A selection of birds that frequent the lab. The species shown here, and descriptions of their seasonality, pertain to the piñon-juniper savanna north of town. The Santa Fe area is geographically diverse, so the bird fauna can differ in other parts of town.
The primary goal of this page is to illustrate the common inhabitants. There are gaps for now, some photos are from elsewhere (noted in the captions), and more species and better photos will be added in due time.
Some of the species are year-round residents, others nest in the summer, and others spend the winter here. A few common migrants are also highlighted. With more information, times of arrival and departure will be defined better, and may also shift.
Both sexes are shown if they differ and photos are available.
Abundance levels are arbitrarily defined as abundant (encountered every day during the right season), common (not every day, but not surprised when you see or hear them), uncommon (multiple sightings during the season), and rare (maybe once or twice a season).
More detailed information about identification and ecology of each species can be found at Cornell’s All About Birds or at the National Audubon Society.
Click each image below for a larger view.
Birds of Prey
Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii)
Year-round resident
Uncommon
Cooper’s hawks can be observed perching or flying throughout the area.
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Summer resident
Uncommon
Most often seen soaring, on the lookout for carrion or food waste.
Western Screech Owl (Megascops kennicottii)
Year-round resident
Probably common but sightings are rare
Feeds on birds, small mammals, and insects. For videos of screech owls rearing chicks see Terry’s Owl Cam page.
Longeared Owl (Asio otis)
Migrant or summer resident
Rare
Nocturnal habits and effective camouflage make these owls difficult to find.
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are present starting in April. Black-chinned and broad-tailed hummingbirds are common residents in the summer. Rufous hummingbirds appear later.
Black-Chinned Hummingbird (Archilochis alexandri)
Summer resident
Common
Black-chinned hummingbirds move into the area in late spring and nest in the summer.
Broad-Tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus)
Summer resident
Common
Often distinguished by the trilling sound of their wings rather than by sight.
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)
- Summer migrant
- Common
Rufous hummingbirds appear in late summer after rearing young elsewhere. They aggressively guard feeders from other hummingbird species.
Doves and Pigeons
Doves are not as common here as elsewhere in the southwest, but are regularly seen and heard during the summer.
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Summer Resident
Uncommon
White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
Summer resident
Common
Flycatchers
Flycatchers, kingbirds, and phoebes breed in summer, leaving when insects become scarce as winter sets in.
Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Summer resident
Common
Say’s phoebes arrive in April, just as the insects start to emerge.
Cassin’s Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans)
Summer resident
Common
Arriving in May, Cassin’s kingbirds are a sign that summer has arrived.
Ash-Throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
Summer resident
Common
Possibly the latest arrival in the group.
Chickadees and Titmice
Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
Year-round resident
Common
Chickadees are seen and heard throughout the year.
Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
Year-round resident
Common
Titmice are visit feeders and baths as singles or pairs.
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)
Year-round resident
Common
Travel in large mobs in winter, smaller groups in summer.
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)
Common
Year-round resident
Warbling song is commonly heard in the spring.
Jays, Crows, and Ravens
Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
Year-round resident
Uncommon
Roam and descend onto piñon trees in groups of up to several dozen.
Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
Year round resident
Common
Usually seen singly or in pairs.
Common Raven (Corvus corvax)
Year-round resident
Abundant
Travel singly or in small groups
Thrashers
Curve-Billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)
Year-round resident
Common
Males sing from a prominent perch.
Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus)
Possible winter resident
Uncommon
Thrushes
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Winter resident
Abundant
Arriving in October, flocks of robins are harbingers of winter. Almost all migrate to higher altitudes in summer.
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
Year-round resident
Adundant
Flocks in winter, smaller goups and pairs in summer. Nesting has been successful, and unsuccessful.
Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Winter resident
Common
Solitaires move into the area in winter. Unlike the other thrushes, solitaires do not form groups, often sitting atop trees and calling with single notes.
Sparrows, Towhees, and Finches
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
Year-round resident
Abundant
Males claim treetops, singing from spring to fall. Calls can vary dramatically from one male to the next.
Canyon Towhee (Melozone fusca)
Year-round resident
Abundant
Commonly seen rummaging under trees for seeds and larvae.
Green-Tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
Fall and spring migrant
Rare
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Summer resident
Abundant
Small flocks and singing males can be seen and heard throughout the area.
Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Winter resident
Abundant
Juncos feed on the ground, often as groups.
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Year-round resident
Abundant
Omnipresent in open and residential areas. Can produce multiple broods in a season.
Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
Year-round resident
Abundant
Commonly found at thistle/niger feeders, seeding flowers, and birdbaths. Both green-backed and black-backed variants occur here.