The Armstrong Trail

Endangered Mussels

There have been important discoveries made in the Allegheny River along the Armstrong Trail. In numerous areas of the river there were two endangered mussels found. The two federally endangered species are the Northern Riffleshell mussel and the Clubshell mussel. Due to the discovery, dredging of the Allegheny River has been regulated in specific locations to protect these endangerd species.

Salamanders

For more information on identification, see the Online Guide for the Identification of Amphibians in North America North of Mexico

Spotted Salamander Family: Ambystoma Maculatum (mole family) The Spotted Salamander is classified as part of the Mole Family. Because they spend the majority of their life underground they are rarely seen. The Spotted Salamander can grow anywhere from 6 inches to 9 inches at maturity. They are a blue-purple to a blue-gray color with yellow spots all over. Their habitat tends to be a hardwood forest with shallow standing pools of water. The breeding season is from March through April. A female will lay 1 or more clusters of clear to a milky color on submerged branches. Each cluster has 100 or more eggs. These eggs will hatch within 1-2 months. Spotted Salamanders feed on many types of insects, worms, snails and spiders. They fear skunks, raccoons, turtles, squirrels and snakes.		Jefferson Salamander Family: Ambystoma Jeffersonianum (mole family) The Jefferson Salamander is classified as part of the Mole Family. Because they spend most of their lives underground they are rarely seen. The Jefferson Salamander can growto be anywhere between 4 inches to 8 inches when mature. They can be dark to light shades of brown or gray. Their habitat tends to be a deciduous forest with swamps or ponds. The breeding season is from March through April. A female will lay 10-20 masses of at least 15 eggs per mass. These clumps of eggs are attached to submerged branches and will hatch in about a month. Jefferson Salamanders feed on many types of insects, worms, snails and spiders. They fear skunks, raccoons, turtles, squirrels and snakes. The Jefferson Salamander was named after the Jefferson College in Pennsylvania.

Eastern Redback Salamander Family: Plethodon Cinereus (Lungless family) The Eastern Redback Salamander is classified as part of the Lungless Family. Because the Eastern Redback Salamander does not have lungs, their skin acts like gills, taking in oxygen. The Eastern Redback Salamander can grow just a little over 3 inches. They are black with a red stripe from head to the upper end of the tail. Their habitat is a mix of hardwoods and conifers where the forest floor is cool and moist. They will find shelter under rocks and rotting logs. During the winter they will hibernate underground. The breeding season is from October through April. The females will lay anywhere from 6 to 12 eggs in a cluster that will hang from the ceiling of any open cavity or burrow. These eggs will hatch with in 2 months. Eastern Redback Salamanders feed on many small invertebrates and insects. They fear many larger animals and amphibians.		Red-spotted Newt Family: Notophalmus viridescens (newt family) The Red-spotted Newt is classified as part of the Newt Family. The Red-spotted Newt spends the beginning of its life in water then develops into a sub-adult stage that lives on land, the 3rd and final stage is known as the adult stage. During the adult stage, the newt returns to water. The Red-spotted Newt can grow up to 5 inches by the time it transforms to the 3rd stage. In the sub-adult stage the Red-spotted Newt is then know as the “Red-Eft” where is has a rough textured skin and is bright orange with some red spots. The Red-spotted Newt in the adult stage is an olive-green color with smooth slimy skin. As an adult the tail develops fin like characteristics. The newt's habitat is a cool moist forest floor with various covers from leaves to rocks and also ponds with dense underwater vegetation. The Breeding season is twice a year, the early spring and late winter. The female will lay up to 400 eggs. These eggs will hatch within 8 weeks. The Red-spotted Newt feeds on worms, insects, small crustaceans and other amphibian eggs.

Frogs & Toads

Eastern American Toad (Bufo Americanus Americanus) Family: Bufonidae (toads) The Eastern American Toad is, for the most part, a light brown color. They have a light colored stripe down the center of the back. They have brown spots and their warts are a brown to orange red color. Their snout is rounded. They can grow up to 4 inches in length and tend to be very large in width. They like moist lawns to moist forest floors and ponds. The Eastern American Toads' mating season is from March through July. Their eggs are dark and look like strings attached to submerged sticks and leaves. The Eastern American Toads feed on insects and mosquitoes.		Northern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) Family: Hylidae (treefrogs) The Northern Spring Peeper is a tan/brown color with light gray markings on the back. The have webbed toes and sticky pads on the bottom of their feet. The Northern Spring Peeper gets no bigger than 2 inches. They like wooded areas near permanent ponds or swamp areas that have a large amount of clean water. The Northern Spring Peepers' mating season is from March through June. They are rarely seen outside of the breeding season. The male Northern Spring Peeper with perch on small standing trees or vegetation near the water's edge. A female Northern Spring Peeper will lay up to 1,000 eggs that will hatch within 12 days. The Northern Spring Peeper feeds on flies, gnats, ants, small worms, and grubs.
Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) Family: Ranidae (true frog) The Wood Frog varies in color. It can be pinkish, tan, to dark brown with a very dark coloring on its face that resembles a mask. The Wood Frog can grow to be 3 inches in length. They like a moist forest floor that has a lot of cover such as branches, fallen logs, and leaves. The Wood Frogs' mating season is in the early spring before the ice completely melts from the surface of the water. The female Wood Frog will lay 2,000 to 3,000 eggs at the bottom of standing water. These eggs will hatch within the same month. The Wood Frog feeds on most insects.

Ducks

Wood Duck (Aixsponsa) Family: Anatidae (ducks & geese) An adult Wood Duck can grow to be 20 inches in length. The male Wood Duck colors consist of green, purple, blue, red, white, black and a few others. The female is gray with white rings the circle her eyes. The Wood Duck has a tail on the back of their head that really make them stand out compare to other ducks. Wood Ducks like wooded rivers, ponds, and freshwater marshes. They nest in tree cavities and man made boxes. The female Wood Duck will lay 9-12 white or tan eggs. The male wood duck is one of the most beautiful ducks in North America. There are over 1 million Wood Ducks in North America.		American Coot (Fulica americana) Family: Rallidae An adult American Coot can grow to be 15 inches in length. They are gray and sometimes black with a white bill. They like open ponds and marshes. The American Coots nest on shallow platforms consisting of leaves and sticks on the waters surface. A female American Coot will lay 8-10 pinkish eggs with brown spots. The American Coot is the most aquatic duck in its family. They are expert swimmers and when it comes to feeding they jump up out of the water slightly and then dive down to feed off the pond or marsh bottom. They are aggressive eaters and are know to steal food from other ducks. The American Coot is also a heavy bird and takes them longer to get out of the water to make a take off.
Mallard (Anas platrhynchos) Family: Anatidae (ducks & geese) An adult Mallard can get up to 27 inches in length. The male mallard has a dark green head with a white ring around its neck. The male also has a dark chocolate chest. The female Mallard is mostly a light brown with some white. A Mallard likes ponds, lakes, rivers, and marshes. They nest away from water in a burrow or tree cavity. The female Mallard will lay 8-10 light olive green eggs. The Mallard is the most abundant Duck in the world.

Birds

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Family: Accipitridae (hawks & eagles) The Bald Eagle is our National Bird. The Bald Eagle can grow to stand 30 inches high and have a wing span of 7 feet. They are black with a white head and tail. They have bright yellow bill and feet. They like to live near lakes, rivers and marshes. The female bald Eagle will lay up to 3 white eggs in a nest that is made out of large branches and sticks in a tall tree. The Bald Eagle feeds on mainly fish. They will not dive into the water but grasp the fish from the surface with its talons. They will also steal fish from other wildlife. Current U.S. Endangered Species List Status - THREATENED		Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricailla) Family: Paridae (chickadee & titmice) The Black-capped Chickadee is a small bird that gets no bigger than 5 inches in length. It has a black cap and a black throat. The rest of the bird is gray with some white. They like deciduous to a mixed forest and open fields. The female Black-capped Chickadee lays 6-8 white eggs that have brown spots in a nest made of grass, fur, feathers and moss. They build their nests in natural cavities of trees, tree stumps and man made boxes. The Black-capped Chickadee is constantly active. Most times they are searching for food. They hop and climb trees pecking at the tree for insects like a woodpecker.
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Family: Corvidae (crows, magpies, jays) The Blue Jay will grow to be 12 inches and has a bright blue color with white and black markings on the wings and tail. The Blue Jays like forests that consist primarily of oak trees, city parks, and suburban yards. The female Blue Jay will lay 6 greenish eggs with brown spots in a nest of sticks lines with grass in the crotch of a conifer tree or branch. Blue Jays are aggressive birds and will chase smaller birds away from feeders. They are very territorial birds.		Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Family: Accipitridae (hawks & eagles) The Osprey will grow to stand 24 inches high and have a wing span from 4 to 6 feet. The Osprey is brown with its underside being white. They have a dark stripe on the head that crosses the eyes. Their wings are slightly bent so in flight they are confused with a seagull. They live near lakes and rivers. The female Osprey will lay up to 4 white or pink eggs with brown markings in a large nest made from sticks and other debris in a tall tree. The Osprey is a fish eater and they will hover over the waters surface and dive under the water to catch its prey.
Norther Flicker (Colaptes auratus) Family: Picidae (woodpeckers) The Northern Flicker will get 12 inches in height. They are brown with black spot and stripe markings on its back. They have a red patch on its head and the male Northern Flicker has a black marking on its face that resembles a mustache. The Northern Flicker can be found near open country with trees, parks and large gardens. The female Northern Flicker will lay up to 8 white eggs in a tree cavity or man-made bird box. The Northern Flicker is the only brown backed woodpecker in the eastern states and is the only woodpecker in North America that feeds on the ground for ants and beetle larvae.		Red-Tail Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Family: Accipitridae (hawks & eagles) The Red-tailed Hawk will grow to stand 25 inches and have a wing span of 4 feet. They have a whitish breast and a rust colored tail. Red-tailed Hawks live near deciduous forests and open fields. The female Red-tailed Hawk will lay up to 3 white eggs with brown spots in a nest made of sticks, bark and fresh green vegetation. Their nest can be found in tall trees or rock ledges. The Red-tailed Hawk is the most common and widespread American member of its family. The Red-tailed Hawk feeds on mainly small rodents.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Family: Cardinalidae (cardinals) The Northern Cardinal is a songbird that can grow to 9 inches in length. The male Northern Cardinal is a bright red color with black feet. The female Northern Cardinal is a brown with red tint color with a bright orange bill. The Northern Cardinals like wooded edges, thickets, bushy swamps and gardens. The female Northern Cardinal will lay up to 4 pale green eggs with red and brown spots. Their nest is a deep cup made from twigs, leaves, and plant fibers. A cardinal's main diet consists of seeds, but they will also eat insects during mating season. The best way to attract the Northern Cardinal is sunflower seeds. The Northern Cardinal was named after the red robes that are worn by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church.

American Beaver

Latin Name: (Castor Canadensis)
Other Names: Castoridae (beaver)

The American Beaver is a large bulky rodent. They have a dark brown coat that is very soft. Their tail is black, flat and scaly. Their hind feet are large, webbed, and have 5 toes. Their head is small and round with large dark orange incisors that they use to chew wood. They can grow to up to 4 feet in length and their tail can grow to be 20 inches alone. The American Beaver can easily weight up to 60 pounds. They have also been known to get up to 86 pounds. The American Beaver likes to live in rivers, streams, marshes, ponds, and lakes. They are active year round. The American Beavers that live in rivers will live in the riverbanks. They have an underwater entrance to a burrow in the bank. The American Beavers that live in streams, ponds, and lakes will construct dams and lodges. A lodge is their house they construct using poplar, aspen, willow, birch, and maple trees. The floor of the lodge is made of wood chips that absorb the excess moisture. They also have a vent to let fresh air cycle thru. They American beaver will live in a hollow near the top of the lodge. The American Beaver can swim up to 6mph and can stay underwater up to 15 minutes. The American Beaver fears the otter, Gray Wolf, Coyote, Common Red Fox, and the Bobcat.