Places CitiesScottsdale

Wildlife near Scottsdale, AZ

Illustrated wildlife of Scottsdale

Scottsdale runs from the valley floor up into the McDowell Mountains, and the desert preserve on its edge is one of the largest in any American city. Javelinas, coyotes, and desert cottontails move through the washes, Gila woodpeckers and cactus wrens nest in the saguaros, and Harris’s hawks hunt in family groups. Desert bighorn range the McDowells, and Gila monsters turn up after summer rains.

Everything below is pulled live from recent research-grade observations near Scottsdale. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

105,488
recent observations
30
species listed
15
birds
10
plants
2
insects & arthropods

Naturalists have logged 105,488 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species near Scottsdale. The most frequently seen is the saguaro, with 12,572 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (15 of the species listed here), followed by plants (10).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species near Scottsdale

saguaro
Carnegiea gigantea
12,572 observations
stinknet
Oncosiphon pilulifer
5,889 observations · iNaturalist
Creosote Bush
Larrea tridentata
5,283 observations
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
5,104 observations
Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
4,865 observations
Brittlebush
Encelia farinosa
4,748 observations · iNaturalist
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
4,242 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
4,051 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
3,913 observations
Buckhorn Cholla
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa
3,828 observations · iNaturalist
California Barrel Cactus
Ferocactus cylindraceus
3,775 observations
Curve-billed Thrasher
Toxostoma curvirostre
3,406 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
3,187 observations
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
3,173 observations
Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus engelmannii
3,020 observations
Gila Woodpecker
Melanerpes uropygialis
2,883 observations
Western Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
2,833 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
2,654 observations
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
2,583 observations
triangle-leaf bursage
Ambrosia deltoidea
2,474 observations · iNaturalist
Queen
Danaus gilippus
2,427 observations · iNaturalist
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
2,410 observations
Rock Pigeon
Columba livia
2,143 observations
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
2,125 observations
ocotillo
Fouquieria splendens
2,117 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
2,092 observations
Teddybear Cholla
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
1,985 observations
Rosy-faced Lovebird
Agapornis roseicollis
1,907 observations
Desert Spiny Lizard
Sceloporus magister
1,901 observations
American Coot
Fulica americana
1,898 observations

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