río embudo birds

Bird List

Date: December 6, 2014

Location: Spring-fed Arroyo, Dixon

Number of Species: 13

Time: 8:15-11:00AM

Weather: Clear, calm.

Number of Observers: 2


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
Woodpeckers
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
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:2

El Bosque
Common Raven
Corvus corax


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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:1

El Bosque

Camino de los Marquez, Santa Fe
Chickadees and their Allies
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search
Very similar to Black-capped Chickadee in appearance and vocalizations.

Mountain Chickadee has distinctive white eyebrow.

Sound: Fee-bee-bee instead of fee-bee.

Black on throat generally more extensive than shown here.
Number of Individuals Observed:1

Photo: Dave Menke USFWS Oregon

Dixon

Pot Creek, Talpa, NM
Juniper Titmouse
Baeolophus ridgwayi


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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:2

Camino Lejo, Santa Fe
Thrushes and their Allies
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana


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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 (middle photo) has blue in wings, but appears gray from front with a light buffy breast.
Note white eye-ring.

Juvenile on left in lowest photo. Female on right.
Number of Individuals Observed:24

El Bosque


Rinconada 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:16

Harding Mine
American Robin
Turdus migratorius


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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:24

El Bosque
Sparrows and their Allies
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:12

Dixon

Dixon
Finches and Old World Sparrows
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:4

Arroyo La Mina

Arroyo La Mina
Cassin’s Finch
Carpodacus cassinii


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search
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:3

Dixon

Dixon
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search
Female (Upper Photo)




Male (Lower Photo)
Number of Individuals Observed:5

Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus


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External Sites:
Cornell
USGS
Image Search

Number of Individuals Observed:11

Dixon

Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe

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