This is a list of the known wildlife of the Isle of Man. Key to symbols non-native species† extinct species? species of uncertain status Each listing follows the following format: English name (where one exists), binomial/trinomial scientific name with authorities for uncommon species, Manx name (where one exists), status.
Amphibia (amphibians) Salamandridae (salamanders and newts) Great crested newt, Triturus cristatus () * Smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris () * Palmate newt, Triturus helveticus () *
Anura (frogs and toads) Common toad, Bufo bufo () * Common frog, Rana temporaria ()
Aves (birds)
Gaviidae (divers) Red-throated diver, Gavia stellata Black-throated diver, Gavia arctica Great northern diver, Gavia immer
Podicipedidae (grebes) Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus ()
Hydrobatidae (petrels) Storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus ()
Procellariidae (shearwaters) Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus () Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis ()
Sulidae (gannets and boobies) Gannet, Morus bassanus ()
Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants) Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (fannag) Shag, Phalacrocorax aristotelis ()
Ardeidae (egrets and herons) Bittern, Botaurus stellaris † Grey heron, Ardea cinerea ()
Anatidae (swans, geese and ducks) Mute swan, Cygnus olor Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus Pink-footed goose, Anser brachyrynchus Greylag goose, Anser anser () Canada goose, Branta canadensis * Brent goose, Branta bernicla Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna () Wigeon, Anas penelope () Gadwall, Anas strepera () Teal, Anas crecca () Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos () Shoveler, Anas clypeata () Pochard, Aythya ferina () Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula () Scaup, Aythya marila () Eider, Somateria mollissima () Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis () Common scoter, Melanitta nigra Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula () Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator () Goosander, Mergus merganser () Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis † *
Accipitridae (hawks, eagles, kites and harriers) Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla †
Falconidae (falcons) Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus Merlin, Falco columbarius Peregrine, Falco peregrinus
Phasianidae (partridges and quail) Red-legged partridge, Alectoris rufa * Grey partridge, Perdix perdix () † * Quail, Coturnix coturnix ()
Tetraonidae (grouse) Black grouse, Tetrao tetrix † (extinct, native status uncertain but an introduced population is extinct) Red grouse, Lagopus lagopus scoticus † (native, extinct by 1835, reintroduced 1880 and still extant) (kellagh ruy / – heath hen).
Phasianidae (pheasants) Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus *
Rallidae (rails and crakes) Water rail, Rallus aquaticus Corncrake, Crex crex () † Coot, Fulica atra
Haematopodidae (oystercatchers) Oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
Scolopacidae (waders) Curlew, Numenius arguata
Scolopacidae (woodcock and snipe) Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola Snipe, Gallinago gallinago
Laridae (gulls) Herring gull, Larsus argentatus () Great black-backed gull, Larsus marinus ()
Alcidae (auks) Great auk, Pinguinus impennis † Puffin, Fratercula arctica Razorbill, Alca torda
Columbidae (pigeons) Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus Collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto Feral Pigeon/Rock dove, Columba livia
Tytonidae (barn owls) Barn owl, Tyto alba
Strigidae (other owls) Tawny owl, Strix aluco † (bred once) Long-eared owl, Asio otus Short-eared owl, Asio flammeus
Hirundinidae (swallows) Swallow, Hirundo rustica
Motacillidae (wagtails) Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea Pied wagtail, Motacilla alba yarrellii
Troglodytidae (wrens) Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes ()
Prunellidae (dunnock) Dunnock, Prunella modularis
Turdidae (thrushes) Robin, Erithacus rubecula Blackbird, Turdus merula () Song thrush, Turdus philomelos
Sylviidae (warblers) Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
Paridae (tits) Blue tit, Parus caeruleus () Great tit, Parus major () Coal tit, Parus ater () Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
Sturnidae (starlings) Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Corvidae (corvids) Magpie, Pica pica Jackdaw, Corvus monedula Raven, Corvus corax Carrion crow, Corvus corax Hooded crow, Corvus cornix Chough, Phyrocorrax phyrocorrax () Rook, Corvus frugilegus
Passeridae (sparrows) House sparrow, Passer domesticus
Fringillidae (finches) Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs Goldfinch, Carduelis chloris Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris
Emberizidae (buntings) Corn bunting, Miliaria calandra †
Insecta (insects) Neuroptera (lacewings) Chrysops vulgaris Chrysops ventralis Hemerobius lutescens Micromus veriegatus
Trichoptera (caddisflies) Limnophilus auricula Limnophilus flavicornis Limnophilus elegans
Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Updated July 2023 Common hawker, Aeshna juncea Brown hawker, Aeshna grandis Migrant hawker, Aeshna mixta - recent arrival, thought to be breeding (2022) at around seven sites Common darter, Sympetrum striolatum Black darter, Sympetrum danae - possibly endangered by drier springs drying out its upland pools Red-veined darter, Sympetrum fonscolombi Ruddy darter, Sympetrum sanguineum Four-spotted chaser, Libellula quadrimaculata Black-tailed skimmer, Orthetrum cancellatum - single photo record Emperor dragonfly, Anax imperator - recent arrival Lesser emperor dragonfly, Anax parthenope - recent arrival Vagrant emperor dragonfly, Anax ephippiger Common blue damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum Blue-tailed damselfly, Ischnura elegans Large red damselfly, Pyrrhosoma nymphula Emerald damselfly, Lestes sponsa Azure damselfly, Coenagrion puella - thought extinct as it was recorded in just two years from Poyll Dhooie, Ramsey but refound at Ballaugh Plantation/Glen Shoggle on 10 June 2023.
Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) Dark bush-cricket, Pholidoptera griseoaptera - Found only on the Lonan coast and around the Glen Maye ASSI - protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1990 Speckled bush-cricket, Leptophyes punctatissima - Found only along south coast, including Glen Chass, Port St. Mary and in the west at Glen Maye ASSI - protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1990 Lesser mottled grasshopper, Stenobothrus stigmaticus - Found only on the Langness ASSI, the only locality in the British Isles - protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1990 Common green grasshopper, Omocestus viridulus - common Mottled grasshopper, Myrmeleotettix maculatus Field grasshopper, Chorthippus brunneus Common ground-hopper, Tetrix undulata
Dermaptera (earwigs) Common earwig, Forficula auricularia
Dictyoptera (cochroaches)
Phasmida (stick-insects)
Diptera (true flies) Bibio marci Bibio reticulatus Bombylius canescens Bombylius minor, heath bee-fly, a protected species. Current (2022) British Isles distribution seems to be limited to the Dorset heaths and the north coast of the Isle of Man at the Ayres, the Phurt (Ramsey) and the LhenIOM BAP for Bomblius minor - in publication spring 2022 Calliphora vomitoria Cheilosia rosarum Machimus cowini, Manx robber fly
Coleoptera (beetles) Harmonia axyridis, harlequin ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=48484 Coccinella septempunctata, seven-spot ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=51702 Pterostichus madidus, black clock beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=131930 Propylea quatuordecimpunctata, fourteen-spot ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=61532 Halyzia sedecimguttata, orange ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=52881 Harpalus affinis, metallic harpalushttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=131092 Calvia quatuordecimguttata, cream-spot ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=69203 Adalia bipunctata, two-spot ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=52506 Adalia decempunctata, ten-spot ladybirdhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=130414 Otiorhynchus sulcatus, black vine beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=226718 Rhagonycha fulva, common red soldier beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=62456 Anoplotrupes stercorosus, woodland dor beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=125655 Polydrusus formosus, green immigrant leaf weevilhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=494559 Cicindela campestris, green tiger beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=130143 Anomala dubia, dune chaferhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=130579 Typhaeus typhoeus, minotaur beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=122528 Phosphuga atrata, black snail beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=362281 Teuchestes fossor, gravedigger dung beetlehttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10294&taxon_id=457348
Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants) Agrothereutes abbreviata Andrena clarkella Andrena denticulata Andrena labilis Bombus agrorum Bombus lucorum Bombus muscorum Crabo cribarius Dolerus liogaster Dolerus cothurnatus Halictus calceatus Lissonata bellator Myrmica ruginodis Parabates cristatus Pontania viminalis Psythyrus campestris Spilichneumon occisorius Trichoma enecator Vespa crabro, European hornet, rare on the island
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) As of 2023 the Isle of Man has 20 regularly occurring migrant and resident species of butterfly, with a total of 23 all-time records in the wild.
Pieridae (whites) Large white, Pieris brassicae (fairly common resident) Small white, Pieris rapae (common resident) Green-veined white, Pieris napi (common resident) Orange tip, Anthocharis cardamines (fairly common resident) Clouded yellow, Colias croceus (irregular migrant - an immigration occurring in 1947 and 2025 107 records of NBN Atlas Isle of Man as of May 2022) Brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni (very rare migrant)
Lycaenidae (blues and coppers) Small copper, Lycaena phlaeas (common resident) Common blue, Polyommatus icarus (common resident) Holly blue, Celastrina argiolus (fairly common and widespread resident)
Satyridae (browns) Grayling, Hipparchia semele (residential restricted to grassy, rocky cliffs and the Ayres - 355 records of NBN Atlas Isle of Man as of May 2022) Speckled wood, Pararge aegeria (recent coloniser, since 2005 on the east coast, reaching the west coast by 2009, now very common and widespread) Meadow brown, Maniola jurtina (common and widespread resident) Wall, Lasiommata megera (relatively common and widespread but in reduced number) Small heath, Coenonympha pamphilus (common and widespread, particularly on rabbit-grazed coastal grassland an in uplands)
Nymphalidae (fritillaries and aristocrats) Dark green fritillary, Speyeria aglaja (widespread resident along Manx coast but local. Inland population at Sulby Glen) Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta (common annual migrant) Small tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae (widespread and common, but declining) Peacock, Aglais io (fairly common resident) Comma, Polygonia c-album (fairly recent coloniser, since 1990s, local, mainly in north - rare) Painted lady, Vanessa cardui (annual migrant) Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus (extremely rare vagrant - NBN Atlas Isle of Man contains only a single record from 1937 in Peel) Scotch argus, Erebia aethiops (extremely rare vagrant) Monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (extremely rare vagrant - four records of NBN Atlas Isle of Man as of May 2022)
Crambidae (grass moths)