A Complete Guide to the Wildlife of Legacy Park

by Alex Stach

Canada Goose

Common but not always present, this permanent resident is usually seen in groups of 10-30 individuals either flying overhead or foraging in the pond or swamp. Sometimes the only indication of their presence is their loud and distinctive “honking” calls, which can be heard from a considerable distance. Geese are herbivores and mostly eat grasses and aquatic vegetation, which is usually what they are doing when observed on the ground. This is the only species of goose that’s ever been reported in the park, and thus does not have anything it is likely to be confused with, so their large size, characteristic goose shape, black neck, white cheek patch are distinctive. In the winter farther north, Canada Geese must be compared with their smaller cousin, the Cackling Goose. 

Wood Duck

Uncommon year round in the main pond, the swamp, or flying over. Some of the most beautiful ducks in our area, breeding males of this species have a “helmeted” appearance because of their broad crested head, which is adorned with bold black and white markings, an iridescent purplish-green color, red eyes, and a pinkish bill. However, nonbreeding males, females, and juveniles are not nearly as flashy, being patterned in mostly brown and gray. They can still be easily identified, however, because of their distinctive head shape, bold white eyering, and blue speculum with white on the edge. Wood Ducks haven’t been known to breed at the park, but sightings of individuals in the swamp in May might suggest breeding activity, as Wood Ducks normally start breeding in April. On May 22nd, 2023, Leigh McDougal observed one individual dropping out of a dead tree in the swamp, which is significant because it’s the best breeding habitat for Wood Ducks in the park, and their preferred nest sites are cavities in dead trees near water. However, the species has not been observed in the park from June to August, so it’s likely that the May sightings were individuals looking for nest sites who ultimately decided to nest elsewhere. 

Northern Pintail

1) Pete Followill, 11/21/22, Constitution Lakes, 2-3) Sheng Jiang, 12/3/23

A rare winter visitor, this fairly large duck has been seen only once on December 3rd, 2023, by members of a birdwalk led by Josh Jackson. First seen on the pond, the adult male bird took flight upon being approached, and in-flight photos were taken by Sheng Jiang. Being dabbling ducks, pintails submerge most of their body and leave only their vent and tail feathers visible when foraging, which is mostly for seeds from underwater sedges and grasses. Males are distinctive, with a bold facial pattern and a long tail. Females are less distinctive, but also have a relatively long tail and neck, are larger than most other ducks (about the size of a mallard), have a black bill, and a distinctive feather pattern on the sides. In flight, both sexes show a long neck, relatively chunky body, and thin, angular wings. Additionally, the normally obscured speculum can be seen in flight, which is exceptionally long in Northern Pintails, extending all the way to the primaries. Females have a bronze speculum outlined in white, and males have a green speculum with white on the outer edge and tan on the inner edge. 

Pied-Billed Grebe

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)

A permanent resident, common in Decatur but uncommon at Legacy Park, this species was introduced to America from Europe in the early 1600s, and is now a prolific city-dwelling species throughout the world because of its adaptable nature. This ubiquity often causes people to think of them as “pests” or even invasive species, but in my opinion, they deserve more respect for their resilience and ability to persist in urban environments that most birds are not able to endure. Additionally, Rock Pigeons have not been shown to have any significant impact on native birds aside from perhaps feeding a few Peregrine Falcons, which is mostly because they inhabit environments that most native birds find inhospitable. At Legacy, Rock Pigeons are usually seen flying past singly or in small groups of 5 or less individuals, though occasionally larger flocks are seen. Outside of flyovers, they are sometimes found perched on the small buildings in the southwestern portion of the park or foraging on the ground near them. The typical form has a light gray body, darker gray head, iridescent green and purple neck, black stripes on the lower parts of the wings, red legs, and a slate-gray tail. Domestic color morphs include completely white individuals, completely brown individuals, and completely black individuals, along with intermediate forms of each that have influence from multiple of the aforementioned color morphs. This species is relatively distinctive, but at a glance, flying Rock Pigeons may be confused with Mourning Doves because of their similar shape and flight style. However, they have paler wings, black borders on the outside of the wings, and don’t tuck their wings in as much as doves do in flight. 

Mourning Dove

Very common year-round, mostly in open areas but can be found virtually anywhere in the park. They often perch on power lines, and can usually be found on the power lines that run parallel to the gym. This species is also frequently seen flying over, usually in a straight flight path, with its wings tucked in so that the wingbeats seem shallow and stiff. This type of flight exhibited by both Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared-Doves can be described as torpedo-like because of its fast and direct nature. Mourning Doves are named after their song, which consists of a rising coo-oo followed by a few lower and more sorrowful coos. This song, along with that of the Eurasian Collared-Dove, is often mistaken for an owl calling. Males and females look the same, with tan-brown bodies and heads, long and tapering tails, darker brown backs and wings, a variable number of medium-sized black spots toward the back of the wings, and a small head with a thin blue eyering and a black mark below the eye. In flight, the underside of the tail shows black on the inside, white on the outside, and a distinct diamond shape because the feathers get longer toward the center of the tail. In flight, this is often the best way to differentiate Mourning and Eurasian Collared Doves, because in Eurasian Collared Doves, all the tail feathers are the same length, so this diamond shape is not present. Also, Collared Doves are bigger than Mourning Doves and have conspicuous black on the upper side of the primaries, so these characteristics can be looked for in flight as well. 

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Though more common in other places in the area, Eurasian Collared-Doves appear to be relatively rare at Legacy Park, and are only ever seen flying over. In the event that one is seen at rest, the namesake incomplete black collar is conspicuous and diagnostic. See Mourning Dove species account for in-flight differences. This species was accidentally introduced to the Bahamas in 1974, and it colonized Florida by the 1980s, continuing to spread from there. Today, they have colonized much of North America, though they still have a very limited range in Canada. Their song is a hoo-hooo, hoo with a brief pause before the last note. This song is usually repeated over and over again, and the pitch of each hoo can vary between individuals, but the rhythm is always very consistent, almost metronome-like. 

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Uncommon breeding resident and fairly common fall migrant in shrubby areas and wooded areas throughout the park. Usually seen relatively high up in the midstory or canopy during migration, but stays closer to the ground in the breeding season, when it prefers dense thickets with plentiful vegetation. Adults have a bicolored black and yellow bill, brown head and back, white throat and underside, rufous primaries, and a striking black and white pattern on the tail. Sometimes a yellow eyering and faint black mask are also present. Juveniles are similar, but may not have the yellow in the bill or eyering, and thus may be confused with the much rarer Black-Billed Cuckoo, which has not yet been reported at the park. However, juveniles still have the rufous primaries of adult Yellow-Billed Cuckoos, which are never present in Black-Billed Cuckoos at any life stage. Additionally, Black-Billed Cuckoos have a more muted tail pattern without the large white spots, and adults have a conspicuous red eyering. The Yellow-Billed Cuckoo’s song is a hollow sounding, evenly spaced series of coos, and males also give a distinctive rattling call that sounds like ka ka ka ka ka kow kow kowlp kowlp kowlp kowlp. 

Red Salamander

photos by Alex Stach, (1) Legacy Park (2) Deepdene Park (3-4) Stone Mountain

A fan favorite, this stunning Salamander is fairly common throughout metro-Atlanta, but few locations are as consistent for them as Legacy Park. Red Salamanders are fairly aquatic as far as lungless salamanders go, but are also frequently found under logs farther from water (rarely rocks). At legacy, Red Salamanders are always found in or around the creek near the restoration pond and bench. If you want to find a Red Salamander at Legacy, the best way is to first flip all the logs in the area just behind the bench, and note that Reds will sometimes be nestled in cracks inside the logs, so check the log itself when you flip it. If that doesn’t work, then flipping rocks in the creek in that area also usually turns up a Red or two, often under partially submerged rocks. Red Salamanders aren’t particularly seasonal, and are found regularly throughout the year. There are four subspecies, but the only one we get at Legacy Park is the Northern subspecies, P. r. ruber. While they are rare in our area, there have been a couple sightings of Southern Reds in Atlanta, which are characterized by having extensive white speckling on the snout and lacking the well-defined horizontal black lines on the lips that Northerns have. Larvae can appear similar to Two-Lined Salamander larvae, but have less patterning on the body overall and distinctly patterned cream-colored spotting on the head. They also lack the conspicuous black line through the eye that two-lined salamanders have, and instead have two thin lines from the eye to the snout. Red Salamander larvae are very difficult to differentiate from the larvae of Spring Salamanders, which are known to occur in some places in Atlanta, but Spring Salamanders have stricter habitat requirements and are not present at Legacy Park. 

Southern Two-Lined Salamander

The only brook salamander (Eurycea) species in the park, this species is fairly common at Legacy and abundant throughout metro-Atlanta. Southern Two-Lineds do not appear to be particularly seasonal, and can be found year round throughout their range. Though in many places the easiest way to find adult Eurycea is flipping rocks in creeks, at Legacy they seem to be more consistently found under logs, sometimes a significant distance from water. Adults are easily identifiable, with a brownish back, brighter yellow tail, and two black lines (for which they are named) going down the sides of their body. The larvae are found in multiple creeks at Legacy, and the vast majority of Salamander larvae found at Legacy Park are E. cirrigera. Larvae can be differentiated from other species by the presence of a bold black line going through the eye, with the rest of the body being covered in mottled brown patterning. Some locations in nearby counties such as Fulton are known to have Blue Ridge Two-Lined Salamanders, but this far south they are almost always found in the immediate vicinity of the Chattahoochee River and are not present in Legacy Park. Blue Ridge Two-Lineds are similar to Southern Two-Lineds, but differ in the fact that they lack the yellow spots (dubbed “portholes) going down their sides, their lateral black lines break up into streaks/spots about halfway down the tail, and they’re generally longer-tailed and brighter colored than their more common counterparts.

Southern Red-Backed Salamander

Very common but highly seasonal, these salamanders usually don’t start to become active in the fall until late October or early November. They remain surface active throughout the winter, with their most active period being February, and then activity drops until early May when surface activity stops altogether. During periods of inactivity, these salamanders spend their time in underground brumation sites, making them virtually impossible to find. On the flipside, when they are active, they are abundant and ubiquitous under logs that are often far from water. Almost certainly the most numerous salamanders in the park, there are multiple places where they appear to be the only species present, including the woodlands by the swamp on Katie Kerr and the forest behind the orchard. There are two color phases: the typical red-backed phase, and the less familiar lead-backed phase. The red-backed phase is characterized by its namesake red stripe running from the back of the head to most or all the way down the tail. The head is more of a uniform brownish red, and the sides are gray profuse with white speckling. The lead-backed phase is very different, and lacks the red stripe entirely. Instead, the entire body is a slate gray or black color, usually with white spotting throughout the body that, much like on the red-backed phase, is more prevalent on the sides. Lead-backs often have red highlights in various places, but are never as red as red-backed phases. This species has an interesting life cycle, laying eggs in rotting logs, leaf litter, or soil burrows away from water, and undergoing the larval stage inside of the egg. When the eggs hatch, the young salamanders are tiny versions of the adults. Because of this, red-backs can colonize places without standing water, which gives them an advantage over other salamanders that are tied to water features for reproduction. There are no other species within the park that red-backs are likely to be confused with, but note that some locations in metro-Atlanta have Webster’s Salamanders, which are very similar, albeit much rarer.

Three-Lined Salamander

Uncommon throughout Atlanta, this species is always a pretty good find in an area as urban as Decatur. This lanky and long-tailed species is named for its three black lines, two of which go down either side of the body and the third one down the back. The rest of the head, back, and tail are a beautiful bronze color that’s unique among our local salamanders. About one in every three trips to look for salamanders at Legacy turns up one of these guys. The wooden board in the path on the side of the lake closer to Katie Kerr is usually the best location, but when that area is flooded, three-lineds will turn up in other locations, like under the logs near the bench and restoration pond. When three-lined salamanders are flipped under the board, they usually run towards the little “cave” in the mud behind the board, so that may be where they’re hanging out when they aren’t flipped. Suspected three-lined salamander larvae have been seen in the ditch by the wooden board they usually hang out under. Larvae can look pretty similar to two-lined larvae, but usually show some traces of the adult pattern even as newly hatched young.

Spotted Dusky Salamander

Uncommon, so far only seen under the stepping stones in the north part of the park during a period with a high water level that caused that area to be sufficiently wet and muddy. In other places, usually found under rocks in or near small creeks and seepages (none have been found in the creeks at Legacy). Generally most active and easy to find during the summer. Taxonomy of the “spotted dusky salamander” complex is complicated, and multiple splits and range reassessments have taken place in the past year or two, so it is a bit unclear which species the desmogs at Legacy Park most accurately fall into. Desmognathus perlapsus, the Chattooga Dusky Salamander, was recently shown to occur in the Chattahoochee River Drainage, and the newly described Desmognathus campi occurs in the region, though likely farther East and South. For now it seems to be standard to just leave these as “Spotted Duskies”. Seal Salamanders are also present in the area (but not at Legacy), which are similar but have more heavily keeled tails and completely pale bellies, rather than gray bellies with white spots like spotted dusky type species.

Green Frog

First photo by Kent Trulsson, 7/12/23. Rest by Alex Stach

Also known as the Bronze Frog. Very common in creeks, smaller ponds, the swamp, the main pond, and under cover near all of those areas. Similar to bullfrogs but differentiated by the presence of a dorsolateral fold, which is the raised line that runs down the side from the eye to the legs, though in some individuals it can be shorter or less pronounced. Calls consist of a few short grunts followed by a long pause. 

American Bullfrog

Common in areas with water throughout the park. Like the green frog, many are often flushed and dive into the water when a human walks too close. Differentiated from green frog by the lack of a dorsolateral fold. Also gets significantly larger than the Green Frog, as this is the largest species of frog in the country. Calls are deep and often quickly repeated, with a sound that is often likened to a foghorn. 

Green Treefrog

Uncommon. The only treefrog species that has been found in the park yet. Often seen perched on vegetation, especially grasses, but sometimes also found under cover objects such as logs and the stepping stones (especially during the colder months). These frogs are mostly active during the summertime. Cope’s gray and squirrel treefrogs also occur in the area, but cope’s gray has wartier skin and even in the more greenish individuals has some gray on the sides and legs, and squirrel treefrog has a less defined or absent pale line from the eye to the hind legs. Calls consist of a quickly repeated series of croaks.

Common Five-Lined Skink

Common in many areas of Atlanta, but uncommon in Legacy Park. A habitat generalist, it could potentially be found virtually anywhere in the park. Often observed out and about, especially in the summer, and also found under rocks and cover objects year round. There are two other Plestiodon skinks in the area that are easily confused with this species. The southeastern five-lined skink differs in having thinner lines dorsally and (only visible in hand) lacking a wider row of scales in the middle of the underside of the tail. Broadhead Skinks are a bit harder to differentiate but are generally larger, have thicker necks, more variable line widths, and usually (but not always) 5 labial scales before the subocular scale. There are a lot of websites that don’t tell the full truth about skinks, but this website is a good resource for learning skink identification. 

DeKay’s Brownsnake

Fairly common at Legacy, seemingly seen most often out on the crawl on warm days in winter and early spring. Also sometimes found under cover objects including the stepping stones in the North side of the park. These are pretty small snakes, at about a foot long max length. Color can be variable, but is usually reddish, brown, gray, or tan. There are a couple of similar species in the area that have not been found at Legacy Park, such as red-bellied snake and eastern worm snake. The red-bellied snake can be easily differentiated by its namesake red belly, and among other things worm snakes lack the patterning on the back that brown snakes have. Garter snakes are larger and have a yellow stripe down the middle of the back. 

Common Watersnake

Uncommonly seen in the postal pond and sometimes creeks in the park. Probably the only species of watersnake in the park, but there is some debate about this individual. Often confused with copperheads and cottonmouths (aka water moccasins), but cottonmouths do not occur this far north and watersnakes lack the distinctive “hershey kiss” pattern found on the sides of copperheads. Generally most active in the summer, and can be seen basking for thermoregulation purposes or hunting for food in the water. 

Green Anole

Fairly common, sometimes seen under cover, out on the crawl (and often climbing trees), or basking in the sun. Green anoles are habitat generalists that could be found in most habitats in Legacy Park. This species can change colors for thermoregulation purposes, so in the colder months they are often brown instead of green. This means they could be confused with the invasive brown anole, which hasn’t been seen at legacy, but brown anoles have generally more dorsal patterning, less elongated heads, and sometimes red heads. 

Pond Slider

Very common, the turtle that is always seen basking on logs and swimming in the postal pond on virtually every visit to the park. There are two subspecies here: the native yellow-bellied slider and the invasive red-eared slider (brought over from the pet trade). Both may occur at Legacy Park but most seem to be Yellow-Bellied. They can be differentiated by red-eared’s namesake red “ear patch”, which is replaced by a yellow line in yellow-bellied sliders. Intergrades can occur. Older adults are often melanistic and have mostly or completely dark heads that lack the yellow and red patterning present on younger individuals. 

Common Snapping Turtle

Uncommonly seen permanent resident. The only verifiable sightings have come from young individuals in the little concrete bordered pond with grasses in it on the north side of the park. The jagged carapace is distinctive, and the eye pattern is also distinctive enough to identify snappers that are just peeking their heads out of the water. 

Eastern Musk Turtle

Uncommon small turtles, usually found in the smaller ponds in the park. The two prominent stripes on the sides of the head are distinctive in the park. When threatened, they emit a foul-smelling musk to avoid predation, which is where they get their name. Eastern mud turtles are in the area and may also have those stripes but differ in lacking a pectoral scute at the front of the plastron and various other subtle characteristics. 

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Very common throughout the park and the southeast as a whole. The typical squirrel found in backyards, on powerlines, and in trees throughout the eastern US. Gray squirrels are diurnal, and thus are much more familiar than the other squirrel in our area, the Southern Flying Squirrel (Fox Squirrels are either very rare or not present in Atlanta’s city limits, and are especially unlikely to occur in an area this close to the city center). Gray squirrels prefer to nest in tree cavities, but will settle for making their own sloppy stick and leaf nests if none are available. Any nest that looks like a large pile of sticks leaves that’s been dumped onto a tree branch is likely the doing of one of these guys. Also, Eastern Gray Squirrels have a few different alarm calls, which is worth taking into account while birding by ear. The most common alarm call can be listened to here. 

Eastern Chipmunk

Very common diurnal mammals that spend much of their time foraging above ground. Some may become torpid during the winter in their burrows, but many individuals are active throughout the year. Only one species of chipmunk is present in Georgia, so identification is very easy. Chipmunks have multiple different calls, which may be confused with bird calls. The alarm call used for aerial predators is a “chucking” call, while the one used for ground predators is a higher pitched chip. Both are usually repeated at equal intervals many times. This video gives some examples of the different types of chipmunk calls. 

Eastern Cottontail

Common but seemingly more crepuscular than the other mammals in the park, usually seen close to sunrise or sunset. This species does not have strong habitat preferences and can be found in virtually any habitat in the park, aside from the swamp. Eastern Cottontails are similar to the Swamp Rabbit (surprisingly unseen at Legacy so far), which is also fairly common in this area. However, the Swamp Rabbit has a chestnut eyering rather than a white one (though some easterns have similarly colored eyerings), slightly shorter ears, generally darker fur, and a larger size. Does not usually make vocalizations. 

White-Footed Mouse/Cotton Mouse

Probably abundant but rarely seen because of its nocturnal habits. Occasionally seen running across the path during the day and has once been found under one of the stepping stones in the Northern part of the park. The mice at Legacy are likely to be White-Footed Mice based on location, but cotton mouse is theoretically possible, as the two species are extremely similar. Cotton Mouse may have a longer hind foot, but some sources assert that identification is not possible without careful examination of skull and dental characteristics, which cannot be done on living individuals. These mice differ from House Mice in having a boldly contrasting white belly, a bicolored tail, finer fur, and usually a lighter brown color overall.

American Beaver

photos by Alex Stach, 9/13/23

Uncommonly seen, nocturnal permanent resident in the Postal Pond. On the rare occasions they’ve been seen during the day, beavers have been seen on the banks eating clovers and in the water swimming around with only their head sticking out of the water. The beavers have constructed a dam on the eastern side of the postal pond, which is what allows the pond to stay at the high water level it is currently at. Similar to the Muskrat but has a wide, paddle-like tail (muskrats have comparatively long and thin tails) and is larger in size. When beavers feel threatened, they will slap their tails against the water to warn their families of danger, which can be surprisingly loud. Muskrats will do the same, but their tail slaps are not as loud and impressive. 

Muskrat

One of our smaller aquatic rodents, this species only attains a body length of about 2 feet long. Like most of our mammals, this species is nocturnal and rarely seen during the day. In fact, the species has only been seen once at Legacy Park, by Mike Ayling on June 11, 2023. It was swimming in the swamp in the late afternoon on a rainy day. This is probably not a coincidence, as muskrat activity is apparently increased on rainy days in the summer. If there is enough rain, Muskrat lodges can flood, forcing them to surface. Muskrats may be active year round, and do not hibernate.

North American River Otter

photos by Mike Ayling, 12/16/23, except last photo by Alex Stach, 12/14/23

Another nocturnal and aquatic mammal, the River Otter has been seen more frequently than either of the aquatic rodents here based on anecdotal and verifiable records. Another denizen of the swamp on Katie Kerr, up to three individuals have been seen at once there, sometimes seemingly playing together. Usually the otters are seen in late afternoon and early evening. When they feel threatened by a human, the otters will hide underwater on the sides of the pond and then come up for air periodically. The otters here may use old muskrat dens for shelter, as they do not create their own dens, and beavers have not been observed in the swamp. Identification of otters is fairly straightforward, because their head shape and bicolored facial pattern are pretty distinctive compared to beavers and otters.

Northern Short-Tailed Shrew

Probably relatively abundant but nocturnal and only occasionally seen. Generally prefers more wooded habitats than Peromyscus (white-footed and cotton) mice. Live individuals are usually seen briefly running to a burrow in the woods or a forest edge. The darkness of the fur is pretty distinctive among our small mammals, so they can often be safely identified based on brief encounters, especially if the namesake short tail is viewed. This species is part of a complex of Short-Tailed Shrews, and is essentially identical to the Southern Short-Tailed Shrew save for a few small differences in skull and dental characteristics. However, the Short-Tailed Shrew in Atlanta is generally considered to be Northern, though there is some uncertainty surrounding the two species and their distribution.

Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) 

Photos: (1) James Kindt, 9/5/21 (2) Michael Van Stone, 10/8/23 (3) MVS, 9/27/23

The most common damselfly in the park, these diminutive, inch-long forktails are often abundant during the Spring and Summer. They are known to fly year-round in Georgia, but at Legacy Park they seem to be much less frequent (and in some years possibly not present) in late fall and winter. Most of the abdomen is black, but the lower half of the thorax is pale, and the upper half is black with a distinctive exclamation-point shaped mark. The color of this mark, along with the eyespots, lower half of the thorax, and rings around the abdominal segments varies significantly between individuals, and may be (roughly in descending order of commonality) green, blue, purple, brown, or perhaps even a different color. Along with most other forktails, Fragile Forktails are usually found close to the ground, and are most common on the margins of the pond, perched on aquatic vegetation or hovering near it. The exclamation point mark differentiates Fragile Forktails from almost all other damselflies in the area, but Skimming Bluets can have similar thoracic patterns. However, both male and female Skimming bluets have pale (usually blue) segments toward the end of the abdomen.

Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata)

(1) John Deitsch, 7/21/23, Mill Creek Nature Center (2) Shawn Taylor, 6/13/20, ATL botanical garden (3) James Kindt, 12/10/20

This species is common, but not quite as abundant as the Fragile Forktail. They are likewise tiny and usually found low to the ground near the pond’s margins. Adult males are distinctive, with bright yellow abdomens and bicolored thoraxes with black on top and green on the bottom. Young females are usually orange, with a wide black stripe down the top of the thorax, a very thin stripe down the side, a white underside to the thorax, and some black towards the end of the abdomen. On the other hand, adult females usually have a black and white thorax and blue abdomen, with bicolored black and green eyes and two thin green thoracic stripes. There is a lot of variability in female forktails in general, so they can be a challenge to identify and it may take a lot of experience to become proficient in forktail identification. However, any forktail found at Legacy Park can probably be safely assumed to be Citrine or Fragile. 

Variable Dancer

Uncommon near water sources in the park, often perched low on vegetation. Most common in the Summer. Males are a distinctive purple color with three bright blue segments at the tip of the abdomen, while females are usually brown but can be blueish or yellow. The subspecies here is the Smoky-Winged Dancer, which has amber to dark brown or blackish wings. The subspecies farther north, the Violet Dancer, has completely clear wings, and farther south the Black Dancer generally has darker wings that are nearly completely black. The wing coloration makes identification of this species very straightforward, as it is unique among our damselflies. 

Skimming Bluet

Rare in the park, only seen on May 9th, 2021 (Shawn Taylor), apparently sitting on aquatic vegetation in the Postal Pond. The only representative of a large group of damselflies (the bluets) that can be challenging to identify. In other areas, the species is most common in mid summer. Males are blue, and females may be blue, brown, yellow or orange. Skimming bluets can have the “exclamation point” marking on the thorax that is typical of fragile forktails, but male skimming bluets have two blue segments towards the end of the abdomen and females have a large blue (or whatever color the thorax is) spot on either side of segment 8. These blue segments and spots are also helpful for differentiating between the other bluets, and the fragile forktail-esque thoracic pattern is different from all other bluets in the area. 

Blue Dasher

Very common, usually near water sources in the park. Generally flies from early May to mid September. Often perches on grasses, sedges, and sticks that overhang the water. Strongly sexually dimorphic. Males have bright green or bluish eyes, a white face, amber spots in the wings, a yellow and brown striped thorax, and a mostly blue abdomen with a black tip. Females have red and blue eyes, a similar yellow and brown striped thorax, and an abdomen with a mostly yellow underside and black coloration with paired yellow lines dorsally. This species is similar to Little Blue Dragonlet but is larger, has a white face, and lacks conspicuously white terminal appendages. Great Blue Skimmer can also look similar but is larger than Blue Dasher and males lack amber coloration in wings and conspicuous black at the end of the abdomen. Female Great Blue Skimmers are less similar, with distinctively bicolored thoraxes and a different abdominal pattern. Eastern Pondhawk males are also blue but have a bright green face and also lack amber wing coloration. 

Little Blue Dragonlet

Uncommon, typically perched low on vegetation near the edge of the pond or sometimes further away in grasses. Probably flies most of the year, but most of our sightings are from summer to early fall. This is the smallest dragonfly species in the park, though there are certainly smaller damselflies. Both sexes are similar to Blue Dasher, but the size is distinctive, along with the white terminal appendages and dark face, which is black in males and brown in females. 

Eastern Pondhawk

Common in the vicinity of the Postal Pond from April to September. Females are a distinctive bright green color, and males are blue with green faces and greenish blue eyes. Males aggressively defend territory against other insects. This is our only skimmer with a green face, so that field mark is distinctive. 

Common Whitetail

Aptly named, this species is indeed common, and the males have a distinctive white tail. Often seen on the ground on the path in open areas of the park, otherwise perching on vegetation relatively low to the ground. Males also patrol over the pond. Females can be found even further away from water than males, and seem to be less common in the park than males. The white tail and broad black bands on the wings of males are diagnostic; females are mostly brown with red eyes, less broad black bands on the wings, black wingtips, and diagonal yellow or white lines on the sides of each abdominal segment. Female Twelve-Spotted Skimmer is similar, but has straight yellow lines on the sides of the abdomen and appears larger and longer winged. 

Common Checkered-Skipper

As the name suggests, this species is common at Legacy Park, especially in the Fall, which is unique among our butterflies. However, it can be found throughout the year except for the winter. It can often be found basking on grasses or the ground in the more open, grassy areas of the park. The wings are boldly checkered in black and white, and the abdomen is blue, usually brighter blue in males. Males also tend to have more (and more conspicuous) blue hairs on the wings near the abdomen. Only one similar species is distinguishable in the field (see taxonomy note for the other), which is the much less common Tropical Checkered-Skipper. Tropical Checkered-Skippers tend to have more black than white on the checkered forewing margins, while Commons usually have more white than black. Tropical Checkered-Skippers also tend to have more rounded wings and an obvious costal fold, which looks like two horizontal lines coming out of the abdomen at the front of the forewings. The most reliable characteristic, though, is that tropical checkered-skippers always have an hourglass shaped mark with a conspicuous white spot next to it near the middle of the forewing. 

A note on taxonomy: In the year 2000, the White Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius albezens) was split off from the Common Checkered-Skipper and given full species status. But outside of careful examination of male genitalia, B. albezens and B. communis are not distinguishable based on morphological characteristics. Recent research suggests that the White Checkered Skipper is spreading in the southeast and replacing B. communis in much of its former range. There hasn’t been much work done in the Georgia piedmont, but based on sightings in Tennessee and South Carolina it’s possible that some individuals found in Legacy Park actually belong to the species B. albezens. However, as far as I know at least, B. communis is still considered the predominant species in metro-Atlanta, so I have included it here under that name. 

Tropical Checkered-Skipper

Uncommon in the area and presumably Legacy Park as well, but only one sighting has been recorded by Josh Jackson in September of 2020, which was a first DeKalb record. Like the common checkered-skipper, this species is most common in late summer and early fall. However, tropical checkered skippers are almost never seen outside of late June to late November this far north, because the adults don’t winter here and need time to migrate up to the higher latitudes. Similar to Common Checkered-Skippers, adults are usually seen fluttering low to the ground or basking with their wings open, either on the ground or on blades of grass. See Common Checkered- Skipper species account for an in-depth explanation of how to differentiate the two species.

Common Buckeye

Very common throughout the park, usually found close to the ground either basking on grasses or nectaring on flowers. Most common in late summer and Fall but present throughout the year. The dorsal pattern is distinctive, and can be easily identified with even brief or distant views. Caterpillars, found mostly on native weeds, are relatively distinctive as well, with numerous blue spines contrasting with orange and white striped sides and a dark dorsal surface. This is slightly similar to Variegated Fritillary caterpillars, but the spines on a Variegated Fritillary are black, and they lack the dark dorsal surface of a Common Buckeye caterpillar, instead having orange and white patterning on the whole body. Currently this is the most reported brush-footed butterfly in the park on iNaturalist, though our most common skipper (the Fiery Skipper) has more observations.

Long-tailed Skipper

A common but beautiful skipper that arrives at Legacy in late summer and stays through mid-November. Easily identified by the aqua blue coloration on the abdomen and the inner part of the wings above. The glassy forewing spots arranged in a semicircle (visible on both sides of the forewings) are also diagnostic. The long tails are a good field mark when present, but worn individuals often lose their tails, so it should not be completely relied on. The hostplants include many members of the pea family, including invasive species like kudzu and wisteria. Long-Tailed Skippers are Usually found in open areas but are not too picky when it comes to habitat preferences. 

American Snout

Fairly common from early spring to fall, though the fall flight seems to be most common in Legacy Park. Well-named, the elongated labial palps form a distinctive “snout” that is unlike any other butterflies in the Southeast. The wing pattern and shape is distinctive as well. Sometimes seen nectaring, puddling, or just perched on vegetation a few feet off the ground, usually in open areas. The host plants are hackberry trees. 

Ocola Skipper

Common, especially in late summer and fall, sometimes into mid November. The flight period generally starts in late June. This species is often easily identified by its long forewings that project significantly past the hindwings. This characteristic is not as pronounced in some individuals, so luckily the dorsal pattern with an arrowhead shaped spot followed by a smaller, more normal shaped spot is distinctive. Some individuals also have well-defined subapical spots, which are a series of 2-3 spots at the top and towards the end of the forewing. Another reliable characteristic is the presence of distinct white lines going down the underside of the abdomen, which is not found in any skippers in our area except for the much rarer swarthy skipper (which has yet to be seen in the park). 

Question Mark

Uncommon to rare in Legacy Park, uncommon elsewhere in the area. There are only a few sightings from Legacy Park. The species seems to favor forest habitat in Legacy, but definitely can be found in more open areas. Flies virtually year-round but is generally most common in late spring in Georgia. Question marks are named for the white markings on the underside of their wings which consist of a small curved line that is generally followed by a dot such that it slightly resembles a question mark in some individuals. These characteristics are variable though, and many individuals lack the white spot, and thus are frequently confused with another species in the area, the less common Eastern Comma. Eastern Commas usually lack the white spot, but (much like question marks) they are variable, and sometimes have the iconic white spot that is often wrongly considered to be diagnostic for question marks. Some more reliable field marks include the dorsal pattern: Question Marks have a prominent dash after the three spots in the forewing cell, while Eastern Commas completely lack this mark. Additionally, Question Marks have more smooth and angular wings, longer tails, and a more strongly hooked forewing tip that gives the wings a more “swept-back” appearance. Also, the underside patterning on a Comma is much more bold and contrasting overall, while question marks generally have a much more bland and monochromatic appearance. 

Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma)

Probably rare at Legacy Park, only one sighting from James Kindt on March 31, 2024, apparently on the path in the south side of the park near a stand of Loblolly Pines. This species tends to be found in open woodlands and forest edges, and often bask in the sun with wings open on paths and trails. This species is similar to the Question Mark but (as mentioned in previous account) lacks the dash after the three dots on the forewing cell, lacks the hooked forewing tip and long tails, and usually has a white “comma” marking on the underside of the hindwing instead of the “question mark” on P. interrogationis. Nettles are one of their host plants, which are present at Legacy, and may be used by Commas in the park. 

Sleepy Orange

Fairly common from late summer to early winter. Color is variable, with the winter form being much darker and browner than the typical yellow summer form. Both forms are distinctly orange above (visible in flight) with black borders on the forewings and hindwings. When perched, the wing shape is unique among our butterflies. Sleepy Oranges can also be identified at a glance in flight by virtue of their orange uppersides and smaller size than Orange Sulphur. Usually found in open grassy areas at Legacy. 

Least Skipper

Fairly common but often overlooked because of its very small size, this species flies from May through October. Usually found close to the ground on grasses (which are their host plant) or nectaring on flowers near the postal pond. Dorsally the forewings and hindwings are orange with wide black borders. The underwings are uniformly pale orange. The abdomen is skinny and orange with distinctive black markings down the middle. Slightly similar to Zabulon Skipper but smaller, lacks boldly contrasting underwing pattern, and has a distinctively colored skinny abdomen (which Zabulon lacks). 

Fiery Skipper

Probably the most common butterfly in the park, at least from June to late Fall. This species does not seem to fly in the winter this far North in Georgia, so the flight period generally extends from April to November. Often seen resting in typical skipper fashion, with the hindwings completely open and the forewings partially open forming a “v” shape. Usually found relatively low to or on the ground. These guys can be seen nectaring at almost any native flowers in the park; they’re not picky. This species is variable and similar to many other skippers in the area, all of which are much less common. However, Whirlabouts and Huron Sachems are the only similar species that could be reasonably expected in an area this urban. On the upperside, the “toothed” wing pattern with jagged black lines protruding from the wing margins is a reliable field mark that rules out both of the aforementioned species. On the underside, the seemingly out of place dark spot in the center of the hindwing is also distinctive for Fiery Skippers. Zabulon Skippers are slightly similar but the boldly contrasting underwing pattern of both male and female Zabulons is markedly different. The fiery skipper is the only member of its genus known from North America, and the only subspecies here is Hylephila phyleus ssp. phyleus, the Northern Fiery Skipper. 

Mourning Cloak

Rarely seen but possibly resident in the park, first found by James Kindt on 3/30/24. Adults fly year-round, and thus can be seen on warm and sunny days in winter and late fall. Males will patrol territory in early Spring (mostly in March), which may be the easiest time to see them. One male was seen on multiple days patrolling in the same location. It would land on a plant in between the inclined wooden ramp and the octagonal platform in the ropes course, then fly down the path a bit and land on a young pine, and then land on the path before doing it all again. 

Black Swallowtail

Fairly common in the area, but seemingly uncommon to rare in the park. Seen only once, in flight above the tall grass field in front of the barn on August 19th, 2023 (AS). No photos were taken. Caterpillars have been seen in multiple places very close to the park as well, but not within the park’s borders. Adults are relatively distinctive but may be confused with the much more common dark morph eastern tiger swallowtail. However, black swallowtails tend to be smaller, have two rows of yellow spots on each forewing, and an obvious black “bullseye” in the center of the red eyespots on the hindwings. The wing shape is also different, with Tigers having much larger and more serrated hindwings. Also, black swallowtails have yellow spots on the abdomen, while Eastern Tigers have yellow stripes. Finally, the undersides are very different, with black swallowtails having much bolder patterning that consists of two prominent rows of red spots on the hindwing and two prominent rows of yellow spots on the forewing, while Tigers only have one of each. Caterpillars are distinctive, with alternating green and black stripes throughout the body and orderly yellow spots inside of the black stripes. 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Our most common swallowtail, often seen resting with wings open, usually a few feet or more off the ground. Usually flies from March through to the end of September. Also observed surprisingly commonly flying overhead at heights of 30+ feet off the ground. There are two color morphs: the dark form, which is only seen in females, and the normal light morph, which is the classic yellow form seen in both males and females. There seems to be a relatively high proportion of dark form females in the park, though generally the yellow ones are significantly more common (at least in most places). Light morph individuals are distinctive in our area, though there are multiple lookalikes in other places in the US, such as the Appalachian and Canadian Tiger Swallowtails. Dark form females, on the other hand, must be compared with the (all significantly smaller) Pipevine, Spicebush, and Black Swallowtails. Spicebush Swallowtails can be easily differentiated dorsally by the fact that in the places where Eastern Tigers have yellow crescents/rectangles/spots on the outer margins of both the forewing and hindwing, the corresponding markings in spicebush swallowtails are bright blue. The underwings of a spicebush swallowtail are, like the black swallowtail, much more boldly marked, and have two rows of red spots on the hindwing and two rows of yellow spots on the forewing, where Tigers only have one. Pipevine Swallowtails have a distinctive dorsal pattern, with almost completely blue hindwings with white markings. For characteristics to differentiate Black Swallowtails, refer to the Black Swallowtail species account. 

Pipevine Swallowtail

ncommon in open woodlands and forest edges from spring to fall. The dorsal pattern is relatively distinctive among our swallowtails, with almost entirely electric blue hindwings with white chevrons and two small (often broken) tails and uniformly black forewings save for one row of pale spots near the hind margin. Identification by the underwings is a bit more challenging but the presence of only a single row of spots on the forewing distinguishes it from Black Swallowtail, larger and more circular red spots and more extensive, brighter blue coloration eliminates dark form Eastern Tiger, and lack of “missing” red spot on the underhindwing eliminates Spicebush. Unsurprisingly, the  hostplants are pipevines, which is where these swallowtails get their toxicity from. Because this species is poisonous and the other dark swallowtails in this area are not, the other species here (black, spicebush, eastern tiger) are considered to be “batesian mimics” of the Pipevine Swallowtail, mimicking a poisonous species so predators shy away from eating them. 

Spicebush Swallowtail

Uncommon to rare in the park, only one sighting from the shrubby area between the swamp and katie kerr drive on September 2nd, 2023 (AS). Dorsally, the hindwing is mostly light blue with blue chevrons on the back, and the forewing has 1-2 rows of pale spots. Differentiation between the swallowtails is explained in more depth in the previous accounts. Habitat includes open woodlands and woodland swamps. Host plants include spicebush, tuliptree, sassafras and more.

Red-Banded Hairstreak

Uncommon, small hairstreak found in grassy areas from spring to mid fall, most common in late summer and early fall. Usually seen on grasses or nectaring near them. Several other hairstreaks occur here, but only the Gray Hairstreak has been found in the park. Among other differences, Gray Hairstreaks have prominent orange spots on the hindwing rather than red bands on both wings. Hairstreaks generally sit with wings closed, but the red-banded hairstreak has a bluish upperside that is visible in flight, while Gray Hairstreaks have a gray upperside. As a group, most hairstreaks have tails on the hindwings, and when perched, they rub their wings together to mimic the movement of antennae with their tails. Some, like the Gray Hairstreak, also have “eyespots” on the hindwing that could also help throw off predators, causing them to go for the wrong end of the butterfly. Even if the predator manages to get a section of the butterfly’s wing, it can still survive and go on to reproduce. 

Gray Hairstreak

Uncommon in open areas of the park, usually seen nectaring on asters. Flies from summer to fall. Easily identified by the orange spots on the hindwing, visible even on very worn individuals, which is pretty unique among our hairstreaks. Like most hairstreaks, this species usually sits with wings closed, but sometimes Gray Hairstreaks will perch with their wings partially opened to reveal the dorsal pattern. Dorsally the wings are mostly gray, but each hindwing has a large orange spot with a small black spot behind it near the hindwing margin.

Great Purple Hairstreak

Uncommon, can be found from spring to fall but is most common in late summer and early fall, especially September. Often found on grasses or nectaring on goldenrods near the postal pond. These hairstreaks virtually never open their wings except to fly, but in flight it’s possible to get a glimpse of the bright bluish purple dorsal surface of the wings, thorax and abdomen that this butterfly is named for. The underside of the wings is also distinctive, along with the bicolored abdomen. American Mistletoe is the only known hostplant for this species in the US. 

Variegated Fritillary

Uncommon and stunning butterfly, usually found in open grassy areas. Distinctive dorsally and ventrally. This species has three broods, but only the last brood from late August to early October has been observed in Legacy Park. There are several hostplants but the most commonly referenced is passionflowers. See Common Buckeye account for caterpillar identification. 

Gulf Fritillary

One of our most common (but also stunning) butterflies from late summer to early winter. Prefers open areas but can be seen virtually anywhere in the park. Identification is pretty straightforward, as this species is very distinctive dorsally and ventrally. Caterpillars are equally distinctive, with bright orange bodies and black spines. The host plants are passion flowers, of which purple passionflower is most common in Legacy Park. 

Hackberry Emperor

Uncommon, always seen in the wooded areas of the park from April to October. Usually seen either 1) in flight or 2) basking with wings open/partially open facing downward on the side of a tree (sometimes a significant distance off the ground). Also sometimes found basking on plants closer to the ground or puddling* on the ground. Similar to the less common (and as of yet unseen at Legacy) Tawny Emperor but Hackberry usually has more boldly contrasting black wingtips and generally less orangey coloration. A reliable characteristic for differentiating the two is the bars in the forewing cell. Hackberry has one complete forewing bar and another one broken up into two spots, while Tawny has two complete bars. 

*Puddling is a behavior often exhibited by butterflies where they suck up fluids from mud, puddles, dung, or other moist environments in order to obtain nutrients. 

Red Admiral

A cosmopolitan species, at Legacy found uncommonly from March to November. Most adults spend the winter months farther south, on the coast and in Florida. The best time to see this species at Legacy Park is early spring, when many males can be seen patrolling territories in the woodlands at once. The hostplants are nettles, which are present in some areas of the park, such as the path that runs between the garden and the pond, though oviposition and caterpillars have not been observed. Caterpillars are variable but usually dark with a zigzagged yellow stripe on the side and spines with orangish bases. Adults are distinctive.

Cabbage White

Also known as “Small White”, this species is very common in Legacy Park and throughout Atlanta as a whole. This is to the extent that they are sometimes considered to be (minor) garden pests. They are not picky in their habitat preferences and can be found in open areas throughout the park. The species is native to Europe, but was introduced to Canada in 1860 and spread like wildfire from there. Could possibly be confused with the much less common checkered white, but cabbage whites always have 1-3 distinct black spots, dark wingtips, and white on the rest of the wings, while checkered whites have larger and more rectangular dark markings and (usually) much more black patterning throughout the wings. Caterpillars are uniformly green with white hairs, usually found on non-native plants. 

Painted Lady

A fairly common migrant in the park during late fall, and an uncommon resident during the summer. Painted Ladies in the park seem to love asters, and are virtually always seen nectaring on them (which is good, because we have no shortage of asters!). Painted Ladies are famous for being the farthest migrating butterflies in the world, because in the old world they migrate from Africa to the arctic circle and back again every year. In the Eastern US (including Georgia), some individuals overwinter but most will migrate to warmer places such as Mexico and south Florida for the winter. This species is similar to the American Lady, which is generally more common in Atlanta but has less sightings from Legacy. On the dorsum, the most commonly used diagnostic feature is that American Ladies have a small but distinct white spot near the edge of each forewing, under the black wingtip. Also, Painted Ladies generally have more equally sized black spots on the hindwing with small or no eyespots present, while Americans generally have large eyespots in the outermost black spots and the spots themselves are unevenly sized. On the underwings, American Ladies have four smaller eyespots while Painteds have two large eyespots. 

Zabulon Skipper

Uncommon, mostly in the Spring at Legacy Park (Apr-May). There is another flight in late summer in Georgia from Jul-Sept, but it seems to be less common in this area and has yet to be observed at Legacy Park. Identification is easiest based on ventral views, as both males and females have distinctive and boldly contrasting underwing patterns. Dorsally, males lack the black-toothed wing margins of a Fiery Skipper and lack the black veins present on both Huron Sachems and Whirlabouts. Often nectars on asters. 

Monarch

One of the most well-known and widespread butterflies in the world, mostly because of their spectacular migrations from the Mexican mountains to as far north as southern Canada. Common during fall migration, especially October. Uncommonly seen at Legacy during other times of the year. Monarchs seem to love the asters at Legacy Park, and perched individuals are usually seen nectaring on them. Monarchs migrate during the day, so they can often be seen flying quickly and directly upwards of 30 feet off the ground on the way to (or from) their breeding grounds. Monarch butterflies are poisonous, and the similar viceroy is a mimic of the monarch because of this. The viceroy was previously thought to be a batesian mimic, which is a completely edible species that mimics a distasteful or poisonous species, but more recent research suggests that viceroys are distasteful as well and are therefore Mullerian mimics. For identification purposes, viceroys are smaller than monarchs, have a different wing shape, and (most obviously) have a prominent black bar across the hindwings. Monarch caterpillars are pretty distinctive, with a striking pattern of yellow, black, and white stripes. The front end of the caterpillar has conspicuously long tentacles (often confused with antennae). 

Viceroy

An uncommon to rare (in Legacy) mimic of the Monarch butterfly that is usually found in late summer and early fall. As mentioned previously, it is a bit smaller than a monarch, with a black bar across the hindwings, a different wing shape, and a few more subtle pattern differences. Viceroys prefer to hang out close to the edge of the postal pond and perhaps the swamp on katie kerr. 

Orange Sulphur

Uncommon to rare, probably possible to see at almost any time of the year but has only been seen on a couple of occasions at Legacy, both in November. Usually seen in open areas. Slightly similar to cloudless sulphur at a glance, but has black wingtips, lacks the irregular brown dots and streaks on the underside of both wings (in cloudless), and has noticeable orange on the upperside of the wings (which is often visible on the underside as well). Clouded Sulphur is very similar to Orange Sulphur but is very rare in the area, with observations consisting almost exclusively of historical records. 

Cloudless Sulphur

Our most common sulphur. Commonly seen in flight, less commonly found nectaring on flowers. Flight period is essentially year-round, but this species is much more common in fall and late summer than any other time of year. Upperside of wings is uniformly lime green or pale yellow, underside is similarly colored but with irregular brown markings and usually two white spots on the hindwing and one on the forewing. Host plants consist of various species of sennas (genus Senna).

Horace’s Duskywing

The only member that’s been found at Legacy Park of a diverse and challenging to identify genus, fairly common in open areas in the park from may to september. The second most common duskywing in our area is Juvenal’s Duskywing (not yet found at Legacy), which is very similar to Horace’s Duskywing. One notable difference is flight period: Juvenal’s Duskywings only fly from late February to mid April, so after that most duskywings can be safely assumed Horace’s. During the flight period of Juvenal’s Duskywing, though, pictures of the underside of the hindwing are generally necessary for 100% confidence in the identification. On Juvenal’s, there are almost always two or more light spots close to the front margin of the underhindwing, which Horace’s always lacks. Dorsally, Juvenal’s may have more silvery scaling on the forewing than Horace’s, but that is hard to tell without good pictures or an in-hand examination. Zarucco and Wild Indigo duskywings are also found in the area but lack a white cell-end spot, and Sleepy lacks glassy forewing spots altogether. 

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Common, usually seen close to or on the ground in open grassy areas from spring to fall. Tailed-blues are similar to azures, but they have orange spots on the hindwings and usually tails as well. Dorsally, the wings are blue or mostly blue except in summer form females, which have uniformly brown wings. Host plants include native cinquefoils (genus Potentilla) and, more commonly, invasive clovers (genus Trifolium). Males are often found sitting on host plants and waiting for females. 

Pearl Crescent

Common from spring to fall, most common in August and September. Usually found on or close to the ground in open areas and on the trail. Sometimes perches with wings closed and sometimes with wings open. Host plants are asters, which makes Legacy Park a very good place to see this species. No similar species are to be expected at this location, but Silvery Checkerspots are found in some places in Atlanta. 

Little Yellow

Uncommon in late summer and fall, perhaps earlier in the season as well. So far has only been seen in or near the bluestem grasses in the southern portion of the park. This species is much smaller than all of our sulphurs, and the sleepy orange can be yellow below but has a different wing shape and orange upperside. The host plants are peas of the genus Chamaecrista.