Joshua Tree National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🐦 Common Raven Echoes Joshua Tree
🌍 #258 Global · 3.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #47 in North America #23 in Desert & Scrub
Mojave Desert, United States 593 spp. recorded

Joshua Tree National Park sits in the Mojave Desert of the United States, a desert and dry‑scrub landscape dotted with iconic Joshua trees and massive granite monoliths. The park’s open valleys and rocky outcrops create a stage for desert wildlife.

33.825° N   115.778° 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

Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

30–40% · Possible
Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise ★
CR

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gopherus agassizii

20–30% · Possible
Common Chuckwalla ★
LC

Common Chuckwalla

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sauromalus ater

50–60% · Likely
Greater Roadrunner ★
LC

Greater Roadrunner

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geococcyx californianus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

70–80% · Very likely
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

60–70% · Likely
Mourning Dove
LC Endemic

Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida macroura

60–70% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

50–60% · Likely
Costa's Hummingbird
LC

Costa's Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calypte costae

50–60% · Likely
Desert Spiny Lizard
LC

Desert Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus magister

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Western Whiptail
LC Endemic

Western Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis tigris

40–50% · Likely
Desert Iguana
LC

Desert Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dipsosaurus dorsalis

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
LC

White-tailed Antelope Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ammospermophilus leucurus

40–50% · Likely
Desert Cottontail
LC

Desert Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus audubonii

30–40% · Possible
California Ground Squirrel
LC Endemic

California Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Otospermophilus beecheyi

20–30% · Possible
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
LC Endemic

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus californicus

20–30% · Possible
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

20–30% · Possible
Bobcat
LC Endemic

Bobcat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lynx rufus

5–10% · With luck
California Chipmunk

California Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias obscurus

5–10% · With luck
Gray Fox
LC Endemic

Gray Fox

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

5–10% · With luck
Common Raccoon
LC Endemic

Common Raccoon

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Procyon lotor

5–10% · With luck
Desert Woodrat
LC

Desert Woodrat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Neotoma lepida

5–10% · Rare
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

5–10% · Rare
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel
LC

Round-tailed Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Xerospermophilus tereticaudus

<5% · Rare

⭐ Iconic Species

Greater Roadrunner ★
LC

Greater Roadrunner

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Geococcyx californianus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Common Raven
LC

Common Raven

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corvus corax

80–90% · Very likely
House Finch
LC Endemic

House Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haemorhous mexicanus

70–80% · Very likely
Verdin
LC

Verdin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Auriparus flaviceps

60–70% · Likely
Mourning Dove
LC Endemic

Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida macroura

60–70% · Likely
White-crowned Sparrow
LC

White-crowned Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia leucophrys

50–60% · Likely
Northern Mockingbird
LC

Northern Mockingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mimus polyglottos

50–60% · Likely
Costa's Hummingbird
LC

Costa's Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calypte costae

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-rumped Warbler
LC

Yellow-rumped Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga coronata

50–60% · Likely
Phainopepla
LC

Phainopepla

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Phainopepla nitens

40–50% · Likely
Black Phoebe
LC

Black Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis nigricans

40–50% · Likely
Say's Phoebe
LC Endemic

Say's Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis saya

40–50% · Likely
Bewick's Wren
LC

Bewick's Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thryomanes bewickii

30–40% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise ★
CR

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gopherus agassizii

20–30% · Possible
Common Chuckwalla ★
LC

Common Chuckwalla

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sauromalus ater

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Side-blotched Lizard
LC

Common Side-blotched Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Uta stansburiana

70–80% · Very likely
Desert Spiny Lizard
LC

Desert Spiny Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus magister

50–60% · Likely
Western Whiptail
LC Endemic

Western Whiptail

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis tigris

40–50% · Likely
Desert Iguana
LC

Desert Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Dipsosaurus dorsalis

40–50% · Likely
Western Fence Lizard
LC Endemic

Western Fence Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus occidentalis

30–40% · Possible
Desert Horned Lizard
LC

Desert Horned Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Phrynosoma platyrhinos

30–40% · Possible
Zebra-tailed Lizard
LC

Zebra-tailed Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Callisaurus draconoides

30–40% · Possible
Long-nosed Leopard Lizard
LC

Long-nosed Leopard Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gambelia wislizenii

30–40% · Possible
Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake
Endemic

Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Crotalus pyrrhus

20–30% · Possible
Desert Collared Lizard
LC

Desert Collared Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crotaphytus bicinctores

20–30% · Possible
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

10–20% · With luck
Pond Slider

Pond Slider

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachemys scripta

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Red-spotted Toad
LC

Red-spotted Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus punctatus

10–20% · With luck
California Treefrog
LC

California Treefrog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris cadaverina

5–10% · With luck
Woodhouse's Toad
LC

Woodhouse's Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus woodhousii

5–10% · With luck
Great Plains Toad
LC

Great Plains Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus cognatus

Insufficient data
Western Toad
LC

Western Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus boreas

Insufficient data
American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates catesbeianus

Insufficient data
Pacific chorus frog
LC

Pacific chorus frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris regilla

Insufficient data
Rio Grande Leopard Frog
LC

Rio Grande Leopard Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates berlandieri

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐢

Desert Tortoise Spring Emergence

MarAprMay

Desert tortoises emerge from winter brumation to forage and drink after spring rains — their peak activity window in creosote scrub at lower elevations.

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise
CR

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gopherus agassizii

20–30% · Possible
🐏

Bighorn Sheep Rut and Waterhole Season

AugSep

In late summer desert bighorn descend to permanent water sources like Barker Dam during the heat, and rams begin the rut — the most reliable window to watch them.

Bighorn Sheep
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

30–40% · Possible
🐦

Spring Migration at the Oases

MarAprMay

Joshua Tree is a Pacific Flyway stopover: spring migrants and returning breeders concentrate at Oasis of Mara, Cottonwood Spring and Barker Dam, including large turkey vulture gatherings and arriving Costa's hummingbirds.

Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

20–30% · Possible
Costa's Hummingbird
LC

Costa's Hummingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calypte costae

50–60% · Likely
Phainopepla
LC

Phainopepla

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Phainopepla nitens

40–50% · Likely

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
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
Bighorn Sheep
40–50
30–40
30–40
10–20
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
40–50
Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise
10–20
10–20
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
30–40
30–40
10–20
10–20
Common Chuckwalla
10–20
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
30–40
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
5–10
Greater Roadrunner
10–20
20–30
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
20–30
30–40
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
Common Raven
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
House Finch
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Common Side-blotched Lizard
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
Verdin
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
Mourning Dove
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
80–90
50–60
60–70
50–60
White-crowned Sparrow
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
<5
<5
5–10
5–10
10–20
70–80
70–80
80–90
Northern Mockingbird
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
Costa's Hummingbird
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
Desert Spiny Lizard
5–10
20–30
40–50
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
20–30
5–10
Yellow-rumped Warbler
70–80
60–70
50–60
30–40
<5
<5
5–10
5–10
10–20
60–70
70–80
70–80
Western Whiptail
10–20
20–30
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
20–30
5–10
Desert Iguana
10–20
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
30–40
20–30
5–10
5–10
Animal Events
🐢 Desert Tortoise Spring Emergence
🐦 Spring Migration at the Oases
🐏 Bighorn Sheep Rut and Waterhole Season

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
🐦 Common Raven Echoes Joshua Tree

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
393
🐒 Mammals
105
🦎 Reptiles
84
🐸 Amphibians
11
593 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
18 Threatened 102 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
62%
📊
Coverage (117 species at ≥5% of 593 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
20%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 4 reptile)
46% Global avg
59%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
76
🌟
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
17

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Joshua Tree National Park?

The most likely sightings are Common Raven (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers), House Finch (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Side-blotched Lizard (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Verdin (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Mourning Dove (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 593 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Joshua Tree National Park for wildlife?

April 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 Bighorn Sheep in Joshua Tree National Park?

Yes — about 32% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 446 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise in Joshua Tree National Park?

Yes — about 27% of wildlife watchers report a Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 340 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Chuckwalla in Joshua Tree National Park?

Yes — about 55% of wildlife watchers report a Common Chuckwalla sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 1,286 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Greater Roadrunner in Joshua Tree National Park?

Yes — about 16% of wildlife watchers report a Greater Roadrunner sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 733 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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