Death Valley National Park, spanning eastern California and Nevada, is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, yet a surprising range of wildlife has adapted to its extreme conditions. Bighorn sheep and coyotes move through the rugged terrain, while kangaroo rats and desert cottontails get by in the dry climate and are often active during the cooler nights.
Desert tortoises, sidewinder rattlesnakes and many kinds of lizards cope with the heat by sheltering under rocks and in burrows. The park’s few water sources attract roadrunners, golden eagles and migratory birds, and scorpions and beetles live here as well. Keep reading to see featured photos of Death Valley’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Death Valley 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 Tele 58mm Mobile Lens II for improved reach, and use a Moment camera case with a lens mount to attach it to your phone. Since cell phones generally cannot provide the same reach as a dedicated telephoto camera lens, never compensate by moving dangerously close to wildlife. 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.
Want to take your wildlife photos further? Featured photographer Vella Torvik shares her field-tested advice on gear, camera settings, light, composition and safely approaching wildlife in our Wildlife Photography 101: Insider Tips From the Field masterclass.
Death Valley Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Death Valley National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- 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 no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Death Valley National Park Species List
The wildlife at Death Valley 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! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Death Valley National Park:
Death Valley National Park Mammals
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| American Badger (Taxidea taxus) | Rare |
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) | Abundant |
| Bobcat (Lynx rufus) | Rare |
| Botta’s Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae) | Abundant |
| Brush Mouse (Peromyscus boylii) | Common |
| Burro (Equus asinus) | Uncommon |
| Cactus Mouse (Peromyscus eremicus) | Abundant |
| Californian Myotis (Myotis californicus) | Uncommon |
| Canyon Mouse (Peromyscus crinitus) | Abundant |
| Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys microps) | Common |
| Common Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) | Rare |
| Coyote (Canis latrans) | Abundant |
| Crawford’s Gray Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi) | Common |
| Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) | Common |
| Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) | Abundant |
| Desert Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys deserti) | Uncommon |
| Desert Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus penicillatus) | Uncommon |
| Desert Woodrat (Neotoma lepida) | Abundant |
| Dusky-footed Woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) | Unknown |
| Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes) | Uncommon |
| Great Basin Pocket Mouse (Perognathus parvus) | Abundant |
| Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) | Uncommon |
| Horse (Equus caballus) | Rare |
| Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis) | Common |
| Little Pocket Mouse (Perognathus longimembris) | Common |
| Long-tailed Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus formosus) | Common |
| Merriam’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys merriami) | Common |
| Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) | Common |
| Mohave Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus mohavensis) | Unknown |
| Mountain Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) | Common |
| Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) | Rare |
| Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) | Uncommon |
| Nelson’s Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) | Uncommon |
| Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) | Common |
| Panamint Chipmunk (Tamias panamintinus) | Common |
| Panamint Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys panamintinus) | Unknown |
| Pinyon Mouse (Peromyscus truei) | Common |
| Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) | Uncommon |
| Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus tereticaudus) | Common |
| Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) | Uncommon |
| Southern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys torridus) | Uncommon |
| Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) | Unknown |
| Townsend’s Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) | Uncommon |
| Uinta Chipmunk (Tamias umbrinus) | Unknown |
| Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) | Common |
| Western Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus hesperus) | Common |
| Western Small-footed Myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) | Uncommon |
| White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus) | Common |
Death Valley National Park Birds
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) | Occasional |
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | Common |
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | Uncommon |
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | Abundant |
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | Uncommon |
| American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) | Occasional |
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | Rare |
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | Common |
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | Common |
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | Uncommon |
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | Common |
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) | Rare |
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | Rare |
| American Wigeon (Anas americana) | Common |
| Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) | Common |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) | Common |
| Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | Rare |
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | Occasional |
| Band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata) | Rare |
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | Uncommon |
| Barn Owl (Tyto alba) | Rare |
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | Common |
| Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | Occasional |
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | Occasional |
| Bell’s Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli) | Common |
| Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii) | Rare |
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | Uncommon |
| Bendire’s Thrasher (Toxostoma bendirei) | Rare |
| Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) | Common |
| Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) | Common |
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | Occasional |
| Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) | Occasional |
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | Rare |
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | Rare |
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | Occasional |
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | Occasional |
| Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) | Rare |
| Black-chinned Sparrow (Spizella atrogularis) | Rare |
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | Uncommon |
| Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) | Common |
| Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) | Common |
| Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura) | Rare |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | Occasional |
| Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) | Uncommon |
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | Occasional |
| Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) | Common |
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | Occasional |
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | Rare |
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | Uncommon |
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | Occasional |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | Abundant |
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | Occasional |
| Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) | Common |
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | Rare |
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | Occasional |
| Bonaparte’s Gull (Larus philadelphia) | Rare |
| Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | Abundant |
| Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) | Common |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) | Uncommon |
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | Occasional |
| Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) | Occasional |
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | Rare |
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | Occasional |
| Brown-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus) | Rare |
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | Abundant |
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | Uncommon |
| Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) | Uncommon |
| Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) | Rare |
| Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) | Uncommon |
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | Uncommon |
| Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) | Rare |
| California Gull (Larus californicus) | Uncommon |
| California Quail (Callipepla californica) | Occasional |
| Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope) | Rare |
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | Common |
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | Occasional |
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | Common |
| Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) | Rare |
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | Occasional |
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | Occasional |
| Cassin’s Finch (Haemorhous cassinii) | Rare |
| Cassin’s Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans) | Occasional |
| Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassinii) | Rare |
| Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) | Uncommon |
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | Common |
| Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) | Uncommon |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | Occasional |
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | Occasional |
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | Common |
| Chukar (Alectoris chukar) | Common |
| Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) | Common |
| Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) | Uncommon |
| Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) | Rare |
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | Rare |
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | Uncommon |
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula chloropus) | Uncommon |
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | Rare |
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | Occasional |
| Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) | Occasional |
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | Occasional |
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | Rare |
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | Occasional |
| Common Poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) | Uncommon |
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | Abundant |
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | Occasional |
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | Common |
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | Occasional |
| Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | Common |
| Costa’s Hummingbird (Calypte costae) | Common |
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | Common |
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | Uncommon |
| Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) | Uncommon |
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | Rare |
| Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) | Uncommon |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) | Occasional |
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | Common |
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | Occasional |
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | Occasional |
| Eurasian Collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | Common |
| Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) | Occasional |
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | Abundant |
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | Rare |
| Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) | Rare |
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | Occasional |
| Flammulated Owl (Psiloscops flammeolus) | Occasional |
| Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) | Occasional |
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | Common |
| Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | Occasional |
| Fulvous Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) | Occasional |
| Gadwall (Anas strepera) | Common |
| Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) | Uncommon |
| Garganey (Anas querquedula) | Occasional |
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | Uncommon |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | Rare |
| Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) | Uncommon |
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | Occasional |
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | Rare |
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | Occasional |
| Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) | Uncommon |
| Gray Vireo (Vireo vicinior) | Rare |
| Gray-crowned Rosy-finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) | Occasional |
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | Common |
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | Common |
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | Common |
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | Abundant |
| Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) | Common |
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | Occasional |
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | Uncommon |
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | Uncommon |
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | Common |
| Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) | Uncommon |
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | Abundant |
| Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) | Rare |
| Hammond’s Flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) | Rare |
| Harris’ Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | Uncommon |
| Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni) | Occasional |
| Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) | Occasional |
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | Common |
| Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis) | Rare |
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | Occasional |
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | Uncommon |
| Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) | Uncommon |
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | Occasional |
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | Occasional |
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | Common |
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | Abundant |
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | Abundant |
| House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | Uncommon |
| Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni) | Occasional |
| Inca Dove (Columbina inca) | Common |
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | Uncommon |
| Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) | Rare |
| Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa) | Occasional |
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | Abundant |
| Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) | Rare |
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | Rare |
| Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) | Occasional |
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | Common |
| Lawrence’s Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei) | Occasional |
| Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) | Common |
| Le Conte’s Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) | Occasional |
| Le Conte’s Thrasher (Toxostoma lecontei) | Uncommon |
| Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) | Rare |
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | Occasional |
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | Uncommon |
| Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) | Occasional |
| Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) | Common |
| Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis) | Common |
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | Uncommon |
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | Rare |
| Lewis’ Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) | Uncommon |
| Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | Common |
| Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) | Occasional |
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | Common |
| Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) | Occasional |
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | Uncommon |
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | Rare |
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | Occasional |
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | Occasional |
| Lucy’s Warbler (Oreothlypis luciae) | Uncommon |
| MacGillivray’s Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei) | Common |
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | Rare |
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | Common |
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | Occasional |
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | Common |
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | Rare |
| Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) | Occasional |
| Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) | Common |
| Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) | Uncommon |
| Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) | Occasional |
| Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus) | Uncommon |
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | Abundant |
| Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia) | Occasional |
| Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) | Uncommon |
| Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) | Occasional |
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | Common |
| Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) | Uncommon |
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | Common |
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | Rare |
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | Common |
| Northern Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium gnoma) | Occasional |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | Common |
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | Occasional |
| Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) | Common |
| Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) | Occasional |
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | Rare |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | Uncommon |
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) | Common |
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | Occasional |
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | Rare |
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) | Rare |
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | Occasional |
| Pacific Wren (Troglodytes pacificus) | Uncommon |
| Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) | Uncommon |
| Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) | Occasional |
| Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus) | Occasional |
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | Rare |
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | Rare |
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | Rare |
| Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) | Common |
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | Occasional |
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | Common |
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | Uncommon |
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | Occasional |
| Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) | Uncommon |
| Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus) | Uncommon |
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | Common |
| Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) | Occasional |
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | Rare |
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | Rare |
| Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) | Occasional |
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | Occasional |
| Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) | Occasional |
| Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus) | Occasional |
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | Rare |
| Red Knot (Calidris canutus) | Occasional |
| Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria) | Occasional |
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | Uncommon |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | Uncommon |
| Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) | Rare |
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | Rare |
| Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) | Common |
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | Occasional |
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | Rare |
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | Uncommon |
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | Common |
| Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) | Occasional |
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | Abundant |
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | Common |
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | Uncommon |
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | Common |
| Ringed Turtle-dove (Streptopelia risoria) | Occasional |
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | Common |
| Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) | Common |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | Uncommon |
| Ross’ Goose (Chen rossii) | Uncommon |
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | Occasional |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) | Abundant |
| Ruby-throated Humming Bird (Archilochus colubris) | Occasional |
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | Common |
| Ruddy Ground-dove (Columbina talpacoti) | Occasional |
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | Occasional |
| Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) | Uncommon |
| Rufous-backed Robin (Turdus rufopalliatus) | Occasional |
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | Rare |
| Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabini) | Occasional |
| Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) | Uncommon |
| Sagebrush Sparrow (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) | Uncommon |
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | Occasional |
| Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) | Occasional |
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | Abundant |
| Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | Abundant |
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | Occasional |
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) | Occasional |
| Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum) | Uncommon |
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) | Occasional |
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | Occasional |
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | Occasional |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | Uncommon |
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | Occasional |
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | Occasional |
| Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | Occasional |
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | Occasional |
| Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) | Uncommon |
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | Common |
| Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) | Occasional |
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | Uncommon |
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | Common |
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | Uncommon |
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | Common |
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | Common |
| Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) | Occasional |
| Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) | Occasional |
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | Occasional |
| Streak-backed Oriole (Icterus pustulatus) | Occasional |
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | Rare |
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | Occasional |
| Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | Uncommon |
| Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | Uncommon |
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | Rare |
| Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) | Rare |
| Thayer’s Gull (Larus thayeri) | Occasional |
| Thick-billed Longspur (Rhynchophanes mccownii) | Occasional |
| Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | Uncommon |
| Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi) | Uncommon |
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | Common |
| Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) | Occasional |
| Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) | Occasional |
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | Occasional |
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | Common |
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | Occasional |
| Varied Bunting (Passerina versicolor) | Occasional |
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | Uncommon |
| Vaux’s Swift (Chaetura vauxi) | Rare |
| Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps) | Abundant |
| Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) | Common |
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | Uncommon |
| Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) | Common |
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | Rare |
| Virginia’s Warbler (Vermivora virginiae) | Uncommon |
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | Common |
| Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) | Uncommon |
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | Common |
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | Common |
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | Abundant |
| Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) | Uncommon |
| Western Screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii) | Rare |
| Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) | Uncommon |
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | Common |
| Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulus) | Common |
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | Occasional |
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | Rare |
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | Abundant |
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | Uncommon |
| White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) | Occasional |
| White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) | Occasional |
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | Uncommon |
| White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) | Abundant |
| White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) | Rare |
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) | Occasional |
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | Occasional |
| Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) | Occasional |
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | Uncommon |
| Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | Uncommon |
| Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | Common |
| Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | Common |
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | Uncommon |
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | Common |
| Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) | Occasional |
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | Occasional |
| Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus) | Occasional |
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | Abundant |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | Uncommon |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Occasional |
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | Uncommon |
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | Abundant |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | Abundant |
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | Occasional |
| Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) | Occasional |
| Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus) | Occasional |
Death Valley National Park Reptiles
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) | Uncommon |
| California Lyresnake (Trimorphodon lyrophanes) | Uncommon |
| Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum) | Common |
| Common Chuckwalla (Sauromalus ater) | Common |
| Common Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus graciosus) | Abundant |
| Common Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana) | Abundant |
| Desert Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) | Common |
| Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) | Common |
| Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia vigilis) | Common |
| Desert Nightsnake (Hypsiglena chlorophaea) | Common |
| Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) | Common |
| Gilbert’s Skink (Plestiodon gilberti) | Uncommon |
| Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer) | Common |
| Great Basin Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores) | Common |
| Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) | Common |
| Long-nosed Snake (Rhinocheilus lecontei) | Uncommon |
| Mojave Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma scoparia) | Common |
| Panamint Alligator Lizard (Elgaria panamintina) | Rare |
| Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus) | Rare |
| Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) | Uncommon |
| Sidewinder (Crotalus cerastes) | Common |
| Smith’s Black-headed Snake (Tantilla hobartsmithi) | Uncommon |
| Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata) | Unknown |
| Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii) | Common |
| Spotted Leaf-nosed Snake (Phyllorhynchus decurtatus) | Common |
| Striped Whipsnake (Coluber taeniatus) | Uncommon |
| Tiger Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris) | Abundant |
| Western Banded Gecko (Coleonyx variegatus) | Common |
| Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis) | Common |
| Western Groundsnake (Sonora semiannulata) | Common |
| Western Patch-nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis) | Uncommon |
| Western Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis occipitalis) | Uncommon |
| Western Threadsnake (Rena humilis) | Uncommon |
| Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus uniformis) | Common |
| Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) | Abundant |
Death Valley National Park Amphibians
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) | Common |
| Baja California Treefrog (Pseudacris hypochondriaca) | Common |
| Inyo Mountains Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps campi) | Uncommon |
| Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) | Common |
| Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas) | Abundant |
Death Valley National Park Fish
| Name | Abundance |
|---|---|
| Amargosa River Pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis amargosae) | Common |
| Cottonball Marsh Pupfish (Cyprinodon milleri) | Common |
| Devils Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) | Unknown |
| Goldfish (Carassius auratus) | Unknown |
| Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) | Unknown |
| Salt Creek Pupfish (Cyprinodon salinus) | Common |
| Saratoga Springs Pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis nevadensis) | Common |
| Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) | Common |
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Death Valley National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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