You are likely to be familiar with many of these birds. Some of the smaller birds may not be as familiar.
When you are out walking along the river or your own fields or yard, you are probably hearing these birds.
If you will spend a little time trying to spot a bird you are only hearing, you will soon know not only what the bird looks like, but its sounds as well.
| External Links in table below: | |
| (Remote sites open in a new window.) | |
| Cornell | Opens Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds site's species account in a new browser window. This site offers detailed information on every species including sound recordings. |
| USGS | Opens the USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter species account in a new browser window. Includes BBS and CBC maps, ID Tips and Taxonomy for each species. |
| Image Search | Shows the results of a Google image search for the species. |
| 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. |  Rinconada  Rinconada |
| 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. |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| Diurnal Raptors: Vultures, Eagles, Hawks and Falcons | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Often easily identified by visible red tail. If tail is not visible, other field marks can be used: From below in flight, the dark front edges of the wings next to the body and the dark "commas" at the wrist are unique among local hawks. When perched, the dark belly band against the white front is diagnostic. Juveniles (lowest photo) do not yet have a red tail. |  El Bosque  El Bosque  Camino Lejo, Santa Fe |
| Pigeons and Doves | ||
| Rock Pigeon Columba livia  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Common on wires around human habitation, this species comes in a variety of colors. Most individuals show two dark wing bars as shown in the upper photo. |  Cañoncito  El Bosque |
| Woodpeckers | ||
| Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Almost identical to the Hairy Woodpecker in plumage, this smaller woodpecker is generally distinguished by its diminuitive bill which is much shorter than the bird's head from front to back. The red patch on the head indicates that this is a male. |  El Bosque |
| Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | One of the most common birds in the valley. From below, shows red feather shafts in flight. The upper photo shows key marks: Black breast band. Red feather shafts on underside of wings and tail. Red mark under the eye indicates a male. Female (middle photo): no red face mark. Lower photo shows diagnostic white rump patch which is always visible in flight and sometimes visible when perched. |  Cachanillas  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| 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. |  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. |  Apodaca  Apodaca  Apodaca |
| Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Unmistakable large black and white bird with very long tail. |  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. |  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. |  El Bosque  Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe |
| 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. |  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. |  Camino Lejo, Santa Fe |
| Nuthatches and Creepers | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Distinctive black cap starts above the eye. Relatively long, sharp bill. Only local species that walks down tree trunks upside down. Often heard at a distance: Rapidly repeated nasal "huh". Usually 5-8 sounds, all at same pitch. |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| 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. |  El Bosque  See Slide Show of Dipper Feeding |
| 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 (lower photo) has blue in wings, but appears gray from front with a light buffy breast. Note white eye-ring. |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| 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. |  El Bosque |
| Starlings and Mynas | ||
| European Starling Sturnus vulgaris  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Usually appears black. Often seen flying in large flocks. Flocks move very quickly, changing directions often. Very short tail is distinctive among "blackbirds". Note bright yellow bill. |  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. |  Arroyo la Mina  El Bosque Enlarge |
| Canyon Towhee Pipilo fuscus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Often seen around wood piles and under parked cars. Note the buffy cap on head and buffy feathers under the tail. Dark central spot visible on breast. |  La Bolsa |
| Sparrows and their Allies | ||
| Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | This sparrow is rarely seen more than 50 yards from the river and is often right in the willows at the river's edge. Dark back, with streaks on breasts and sides joining a dark central spot. Has a distinctive flight highlighted by a fairly long, rounded tail. |  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. |  Arroyo La Mina  Arroyo La Mina |
| House Sparrow Passer domesticus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Common across the continental U.S., this species is generally found around human habitation. The female (upper picture) is fairly plain with a weak, white eyebrow. The male (lower picture) has black on the throat, a strong dark mask: often black in front of eye, reddish-brown (rufous) behind the eye. Often in noisy flocks of 5-15 individuals. |  Embudo Valley Library, Dixon  Nob Hill, Albuquerque |
