Date: March 1, 2014
Location: Spring-fed Arroyo & Dixon Cooperative Market
Number of Species: 18
Number of Individuals: 59
Time: 8:00am-11:30am
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
Number of Observers: 4
Plain List:
Parking lot of the Dixon Cooperative Market:
| English Name: | Genus species: | Number Observed |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | 1 |
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | 1 |
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri | 3 |
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | 2 |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | 1 |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | 7 |
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | 4 |
Lower part of East Fork:
| English Name: | Genus species: | Number Observed |
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | Streptopelia decaocto | 3 |
| Western Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma californica | 1 |
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | 3 |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | 2 |
| Juniper Titmouse | Baeolophus ridgwayi | 1 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | 2 |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | 1 |
| Bewick's Wren | Thryomanes bewickii | 2 |
| Western Bluebird | Sialia mexicana | 2 |
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | 1 |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | 1 |
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus | 1 |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | 3 |
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | 2 |
Upper part of East Fork:
| English Name: | Genus species: | Number Observed |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | 1 |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | 1 |
| Juniper Titmouse | Baeolophus ridgwayi | 2 |
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | 1 |
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | 2 |
Picture List:
| English Name: Genus species: | Comments | Photos |
| Pigeons and Doves | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search |  | |
| Tyrant Flycatchers | ||
| 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. |  Rinconada |
| Jays, Crows and their Allies | ||
| Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search |  Pot Creek, May 11, 2013 Enlarge | |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Juniper Titmouse Baeolophus ridgwayi  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Generally seen in Juniper trees, the crest on the head is distinctive. Some of its vocalizations similar to Chickadee. Often detected by soft woodpecker-like tapping on branches. |  |
| 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 |
| Brown Creeper Certhia americana  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Easily overlooked, this brown-backed bird blends in with the bark it "creeps" on. Generally noticed when it flies to the base of a tree. After ascending the trunk, it flies again to the base of another tree. Note: Slightly decurved bill. Generally ascends trunk in a spiral motion. |  El Bosque, December 1, 2012 |
| Wrens | ||
| Bewick’s Wren Thryomanes bewickii  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | It's very prominent, white eyebrow is distinctive. Most often seen at transition from Piñon-Juniper to agricultural or riparian areas. Song similar to Song Sparrow, but is "buzzier" and consistently ends on a clear trill. |  El Bosque |
| 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 |
| 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. |  |
| 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 |
| 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 | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | In winter, there are 5 sub-species of Dark-eyed Junco in our area. Many have a full black or gray hood. All have a dark eye set in dark plumage. Almost always in flocks of 10-20 individuals. Identifiable by a very "dry" sounding "tck-tck" and by white showing on the sides of the tail, especially in flight. Do a an Image Search (at left) to get an idea of the great variation in the plumage of this species. |   |
| 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 |
