Date: August 3, 2013
Location: Spring-fed Arroyo, Dixon
Number of Species: 27 (+3 other taxa)
Time: 7:20-10:40AM
Weather: Clear, calm
Number of Observers: 5
| English Name: Genus species: | Comments | Photos |
| Diurnal Raptors: Vultures, Eagles, Hawks and Falcons | ||
| American Kestrel Falco sparverius  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | A falcon smaller than a Robin. Commonly seen perching on wires along roads. (Commonly seen between Velarde and Alcalde) Note dark vertical bars on cheek. Sometimes seen "kiting" over fields while hunting. (A kiting bird is flapping while not moving up, down or forward.) Male is pictured. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  Rinconada  Rinconada |
| 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 |
| Hummingbirds | ||
| Unidentified Hummingbird Trochilidae (gen, sp) | Either Black-chinned (Archilochus alexandri) or Broad-tailed (Selasphorus platycercus). Number of Individuals Observed:3 | Image Search |
| 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:3 |  Dixon  Dixon  Dixon |
| Woodpeckers | ||
| Unidentified Woodpecker Picadae (gen, sp) | Only views: flying away and briefly perched with back to observers. Male. Extensive red on head suggests Red-naped Sapsucker, Ladder-backed Woodpecker or Acorn Woodpecker. Ladder-backed eliminated by lack of black and white barring on back. eBird data: Acorn Woodpecker rare in this area. eBird data: Highest probability = Red-naped Sapsucker which has been observed in this area during all summer months. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  Red-naped Sapsucker (Orilla Verde) Enlarge  Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Rinconada) Enlarge  Acorn Woodpecker (Pilar) Enlarge |
| Tyrant Flycatchers | ||
| Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in early April. A fairly plain flycatcher that says its name: a buzzy "pee-wee". In some postures can look like an Empidonax genus flycatcher, without the characteristic Empidonax white eye-ring. Usually perches in trees or posts at mid to low levels. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |   |
| 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:1 |  Rinconada |
| Shrikes and Vireos | ||
| Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving in late April. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |   |
| 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:2 |  Arroyo la Mina  Cañoncito |
| 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:2 |  El Bosque  Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe |
| Swallows | ||
| Unidentified Swallow Hirundidae (gen, sp) | Only view: One quick look flying away. Either Northern Rough-winged (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) or Violet-green (Tachycineta thalassina) or Cliff (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). Number of Individuals Observed:2 | Image Search |
| 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:1 |   |
| 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:1 |   |
| 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:4 |  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. Number of Individuals Observed:3 |  Camino Lejo, Santa Fe |
| 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:5 |  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. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  El Bosque  El Bosque |
| 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. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  El Bosque |
| Kinglets and Gnatcatchers | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:1 | 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:3 |  |
| 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:1 |  El Bosque |
| Wood-Warblers | ||
| Virginia’s Warbler Vermivora virginiae  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  Ojo Sarco  Ojo Sarco |
| Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Number of Individuals Observed:1 | Click for Photos |
| 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:12 |  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. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |  La Bolsa |
| Sparrows and their Allies | ||
| Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving mid-March. Number of Individuals Observed:2 |    |
| Grosbeaks | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving at end of April. Number of Individuals Observed:4 |   |
| Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving at end of April. Number of Individuals Observed:1 |    |
| 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:11 |  Arroyo La Mina  Arroyo La Mina |
| Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria  Enlarge Map External Sites: Cornell USGS Image Search | Begins arriving at end of April. Number of Individuals Observed:6 |  Dixon - June 7, 2014 |
