Animals of Lithuania

Lithuania’s mix of coastline, rivers, forests and wetlands supports a surprisingly diverse set of animals adapted to seasonal shifts and varied habitats. From river runs to dense woodlands, species here reflect both Baltic and inland ecosystems and an active conservation effort.

There are 41 Animals of Lithuania, ranging from Atlantic salmon to Wild boar. For each species you’ll find below Scientific name,Typical size (cm),Main habitat / Where found; everything is collected in the list you’ll find below.

How can I tell common Lithuanian species apart in the field?

Start with habitat and size: rivers and estuaries usually hold fish like Atlantic salmon, while forests and fields host mammals such as Wild boar. Look for distinctive marks (color patterns, antlers, fins), listen for calls, and note behavior; a compact field guide or a wildlife app that includes Scientific name, Typical size (cm) and Main habitat / Where found will speed identification.

When and where are wildlife sightings most reliable in Lithuania?

Spring and autumn migrations are best for birds and fish runs, while early morning or dusk are prime times for mammals in forests and meadows. Coastal and river areas give good chances for aquatic species, and protected reserves typically offer consistent sightings with minimal disturbance.

Animals of Lithuania

Images and Descriptions

Moose

Large woodland ungulate with long legs, broad muzzle and palmate antlers in males. Generally solitary or in small groups, browsers on shoots and leaves. Found in mature forests of eastern and southern Lithuania and occasionally near wetlands.

Roe deer

Small, graceful deer with a reddish coat in summer and greyish in winter. Often seen at dawn or dusk feeding in edge habitats and fields. Widespread across Lithuania and a familiar sight near villages and woodland edges.

Red deer

Large deer with impressive branching antlers in males and a deep chestnut coat in summer. Forms herds outside the rutting season and uses open meadows and forest clearings; present in larger Lithuanian forests.

Wild boar

Robust, bristly omnivore that roots for roots, tubers and crops. Lives in sounders led by sows and is adaptable to woodlands and farmland. Increasingly common and often active at night near human settlements.

European beaver

Large, stocky rodent with webbed hind feet and a flat paddle-shaped tail. Builds dams and lodges, greatly alters waterways and creates wetland habitats. Recovered well in Lithuania’s rivers and is important for biodiversity.

Eurasian lynx

Solitary, medium-sized wild cat with tufted ears, spotted coat and a short tail. Secretive predator of ungulates and small mammals, present in extensive forest tracts in Lithuania’s east and north.

Grey wolf

Social, adaptable carnivore living in packs and hunting deer or wild boar. Avoids dense human presence but uses large forested and wetland territories across Lithuania, playing a key ecological role as a top predator.

Red fox

Small, red-coated omnivore with a bushy tail, clever behavior and opportunistic diet. Common across rural and urban landscapes, frequently seen at dawn or dusk scavenging or hunting small mammals.

European badger

Stocky nocturnal mammal with black-and-white facial markings that lives in burrow systems called setts. Omnivorous and social, often forages in fields and woods; relatively common in Lithuanian countryside.

Eurasian otter

Streamlined, semi-aquatic predator with dense fur and webbed feet. Hunts fish at night and uses river banks for holts. Populations have recovered in Lithuania’s clean rivers and coastal lagoons.

European hare

Fast, long-eared lagomorph with powerful hind legs and a brownish coat. Active by day and night, uses fields and hedgerows; common across agricultural landscapes though populations fluctuate with farming practices.

Eurasian red squirrel

Agile tree-dwelling rodent with a bushy tail and ear tufts in winter. Feeds on seeds, buds and fungi, caches food for winter. Common in Lithuanian parks and woodlands and often seen at feeders.

European hedgehog

Small nocturnal insectivore covered in spines that curls into a ball when threatened. Forages for insects, worms and berries; increasingly seen in gardens and suburban green spaces across Lithuania.

Pine marten

Slender, arboreal mustelid with a creamy throat patch and a long tail. Omnivorous, feeding on small mammals, birds and fruit. Prefers mature forests and is an indicator of healthy woodland ecosystems.

Common pipistrelle

Tiny, agile insectivorous bat that forages at dusk above water and streetlights. Roosts in buildings and tree cavities; common in towns and countryside and often seen in summer evenings.

White stork

Tall, long-legged wading bird with white plumage and black wing tips, nesting on chimneys and poles. Feeds on insects and amphibians in meadows and wetlands; culturally iconic and widely seen in rural Lithuania.

Corncrake

Shy rail with cryptic brown streaked plumage and a distinctive rasping call heard at night. Nesting in hayfields and meadows, it’s a conservation priority and an emblem of traditional agricultural landscapes.

White-tailed eagle

Massive sea eagle with pale tail and broad wings, often seen perched by large water bodies. Feeds on fish and waterbirds and nests on coastal cliffs or tall trees; a dramatic sight in Lithuania’s seascapes.

Eurasian crane

Tall, long-legged bird with grey body, black-and-white head markings and trumpeting calls. Breeds in wetlands and migrates through Lithuania in large flocks during spring and autumn.

Common kingfisher

Small, brightly colored bird with blue upperparts and orange underparts that perches above water to plunge-dive for fish. Secretive but striking, found along clear streams and sheltered coastal inlets.

Barn swallow

Familiar aerial insectivore with glossy blue-black upperparts and long forked tail. Nests in buildings and barns, migrates long distances, and is a common summer visitor that delights rural Lithuania.

Great spotted woodpecker

Medium woodpecker with black-and-white pattern and red under-tail. Drills tree trunks for insects and excavates nest holes; commonly heard drumming in Lithuanian forests and large parks.

Eurasian jay

Colorful corvid with pinkish-brown plumage, bright blue wing patches and a loud, varied call. Stores acorns and seeds, acting as an important disperser of oak trees in Lithuanian woodlands.

Mute swan

Large white waterbird with an orange bill and graceful neck curve. Territorial during breeding, often seen gliding on lakes and coastal lagoons; familiar in parks and shallow Baltic lagoons.

Black-headed gull

Small gull with a chocolate-brown head in summer and loud, social behavior. Feeds on invertebrates and scraps; abundant along the Baltic coast and inland waters, especially in breeding season.

Grass snake

Non-venomous water-associated snake with olive-green body and distinctive collar markings. Feeds on amphibians and fish, often seen basking near ponds or slithering through reedbeds and wet meadows.

European adder

Venomous but shy snake with a distinctive zigzag back pattern. Prefers sunny heath and forest edges; bites are rare and usually defensive. Present in suitable habitats across Lithuania.

Sand lizard

Active daytime lizard with green breeding coloration in males and keeled scales. Requires open sandy patches and sparse vegetation; seen in dune systems and dry, sunny spots in Lithuania.

Common frog

Stocky amphibian with smooth skin and variable brownish-green coloration. Breeds in still water in spring and spends much time hidden in vegetation; widespread across wetlands and damp habitats.

Smooth newt

Small, slender amphibian with males showing ornate crests in breeding season. Uses garden ponds and woodland pools; feeds on invertebrates and is a common, secretive resident of damp habitats.

Northern pike

Ambush predator with elongated body, sharp teeth and camouflaged pattern. Hunts fish and waterfowl near vegetation; prized by anglers and common in Lithuania’s freshwater lakes and lowland rivers.

European perch

Striped predatory fish with spiny dorsal fin and deep body. Feeds on smaller fish and invertebrates, abundant in lakes and rivers and important for recreational fishing in Lithuania.

Atlantic salmon

Anadromous fish that migrates from the sea to spawn in clean rivers. Notable for long migrations and silver adult appearance; populations use Lithuanian rivers during migration seasons.

European eel

Long, serpentine fish that migrates between rivers and the Sargasso Sea. Catadromous and capable of long freshwater residence; historically abundant in Lithuanian rivers but now vulnerable.

Baltic herring

Small, schooling forage fish central to Baltic fisheries and coastal food webs. Forms large shoals in coastal waters and estuaries and is a common sight and catch along Lithuania’s shoreline.

Old World swallowtail

Large, showy butterfly with yellow and black patterned wings and tails on hindwings. Caterpillars feed on umbellifers; a striking and widely admired species in open, flowery habitats across Lithuania.

European peacock

Boldly patterned butterfly with eye-spots on each wing that frighten predators. Overwinters as an adult and appears early in spring; common in diverse habitats including gardens and hedgerows.

Painted lady

Strongly migratory butterfly with orange-brown patterned wings. Appears in large numbers during migration years, visits flowers in meadows and gardens, and can be very noticeable in summer.

Emperor dragonfly

Powerful, large dragonfly with bright blue abdomen in males and strong flight. Patrols open water hunting other dragonflies and insects; one of the most conspicuous dragonflies at Lithuanian lakes.

Common darter

Small, perching dragonfly often seen in late summer on reed stems and vegetation around ponds. Males show reddish tones; common and easy to observe at inland waters.

Stag beetle

Large, charismatic beetle with impressive mandibles in males. Larvae develop for years in decaying wood; adults are attracted to warm, sunny woodland edges and veteran trees and are a conservation interest.

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