Wildlife
What lives in Big Bend
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Big Bend: 80 mammals, 412 birds, 59 reptiles, 11 amphibians and 41 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.
Animals people ask about
Black bear
Ursus americanus
Gray wolf
Canis lupus
Coyote
Canis latrans
Mountain lion
Puma concolor
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Elk
Cervus canadensis · Rare
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Rare
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus atrox · Common · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Occasional
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Rare
Bison
Bison bison · Historical
By group
Species counts
Present or probably present per the NPS list. “Listed” includes species the NPS has evaluated but marks unconfirmed or not in park.
- Mammals
- 80
- 89 listed · 3 non-native
- Birds
- 412
- 415 listed · 4 non-native
- Reptiles
- 59
- 62 listed · 4 non-native
- Amphibians
- 11
- 13 listed · 2 non-native
- Fish
- 41
- 53 listed · 9 non-native
Endangered Species Act
5 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gray Wolf | Canis lupus | Endangered | ||
| Mexican Long-nosed Bat | Leptonycteris nivalis | Endangered | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Common | Threatened | |
| Golden-cheeked Warbler | Dendroica chrysoparia | Rare | Endangered | |
| Big Bend gambusia | Gambusia gaigei | Endangered |
Mammals
All 80 mammals recorded in Big Bend
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bighorn Sheep | Ovis canadensis | Rare | ||
| Elk | Cervus canadensis | Rare | Non-native | |
| Fulvous Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys fulvescens | Rare | ||
| Hooded Skunk | Mephitis macroura | Rare | ||
| Mearns's Grasshopper Mouse | Onychomys arenicola | Rare | ||
| Mexican Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus mexicanus | Rare | ||
| Plains Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys montanus | Rare | ||
| Western Small-footed Myotis | Myotis ciliolabrum | Rare | ||
| White-nosed Coati | Nasua narica | Rare | ||
| American Badger | Taxidea taxus | |||
| American Beaver | Castor canadensis | |||
| American Black Bear | Ursus americanus |
Show the other 68 mammals ↓The other 68
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbary Sheep or Aoudad | Ammotragus lervia | |||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | |||
| Big Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops macrotis | |||
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit | Lepus californicus | |||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | |||
| Botta's Pocket Gopher | Thomomys bottae | |||
| Brazilian Free-tailed Bat | Tadarida brasiliensis | |||
| Brush Mouse | Peromyscus boylii | |||
| Cactus Mouse | Peromyscus eremicus | |||
| California Myotis | Myotis californicus | |||
| Cave Myotis | Myotis velifer | |||
| Chihuahuan Desert Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus eremicus | |||
| Collared Peccary | Pecari tajacu | |||
| Common Gray Fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | |||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | |||
| Crawford's Desert Shrew | Notiosorex crawfordi | |||
| Davis Mountains Cottontail | Sylvilagus robustus | |||
| Deer Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | |||
| Desert Cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | |||
| Eastern Cottontail | Sylvilagus floridanus | |||
| Eastern Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus subflavus | |||
| Feral Pig | Sus scrofa | Non-native | ||
| Fringed Myotis | Myotis thysanodes | |||
| Ghost-faced Bat | Mormoops megalophylla | |||
| Gray Wolf | Canis lupus | Endangered | ||
| Hispid Cotton Rat | Sigmodon hispidus | |||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | |||
| Kit Fox | Vulpes macrotis | |||
| Long-legged Myotis | Myotis volans | |||
| Long-tailed Weasel | Mustela frenata | |||
| Merriam's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys merriami | |||
| Merriam's Pocket Mouse | Perognathus merriami | |||
| Mexican Long-nosed Bat | Leptonycteris nivalis | Endangered | ||
| Mexican Woodrat | Neotoma mexicana | |||
| Mountain Lion | Puma concolor | |||
| Mule Deer | Odocoileus hemionus | |||
| Nelson's Pocket Mouse | Chaetodipus nelsoni | |||
| North American Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | |||
| Northern Raccoon | Procyon lotor | |||
| Northern Rock Mouse | Peromyscus nasutus | |||
| Nutria | Myocastor coypus | Non-native | ||
| Ord's Kangaroo Rat | Dipodomys ordii | |||
| Pallid Bat | Antrozous pallidus | |||
| Pocketed Free-tailed Bat | Nyctinomops femorosaccus | |||
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | |||
| Ringtail | Bassariscus astutus | |||
| Rock Squirrel | Spermophilus variegatus | |||
| Silky Pocket Mouse | Perognathus flavus | |||
| Silver-haired Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | |||
| Southern Plains Woodrat | Neotoma micropus | |||
| Spotted Bat | Euderma maculatum | |||
| Spotted Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus spilosoma | |||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | |||
| Texas Antelope Squirrel | Ammospermophilus interpres | |||
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | |||
| Western Bonneted Bat | Eumops perotis | |||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis | |||
| Western Pipistrelle | Pipistrellus hesperus | |||
| Western Spotted Skunk | Spilogale gracilis | |||
| Western White-throated Woodrat | Neotoma albigula | |||
| Western Yellow Bat | Lasiurus xanthinus | |||
| White-ankled Mouse | Peromyscus pectoralis | |||
| White-backed Hog-nosed Skunk | Conepatus leuconotus | |||
| White-footed Mouse | Peromyscus leucopus | |||
| White-tailed Deer | Odocoileus virginianus | |||
| Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher | Cratogeomys castanops | |||
| Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat | Sigmodon ochrognathus | |||
| Yuma Myotis | Myotis yumanensis |
Birds
412 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
412 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Aegolius acadicus | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Cassin's Sparrow | Aimophila cassinii | ||
| Rufous-crowned Sparrow | Aimophila ruficeps | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Berylline Hummingbird | Amazilia beryllina | ||
| Violet-crowned Hummingbird | Amazilia violiceps | ||
| Baird's Sparrow | Ammodramus bairdii | ||
| Le Conte's Sparrow | Ammodramus leconteii | ||
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | ||
| Sage Sparrow | Amphispiza belli | ||
| Black-throated Sparrow | Amphispiza bilineata | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| Anhinga | Anhinga anhinga | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose | Anser albifrons | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | ||
| Sprague's Pipit | Anthus spragueii | ||
| Western Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma californica | ||
| Mexican Jay | Aphelocoma ultramarina | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird | Archilochus alexandri | ||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | ||
| Great Egret | Ardea alba | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Verdin | Auriparus flaviceps | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked Duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Black-crested Titmouse | Baeolophus atricristatus | ||
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | ||
| Rufous-capped Warbler | Basileuterus rufifrons | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Common Goldeneye | Bucephala clangula | ||
| White-tailed Hawk | Buteo albicaudatus | ||
| Zone-tailed Hawk | Buteo albonotatus | ||
| Short-tailed Hawk | Buteo brachyurus | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Buteo lineatus | ||
| Gray Hawk | Buteo nitidus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Common Black-Hawk | Buteogallus anthracinus | ||
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens | ||
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur | Calcarius ornatus | ||
| Smith's Longspur | Calcarius pictus | ||
| Dunlin | Calidris alpina | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| Western Sandpiper | Calidris mauri | ||
| Pectoral Sandpiper | Calidris melanotos | ||
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ||
| Gambel's Quail | Callipepla gambelii | ||
| Scaled Quail | Callipepla squamata | ||
| Lucifer Hummingbird | Calothorax lucifer | ||
| Anna's Hummingbird | Calypte anna | ||
| Costa's Hummingbird | Calypte costae | ||
| Cactus Wren | Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus | ||
| Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus | ||
| Crested Caracara | Caracara cheriway | ||
| Red-faced Warbler | Cardellina rubrifrons | ||
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis | ||
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus | ||
| Cassin's Finch | Carpodacus cassinii | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Purple Finch | Carpodacus purpureus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Veery | Catharus fuscescens | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush | Catharus minimus | ||
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Chimney Swift | Chaetura pelagica | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Ross's Goose | Chen rossii | ||
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | ||
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| American Dipper | Cinclus mexicanus | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Marsh Wren | Cistothorus palustris | ||
| Sedge Wren | Cistothorus platensis | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | Threatened | |
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ||
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca | ||
| Common Ground-Dove | Columbina passerina | ||
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Greater Pewee | Contopus pertinax | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee | Contopus virens | ||
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus | ||
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | ||
| Chihuahuan Raven | Corvus cryptoleucus | ||
| Yellow Rail | Coturnicops noveboracensis | ||
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris | ||
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | ||
| Tundra Swan | Cygnus columbianus | ||
| Broad-billed Hummingbird | Cynanthus latirostris | ||
| Montezuma Quail | Cyrtonyx montezumae | ||
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | Dendroica caerulescens | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler | Dendroica castanea | ||
| Cerulean Warbler | Dendroica cerulea | ||
| Golden-cheeked Warbler | Dendroica chrysoparia | Endangered | |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Prairie Warbler | Dendroica discolor | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler | Dendroica dominica | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler | Dendroica fusca | ||
| Grace's Warbler | Dendroica graciae | ||
| Magnolia Warbler | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Black-throated Gray Warbler | Dendroica nigrescens | ||
| Hermit Warbler | Dendroica occidentalis | ||
| Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | Dendroica pensylvanica | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Pine Warbler | Dendroica pinus | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | ||
| Cape May Warbler | Dendroica tigrina | ||
| Townsend's Warbler | Dendroica townsendi | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler | Dendroica virens | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea | ||
| Reddish Egret | Egretta rufescens | ||
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula | ||
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor | ||
| Swallow-tailed Kite | Elanoides forficatus | ||
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus | ||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher | Empidonax flaviventris | ||
| Hammond's Flycatcher | Empidonax hammondii | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Dusky Flycatcher | Empidonax oberholseri | ||
| Cordilleran Flycatcher | Empidonax occidentalis | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Gray Flycatcher | Empidonax wrightii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus | ||
| Magnificent Hummingbird | Eugenes fulgens | ||
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Fan-tailed Warbler | Euthlypis lachrymosa | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Aplomado Falcon | Falco femoralis | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Wilson's Snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | ||
| Common Loon | Gavia immer | ||
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium brasilianum | ||
| Northern Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium gnoma | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Worm-eating Warbler | Helmitheros vermivorum | ||
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| White-eared Hummingbird | Hylocharis leucotis | ||
| Wood Thrush | Hylocichla mustelina | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Hooded Oriole | Icterus cucullatus | ||
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Scott's Oriole | Icterus parisorum | ||
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | ||
| Black-vented Oriole | Icterus wagleri | ||
| Mississippi Kite | Ictinia mississippiensis | ||
| Least Bittern | Ixobrychus exilis | ||
| Varied Thrush | Ixoreus naevius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Yellow-eyed Junco | Junco phaeonotus | ||
| Blue-throated Hummingbird | Lampornis clemenciae | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Bonaparte's Gull | Larus philadelphia | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Piratic Flycatcher | Legatus leucophaius | ||
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Swainson's Warbler | Limnothlypis swainsonii | ||
| Hooded Merganser | Lophodytes cucullatus | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Megaceryle alcyon | ||
| Eastern Screech-Owl | Megascops asio | ||
| Western Screech-Owl | Megascops kennicottii | ||
| Golden-fronted Woodpecker | Melanerpes aurifrons | ||
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus | ||
| Lewis's Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Wild Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | ||
| Swamp Sparrow | Melospiza georgiana | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Canyon Towhee | Melozone fusca | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser | Mergus serrator | ||
| Elf Owl | Micrathene whitneyi | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Tufted Flycatcher | Mitrephanes phaeocercus | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens | ||
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ||
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer | ||
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus tyrannulus | ||
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus | ||
| Painted Redstart | Myioborus pictus | ||
| Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher | Myiodynastes luteiventris | ||
| Clark's Nutcracker | Nucifraga columbiana | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Nyctanassa violacea | ||
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| Kentucky Warbler | Oporornis formosus | ||
| Mourning Warbler | Oporornis philadelphia | ||
| MacGillivray's Warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Sage Thrasher | Oreoscoptes montanus | ||
| Lucy's Warbler | Oreothlypis luciae | ||
| Virginia's Warbler | Oreothlypis virginiae | ||
| Flammulated Owl | Otus flammeolus | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Rose-throated Becard | Pachyramphus aglaiae | ||
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus | ||
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| Tropical Parula | Parula pitiayumi | ||
| Crescent-chested Warbler | Parula superciliosa | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ||
| Painted Bunting | Passerina ciris | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| Varied Bunting | Passerina versicolor | ||
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Patagioenas fasciata | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis | ||
| Cave Swallow | Petrochelidon fulva | ||
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Olive Warbler | Peucedramus taeniatus | ||
| Phainopepla | Phainopepla nitens | ||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker | Picoides scalaris | ||
| Green-tailed Towhee | Pipilo chlorurus | ||
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Flame-colored Tanager | Piranga bidentata | ||
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Scarlet Tanager | Piranga olivacea | ||
| Summer Tanager | Piranga rubra | ||
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus | ||
| Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | ||
| Snow Bunting | Plectrophenax nivalis | ||
| White-faced Ibis | Plegadis chihi | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | ||
| Mountain Chickadee | Poecile gambeli | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea | ||
| Black-tailed Gnatcatcher | Polioptila melanura | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Purple Gallinule | Porphyrio martinica | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Purple Martin | Progne subis | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler | Protonotaria citrea | ||
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus | ||
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| King Rail | Rallus elegans | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Aztec Thrush | Ridgwayia pinicola | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Black-legged Kittiwake | Rissa tridactyla | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans | ||
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| American Woodcock | Scolopax minor | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush | Seiurus motacilla | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Selasphorus platycercus | ||
| Rufous Hummingbird | Selasphorus rufus | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | ||
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Pygmy Nuthatch | Sitta pygmaea | ||
| Red-naped Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus nuchalis | ||
| Williamson's Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus thyroideus | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ||
| Pine Siskin | Spinus pinus | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Spinus psaltria | ||
| American Goldfinch | Spinus tristis | ||
| Dickcissel | Spiza americana | ||
| Black-chinned Sparrow | Spizella atrogularis | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Calliope Hummingbird | Stellula calliope | ||
| Least Tern | Sterna antillarum | ||
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | ||
| Least Tern | Sternula antillarum | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | Non-native | |
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Least Grebe | Tachybaptus dominicus | ||
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | ||
| Carolina Wren | Thryothorus ludovicianus | ||
| Crissal Thrasher | Toxostoma crissale | ||
| Curve-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma curvirostre | ||
| Long-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma longirostre | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Willet | Tringa semipalmata | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Winter Wren | Troglodytes troglodytes | ||
| Elegant Trogon | Trogon elegans | ||
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Rufous-backed Robin | Turdus rufopalliatus | ||
| Couch's Kingbird | Tyrannus couchii | ||
| Thick-billed Kingbird | Tyrannus crassirostris | ||
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus | ||
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Cassin's Kingbird | Tyrannus vociferans | ||
| Barn Owl | Tyto alba | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | ||
| Colima Warbler | Vermivora crissalis | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler | Vermivora pinus | ||
| Nashville Warbler | Vermivora ruficapilla | ||
| Black-capped Vireo | Vireo atricapilla | ||
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | ||
| Cassin's Vireo | Vireo cassinii | ||
| Yellow-throated Vireo | Vireo flavifrons | ||
| Yellow-green Vireo | Vireo flavoviridis | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus | ||
| Hutton's Vireo | Vireo huttoni | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo | Vireo philadelphicus | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo | Vireo plumbeus | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo | Vireo solitarius | ||
| Gray Vireo | Vireo vicinior | ||
| Canada Warbler | Wilsonia canadensis | ||
| Hooded Warbler | Wilsonia citrina | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-throated Sparrow | Zonotrichia albicollis | ||
| Golden-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia atricapilla | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris's Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
59 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
59 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trans-Pecos Copperhead | Agkistrodon contortrix | Rare | ||
| Green Anole | Anolis carolinensis | Rare | Non-native | |
| Texas Spiny Softshell | Apalone spinifera | Common | ||
| Kansas Glossy Snake | Arizona elegans | Uncommon | ||
| Trans-Pecos Striped Whiptail | Aspidoscelis inornata | Common | ||
| Marbled Whiptail | Aspidoscelis marmorata | Common | ||
| Big Bend Spotted Whiptail | Aspidoscelis septemvittata | Common | ||
| Common Checkered Whiptail | Aspidoscelis tesselata | Common | ||
| Trans-Pecos Ratsnake | Bogertophis subocularis | Uncommon | ||
| Texas Banded Gecko | Coleonyx brevis | Rare | ||
| Reticulate Banded Gecko | Coleonyx reticulatus | Rare | ||
| Chihuahuan Greater Earless Lizard | Cophosaurus texanus | Common | ||
| Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake | Crotalus atrox | Common | ||
| Mottled Rock Rattlesnake | Crotalus lepidus | Uncommon | ||
| Northern Black-tailed Rattlesnake | Crotalus molossus | Common | ||
| Mohave Rattlesnake | Crotalus scutulatus | Uncommon | ||
| Eastern Collared Lizard | Crotaphytus collaris | Uncommon | ||
| Ring-necked Snake | Diadophis punctatus | Uncommon | ||
| Baird's Ratsnake | Elaphe bairdi | Rare | ||
| Great Plains Ratsnake | Elaphe emoryi | Rare | ||
| Great Plains Skink | Eumeces obsoletus | Uncommon | ||
| Short-lined Skink | Eumeces tetragrammus | Uncommon | ||
| Long-nosed Leopard Lizard | Gambelia wislizenii | Rare | ||
| Texas Alligator Lizard | Gerrhonotus infernalis | Rare | ||
| Berlandier's Tortoise | Gopherus berlandieri | Rare | Non-native | |
| Chihuahuan Hook-nosed Snake | Gyalopion canum | Rare | ||
| Mediterranean House Gecko | Hemidactylus turcicus | Common | Non-native | |
| Texas Nightsnake | Hypsiglena torquata | Common | ||
| Yellow Mud Turtle | Kinosternon flavescens | Rare | ||
| Gray-banded Kingsnake | Lampropeltis alterna | Rare | ||
| Desert Kingsnake | Lampropeltis getula | Rare | ||
| Mexican Milksnake | Lampropeltis triangulum | Rare | ||
| Texas Threadsnake | Leptotyphlops dissectus | Rare | ||
| Trans-Pecos Threadsnake | Leptotyphlops humilis | Rare | ||
| Western Coachwhip | Masticophis flagellum | Common | ||
| Central Texas Whipsnake | Masticophis taeniatus | Common | ||
| Blotched Watersnake | Nerodia erythrogaster | Rare | ||
| Texas Horned Lizard | Phrynosoma cornutum | Rare | ||
| Round-tailed Horned Lizard | Phrynosoma modestum | Uncommon | ||
| Sonoran Gophersnake | Pituophis catenifer | Common | ||
| Rio Grande Cooter | Pseudemys gorzugi | Rare | ||
| Texas Long-nosed Snake | Rhinocheilus lecontei | Common | ||
| Mountain Patch-nosed Snake | Salvadora grahamiae | Uncommon | ||
| Big Bend Patch-nosed Snake | Salvadora hexalepis | Uncommon | ||
| Southwestern Fence Lizard | Sceloporus cowlesi | Common | ||
| Twin-spotted Spiny Lizard | Sceloporus magister | Uncommon | ||
| Big Bend Canyon Lizard | Sceloporus merriami | Uncommon | ||
| Northern Crevice Spiny Lizard | Sceloporus poinsettii | Common | ||
| Variable Groundsnake | Sonora semiannulata | Uncommon | ||
| Trans-Pecos Black-headed Snake | Tantilla cucullata | Rare | ||
| Smith's Black-headed Snake | Tantilla hobartsmithi | Uncommon | ||
| Desert Box Turtle | Terrapene ornata | Rare | ||
| Western Black-necked Gartersnake | Thamnophis cyrtopsis | Common | ||
| Marcy's Checkered Gartersnake | Thamnophis marcianus | Uncommon | ||
| Big Bend Slider | Trachemys gaigeae | Common | ||
| Red-eared Slider | Trachemys scripta | Rare | Non-native | |
| Texas Lyresnake | Trimorphodon biscutatus | Rare | ||
| Big Bend Tree Lizard | Urosaurus ornatus | Common | ||
| Common Side-blotched Lizard | Uta stansburiana | Common |
Amphibians
11 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
11 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Green Toad | Bufo debilis | Common | ||
| Red-spotted Toad | Bufo punctatus | Common | ||
| Texas Toad | Bufo speciosus | Common | ||
| Spotted Chirping Frog | Eleutherodactylus guttilatus | Rare | ||
| Great Plains Narrow-mouthed Toad | Gastrophryne olivacea | Common | ||
| Canyon Treefrog | Hyla arenicolor | Common | ||
| Green Treefrog | Hyla cinerea | Common | Non-native | |
| Rio Grande Leopard Frog | Rana berlandieri | Common | ||
| American Bullfrog | Rana catesbeiana | Common | Non-native | |
| Couch's Spadefoot | Scaphiopus couchii | Common | ||
| Mexican Spadefoot | Spea multiplicata | Rare |
Fish
41 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
41 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow bullhead | Ameiurus natalis | |||
| Freshwater drum | Aplodinotus grunniens | |||
| Mexican tetra | Astyanax mexicanus | |||
| Mexican stoneroller | Campostoma ornatum | |||
| River carpsucker | Carpiodes carpio | |||
| Blue sucker | Cycleptus elongatus | |||
| Red shiner | Cyprinella lutrensis | |||
| Blacktail shiner | Cyprinella venusta | Non-native | ||
| Common carp | Cyprinus carpio | Non-native | ||
| Gizzard shad | Dorosoma cepedianum | |||
| Threadfin shad | Dorosoma petenense | Non-native | ||
| Gulf killifish | Fundulus grandis | Non-native | ||
| Plains killifish | Fundulus zebrinus | Non-native | ||
| Western mosquitofish | Gambusia affinis | |||
| Big Bend gambusia | Gambusia gaigei | Endangered | ||
| Rio Grande silvery minnow | Hybognathus amarus | |||
| Blue catfish | Ictalurus furcatus | |||
| Channel catfish | Ictalurus punctatus | |||
| Smallmouth buffalo | Ictiobus bubalus | |||
| Black buffalo | Ictiobus niger | |||
| Spotted gar | Lepisosteus oculatus | |||
| Longnose gar | Lepisosteus osseus | |||
| Green sunfish | Lepomis cyanellus | |||
| Warmouth | Lepomis gulosus | |||
| Bluegill | Lepomis macrochirus | |||
| Longear sunfish | Lepomis megalotis | |||
| Redear sunfish | Lepomis microlophus | Non-native | ||
| Speckled chub | Macrhybopsis aestivalis | |||
| Inland silverside | Menidia beryllina | Non-native | ||
| Largemouth bass | Micropterus salmoides | |||
| White bass | Morone chrysops | Non-native | ||
| Mexican redhorse | Moxostoma austrinum | |||
| Tamaulipas shiner | Notropis braytoni | |||
| Chihuahua shiner | Notropis chihuahua | |||
| Rio Grande shiner | Notropis jemezanus | |||
| Sand shiner | Notropis stramineus | |||
| Blue tilapia | Oreochromis aureus | Non-native | ||
| Fathead minnow | Pimephales promelas | |||
| Bullhead minnow | Pimephales vigilax | |||
| Flathead catfish | Pylodictis olivaris | |||
| Longnose dace | Rhinichthys cataractae |
Where this comes from
NPSpecies is the National Park Service’s database of the species documented in each park. We show its vertebrate lists as published: a species is “present” when the park has confirmed it, “unconfirmed” when reports exist without verification, and “not in park” when the NPS has ruled it out (often tagged “historical” for animals that once lived there). Lists lag reality by months or years and seeing an animal is never guaranteed. Plants, insects and other invertebrates are not included here. Browse the full NPSpecies list for Big Bend.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Big Bend (BIBE) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Big Bend National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Big Bend wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Big Bend?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Big Bend records black bear as present.
- Are there wolves in Big Bend?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Big Bend records gray wolf as present.
- Are there mountain lions in Big Bend?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Big Bend records mountain lion as present.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Big Bend?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Big Bend records rattlesnakes as present, listed as common.
- How many animal species live in Big Bend?
- The NPS species database lists 80 mammal, 412 bird, 59 reptile, 11 amphibian and 41 fish species as present or probably present in Big Bend, including 5 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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