Most often seen in wet fields or orchards.

Usually sits on low branches overhanging the river.

Usually seen in agricultural fields perched on fence posts or tops of single stalk weeds or flowers.

Present in many habitats, often heard before seen.

1-3 hours after sunrise, look for group gliding upward on rising warm air. In evening, seen in small groups on long glides toward their roost.

Weighing only 4 pounds, with a wing-span of more than 5 feet, these birds rarely flap their wings.

If you hear a woodpecker drumming that gives a few rapid taps and then slows down, often ending with an isolated double tap, it is a sapsucker.

Occasionally perching high in Cottonwoods, usually seen in groups "hawking" insects above rivers.

Underside and sides of rump bright white.

Often on ground or low branches. Sometimes sings at top of trees.

Clear breast, red cap, black line through eyes.

Swallow wings have rounded leading edges and straight trailing edges , Swift wings are rounded on both edges.

Usually fly very high, often over mesas.

Usually hawking insects just a few feet over the river surface.

Underside duller than Violet-green. Throat dusky.

At flowers and feeders.

At flowers and feeders.

Males: Throat fiery red. (When light is at certain angles.)

Look high in Cottonwoods near agricultural land.

Always at water's edge. Usually on sand bars.

Well camouflaged, easily overlooked.

Mid to High levels in Cottonwood Trees

Male all Black with large white mark on side of wing.

Migrating from Texas and Northern Mexico to the grasslands east of the Rockies and the Sange de Cristos.

Like other arealists, hawking insects over riparian areas.

Throat very dark.

Usually in agricultural areas.

Long, forked tail distinctive.

High in Cottonwoods during migration.

Usually breeds in Scrub Oak.

Primarily in Piñon-Juniper

Perches on wires and tops of trees.

Usually high in Cottonwoods

Like the Spotted Towhee, it is a leaf-tosser spending almost all the time on the ground.

Only sings when on its high mountain breeding grounds.

Male yellow-bodied in contrast to the orange Bullock's Oriole.

The Rio Embudo is on the very edge of this bird's range. Only three recorded sightings in Dixon.

Generally mid to high levels in trees.

Generally high in trees.

Look high in Cottonwoods or along river in willows.

Usually in riparian area.

Migrating from South & Central America to Northern Rockies, Northern Canada & Alaska

Often hidden by leaves high in trees. Look for yellow-orange body as it flies between trees.

Song is loud and brief, alternating between high and low notes.

Often on ground. Often feeding near livestock.

Most commonly seen mid-level in large cottonwoods.

Pale yellow wash on belly and breast.

Difficult to see.

This is the one that sings all night long in the middle of the summer.

Often seen at tops of smaller trees in agricultural areas.

Brilliant Turquoise head and back is distinctive.

Not common along Rio Embudo.

More common from Velarde south.

Note white wing edge when perched.

Similar to Song Sparrow but look for thinner streaking backed by buff-colored breast and flanks.

This vagrant was way out of range.

This is only the 3rd record of this bird in Rio Arriba County.

Usually mid-level to high in Cottonwoods.

Sound: Dry trill falling off in pitch and intensity at end.

Note split eye-ring and faint eye-brow.

Hawks insects from bare branches at mid-levels.

Note dark "vest".

Usually in agricultural areas.

Deep blue body with contrasting brown wings.

Hawks insects from relatively low perches.

Extremely rare in this location.

This bird is 5 feet long from tip of bill to end of tail.