Central Park

===Fauna===
[[File:Northern cardinal female in CP (02035).jpg|thumb|upright=1|alt=Female northern cardinal perched on a branch looking to its left|Female [[northern cardinal]], one of the bird species found in Central Park]]
Central Park contains various migratory birds during their spring and fall migration on the [[Atlantic Flyway]].{{sfn|Buckley|2018|p=35}} The first official list of birds observed in Central Park, which numbered 235&nbsp;species, was published in ''[[Forest and Stream]]'' in 1886 by [[Augustus G. Paine Jr.]] and Lewis B. Woodruff.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=June 10, 1886|title=List of birds of Central Park|journal=[[Forest and Stream]]|volume=XXVI|issue=20 |pages=386–387|publisher=The Forest and Stream Publishing Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Eugene|last=Kinkead|date=August 26, 1974|title=The Birds of Central Park|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|volume=XXVI|issue=20 |page=78 |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1974/08/26/1974_08_26_078_TNY_CARDS_000310343#ixzz14RUiiUAl|access-date=May 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201193909/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1974/08/26/1974_08_26_078_TNY_CARDS_000310343#ixzz14RUiiUAl |archive-date=February 1, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Overall, 303&nbsp;bird species have been seen in the park since the first official list of records was published,{{sfn|Buckley|2018|p=35}} and an estimated 200&nbsp;species are spotted every season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.audubon.org/news/the-insiders-guide-birding-central-park-new-york-city|title=The Insider's Guide to Birding in Central Park, New York City|date=June 2, 2017|publisher=[[National Audubon Society]]|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416161930/https://www.audubon.org/news/the-insiders-guide-birding-central-park-new-york-city|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> No single group is responsible for tracking Central Park's bird species.{{sfn|Buckley|2018|p=34}} Some of the more famous birds include a male [[red-tailed hawk]] called [[Pale Male]], who made his perch on an apartment building overlooking Central Park in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/nyregion/01palemale.html |title=Reprise: The Fifth Avenue Ballad of Pale Male and Lola|last=Lueck|first=Thomas J|date=April 1, 2008|work=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416163347/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/nyregion/01palemale.html|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thewildlife.wbur.org/2014/11/06/spying-on-the-worlds-most-famous-hawk/|title=Spying On The World's Most Famous Hawk: Pale Male|last=Croke|first=Vicki|date=November 6, 2014|publisher=[[WBUR]]|access-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416161935/http://thewildlife.wbur.org/2014/11/06/spying-on-the-worlds-most-famous-hawk/|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[mandarin duck]] nicknamed [[Mandarin Patinkin]] received international media attention in late 2018 and early 2019<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/nyregion/hot-duck-mandarin-central-park.html |title=The Hot Duck That Won't Go Away |last=Jacobs|first=Julia|date=December 3, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 6, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206230341/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/nyregion/hot-duck-mandarin-central-park.html|archive-date=December 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> due to its colorful appearance and the species' presence outside its native range in [[East Asia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/gorgeous-mandarin-duck-rarely-seen-in-us-mysteriously-appears-in-central-park|title=Gorgeous Mandarin Duck, Rarely Seen In U.S., Mysteriously Appears In Central Park|last=Carlson|first=Jen|date=October 11, 2018 |work=Gothamist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206230345/https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/gorgeous-mandarin-duck-rarely-seen-in-us-mysteriously-appears-in-central-park|archive-date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> Another bird, an [[Eurasian eagle-owl]] named [[Flaco (owl)|Flaco]], gained attention in 2023 when he escaped from the [[Central Park Zoo]] after his enclosure was vandalized.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-03 |title=Owl escapes from Central Park Zoo, eludes NYPD, zookeepers |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-owls-4237450ea90e6de138b4946dfddf2245 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211115954/https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-owls-4237450ea90e6de138b4946dfddf2245 |url-status=live }}</ref> More infamously, [[Eugene Schieffelin]] released 100&nbsp;imported [[Common starling|European starlings]] in Central Park in 1890–1891, which led to them becoming an [[invasive species]] across North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-invasive-species-we-can-blame-on-shakespeare-95506437/|title=The Invasive Species We Can Blame On Shakespeare |last=Zielinski|first=Sarah |date=October 4, 2011|work=Smithsonian|access-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416161933/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-invasive-species-we-can-blame-on-shakespeare-95506437/ |archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://daily.jstor.org/all-the-birds-from-shakespeare-in-central-park/|title=All the Birds from Shakespeare in Central Park!|last=Lamb |first=Juliet |date=June 9, 2016|work=[[JSTOR Daily]]|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416161934/https://daily.jstor.org/all-the-birds-from-shakespeare-in-central-park/|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Central Park has approximately ten species of mammals {{as of|2013|lc=y}}.<ref name="Macaulay BioBlitz"/> [[Bat]]s, a nocturnal order, have been found in dark crevices.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bats|publisher=[[Government of New York City]]|url=https://www1.nyc.gov/site/wildlifenyc/animals/bats.page | access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref> Because of the prevalence of [[raccoon]]s, the Parks Department posts [[rabies]] advisories.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/nyregion/raccoons-in-central-park-draw-crowds-and-warnings-to-stay-away.html |title=Raccoons in Central Park Draw Crowds, and Warnings to Stay Away|last=Nir|first=Sarah Maslin|date=November 13, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 16, 2019|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416161934/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/14/nyregion/raccoons-in-central-park-draw-crowds-and-warnings-to-stay-away.html|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Eastern gray squirrel]]s, [[eastern chipmunk]]s, and [[Virginia opossum]]s inhabit the park.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/answers-about-central-park-wildlife-part-3/|title=Answers About Central Park Wildlife, Part 3|last=Winn|first=Marie|date=July 25, 2008|work=City Room|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416161935/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/answers-about-central-park-wildlife-part-3/|archive-date=April 16, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2019 squirrel census found there were 2,373 [[Eastern gray squirrel|Eastern Gray squirrels]] in Central Park.<ref>{{Unbulleted list citebundle
| {{Cite news|last=Newman|first=Andy|date=2018-10-06|title=Why Count All the Squirrels in Central Park? Why the Heck Not|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/06/nyregion/squirrels-central-park.html|access-date=2023-07-11|issn=0362-4331}}
| {{cite web |date=2019-06-20 |title=How many squirrels live in NYC's Central Park? We finally have the answer |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2019/06/squirrel-census-new-york-city-central-park/ |access-date=2019-08-26 |publisher=National Geographic}}
| {{cite web | last=Vazquez | first=Jennifer | title=A 'Nutty' Census Aims to Count Squirrel Population in New York City's Central Park | website=NBC New York | date=October 2, 2018 | url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nutty-census-count-squirrel-population-central-park-new-york-ny-studies-animal-environment/1821174/ | access-date=July 11, 2023}}
| {{cite web | last=Daley | first=Jason | title=Volunteers Counted All the Squirrels in Central Park | website=Smithsonian Magazine | date=June 24, 2019 | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-census-counted-all-squirrels-central-park-180972480/ | access-date=July 11, 2023}}}}</ref>

There are 223&nbsp;[[invertebrate]] species in Central Park.<ref name="Macaulay BioBlitz"/> ''[[Nannarrup hoffmani]]'', a [[centipede]] species discovered in Central Park in 2002, is one of the smallest centipedes in the world at about {{convert|0.4|in|mm}} long.<ref>{{Cite news|title=A New Kind of New Yorker, One With 82 Legs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/24/nyregion/a-new-kind-of-new-yorker-one-with-82-legs.html |last=Stewart|first=Barbara |date=July 24, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 16, 2019 |issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814110057/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/24/nyregion/a-new-kind-of-new-yorker-one-with-82-legs.html |archive-date=August 14, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The more prevalent [[Asian long-horned beetle]] is an invasive species that has infected trees in Long Island and Manhattan, including in Central Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/news/daily-plant?id=19491 |title=The Daily Plant|publisher=New York City Department of Parks and Recreation|access-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329025234/https://www.nycgovparks.org/news/daily-plant?id=19491 |archive-date=March 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-02-17/news/0202170297_1_trees-beetle-central-park|title=Beetles infest 2 trees in Central Park|date=February 17, 2002|access-date=November 14, 2014|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129014229/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2002-02-17/news/0202170297_1_trees-beetle-central-park|archive-date=November 29, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

Turtles, fish, and frogs live in Central Park.<ref name="Macaulay BioBlitz"/> There are five turtle species: [[red-eared slider]]s, [[Chelydridae|snapping turtles]], [[painted turtle]]s, [[Sternotherus|musk turtles]], and [[box turtle]]s.<ref name="Turtle Pond"/> Most of the turtles live in Turtle Pond, and many of these are former pets that were released into the park.<ref name="Foderaro 2013"/> The fish are scattered more widely, but they include several freshwater species,<ref name="NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation 2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/61596.html |title=Central Park Lake|date=November 7, 2014 |publisher=[[New York State Department of Environmental Conservation]] |access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417155030/https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/61596.html|archive-date=April 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> such as the [[Snakehead (fish)|snakehead]], an invasive species.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/searching-for-the-snakehead-fish-fierce-and-entirely-unwelcome/|title=In Central Park, Hunt for an Intruder, the Snakehead Fish, Is On|last=Santora|first=Marc |date=April 30, 2013|work=City Room|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417155021/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/searching-for-the-snakehead-fish-fierce-and-entirely-unwelcome/|archive-date=April 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Catch and release fishing is allowed in the Lake, Pond, and Harlem Meer.<ref name="NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation 2014"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/programs/catch-and-release-fishing.html |title=Catch-and-Release Fishing|publisher=Central Park Conservancy|access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417155025/http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/programs/catch-and-release-fishing.html |archive-date=April 17, 2019}}</ref> Central Park is a habitat for two amphibian species: the [[American bullfrog]] and the [[Lithobates clamitans|green frog]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Winn |first=Marie |year=2008 |title=Central Park in the Dark: More Mysteries of Urban Wildlife |publisher=Farrar, Straus and Giroux |isbn=978-0-374-12011-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIeOAVDgdcAC&pg=PA139 |page=139}}</ref> The park contained snakes in the late 19th century,<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1895|title=They All Saw Snakes at Once; but the Reptiles Were in Glass Jars and Real |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1895/12/25/archives/they-all-saw-snakes-at-once-but-the-reptiles-were-in-glass-jars-and.html|access-date=June 28, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> though Marie Winn, who wrote about wildlife in Central Park, said in a 2008&nbsp;interview that the snakes had died off.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/23/answers-about-central-park-wildlife/ |title=Answers About Central Park Wildlife |last=Winn |first=Marie |date=July 23, 2008|work=City Room |publisher=The New York Times Company |access-date=April 16, 2019}}</ref>