Species At Risk Profile: Western Prairie Fringed Orchid

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Common Name: Western Prairie Fringed Orchid Species Name: Platanthera praeclara Description: The Western prairie fringed orchid is an endangered wildflower that occurs only in Manitoba and seven American states. It grows perennially to a height of 16 to 35 inches. Flowers are arranged in a spike of four to 33 (most often less than 20) white to creamy white flowers. … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Sprague’s Pipit

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Common Name: Sprague’s Pipit Species Name: Anthus spragueii Description: The Sprague’s Pipit is a medium-sized, cryptically coloured songbird with a thin bill and distinctive tail pattern, with white outer feathers contrasting with brown inner feathers. Where it can be found: Throughout southwestern Manitoba on native prairie fields. Threats: Approximately 80% of all global breeding of this species occurs in Canada.  … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Small White Lady’s Slipper

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Common Name: Small White Lady’s Slipper Species Name: Cypripedium candidum Description: The Small White Lady’s Slipper is a herbaceous perennial orchid that can grow to a height of 10 to 35 cm (4 to 13 inches). Plants grow in clumps, with each flowering stem surrounded by two to four leaves. One flower is found at the tip of each flowering … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Silky Prairie-Clover

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Common Name: Hairy Prairie-Clover, Silky Prairie-Clover Species Name: Dalea villosa var. villosa Description: Hairy prairie-clover is a member of the Fabaceae, or Pea, Family.  Their flowers are pale rose-purple or, rarely, white, and appear from mid-July to mid-August.  Leaves and stems are densely covered with hairs, giving them a distinct velvety texture and silvery-green colour. The leaves are made up … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Red-Headed Woodpecker

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Common Name: Red-Headed Woodpecker Species Name: Melanerpes erythrocephalus Description: A vivid red head, neck and breast make the Red-headed Woodpecker easily recognizable. It is an omnivorous species, feeding on insects in the summer and nuts in the winter.  Unlike other woodpeckers, the Red-headed Woodpecker forages for food rather than excavating holes to find insects.  It is also the only woodpecker … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Piping Plover

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Common Name: Piping Plover Species Name: Charadrius melodus Description: The Piping Plover is a stocky shorebird with a white breast, abdomen and rump and pale brown to grey back, head and wings. It is identifiable by a black stripe across the forehead from eye to eye, a long white eyestripe and a single black band across the chest. It arrives … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Northern Prairie Skink

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Common Name: Northern Prairie Skink Species Name: Eumeces septentrionalis Description: These little creatures are Manitoba’s only natural lizard species. Northern Prairie Skinks are brown with 4 pale longitudinal stripes. Juveniles are distinguished from adults by a bright blue tail. Adult males are distinguished from females by a reddish orange tinge on the head and throat during the breeding season. Prairie … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Least Bittern

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Common Name: Least Bittern Species Name: Ixobrychus exilis Description: This bird is the smallest of the North American herons and is distinguished by large chestnut patches on it’s wings. Males are darker than females. When alarmed, the Least Bittern freezes in place with its bill pointing up, turns its front and both eyes toward the source of alarm, and sometimes … Read More

Species At Risk Profile: Buffalograss

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Common Name: Buffalograss Species Name: Buchloe dactyloides Description: Buffalograss is a short grass with greyish green, slightly hairy leaves that can grow up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) long.  The Lakota name translates as “grass that sticks to people’s clothes.”  Male and female plants are strongly dimorphic (physically different).  Female flowers are hidden by the leaf blades and enclosed in … Read More