Temperate Forest Animals

Temperate forests have the broadest range of climates. This makes them home to diverse species of animals. While some are predators, like bears, tigers, and hawks, some others survive only on nuts, like turkeys and squirrels. But, by far, the most common are the birds. It is hard to miss their songs in this biome.

List of Animals in the Temperate Forest

Amphibians

• Caecilian
• Frog
• Newt
• Salamander
• Stuttering Frog
• Toad

Birds

• Bee-Eater
• Bird-Of-Paradise
• Broad-Winged Hawk
• Bushshrike
• Buzzard
• Cardinal
• Cassowary
• Cockatoo
• Crow
• Cuckoo
• Eagle
• Emu
• Finch
• Flowerpecker
• Frogmouth
• Grouse
• Hawk
• Helmetshrike
• Jay
• Macaw
• Old World Flycatcher
• Owl
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Rainbow Lorikeet
• Robin
• Snowy Owl
• Southern Cassowary
• Starling
• Thornbill
• Tit
• Turaco
• Turkey
• Tyrant Flycatcher
• Vulture
• Warbler
• Waxwing
• Woodpecker
• Wren

Insects

• Ant
• Bee
• Beetle
• Butterfly
• Caterpillar
• Cicada
• Cockroach
• Crane Fly
• Cricket
• Dragonfly
• Flea
• Fly
• Gypsy Moth
• Ladybug
• Mosquito
• Moth
• Praying Mantis
• Spruce Budworm
• Stick Bug
• Ulysses Butterfly
• Wasp
• Yellowjacket

Invertebrates

• Centipede
• Slug
• Spider
• Tarantula

Mammals

• African Buffalo
• American Black Bear
• Asian Black Bear
• Badger
• Bandicoot
• Barbet
• Bat
• Bear
• Beaver
• Bettong
• Bison
• Brown Bear
• Chipmunk
• Clouded Leopard
• Coati
• Common Genet
• Coyote
• Deer
• Deer Mouse
• Dhole
• Dingo
• Dormouse
• Eastern Grey Kangaroo
• Echidna
• Elephant
• Elk
• Fisher
• Fox
• Giant Panda
• Giraffe
• Grey-Headed Flying Fox
• Groundhog
• Guanaco
• Hedgehog
• Himalayan Tahr
• Kangaroo
• Koala
• Leopard
• Monkey
• Moose
• Mountain Lion
• Mouse
• Numbat
• Opossum
• Otter
• Panda
• Pangolin
• Porcupine
• Possum
• Quoll
• Rabbit
• Raccoon
• Raccoon Dog
• Red Fox
• Red Panda
• Red-Necked Wallaby
• Skunk
• Sloth Bear
• Squirrel
• Tasmanian Devil
• Tiger
• Timber Wolf
• Vole
• Wallaby
• Whistler
• White-Tailed Deer
• Wild Boar
• Wildcat
• Wolf
• Wombat

Reptiles

• Anole
• Boa
• Chameleon
• Copperhead
• Garter Snake
• Gecko
• Giant Tortoise
• Lizard
• Python
• Snake
• Tortoise
• Turtle
• Viper

Adaptations

• Many birds and mammals migrate to escape the cold winters of this forest when food is scarce.
• Many other animals of the temperate forest hibernate to ensure that they don’t have to spend much energy in the chilly weather.
• Larger carnivores like wildcats and wolves grow thicker pelts to survive the winter cold.
• Squirrels, jays, and chipmunks gather nuts and seeds when they are plentiful in summer and store them in tree hollows for the winter.
• Deer have smaller antlers that allow them to move freely in the underbrush.
• Raccoons, opossums, and squirrels have sharp claws that help them climb temperate forest trees.

Interesting Facts

• Black bears put on a 5-inch layer of fat before going into hibernation.