Places National ParksBig Bend

Wildlife in Big Bend National Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Big Bend right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

26,130
recent observations
30
species listed
21
plants
5
birds
1
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 26,130 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Big Bend. The most frequently seen is the ocotillo, with 1,657 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (21 of the species listed here), followed by birds (5).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Big Bend

ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
1,657 observations
Mexican Jay
Aphelocoma wollweberi
1,586 observations · iNaturalist
strawberry hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus stramineus
1,384 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
1,294 observations
Havard's Century Plant
Agave havardiana
1,282 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
1,192 observations
Strawberry Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus
1,152 observations · iNaturalist
scarlet hedgehog cactus
Echinocereus coccineus
1,063 observations
Russet Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus russanthus
1,038 observations · iNaturalist
lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
1,016 observations
Texas lignum-vitae
Guaiacum angustifolium
1,004 observations · iNaturalist
Devilshead
Echinocactus horizonthalonius
963 observations · iNaturalist
Greater Earless Lizard
Cophosaurus texanus
931 observations
Texas rainbow cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus
885 observations
tree cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata
870 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
729 observations
Blind Pricklypear
Opuntia rufida
688 observations
Texas madrone
Arbutus xalapensis
675 observations · iNaturalist
evergreen sumac
Rhus virens
646 observations · iNaturalist
Turk's Head
Hamatocactus hamatacanthus
634 observations · iNaturalist
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
622 observations
Christmas cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
586 observations · iNaturalist
Desert Millipede
Orthoporus ornatus
583 observations · iNaturalist
Texas Brown Tarantula
Aphonopelma hentzi
565 observations · iNaturalist
Torrey's Yucca
Yucca torreyi
563 observations
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
538 observations · iNaturalist
little nipple cactus
Mammillaria meiacantha
515 observations · iNaturalist
Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
494 observations
Weeping Juniper
Juniperus flaccida
493 observations · iNaturalist
Purple Pricklypear
Opuntia azurea
482 observations · iNaturalist

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