Bird Checklists of the United States
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Socorro, New Mexico
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge lies along 9 miles of the Rio Grande in the desert of south-central New Mexico. Low dikes built since the refuge was established in the late 1930's have created extensive water impoundments, ideal winter habitat for ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and wading birds. Several accessible viewing platforms are available along the tour route.
The riparian habitat of the Rio Grande and the adjoining arid uplands provide a wide variety of bird life. Cultivated fields furnish additional food for wintering waterfowl, pheasant and other wildlife.
Neotropical migrant landbirds are those species of landbirds that nest in the United States or Canada, and spend the winter primarily south of our border in Mexico, Central or South America, or in the Caribbean. Many of them, including conspicuous or colorful hawks, hummingbirds, warblers, and tanagers, and less colorful but no less important flycatchers, thrushes, and vireos, are experiencing population declines due to widespread loss of habitats important for their survival. Preservation of many different habitats for nesting, wintering, and migratory stopover sites is becoming vital for the survival of many of these birds.
This list contains 377 species which have been observed on the refuge since 1940. Species are listed in accordance with the sixth edition (1983) A.O.U. checklist, as amended.
Symbols used in this list are defined as follows:
Sp- Spring March to May S- Summer June to August F- Fall September to November W- Winter December to FebruaryHypotheticals are reported but not verified. They are listed under species heading.Abundance
a - Abundant; A common species that is very numerous. c - Common; Certain to be seen in suitable habitats. u - Uncommon; Present, not certain to be seen. o - Occasional; Seen few times during the season r - Rare; Unusual, 1-5 years v - Vagrant; Highly unusual * Nesting Species
Italics = Federal Threatened or Endangered Status
For additional information contact:
LOONS Sp S F W ___ Pacific Loon v ___ Common Loon r - r -
GREBES Sp S F W ___ Pied-billed Grebe* a c a c ___ Horned Grebe r - r - ___ Eared Grebe u - u o ___ Western Grebe o u u o ___ Clark's Grebe o o o -
PELICANS Sp S F W ___ American White Pelican c o c o
CORMORANTS Sp S F W ___ Double-crested Cormorant* u u u o ___ Neotropic Cormorant* c c c u
BITTERNS AND HERONS Sp S F W ___ American Bittern* o o o o ___ Least Bittern* u u u - ___ Great Blue Heron* a c c c ___ Great Egret* o c u r ___ Snowy Egret* c a c o ___ Little Blue Heron o u u - ___ Tricolored Heron - r - - ___ Cattle Egret* u u o r ___ Green Heron* c c c - ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron* u c c o ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - r r -
IBISES Sp S F W ___ White Ibis - v - - ___ White-faced Ibis* c c c r
STORKS Sp S F W ___ Wood Stork v v
VULTURES Sp S F W ___ Turkey Vulture* c a a -
SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS Sp S F W ___ Greater White-fronted Goose o - o o ___ Snow Goose u - a a ___ Ross' Goose c - c c ___ Canada Goose* c c c c ___ Brant - - v - ___ Trumpeter Swan - - - v ___ Tundra Swan - - o o ___ Wood Duck* u u u u ___ Gadwall* c c c a ___ Eurasian Widgeon v - - - ___ American Wigeon c o c u ___ American Black Duck hypothetical ___ Mallard* a c a a ___ Blue-winged Teal* c u c - ___ Cinnamon Teal* c u c o ___ Northern Shoveler* c u a a ___ Northern Pintail* c u a a ___ Green-winged Teal* c u a c ___ Canvasback* u o u u ___ Redhead* u c u c ___ Ring-necked Duck u - u c ___ Greater Scaup - - - r ___ Lesser Scaup u o u u ___ Surf Scoter - - r - ___ White-winged Scoter - - v - ___ Black Scoter hypothetical ___ Oldsquaw v - r r ___ Bufflehead u - u c ___ Common Goldeneye r - r r ___ Barrow's Goldeneye - - - v ___ Hooded Merganser o o u u ___ Common Merganser o - o c ___ Red-breasted Merganser r - r r ___ Ruddy Duck* c u c c
KITES, EAGLES, AND HAWKS Sp S F W ___ Osprey o - o - ___ White-tailed Kite v - v v ___ Mississippi Kite r o r - ___ Bald Eagle o - u c ___ Northern Harrier* c o c a ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk c - u c ___ Cooper's Hawk* c u u c ___ Northern Goshawk r - r r ___ Common Black-Hawk - - v - ___ Harris' Hawk r - r r ___ Red-shouldered Hawk hypothetical ___ Swainson's Hawk* u u u - ___ Zone-tailed Hawk hypothetical ___ Red-tailed Hawk* c u c a ___ Ferruginous Hawk u o u u ___ Rough-legged Hawk r - r r ___ Golden Eagle* u u u u
CARACARAS AND FALCONS Sp S F W ___ American Kestrel* c c c c ___ Merlin o r o o ___ Peregrine Falcon u o u u ___ Prairie Falcon* o o u u
NEW WORLD QUAIL Sp S F W ___ Scaled Quail* u u u u ___ Gambel's Quail* c c c c ___ Montezuma Quail r r r r
RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS Sp S F W ___ Virginia Rail* u u u - ___ Sora* c c c - ___ Purple Gallinule v v v - ___ Common Moorhen* u u u - ___ American Coot* c c a a
CRANES Sp Su F W ___ Sandhill Crane - - a a ___ Whooping Crane o - u u
LAPWINGS AND PLOVERS Sp S F W ___ Black-bellied Plover^ o r o - ___ American Golden-Plover v - - - ___ Snowy Plover*^ r r r - ___ Semipalmated Plover^ o o o - ___ Killdeer*^ a a a c ___ Mountain Plover v - - -
STILTS AND AVOCETS Sp S F W ___ Black-necked Stilt* c c u - ___ American Avocet* c u u -
SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES AND ALLIES Sp S F W ___ Greater Yellowlegs c c c o ___ Lesser Yellowlegs u u u o ___ Solitary Sandpiper o u o - ___ Willet o o o - ___ Spotted Sandpiper* c c c - ___ Upland Sandpiper r - r - ___ Whimbrel r - - - ___ Long-billed Curlew o o o - ___ Hudsonian Godwit v - - - ___ Marbled Godwit o o o - ___ Ruddy Turnstone hypothetical ___ Red Knot - v - - ___ Sanderling r - r - ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper r - r - ___ Western Sandpiper c u c - ___ Least Sandpiper c u c r ___ White-rumped Sandpiper r r r - ___ Baird's Sandpiper u o u - ___ Pectoral Sandpiper o - o - ___ Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - - v - ___ Dunlin r - r r ___ Stilt Sandpiper o o o - ___ Buff-breasted Sandpiper hypothetical ___ Ruff v - - - ___ Short-billed Dowitcher - v v - ___ Long-billed Dowitcher c u c o ___ Common Snipe c r c u ___ Wilson's Phalarope c u c - ___ Red-necked Phalarope o - o - ___ Red Phalarope r r - -
SKUAS, GULLS, AND TERNS Sp S F W ___ Long-tailed Jaeger - - v - ___ Franklin's Gull u - u - ___ Bonaparte's Gull o - u o ___ Ring-billed Gull c o c u ___ California Gull r - - - ___ Herring Gull o - o o ___ Thayer's Gull v - - - ___ Glaucous Gull - - - v ___ Sabine's Gull - - r - ___ Black-legged Kitiwake - - - v ___ Caspian Tern hypothetical ___ Common Tern - - r - ___ Forster's Tern u o u - ___ Least Tern (interior U.S. pop.) - v - - ___ Black Tern u o u -
PIGEONS AND DOVES Sp S F W ___ Rock Dove r r r r ___ Band-tailed Pigeon - r - - ___ White-winged Dove r o r - ___ Mourning Dove* c a a u ___ Inca Dove - - r r ___ Common Ground-Dove hypothetical ___ Ruddy Ground-Dove - - - v
CUCKOOS, ROADRUNNERS, AND ALLIES Sp S F W ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo* o u u - ___ Greater Roadrunner* c c c c ___ Grove-billed Ani - - v -
BARN OWLS Sp S F W ___ Barn Owl* u u u u
TYPICAL OWLS Sp S F W ___ Western Screech-Owl* u u u u ___ Great Horned Owl* u u u u ___ Northern Pygmy-Owl hypothetical ___ Burrowing Owl* u u u o ___ Long-eared Owl r - - r ___ Short-eared Owl - - r r ___ Northern Saw-whet Owl - - - r
GOATSUCKERS Sp S F W ___ Lesser Nighthawk* c a c - ___ Common Nighthawk* u c u - ___ Common Poorwill* o c o -
SWIFTS Sp S F W ___ Chimney Swift - r - - ___ White-throated Swift o r - -
HUMMINGBIRDS Sp S F W ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird* c a c - ___ Calliope Hummingbird - o o - ___ Broad-tailed Hummingbird u u u - ___ Rufous Hummingbird* - u u -
KINGFISHERS Sp S F W ___ Belted Kingfisher* u o u o
WOODPECKERS AND ALLIES Sp S F W ___ Lewis Woodpecker v - r r ___ Red-headed Woodpecker v - r - ___ Acorn Woodpecker - - r - ___ Williamson's Sapsucker - - r v ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - - r - ___ Red-naped Sapsucker u - u u ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker* c c c u ___ Downy Woodpecker* u u u u ___ Hairy Woodpecker* u u u u ___ Northern Flicker* c c a a
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Sp S F W ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher u o u - ___ Western Wood-Pewee* c c u - ___ Willow Flycatcher (SW pop.) u u u - ___ Hammond's Flycatcher r - r - ___ Gray Flycatcher o - o - ___ Dusky Flycatcher u - u - ___ Cordilleran Flycatcher o - o - ___ Black Phoebe* c c c u ___ Eastern Phoebe - - r r ___ Say's Phoebe* c c c c ___ Vermilion Flycatcher* o u o r ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher* c c u - ___ Brown-crested Flycatcher v - v - ___ Couch's Kingbird - - v - ___ Cassin's Kingbird o o o - ___ Western Kingbird* c a u - ___ Eastern Kingbird o r - ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher r r - -
SHRIKES Sp S F W ___ Loggerhead Shrike* u u u u ___ Northern Shrike - - - r
VIREO Sp S F W ___ White-eyed Vireo Hypothetical ___ Bell's Vireo o o - - ___ Gray Vireo Hypothetical ___ Yellow-thraoted Vireo v - - - ___ Plumbeous Vireo u o u ___ Cassin's Vireo u - u - ___ Warbling Vireo u o u - ___ Red-eyed Vireo v - - -
JAYS,CROWS, AND RAVENS Sp S F W ___ Stellar's Jay r - r r ___ Blue Jay - - r - ___ Western Scrub-Jay* u u u u ___ Pinyon Jay o - o o ___ Black-billed Magpie - - v v ___ American Crow c - c a ___ Chihiahian Raven* c c c o ___ Common Raven
LARKS Sp S F W ___ Horned Lark c o u c
SWALLOWS Sp S F W ___ Purple Martin - r r - ___ Tree Swallow* a u a o ___ Violet-green Swallow c u c - ___ North. Rough-winged Swallow* c u c - ___ Bank Swallow* u u u - ___ Cliff Swallow* c c c - ___ Barn Swallow* a a a -
TITMICE AND CHICKADEES Sp S F W ___ Black-capped Chickadee v - - - ___ Mountain Chickadee o - o u ___ Junifer Titmouse o o o o
VERDINS Sp S F W ___ Verdin* u u u u
BUSHTITS Sp S F W ___ Bushtit* o u u o
NUTHATCHES Sp S F W ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch o - u u ___ White-breasted Nuthatch* u u u u
CREEPERS Sp S F W ___ Brown Creeper - - o o
WRENS Sp S F W ___ Cactus Wren* o o o o ___ Rock Wren* u u u u ___ Canyon Wren* u u u u ___ Carolina Wren v - - - ___ Bewick's Wren* c c u u ___ House Wren u - u - ___ Winter Wren v - - - ___ Sedge Wren r - r r ___ Marsh Wren u o c c
KINGLETS Sp S F W ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet - - - r ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet c - u c
GNATCATCHERS Sp S F W ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher u - u - ___ Black-tailed Gnatcatcher* o o o o
THRUSHES Sp S F W ___ Eastern Bluebird r - r o ___ Western Bluebird u - c - ___ Mountain Bluebird u - u u ___ Townsend's Solitaire o - o o ___ Swainson's Thrush r - r - ___ Hermit Thrush u - u r ___ American Robin* c c c c
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS Sp S F W ___ Gray Catbird* o o o r ___ Northern Mockingbird* c c u o ___ Sage Thrasher - r r o ___ Brown Thrasher r - r r ___ Bendire's Thrasher hypothetical ___ Curve-billed Thrasher* u u u u ___ Crissal Thrasher* u u u u
STARLINGS Sp S F W ___ European Starling* c c c c
WAGTAILS AND PIPITS Sp S F W ___ White Wagtail v - - - ___ American Pipit u r u c ___ Sprague's Pipit - - v -
WAXWINGS Sp S F W ___ Cedar Waxwing o r o o
SILKY-FLYCATCHERS Sp S F W ___Phainopepla* o u - -
WOOD WARBLERS Sp S F W ___ Blue-winged Warbler v - - - ___ Golden-winged Warbler v - - - ___ Tennessee Warbler r - r - ___ Orange-crowned Warbler u - u - ___ Nashville Warbler o - o - ___ Virginia's Warbler u o u - ___ Lucy's Warbler* u u u - ___ Northern Parula r - r - ___ Yellow Warbler* u u c - ___ Chestnut-sided Warbler r - r - ___ Magnolia Warbler r - - - ___ Black-throated Blue Warbler v - v - ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler c o c u ___ Black-throated Gray Warbler o - o - ___ Black-throated Green Warbler - - r - ___ Townsend's Warbler o - o - ___ Yellow-throated Warbler v - - - ___ Grace's Warbler v - - - ___ Prairie Warbler v - - - ___ Palm Warbler r - - - ___ Bay-breasted Warbler v - - - ___ Blackpoll Warbler r - - - ___ Black-and-White Warbler r - r - ___ American Redstart r r r - ___ Prothonotary Warbler r - r - ___ Ovenbird o - - - ___ Northern Waterthrush r - r - ___ Kentucky Warbler r - - - ___ Mourning Warbler v - - - ___ MacGillivray's Warbler u r u - ___ Common Yellowthroat* c c u - ___ Hooded Warbler r - - - ___ Wilson's Warbler c - a - ___ Canada Warbler v - - - ___ Painted Redstart r - - - ___ Yellow-breasted Chat* c c u -
TANAGERS Sp S F W ___ Hepatic Tanager o o - - ___ Summer Tanager* u c u - ___ Scarlet Tanager v v v - ___ Western Tanager c o c -
SPARROWS Sp S F W ___ Green-tailed Towhee u - u o ___ Spotted Towhee c c c c ___ Canyon Towhee* u u u u ___ Cassin's Sparrow* - u o - ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow o o o o ___ American Tree Sparrow - - - r ___ Chipping Sparrow c c c - ___ Clay-colored Sparrow r - u - ___ Brewer's Sparrow c o c o ___ Field Sparrow v - - - ___ Black-chinned Sparrow o - o - ___ Vesper Sparrow o o c o ___ Lark Sparrow* c c c o ___ Black-throated Sparrow* u c u u ___ Sage Sparrow u - u u ___ Lark Bunting o u u o ___ Savannah Sparrow c - c u ___ LeConte's Sparrow Hypothetical ___ Fox Sparrow - - - r ___ Song Sparrow c - c a ___ Lincoln's Sparrow u - u u ___ Swamp Sparrow - r u u ___ White-throated Sparrow o - o o ___ Harris' Sparrow r - o o ___ White-crowned Sparrow c o a a ___ Golden-crowned Sparrow r - r r ___ Dark-eyed Junco c - c a ___ McCown's Longspur - - r - ___ Chestnut-collared Longspur - - o o
CARDINALS AND GROSBEAKS Sp S F W ___ Pyrrhuloxia* u u u u ___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak r r r - ___ Black-headed Grosbeak* c c u - ___ Blue Grosbeak* a a u r ___ Lazuli Bunting u o u - ___ Indigo Bunting* u u u - ___ Painted Bunting - - v - ___ Dickcissel - - r -
BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES Sp S F W ___ Bobolink v v v - ___ Red-winged Blackbird* a a a a ___ Eastern Meadowlark r - r r ___ Western Meadowlark* a a a a ___ Yellow-headed Blackbird c u c c ___ Rusty Blackbird - - - r ___ Brewer's Blackbird c - c c ___ Great-tailed Grackle* c c c c ___ Common Grackle - r r r ___ Bronzed Cowbird hypothetical ___ Brown-headed Cowbird* c c c o ___ Orchard Oriole - - v - ___ Bullock's Oriole c c o - ___ Scott's Oriole* - - v -
FINCHES Sp S F W ___ Cassin's Finch r - r r ___ House Finch* c c c c ___ Red Crossbill - v - - ___ Pine Siskin c o u c ___ Lesser Goldfinch* c c c u ___ Lawrence's Goldfinch hypothetical ___ American Goldfinch u o u c ___ Evening Grosbeak - - r r
OLD WORLD SPARROWS Sp S F W ___ House Sparrow* c c c c
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 1246
Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Telephone: 505/835-1828
Fax: 505/835/0314
http://www.fws.gov
New Mexico Relay Service
1 800/659-8331/T
1 800/659-1779/V
For Refuge Information
1 800/344 WILD
This resource is based on the following source:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Birds of Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
This resource should be cited as:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1995. Birds of Bosque del Apache National
Wildlife Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.govbosque.htm
(Updated July 1999).
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