Guadalupe Mountains National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🦎 Roundtail Horned Lizard Canyon Trails
🌍 #244 Global · 3.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #45 in North America #46 in Temperate Forest
United States, United States 598 spp. recorded

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a rugged desert mountain reserve in West Texas, rising sharply above vast arid plains. Visitors hike along steep rocky canyons and through high-elevation pine forests across the ancient limestone reef.

31.927° N   104.887° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake ★
LC Endemic

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Crotalus atrox

30–40% · Possible
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake ★

Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus ornatus

20–30% · Possible
Texas Horned Lizard ★
LC

Texas Horned Lizard

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Phrynosoma cornutum

20–30% · Possible
Roundtail Horned Lizard ★
LC

Roundtail Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma modestum

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Greater Earless Lizard
LC

Greater Earless Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cophosaurus texanus

70–80% · Very likely
Southwestern Fence Lizard

Southwestern Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus cowlesi

60–70% · Likely
Spotted Towhee
LC Endemic

Spotted Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pipilo maculatus

60–70% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

60–70% · Likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

60–70% · Likely
Canyon Towhee
LC

Canyon Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone fusca

50–60% · Likely
Ornate Tree Lizard
LC

Ornate Tree Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Urosaurus ornatus

50–60% · Likely
Rock Wren
LC Endemic

Rock Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Salpinctes obsoletus

50–60% · Likely
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
LC

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aimophila ruficeps

50–60% · Likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

50–60% · Likely
Acorn Woodpecker
LC Endemic

Acorn Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes formicivorus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

50–60% · Likely
Aoudad
VU

Aoudad

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ammotragus lervia

30–40% · Possible
Collared Peccary
Endemic

Collared Peccary

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Pecari tajacu

20–30% · Possible
Rock Squirrel
LC

Rock Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otospermophilus variegatus

20–30% · Possible
Pronghorn
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

10–20% · With luck
Mountain Lion
LC

Mountain Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Puma concolor

Insufficient data
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
LC Endemic

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus californicus

Insufficient data
American Black Bear
LC Endemic

American Black Bear

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Ursus americanus

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available

Desert Spotted Skunk

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Spilogale leucoparia

Insufficient data
Ringtail
LC Endemic

Ringtail

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Bassariscus astutus

Insufficient data
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

Insufficient data
Elk
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Spotted Towhee
LC Endemic

Spotted Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pipilo maculatus

60–70% · Likely
Chipping Sparrow
LC

Chipping Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spizella passerina

60–70% · Likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

60–70% · Likely
Canyon Towhee
LC

Canyon Towhee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melozone fusca

50–60% · Likely
Rock Wren
LC Endemic

Rock Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Salpinctes obsoletus

50–60% · Likely
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
LC

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aimophila ruficeps

50–60% · Likely
Acorn Woodpecker
LC Endemic

Acorn Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes formicivorus

50–60% · Likely
Bewick's Wren
LC

Bewick's Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryomanes bewickii

40–50% · Likely
Northern Flicker
LC Endemic

Northern Flicker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colaptes auratus

40–50% · Likely
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
LC

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dryobates scalaris

40–50% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake ★
LC Endemic

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Crotalus atrox

30–40% · Possible
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake ★

Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus ornatus

20–30% · Possible
Texas Horned Lizard ★
LC

Texas Horned Lizard

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Phrynosoma cornutum

20–30% · Possible
Roundtail Horned Lizard ★
LC

Roundtail Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma modestum

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Greater Earless Lizard
LC

Greater Earless Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cophosaurus texanus

70–80% · Very likely
Southwestern Fence Lizard

Southwestern Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus cowlesi

60–70% · Likely
Ornate Tree Lizard
LC

Ornate Tree Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Urosaurus ornatus

50–60% · Likely
Crevice Spiny Lizard
LC

Crevice Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus poinsettii

50–60% · Likely
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail
LC

Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis exsanguis

40–50% · Likely
Diploid Checkered Whiptail
LC

Diploid Checkered Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis tesselatus

20–30% · Possible
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Collared Lizard
LC

Eastern Collared Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crotaphytus collaris

20–30% · Possible
Greater Short-horned Lizard
LC

Greater Short-horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma hernandesi

20–30% · Possible
Rock Rattlesnake
LC

Rock Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus lepidus

10–20% · With luck
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

10–20% · With luck
Ringneck Snake
LC Endemic

Ringneck Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Diadophis punctatus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Red-spotted Toad
LC

Red-spotted Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus punctatus

20–30% · Possible
Couch's Spadefoot
LC

Couch's Spadefoot

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Scaphiopus couchii

Insufficient data
Great Plains Toad
LC

Great Plains Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus cognatus

Insufficient data
Green Toad
LC

Green Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus debilis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦎

Monsoon Lizard Activity

JulAugSep

Afternoon thunderstorms trigger a surge in reptile activity, especially whiptails and rattlesnakes hunting for prey in the moistened soil.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
LC Endemic

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Crotalus atrox

30–40% · Possible
Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail
LC

Chihuahuan Spotted Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis exsanguis

40–50% · Likely
🦎

Horned Lizard Breeding Season

MayJunJul

Male Texas and Roundtail Horned Lizards engage in territorial combat and mate-searching in open desert flats and rocky foothills.

Texas Horned Lizard
LC

Texas Horned Lizard

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Phrynosoma cornutum

20–30% · Possible
Roundtail Horned Lizard
LC

Roundtail Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma modestum

20–30% · Possible
🦌

Fall Wildlife Water Gathering

SepOctNov

As temperatures drop, mule deer, aoudads, and black bears congregate at seasonal water sources in canyon bottoms and springs.

Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

50–60% · Likely
Aoudad
VU

Aoudad

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ammotragus lervia

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
30–40
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
5–10
10–20
20–30
5–10
30–40
40–50
30–40
70–80
40–50
30–40
20–30
5–10
Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake
5–10
5–10
<5
<5
10–20
20–30
20–30
50–60
50–60
<5
20–30
5–10
Texas Horned Lizard
<5
5–10
10–20
30–40
30–40
<5
20–30
<5
30–40
10–20
<5
<5
Roundtail Horned Lizard
5–10
5–10
<5
<5
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
<5
20–30
<5
5–10
Greater Earless Lizard
20–30
30–40
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
10–20
20–30
Southwestern Fence Lizard
20–30
20–30
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
20–30
Spotted Towhee
90–100
80–90
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
Chipping Sparrow
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
30–40
30–40
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
House Finch
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
Canyon Towhee
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
80–90
Ornate Tree Lizard
10–20
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
60–70
30–40
30–40
30–40
Rock Wren
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
50–60
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay
70–80
60–70
80–90
60–70
20–30
30–40
30–40
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
30–40
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
Mule Deer
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
50–60
Acorn Woodpecker
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Animal Events
🦎 Monsoon Lizard Activity
🦎 Horned Lizard Breeding Season
🦌 Fall Wildlife Water Gathering

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🦎 Roundtail Horned Lizard Canyon Trails

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
374
🐒 Mammals
115
🦎 Reptiles
90
🐸 Amphibians
19
598 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
12 Threatened 106 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
59%
📊
Coverage (129 species at ≥5% of 598 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
22%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 3 reptile, 1 mammal)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
86
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
3
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
20

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

The most likely sightings are Greater Earless Lizard (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Southwestern Fence Lizard (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Spotted Towhee (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Chipping Sparrow (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), House Finch (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 598 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Western Diamondback Rattlesnake in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Yes — about 37% of wildlife watchers report a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake sighting in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, based on 17 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Yes — about 25% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Black-tailed Rattlesnake sighting in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, based on 16 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Texas Horned Lizard in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Yes — about 21% of wildlife watchers report a Texas Horned Lizard sighting in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, based on 17 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Roundtail Horned Lizard in Guadalupe Mountains National Park?

Yes — about 25% of wildlife watchers report a Roundtail Horned Lizard sighting in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, based on 16 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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