebird

Occasional1 obs.
Oxyura jamaicensis

Oxyura jamaicensis

Ruddy Duck

Occasional1 obs.
Paspalum dilatatum

Paspalum dilatatum

Dallisgrass

Occasional1 obs.
Melilotus albus

Melilotus albus

white melilot

Occasional1 obs.
Populus fremontii

Populus fremontii

Cottonwood

Occasional1 obs.
Centaurea solstitialis

Centaurea solstitialis

Yellow Star-thistle

Occasional1 obs.
Hippodamia convergens

Hippodamia convergens

convergent lady beetle

Rare1 obs.
Coccinella septempunctata

Coccinella septempunctata

7-spot ladybird

Rare1 obs.
Sceliphron caementarium

Sceliphron caementarium

Mud Dauber

Rare1 obs.

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No comparable locations found in this region.

Nearby Wildlife Areas in Santa Clara County

Discover 8 other wildlife-rich locations near Cottonwood Lake. Each offers unique biodiversity and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Regional Wildlife Network

These nearby locations complement Cottonwood Lakewithin Santa Clara County's wildlife network. Species counts reflect documented observations and help identify the most biodiverse areas for your nature explorations.

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