After School Birds

External sites open in a separate window.

All Photographs by Robert Templeton unless otherwise noted. Copyright Information.

English Name: Genus species:	Comments	Photos
Swans, Geese and Ducks
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	Note white horizontal mark at rear on both Female (above) and Male (below). Male plumage distinctive. Number of Individuals Observed:2	Rinconada Rinconada Rio Grande-Taos County Line, June 9, 2014   Enlarge
Jays, Crows and their Allies
Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	Unmistakable large black and white bird with very long tail. Number of Individuals Observed:9	El Bosque
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	At times difficult to distinguish from Common Raven as the largest Crows are nearly as big as the smallest Ravens. By sound, the crow's "caw" is familiar. In flight, the crow's tail is often square or rounded. Crows are very social and often appear in noisy groups. Bill smaller and thinner than that of the Raven. Number of Individuals Observed:6	El Bosque
Common Raven Corvus corax Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	At times difficult to distinguish from American Crow. By sound, a throaty chortle or shout. In flight, the tail often appears wedge shaped. Ravens are often solitary, but sometimes appear with a few other individuals. Often soars like a hawk. Crows do not. Bill is thick and heavy. The throat is shaggy compared to the Crow. Breeding pairs perform synchronized flight high overhead. Number of Individuals Observed:3	El Bosque Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe
Thrushes and their Allies
Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	Male (top photo) has blue head and red breast. During breeding season, colors more intense than shown here. Female (middle photo) has blue in wings, but appears gray from front with a light buffy breast. Note white eye-ring. Juvenile on left in lowest photo. Female on right. Number of Individuals Observed:2	El Bosque Rinconada Enlarge
Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	This bird is most often observed sitting in the tops of trees sounding a repeated, high, slow whistle. Gray all over with white on sides of tail. Fluttery in flight, with cream-colored bands running the length of each wing on the underside. Number of Individuals Observed:1	Harding Mine
American Robin Turdus migratorius Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	Best known American Bird. Note reddish breast, light colored bill and large white split eye-ring. Number of Individuals Observed:2	El Bosque
Towhees
Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	One is seldom far from a Spotted Towhee. But though they are nearby, they are usually hidden away under trees and shrubs where they toss leaves with their feet looking for insects to eat. Occasionally you will see one at the edge of the road or briefly flying from one shrub to the next. However, they regularly produce a contact call, a low growl. Hear Contact Call If you listen for that call and follow it, may be rewarded with a view of this lovely bird with a red eye. Note white breast with rufous (reddish) flanks. Lower Photo shows bird in its preferred habitat. Number of Individuals Observed:3	Arroyo la Mina El Bosque Enlarge
Sparrows and their Allies
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	Adult (Upper Photo): Distinctive black and white stripes on head. Light colored bill. Clear breast and belly. Juvenile (Lower Photo): Head stripes brown and gray. Number of Individuals Observed:1	Dixon Dixon
Finches and Old World Sparrows
House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search	Often seen at feeders, this species is common in all habitats, especially agricultural areas. Male (upper picture) is easily identified by red plumage on head, throat, breast and rump. Female (lower photo) does not have red. Both sexes have streaking on breast, belly and flanks. Number of Individuals Observed:8	Arroyo La Mina Arroyo La Mina

Top of Page