Find Nature in New Hampshire
Coastal spots like Odiorne Point State Park and Great Bay NWR for shorebirds and migrants, or the White Mountains (like Cannon Mountain) for alpine species like the Bicknell’s Thrush; inland, focus on Audubon Sanctuaries (like Silk Farm) and refuges (like Umbagog) for diverse woodland and wetland birds, especially during peak migration in May.
INaturalist an App for Nature
Biodiversity To Be Found
Additional Wildlife of New Hampshire
To flesh out your understanding of the region’s natural history, here is a breakdown of the specific taxa you can expect to encounter in the Granite State.
Birds (Avifauna)
New Hampshire is a critical corridor for the Atlantic Flyway. Beyond the coastal species mentioned above, the inland lakes are famous for the Common Loon, whose wailing call is an auditory staple of the NH summer. In the dense boreal forests of the north, you can find the Spruce Grouse and the rare Bicknell’s Thrush, a species that breeds almost exclusively in high-elevation balsam fir forests of the Northeast. The state bird is the Purple Finch, distinct from the more common House Finch by its raspberry-red coloration.
Mammals
While the Moose is the most sought-after sighting for visitors (particularly in the “Moose Alley” region of Route 3), the state hosts a variety of furbearers. The Fisher (a large member of the weasel family) is a formidable predator in the woodlands. Eastern Coyotes are common, filling the niche left by wolves. In recent years, there have been tentative signs of Canada Lynx returning to the northernmost territories, though they remain extremely rare.
Insects
The insect biodiversity in NH is driven by its water and forest resources. The Karner Blue Butterfly is a federally endangered species found in the pine barrens of the Concord area, reliant entirely on wild blue lupine. New Hampshire is also known (infamously) for its Black Flies in late spring, which are actually an indicator of clean, running water. The Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) are diverse here due to the many glacial lakes and bogs.
Plants
The flora is defined by the transition between the temperate deciduous forest and the boreal forest. The Eastern White Pine is the state tree and a dominant feature of the landscape. In the understory, you will find the Pink Lady’s Slipper, a large, pouch-shaped orchid that requires specific soil fungi to grow. Wild Lupines are critical for the pine barren ecosystem. In the fall, the forests turn vibrant colors due to the high density of Sugar Maples and Red Maples.
Fungi
New Hampshire’s wet, forested environment is ideal for mycology. The Hemlock Varnish Shelf (Reishi) is also present. The forest floors in late summer often host colorful varieties of Russula and Boletes, as well as the ghostly white Destroying Angel, which serves as a stark reminder of the importance of correct identification.
New Hampshire Biodiversity Profile
New Hampshire presents a remarkable spectrum of biological communities, ranging from high-altitude peaks to coastal estuaries. In the Alpine Zones, specifically the high peaks of the White Mountains like Mount Washington, we find unique tundra systems adapted to short growing seasons. These elevations act as islands for cold-adapted species, including the American pipit, the state-endangered White Mountain fritillary, and rare plant communities such as Bigelow’s sedge meadows.
Descending from the peaks, Forests dominate the landscape, covering nearly half the state. These vast tracts offer a gradient of habitats, from northern hardwood-conifer mixes to rare old-growth stands that have escaped logging. This dense canopy supports iconic megafauna like moose and black bear, alongside elusive predators like the bobcat and northern goshawk, and forest interior birds such as the Canada warbler and scarlet tanager.
Perhaps the most critical for climate resilience are the state’s Wetlands, Fens, and Bogs. These diverse inland hydrological systems—comprising marshes, swamps, and peatlands—sequester carbon and act as biological filters. They are home to highly specialized species, including the state-endangered ringed bog haunter dragonfly, the northern bog lemming, and spotted turtles found in the unique black gum swamps.
On the seaboard, Coastal Areas and Estuaries provide a different kind of richness. Despite New Hampshire’s short coastline, the interface between land and sea here is vital. Salt marshes and the Great Bay Estuary serve as essential nurseries for marine life and stopover points for migratory birds. Conservationists here focus on wintering bald eagles, shorebirds, and ongoing oyster restoration projects to maintain water quality.
Finally, we must consider the Pine Barrens, one of the world’s most imperiled natural communities. These unique ecosystems are fire-dependent and occur on nutrient-poor sandy soils, creating a niche for rare species that cannot survive in the richer hardwood forests surrounding them.