Date: May 14, 2014
Location: Orilla Verde Recreation Area
Time: 6:45am-10:45am| English Name: Genus species: | Comments | Photos |
| Swans, Geese and Ducks | ||
| Gadwall Anas strepera  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  Bosque del Apache  Bosque del Apache |
| 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:18 |  Rinconada  Rinconada  Rio Grande-Taos County Line, June 9, 2014 Enlarge |
| Common Merganser Mergus merganser  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Distinctive bill shape and color. Male has dark head. Female reddish-brown head. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |   |
| Long-legged Wading Birds | ||
| Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Only Winter Heron. Large, often standing in water. In flight: 72" wingspan. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| Diurnal Raptors: Vultures, Eagles and Hawks | ||
| Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving during the last 10 days of March. Majority of residents here by April 1st. Number of Individuals Observed:7 |    |
| Osprey Pandion haliaetus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  Embudo, April 28, 2013  Rinconada April 24, 2013 |
| Smaller Wading Birds | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:4 |  Rinconada, June 5, 2013  Rinconada, May 8, 2014 |
| Pigeons and Doves | ||
| Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Generally seen flying in small groups (2-4 individuals). Note long, pointed tail which shows white edges when landing. Call is a soft, slow "who-AH, who, who, who" heard during the day. (Commonly mistaken for an owl. Note: Owls usually do not call during daylight hours) Number of Individuals Observed:6 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| Nightjars, Nighthawks and Swifts | ||
| White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:4 |  Photo: Michael Woodruff 2006 Spokane County WA |
| Hummingbirds | ||
| Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in early April. One of only two hummingbirds that regularly breed here. In the right light, male's throat shows purple below, black above. Often appears more slender and vertical than the Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Male is pictured. Female has plain throat. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycercus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in early April. One of only two hummingbirds that regularly breed here. In the right light, male's throat is red. Often appears plumper and rounder than the Black-chinned Hummingbird. Male's wing make a distinctive, loud buzz in flight. Male is pictured. Female has plain throat. Number of Individuals Observed:6 |  Dixon  Dixon  Dixon |
| Kingfishers | ||
| Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Perches on trees or wires near water. Hovers over water before diving for fish or crustaceans. Gives a distinctive long, loud rattle in flight. Male has gray breast band. Female has additional rufous band below. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  El Bosque  Rinconada |
| Tyrant Flycatchers | ||
| Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:1 | Click for Photos |
| Unidentified Empidonax Flycatcher Empidonax External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:4 | Click for Photos |
| Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | A few individuals over-winter in Velarde. In the rest of the Embudo area begins arriving in early March. Usually seen on low branches overhanging the river, from which it "hawks" insects. At times perches at mid-level in trees near the river, making its sharp, quick two-note call. Distinctive inverted "v" apparent where the white belly meets the dark breast. Number of Individuals Observed:3 |  Cachanillas (Velarde) |
| Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | A few individuals over-winter in Velarde. In the rest of the Embudo area begins arriving in early March. Usually seen on posts or single stalk plants in agricutural areas "hawking" insects. It's call is a slow, plaintive, downward slurred "pee-ee". At close range, may hear "pit,pee-ee". Distinctive peach-colored belly. This species regularly builds nests under people's portales. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  Rinconada |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in mid-April. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | A migrant, this species winters in both mainland Mexico and Baja California. Individuals begin arriving in this area by mid-April. Some pass through to places further north, but many breed here during the summer. They begin moving south to their wintering grounds in early Fall. This species is very noisy making a variety of sounds including its signature, exuberant: "Chi-beer!" Number of Individuals Observed:3 |   |
| Shrikes and Vireos | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in late April. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  Rio Ojo Sarco  Rio Ojo Sarco |
| Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:3 |  |
| Jays, Crows and their Allies | ||
| Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Common in all area habitats. Note white throat and faint white eyebrow. Also brownish-gray back. Distinguished from the Pinyon Jay by longer tail and solitary behavior. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  Arroyo la Mina  Cañoncito |
| Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Usually observed while calling in flight. Flocks feed in harvested corn fields or on Piñon-Juniper Hillsides Generally in flocks of 30-70 individuals. Distinguished from Western Scrub-jay by shorter tail and by flocking behavior. Number of Individuals Observed:3 |  Apodaca  Apodaca  Apodaca |
| Swallows | ||
| Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Very common during spring migration. All white below, with white wrapping up the sides of the rump as shown in the upper individual in the lower photo. In right light, the back reveals brilliant violet and green colors. Number of Individuals Observed:86 |  El Bosque  Rinconada |
| N. Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in last half of March. Number of Individuals Observed:4 |   |
| Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in last half of March. Number of Individuals Observed:3 |  Peñasco  Peñasco  Peñasco |
| Chickadees and their Allies | ||
| Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Distinctive Small (~5in) black, white and gray bird that says its name repeatedly: a buzzy chick-a-dee-dee-dee During breeding season, gives a high descending two pitched fee-bee. Number of Individuals Observed:3 |  El Bosque |
| Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Tiny (~4in) plain gray bird. Usually travels in groups of 10-20 individuals, constantly moving from bush to bush feeding. Flocking birds constantly make varied twittering sounds. Number of Individuals Observed:11 |  Camino Lejo, Santa Fe |
| Wrens | ||
| Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:9 |  Rio Ojo Sarco, May 17, 2014 |
| Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | More often heard than seen. It's song is a very distinctive series of descending notes: tew, tew, tew, tew, tew, tew, tew. Usually sings from rock perches high on canyon walls. Occasionally seen in riparian areas sounding its very bright, shrill, trilled "breet". Note: White throat with rufous belly. Number of Individuals Observed:4 |  Near Harding Mine |
| House Wren Troglodytes aedon  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  Embudo, May 21, 2014 |
| Dippers | ||
| American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Slate-colored bird seen in rushing streams. Often standing on rocks right at the water level, bobbing by bending its knees. Feeds by walking on the bottom of the stream. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  El Bosque  See Slide Show of Dipper Feeding |
| Kinglets and Gnatcatchers | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:5 | Click for Photos |
| Thrushes and their Allies | ||
| 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 |
| Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  Rinconada Enlarge  Rinconada Enlarge |
| 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:8 |  El Bosque |
| Wood-Warblers | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:7 |  Dixon  Dixon |
| Virginia’s Warbler Vermivora virginiae  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:4 |  Ojo Sarco  Ojo Sarco |
| Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving late-April. Number of Individuals Observed:11 |    |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Many individuals pass through this area during the spring and fall migrations. A few stay over the winter, primarily in the Velarde area. The first two pictures show breeding plumage. The last shows typical winter plumage. Number of Individuals Observed:60 |  La Junta, April 28, 2013  La Junta, April 28, 2013  Apodaca |
| Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:2 |  Dixon  Dixon  Dixon |
| Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving late-April. Number of Individuals Observed:5 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| Tanagers | ||
| Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Top Photo: Male Middle Photo: Female Bottom Photo: Male in Flight Number of Individuals Observed:4 |  Dixon  Dixon  Dixon |
| 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:10 |  Arroyo la Mina  El Bosque Enlarge |
| Sparrows and their Allies | ||
| Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving mid-March. Number of Individuals Observed:75 |    |
| Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:7 |   |
| 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:3 |  Dixon  Dixon |
| Grosbeaks | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving at end of April. Number of Individuals Observed:5 |   |
| Icterids: Blackbirds, Orioles and their Allies | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Female (Upper Picture) has brown streaking all over. Male (Lower Picture) is black with red patches on shoulders. Outside of breeding times, the red may be hidden. Both sexes have medium length, very pointed bill. Number of Individuals Observed:11 |  Baca Park, Taos  Rinconada Enlarge |
| Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:5 | Click for Photos |
| Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:3 |   Orilla Verde, May 7, 2014 Enlarge |
| Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving at end of April. Number of Individuals Observed:6 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| 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 |
