río embudo birds

Bird List

Date: November 5, 2014

Location: Spring-fed Arroyo, Dixon

Number of Species: 19

Time: 8:20-11:40AM

Weather: Clear, calm

Number of Observers: 4


Plain List (Scroll Down for Picture List):

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All Photographs by Robert Templeton unless otherwise noted. Copyright Information.

English Name:
Genus species:
CommentsPhotos
Diurnal Raptors: Vultures, Eagles, Hawks and Falcons
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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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.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

El Bosque

El Bosque

Camino Lejo, Santa Fe
Woodpeckers
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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Very similar to Downy Woodpecker, but larger.

Commonly distinguished by its large bill which is often as long as the bird's head from front to back.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

El Bosque

El Bosque
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus


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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.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

Cachanillas

El Bosque

El Bosque
Jays, Crows and their Allies
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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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
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search
Unmistakable large black and white bird with very long tail.
Number of Individuals Observed:3

El Bosque
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos


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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.
Number of Individuals Observed:3

El Bosque
Common Raven
Corvus corax


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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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:1

El Bosque

Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe
Chickadees and their Allies
Juniper Titmouse
Baeolophus ridgwayi


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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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:1

Camino Lejo, Santa Fe
Nuthatches and Creepers
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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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.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

El Bosque, December 1, 2012
Kinglets and Gnatcatchers
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search
In the summer, this species is found breeding at higher altitudes. Singing individuals are very common in nearby high mountain forests such as Amole Canyon above Vadito.

The species winters in the Dixon/Embudo area where it is usually heard before seen, making a harsh, attention getting "juh-juh" in shrubs and low trees along the Río Embudo.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

Photo: Donna Dewhurst USFWS Alaska
Thrushes and their Allies
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search

Number of Individuals Observed:13

Dixon

Orilla Verde Enlarge
Townsend’s Solitaire
Myadestes townsendi


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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:18

Harding Mine
American Robin
Turdus migratorius


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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Best known American Bird.

Note reddish breast, light colored bill and large white split eye-ring.
Number of Individuals Observed:49

El Bosque
Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search

Number of Individuals Observed:12

Río Ojo Sarco

La Cieneguilla, 2011 Enlarge

Río Ojo Sarco
Sparrows and their Allies
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys


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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:2

Dixon

Dixon
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis


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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.
Number of Individuals Observed:6

Dixon

Dixon
Finches and Old World Sparrows
Cassin’s Finch
Carpodacus cassinii


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
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Very similar to House Finch.

Female (Upper Photo) has cleaner, more well defined streaking than House Finch.
Note white eyebrow.

Male Cassin's (Lower Photo), unlike House Finch, is clear breasted. Cassin's has less extensive red than House Finch, but with a well defined red crown patch.

Bill appears less curved than House Finch bill.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

Dixon

Dixon
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus


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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:1

Arroyo La Mina

Arroyo La Mina
Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search

Number of Individuals Observed:19

Dixon

Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe

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