The high desert ecosystem and rocky cliffs of the Reserve provide excellent habitat for many birds of prey, including Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Red-Tailed Hawk, Swainson's Hawk, Northern Harrier, Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, American Kestrel, and Great-Horned Owl. Bald eagle and Ferruginous Hawk are also observed in winter, but with less frequency. Other bird species of interest include Turkey Vulture, Sage Grouse, Pinyon Jay, Clark's Nutcracker, Common Nighthawk, Cliff Swallow, Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Chickadee, Rock and Canyon Wrens, Green-Tailed Towhee, Virginia's Warbler, Western Tanager and Lazuli bunting.

Within City of Rocks and Almo Valley, 142 species have been documented, and are included on the Reserve's bird checklist. Just about anywhere in the Reserve or Castle Rocks State Park is a great place to watch birds. Select birding hotspots for details about the best areas and a map.

Species Spotlights:

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-tailed hawks are seen quite often at City of Rocks. They are usually seen during the spring, summer, and fall months, but are also found in the reserve during the winter months.

These birds of prey are also known as buzzard hawks and red hawks. By any name, they are keen-eyed and efficient hunters. Red-tails prefer open areas, such as fields or deserts, with high perching places nearby from which they can watch for prey. But these birds are adaptable and also dwell in mountains and tropical rain forests. They often perch on telephone poles and take advantage of the open spaces along the roadside to spot and seize mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, reptiles, or other prey.

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Sightings of the Northern Goshawk are rare in City of Rocks, but do occur. This goshawk is a powerful hunter, generally scarce and not often seen. It pursues prey as a large as rabbits and grouse, hunting mostly inside the forest.

The Northern Goshawk is well known for its fierce defense of its nest. It commonly attacks people and other animals that approach the nest too closely.