Río Embudo Birds

2008 Spring Arrivals:

Of the more than 200 birds on the Río Embudo area list, about 64 are species that are here year-round. During the summer, another 54 or so species join the year-round residents. Having spent the winter south of us, they return during the spring migration.

During the migration, starting in March and peaking in early May, another 50-60 species pass through our area on their way to points further north. The presence of so many species makes the migration time one of the most interesting birding times of the year. It is during the migration that most new species are added to the Río Embudo list.

By the way, if you miss the spring migration, you get another chance during the fall migration as the same birds are moving back south to their wintering grounds.

The table belows shows first observation dates for 2008 as recorded by local birders:
(Click on English or Latin Name for Photos, Sounds and More.)




Please scroll down.

Name:Location:First Observation
Date for 2008:
Expected
arrival time:
Charadrius vociferusDixon, El Bosque

Most often seen in wet fields or orchards.


Calls loudly in flight.

March 6, 2008

Summer Resident
Early March
N. of Taos 2007.07.24
Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans
Dixon, El Bosque

Usually sits on low branches overhanging the river.


Sound: Repeated two-note whistle.

March 20, 2008

Summer Resident
Early March
Cachanillas (near Lyden) 2007.11.19
Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya
Apodaca

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


Sound: A plaintive, down-slurred "pee-er"

March 21, 2008

Early March
Early March
Rinconada 2008.03.24

With nesting material. Rigsby's April 19, 2008
Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos
Rinconada

Present in many habitats, often heard before seen.


Sound: Mimics other birds and other common sounds (Even car alarms.) Noisy repitions of many sounds.

March 22, 2008

Summer Resident
Mid-April
Rinconada 2008.03.24
Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura
Dixon: El Bosque

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.

March 24, 2008

Summer Resident

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

End of March
Dixon: El Bosque Spring, 2007

La Bolsa April 5, 2008
Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Dixon: El Bosque

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.

March 27, 2008

Summer Resident


If you find horizontal rows of holes in local piñon or apple wood, it is the work of sapsuckers.

Early to Mid-March No Local Photo Available.
Click on English or Latin Name
for Photos, Sounds and More.
Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina
Dixon: El Bosque

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

March 31, 2008

Summer Resident

Underside and sides of rump bright white.

Mid-April (Large numbers around May 12)
Rio Ojo Sarco June 9, 2008

Swallow Silhoutte
Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina
Cachanillas

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


Listen for insect-like trill on one pitch.

April 1, 2008

Summer Resident

Clear breast, red cap, black line through eyes.

Mid-April
Rio Ojo Sarco April 25, 2008

Dixon: El Bosque May 6, 2008
White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis
Canoñcito

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

April 2, 2008

Summer Resident

Usually fly very high, often over mesas.


Swift wings are long and thin.

Mid-March
Swift Silhoutte
N. Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Dixon

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


Listen for a squirty-sounding "jrrt"

April 6, 2008

Summer Resident

Underside duller than Violet-green. Throat dusky.

Mid-April
Swallow Flight Silhoutte

Dixon: El Bosque May 13, 2008
Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri
La Junta

At flowers and feeders.


Males: Upper throat black, lower purple. (When light is at certain angles.)

April 12, 2008

Summer Resident
Mid-April
Male, Dixon: El Bosque May 2, 2008
Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus
La Junta

At flowers and feeders.


Wings of males in flight make loud insect-like buzz.

April 12, 2008

Summer Resident

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

Mid-April
Male, Dixon: El Bosque April 24, 2008
Common Grackle

Quiscalus quiscula
Apodaca

Look high in Cottonwoods near agricultural land.


Body dark brown. Head blue-black.

April 14, 2008

Summer Resident
Late March
Cañoncito April 25, 2008
Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius
Rinconada

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


In flight, wing shows white stripe running from body to wing-tip.

April 15, 2008

Summer Resident

Well camouflaged, easily overlooked.

Late April
Rio Grande (Rinconada) April 15, 2008

Dixon: Rio Embudo May 4, 2008
Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dendroica coronata
Dixon: El Bosque

Mid to High levels in Cottonwood Trees

April 15, 2008

Summer Resident at high altitudes only. Migrant in lower altitudes.
A few present in lowlands in winter. Large numbers by Mid-April
Rinconada April 19, 2008
Lark Bunting

Calamospiza melanocorys
Dixon: El Bosque

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


State bird of Colorado.

April 16, 2008

Transient

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

Possible in April & May No Local Photo Available.
Click on English or Latin Name
for Photos, Sounds and More.
Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Rinconada

Like other arealists, hawking insects over riparian areas.

April 19, 2008

Summer Resident

Throat very dark.

3rd week of April
Swallow Silhoutte

Dixon: El Bosque May 20, 2008
Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica
Rinconada

Usually in agricultural areas.

April 19, 2008

Summer Resident

Long, forked tail distinctive.

3rd week of April
Peñasco April 19, 2007

Peñasco April 19, 2007
Virginia's Warbler

Vermivora virginiae
Rio Ojo Sarco

High in Cottonwoods during migration.


Sound: Four notes followed by a trill.

April 25, 2008

Summer Resident

Usually breeds in Scrub Oak.

3rd week of April
Rio Ojo Sarco April 25, 2008
Gray Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii
Rio Ojo Sarco

Primarily in Piñon-Juniper


Sound: Two note, "ki-LIP"

April 25, 2008

Summer Resident
Late April
Rio Ojo Sarco May 16, 2008
Cassins Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans
Rio Ojo Sarco

Perches on wires and tops of trees.


Very noisy. Call a conspicuous "Chi-bir!"

April 25, 2008

Summer Resident
3rd week of April
Dixon: La Pareia July 21, 2007

Dixon: El Bosque May 7, 2007
Plumbeous Vireo

Vireo plumbeus
LOCATION

Usually high in Cottonwoods


Sound: Short, separated Robin-like phrases.

April 25, 2008

Summer Resident
End of April
Rio Ojo Sarco May 16, 2008

Dixon: El Bosque May 20, 2008
Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus
Rio Ojo Sarco

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

April 25, 2008

Transient in lower altitudes. Summer resident at high altitudes.

Only sings when on its high mountain breeding grounds.

3rd week of April
Rio Ojo Sarco April 25, 2008
Scott's Oriole

Icterus parisorum
Arroyo Mina

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


Head with complete black hood in contrast to Bullock's Oriole's partial hood.

May 1, 2008

Summer Resident?

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


Listen to song of the pictured bird recorded May 19, 2008

Possible in April & May
Dixon: El Bosque May 18, 2008
Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus
Apodaca

Generally mid to high levels in trees.


Song is Robin-like, but more melodius.

1st week of May, 2008

Summer Resident
1st week of May <
El Bosque May 14, 2008
Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana
Dixon: El Bosque

Generally high in trees.


Listen for a subtle "pitilit".

May 4, 2008

Summer Resident in high altitudes. Migrant in lower altitudes.

1st week of May
Male: Dixon May 8, 2007

Female: Dixon May 17, 2008
Yellow Warbler

Dendroica petechia
Dixon: El Bosque

Look high in Cottonwoods or along river in willows.


Listen for a fast, high pitched "sweet, sweet, I'm so sweet".

May 4, 2008

Summer Resident
1st week of May
Dixon: El Bosque May 4, 2008

Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008
Wilson's Warbler

Wilsonia pusilla
Dixon: El Bosque

Usually in riparian area.


Look for black cap on male.

From below can look like female Yellow Warbler.

May 4, 2008

Transient

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

Late April
Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008
Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008
Bullocks Oriole

Icterus bullockii
Dixon: El Bosque

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


Listen for noisy chatter on one pitch.

May 5, 2008

Summer Resident

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

Last week of April
Dixon: El Bosque May 5, 2008
Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater
Dixon: El Bosque

Often on ground. Often feeding near livestock.


Sound: A very distinctive descending "watery" whistle.

May 5, 2008

Summer Resident

Body black, head brown.


Lays eggs in other species nest. "Parasatized" species raises the young.

Last week of April
Orilla Verde June 9, 2007

Dixon: El Bosque May 20, 2008
Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens
LOCATION

Most commonly seen mid-level in large cottonwoods.


Listen for a very quiet, very gentle "sports whistle".

May 6, 2008

Summer Resident

Pale yellow wash on belly and breast.


Contrasting "top-knot" distinctive.

1st week of May
Dixon: El Bosque May 6, 2008
Yellow-breasted Chat

Icteria virens
Dixon: El Bosque

Difficult to see.


Easy to hear: At least 4 distinctive calls.

May 7, 2008

Summer Resident

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

1st week of May
El Bosque May 13, 2008
Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena
Apodaca

Often seen at tops of smaller trees in agricultural areas.


Paired, slightly buzzy notes. Often described as a fast "fire fire, where where, here here".

1st week of May, 2008

Summer Resident

Brilliant Turquoise head and back is distinctive.


Note rusty swath on breast.

1st week of May
Dixon: El Bosque May 13, 2008

Dixon: El Bosque May 9, 2008
White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica
Dixon: El Bosque

Not common along Rio Embudo.

More common from Velarde south.


Sound: A rhythmical "Who cooks for you?"

May 8, 2008

Summer Resident

Note white wing edge when perched.


In flight, white band appears on top of wing.

Can be seen in any season south of Velarde.

Numbers increase in summer.

Albuquerque (East of Fairgrounds) April 29, 2008
Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii
Dixon: El Bosque

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

May 13, 2008

Transient

Possible April & May
Dixon: El Bosque May 13, 2008
Northern Parula

GENUS SPECIES
Dixon: El Bosque

This vagrant was way out of range.

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


Sound: A buzzy trill rising in pitch.

May 13, 2008

Vagrant

While these photos are not usable as "bird photos", they are definitive in the identification of the Parula.

Note the horizontal black band on breast with red and yellow bands below.

Note the blue-gray head, split eye-ring and yellow on throat.

Dixon: El Bosque May 13, 2008

Dixon: El Bosque May 13, 2008
Warbling Vireo

Vireo gilvus
Rio Ojo Sarco

Usually mid-level to high in Cottonwoods.

May 16, 2008

Summer Resident

Early May
Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008
Orange-crowned Warbler

Vermivora celata
Dixon: El Bosque

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

May 17, 2008

Summer Resident at high elevations.

Transient in lowlands.

Note split eye-ring and faint eye-brow.

Possible in April & May
Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008

Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008
Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi
Dixon: El Bosque

Hawks insects from bare branches at mid-levels.


Sound: Have never heard this bird sing during migration.

Dixon: May 17, 2008

Transient

Note dark "vest".

Possible in April & May
Dixon: El Bosque May 17, 2008
Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea
Dixon: El Bosque

Usually in agricultural areas.


Sound: Listen for a very metallic sounding "chink".

Song similar to House Finch without upward slide at the end.

May 19, 2008

Summer Resident

Deep blue body with contrasting brown wings.


In poor light, may appear uniformly blue or black.

2nd week of May.
Dixon: El Bosque Summer, 2007

Dixon: El Bosque May 20, 2008
Western Wood-Pewee

Contopus sordidulus
Dixon: El Bosque

Hawks insects from relatively low perches.


Sound: Says its name: a buzzy "pee-wee".

May 22, 2008

Summer Resident
Mid to late May
Dixon: El Bosque May 22, 2008
American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Rinconada

Extremely rare in this location.


Migrates from Northern Mexico to Colorado and points further north.

May 24, 2008

Vagrant

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


It has a wingspan of 8-9 1/2 feet.

Not expected!

This bird caught a number of people's eye.

It was reported to me independently by David Rigsby, Abby Mouer and Liz Reidel & Shel Neymark.

Rinconada May 25, 2008
Rinconada May 25, 2008



Spring arrival and nesting observations for 2007

Here is a list of arrivals of species and observations of behavior
during the period of February 5, 2007 until May 16, 2007.

The seasonal migration of birds is one of the wonders of the world. Those hummingbirds at your feeders all summer, weighing less than 1/4 ounce, fly all the way to southern Mexico.

The Yellow Warbler, weighing less than 1/2 ounce, travels as much as 3000 miles to the northern part of South America. Many of them work their way down through Mexico and Central America, feeding as they go. Others actually fly non-stop for several days and nights over the Gulf of Mexico, then continue overland. They will pass the winter in the tropics, feeding in mixed flocks with tropical tanagers.