Completed
American Pika
Ochotona princeps
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderLagomorpha (Lagomorphs)
- FamilyOchotonidae (Pikas)
- GenusOchotona (Pikas)
- SpeciesOchotona princeps (American Pika)
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
271 Verified sightings at Banff National Park From 2019 to 2026
2,065 In all 8 parks
September Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the American Pika
The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small, herbivorous mammal of the family Ochotonidae, closely related to rabbits and hares (order Lagomorpha). It is native to the mountainous regions of western North America, typically inhabiting rocky slopes and talus fields at or above the tree line. Unlike most mammals of similar size, the American pika is diurnal, being active primarily during the day. It employs two distinct foraging strategies: directly consuming vegetation or gathering and storing plant materials in "haypiles" to sustain itself through the winter months, a behavior known as haying.
Pikas are vocal animals, using a variety of calls and songs both to warn of approaching predators and during the breeding season. Predators of the American pika include coyotes, martens, and hawks. Recent studies suggest that populations in the southwestern United States are declining due to habitat loss and global warming. Despite these regional declines, the American pika is overall assessed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN and remains common in the northwestern United States and Canada.
The American pika was first described scientifically by the Scottish naturalist... Wikipedia →
Sounds
Recording0:06
United States · 2021
© wildlifer04 · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:15
United States · 2022
© Corey Brooke · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recording0:14
United States · 2019
© Christine · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
Recent sightings of American Pika in Banff National Park
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Rocky Mountain National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Grand Teton National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Banff National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Jasper National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Glacier National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Yellowstone National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Closest Relatives at Banff National Park
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing an American Pika in Banff National Park?
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report an American Pika sighting in Banff National Park on a given day, based on 271 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 9th most-seen of the 29 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see an American Pika in Banff National Park?
August and September
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report an American Pika in Banff National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–March and November, the lowest months.
What time of day is best to see an American Pika?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Pika sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Banff National Park the best place to see an American Pika?
4th of 8
Of the 8 parks where we can rate American Pika sightings, Banff National Park ranks 4th at about 40%. The best odds are in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (United States, about 50%), Rocky Mountain National Park (United States, about 50%) and Grand Teton National Park (United States, about 50%). All parks ranked.
Where does the American Pika sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the American Pika is recorded against all the mammals logged in Banff National Park (271 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
