Bird Watching

Look up! Birds like this turkey vulture are commonly sighted flying overhead.

NPS Photo

Although Natural Bridges may not be known for birding, the park has a variety of birds, from the black-chinned hummingbird to the common raven. 207 species of birds call Natural Bridges home or travel through the monument during migration.

Where to Bird Watch

For smaller birds, look among the pinyon-juniper forest or on the ground around vegetation. Larger birds – especially raptors - can be seen flying or perched on a tree or rock that gives them a good view of the surrounding landscape.

On the canyon floor, water and riparian plants attract birds not normally found in the high desert. The songs of many birds drift through the canyons, rewarding adventurous hikers. You may even be startled by small birds making lots of noise in the brush as they scavenge for insects and seeds in ground litter (leaves, twigs, grasses).

Basic Birding Etiquette:

• Tread lightly and quietly – birds may spook easily

• Don’t feed the birds to try to get them to come to you

• Please refrain from using recorded bird calls to elicit responses

Books about Birds

Books and other materials on birds are available for purchase in the visitor center bookstore.

 

With a distinctive song that echoes throughout the canyons, canyon wrens are easier to hear than see.

NPS Photo by Andrew Kuhn

Common Birds

During your visit, you’ll most likely see or hear one of the following:

• Raven – Ravens are common throughout the park.
• Western Scrub Jay – These jays are particularly common around the campground and visitor center.
• Juniper Titmouse & Mountain Chickadee – Look for these smaller birds in the pinyon-juniper forests on the mesa top.
• Canyon Wren – Canyon wrens are easier heard than seen. As you hike into the canyons, listen for their distinctive cascading trill.

 

Golden eagles and other raptors are usually spotted flying overhead or on high perches.

NPS Photo

Rarer Finds

Birds found in the park, though not commonly seen include:

• Golden Eagle – look for this large raptor flying overheard or on a high perch.
• Green-Winged Teal – Lucky birders may get a rare sight – a duck in the desert! Look for teals in the large ephemeral pools on the canyon floor.
• Northern Pygmy Owl – These small owls are often active during the day – look for them being mobbed by flocks of smaller birds (the owls’ main food source) among the trees.

Species List

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Park:

Natural Bridges National Monument

Select a Species Category (optional):

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Species attribute definitions

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Visit NPSpecies for more comprehensive information and advanced search capability. Have a suggestion or comment on this list? Let us know.

 

Learn More

You can explore birds and wildlife watching from national parks around the country.

• 

  Free As a Bird

  Birds & Birding

• 

  Observe the World Around You

  Watching Wildlife