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Birds of Carlsbad Caverns National Park

The birds most often spotted in Carlsbad Caverns, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

1,784
recent observations
50
species listed
50
birds

Naturalists have logged 1,784 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Carlsbad Caverns. The most frequently seen is the Vermilion Flycatcher, with 150 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Carlsbad Caverns include Blue Mockingbird - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Blue Mockingbird

Most-observed birds in Carlsbad Caverns

Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
150 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
143 observations
Cave Swallow
Petrochelidon fulva
101 observations
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
67 observations
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
64 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
62 observations
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
58 observations
Blue Mockingbird
Melanotis caerulescens
55 observations
Summer Tanager
Piranga rubra
53 observations
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
51 observations
Chipping Sparrow
Spizella passerina
50 observations
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
42 observations
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Dryobates scalaris
37 observations
Cassin's Kingbird
Tyrannus vociferans
36 observations
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
33 observations
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
33 observations
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
33 observations
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
32 observations
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
30 observations
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
30 observations
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
30 observations
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
28 observations
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
28 observations
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
26 observations
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
25 observations
Great Horned Owl
Bubo virginianus
25 observations
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
24 observations
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
23 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
23 observations
Pyrrhuloxia
Cardinalis sinuatus
22 observations
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
22 observations
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
21 observations
Scaled Quail
Callipepla squamata
20 observations
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
20 observations
Brewer's Sparrow
Spizella breweri
20 observations
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
20 observations
Cassin's Sparrow
Peucaea cassinii
20 observations
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
20 observations
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Corthylio calendula
20 observations
Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
19 observations
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
19 observations
Wilson's Warbler
Cardellina pusilla
19 observations
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
18 observations
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
17 observations
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
17 observations
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
17 observations
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
17 observations
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
15 observations
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
15 observations
Scott's Oriole
Icterus parisorum
14 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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