Field Guide

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Bottomland forest
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FIELD GUIDE A-Z
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Learn about the habitat, diet, and life cycle of Missouri's animals, plants, and mushrooms.
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What to look for this month
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Horse nettle fruits in February
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The fruits of horse nettle persist on the plants through winter. They look like tiny yellow tomatoes. Toxic if eaten, they are eye-catching this time of year.

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Common hackberry bark closup showing texture
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Winter is a great time to enjoy the variety in tree bark. Hackberry, for instance, has distinctive corky, warty projections that join into ridges with age.

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Barred Owl
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Barred owls find mates and breed February–March in Missouri. Listen for their bizarre chuckling, chortling, and hooting calls in wooded areas this time of year.

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The sturgeon chub is a small minnow beautifully suited for large, muddy rivers. A vulnerable species, rarely seen — but as you gaze at the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, remember that it’s there.

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Field Guide Search