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Wildlife in Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Palo Duro Canyon right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

8,696
recent observations
30
species listed
14
birds
12
plants
3
reptiles & amphibians

Naturalists have logged 8,696 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Palo Duro Canyon. The most frequently seen is the Northern Cardinal, with 797 recorded sightings.

Birds account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (14 of the species listed here), followed by plants (12).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Palo Duro Canyon

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
797 observations
Eastern Collared Lizard
Crotaphytus collaris
624 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
600 observations
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
474 observations
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
467 observations
Christmas Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
418 observations · iNaturalist
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
Melanerpes aurifrons
382 observations
Tahoka Daisy
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
342 observations · iNaturalist
Honey Mesquite
Neltuma glandulosa
340 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
337 observations
Black-crested Titmouse
Baeolophus atricristatus
311 observations
Silverleaf Nightshade
Solanum elaeagnifolium
294 observations · iNaturalist
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
292 observations
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
277 observations
Common Checkered Whiptail
Aspidoscelis tesselatus
260 observations
Common Side-blotched Lizard
Uta stansburiana
249 observations
Little Leaf Sumac
Rhus microphylla
234 observations · iNaturalist
American Basketflower
Plectocephalus americanus
233 observations · iNaturalist
Western Soapberry
Sapindus drummondii
174 observations · iNaturalist
Lotebush
Condaliopsis obtusifolia
168 observations · iNaturalist
Feather Dalea
Dalea formosa
163 observations
Canyon Towhee
Melozone fusca
155 observations
Redberry Juniper
Juniperus pinchotii
155 observations · iNaturalist
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
145 observations
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
140 observations
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
139 observations
Trailing Windmills
Allionia incarnata
136 observations · iNaturalist
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
133 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
131 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
126 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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