Petrified Forest National Park is best known for its petrified wood and the colorful badlands of the Painted Desert, but its grasslands, shrublands, juniper-topped mesas and the cottonwood and willow corridor along the Rio Puerco also support a surprising variety of wildlife. Birds, lizards and rabbits are the animals visitors see most often. Many of the park’s animals are nocturnal or crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk, the coolest times of the day, so your best chance of seeing wildlife is to arrive as early as park hours allow and stay as late as you can. Those are also the hours when low sun brings out the colors of the Painted Desert. Pronghorn, mule deer, coyotes, kit foxes, bobcats and Gunnison’s prairie dogs are among the many mammals found in the park, along with black-tailed jackrabbits, desert cottontails and a long list of bats, woodrats and mice. More than sixteen kinds of lizards and snakes live here. Eastern collared lizards can sprint away on their hind legs, the greater short-horned lizard can squirt blood from its eyes to deter coyotes and foxes, and several whiptail species are made up entirely of females. Spadefoot toads spend most of their lives underground and become active during the summer monsoon, when they emerge to mate.
NPS counts 258 bird species in the park. Year-round residents include the common raven, house finch, greater roadrunner, horned lark and red-tailed hawk. Dark-eyed juncos, mountain bluebirds and white-crowned sparrows arrive for the winter, while barn swallows, black-headed grosbeaks, burrowing owls and lark sparrows spend the summer. American avocets are present from March through September and breed in the park. August and September are the best months to look for migrants such as the rufous hummingbird, cedar waxwing, ruby-crowned kinglet and almost a dozen species of warblers. Keep reading to see featured photos of Petrified Forest’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Petrified Forest 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.
Petrified Forest Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Petrified Forest 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.
Petrified Forest National Park Species List
The wildlife at Petrified Forest 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 Petrified Forest National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Petrified Forest.
American RobinBird · Common
American Black BearMammal · Occasional
ElkMammal · Occasional
Bald EagleBird · Occasional
Steller’s JayBird · Occasional
American BadgerMammal · Unknown
BobcatMammal · Unknown
CoyoteMammal · Unknown
Mule DeerMammal · Unknown
North American PorcupineMammal · Unknown
PronghornMammal · UnknownPetrified Forest National Park Mammals
36 species
- American Badger Photo post(Taxidea taxus)NPS lists the badger among the mammals found in the park (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- American Black Bear Photo post(Ursus americanus)
- Black-tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus californicus)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Botta’s Pocket Gopher(Thomomys bottae)
- Brush Mouse(Peromyscus boylii)NPS lists the brush mouse among the mammals found in the park (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Bushy-tailed Woodrat(Neotoma cinerea)
- California Myotis(Myotis californicus)
- Canyon Bat(Pipistrellus hesperus)
- Canyon Mouse(Peromyscus crinitus)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)
- Deer Mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus)
- Desert Cottontail(Sylvilagus audubonii)
- Desert Shrew(Notiosorex crawfordi)
- Elk Photo post(Cervus elaphus)
- Fringed Myotis(Myotis thysanodes)
- Gunnison’s Prairie Dog(Cynomys gunnisoni)
- Kit Fox(Vulpes macrotis)
- Mule Deer Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- North American Porcupine Photo post(Erethizon dorsatum)
- Northern Grasshopper Mouse(Onychomys leucogaster)
- Ord’s Kangaroo Rat(Dipodomys ordii)
- Pallid Bat(Antrozous pallidus)
- Piñon Deermouse(Peromyscus truei)
- Plains Pocket Mouse(Perognathus flavescens)
- Pronghorn Photo post(Antilocapra americana)
- Silky Pocket Mouse(Perognathus flavus)
- Silver-haired Bat(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- Spotted Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus spilosoma)NPS lists the spotted ground squirrel among the mammals found in the park (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)NPS lists the striped skunk among the mammals found in the park (NPSpecies: Probably Present).
- Townsend’s Big-eared Bat(Corynorhinus townsendii)
- Western Harvest Mouse(Reithrodontomys megalotis)
- White-footed Mouse(Peromyscus leucopus)
- White-tailed Antelope Squirrel(Ammospermophilus leucurus)
- White-throated Woodrat(Neotoma albigula)
- Yuma Myotis(Myotis yumanensis)
No mammals match.
Petrified Forest National Park Birds
221 species
- Acorn Woodpecker(Melanerpes formicivorus)
- Allen’s Hummingbird(Selasphorus sasin)
- American Avocet(Recurvirostra americana)
- American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus)
- American Coot(Fulica americana)
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Goldfinch(Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Pipit(Anthus rubescens)
- American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea)
- American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Anna’s Hummingbird(Calypte anna)
- Ash-throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens)
- Baird’s Sandpiper(Calidris bairdii)
- Baird’s Sparrow(Ammodramus bairdii)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Band-tailed Pigeon(Columba fasciata)
- Bank Swallow(Riparia riparia)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Belted Kingfisher(Ceryle alcyon)
- Bendire’s Thrasher(Toxostoma bendirei)
- Bewick’s Wren(Thryomanes bewickii)
- Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans)
- Black-and-white Warbler(Mniotilta varia)
- Black-crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Black-tailed Gnatcatcher(Polioptila melanura)
- 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)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown Pelican(Pelecanus occidentalis)
- Brown Thrasher(Toxostoma rufum)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Bullock’s Oriole(Icterus bullockii)
- Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia)
- Bushtit(Psaltriparus minimus)
- Calliope Hummingbird(Stellula calliope)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Canyon Towhee(Pipilo fuscus)
- Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cassin’s Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans)
- Cassin’s Sparrow(Aimophila cassinii)
- Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis)
- Cedar Waxwing(Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chestnut-collared Longspur(Calcarius ornatus)
- Chestnut-sided Warbler(Dendroica pensylvanica)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Cinnamon Teal(Anas cyanoptera)
- Clark’s Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana)
- Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- 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)
- Curve-billed Thrasher(Toxostoma curvirostre)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Dusky Flycatcher(Empidonax oberholseri)
- Eared Grebe(Podiceps nigricollis)
- Eastern Meadowlark(Sturnella magna)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Ferruginous Hawk(Buteo regalis)
- Fox Sparrow(Passerella iliaca)
- Franklin’s Gull(Larus pipixcan)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Grace’s Warbler(Dendroica graciae)
- Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Egret(Ardea alba)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Great-tailed Grackle(Quiscalus mexicanus)
- Greater Roadrunner(Geococcyx californianus)
- Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca)
- Green Heron(Butorides virescens)
- Green-tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Gull-billed Tern(Sterna nilotica)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Hammond’s Flycatcher(Empidonax hammondii)
- Hepatic Tanager(Piranga flava)
- Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)
- Hermit Warbler(Dendroica occidentalis)
- Herring Gull(Larus argentatus)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus)
- House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
- House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)
- Hutton’s Vireo(Vireo huttoni)
- Inca Dove(Columbina inca)
- Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)
- Juniper Titmouse(Baeolophus ridgwayi)
- Kentucky Warbler(Oporornis formosus)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker(Picoides scalaris)
- Lark Bunting(Calamospiza melanocorys)
- Lark Sparrow(Chondestes grammacus)
- Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)
- Least Grebe(Tachybaptus dominicus)
- Least Sandpiper(Calidris minutilla)
- Lesser Goldfinch(Carduelis psaltria)
- Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis)
- Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes)
- Lewis’s Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)
- Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus)
- Long-billed Curlew(Numenius americanus)
- Long-eared Owl(Asio otus)
- Lucy’s Warbler(Vermivora luciae)
- MacGillivray’s Warbler(Oporornis tolmiei)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Marsh Wren(Cistothorus palustris)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Mountain Chickadee(Poecile gambeli)
- Mountain Plover(Charadrius montanus)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Nashville Warbler(Vermivora ruficapilla)
- Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet(Camptostoma imberbe)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)
- Northern Pintail(Anas acuta)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Northern Shoveler(Anas clypeata)
- Northern Waterthrush(Seiurus noveboracensis)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Painted Bunting(Passerina ciris)
- Palm Warbler(Dendroica palmarum)
- Phainopepla(Phainopepla nitens)
- Pied-billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
- Plumbeus Vireo(Vireo plumbeus)
- Prairie Falcon(Falco mexicanus)
- Purple Martin(Progne subis)
- Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea)
- Pyrrhuloxia(Cardinalis sinuatus)
- Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-faced Warbler(Cardellina rubrifrons)
- 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 Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
- Rough-legged Hawk(Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruddy Duck(Oxyura jamaicensis)
- Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus)
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps)
- Sage Thrasher(Oreoscoptes montanus)
- Sagebrush Sparrow(Amphispiza belli)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)
- Scaled Quail(Callipepla squamata)
- Scarlet Tanager(Piranga olivacea)
- Scott’s Oriole(Icterus parisorum)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Short-eared Owl(Asio flammeus)
- Snowy Egret(Egretta thula)
- Solitary Sandpiper(Tringa solitaria)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Sora(Porzana carolina)
- Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus)
- Steller’s Jay Photo post(Cyanocitta stelleri)
- Summer Tanager(Piranga rubra)
- Swainson’s Hawk(Buteo swainsoni)
- Swainson’s Thrush(Catharus ustulatus)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Townsend’s Warbler(Dendroica townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Upland Sandpiper(Bartramia longicauda)
- Vaux’s Swift(Chaetura vauxi)
- Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus)
- Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Virginia Rail(Rallus limicola)
- Virginia’s Warbler(Vermivora virginiae)
- Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)
- Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana)
- Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis)
- Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Sandpiper(Calidris mauri)
- Western Screech-Owl(Megascops kennicottii)
- Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana)
- Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi)
- White-throated Sparrow(Zonotrichia albicollis)
- White-throated Swift(Aeronautes saxatalis)
- Willet(Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
- Williamson’s Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
- Wilson’s Phalarope(Phalaropus tricolor)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Wilsonia pusilla)
- 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.
Petrified Forest National Park Reptiles
16 species
- California Kingsnake(Lampropeltis getula)
- Chihuahuan Nightsnake(Hypsiglena torquata)
- Eastern Collared Lizard(Crotaphytus collaris)
- Eastern Milk Snake(Lampropeltis triangulum)
- Glossy Snake(Arizona elegans)
- Gopher Snake(Pituophis catenifer)
- Greater Short-horned Lizard(Phrynosoma hernandesi)
- Lesser Earless Lizard(Holbrookia maculata)
- Little Striped Whiptail(Cnemidophorus inornatus)
- New Mexico Whiptail(Cnemidophorus neomexicanus)
- Plateau Fence Lizard(Sceloporus undulatus)
- Plateau Striped Whiptail(Cnemidophorus velox)
- Prairie Rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis)
- Sagebrush Lizard(Sceloporus graciosus)
- Side-blotched Lizard(Uta stansburiana)
- Striped Whipsnake(Masticophis taeniatus)
No reptiles match.
Petrified Forest National Park Amphibians
7 species
- Couch’s Spadefoot(Scaphiopus couchii)
- Great Plains Toad(Bufo cognatus)
- Mexican Spadefoot(Spea multiplicata)
- Plains Spadefoot(Spea bombifrons)
- Red-spotted Toad(Bufo punctatus)
- Western Tiger Salamander(Ambystoma tigrinum)
- Woodhouse’s Toad(Bufo woodhousii)
No amphibians match.
Petrified Forest 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 Petrified Forest National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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