Year-Round and Winter Birds Continued

Photo by Sally King

HOUSE FINCH (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Wingspan 9.5"
Relatively common throughout the park especially in the spring. Have been known to nest in the park.

 

photo by sally king

CASSIN'S FINCH (Carpodacus cassinii)
Wingspan 11.5"
Uncommon except in certain years when plentiful on the mesatops.

 

photo by sally king

PURPLE FINCH (Carpodacus purpureus)
Wingspan 10"
Very uncommon but have been seen in the park along the Main Loop Trail.

 

Photo by Sally King

LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis)
Wingspan 21"
Somewhat common on the brushy mesatops like along Burnt Mesa Trail.

 

photo by sally king

ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorous)
Wingspan 17.5"
Somewhat uncommon in the park but regularly seen on the mesatop and in the higher elevations.

 

Photo by Sally King

BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica hudsonia)
Wingspan 25"
Uncommon in the park but more often seen on the way to the park in the White Rock area. Often along or on roadway eating road-kill.

 

NPS Photo by Sally King

NORTHERN FLICKER (Colaptes auratus)
Wingspan 20"
Common throughout the park all year long.  Often can be heard calling from treetops.  Shy and hard to get close to.

 

NPS Photo by Sally King

PINE SISKIN (Carduelis pinus)
Wingspan 9"
Sporadic in their appearance in the park.  Can be common during certain years.  This major seed eater can be seen along the Main Loop Trail, Rio Grande, and at the visitor center.

 

NPS Photo by Sally King

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis tristis)
Wingspan 9"
Uncommon but have been seen in Frijoles Canyon in the winter.

 

NPS Photo by Sally King

BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Wingspan 6"
Relatively common in the park.  Always seen in groups.  Often heard before seen.

 

PHOTO BY SALLY KING

GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)
Wingspan 44 "
Common but rarely seen. Have been seen on the Main Loop Trail and the Falls Trail. Heard at Juniper Campground. Activity restricted to night only, with few exceptions.

 

PHOTO BY SALLY KING

BLUE GROUSE (DUSKY) (Dendragapus obscurus)
Wingspan 26"
Common in the higher elevations of the park such as Alamo Boundary Trail or Cerro Grande Route.

 

Photo by Sally King

RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra)
Wingspan 11"
Uncommon, usually found in the higher elevations of the park but has been seen in Frijoles Canyon and at Juniper Campground. Very distinct bill. Very common in the winter/spring 2010 and 2011.

 

Female Red Crossbill

photo by sally king

 

Photo by Sally King

MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Wingspan 18"
Common summertime bird but sometimes stays through the winter. Seen in large flocks in Frijoles Canyon and in Pinon-Juniper Woodland.

 

photo by sally king

Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus)
Uncommon but has been seen in the higher elevations of the park such as Cerro Grande Route and Alamo Boundary Trail.

 

photo by sally king

FOX SPARROW (Passerella ilaca)
Uncommon but has been seen in Frijoles Canyon during migration.

 

photo by sally king

JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
Common, especially in the Pinon-Juniper Woodland and sometimes in the riparian areas.

 

photo by sally king

AMERICAN DIPPER (Cinclus mexicanus)
Very uncommon but has been seen along Frijoles Creek.

 

photo by sally king

COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
Common within the park.  Nests in the riparian areas.

 

photo by sally king

RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Very common.  Often seen sitting in dead trees or on telephone posts along Hwy 4 and the park entrance road.

 

View from rear, showing red tail

photo by sally king

 

photo by sally king

CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga columbiana)
Somewhat common on the mesatops and in the higher elevations of the park.

 

photo by sally king

SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
Common along the Rio Grande wetlands and somewhat common along other riparian areas within the park.

 

photo by sally king

MERLIN (Falco columbarius)
Uncommon but has been seen in the park usually on the mesatops sitting in dead trees.

 

photo by sally king

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
Relatively common in the park. Can be found either on the mesas or in the canyons. Less common than Cooper's Hawk in this area.