North American Wildlife Art for Nature Lovers
North American wildlife art is its own genre, distinct from generic global nature imagery, because it draws from a specific, real cast of species: gray wolves, brown and black bears, bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bald eagles, and more. Even a detail most people get wrong makes the point, the bald eagle has appeared on the Great Seal of the United States since 1782, but it wasn't legally designated the country's official national bird until December 2024, when Congress finally made it official more than two centuries later. That's the kind of real natural and cultural history that makes this category more interesting than decoration alone.
This guide works through North American wildlife art by ecological group, apex predators, big game, birds, and the wild horses of the American West, with real species facts behind each section and links to more detailed guides on framing, sizing, and room placement. A transparency note: several pieces below have appeared in earlier, more narrowly focused posts in this series; this guide pulls them together into one broader reference alongside newer additions.
Apex Predators of North America
For searches like "North American predator wall art" or "wolf and bear canvas print set," these three cover the continent's best-known predators.
Big Game and Mountain Wildlife
People searching "bison canvas print" or "elk and deer wall art for cabin" are usually after the large grazing species that define the American mountain West.
Birds of North America
For "bald eagle wall art" or "hummingbird canvas print nature lovers," this section covers three of the continent's most distinctive bird species.
Wild Horses of the American West
Wild horses occupy an interesting gray area in this category. Most modern mustangs descend from horses released or escaped captivity in the 19th and 20th centuries rather than being native wildlife in the strict biological sense. Even so, the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act legally protects them as wild, free-roaming animals across roughly 25.5 million acres of public land in ten western states, and the law itself calls them "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West." That's what makes wild horse art a natural bridge between wildlife art and western art.
Choosing Art Backed by Real Species
Not every "wildlife" piece on the market actually depicts a North American species, plenty of wildlife decor features grey crowned cranes, Highland cattle, or other animals with no real connection to the continent, which is decoratively fine but worth knowing if authenticity to a specific region matters to you. When it does, it's worth checking the actual species behind a piece rather than assuming from a generic title.
Sizing and Framing for a Wildlife Collection
Once you're building out more than one or two pieces, our guides to small vs. large canvas sizing, horizontal vs. vertical orientation, and framed vs. gallery-wrapped canvas cover the practical decisions that keep a multi-piece collection looking intentional rather than random.
Shop North American Wildlife Canvas Wall Art →
For more on the facts referenced here, see the National Audubon Society's account of how the bald eagle finally became the official national bird, the Bureau of Land Management's wild horse and burro program facts, and the Department of the Interior's facts about the American bison. Within ArtOfRoyals, related reading includes Yellowstone-inspired wildlife wall art trends, wildlife decor inspired by national parks, why eagle canvas wall art never goes out of style, black bear canvas prints for rustic homes, hummingbird canvas prints that brighten any room, and rodeo art vs. ranch art for the western and farm side of the collection. The full wildlife canvas collection and western canvas collection cover everything referenced here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals count as North American wildlife art subjects?
Species native to or historically associated with the continent, gray wolves, bears, bison, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, coyotes, bald eagles, hummingbirds, and owls among them.
Is the bald eagle actually America's official national bird?
It's appeared on the Great Seal since 1782, but it wasn't legally designated the national bird until December 2024.
Are wild horses considered native North American wildlife?
Not strictly, most descend from horses released in the 19th and 20th centuries, but they're legally protected as wild animals under a 1971 federal law.
What's the difference between wildlife art and western art?
Wildlife art centers on animals and natural history, while western art more broadly includes cowboys, ranch life, and Americana.
How do I choose North American wildlife art that fits together in one home?
Group by ecosystem, apex predators, mountain big game, and birds each carry their own natural palette that reads as intentional when kept together.
