Birds in New Mexico

With four distinct zones, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, the Basin and Range region, and the Colorado Plateau, the Enchantment state offers something for a wide variety of birds. The “Land of Enchantment”, New Mexico is very much a birding hotspot in its own right.

With 549 species, New Mexico has the fourth-highest state list of any state in the United States, an accomplishment made all the more astounding given the state’s hundreds of miles from the nearest coast.

Let’s discuss these New Mexico birds in the section below! ‌

New Mexico‌ ‌birds‌ ‌of‌ ‌prey‌ ‌ ‌

The state’s northern portions are densely forested, the ideal habitat for an alpha predator bird of prey.

These habitats are home to a variety of birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old-World vultures. These birds have enormous hooked beaks capable of shredding flesh from their victims, strong legs, sharp talons, and acute vision.

In New Mexico, twenty-one species have been identified. However, its habitat is far more diverse than most people believe.

‌Eagles‌ ‌in ‌New Mexico‌

The sight of an eagle flying freely can mean a lot of different things to different people. For religious and ceremonial purposes in many Native American tribes, the parts of an eagle are used, as well. But eagles are a part of almost every culture where they live. The bald eagle, of course, is the national bird of the United States. It is also the only eagle found in North America.

In New Mexico, there are only a few pairs of bald eagles that stay together and raise their young all year. Today, they are doing what they can to protect these birds from being endangered.

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a North American raptor. With the white-tailed eagle, it is a species pair. Its ...

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

The Cooper's hawk, known to be Accipiter cooperii, is a medium-sized hawk found in southern Canada and Mexico. This species ...

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

The sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus, is a small but large-headed hawk that breeds from southeastern Canada and Maine south to ...

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Known as the northern harrier, Circus Hudsonius is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern hemisphere, including Canada ...

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Because of their size and activity levels, Aquila Chrysaetos or commonly known as Golden eagles are among the most frequently ...

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis, the red-tailed hawk, breeds over much of North America, from Alaska to Panama and the West Indies. It ...

Owls‌ ‌in ‌New Mexico‌

This isn’t a surprise, since the Land of Enchantment has five big national forests and two big national parks. There are about 546 different types of birds that live there year-round or just for a short time.

There are a lot of different kinds of birds in New Mexico, but there are also a lot of owls for you to look at and study. Because the eastern screech-owl and the barred owl aren’t common in New Mexico, we only talked about the 13 other species that live there all year. People who are interested in these birds of prey should keep reading. We’ll tell you all about them.

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Megascops Kennicottii – Western Screech Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Common‌ ‌backyard‌ ‌birds‌ ‌of‌ ‌New Mexico‌

There are many different kinds of plants and animals in New Mexico, which makes it a very big and interesting place. New Mexico is often overlooked by birdwatchers from other states who are looking for new places to go. That’s not to say that the “Land of Enchantment” isn’t a great place to see birds.

Take a look at these common backyard birds that come to your yard all the time.

Corvus Corax- Common Raven

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Pica Hudsonia – Black-billed Magpie

Nucifraga Columbiana – Clark’s Nutcracker

Aphelocoma Woodhouseii - Woodho found in western part of the US

Aphelocoma Woodhouseii – Woodhouse’s scrub-Jay

Gymnorhinus Cyanocephalus – Pinyon Jay

Perisoreus Canadensis – Canada Jay

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Sialia Currucoides – Mountain Bluebird

Passerculus Sandwichensis – Savannah Sparrow

Chondestes Grammacus – Lark Sparrow

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Junco Hyemalis – Dark-Eyed Junco

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Amphispiza Bilineata – Black-Throated Sparrow

Woodpeckers‌ ‌in‌ ‌New Mexico‌

New Mexico’s diverse habitats provide an ideal environment for woodpecker variety. Indeed, New Mexico woodpeckers encompass thirteen species across four of the state’s five native genera.

The New Mexico Ornithological Society has documented sixteen distinct species throughout the state’s history. Without a doubt, New Mexico is a woodpecker hotspot. ‌

Melanerpes Formicivorus – Acorn Woodpecker

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Best‌ ‌Birdwatching‌ ‌Spots‌ ‌in‌ ‌New Mexico‌

The Land of Enchantment is the name given to New Mexico because it has a lot of magic. It is where some of the most famous and memorable pictures of the Western United States were taken. The state’s landscape is made up of rose-colored deserts, rocky mesas, forests, and snow-covered peaks. Before you go on a New Mexico bird-watching trip, you need to know where the best places are to look.

Here are the top five places where you can go bird-watching.

Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
Percha Dam State Park

Other‌ ‌New Mexico‌ ‌ ‌birds‌ ‌

Wildlife and nature lovers from all over the world came to New Mexico to see the unique and interesting animals and plants that make this state so great. Today, let’s look at some other common birds you can find in the states to keep an eye on.

Myioborus Pictus – Painted Redstart

Cardellina Rubrifrons – Red-Faced Warbler

Cardellina Pusilla – Wilson’s Warbler

Setophaga Occidentalis – Hermit Warbler

Setophaga Townsendi – Townsend’s Warbler

Setophaga Nigrescens – Black-Throated Gray Warbler

Setophaga Graciae – Grace’s Warbler

Setophaga Dominica – Yellow-Throated Warblers

Setophaga Coronata – Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Setophaga Pinus – Pine Warbler

Setophaga Petechia – Yellow Warbler

Setophaga Fusca – Blackburnian Warbler

American Redstart – Setophaga Ruticilla

Setophaga Citrina – Hooded Warbler

Geothlypis Formosa – Kentucky Warblers

Geothlypis Tolmiei – MacGillivray’s Warbler

Leiothlypis Ruficapilla – Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis Luciae – Lucy’s Warbler

Leiothlypis Celata – Orange-Crowned Warbler

Mniotilta Varia – Black-And-White Warbler

Parkesia Noveboracensis – Northern Waterthrush

Oxyura Jamaicensis – Ruddy Duck

Parkesia Motacilla – Louisiana Waterthrush

Mergus Serrator – Red-Breasted Merganser

Mergus Merganser – Common Merganser

Lophodytes Cucullatus – Hooded Merganser

Bucephala Clangula – Common Goldeneye

Melanitta Americana – Black Scoter

Melanitta Deglandi – White-Winged Scoter

Aythya Marila – Greater Scaup

Aythya Americana – Redhead

Anas Crecca – Green-Winged Teal

Anas Acuta – Northern Pintail

Anas Platyrhynchos – Mallard

Mareca Americana – American Wigeon

Mareca Penelope – Eurasian Wigeon

Mareca Strepera – Gadwall

Spatula Clypeata – Northern Shoveler

Spatula Cyanoptera – Cinnamon Teal

Spatula Discors – Blue-Winged Teal

Aix Sponsa – Wood Duck

Cygnus Columbianus – Tundra Swan

Branta Canadensis – Canada Geese

Branta Hutchinsii – Cackling Goose

Anser Rossii – Ross’s Geese

Anser Caerulescens – Snow Geese

Phalaropus Lobatus – Red-Necked Phalarope

Phalaropus Tricolor – Wilson’s Phalarope

Tringa Melanoleuca – Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa Semipalmata – Willet

Tringa Flavipes – Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa Solitaria – Solitary Sandpiper

Actitis Macularius – Spotted Sandpiper

Gallinago Delicata – Wilson’s Snipe

Limnodromus Scolopaceus- Long-Billed Dowitcher

Calidris Mauri – Western Sandpiper

Calidris Pusilla – Semipalmated Sandpiper

Calidris Melanotos – Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris Fuscicollis – White-Rumped Sandpiper

Calidris Minutilla – Least Sandpiper

Calidris Bairdii – Baird’s Sandpiper

Calidris Alba – Sanderling

Limosa Fedoa – Marbled Godwits

Numenius Americanus – Long-Billed Curlew

Bartramia Longicauda – Upland Sandpipers

Sterna Forsteri – Forster’s Tern

Sterna Hirundo – Common Tern

Chlidonias Niger – Black Tern

Sternula Antillarum – Least Tern

Larus Hyperboreus – Glaucous Gull

Larus Fuscus – Lesser Black-Backed Gull

Larus Argentatus – Herring Gull

Larus Californicus – California Gull

Larus Delawarensis – Ring-Billed Gulls

Leucophaeus Pipixcan – Franklin’s Gull

Chroicocephalus Philadelphia – Bonaparte’s Gull

Pyrocephalus Obscurus – Vermilion Flycatcher

Sayornis Nigricans – Black Phoebe

Empidonax Occidentalis – Cordilleran Flycatcher

Empidonax Oberholseri – Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax Wrightii – Gray Flycatcher

Empidonax Hammondii – Hammond’s Flycatcher

Empidonax Minimus – Least Flycatcher

Empidonax Traillii – Willow Flycatcher

Tyrannus Forficatus – Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus Verticalis – Western Kingbird

Tyrannus Vociferans – Cassin’s Kingbird

Tyrannus Melancholicus – Tropical Kingbird

Myiarchus Cinerascens – Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Spinus Tristis – American Goldfinch

Spinus Pinus – Pine Siskin

Loxia Curvirostra – Red Crossbill

Haemorhous Cassinii – Cassin’s Finch

Haemorhous Mexicanus – House Finch

Leucosticte Tephrocoti – Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch

Pinicola Enucleator – Pine Grosbeak

Coccothraustes Vespertinus – Evening Grosbeak

Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Butorides Virescens – Green Heron

Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret

Egretta Tricolor – Tricolored Heron

Egretta Caerulea – Little Blue Heron

Egretta Thula – Snowy Egrets

Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron

Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern

Botaurus Lentiginosus – American Bittern

Gallinula Galeata – Common Gallinule

Porzana Carolina – Sora

Charadrius Montanus – Mountain Plover

Charadrius Nivosus – Snowy Plover

Charadrius Vociferus – Killdeer

Pluvialis Dominica – American Golden-Plover

Corvus Corax- Common Raven

Corvus Brachyrhynchos- American Crow

Pica Hudsonia – Black-billed Magpie

Nucifraga Columbiana – Clark’s Nutcracker

Aphelocoma Woodhouseii – Woodhouse’s scrub-Jay

Gymnorhinus Cyanocephalus – Pinyon Jay

Perisoreus Canadensis – Canada Jay

Petrochelidon Fulva – Cave Swallow

Petrochelidon Pyrrhonota – Cliff Swallow

Hirundo Rustica – Barn Swallow

Progne Subis – Purple Martin

Stelgidopteryx Serripennis – Northern rough-winged Swallow

Tachycineta Thalassina – Violet-Green Swallow

Tachycineta Bicolor – Tree Swallow

Riparia Riparia – Bank Swallow

Turdus Migratorius – American Robin

Catharus Guttatus – Hermit Thrush

Catharus Ustulatus – Swainson’s Thrush

Sialia Sialis – Eastern Bluebird

Catharus Minimus – Gray-Cheeked Thrush

Myadestes Townsendi – Townsend’s Solitaire

Sialia Currucoides – Mountain Bluebird

Quiscalus Guiscula – Common Grackle

Euphagus Cyanocephalus – Brewer’s Blackbird

Molothrus Ater – Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus Aeneus – Bronzed Cowbird

Icterus Parisorum – Scott’s Oriole

Icterus Bullockii – Bullock’s Oriole

Icterus Cucullatus – Hooded Oriole

Sturnella Neglect – Western Meadowlark

Xanthocephalus Xanthocephalus – Yellow-headed Blackbird

Phasianus Colchicus – Ring-necked Pheasant

Tympanuchus Phasianellus – Sharp-tailed Grouse

Dendragapus Obscurus – Dusky Grouse

Centrocercus Urophasianus – Greater Sage-Grouse

Bonasa Umbellus – Ruffed Grouse

Meleagris Gallopavo – Wild Turkey

Zenaida Macroura – Mourning Dove

Zenaida Asiatica – White-Winged Dove

Streptopelia Decaocto – Eurasian Collared-Dove

Patagioenas Fasciata – Band-Tailed Pigeon

Columba Livia – Rock Pigeon

Coccyzus Americanus – Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

Geococcyx Californianus – Greater Roadrunner

Aechmophorus Carkia – Clark’s Grebe

Aechmophorus Occidentalis – Western Grebe

Podiceps Nigricollis – Eared Grebe

Podiceps Auratus – Horned Grebe

Podilymbus Podiceps – Pied-Billed Grebe

Antrostomus Arizonae – Mexican Whip-Poor-Will

Antrostomus Carolinensis – Chuck-Will’s-Widow

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii – Common Poorwill

Chordeiles Minor – Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles Acutipennis – Lesser Nighthawk

Aeronautes Saxatalis – White-Throated Swift

Chaetura Vauxi – Vaux’s Swift

Cypseloides Niger – Black Swift

Grus Americana – Whooping Crane

Antigone Canadensis – Sandhill Crane

Recurvirostra Americana – American Avocet

Himantopus Mexicanus – Black-Necked Stilt

Nannopterum Brasilianum – Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum Auritum – Double-crested Cormorant

Pelecanus Erythrorhynchos – American White Pelican

Plegadis Chihi – White-faced Ibis

Cathartes Aura – Turkey Vulture

Coragyps Atratus – Black Vulture

Pandion Haliaetus – Osprey

Tyto Alba – Barn Owl

Falco Mexicanus – Prairie Falcon

Falco Peregrinus – Peregrine Falcon

Falco columbarius – Merlin

Lanius Ludovicianus – Loggerhead Shrike

Auriparus Flaviceps- Verdin

Baeolophus Ridgwayi – Juniper Titmouse

Poecile Gambeli – Mountain Chickadee

Poecile Atricapillus – Black-Capped Chickadee

Psaltriparus Minimus – Bushtit

Regulus Satrapa – Golden-Crowned Kinglet

Corthylio Calendula – Ruby-Crowned Kinglet

Bombycilla Cedrorum – Cedar Waxwing

Phainopepla nitens – Phainopepla

Sitta Pygmaea – Pygmy Nuthatch

Sitta Canadensis – Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Polioptila Melanura – Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea - Blue-gray gnatcatche in the United Statesr

Polioptila caerulea – Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Campylorhynchus Brunneicapillus – Cactus Wren

Thryomanes Bewickii – Bewick’s Wren

Thryothorus Ludovicianus – Carolina Wren

Haliaeetus Leucocephalus – Bald Eagle

Accipiter Cooperii – Cooper’s Hawk

Accipiter Striatus – Sharp-Shinned Hawk

Circus Hudsonius – Northern Harrier

Aquila Chrysaetos – Golden Eagle

Selasphorus Calliope – Calliope Hummingbird

Archilochus Alexandri – Black-Chinned Hummingbird

Calypte Anna – Anna’s hummingbird

Selasphorus Rufus – Rufous Hummingbird

Buteo Jamaicensis – Red-Tailed Hawk

Megascops Kennicottii – Western Screech Owl

Bubo Virginianus – Great Horned Owl

Megascops Asio – Eastern Screech – Owl

Melanerpes Formicivorus – Acorn Woodpecker

Dryobates Scalaris – Ladder-Backed Woodpecker

Colaptes Auratus – Northern Flicker

Dryobates Villosus – Hairy Woodpecker

Dryobates Pubescens – Downy Woodpecker

Passerculus Sandwichensis – Savannah Sparrow

Chondestes Grammacus – Lark Sparrow

Zonotrichia Leucophrys – White-Crowned Sparrow

Spizella Passerine – Chipping Sparrow

Junco Hyemalis – Dark-Eyed Junco

Pooecetes Gramineus – Vesper Sparrow

Amphispiza Bilineata – Black-Throated Sparrow

Cistothorus Palustris – Marsh Wren

Troglodytes Pacificus – Pacific Wren

Catherpes Mexicanus – Canyon Wren

Salpinctes Obsoletus – Rock Wren

Mimus Polyglottos – Northern Mockingbird

Oreoscoptes Montanus – Sage Thrashe

Toxostoma Crissale – Crissal Thrasher

Toxostoma Lecontei – LeConte’s Thrasher

Toxostoma Bendirei – Bendire’s Thrasher

Dumetella Carolinensis – Gray Catbird

Toxostoma Curvirostre – Curve-Billed Thrasher

Sturnus Vulgaris – European Starling

Peucedramus Taeniatus – Olive Warbler

Passer Domesticus – House Sparrow

Anthus Rubescens – American Pipit

Anthus Spragueii – Sprague’s Pipit

Rhynchophanes Mccownii – Thick-Billed Longspur

Calcarius Pictus – Smith’s Longspur

Icteria Virens – Yellow-Breasted Chat

Passerina Cyanea – Indigo Bunting

Passerina Versicolor – Varied Bunting

Passerina Amoena – Lazuli Bunting

Pheucticus Melanocephalus – Black-Headed Grosbeak

Cardinalis Sinuatus – Pyrrhuloxia

Cardinalis Cardinalis – Northern Cardinal

If you have encountered a bird in New Mexico that is not yet on our list or that you cannot identify yourself, we’ll be happy to identify it for you. Simply take a picture of it and upload your picture, a quick description and the U.S. state where it was found here on our bird identification page.