Birds of the Gila National Forest: A Checklist
United States PREPARED BY Southwestern Department of Forest Region Agriculture Service
PRODUCED IN COOPERATION WITH Dale A. Zimmerman, Ph.D. Southwest New Mexico Audubon Society Using the Checklist
The first column after the species name is an indication of the bird’s abundance. Bear in mind, however, that many species are locally distributed and do not range throughout the Gila National Forest which embraces a highly diverse range of elevations and habitats (see below). Thus, the expressions of abundance are to be viewed as general indications, and of course only for the habitat(s) favored by the species in question. Abundance also varies seasonally, and often from year-to-year as well. Additionally, actual abundance is often distinct from detectability. Some species may be common but secretive and only rarely seen. Others may be numerically sparse, yet highly vocal or otherwise conspicuous. The following designations relate to abundance, not necessarily to frequency of detection. An asterisk (*) following a species name indicates breeding on the Gila National Forest. A - Abundant C - Common F - Fairly Common U - Uncommon R - Rare The second column reflects seasonal status, showing the time of year when the species normally appears in the checklist area: P - Permanent Resident (present year-round) S - Summer Resident (present from spring until fall migration) or Summer Visitor (not known to breed on the Gila) W - Winter Resident (typically from October through March) T - Transient (present as a migrant in spring and/or fall) V - Visitant (present at various seasons, often irregularly) The remaining columns indicate the usual habitat(s) of each species. On the forest, vegetation types range from spruce/fir forest high in the Mogollon Mountains to desert scrub and remnant grassland in the lower Burro Mountains. Small expanses of grassland are scattered in the higher ranges. Generally, ponderosa pine is the dominant species at elevations between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. Somewhat higher, and in many canyons, is a mixed conifer forest typically dominated by Douglas-fir, often with Gambel’s oak. Woodlands of piñon pine, juniper and oak, in varying combinations, are present on drier sites throughout the forest. Riparian areas support rich deciduous or coniferous woodland and, locally, small areas of marsh or other open habitats. This great ecological diversity provides for a remarkably varied bird fauna. This checklist includes 166 species known to breed on the Gila, 114 others that are more or less regular non- breeders, and 57 species considered to be casual (recorded 3- 5 times) or accidental (recorded but once or twice). Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
Loons __ Common Loon RT •
Grebes __ Eared Grebe FS • CT • __ Western Grebe FT • __ Clark’s Grebe UT • __ Pied-billed Grebe* CW • CP •
Cormorants __ Double-crested Cormorant UT • • __ Neotropic Cormorant RT ••
Herons and Ibises __ American Bittern RT • __ Least Bittern RT • __ Great Blue Heron* FP •• __ Great Egret RT •• __ Snowy Egret UT • • __ Green Heron RS •• __ Black-crowned Night Heron US • • __ White-faced Ibis UT •
Vultures __ Turkey Vulture CS••••• •• •
Swans, Geese, and Ducks __ Snow Goose UT • __ Ross’s Goose RT • __ Canada Goose FW • __ Tundra Swan RT • __ Wood Duck RW • __ Gadwall FW • __ American Wigeon FT • __ Mallard* CP • __ Blue-winged Teal* RS • UT • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
__ Cinnamon Teal* FS • FT • __ Northern Shoveler FT • __ Northern Pintail FW • __ Green-winged Teal* US • • CT • __ Canvasback UT • __ Redhead US • UT • __ Ring-necked Duck US • FT • __ Greater Scaup RT • __ Lesser Scaup CW • __ Bufflehead FT • __ Common Goldeneye UT • __ Hooded Merganser RT •• __ Common Merganser* FP •• __ Red-breasted Merganser RT • __ Ruddy Duck* US •
Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons __ Osprey* RS •• UT • • __ Bald Eagle RS •••• • UW • ••• • __ Northern Harrier RS UW• • •• •• • __ Sharp-shinned Hawk* UP •••• • •• __ Cooper’s Hawk* FP••••• • __ Northern Goshawk* RP •••• • • __ Common Black Hawk* FS •• __ Swainson’s Hawk* FS•••• __ Zone-tailed Hawk* US •••• • UT •••• __ Red-tailed Hawk* CP••••• • • __ Ferruginous Hawk UT• • • UW• • • __ Rough-legged Hawk RW • __ Golden Eagle* UP••••• • __ American Kestrel* FS••••• • • CT••••• * • FW••••• • • • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
__ Merlin UT• • • UW• __ Prairie Falcon* UP••••• __ Peregrine Falcon* RS••••• • • RT••••• • •
Grouse and Relatives __ Ring-necked Pheasant* UP • __ Blue Grouse* UP • __ Wild Turkey* FP •• •
Quail __ Montezuma Quail* UP • __ Scaled Quail* UP• __ Gambel’s Quail* CP ••• •
Rails, Coots and Cranes __ Virginia Rail* US • __ Sora* US • __ Common Moorhen RT • __ American Coot* CP • __ Sandhill Crane UW • •
Plovers __ Black-bellied Plover RT • __ Semipalmated Plover RT • __ Killdeer* FP •
Avocets and Stilts __ Black-necked Stilt RT • __ American Avocet RT •
Snipes and Sandpipers __ Greater Yellowlegs UT • __ Lesser Yellowlegs UT • __ Solitary Sandpiper RT • __ Willet RT • __ Spotted Sandpiper* FT • RS • RW • __ Long-billed Curlew RT • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
__ Marbled Godwit RT • __ Western Sandpiper FT • __ Least Sandpiper FT • __ Baird’s Sandpiper UT • __ Pectoral Sandpiper RT • __ Long-billed Dowitcher UT • __ Common Snipe FT • __ Wilson’s Phalarope UT • __ Red-necked Sandpiper RT •
Gulls and Terns __ Franklin’s Gull RT •• __ Bonaparte’s Gull RT •• __ Ring-billed Gull UT • • __ California Gull RT •• __ Forster’s Tern UT • __ Black Tern RT •
Pigeons and Doves __ Rock Dove* UP •• __ Band-tailed Pigeon* FS •••• •• __ White-winged Dove* US •••• • __ Mourning Dove* CP •••• • • __ Inca Dove RV • • __ Common Ground Dove WR • •
Cuckoos and Roadrunners __ Yellow-billed Cuckoo* US • __ Greater Roadrunner* UP•••• • •
Owls __ Barn Owl* UP••••• • __ Flammulated Owl* FS •• __ Western Screech Owl* UP •••• • __ Great Horned Owl* FP••••• • • __ Northern Pygmy Owl* UP ••• __ Elf Owl* RS •••• • __ Burrowing Owl* RS• • __ Spotted Owl* UP • •• • __ Long-eared Owl* RS• •• •• UW• •• • • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
__ Short-eared owl RT •••• __ Northern Saw-whet Owl RW •• •
Nightjars __ Lesser Nighthawk US• • __ Common Nighthawk* FS••••• • • • CT••••• • • • __ Common Poor-will* FS••••• • • • __ Whip-poor-will* FS ••• •
Swifts __ Black Swift R T • • • • • RS ••• • __ White-throated Swift* FS ••• • •
Hummingbirds __ Blue-throated Hummingbird RS • __ Magnificent Hummingbird* RS ••• • __ Black-chinned Hummingbird* CS•••• • __ Anna’s Hummingbird RT ••• •• __ Calliope Hummingbird UT •••• __ Broad-tailed Hummingbird* CS ••• • •• __ Rufous Hummingbird CT •••• • ••
Kingfishers __ Belted Kingfisher* UT • • •• UW • • •• RS • •••
Woodpeckers __ Lewis’s Woodpecker* US • __ Acorn Woodpecker* CP •••• • __ Gila Woodpecker* RS • __ Red-naped Sapsucker* FS •••• • • CT •••• • • RW •••• • • __ Williamson’s Sapsucker* US • RW • • __ Ladder-backed Woodpecker* UP•••• • __ Downy Woodpecker* UP • __ Hairy Woodpecker* CP •••• • •• Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
__ Three-toed Woodpecker* RP •• __ Northern Flicker* CP •••• • ••
Tyrant Flycatchers __ Olive-sided Flycatcher* FS •• • __ Greater Pewee* RS •• __ Western Wood Pewee* CS •• •• __ Willow Flycatcher* RS •• __ Hammond’s Flycatcher FT ••• • __ Dusky Flycatcher FT ••• • __ Gray Flycatcher* FS •••• • __ Cordilleran Flycatcher* CS •• •• __ Black Phoebe* CP •• __ Say’s Phoebe* CP •••• • • __ Vermilion Flycatcher* FS • __ Ash-throated Flycatcher* CS••••• • __ Brown-crested Flycatcher* RS • __ Cassin’s Kingbird* CS••••• • __ Western Kingbird* CS••••• •
Shrikes __ Loggerhead Shrike RS•••• • UT•••• • UW•••• •• Vireos __ Bell’s Vireo* RS • __ Gray Vireo RS ••• __ Cassin’s Vireo W R • • • • • __ Plumbeous Vireo* CS •••• • • __ Hutton’s Vireo* US ••• • RW ••• __ Warbling Vireo* CS •• •• CT •• •
Corvids __ Steller’s Jay* CP •• __ Western Scrub Jay* CP ••• __ Mexican Jay* CP •• • __ Pinyon Jay* CP • __ Clark’s Nutcracker* RS • RW • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
__ American Crow* FP • `__ Chihuahuan Raven UW• • __ Common Raven* CP •••• • • •
Larks __ Horned Lark* CP• ••
Swallows and Martins __ Purple Martin* FS • • __ Tree Swallow* UT •• •• __ Violet-green Swallow* CS ••• • •• CT ••• •• __ No. Rough-winged Swallow* FS •• __ Bank Swallow RT ••• __ Barn Swallow* FT •••• • • US •••• • • __ Cliff Swallow* FS •••• • •
Tits and Relatives __ Mountain Chickadee* CP •• • __ Bridled Titmouse* FP • • __ Juniper Titmouse* FP •• __ Verdin US• • • __ Bushtit* CP ••• •
Nuthatches and Creepers __ Red-breasted Nuthatch* FP •• __ White-breasted Nuthatch* CP •• • __ Pygmy Nuthatch* CP ••• __ Brown Creeper* FP ••
Wrens __ Cactus Wren* UP• __ Rock Wren* CP ••• __ Canyon Wren* CP ••• • __ Bewick’s Wren* CP ••• • __ House Wren* CS •• •• __ Winter Wren R W • __ Marsh Wren UW • • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
Dippers __ American Dipper* FP ••
Kinglets and Gnatcatchers __ Golden-crowned Kinglet* FP ••• __ Ruby-crowned Kinglet* FS •••• • • CT ••• • CW ••• • __ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher* FS ••• •
Thrushes __ Eastern Bluebird RW ••• • __ Western Bluebird* CP •••• • • __ Mountain Bluebird* CS •••• • • FT •••• FW •••• __ Townsend’s Solitaire* US ••• • • FW ••• • __ Swainson’s Thrush RT •• • __ Hermit Thrush* FS •• •• __ American Robin* CS •••• • •• CT •••• • • FW •••• • •
Mimids __ Gray Catbird RT • __ Northern Mockingbird* FS• •• RW• •• __ Sage Thrasher UT ••• UW • •• __ Curve-billed Thrasher* FP ••• • __ Crissal Thrasher* UP •••
Starlings __ European Starling* UP •
Pipits __ American Pipit UW •• • FT • Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
Waxwings and Relatives __ Cedar Waxwing UW • •• • FT ••• • __ Phainopepla* UP ••• •
Wood Warblers and Relatives __ Olive Warbler* UP •• __ Tennessee Warbler RT • __ Orange-crowned Warbler* US • CT ••• • • __ Nashville Warbler UT • • __ Virginia’s Warbler* FS •• • __ Lucy’s Warbler* FS • __ Yellow Warbler* FS • __ Yellow-rumped Warbler* CS ••• •• CT ••• •• UW •• • •• __ Black-throated Gray Warbler* FS ••• FT ••• • __ Townsend’s Warbler FT ••• •• __ Hermit Warbler UT •• __ Grace’s Warbler* CS •• __ Black-and-white Warbler RT • __ American Redstart UT •• __ Northern Waterthrush UT •• __ MacGillivray’s Warbler* RS •••• •• CT •••• •• __ Common Yellowthroat* US • • CT • • __ Wilson’s Warbler CT ••• •• __ Red-faced Warbler* FS •• •• __ Painted Redstart* US •• __ Yellow-breasted Chat* FS •
Tanagers __ Hepatic Tanager* FS •• •• __ Summer Tanager* FS • __ Western Tanager* CS •••• • •• Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
Towhees, Sparrows and Longspurs __ Green-tailed Towhee CT •• • •• RW •• • •• __ Spotted Towhee* CP •••• •• __ Canyon Towhee* FP ••• • __ Abert’s Towhee* RP • __ Rufous-crowned Sparrow* FS ••• • RW ••• • __ Chipping Sparrow* CS •••• • • AT •••• • UW • ••• • __ Brewer’s Sparrow CT••••• UW• • ••• __ Black-chinned Sparrow* US ••• __ Vesper Sparrow FT• •• RS• • UW• •• __ Lark Sparrow* FS •••• • •• __ Black-throated Sparrow* UP• __ Sage Sparrow UW• UT• __ Lark Bunting FT•• • RW•• __ Savannah Sparrow UW• •• FT• •• __ Fox Sparrow RT ••• ••• RW ••• • • __ Song Sparrow FW • •• __ Lincoln’s Sparrow UW • •• CT ••• •• __ Swamp Sparrow RW • • RT • __ White-throated Sparrow RW •• •• RT •• • __ Harris’s Sparrow RT • __ White-crowned Sparrow AT ••• •• CW ••• __ Golden-crowned Sparrow W R • • • __ Dark-eyed Junco* CS •••• • • AT •••• • •• CW •••• • • __ Chestnut-collared Longspur FW• •• Abundance Residence Desert Oak Woodland Oak-Juniper Pinyon-Juniper Ponderosa Pine Spruce-Fir Mt. Grassland Marsh/Open Decid. Riparian Conif. Riparian
Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings __ Northern Cardinal* UP ••• • __ Pyrrhuloxia UW•••• • __ Rose-breasted Grosbeak RT •••• • • __ Black-headed Grosbeak* CS •••• • • __ Blue Grosbeak* CS ••• • __ Lazuli Bunting US •• • __ Indigo Bunting* RS •
Icterids __ Red-winged Blackbird* FS •• CT • • UW • • __ Eastern Meadowlark* CS• • RW• • __ Western Meadowlark* FS• •• UW• • __ Yellow-headed Blackbird* US • UT • • __ Brewer’s Blackbird* CS ••• •• CT ••• • • RW ••• • • __ Great-tailed Grackle* UP • • __ Bronzed Cowbird* RS•••• • __ Brown-headed Cowbird* CS••••• • • RW••••• • __ Hooded Oriole* US • __ Bullock’s Oriole* FS • __ Scott’s Oriole* US••••
Finches __ Cassin’s Finch FW •••• • FT •••• • __ House Finch* CP•••• • __ Red Crossbill* FP •• __ Pine Siskin* FS •••• • • CT •••• • CW •••• • __ Lesser Goldfinch* FS •••• • • __ American Goldfinch FW •••• • • __ Evening Grosbeak* WR •• • • Casual (C) or accidental species on or closely adjacent to the Gila National Forest.
Horned Grebe (C) Couch’s Kingbird American White Pelican Eastern Kingbird Brown Pelican Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Magnificent Frigate-bird Eastern Phoebe (C) Yellow-crowned Night Heron Northern Shrike Trumpeter Swan Yellow-throated Vireo Surf Scoter (C) Red-eyed Vireo White-winged Scoter Blue Jay Black Scoter Veery White-tailed Kite Brown Thrasher (C) Mississippi Kite Bendire’s Thrasher Gray Hawk Blue-winged Warbler Broad-winged Hawk Northern Parula Crested Caracara Cape May Warbler Mountain Plover Chestnut-sided Warbler Snowy Plover Magnolia Warbler Short-billed Dowitcher Yellow-throated Warbler American Woodcock Palm Warbler Laughing Gull Bay-breasted Warbler Heermann’s Gull Blackpoll Warbler Black-billed Cuckoo Worm-eating Warbler Groove-billed Ani Ovenbird Chimney Swift Hooded Warbler (C) White-eared Hummingbird Dickcissel Costa’s Hummingbird Bobolink Red-headed Woodpecker Orchard Oriole Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Painted Bunting Buff-breasted Flycatcher (formerly) Purple Finch Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Lawrence's Goldfinch (C)
Reprinted on recycled paper • 7/2002 Notes:
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Silver City, NM 88061 NM City, Silver
3005 E. Camino del Bosque del Camino E. 3005 Gila National Forest National Gila