Carlsbad Caverns National Park

National Park · United States

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Photo © Carpenter, Kenneth — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where limestone towers pierce the New Mexico desert, an underground realm rivals the grandeur of any above-ground landscape. Spanning 518 square kilometers of the Guadalupe Mountains, this subterranean wilderness comprises over 119 known caves, each a cathedral of flowstone, stalactites, and pristine underground lakes. The park's ecological character is defined by stark contrasts: arid Chihuahuan scrubland and desert transitions abruptly to cool, moisture-laden cave systems that plunge nearly 500 meters below the surface. These caverns represent 250 million years of geological drama, where acidic water sculpted chambers of breathtaking scale and intricacy. The park protects not just geological wonders but distinct cave ecosystems where specialized fauna thrive in perpetual darkness.

For wildlife enthusiasts, the draw is singular: the Mexican free-tailed bat emergence. Each summer evening, up to a million bats spiral skyward from the cave mouth in a hypnotic vortex, silhouetted against the fading light—an unparalleled spectacle of animal behavior. Spring and autumn bring migratory raptors hunting across the desert plateau. Photographers will find unmatched opportunities during twilight hours, when warm golden light bathes the landscape. The well-maintained park infrastructure ensures accessible viewing without compromising this fragile underground realm.

Website nps.gov/cave/index.htm

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Mosquero Cardenal

Petrochelidon fulva

Golondrina Pueblera

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Pibí occidental

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Tirano Occidental

Catharus guttatus

Zorzalito Colirrufo

Hirundo rustica

Golondrina común

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

American Grey Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Golondrina Risquera

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Reinita Coroninaranja

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Reinita Amarilla

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Piranga Carirroja

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Parula norteña

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

American Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri

Mosquero Oscuro

Setophaga coronata

Reinita Coronada

Leiothlypis luciae

Reinita de Lucy

Virginia's Warbler

Leiothlypis virginiae

Reinita de Virginia

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Mosquero Saucero

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Reinita de Townsend

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Reinita de manglar

Meleagris gallopavo

Guajolote Gallipavo

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Chingolo Coroniblanco

Salpinctes obsoletus

Cucarachero Roquero

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Dryobates scalaris

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Chingolo Cejiblanco

Mosquero Llanero

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Copetón cenizo

Cardinalis sinuatus

Toxostoma rufum

Cuitlacoche Rojizo

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Reinita de Wilson

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

busardo chapulinero

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

busardo colirrojo

Black-chinned Sparrow

Spizella atrogularis

Chingolo Barbinegro

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Azulillo Sietecolores

Callipepla squamata

Colín escamado

Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

Correcaminos Grande

Gavilán de Cooper

MacGillivray's Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei

Reinita de Tolmie

Dumetella carolinensis

Pájaro gato gris

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Sinsonte norteño

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Colibrí gorjinegro

Pipilo maculatus

Yellow-breasted Chat

Icterus parisorum

Turpial de Scott

Passerina versicolor

Azulillo Morado

Cassin's Sparrow

Peucaea cassinii

Chingolo de Cassin

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

Chingolo pálido

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Chingolo Gorjiblanco

Zenaida macroura

Zenaida Huilota

Oreoscoptes montanus

Cuitlacoche de las artemisas

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Aimophila ruficeps

gorrión bigotudo coronirrufo

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

Toquí coliverde

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Cerceta Aliazul

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Gavilán americano

Sayornis phoebe

Phainopepla nitens

Capulinero Negro

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Reinita charquera norteña

Spatula cyanoptera

Cerceta Colorada

Cyanocitta stelleri

Chara de Steller

Woodhouse's Scrub Jay

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

Chara de Woodhouse

Curve-billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

Cuitlacoche Piquicurvo

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

Azulejo Occidental

Mareca strepera

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

busardo aliancho

Ferruginous Hawk

busardo herrumbroso

Troglodytes pacificus

Chochín del Pacífico

Icterus cucullatus

Turpial Enmascarado

Icterus spurius

Turpial castaño

Brown-headed Cowbird

Tordo Cabecipardo

Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris

Garrapatero Asurcado

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Columbina común

Fulica americana

Focha Americana

Red-shouldered Hawk

Busardo de hombro rojo

Western Screech Owl

Megascops kennicottii

Autillo Californiano

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Cernícalo americano

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Mosquero Pirata

Yellow-green Vireo

Vireo flavoviridis

Vireo Verdiamarillo

Plumbeous Vireo

Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata

Chingolo Gorjinegro

Sayornis nigricans

Haemorhous mexicanus

Camachuelo Mexicano

Dark-eyed Junco

Junco Ojioscuro

Chondestes grammacus

Chingolo arlequín

Brewer's Sparrow

Spizella breweri

Chingolo de Brewer

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Cardenal norteño

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Zenaida Aliblanca

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

Carpintero escapulario dorado

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Corthylio calendula

Reyezuelo rubí

Turdus migratorius

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Búho americano

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Alcaudón americano

Passerina caerulea

Azulillo Grande

Calamospiza melanocorys

Chingolo Albinegro

Melospiza melodia

Chingolo Cantor

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Chingolo de Lincoln

Catherpes mexicanus

Cucarachero Barranquero

Thryomanes bewickii

Cucarachero Colinegro

Pooecetes gramineus

Chingolo Coliblanco

Townsend's Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi

Solitario norteño

Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Chupasavia Nuquirrojo

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Perlita Grisilla

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Silbón americano

Great Blue Heron

American Goldfinch

Jilguero Yanqui

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Picogrueso Cabecinegro

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

Añapero yanqui

Charadrius vociferus

Chorlitejo Culirrojo

Aquila chrysaetos

Parabuteo unicinctus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Western Warbling Vireo

Vireo swainsoni

Vireo de Swainson

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Chochín criollo

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Mascarita común

Cistothorus palustris

Cucarachero Pantanero

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Jilguero de los pinos

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Sargento Alirrojo

Bombycilla cedrorum

ampelis americano

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Porrón acollarado

Blue Mockingbird

Melanotis caerulescens

Aythya americana

Porrón americano

Odocoileus hemionus

Common Rock Squirrel

Otospermophilus variegatus

Ardillón de Rocas

Eastern Fox Squirrel

Desert Cottontail

Sylvilagus audubonii

Conejo del desierto

Cervus canadensis

Northern Raccoon

Bassariscus astutus

Cacomixtle norteño

Rio Grande Ground Squirrel

Ictidomys parvidens

Ardilla de tierra del río Bravo

Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher

Cratogeomys castanops

Tuza cara amarilla

Eurasian Wild Pig

Jabalí europeo

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Murciélago mexicano cola suelta

Common Pallid Bat

Antrozous pallidus

Murciélago desértico norteño

White-throated Woodrat

Neotoma albigula

Rata-cambalachera garganta blanca

White-toothed Woodrat

Neotoma leucodon

Northern Grasshopper Mouse

Onychomys leucogaster

Ratón chapulinero norteño

Parastrellus hesperus

Murciélago de Cañón

Ammotragus lervia

North American Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

Puercoespín norteamericano

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Liebre cola negra

Texas Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus interpres

Ardilla antílope texana

Northern Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys merriami

Rata canguro de Merriam

Antilocapra americana

Silky Pocket Mouse

Perognathus flavus

Ratón de abazones sedoso

Hispid Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hispidus

Rata algodonera crespa

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