Mesa Verde National Park covers just over 52,000 acres of the Colorado Plateau in southwestern Colorado, rising from about 6,000 feet in the southern canyon bottoms to 8,572 feet at Park Point. The park sits in a transition zone between the arid scrublands to the south and the forested Rocky Mountains to the north, and its sagebrush, piñon-juniper woodland, oak scrub and Douglas-fir canyons support a surprising variety of wildlife. NPS counts about 74 species of mammals, some 200 species of birds, 16 reptiles and five amphibians in the park. Mule deer are the largest mammals most visitors will see, often grazing where forest meets open ground along the roads and trails, especially at dawn and dusk. Elk, black bears, bobcats and coyotes also live here, and the mountain lion, the top predator of the Mesa Verde ecosystem, hunts mainly mule deer. Woodrats are easy to overlook, but their long-lasting nests, built from anything they can carry, have helped researchers learn how the Ancestral Pueblo people lived here centuries ago.
The Audubon Society has named Mesa Verde a Colorado Important Bird Area. Noisy flocks of pinyon jays, along with juniper titmice and mountain chickadees, work the piñon-juniper woodlands, while golden eagles nest in the cliffs of the North Rim and hunt over the oak scrub. The Ancestral Pueblo people kept domesticated turkeys, which gave them feathers, meat, bones and eggs. More than half of the park has burned in the last 30 years, and the open meadows left behind are good places to look for western and mountain bluebirds and northern flickers. The park also protects breeding pairs of peregrine falcons and the threatened Mexican spotted owl, the rarest bird in the park, which lives only in mature, old-growth canyon forests. Collared lizards bask on rocks in open areas such as Wetherill Mesa, and the prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in the park. Red-spotted toads, Woodhouse’s toads and tiger salamanders can spend weeks buried underground and come out after summer rains. Fish live in only a small part of the park, where the boundary meets the Mancos River. Keep reading to see featured photos of Mesa Verde’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Mesa Verde 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.
Mesa Verde Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Mesa Verde 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)
- 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.
Mesa Verde National Park Species List
The wildlife at Mesa Verde 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 Mesa Verde National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Mesa Verde.
American RobinBird · Abundant
Steller’s JayBird · Abundant
American Black BearMammal · Common
BobcatMammal · Common
CoyoteMammal · Common
ElkMammal · Common
Mountain LionMammal · Common
Mule DeerMammal · Common
Golden-mantled Ground SquirrelMammal · Uncommon
Red FoxMammal · Uncommon
Bald EagleBird · Uncommon
Sandhill CraneBird · OccasionalMesa Verde National Park Mammals
65 species
- Abert’s Squirrel(Sciurus aberti)
- American Badger Photo post(Taxidea taxus)
- American Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- American Black Bear Photo post(Ursus americanus)
- American Mink(Mustela vison)
- Big Brown Bat(Eptesicus fuscus)
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus californicus)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Botta’s Pocket Gopher(Thomomys bottae)
- Brazilian Free-tailed Bat(Tadarida brasiliensis)
- Brush Mouse(Peromyscus boylii)
- Bushy-tailed Woodrat(Neotoma cinerea)
- California Myotis(Myotis californicus)
- Canyon Mouse(Peromyscus crinitus)
- Colorado Chipmunk(Neotamias rufus)
- Common Gray Fox(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)
- Crawford’s Gray Shrew(Notiosorex crawfordi)
- Deer Mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus)
- Desert Cottontail(Sylvilagus audubonii)
- Dwarf Shrew(Sorex nanus)
- Elk Photo post(Cervus elaphus)
- Ermine(Mustela erminea)
- Fringed Myotis(Myotis thysanodes)
- Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Photo post(Spermophilus lateralis)
- Gunnison’s Prairie Dog(Cynomys gunnisoni)
- Hoary Bat(Lasiurus cinereus)
- Horse(Equus caballus)
- Least Chipmunk(Tamias minimus)
- Little Brown Bat(Myotis lucifugus)
- Long-eared Myotis(Myotis evotis)
- Long-legged Myotis(Myotis volans)
- Long-tailed Vole(Microtus longicaudus)
- Long-tailed Weasel(Mustela frenata)
- Masked Shrew(Sorex cinereus)
- Merriam’s Shrew(Sorex merriami)
- Mexican Vole(Microtus mexicanus)
- Mexican Woodrat(Neotoma mexicana)
- Montane Shrew(Sorex monticolus)
- Montane Vole(Microtus montanus)
- Mountain Cottontail(Sylvilagus nuttallii)
- Mountain Lion Photo post(Puma concolor)
- Mule Deer Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- Muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus)
- North American Porcupine Photo post(Erethizon dorsatum)
- Pallid Bat(Antrozous pallidus)
- Piñon Deermouse(Peromyscus truei)
- Plains Pocket Mouse(Perognathus flavescens)
- Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
- Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes)
- Red Squirrel(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
- Ringtail(Bassariscus astutus)
- Rock Squirrel(Spermophilus variegatus)
- Silver-haired Bat(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- Spotted Bat(Euderma maculatum)
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
- Townsend’s Big-eared Bat(Corynorhinus townsendii)
- Western Harvest Mouse(Reithrodontomys megalotis)
- Western Pipistrelle(Pipistrellus hesperus)
- Western Small-footed Myotis(Myotis ciliolabrum)
- Western Spotted Skunk(Spilogale gracilis)
- White-tailed Antelope Squirrel(Ammospermophilus leucurus)
- White-throated Woodrat(Neotoma albigula)
- Yellow-bellied Marmot(Marmota flaviventris)
- Yuma Myotis(Myotis yumanensis)
No mammals match.
Mesa Verde National Park Birds
205 species
- American Coot(Fulica americana)
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Dipper(Cinclus mexicanus)
- American Goldfinch(Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Pipit(Anthus rubescens)
- American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Three-toed Woodpecker(Picoides dorsalis)
- American Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea)
- American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Ash-throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Band-tailed Pigeon(Patagioenas fasciata)
- Bank Swallow(Riparia riparia)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Bell’s Vireo(Vireo bellii)
- Belted Kingfisher(Ceryle alcyon)
- Bewick’s Wren(Thryomanes bewickii)
- Black Swift(Cypseloides niger)
- Black-capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus)
- Black-chinned Hummingbird(Archilochus alexandri)
- Black-crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Black-throated Gray Warbler(Dendroica nigrescens)
- Black-throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata)
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher(Polioptila caerulea)
- Blue-winged Teal(Anas discors)
- Bohemian Waxwing(Bombycilla garrulus)
- Brewer’s Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Brewer’s Sparrow(Spizella breweri)
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus)
- Broad-winged Hawk(Buteo platypterus)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown-capped Rosy-Finch(Leucosticte australis)
- Brown-crested Flycatcher(Myiarchus tyrannulus)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Bullock’s Oriole(Icterus bullockii)
- Bushtit(Psaltriparus minimus)
- California Condor(Gymnogyps californianus)
- Calliope Hummingbird(Stellula calliope)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Canada Jay(Perisoreus canadensis)
- Canyon Towhee(Pipilo fuscus)
- Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus)
- Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cassin’s Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans)
- Cedar Waxwing(Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Cinnamon Teal(Anas cyanoptera)
- Clark’s Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana)
- Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- Common Merganser(Mergus merganser)
- Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)
- Common Poorwill(Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
- Common Raven(Corvus corax)
- Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas)
- Cooper’s Hawk(Accipiter cooperii)
- Cordilleran Flycatcher(Empidonax occidentalis)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Dusky Flycatcher(Empidonax oberholseri)
- Dusky Grouse(Dendragapus obscurus)
- Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Ferruginous Hawk(Buteo regalis)
- Field Sparrow(Spizella pusilla)
- Flammulated Owl(Otus flammeolus)
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher(Tyrannus savana)
- Gambel’s Quail(Callipepla gambelii)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Grace’s Warbler(Dendroica graciae)
- Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis)
- Gray Flycatcher(Empidonax wrightii)
- Gray Vireo(Vireo vicinior)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch(Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Crested Flycatcher(Myiarchus crinitus)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Greater Roadrunner(Geococcyx californianus)
- Green-tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Hammond’s Flycatcher(Empidonax hammondii)
- Harris’s Hawk(Parabuteo unicinctus)
- Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus)
- House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
- House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)
- Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)
- Juniper Titmouse(Baeolophus ridgwayi)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Lapland Longspur(Calcarius lapponicus)
- Lark Sparrow(Chondestes grammacus)
- Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)
- Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus)
- Lesser Goldfinch(Carduelis psaltria)
- Lewis’s Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)
- Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus)
- Long-eared Owl(Asio otus)
- Lucy’s Warbler(Vermivora luciae)
- MacGillivray’s Warbler(Oporornis tolmiei)
- Magnolia Warbler(Dendroica magnolia)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa)
- Marsh Wren(Cistothorus palustris)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mexican Spotted Owl(Strix occidentalis lucida)
- Mississippi Kite(Ictinia mississippiensis)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli)
- Mountain Plover(Charadrius montanus)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Nashville Warbler(Vermivora ruficapilla)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)
- Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)
- Northern Pintail(Anas acuta)
- Northern Pygmy-Owl(Glaucidium gnoma)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Northern Saw-whet Owl(Aegolius acadicus)
- Northern Shrike(Lanius excubitor)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)
- Phainopepla(Phainopepla nitens)
- Pied-billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pine Grosbeak(Pinicola enucleator)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
- Plumbeous Vireo(Vireo plumbeus)
- Prairie Falcon(Falco mexicanus)
- Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea)
- Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-naped Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
- Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)
- Red-winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Ring-billed Gull(Larus delawarensis)
- Ring-necked Duck(Aythya collaris)
- Rock Pigeon(Columba livia)
- Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus)
- Rough-legged Hawk(Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis)
- Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus)
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps)
- Sage Sparrow(Amphispiza belli)
- Sage Thrasher(Oreoscoptes montanus)
- Sandhill Crane Photo post(Grus canadensis)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)
- Scaled Quail(Callipepla squamata)
- Scott’s Oriole(Icterus parisorum)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Short-eared Owl(Asio flammeus)
- Snow Goose(Chen caerulescens)
- Snowy Egret(Egretta thula)
- Snowy Owl(Bubo scandiacus)
- Solitary Sandpiper(Tringa solitaria)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus)
- Steller’s Jay Photo post(Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Swainson’s Hawk(Buteo swainsoni)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Townsend’s Warbler(Dendroica townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)
- Tufted Titmouse(Baeolophus bicolor)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Varied Bunting(Passerina versicolor)
- Varied Thrush(Ixoreus naevius)
- Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Virginia’s Warbler(Vermivora virginiae)
- Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)
- Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana)
- Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis)
- Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Screech-Owl(Megascops kennicottii)
- Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana)
- Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi)
- White-throated Swift(Aeronautes saxatalis)
- Wild Turkey(Meleagris gallopavo)
- Williamson’s Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
- Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii)
- Wilson’s Phalarope(Phalaropus tricolor)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Wilsonia pusilla)
- Winter Wren(Troglodytes troglodytes)
- Wood Duck(Aix sponsa)
- Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay(Aphelocoma californica)
- Yellow Warbler(Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-breasted Chat(Icteria virens)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)
No birds match.
Mesa Verde National Park Reptiles
16 species
- Collared Lizard(Crotaphytus collaris)
- Common Earless Lizard(Holbrookia maculata)
- Eastern Fence Lizard(Sceloporus undulatus)
- Eastern Milk Snake(Lampropeltis triangulum)
- Gophersnake(Pituophis catenifer)
- Greater Short-horned Lizard(Phrynosoma hernandesi)
- Many-lined Skink(Eumeces multivirgatus)
- Nightsnake(Hypsiglena torquata)
- Plateau Striped Whiptail(Cnemidophorus velox)
- Prairie Rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis)
- Sagebrush Lizard(Sceloporus graciosus)
- Side-blotched Lizard(Uta stansburiana)
- Smooth Greensnake(Opheodrys vernalis)
- Striped Whipsnake(Masticophis taeniatus)
- Terrestrial Garter Snake(Thamnophis elegans)
- Tree Lizard(Urosaurus ornatus)
No reptiles match.
Mesa Verde National Park Amphibians
3 species
- Red-spotted Toad(Bufo punctatus)
- Tiger Salamander(Ambystoma tigrinum)
- Woodhouse’s Toad(Bufo woodhousii)
No amphibians match.
Mesa Verde National Park Fish
0 species
NPSpecies currently lists no fish as present in this park.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Mesa Verde National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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