Birds

Did You Know?

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has 174 confirmed bird species.

 

Canyons are no barriers to birds. In search of food and water, birds can readily fly to depths and heights forbidding for other animals, including humans. The birds below represent those that live within the various habitats of the canyon, from the rim to the Gunnison River level.

 

Great horned owl

NPS/Neal Herbert

Great Horned Owl

Great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) are widespread across North America. Great horned owls are year-round residents. These birds hunt rabbits and rodents on canyon rims at night. Their prey eat nuts, seeds and berries of pinyon, juniper, and Gambel oak trees, as well as serviceberry and other shrubs prevalent on canyon rims.

Great horned owls are colored to camouflage with its surroundings. They have a facial disk and can vary in car. Its talon, legs, and feet are strong and can apply crushing pressure to prey.

 

Mountain bluebird

NPS

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) share canyon rim habitat with owls but are daytime eaters of insects. Males have bright blue bodies, while females have gray bodies with blue wings.

Bluebirds are migratory, not year-round residents here. They nest in trees and are most often seen in spring and early summer when nesting and rearing their young. They get some moisture from their insect diet but need access to open water as well.

 

Steller's jay

Photo courtesy of Ken Kingley

Steller's Jays

Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) live from the side canyons to the canyon rim where Douglas fir trees grow. They prefer woodlands and coniferous forest habitats. Steller's jays are omnivores and consume seeds, nuts, and some insects. They get moisture from insects, but also need access to puddles, ponds, or other water sources.

Steller's jays are black and blue colored with a crest on its head. They have a loud call and can imitate sounds of other birds and mammals. Like other jays, they can be raucous, meddlesome, and opportunistic about food on picnic tables.

 

Canyon wren

NPS/D. Goodman

Canyon Wren

Canyon wrens (Catherpes mexicanus) have a sweet, almost haunting song that may be the only evidence of their presence. These wrens are far more often heard than seen. They have small bodies with a large belly and a long, slightly curved beak. Canyon wrens are a rusty brown color with a white throat. Their wings and tail have black barring throughout.

They nest on ledges like Peregrine falcons do, laying eggs in depressions. They hop and poke about ledges and alcoves looking for spiders and insects to eat. At Black Canyon, these wrens are seldom if ever seen down along the river itself.

 

American dipper

NPS/D. Goodman

American Dipper

American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as a water ouzel, live and nest along the river. They can walk under fast-moving water to feed, using their wings to stay submerged. They probe for aquatic insects and larvae, fish eggs, and small fish.

Their name comes from the "bobbing" up and down at up to 60 dips per minute. Their plump body type and plentiful down adapt them to cold-water living. They may build their nests off moss behind waterfalls or cascades.

 

White-throated swift

NPS/Jacob Frank

White-throated Swift

White-throated swifts (Aeronautes saxatalis) are aerial feeders whose scientific name means “rock-inhabiting air sailor.” These swifts have long, slim bodies and very narrow wings. They are black and brown birds with a white throat and some underbelly.

White-throated swifts nest high on canyon walls in rock crevices and feed mostly in early morning and at evening, when flying insects are most active.

 

Juvenile peregrine falcon

NPS

Peregrine Falcon

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) nest on ledges on canyon walls. These falcons have a blue-gray back and a grey or tan underside. Their wingspan can reach up to 3.5 feet (1.1 m) across.

Peregrine falcons prey on flying birds, swooping down on them as fast as 200 mph. Their balled-up claws can shatter prey’s bones. Falcons mostly feed on aerial-feeding swifts and swallows but also on jays and an occasional dove.

Raptor closures are in effect from March 15 to July 15 to protect nesting peregrine falcons. These closures are on both rims of Black Canyon and extend into Curecanti National Recreation Area. Climbers should check climbing closures before recreating.

 

Species List

For a complete list of bird species found at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, select 'Birds' under species category.

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

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Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park

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Species attribute definitions

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