Bryce Canyon National Park, renowned for its striking hoodoos and breathtaking landscapes, is also home to a diverse array of wildlife. Visitors may encounter mule deer grazing in the meadows, pronghorns darting across open plains, and the elusive mountain lion prowling the backcountry. In addition to these large mammals, the park’s unique ecosystem also supports over 200 species of birds, including the majestic peregrine falcon and the colorful western tanager.
Smaller mammals, like the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel or Uinta Chipmunk, can often be seen darting across the hiking trails. Reptiles such as the Great Basin rattlesnake and various lizard species also thrive in the rocky terrain. Exploring Bryce Canyon offers not only spectacular geological formations but also a chance to witness the vibrant and varied wildlife that inhabits this remarkable national park. Keep reading to see featured photos of Bryce Canyon’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Bryce Canyon National Park Wildlife Photographs
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Wildlife Photography Tips
Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.
If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L is II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 is USM Black for long distance shots.
Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional grade camera equipment, but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment 58mm Tele Lens for an improved zoom and be sure you have a compatible phone case to mount your new lens in. Since cell phones don’t have the same zoom distance and quality as traditional professional cameras, be extra mindful about your distance from wildlife when photographing them and don’t get too close. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.
Bryce Canyon Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Bryce Canyon National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Lonely Planet Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks (National Parks Guide)
- Grand Canyon Zion & Bryce (Wildlife Watcher’s Guide)
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Peterson Field Guide To Western Reptiles & Amphibians, Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at not cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Bryce Canyon National Park Species List
The wildlife at Bryce Canyon National Park is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! If you happen to spot some wildlife, the National Park Service would love you to report your findings here! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Bryce Canyon National Park:
Bryce Canyon National Park Mammals
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Allen’s Big-eared Bat* (Idionycteris phyllotis) | Unknown* |
| American Badger (Taxidea taxus) | Unknown |
| American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) | Unknown |
| Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) | Uncommon |
| Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) | Unknown |
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) | Uncommon |
| Bobcat (Lynx rufus) | Unknown |
| Brush Mouse (Peromyscus boylii) | Uncommon |
| Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Neotoma cinerea) | Uncommon |
| California Myotis (Myotis californicus) | Uncommon |
| Canada Lynx* (Lynx canadensis) | Unknown* |
| Canyon Mouse (Peromyscus crinitus) | Uncommon |
| Cliff Chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis) | Uncommon |
| Common Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) | Unknown |
| Coyote (Canis latrans) | Unknown |
| Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) | Common |
| Desert Cottontail* (Sylvilagus audubonii) | Unknown* |
| Desert Woodrat (Neotoma lepida) | Unknown |
| Dwarf Shrew (Sorex nanus) | Uncommon |
| Elk (Cervus canadensis) | Unknown |
| Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes) | Uncommon |
| Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) | Common |
| Great Basin Pocket Mouse (Perognathus parvus) | Unknown |
| Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) | Unknown |
| Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) | Common |
| Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) | Uncommon |
| Long-eared Myotis (Myotis evotis) | Uncommon |
| Long-legged Myotis (Myotis volans) | Uncommon |
| Long-tailed Vole (Microtus longicaudus) | Uncommon |
| Long-tailed Weasel (Mustela frenata) | Unknown |
| Merriam’s Shrew (Sorex merriami) | Uncommon |
| Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus) | Uncommon |
| Montane Vole (Microtus montanus) | Uncommon |
| Mountain Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) | Uncommon |
| Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) | Unknown |
| Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) | Unknown |
| Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) | Unknown |
| North American Porcupine* (Erethizon dorsatum) | Unknown* |
| Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) | Unknown |
| Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) | Uncommon |
| Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii) | Unknown |
| Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) | Uncommon |
| Pinon Mouse (Peromyscus truei) | Uncommon |
| Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) | Unknown |
| Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) | Unknown |
| Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) | Uncommon |
| Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) | Unknown |
| Rock Squirrel (Spermophilus variegatus) | Uncommon |
| Sagebrush Vole (Lemmiscus curtatus) | Uncommon |
| Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) | Uncommon |
| Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum) | Uncommon |
| Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) | Unknown |
| Townsend’s Big-eared Bat* (Corynorhinus townsendii) | Unknown* |
| Uinta Chipmunk (Neotamias umbrinus) | Common |
| Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys parvidens) | Common |
| Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) | Uncommon |
| Western Small-footed Myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) | Uncommon |
| Western Spotted Skunk* (Spilogale gracilis) | Unknown* |
| White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) | Unknown |
| Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris) | Uncommon |
| Yuma Myotis (Myotis yumanensis) | Unknown |
*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park Birds
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) | Unknown |
| American Avocet* (Recurvirostra americana | Unknown* |
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | Common |
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | Occasional |
| American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) | Occasional |
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Uncommon |
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Unknown |
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Common |
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | Unknown |
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | Occasional |
| American Wigeon (Anas americana) | Rare |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) | Uncommon |
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Occasional |
| Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) | Rare |
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Uncommon |
| Belted Kingfisher* (Ceryle alcyon) | Unknown* |
| Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) | Occasional |
| Black Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte atrata) | Occasional |
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | Occasional |
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | Uncommon |
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | Common |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) | Common |
| Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) | Unknown |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron* (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Unknown* |
| Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) | Uncommon |
| Black-necked Stilt* (Himantopus mexicanus) | Unknown* |
| Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) | Uncommon |
| Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) | Rare |
| Blue Grosbeak* (Passerina caerulea) | Unknown* |
| Blue Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) | Uncommon |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | Rare |
| Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) | Rare |
| Bohemian Waxwing* (Bombycilla garrulus) | Unknown* |
| Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | Common |
| Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) | Uncommon |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) | Common |
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | Uncommon |
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Uncommon |
| Bufflehead* (Bucephala albeola) | Unknown* |
| Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) | Rare |
| Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) | Rare |
| California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) | Occasional |
| California Gull* (Larus californicus) | Unknown* |
| Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) | Occasional |
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Common |
| Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) | Rare |
| Cassin’s Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) | Common |
| Cassin’s Kingbird* (Tyrannus vociferans) | Unknown* |
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | Occasional |
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | Common |
| Chukar* (Alectoris chukar) | Unknown* |
| Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) | Rare |
| Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) | Common |
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Common |
| Common Goldeneye* (Bucephala clangula) | Unknown* |
| Common Loon* (Gavia immer) | Unknown* |
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Rare |
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Uncommon |
| Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) | Rare |
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Common |
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | Rare |
| Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | Common |
| Cordilleran Flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis) | Uncommon |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Gray-headed) (Junco hyemalis caniceps) | Common |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) (Junco hyemalis oreganus) | Common |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) (Junco hyemalis hyemalis) | Common |
| Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) | Unknown |
| Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) | Uncommon |
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | Rare |
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | Uncommon |
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | Rare |
| Ferruginous Hawk* (Buteo regalis) | Unknown* |
| Flammulated Owl* (Otus flammeolus | Unknown* |
| Forster’s Tern* (Sterna forsteri) | Unknown* |
| Franklin’s Gull* (Larus pipixcan) | Unknown* |
| Gadwall* (Anas strepera) | Unknown* |
| Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) | Unknown |
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Uncommon |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Rare |
| Grace’s Warbler (Dendroica graciae) | Uncommon |
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Occasional |
| Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) | Uncommon |
| Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | Uncommon |
| Gray Vireo (Vireo vicinior) | Rare |
| Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | Occasional |
| Great Blue Heron* (Ardea herodias) | Unknown* |
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Uncommon |
| Greater Sage-Grouse* (Centrocercus urophasianus) | Unknown* |
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | Rare |
| Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) | Uncommon |
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Uncommon |
| Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) | Uncommon |
| Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) | Common |
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Rare |
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Common |
| House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) | Uncommon |
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Rare |
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | Uncommon |
| Indigo Bunting* (Passerina cyanea) | Unknown* |
| Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) | Uncommon |
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | Uncommon |
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | Uncommon |
| Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) | Rare |
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Occasional |
| Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) | Rare |
| Lesser Scaup* (Aythya affinis) | Unknown* |
| Lesser Yellowlegs* (Tringa flavipes) | Unknown* |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | Rare |
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | Rare |
| Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) | Occasional |
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | Rare |
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | Occasional |
| MacGillivray’s Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei) | Occasional |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Common |
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Uncommon |
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Rare |
| Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) | Common |
| Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) | Common |
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Uncommon |
| Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla) | Occasional |
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Common |
| Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) | Uncommon |
| Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) | Uncommon |
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | Rare |
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Uncommon |
| Northern Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium gnoma) | Rare |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | Uncommon |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | Occasional |
| Northern Shoveler* (Anas clypeata) | Unknown* |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | Rare |
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) | Rare |
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Uncommon |
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Uncommon |
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | Occasional |
| Pine Grosbeak* (Pinicola enucleator) | Unknown* |
| Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) | Common |
| Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) | Uncommon |
| Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus) | Rare |
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | Rare |
| Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) | Uncommon |
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | Uncommon |
| Red-breasted Merganser* (Mergus serrator | Unknown* |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | Common |
| Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) | Rare |
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | Unknown* |
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Common |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Common |
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Unknown* |
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | Occasional |
| Ring-necked Duck* (Aythya collaris) | Unknown* |
| Ring-necked Pheasant* (Phasianus colchicus) | Unknown* |
| Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) | Uncommon |
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Rare |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) | Uncommon |
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | Uncommon |
| Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) | Common |
| Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) | Rare |
| Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) | Rare |
| Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | Uncommon |
| Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum) | Unknown |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Uncommon |
| Snowy Egret* (Egretta thula) | Unknown* |
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | Uncommon |
| Sora* (Porzana Carolina) | Unknown* |
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | Uncommon |
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | Uncommon |
| Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) | Common |
| Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | Rare |
| Swainson’s Thrush* (Catharus ustulatus) | Unknown* |
| Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | Abundant |
| Townsend’s Warbler (Dendroica townsendi) | Occasional |
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Occasional |
| Tundra Swan* (Cygnus columbianus) | Unknown* |
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Uncommon |
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | Unknown |
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | Uncommon |
| Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) | Common |
| Virginia’s Warbler (Vermivora virginiae) | Rare |
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | Uncommon |
| Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) | Common |
| Western Grebe* (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | Unknown* |
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | Uncommon |
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | Uncommon |
| Western Sandpiper* (Calidris mauri | Unknown* |
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | Uncommon |
| Western Wood-Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) | Rare |
| White-breasted (Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis) | Uncommon |
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Uncommon |
| White-faced Ibis* (Plegadis chihi) | Unknown* |
| White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) | Abundant |
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | Rare |
| Willet* (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) | Unknown* |
| Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) | Rare |
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | Occasional |
| Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | Rare |
| Wilson’s Snipe* (Gallinago delicata) | Unknown* |
| Wilson’s Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) | Rare |
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) | Rare |
| Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) | Uncommon |
| Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) | Uncommon |
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | Rare |
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | Uncommon |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) | Common |
*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park Reptiles
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Common Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) | Abundant |
| Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer) | Uncommon |
| Greater Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) | Common |
| Plateau Lizard (Sceloporus tristichus) | Rare |
| Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) | Unknown |
| Terrestrial Gartersnake (Thamnophis elegans) | Uncommon |
| Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) | Rare |
| Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) | Uncommon |
| Western Skink* (Eumeces skiltonianus) | Unknown* |
*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park Amphibians
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana) | Unknown |
| Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) | Rare |
| Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum | Unknown |
| Western Chorus Frog* (Pseudacris triseriata) | Unknown* |
*It is not known for certain if this species is actually in the park. This species is marked by the National Park Service as “Probably Present” in Bryce Canyon National Park.
Bryce Canyon National Park Fish
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) | Unknown |
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present or probably present in Bryce Canyon National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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