Nahuel Huapi National Park

🇦🇷 Argentina

🐦 Magellanic Woodpeckers in Lenga Forest
🌍 #276 Global · 2.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #41 in South America #59 in Temperate Forest
Northern Patagonia, Argentina 414 spp. recorded

Nestled in northern Patagonia, Nahuel Huapi National Park protects a rugged temperate forest of ancient beech trees, deep blue glacial lakes, and snowy Andean slopes. Unlike drier steppe reserves nearby, this humid mountainous sanctuary features dense woodlands and rocky shorelines carved by glaciers.

-40.822° S   71.355° 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

Andean Condor ★
VU

Andean Condor

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vultur gryphus

10–20% · With luck
Magellanic Woodpecker ★
LC

Magellanic Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campephilus magellanicus

10–20% · With luck
Culpeo ★
LC

Culpeo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycalopex culpaeus

40–50% · Likely
Guanaco ★
LC

Guanaco

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lama guanicoe

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Austral Thrush
LC

Austral Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus falcklandii

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Lapwing
LC

Southern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus chilensis

60–70% · Likely
Painted Tree Iguana
LC

Painted Tree Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus pictus

60–70% · Likely
Black-chinned Siskin
LC

Black-chinned Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus barbatus

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-collared Sparrow
LC Endemic

Rufous-collared Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia capensis

50–60% · Likely
Thorn-tailed Rayadito
LC Endemic

Thorn-tailed Rayadito

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphrastura spinicauda

50–60% · Likely
Black-faced Ibis
LC

Black-faced Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Theristicus melanopis

50–60% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

50–60% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

50–60% · Likely
Dark-bellied Cinclodes
LC

Dark-bellied Cinclodes

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinclodes patagonicus

50–60% · Likely
Tufted Tit-Tyrant
LC

Tufted Tit-Tyrant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anairetes parulus

50–60% · Likely
Patagonian Sierra-Finch
LC

Patagonian Sierra-Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phrygilus patagonicus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Culpeo ★
LC

Culpeo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycalopex culpaeus

40–50% · Likely
Guanaco ★
LC

Guanaco

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lama guanicoe

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Elk
LC Endemic

Elk

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cervus elaphus

10–20% · With luck
Brown Hare
LC

Brown Hare

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus europaeus

10–20% · With luck
Northern Mountain Viscacha
LC

Northern Mountain Viscacha

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lagidium viscacia

5–10% · With luck
Fallow Deer
LC

Fallow Deer

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Dama dama

5–10% · With luck
Southern Monito del Monte
NT

Southern Monito del Monte

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Dromiciops gliroides

5–10% · With luck
Large Hairy Armadillo
LC

Large Hairy Armadillo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chaetophractus villosus

Insufficient data
Pampas Fox
LC

Pampas Fox

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycalopex gymnocercus

Insufficient data
Cinnamon Red Bat
LC

Cinnamon Red Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lasiurus varius

Insufficient data
🐒 No photo available
LC

Chilean climbing mouse

Mammal

Irenomys tarsalis

Insufficient data
Southern River Otter
EN

Southern River Otter

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Lontra provocax

Insufficient data
Coypu
LC

Coypu

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Myocastor coypus

Insufficient data
Pichi
NT

Pichi

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Zaedyus pichiy

Insufficient data

⭐ Iconic Species

Andean Condor ★
VU

Andean Condor

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vultur gryphus

10–20% · With luck
Magellanic Woodpecker ★
LC

Magellanic Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campephilus magellanicus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Austral Thrush
LC

Austral Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus falcklandii

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Lapwing
LC

Southern Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus chilensis

60–70% · Likely
Black-chinned Siskin
LC

Black-chinned Siskin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spinus barbatus

50–60% · Likely
Rufous-collared Sparrow
LC Endemic

Rufous-collared Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zonotrichia capensis

50–60% · Likely
Thorn-tailed Rayadito
LC Endemic

Thorn-tailed Rayadito

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aphrastura spinicauda

50–60% · Likely
Black-faced Ibis
LC

Black-faced Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Theristicus melanopis

50–60% · Likely
Southern House Wren

Southern House Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Troglodytes musculus

50–60% · Likely
Dominican Gull
LC

Dominican Gull

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Larus dominicanus

50–60% · Likely
Dark-bellied Cinclodes
LC

Dark-bellied Cinclodes

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cinclodes patagonicus

50–60% · Likely
Tufted Tit-Tyrant
LC

Tufted Tit-Tyrant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anairetes parulus

50–60% · Likely
Patagonian Sierra-Finch
LC

Patagonian Sierra-Finch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phrygilus patagonicus

50–60% · Likely
White-crested Elaenia
LC

White-crested Elaenia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elaenia albiceps

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Painted Tree Iguana
LC

Painted Tree Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus pictus

60–70% · Likely
Elongate Smooth-throated Lizard
LC Endemic

Elongate Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus elongatus

20–30% · With luck
Talcahuano Smooth-throated Lizard
LC

Talcahuano Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus chiliensis

10–20% · With luck
Six-banded Patagonian Lizard
LC

Six-banded Patagonian Lizard

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Diplolaemus sexcinctus

10–20% · With luck
Dark Chuckwalla
EN Endemic

Dark Chuckwalla

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Phymaturus tenebrosus

Insufficient data
Valparaiso Smooth-throated Lizard
LC

Valparaiso Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus lemniscatus

Insufficient data
Bibron's Tree Iguana
LC Endemic

Bibron's Tree Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus bibronii

Insufficient data
Caautín Smooth-throated Lizard
LC

Caautín Smooth-throated Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus araucaniensis

Insufficient data
Liolaemus petrophilus
LC Endemic

Liolaemus petrophilus

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus petrophilus

Insufficient data
Decorated Tree Iguana
LC

Decorated Tree Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Liolaemus lineomaculatus

Insufficient data
Roth’s Rock lizard
LC Endemic

Roth’s Rock lizard

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Liolaemus rothi

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Chilean Four-eyed Frog
LC

Chilean Four-eyed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pleurodema thaul

10–20% · With luck
Emerald Forest Frog
LC

Emerald Forest Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hylorina sylvatica

Insufficient data
Banded Wood Frog
LC

Banded Wood Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Batrachyla taeniata

Insufficient data
Tonchek Spiny-chest Frog
LC Endemic

Tonchek Spiny-chest Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Alsodes gargola

Insufficient data
Marbled Wood Frog
LC

Marbled Wood Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Batrachyla antartandica

Insufficient data
Warty Toad
LC

Warty Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Rhinella spinulosa

Insufficient data
Olive Spiny-chest Frog
EN Endemic

Olive Spiny-chest Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Alsodes verrucosus

Insufficient data
🐸 No photo available
LC

Chiloe Island Ground Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Eupsophus calcaratus

Insufficient data
Large Four-eyed Frog
LC

Large Four-eyed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pleurodema bufoninum

Insufficient data
Gray Wood Frog
LC

Gray Wood Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Batrachyla leptopus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦅

Andean Condor Soaring

MaySepOct

Condors ride thermals along the park's cliffs and high ridges, with sightings peaking in these months in the observation data

Andean Condor
VU

Andean Condor

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vultur gryphus

10–20% · With luck
🦙

Guanaco Calving Season

JanFeb

Chulengos (guanaco young) are born in late spring and summer and family groups with calves are conspicuous in the steppe sectors

Guanaco
LC

Guanaco

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lama guanicoe

20–30% · Possible
🐭

Monito del Monte Activity

JanFebMarApr

The relict Gondwanan marsupial emerges from months of hibernation and is intensely active in bamboo thickets during the austral summer, its documented activity season

Southern Monito del Monte
NT

Southern Monito del Monte

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Dromiciops gliroides

5–10% · With luck

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
40–50
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
Andean Condor
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
30–40
10–20
40–50
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
Magellanic Woodpecker
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
<5
5–10
10–20
5–10
10–20
10–20
10–20
Culpeo
10–20
20–30
30–40
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
20–30
50–60
60–70
20–30
30–40
Guanaco
30–40
40–50
20–30
10–20
30–40
20–30
10–20
20–30
20–30
20–30
20–30
10–20
Austral Thrush
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
70–80
Southern Lapwing
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
30–40
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
Painted Tree Iguana
60–70
70–80
70–80
20–30
10–20
10–20
10–20
10–20
30–40
30–40
60–70
60–70
Black-chinned Siskin
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
Rufous-collared Sparrow
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Thorn-tailed Rayadito
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
30–40
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
Black-faced Ibis
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
Southern House Wren
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
20–30
60–70
80–90
60–70
Dominican Gull
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
Dark-bellied Cinclodes
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
Tufted Tit-Tyrant
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
40–50
30–40
30–40
30–40
Patagonian Sierra-Finch
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
70–80
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
Animal Events
🦅 Andean Condor Soaring
🦙 Guanaco Calving Season
🐭 Monito del Monte Activity

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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Moderate
🐦 Magellanic Woodpeckers in Lenga Forest

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
268
🐒 Mammals
88
🦎 Reptiles
36
🐸 Amphibians
22
414 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
19 Threatened 53 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
2.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
57%
📊
Coverage (83 species at ≥5% of 414 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
20%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (11 bird, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
20%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
68
🌟
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
4
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
17

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Nahuel Huapi National Park?

The most likely sightings are Austral Thrush (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Southern Lapwing (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Painted Tree Iguana (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Black-chinned Siskin (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers), Rufous-collared Sparrow (seen by 50–60% of wildlife watchers) — among 414 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Nahuel Huapi National Park for wildlife?

November 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 Andean Condor in Nahuel Huapi National Park?

Yes — about 19% of wildlife watchers report a Andean Condor sighting in Nahuel Huapi National Park, based on 243 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Magellanic Woodpecker in Nahuel Huapi National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 11% of wildlife watchers report a Magellanic Woodpecker sighting in Nahuel Huapi National Park, based on 143 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see Culpeo in Nahuel Huapi National Park?

Yes — about 41% of wildlife watchers report a Culpeo sighting in Nahuel Huapi National Park, based on 66 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Guanaco in Nahuel Huapi National Park?

Yes — about 28% of wildlife watchers report a Guanaco sighting in Nahuel Huapi National Park, based on 34 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Nahuel Huapi or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park 📍 69 km 🐦 Magellanic Woodpecker Echoes Through Valleys

Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

🇨🇱 Chile 🌍 #241 Global · 3.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #36 in South America #45 in Temperate Forest
Península Valdés 📍 645 km 🐋 Right Whale and Sea Lion Coast

Península Valdés

🇦🇷 Argentina 🌍 #97 Global · 4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #14 in South America #43 in Savanna & Grassland
Torres del Paine National Park 📍 1143 km 🐆 Guanaco and Puma Steppe

Torres del Paine National Park

🇨🇱 Chile 🌍 #232 Global · 3.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #35 in South America #41 in Temperate Forest
El Palmar National Park 📍 1533 km 🐹 Capybaras Among the Yatay Palms

El Palmar National Park

🇦🇷 Argentina 🌍 #75 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #8 in South America #39 in Savanna & Grassland