Iconic North American wildlife

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Nine-banded armadillo​

A solitary, mainly nocturnal animal, the nine-banded armadillo was originally native to South America. Today, this armored insectivore ranges as far north as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana.

 

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Tufted titmouse​

This charming and wonderfully vocal songbird is native to North America, occupying large amounts of territory across the United States and stretching into Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Its whistling call can vary in approximately 20 notable ways.

 

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Arctic wolf​

A subspecies of the gray wolf, the arctic wolf is sometimes called the white wolf, or polar wolf. Native to the High Arctic tundra of Canada's Queen Elizabeth Islands, from Melville Island to Ellesmere Island, and also found in Greenland, the species has thrived thanks to its isolation.

 

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Gila monster​

The venomous Gila monster is the largest lizard native to the United States. Its range encompasses the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico.

 

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Caribou​

Caribou is the name given in North America to reindeer. Here, the range of caribou extends from Alaska through the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut into the boreal forest and south through the Canadian Rockies. These animals are especially recognized for their spectacular antlers.

 

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Ruby-throated hummingbird​

The ruby-throated hummingbird is eastern North America's sole breeding hummingbird. Only the male of the species has a striking red throat, usually seen as a vibrant flash in the air, as these precision-flying creatures can beat their wings 53 times a second and maneuver in an acrobatic style matched by few other birds.

 

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Groundhog​

The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, is one of North America's most celebrated rodents. Found through much of the Eastern United States, across Canada and into Alaska, the groundhog is the mammal that according to popular folklore can predict weather patterns on Groundhog Day, a centuries-old North American tradition observed annually in the United States and Canada on February 2.

 

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Brown pelican​

The brown pelican is widely distributed along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coasts in the Americas. But it is along the coast of California and the US Gulf Coast—Alabama, Texas, Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana —where this diving waterbird has become the live-in species at numerous piers, mariners, and breakwaters.

 

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Eastern diamondback rattlesnake​

Rattlesnakes are some of the most unique and diverse American reptiles. While these pit vipers are the leading contributor to snakebite injuries in North America, they rarely bite unless provoked or threatened; if treated promptly, the bites are seldom fatal. That said, try and avoid coming into contact with the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. This is the largest venomous snake in North America, and if goaded can deliver an extremely and potentially fatal bite.

 

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Arizona black scorpion​

Another species to avoid, the nocturnal Arizona black scorpion (seen here photographed under night vision conditions) is the most venomous species of scorpion in the United States. Be very careful where you tread after dark if out exploring the Sonoran Desert region in the southwestern portion of the country, or northwestern Mexico.

 

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Painted bunting​

Indeed appearing as if created by the hand of a skilled artist, the painted bunting is one of North America's most colorful native bird species. Males only are blessed with this vibrant veneer, and rank among the most beautiful birds on the continent.

 

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Alligator snapping turtle​

This extraordinary-looking reptile is one of the heaviest turtles in the world. Characterized by a large head and a long, thick, and ridged shell, the alligator snapping turtle is native to freshwater habitats primarily in the southeastern United States. It's listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.

 

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Coyote​

The coyote is a species of canine native to North America. Smaller than its close relative, the wolf, these animals are also closely associated with Native American culture, appearing often in the tales and traditions of indigenous peoples—usually as a very savvy and clever beast.

 

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Greater roadrunner​

If you're a fan of popular American cartoon culture, you'll know that no matter how wily a coyote is, it just can't get a paw down on the roadrunner. Found in the southwestern United States and Mexico, this speedy member of the cuckoo family walks around rapidly running down prey.

 

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California sea lion​

San Francisco's Pier 39 is synonymous with the California sea lion. In fact, the sea lions camped out on the city's West Marina have become an endearing visitor attraction. Otherwise found in abundance from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, these smooth sleek beasts actually spend most of their time at sea.

 

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Canada lynx​

Characterized by its long, dense fur, triangular ears with black tufts at the tips, and broad, snowshoe-like paws, the Canada lynx includes Alaska and some northern states of America in its hunting grounds. Like all lynx species, it is elusive and evades human contact.

 

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Kodiak bear​

Alaska's very own grizzly, the powerful Kodiak bear is matched only by the polar bear for size and strength. It inhabits the islands of the Kodiak Archipelago in southwest Alaska.

 

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North American racoon​

The North American racoon ranges from northern Canada and most of the United States southward into South America. Conspicuous for its black "mask," racoons are clever, adaptable, and highly dexterous, and will eat almost anything.