Atlas of the breeding birds of Los Alamos County, New ......Diane Noveroske Alfred T. Peaslee, Jr....

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County i

LosN A T I O N A L L A B O R A T O R Y

Alamos

Atlas of the Breeding Birds

of Los Alamos County,

New Mexico

Pajarito Ornithological Survey

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for theUnited States Department of Energy under contract W-7405-ENG-36.

LA-12206

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos Countyii

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United StatesGovernment. Neither The Regents of the University of California, the United States Governmentnor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees makes any warranty, express or implied, orassumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of anyinformation, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringeprivately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service bytrade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply itsendorsement, recommendation, or favoring by The Regents of the University of California, theUnited States Government, or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressedherein do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Regents of the University of California, theUnited States Government, or any agency thereof.

Produced by Information Services DivisionEdited by Denise Sessions, Group IS-11Editorial support by Cindy G. McAtee, Group IS-11Photocomposition by Wendy Burditt, Group IS-5Designed by Susan L. Carlson, Group IS-12Printing coordination by Guadalupe Archuleta, Group IS-9

An Affirmative/Equal Opportunity Employer

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County iii

Atlas of the Breeding Birdsof Los Alamos County,New Mexico

Pajarito Ornithological Survey

James R. Travis

Atlas Project Steering CommitteeDorothy CroweW. Burton LewisDiane NoveroskeAlfred T. Peaslee, Jr.Joyce Wolff

Statistical Analysis by Katherine CampbellBird Sketches by Patricia Stein

Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545

LosN A T I O N A L L A B O R A T O R Y

Alamos

LA-12206

UC-908Issued: October 1992

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos Countyiv

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County v

Acknowledgments.......................................................................... viForeword .......................................................................................viiPreface............................................................................................ ixList of Figures and Tables.............................................................. xiList of Atlas Species ...................................................................... xii

Abstract ......................................................................................... 1Los Alamos and Its Avifauna .................................................... 1The Atlas Project .......................................................................... 3Bias and Limitations .................................................................... 7Habitat Characterization ............................................................ 8The Breeding Season in Relation to Atlas Fieldwork ........... 13The Survey Results .................................................................... 14Distributional Patterns .............................................................. 16Elevation Profiles of Individual Species ................................. 24Species Richness ......................................................................... 29Breeding Dates ........................................................................... 32Discussion ................................................................................... 33Codes for Breeding Criteria ..................................................... 36

SPECIES ACCOUNTS............................................................... 38

Additional Species Reported as Probable Breeders ................................................................. 264

Appendix A. Atlas Data.......................................................... 265

List of Species Abbreviations ................................................. 269

Appendix B. Statistical Modeling .......................................... 270

References ................................................................................... 273

Species Index .............................................................................. 278

Contents

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos Countyvi

Acknowledgments

James R. Travis

Project Leader

The detailed information on the distribution of birds in thestate is due to John P. Hubbard. Dr. Hubbard’s critical re-view of the atlas increased its precision and accuracy, whichI gratefully acknowledge.

We express appreciation to the Los Alamos National Labora-tory for the computer resources made available to thePajarito Ornithological Survey for the data file, which wereessential to and an integral part of the atlas project. AlPeaslee most effectively set up and managed the data file sothat the atlas developed in real time as the field work pro-ceeded.

The Environmental Management Division of the Los AlamosNational Laboratory supported the atlas project from thestart, provided the resources for publication, and is therepository for the atlas data file. I wish to thank TeraleneFoxx in particular for her continued efforts to get the atlaspublished.

We offer special appreciation to Alan Kernodle for conduct-ing the weekend atlasing expeditions to the top of CaballoMountain, his exploration of the high country, and his pho-tography.

Editing of early drafts of the atlas material by Linda Willis,Diane Noveroske, and Sharon Crane aided in making itintelligible. W. Burton Lewis prepared the digitized speciesbase map, and James E. Lewis did the initial design workand provided much aid and comfort in the atlas production.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the stimulation ofGloria Travis, who shared this and my other bird adven-tures, and to whom I dedicate this volume.

Pajarito Ornithological Surveymembers who supplied atlas data are

Photos for sketches byPierre HartshorneCharles HundertmarkJames KaroPatricia KennedyAlan KernodleCharles Knapp

Rudy P. ArchuletaPatricia BoringMarge CashMargorie CromerDorothy CroweWilliam C. DavisThomas N. and Denise DeyGeorgia T. FritzMargarete and Bernhard HoffersSarah HunterThomas and Carlyn JervisTerry JohnsonNobu KawaiPatricia L. KennedyJames KentAlan K. KernodleAllison and Jennifer LeonW. Burton LewisMichael D. McKayJohn ManleyRene MillsDiane NoveroskeBarbara and Alfred T. Peaslee, Jr.David A. PontonKathleen RamsayBecky ShanklandPatricia R. SniderPatricia SteinAnita P. StevensonLois and Frank TallmadgeJames R. TravisAnne B. WarrenLinda C. WillisJoyce J. WolffRoselle M. Wright

Eugene LamkinJohn OrndoffDave PontonJudy VanceC.R. West

Contributors from Santa Fe andAlbuquerque, NM, who participated inthe weekend forays areSteve and Nancy CoxCarol DavisLarry GorbetWilliam HoweCharles HundertmarkPat InsleyChris Rustay

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County vii

Foreword

John P. HubbardAssistant Chief forEndangered Species

New Mexico Departmentof Game and Fish

This study by the Pajarito Ornithological Survey (POS)represents a major landmark in New Mexico ornithology, asit is the first atlas of breeding birds ever completed for amajor area of the state. For readers not familiar with theatlas approach, it is the systematic survey of the birds of aprescribed area over several consecutive years to documentthe avian species that breed there. The gathering and publi-cation of such data are important not only to document thestatus and distribution of birds of such areas, but also toprovide another means for monitoring nature. Many spe-cies of breeding birds provide valuable insights about thecondition of the environment, which is very valuableknowledge in these times of increasing stresses on thenatural world.

Although Los Alamos is the smallest of New Mexico’scounties (111 square miles), this survey represented a formi-dable challenge because of the area’s topographic variation(elevations ranging from 5,400 to 10,500 feet above sealevel) and often limited access. The POS divided the countyinto a grid of 60 equal-sized blocks, 1.55 × 1.55 miles on aside and covering 2.4 square miles. Each block was sur-veyed at least twice during the breeding season (variouslymidwinter to early autumn) in the 5 years from 1984through 1988. The findings included an average of 46species (range 21–68) of breeding birds in each block and atotal breeding avifauna for the county of 107 confirmedspecies and another 5 species that were likely breeders.

The information yielded by this survey and detailed in thisatlas provides interesting fare for everyone from the ama-teur naturalist to the professional biologist. Included aredescriptions of the county’s habitats, which range fromurban and suburban areas to grasslands, shrublands, wood-lands, and forests. The species of breeding birds are treatedin individual accounts and in several analyses, the latterfocusing on both the blocks themselves and the habitatsthey encompass. Individual accounts contain a summary ofthe findings from the atlas project, including habitat use,breeding status, and migrational profiles.

The successful completion of an atlas of breeding birdsrequires a number of important elements, including properdesign, resource allocation, execution, and data analysis.

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos Countyviii

Equally important are good leadership and the assemblingof a cadre of competent and dedicated observers. The mem-bers of the POS and New Mexico ornithology can be proudof this accomplishment, and they are to be congratulated.Special recognition goes to James R. Travis, whose leader-ship and other skills have been instrumental in bringing thisproject to fruition—culminating in a fine publication.

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County ix

A breeding bird atlas shows the geographical distribution ofthe birds that breed in a defined area. A systematic represen-tation of the distribution is best obtained with a grid-basedatlas—one in which the region to be investigated is subdi-vided into a number of equivalently surveyed blocks ofequal area. This grid-based atlas provides a detailed look atthe geographical distribution of the breeding birds of LosAlamos County. With a grid size that gives fine resolution,full coverage of the entire county, and a large amount offield time in a few years, we have information invaluable forconservation, environmental monitoring and protection,research on the local avifauna, and bird watching. The goalof our project was to obtain data adequate to determine thedistribution patterns and habitat relationships of the breed-ing birds of Los Alamos.

Atlas data are useful in environmental documents becausethese data provide knowledge of the local species pool andalert researchers about the importance of the environmentalfeatures and activities ongoing at a particular site. Further-more, these data can be used in the effort to conserve speciesdiversity through identifying rare species and fragile habi-tats that need protection, and to assess the effects of land-scape changes on bird populations over time. The atlasprovides an unprecedented data base for analysis of speciescomplexes—which species occur together and under whatbiogeographical conditions. The atlas data can be correlatedwith similarly systematic representations of ecological vari-ables. The recently developed Geographical InformationSystems (GIS) offer a powerful tool for comparison withother grid-based geographical data bases, which includephysiographic, geological, demographic, and meteorologi-cal, as well as ecological data.

The Los Alamos atlas project benefited greatly from itsassociation with the continental atlasing program overseenby the North American Ornithological Atlas Committee(NORAC). NORAC facilitates breeding bird atlasing in theAmericas by providing guidelines for atlasing standards andregular means of communication between the states andprovinces involved in atlases (Laughlin 1982, Sutcliffe et al.1986, and Smith 1990).

The atlas offers visual displays such as graphs and maps,exploratory analyses, and interpretation of the atlas data. For

Preface

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos Countyx

additional analyses, one should go directly to the atlas databank, which is shown in abridged form in Appendix A. Thecomplete data are included in the data base of theLaboratory’s Biological Resources Evaluation Program.Access to the data is available to researchers through theEnvironmental Protection Group, EM-8, of the Los AlamosNational Laboratory.

The atlas is a valuable resource to the Laboratory for itsbiological assessment of the land it utilizes. The atlas pro-vides baseline data for topics of particular concern, such as,threatened and endangered species, threatened wetlandsand flood plains, and potential species pathways for con-taminants to enter the environment. Background informa-tion needed for evaluating biodiversity is contained in theatlas. It is a jumping-off point for more research on speciescomplexes and their relationship with the environment. Wenow have baseline data for monitoring long-term changesand determining the effects of environmental changes onlocal avifauna.

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County xi

List of Figures 1. New Mexico’s topographic features ............................. 12. Los Alamos atlas grid ...................................................... 43. Example of a block map (Block 5-3) .............................. 54. Habitat distribution I ..................................................... 105. Habitat distribution II ................................................... 126. Block totals ...................................................................... 167. Bird association elevation profiles .............................. 238. Grouping of blocks with equal mean elevation ........ 259. Elevational range of groups and habitats .................. 25

10. Elevation profiles for the raptors................................. 2511. Elevation profiles for the Empidonaces ..................... 2612. Elevation profiles for the jays ...................................... 2713. Elevation profiles for the warblers .............................. 2714. Elevation profiles for the towhees ............................... 2815. Elevation profiles for the finches ................................. 2816. Confirmed breeding dates ............................................ 33

I. Bird associations ............................................................ 18II. Species richness by habitat ........................................... 30

III. Breeding birds of the major plant communities ........ 31IV. Selective species of the major plant communities ..... 32

List of Tables

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos Countyxii

List of Atlas Species MallardTurkey VultureSharp-shinned HawkCooper’s HawkNorthern GoshawkZone-tailed HawkRed-tailed HawkAmerican KestrelBlue GrouseWild TurkeyGambel’s QuailSpotted SandpiperBand-tailed PigeonMourning DoveFlammulated OwlGreat Horned OwlNorthern Pygmy-OwlSpotted OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlCommon NighthawkCommon PoorwillWhite-throated SwiftBlack-chinned HummingbirdBroad-tailed HummingbirdLewis’ WoodpeckerAcorn WoodpeckerRed-naped SapsuckerWilliamson’s SapsuckerLadder-backed WoodpeckerDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerThree-toed WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerOlive-sided FlycatcherWestern Wood-PeweeHammond’s FlycatcherDusky FlycatcherGray FlycatcherCordilleran FlycatcherBlack PhoebeSay’s PhoebeAsh-throated FlycatcherCassin’s KingbirdViolet-green SwallowCliff SwallowGray JaySteller’s JayScrub JayPinyon JayClark’s NutcrackerBlack-billed MagpieAmerican CrowCommon RavenMountain ChickadeePlain TitmouseBushtit

Red-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted NuthatchPygmy NuthatchBrown CreeperRock WrenCanyon WrenBewick’s WrenHouse WrenAmerican DipperGolden-crowned KingletRuby-crowned KingletBlue-gray GnatcatcherWestern BluebirdMountain BluebirdTownsend’s SolitaireHermit ThrushAmerican RobinNorthern MockingbirdEuropean StarlingSolitary VireoWarbling VireoOrange-crowned WarblerVirginia’s WarblerYellow-rumped WarblerBlack-throated Gray WarblerGrace’s WarblerMacGillivray’s WarblerHepatic TanagerWestern TanagerBlack-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakLazuli BuntingIndigo BuntingGreen-tailed TowheeRufous-sided TowheeCanyon TowheeRufous-crowned SparrowChipping SparrowVesper SparrowLark SparrowSong SparrowLincoln’s SparrowDark-eyed JuncoRed-winged BlackbirdWestern MeadowlarkBrewer’s BlackbirdBrown-headed CowbirdNorthern OrioleScott’s OrioleCassin’s FinchHouse FinchRed CrossbillPine SiskinLesser GoldfinchEvening GrosbeakHouse Sparrow

allan.m

The birds listed on this page are hyperlinked to the files containing the textual pages and illustrations about the individual birds. Click on the bird name to retrieve the file where the information resides. Click on the book mark in the newly retrieved file to access information about individual birds.

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County xiii

Los Alamos CountyHabitats

1Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County

This atlas shows the geographic distribution of breedingbirds within the county of Los Alamos, New Mexico, basedon field surveys from 1984 through 1988. The county was di-vided into 60 square blocks, each 2.5 kilometers on a side.We attempted to confirm breeding of all the bird species inevery block. The atlas maps show the distribution of the 112species found. Breeding dates and other information onbreeding behavior are provided, and species distributionpatterns and species-habitat relationships in the county arepresented.

In north-central New Mexico, Los Alamos County is locatedon the eastern slope of the Jemez Mountains between theValles Caldera to the west and the Rio Grande Valley to theeast. The major geological feature of the county is thePajarito Plateau, which consists of a series of narrow mesasseparated by deep, steep-sided canyons that run east bysoutheast from the mountains to the Rio Grande. Figure 1shows Los Alamos in New Mexico.

Abstract

Los Alamos and ItsAvifauna

Fig. 1. New Mexico'stopographic features.

Rio

Gra

nde

San

Fran

cisc

o R

.G

ila R

.

Zuni R.

San Juan R.Dry

Santa Fe

Portales

Farmington

GallupAlbuquerque

Eastern Plains

Canadian Basin

Eastern Plains

Northern Highlands

Southern Lowlands

Mogollon Highlands

Socorro

Lordsburg

Sacramento Highlands

Pecos R.

Carlsbad

Southern Lowlands

Las Cruces

Roswell

Los Alamos

Canadian R

.

Cimarron R.

Mora R.Las Vegas

Espanola

Taos

~

36°

34°

32°

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County2

Over 200 species of birds have been reported in the 144-square-mile area covered by the Los Alamos atlas project,and about half of them are considered to be breedingspecies. The diversity of bird life is attributable to the geo-graphical location of the county and the diversity of its eco-systems.

Passage migrants move through or fly over Los Alamos eachspring and fall. Sandhill Cranes, for example, accompaniedby members of the small Idaho experimental flock ofWhooping Cranes, follow the Rio Grande, traveling betweentheir wintering grounds in southern New Mexico and theirstaging areas in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. Inautumn, hummingbirds and a variety of passerines andhawks follow the mountain ridges as they gradually movesouth, passing through the mountain meadows as they go.Waterfowl visit Ashley Pond in the center of the town of LosAlamos and forage along the Rio Grande. Wintering flocksof juncos and nomadic fringillids roam the plateau wood-lands and frequent residential feeding areas.

Birds common to the southern Rocky Mountain forests andwoodlands compose the basic breeding avifauna of LosAlamos. Two-thirds of our nesting species are in thiscategory. Because of the location of Los Alamos at the south-ern end of the Rocky Mountains and the northern extent ofthe Rio Grande valley, we can expect to find 11 species of thelower southwestern United States avifauna, which add inter-esting variety.

Ecosystems in Los Alamos County are diverse, primarily asa result of the 5000-foot elevational gradient that occurs inthe 12 miles from the Rio Grande to the mountain ridgetops.The ecosystems vary from the hot, dry, lower canyon bot-toms, which meet the Rio Grande at an elevation of 5400feet, to the spruce/fir forest at 10,500 feet on the peak ofCaballo Mountain in the northwestern corner of the county.Abrupt slope changes in many canyons result in differencesin the amounts of solar radiation reaching north- and south-facing canyon slopes and local variations in precipitationand temperature, with a consequent diversity of soils, plants,and animals. The interdigitation of canyons and mesas re-sults in many transitional overlaps of plant and animal com-munities within small areas.


Six major plant communities are found in Los AlamosCounty, and each of them supports its own avifauna. Theyare juniper grasslands, piñon/juniper woodland, ponderosapine forest, mixed conifer forest, spruce/fir forest, and subal-pine meadows (Foxx and Tierney 1985). Additional speciesof birds are attracted by the Rio Grande shoreline, a few cat-tail marshes, patches of riparian woodland, aspen stands,open fields, cliffs, and residential areas.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory is situated on thePajarito Plateau in the southern half of the county. It occupies43 square miles, of which 2.4 square miles are developed.The Laboratory has minimized the clearing of vegetation,and areas around buildings have been left natural whereverpossible. Vegetation has been cleared around some of the dy-namic testing sites to reduce fire hazard, but most of the ac-tivity is on the mesa tops, so the canyons are relativelyundisturbed. The Los Alamos townsite occupies 6 squaremiles north of the Laboratory; the residential areas of WhiteRock, La Senda, and Pajarito Acres occupy 5 square miles tothe southeast. The gardens, plantings, and parkland of thesecommunities provide favorable avian habitat. The outlyingareas are covered by the natural vegetation of forests andwoodlands. A few roads penetrate the forests, and local areasevince earlier disturbance by fire, lumbering, and agriculture.

We chose a block size small enough to provide detailed in-formation relative to the bird and habitat distributions, butlarge enough so that we could survey all the blocks ad-equately in 5 years. Block boundaries were defined by super-imposing a grid on the 7.5-minute-quadrangle US GeologicalService topographic maps that contain Los Alamos County.This grid divides the county into 60 square blocks, each 2.5kilometers (1.55 miles) on a side. The grid map is shown inFig. 2. The grid origin is the intersection of the westernboundary of the county and a line extended west from thenorthernmost edge of the county. The blocks have two-digitdesignators, starting with 1-1 in the northwest corner. Thefirst number is that of the row, the second that of the column.Individual block maps were reproduced from the master andprovided to each participant. An example of a block map, theone for the main Laboratory technical area, is shown inFig. 3. Some of the blocks extend outside the county bound-aries. In these cases, the full block was surveyed and the datafor the entire block were included in the atlas.

The Atlas Project


7500

70008000

8500

9000

Guaje Canyon

Rendija Canyon

Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

White Rock

Pajarito Acres

Bandelier National

Monument

Frijoles

State Highway 4

Wes

t Jem

ezR

d.

LANL Main Tech Area

Airport East Rd.

Barranca Mesa

North Community

Western Area Central Business District

Guaje Canyon Rd.

Totavi

State Highway.4

N

Los Alamos CountySandoval County

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

Rio Grande River

Sant

a Fe

Cou

nty

Los

Alam

os C

ount

y

Sandoval County

Los Alamos County

Diamond Drive

Landing Strip

East Jemez Rd.Pajarito Rd.

Rendija Canyon Rd.

State Highway 502

SCALE IN MILES

1 2 0

Fig. 2. Los AlamosAtlas Grid.

The breeding criteria used for the Vermont Atlas Project(Laughlin and Kibbe 1985) were adopted with a few smallchanges for our use. These criteria reflect the certainty ofbreeding of a species in a block: possible, probable, or con-firmed breeding. They are defined in the Codes for BreedingCriteria section.


Fig. 3. Example of a blockmap (Block 5-3).

To start the atlas project, we selected for intensive study afew blocks that were representative of major ecosystems andwere readily accessible. These blocks were assigned to a fewindividuals for thorough surveying in the first 2 years. Datagathered from them provided the information we needed toevaluate the adequacy of coverage. We based our criterionfor adequate coverage on the expected number of species perblock, following the precedent of the Vermont Atlas Project.A block was considered to be adequately covered when 75%of the expected species were found and half of these wereconfirmed. The number of species expected came from ourearlier experience with the birds of Los Alamos. For ex-ample, if a block had several habitats, we expected to findthe species appropriate to those habitats. Thus, a block withboth ponderosa pine and piñon/juniper habitats was ex-pected to have species from both of those habitats (54 speciesin this case). Adequate coverage for such a block would be40 species recorded with 20 confirmed.


Blocks were surveyed throughout the breeding season, start-ing at the time of pair formation in late winter and continu-ing until the adults had finished caring for their fledglings inlate summer. In the last 3 years of the project, we concen-trated on blocks difficult to access. We set up weekend for-ays at the height of the breeding season to survey blocks inthe Rio Grande gorge, the mountains in the northwest cor-ner, and the interior, restricted-access areas of the Labora-tory. Volunteers from nearby Santa Fe and Albuquerquejoined us in these group forays.

A computer data file was created to handle the field records.Data, which included species name, block number, habitat,breeding activity, and the date of the activity, were enteredon standardized forms. A matrix was drawn from thespecies-block data. This matrix was the basis for determiningthe field activity needed for each season and from season toseason. The final version is reproduced in Appendix A, AtlasData section.

Requirements for the atlas fieldworkers were the ability tofind and identify the birds, to recognize significant breedingactivity, and to locate block boundaries (at times in ruggedcountry with imprecise landmarks). Forty-two people par-ticipated substantially in the atlas fieldwork. Four of themprovided more than half of the atlas data, each covering sixto ten assigned blocks and working in many others. An esti-mate of the combined time in the field of these four people is2000 hours.

All atlas data were reviewed for validity; for example, thatpossible and probable breeding records lay within breedingseason limits, and that the birds were found in appropriatehabitats. The data set that defines the geographical distribu-tion consists of 2648 breeding records (one record for eachspecies found in each block). Because atlas fieldworkerswere asked to report all confirmed breeding observations,the data file includes multiple confirmations for some spe-cies in a block. The total number of confirmations, includingthe multiple ones, is 2307. Of these, 1138 are nest records.


Bias and Limitations Unequal coverage of blocks is the principal cause of bias inthe data. The actual hours spent surveying in the differentblocks varied greatly and were directly related to the diffi-culty of access. The high mountain blocks, accessible only inpart by trails, the Rio Grande gorge with its steep tortuousdescending footpaths, and some of the blocks within theLaboratory’s secured grounds were less well covered thanthose reached within a few minutes from atlas fieldworkers’homes. Differences in observer ability are another cause ofbias, but are less important a cause than time in the field.

Crepuscular and nocturnal species, particularly the smallowls, were under-recorded. Exceptional effort was requiredto locate them, and they were especially difficult to confirmas breeders. We arranged for after-dark searches, and a fewpeople concentrated on just these species, but much more ef-fort would have been required for adequate coverage.

The geographical distribution displayed on the maps is lessreliable for some species than others. This results from twocauses: relative abundance and difference in detectability.The extremes are species that are scarce and hard to find andobserve, on the one hand, and those that are abundant andreadily detected on the other. Breeding in the former, such asthe Black-throated Gray Warbler, is most likely inadequatelyrepresented, whereas that of the latter group, such as theAmerican Robin and Black-headed Grosbeak, is probablydescribed with reasonable accuracy.

The breeding date distributions shown below the maps inthe Species Account section are biased as a result of the rig-orous forays. Weekend forays were scheduled during thenesting season on dates when we expected the most activityinvolving adult birds attending their young. Thus, morehours were spent in the field on those days than on others.Although the quantitative data will be skewed toward thosedates, the qualitative pattern for each species remains ap-proximately correct.

The geographical distributions in this atlas portray data ob-tained only during the atlas period. They are incomplete as amatter of necessity. We cannot exclude the occurrence of anyspecies not found within a block with the appropriate habi-tat if it were given additional coverage, nor can we assumethat the species recorded constitute the entire set of speciesbreeding within a block during the survey period.


Although the coarseness of the grid limits the resolution ofrelationships between habitat and species occurrence, the at-las scale allows the geographical distribution of habitat typesspecified by the major overstory vegetation to be representedapproximately by defined sets of blocks. Habitats delimitedthis way are the mixed coniferous forest of the mountains, theponderosa pine forest of the plateau, the piñon/juniperwoodland, and the wooded lower canyon bottoms. Other,more limited, habitats can also be so represented: abandonedagricultural fields, cliffs, marshes, residential areas, and theRio Grande gorge. We used the habitat information from theLos Alamos National Environmental Research Park (NERP)report (US Energy Research and Development Administra-tion undated), particularly from the map of the overstoryvegetation of the Los Alamos environs (Fig. 10), Foxx andTierney (1984), and personal observation in the field. TheNERP information was derived from a mosaic of overstoryplant community types compiled from color infrared photo-graphs proofed by field observations. Maps showing habitatdistribution, Figs. 4 and 5, outline the blocks where substan-tial areas of these habitats occur. If a habitat was found in atleast one-fourth of a block, that block was included in thearea designated for the habitat. The values for elevationalrange given for the habitats in the following descriptions arenominal. The particular elevation at which a specific plantwill grow is dependent on sun exposure. For example, mixedconifers are found at lower elevations on north-facing canyonslopes and in shaded canyon bottoms.

The mixed coniferous forest covers the mountain slopesabove an elevation of 8000 feet in the western quarter of thecounty. The major overstory vegetation consists ofEngelmann spruce (Picea englemannii), Douglas fir(Pseudotsuga menziesii), white fir (Abies concolor), and limberpine (Pinus flexilis). As one approaches lower elevations, pon-derosa pines (P. ponderosa) intrude from below. Much of theforest has an understory of bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi),creeping barberry (Berberis repens), and various grasses andforbs. Near the summits of the mountains (9500–10,500 feet)are small, dense stands of Engelmann spruce, white fir, andsubalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) with little understory—a sam-pling of true spruce/fir forest. Aspen stands are interspersedwithin the coniferous forest, mostly on old large burns, areasof previous logging or blowdown, and on moist, north slopesat the heads of narrow, shaded canyons. Subalpine meadows,with dominant oatgrass (Danthonia intermedia) and brome

Habitat Characterization


grass (Bromus spp.), occur at the higher mountain peaks.Twenty-two blocks encompass the mixed coniferous foresthabitat (Fig. 4A). Spruce/fir forest is found in seven of theseblocks (Fig. 4C-1).

The ponderosa pine forest lies on the Pajarito Plateau be-tween elevations of 7000 and 8000 feet. The primary over-story vegetation is ponderosa pine. Patches of Gambel oak(Quercus gambelii) are scattered through the forest and wavyleaf oak (Q. undulata) occurs on the cliff edges. The dominantgrasses include mountain muhly (Muhlenbergia montana),pine dropseed (Blepharoneuron tricholepis), and little bluestem(Andropogon scoparius). Twenty-six blocks include this habi-tat (Fig. 4B-1).

The piñon/juniper woodland consists of open and brokenstands of piñon pine (Pinus edulis) intermixed with thecodominant one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), scat-tered alligator juniper (J. deppeana) on the dry slopes, andRocky Mountain juniper (J. scopulorum) in the canyons.Among the common grasses found here are blue grama(Bouteloua gracilis), galleta (Hilaria jamesii), and littlebluestem. This habitat occurs from 6200 to 7000 feet eleva-tion in 27 blocks (Fig. 4C-2).

Many blocks contain more than one major plant community.These boundary blocks, which contain substantial areas oftwo major habitats and regions of habitat intermixture, areinhabited by species from both. Of particular interest are theset of five blocks (1-4, 2-4, 5-2, 6-2, and 7-2) that contain sig-nificant samples of both mixed conifer and ponderosa pinehabitats, and the set of 21 blocks wherein the ponderosa pine(including the lower canyons) and piñon/juniper communi-ties adjoin (Blocks 1-6, 2-6, 3-5, 3-6, 4-5, 4-6, 5-5, 5-6, 6-4, 6-5,6-6, 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 8-4, 8-5, 8-6, 8-7, 9-5, 9-6, and 10-6).

The habitat of the lower canyon bottoms is not defined de-finitively by major overstory vegetation. It contains mixedconifers (spruce/fir/ponderosa pine) on north-facing slopes,piñon pines on south-facing slopes, some riparian vegetationincluding narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia), wil-lows (Salix spp.), Western box elder (Acer negundo), and openshrub and grassy areas. Eleven blocks contain this habitat(Fig. 4B-2). These blocks also have significant samples ofponderosa pine forest, piñon/juniper woodland, and cliffhabitat.


Fig. 4. HabitatDistribution I.

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

7500

70008000

8500

9000

Guaje CanyonRendija Canyon

Los Alamos CanyonCañon

de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

A) B)

C) D)

Mixed Conifer Ponderosa PineLower Canyon

Spruce/firPiñon/juniper

Abandoned Agricultural Fields

1.

2.

1.

2.

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06


Abandoned agricultural fields are found in cleared areas inthe ponderosa and piñon/juniper habitats. Some of theplants typical of these areas are wormwood (Artemisiacarruthii), false tarragon (A. dracunculus), chamisa(Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Japanese brome (Bromusjaponicus), black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda), Bermuda grass(Cynodon dactylon), trailing fleabane (Erigeron flagellaris), andponymint (Monarda pectinata) (Foxx and Hoard 1984). Eigh-teen blocks contain these grasslands (Fig. 4D).

Steep-walled canyon cliffs and associated rock piles are aspecialized habitat utilized almost exclusively by a few spe-cies. They are found in 30 blocks (Fig. 5A).

The Rio Grande gorge encompasses the area below an eleva-tion of 6000 feet in the county. Habitats found here are juni-per/yucca/cactus grasslands, shoreline, and very localriparian growth, including a few mature Rio Grande cotton-woods (Populus fremontii). There are six blocks in the gorge(Fig. 5D-2).

A few marshes, primarily made up of broad-leaved cattails(Typha latifolia), have developed where there is impoundedwater in the canyons. Live marshes were found in nineblocks (Fig. 5B) during the atlas project.

Residential areas contain a variety of habitats: open grassyareas, shrub and tree plantings, gardens, and structures thatprovide nesting and roosting places. These areas occupy asubstantial part of ten blocks (Fig. 5C-1).

The Los Alamos National Laboratory, located in the south-central part of the county, is situated on the Pajarito Plateau,mostly in the ponderosa pine forest, but also extendingsoutheast into piñon/juniper woodland and lower canyonbottoms. Laboratory and industrial buildings and connect-ing roads disrupt the natural habitat locally, but, enclosed bya security fence, most of the Laboratory area is protectedfrom disturbance from the general public. The Laboratoryarea is encompassed by ten blocks (Fig. 5D-1).

The Rito de los Frijoles in Bandelier National Monument andthe Rio Grande are the only live streams in the county.Water flows at times in several of the other canyons duringparts of the year. Riparian habitat occurs locally in these can-yons. The mountain streamside habitat includes alder (Alnus


Fig. 5. HabitatDistribution II.

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

7500

70008000

8500

9000



de los Frijoles

8000

7500

7000

8500

9000

8000

A) B)

C) D)

Cliff

ResidentialLa Mesa Fire

Los Alamos National LaboratoryRio Grande Gorge

Marsh

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

1.

2.

1.

2.

61 62 63 64 65 66

51 52 53 54 55 56

41 42 43 44 45 46

31 32 33 34 35 36

21 22 23 24 25 26

11 12 13 14 15 16

70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79

80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88

95 96 97 98

06


spp.), shrub willow (Salix spp.), and Western water-birch(Betula occidentalis).

The extent of severe foliar damage (all needles singed orconsumed) by the 1977 La Mesa fire (Foxx 1984) is outlinedin Fig. 5C-2. Seven blocks were substantially affected.

Antiphonal hooting in midwinter by the pairs of GreatHorned Owls that occupy the major canyons heralds the be-ginning of the breeding season. Their nests are under way byMarch. Pairs of the other common large raptor, the Red-tailed Hawk, take to the skies in spectacular courtship flightsnot long after, and they, like Great Horned Owls, are feedingyoung in early summer when there is an abundance of prey.

These are among the 39 resident species that spend the yearin Los Alamos. Some of them maintain winter foraging terri-tories; others winter in flocks that roam through the forestsor attend feeding stations. In late March and early April,resident pairs re-establish their breeding territories, and thewintering woodland flocks break up into pairs. Atlas field-work began in earnest when these territorial and courtshipactivities, evidence of probable breeding, were observed inthese resident species.

At the end of April and in early May, preceded by the Say’sPhoebe, most of the summering migrant breeders arrive.Shortly after arrival, the males establish breeding territories.Song and visual displays are the means by which they an-nounce their presence and defend their territories. Females,typically for most species, appear a week or two after themales. Listening during the height of the song period—thelast 3 weeks in May and the first week in June—reveals thepresence of most of our breeding species, and territorial ac-tivity indicates probable breeding.

The peak of the breeding season for atlas fieldwork is Juneand July, when adults are feeding nestlings and fledgedyoung. Song is greatly reduced then, so location of new spe-cies is more difficult. But the activity of the parents in gath-ering, carrying, and feeding food to the young is readilyobserved. Most atlas confirmations were obtained duringthis period.

The Breeding Season inRelation to Altas Fieldwork


A few species, such as Say’s Phoebe and American Robin,are double-brooded. Nestlings of these species, as well asthose of the latest breeders, like the Lesser Goldfinch, maybe found as late as mid-September.

The nomadic and irruptive species are particularly challeng-ing for atlas projects. Their numbers may vary greatly fromyear to year. Breeding in a particular locality may be irregu-lar and may occur at different times of the year.

Early in the breeding season, atlas fieldwork is most profit-able early in the morning, shortly before and after dawn, be-cause song is greatest then. Later in the season, when theparents are caring for their young, fieldwork is effective allday, but mornings and late afternoons are best.

Each species has its own breeding phenology, and knowl-edge of this and of each one’s particular behavioral patternsis vital for adequate atlas fieldwork. Selected behavioral andsong information that is particularly useful for fieldwork inLos Alamos is included in the Species Account section.

We found breeding evidence for 112 species in Los Alamosduring the atlas period. Breeding was confirmed for 107 spe-cies and was possible or probable for another 5 species. Thegeographical distribution for each of these species is mappedin the Species Account section.

Four additional species, reported as probably breeding butnot confirmed as breeding species in Los Alamos, are treatedin the Additional Species section. There are no previousbreeding records in the county for them, and the atlas field-work evidence is not conclusive.

Of the atlas breeding birds, 39 are resident species (speciespresent all year); 59 are migratory summer residents; 6 arenomadic species; 6 are resident in nearby areas, but with-draw from Los Alamos after the breeding season; and 2(Lewis’ Woodpecker and American Crow) are present innumbers at other seasons, but summer only occasionally inLos Alamos.

Six species were nearly ubiquitous, occurring in almost allblocks (greater than 92%). These are the Broad-tailed Hum-mingbird, Northern Flicker, Violet-green Swallow, American

The Survey Results


Robin, Western Tanager, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Themost abundant species, although not necessarily the mostwidespread, were most frequently confirmed as breeders in ablock. They were also among the most readily detectable.More than 80% of the Say’s Phoebe, Pygmy Nuthatch, West-ern Bluebird, American Robin, and Chipping Sparrowrecords were confirmations. The species confirmed in themost blocks was the American Robin.

Two species new to Los Alamos, the Rufous-crowned Spar-row and Scott’s Oriole, were confirmed as breeding species,but for four species—Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, PrairieFalcon, and Scaled Quail—known from earlier years to havenested in Los Alamos, there was no evidence of breeding.

An average of 44.1 breeding species was found per block andof those, 20.9 (47.2%) were confirmed, 12.3 (28%) were prob-able, and 10.9 (24.8%) were possible breeders. Block speciestotals ranged from 64 in Block 4-6 in lower Bayo Canyon,which has a varied habitat including a sizable marsh and hadintensive coverage; to 19 in Blocks 1-1, visited twice; and 1-3,visited once, in the northwest corner. Both Blocks 1-1 and 1-3have little habitat variety.

The number of species found in the different blocks is shownin Fig. 6. Three numbers are given for each block. The num-ber of occurrences (the sum of the possible, probable, andconfirmed records) is in the upper center, the score for theblock is in the lower left corner, and an estimate of the num-ber actually breeding is in the lower right corner. The score,S, is a measure of breeding likelihood that quantifies the dif-ference in probability of breeding indicated by the threebreeding criteria. It is discussed in Appendix B. The weight-ing formula used is 1, 1/2, and 1/4 for confirmed, probable,and possible breeding, respectively. Thus, a breeding recordfor a species in a block has a value of 1, 1/2, or 1/4 and thescore for a block is the sum of the individual species scores.The estimate of the number actually breeding, N, was calcu-lated from the atlas data as described in Appendix B. Blocksfor which S and N are nearly equal are considered to be wellsurveyed; those in which S is greater than 69% of N are ad-equately surveyed. Based on this criterion, 15% of the blockswere poorly covered (Blocks 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 3-6, 8-1, and 9-8).


6

5

4

3

2

1

7

8

9

10

7 8 9

1 2 3 4 5 6

31 31 27 37 41 42

31 33 40 44 48 48

34 30 27 41 41 47

29 31 31 30 32 39

33 33 33 36 32 36

32 36 42

28 28 33 31 34 38 36 25 28

33 29 37 37 35 35 32 38 42

39 29

39

*There are insufficent data to estimate N in these blocks.

37 47 38 51 56 56

31 47 54 61 62 61

39 39 45 56 63 64

27 32 36 30 48 43

32 33 31 38 45 42

19 24 19 35 44 50

34 38 44 48 43 48 45 38 51 52

46 40 44 44 51 40 45 55 59

61 49 45 34

59

25 30 25 34 41 38

24 32 40 44 48 48

27 28 27 41 41 47

17 22 26 27 30 26

18 18 24 31 26 28

10* 18* 13* 28 35 41

22 23 33 30 27 33 34 25 33 25

27 19 27 30 33 24 31 38 42

46 38 28 14

35

46 30

33

The number of species per block shows a strong east-westtrend—the number decreasing as one goes from lower tohigher elevations (right to left in Fig. 6) or from a nominalvalue of 60 to 20. The blocks with the most species occur-rences lie in the east-central region where the lower canyonbottoms are located and in Frijoles Canyon (Blocks 9-5 and10-6).

With the atlas data we can unfold distributional patterns ofthe bird species of Los Alamos and determine species-habitat relationships. The distributional patterns are relatedto avian habitat selection and elevational gradient.

Although few of our species breed solely in a single habitat(as defined by major overstory vegetation), examination ofthe geographical data shows that groups of species arefound in similar sets of habitat types. One of these groups,which includes the Broad-tailed Hummingbird, NorthernFlicker, and Violet-green Swallow, consists of ten common,widely spread species found in all three of the major plant

Fig. 6. Block totals.

Distributional Patterns


communities. Six additional habitat-related associations arerestricted to one or two of the major habitats. The species inthese associations are listed in Table I. The data included arethe number of blocks in which the species was found, theblock frequency (the percentage of the association's blocksoccupied by the species), and the score for the species in theassociation (defined in Appendix B). Each of these associa-tions has its own distribution pattern, with every species inan association sharing the same habitats with nearly alikeelevational profiles. One set, typified by the Ash-throatedFlycatcher, Scrub Jay, and Plain Titmouse, is restricted al-most exclusively to the piñon/juniper woodlands between6000 and 7150 feet elevation. Another set, the lower forestand woodland association, inhabits the piñon/juniperwoodland, the lower canyons, and the ponderosa pine forestbetween 6000 and 7950 feet elevation. Representative specieshere are the Mourning Dove, Rufous-sided Towhee, andLesser Goldfinch. A midforest association consists of speciesprimarily with ponderosa pine affinity that breed from 6900to 8400 feet elevation. The principal birds of this associationare the Pygmy Nuthatch, Solitary Vireo, Virginia’s Warbler,and Grace’s Warbler. The birds of the higher forests divideinto three associations—those that occupy primarily thespruce/fir forest above 8950 feet, such as the Red-breastedNuthatch and the kinglets; those, primarily birds of themixed conifer forest, that also breed in the ponderosa forest(from 7100 to 10,000 feet), typified by the Yellow-rumpedWarbler and the Dark-eyed Junco; and those that occupyboth the mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests and ex-tend into the wooded lower canyons (from 6900 to 10,000feet). The Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, White-breastedNuthatch, and House Wren are representative of the lastgroup.

The species within an association have their own specializedmicro-habitat requirements. For example, the Virginia’sWarbler breeds in the scrub oak/pine habitat, MacGillivray’sWarbler breeds in riparian shrub habitat within the mixedconifer community, and the Hepatic Tanager nests in pon-derosa pines found in piñon/juniper habitat. Each of thespecies breeding in the county has been placed uniquely inone association. There is evidence suggesting that finer sub-division could be made, but the grid size precludes doingthis reliably with the atlas data.


Table I. Bird Associations

a. All major habitats (60 blocks; 11 species)

Species Occurrence (%) Score

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 59 (98) 37.5Northern Flicker 59 (98) 45.5Western Wood-Pewee 53 (88) 38.0Violet-green Swallow 59 (98) 45.5Common Raven 50 (83) 37.0Western Bluebird 48 (80) 45.0American Robin 57 (95) 49.5Western Tanager 56 (93) 42.8Black-headed Grosbeak 55 (92) 43.8Chipping Sparrow 51 (85) 44.8Evening Grosbeak 19 (32) 10.3

b. Piñon/juniper woodland, 6000–7150 feet (27 blocks; 21species)


Zone-tailed Hawk 10 (37) 4.8Gambel's Quail 2 (7) 1.3Black-chinned Hummingbird 11 (41) 7.3Gray Flycatcher 22 (81) 13.8Say's Phoebe 19 (70) 23.8Ash-throated Flycatcher 27 (100) 26.5Cassin's Kingbird 22 (81) 19.8Scrub Jay 27 (100) 29.0Pinyon Jay 10 (37) 7.3Black-billed Magpie 2 (7) 1.3Plain Titmouse 27 (100) 20.5Bushtit 22 (81) 13.8Bewick's Wren 19 (70) 15.3Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 22 (81) 10.3Northern Mockingbird 3 (11) 1.5Hepatic Tanager 18 (67) 13.8Black-throated Gray Warbler 13 (48) 10.0Blue Grosbeak 9 (33) 5.8Canyon Towhee 21 (78) 18.3Lark Sparrow 13 (48) 10.0House Finch 25 (93) 22.8

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Los Alamos County 19

Table I. Bird Associations (cont.)

c. Lower forest and woodland, 6000–7950 feet (43 blocks;15 species)


Cooper's Hawk 25 (58) 16.8Red-tailed Hawk 28 (65) 18.0American Kestrel 31 (72) 22.5Mourning Dove 39 (91) 25.3Great Horned Owl 22 (51) 11.8Spotted Owl 2 (5) 1.3Common Nighthawk 35 (81) 18.3Lewis' Woodpecker 4 (9) 4.0Acorn Woodpecker 14 (33) 11.3Mountain Bluebird 29 (67) 25.3Lazuli Bunting 6 (14) 1.5Rufous-sided Towhee 43 (100) 35.5Brown-headed Cowbird 40 (93) 16.3Northern Oriole 4 (9) 1.8Lesser Goldfinch 38 (88) 29.8

d. Midforest, 6900–8400 feet (47 blocks, 10 species)


Band-tailed Pigeon 7 (15) 2.5Flammulated Owl 9 (19) 5.8Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 (2) 1.0Common Poorwill 20 (43) 9.5Dusky Flycatcher 14 (30) 7.0Pygmy Nuthatch 47 (100) 41.8Solitary Vireo 46 (98) 34.5Virginia's Warbler 41 (87) 32.3Grace's Warbler 42 (89) 30.8Cassin's Finch 10 (21) 5.8



e. High forests and lower canyons, 6900–10,000 feet(54 blocks; 18 species)


Northern Pygmy-Owl 5 (9) 3.0Williamson's Sapsucker 28 (52) 19.3Downy Woodpecker 14 (26) 7.8Hairy Woodpecker 50 (93) 34.3Hammond's Flycatcher 37 (69) 27.3Cordilleran Flycatcher 39 (72) 25.5Steller's Jay 52 (96) 37.5Clark's Nutcracker 17 (31) 8.3Mountain Chickadee 53 (98) 39.0White-breasted Nuthatch 52 (96) 36.0Brown Creeper 31 (57) 17.8House Wren 51 (94) 43.0Townsend's Solitaire 31 (57) 15.3Hermit Thrush 45 (83) 25.0Warbling Vireo 38 (70) 20.5MacGillivray's Warbler 22 (41) 9.3Red Crossbill 32 (59) 11.0Pine Siskin 40 (74) 19.0

f. Mixed conifer and ponderosa pine forests,7100–10,000 feet (43 blocks; 8 species)


Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 (14) 3.3Wild Turkey 8 (19) 5.3Three-toed Woodpecker 3 (7) 2.3Olive-sided Flycatcher 11 (26) 5.0Orange-crowned Warbler 18 (42) 11.5Yellow-rumped Warbler 31 (72) 21.0Green-tailed Towhee* 14 (33) 8.8Dark-eyed Junco 36 (84) 27.8

*Limited to mountain meadows and brushy areas in the forests.



g. Spruce/fir and adjoining mixed conifer forest, 8,95010,000 feet (17 blocks; 7 species)


Blue Grouse 8 (47) 6.4Red-naped Sapsucker 6 (35) 4.0Gray Jay 2 (12) 1.3Red-breasted Nuthatch 17 (100) 9.8Golden-crowned Kinglet 10 (59) 5.3Ruby-crowned Kinglet 14 (82) 7.0Lincoln's Sparrow* 4 (18) 3.5

*Limited to mountain meadows in the forest.

h. Abandoned agricultural fields (18 blocks; 2 species)


Vesper Sparrow 12 (67) 6.8Western Meadowlark 9 (50) 4.0

i. Marsh habitat (9 blocks; 2 species)


Song Sparrow 7 (78) 3.3Red-winged Blackbird 7 (78) 3.5

j. Cliff habitat (30 blocks; 6 species)


Turkey Vulture 10 (33) 4.0White-throated Swift 23 (77) 16.3Cliff Swallow 5 (17) 3.0Rock Wren 26 (87) 18.8Canyon Wren 27 (90) 15.8Rufous-crowned Sparrow 5 (17) 3.0



k. Rio Grande gorge (6 blocks; 8 species)


Mallard 3 (50) 1.8Spotted Sandpiper 4 (67) 2.0Ladder-backed Woodpecker 3 (50) 0.8Black Phoebe 5 (83) 2.0American Crow 1 (17) 1.0American Dipper 2 (33) 1.5Indigo Bunting 3 (50) 0.8Scott's Oriole 5 (83) 2.3

l. Residential habitat (10 blocks; 3 species)


European Starling 10 (100) 10.0Brewer's Blackbird 9 (90) 8.5House Sparrow 10 (100) 13.0

*A few species have scores greater than the number of occurrences forthe association. This is a result of habitat spillover into adjacent blocks.

The block data were analyzed in three steps to determine theassociations. Single-link cluster analysis starting with therepresentative species, followed by χ2 independence test forpair comparisons using the habitat breakdown from the atlasstatus tables, established reasonably differentiated core spe-cies. The associations were filled out and refined by anotherχ2 analysis using sets of blocks to sort out the lower canyoneffects and elevational data, which cut through the majorhabitats. The variable used for breeding probability was thespecies score.

Although the bird associations share the major habitats, theypartition them in different ways. This is evident from exami-nation of the number of species in the associations at differ-ent elevations. A nominal elevation for each block wasobtained in the following way. From the topographicalmaps, the upper and lower elevations for each block were


determined and their mean value taken as the nominal eleva-tion of the block. The criterion used for the extremes was thatapproximately 5% of the block would be at higher elevationthan the maximum and 5% would be lower than the mini-mum. The number of species of an association at each of thenominal elevations was plotted against elevation and fittedwith a smooth curve. The smoothed elevation profiles for theforest and woodland bird associations of Table I are por-trayed in Fig. 7a. The vertical axis is species frequency (thefraction of species found at a given elevation). The fit of thedata for the mixed conifer/ponderosa pine association isshown as an example in Fig. 7b. Although there isconsiderable scatter in the data, the pattern of elevational dis-tribution of the association is clear. The data scatter for theother associations is no greater than that shown here.

Those forest species found throughout the county in all themajor habitats (Fig. 7a-1) are fairly uniformly distributedelevationally, dropping off at the lowest elevations where theplant variety declines. Species associations more restricted inhabitat occupation have substantially different profiles. Theassociation of the piñon/juniper woodland (Fig. 7a-2) has amonotonically declining profile to a truncation point at

Fig. 7. (a) Bird associationelevation profiles (upper);(b) fitted data for mixedconifer/ponderosa pineassociation (lower).

1.0

0.8

0.4

0.0

Spe

cies

Fre

quen

cy

8

6

4

2

0

All major habitats Piñon/juniper Lower and mid forest High forest and lower canyons

Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine Spruce/fir Cliff habitat

Num

ber

of S

peci

es

6000 7000 8000 9000Mean Block Elevation (feet)

1 2 3 4

5 6 7

(a)

(b)


7590 feet elevation. The lower and midforest association birdsare combined in Fig. 7a-3. The combined group containsbirds of the ponderosa pine forest that follow the pines intothe mixed conifer forest at higher elevations and into thelower canyon bottoms at the lower elevations, and piñon/ju-niper species that also use ponderosa forest. The peak in thedistribution is where the ponderosa pine and piñon/juniperhabitats overlap (near 8000 feet).

The three associations of the higher forests have differingrange extension to lower elevations: into the lower canyons(Fig. 7a-4), only into ponderosa pine forest (Fig. 7a-5), andlimited to only the highest mixed conifer and spruce/fir for-ests (Fig. 7a-6), and increasing in species frequency with in-creasing elevation.

Figure 7a-7 shows the elevational profile of the cliff-dwellingspecies, reflecting the decrease in cliff area at higher eleva-tions.

Comparison of the profiles of individual species shows inter-esting differences or similarities in the distribution of relatedspecies. Several sets of these will be illustrated. To reveal thepattern, since only values of 0, 1/4, 1/2, or 1 are available fora point on the plot, the atlas blocks were grouped accordingto their elevation. Sorting the nominal elevations revealedclumping of the blocks at eight different elevations, wherethe difference in the means within a clump was no greaterthan 200 feet. The resultant elevational grouping is illustratedin Fig. 8, and the elevational range for each group is shown inFig. 9. Also shown in Fig. 9 is the habitat distribution relatedto elevational groups.

The four major raptors of the county have profiles that aremuch the same (Fig. 10). They are concentrated at the lowerelevations, decreasing in species frequency by approximatelya 25 percentile increment for an increase of 1000 feet eleva-tion in the region above 6700 feet.

Empidonax flycatchers are found throughout the county(Fig. 11). The Gray Flycatcher dominates the lower eleva-tions. The Hammond’s and Cordilleran Flycatchers havenearly similar profiles—they peak at the middle elevation ofthe mixed conifer forest. The profile for the Dusky Flycatcherreflects its opportunistic habitat utilization. It was found in

Elevation Profiles ofIndividual Species


Fig. 8. Grouping of blockswith equal mean elevation.

Fig. 10. Raptors.

Fig. 9. Elevational range ofgroups and habitats.

9130

8650

8060

7550

7180

6880

6440

6000

0.2

0

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

American Kestrel

Red-tailed Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Great Horned

Owl

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6000

Elevation (feet)

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

6000 6440 6880 7180 7570 8060 8650 9310

Mean Group Elevation (feet)

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

0

Ele

vatio

n (f

eet)

Mixed Conifer

Ponderosa Pine

Piñon/Juniper

GHOWAMKERTHACOHA


Fig. 11. Empidonaces.

0.2

06000

Elevation (feet)

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Hammond's Flycatcher

Gray Flycatcher

Dusky Flycatcher

HAFLGRFLCOFLDUFL

new growth, typically aspen, and in scrub oak understory inopen coniferous forest. The greatest Empidonax species den-sity occurred in the mixed conifer community around 8000feet.

The jays partition the habitat resources of the county (Fig. 12),with considerable overlap. The Scrub Jay is most abundant atthe lower elevations, while the Steller’s Jay is abundant athigher elevations. The Pinyon Jay is found exclusively in thelow piñon/juniper woodland; whereas the Clark’s Nut-cracker nests in undisturbed canyons at middle elevations.

The three most abundant warblers have specific elevationalpattern differences (Fig. 13a). The Virginia’s and Grace's War-blers are most common from 6200 to 8200 feet, and the Yel-low-rumped Warbler is abundant above 7200 feet. The otherhigh-elevation warbler, the Orange-crowned, has a profilelike the Yellow-rumped (Fig. 13b). The Black-throated GrayWarbler is localized in the lower piñon/juniper areas. Theprofile of MacGillivray’s Warbler reflects its predilection forlocal moist canyons, which are scattered through the countyat different elevations.

Although they have similarities in microhabitat preferences,the three towhees occupy different elevational ranges(Fig. 14). The Canyon and Rufous-sided Towhees share thelower areas, but the Canyon Towhee range ends abruptly at6900 feet, the approximate upper limit of the piñon/juniperwoodland, while the Rufous-sided’s extends to 8200 feet. Theless abundant Green-tailed Towhee is found in the middleand higher elevations.


Fig. 12. Jays.

0.2

0

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Steller's Jay

Scrub Jay

Clark's Nutcracker

Pinyon Jay

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6000

Elevation (feet)

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

0.2

06000

Elevation (feet)

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

MacGillivray's Warbler

Orange- crowned Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Fig. 13b. Warblers II.

0.2

0

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Virginia's Warbler

Yellow- rumped Warbler

Grace's Warbler

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6000

Elevation (feet)

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

Fig. 13a. Warblers I.

MGWAOCWABGWA

GRWAYRWAVIWA

STJASCJAPIJACLNU


Fig. 14. Towhees.

0.2

0

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Rufous-sided Towhee

Canyon Towhee

Green-tailed Towhee

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6000

Elevation (feet)

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

0.2

06000

Elevation (feet)

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

Bre

edin

g P

roba

bilty

6440 6880 7570 8060 8650 93107180

Lesser Goldfinch

House Finch

Cassin's FinchRed Crossbill

Pine Siskin Evening

Grosbeak

Finches nest at all elevations but have specific differences inhabitat utilization (Fig. 15). The resident House Finch occu-pies the lower elevations and is abundant in the residentialareas. The migratory Lesser Goldfinch is common at lowerelevations, but nests in the mountains as well. Three of thenomadic finches (Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and EveningGrosbeak) have nearly similar profiles, which are combinedin Fig. 15. These birds have a fairly uniform species densityin the coniferous forest above 7200 feet. Cassin’s Finch, thefourth of the nomadic finches, has rarely been found breed-ing in Los Alamos. It has a pattern of localized breeding.

Fig. 15. Finches.

RSTOCATOGTTO


The number of species in an area (species richness) is relatedto the habitat complexity of the area. Each of the plant com-munities has a different number of bird species. Some of thesespecies are found in several habitats; some are selective,breeding preferably in one habitat, but occasionally breedingelsewhere; and a few are exclusive, breeding solely in onehabitat. The species richness for each of the three major plantcommunities in Los Alamos was determined by tallying allthe species found in the blocks containing the community.The result is 38 species in the piñon/juniper community, 57species in the ponderosa pine community, and 54 species inthe mixed conifer community.

Uncertainty in determining species richness arises from theecological species-area relationship: the number of species in-creases with increasing area sampled. Some species are com-mon in the habitat and are likely to be found in an area thesize of a block; others are rare and may be found in only oneor two blocks (or not at all in Los Alamos). To determine thespecies richness and to examine the effect of area for a majorplant community, we tallied the confirmed breeding speciesfound in each of the blocks that contained only that plantcommunity. Species that breed solely in the field, cliff, marsh,residential, or gorge habitats were excluded. Starting with thebest surveyed block of the set, we scanned the other blocks, inturn adding additional confirmed species to the cumulativetotal. Then we searched through the blocks that had an addi-tional, confounding, major plant community for additionalspecies of the target habitat to get the total number of breed-ing species. The last step was particularly necessary for thepiñon/juniper community because the sampling area for“pure” piñon/juniper woodland was only six blocks. Typi-cally, about 70% of the total species for a habitat were foundin a block. To obtain the final species number for a commu-nity required 6 blocks of piñon/juniper woodland, and 12blocks each of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest, or anequivalent area of 37.5, 75, and 75 square kilometers, respec-tively, for the three communities.

Species richness for the major plant communities is given inTable II. A summary of the block results, which shows howmany species were found in a block for each habitat, is alsogiven in the table. The values of the median for occurrencesand confirmed breeders, and the interquartile distance (therange in species that includes the central 50% of the records)are shown. The interquartile distance is analogous to twice

Species Richness


Table II. Species Richness by Habitat (Blocks)

Piñon/Juniper Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer(27) (26) (22)

Number of Species 38 57 54

Species/block

Median for Occurrences 29 40 33Interquartile distance 5 5 7

Median for Confirmed 16 19 16Interquartile distance 7 6 5

Percent occurred 76 70 61

Percent confirmed 42 33 30

the standard deviation for a normal distribution. The per-centage of the total species found on the average per block isgiven in the last two lines of the table.

The piñon/juniper habitat, with the lowest species richnessis rather uniform in the county; the other two have morehabitat complexity. The ponderosa pine community includespatches of aspen and understory scrub oak and local limitedareas of riparian shrub; the mixed conifer community hasscattered mountain meadows and aspen stands, for example.Generally, additional tree species in a community introducemore species.

The breeding species of the three communities are listed inTable III. The common species, those that occurred in greaterthan 90% of the habitat blocks, are shown in bold type; thescarce species of the community are italicized. A species isdefined as scarce if it occurred in less than 25% of the blocksthat contained the habitat.

Species richness for the field, marsh, cliff, and residentialarea habitats is 2, 2, 6, and 3, respectively. For each of thesehabitats, all the blocks that contained some of the habitat(identified in Figs. 4 or 5) were used in the analysis.


Table III. Breeding Birds of the Major Plant Communities

Piñon/Juniper Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer

Sharp-shinned HawkCooper’s HawkRed-tailed HawkAmerican KestrelWild TurkeyMourning DoveFlammulated OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlCommon NighthawkCommon Poorwill

Broad-tailed HummingbirdWilliamson’s SapsuckerLewis’ WoodpeckerAcorn WoodpeckerDowny WoodpeckerHairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Western Wood-PeweeHammond’s FlycatcherDusky FlycatcherCordilleran FlycatcherAsh-throated FlycatcherCassin’s KingbirdViolet-green Swallow

Steller’s JayScrub JayClark’s Nutcracker

Common RavenMountain Chickadee

White-breasted NuthatchPygmy NuthatchBrown CreeperHouse Wren

Western BluebirdMountain BluebirdTownsend’s SolitaireHermit ThrushAmerican RobinSolitary VireoWarbling Vireo

Virginia’s WarblerYellow-rumped WarblerGrace’s WarblerMacGillivray’s WarblerWestern TanagerBlack-headed GrosbeakGreen-tailed TowheeRufous-sided Towhee

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed JuncoBrown-headed CowbirdNorthern OrioleCassin’s FinchRed CrossbillPine SiskinLesser GoldfinchEvening Grosbeak

Sharp-shinned HawkCooper’s Hawk

Blue GrouseWild Turkey

Flammulated OwlNorthern Pygmy-Owl

Broad-tailed HummingbirdRed-naped Sapsucker

Downy WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerThree-toed WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerOlive-sided FlycatcherWestern Wood-PeweeHammond’s FlycatcherDusky FlycatcherCordilleran Flycatcher

Violet-green SwallowGray JaySteller’s Jay

Clark’s Nutcracker

Common RavenMountain ChickadeeRed-breasted NuthatchWhite-breasted NuthatchPygmy NuthatchBrown CreeperHouse WrenGolden-crowned KingletRuby-crowned KingletWestern BluebirdMountain BluebirdTownsend’s SolitaireHermit ThrushAmerican RobinSolitary VireoWarbling VireoOrange-crowned WarblerVirginia’s WarblerYellow-rumped WarblerGrace’s WarblerMacGillivray’s WarblerWestern TanagerBlack-headed GrosbeakGreen-tailed TowheeRufous-sided Towhee

Chipping SparrowLincoln’s SparrowDark-eyed Junco

Red CrossbillPine SiskinLesser GoldfinchEvening Grosbeak

American KestrelGambel’s QuailMourning Dove

Common NighthawkBlack-chinned Hummingbird

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Northern Flicker

Western Wood-PeweeGray FlycatcherSay’s Phoebe

Ash-throated FlycatcherCassin’s KingbirdViolet-green Swallow

Scrub JayPinyon JayBlack-billed MagpieCommon RavenPlain TitmouseBushtit

Bewick’s WrenHouse WrenBlue-gray Gnatcatcher

Western BluebirdMountain Bluebird

American RobinNorthern Mockingbird

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Hepatic TanagerWestern TanagerBlack-headed GrosbeakBlue GrosbeakRufous-sided TowheeCanyon TowheeChipping SparrowLark Sparrow

Brown-headed Cowbird

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch


Table IV. Selective Species of the Major Plant Communities

Piñon/Juniper Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer

Black-chinned Hummingbird Cooper’s Hawk Blue GrouseGray Flycatcher Common Poorwill Wild TurkeyCassin’s Kingbird Acorn Woodpecker Red-naped SapsuckerPinyon Jay Solitary Vireo Williamson’s SapsuckerPlain Titmouse Virginia’s Warbler Olive-sided FlycatcherBushtit Grace’s Warbler Red-breasted NuthatchBewick’s Wren Chipping Sparrow Golden-crowned KingletBlue-gray Gnatcatcher Ruby-crowned KingletBlue Grosbeak Orange-crownedCanyon Towhee Warbler

Breeding Dates

The selective species of the three major plant communities inLos Alamos are listed in Table IV. The species of the field,marsh, cliff, and residential habitats listed in Table I are ex-clusive species in Los Alamos; they nest in no other habitats.

Along with geographical data, we collected information onwhen breeding activities occurred. The histograms in Fig. 16show the number of confirmed breeding records in 5-day in-tervals for all species, blocks, and years combined. The up-per plot contains the nest records: nest building, nests witheggs, nests with young, and on nest. The designation “onnest” was used for nests with a sitting bird, or to which anadult came and went regularly, but for which the contents(eggs or nestlings) could not be determined. The actual totalnumber of occupied nests is the total of nest building, nestswith eggs, nests with young, and on nest records. The lowerplot shows attended young and fledgling dates.

Atlas fieldworkers were instructed to report the date of thefirst noted evidence of breeding; for example, “nest witheggs,” for a given nesting, but to include later observations ifthere were any. Only the earliest date for a block-confirmedbreeding record, whether a nest, attended young, or fledg-ling record, is used in these breeding date tallies.

Dates for confirmed breeding ranged from March 15 (nestbuilding by a Common Raven) to September 28 (a fledglingCanyon Towhee). Reports of attended young and fledglings


combined accounted for two-thirds of the confirmed breed-ing records. Sixty percent of the attended young and fledg-ing records fell in the 3-1/2-week period from June 28 toJuly 22; 60% of the nest records were between June 8 andJuly 15.

Although the geographical distribution of breeding birds inLos Alamos has not been documented until now, we can re-late the current status to that of the past from reports in theNew Mexico Ornithological Society Field Notes (New MexicoOrnithological Society 1962–1989) and unpublished recordsof local bird watchers, who have kept records from the in-ception of the Laboratory to the present. Identifiable changesin species occurrence are attributable to manmade habitatmodifications and range expansions of a few species. Speciesdiversity has increased some in areas that are now inhabitedas a result of the creation of favorable habitat in the residen-tial areas. The Scott’s and Northern Orioles have nested, andthe Say’s Phoebe, Brewer’s Blackbird, and House Finch are

25

0

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed

50

75

Central Date in 5-Day Intervals

3-27 4-16 5-06 5-26 6-15 7-05 7-25 8-04 9-03

175

150

125

100

75

50

25

0

Nest Building

Eggs

Nestlings

On nest

Attended young

Fledglings

Young

Nest Dates

Discussion

Fig. 16. Confirmedbreeding dates.


widespread. In recent years, several new species have be-come established; for example, the Black-billed Magpie hasmoved in from farther north, and the Northern Mockingbirdand Blue Grosbeak have moved up from the lower river val-leys.

Little if any deleterious effect on species richness has oc-curred from the presence of the Laboratory or habitation.Comparison of Laboratory and residential blocks with rela-tively undisturbed blocks having comparable habitat compo-sition shows no measurable difference in species richness orspecies diversity (as determined by examining species simi-larity). Because it is in a fenced, restricted area, the Labora-tory provides protected nesting and foraging grounds forthe raptors.

Disturbance and destruction of limited and fragile wet habi-tats are the major cause of species reductions. Because of thescarcity of usable permanent ponds and marshes, fewwaterbirds or marsh-dwelling species breed in the county.The only open water in town, Ashley Pond (Block 5-4), es-tablished during the days of the Los Alamos Ranch School,has been a great attraction over the years for transientwaterbirds, but possibly no breeding activity has been asso-ciated directly with it. In recent years, urban developmentand cultivation around the pond have discouraged its use bywild waterfowl and the pond adds little to the breeding sea-son.

The Pajarito Acres sewage ponds (Block 8-8), within a fewyears of their establishment, provided some favorable waterand marsh habitat that attracted a variety of visiting water-fowl. Just before they were filled in 1977, there was someevidence of breeding activity there.

The few marshes extant in the county, most of them a resultof human activity, are an important habitat resource. Theyare fragile, threatened, and ephemeral. The marsh in thedrainage area below the Bayo Canyon (Block 4-5) sewagetreatment plant is the prime example. It has been productive,but has been subject to severe damage by grazing cattle insome summers. Our only nesting marsh birds have beenthere.


The most valuable acts for protecting species diversity in LosAlamos would be to preserve the few existing marshes andto reclaim the disturbed marshy areas. The Song Sparrowand Red-winged Blackbird nested in only one block, butthese species were reported as probable or possible breedersin seven more blocks. The marshy areas in those blocks wereinadequately protected or maintained to permit nesting. TheVirginia Rail and Sora were reported from the one produc-tive marsh. With sustained protection, we could expect thenatural establishment of viable populations of all of thesespecies.

The Rio Grande valley provides habitats that are attractive toa specialized set of species, but because of the changes in wa-ter level and the watercourse, which occur with some fre-quency from year to year, it is an unstable environment. Fivespecies bred along the river during the atlas project, butsome species that frequent this habitat elsewhere in northernNew Mexico have not established breeding populationshere. Flooding of the valley floor from the filling of Cochitireservoir in 1986 destroyed much of the riparian and shore-line habitat. The result was a significant reduction in speciesobserved along the river in the last 2 years of the survey. Re-covery will probably take many years.

An event of important ecological significance to the LosAlamos area was the La Mesa fire of 1977, which burned 30square miles of forest in Bandelier National Monument, theSanta Fe National Forest, and the southwestern edge of LosAlamos County. Atlas surveying revealed increases in hole-nesting and shrub-dwelling species resulting from the largehabitat modification. Censuses by Wauer (Foxx 1984) beforeand after the fire provide a base for comparison with atlasresults. Where relevant, this is done in the individual speciesaccounts.

During the last half of the atlas period, logging operationswere carried on in selected tracts of coniferous forest in thewestern part of the county. The consequences were mixed.The disturbance seriously interfered with surveying, but themaintained logging roads required by the US Forest Serviceopened up some otherwise inaccessible areas. Except for theproximate effects at the time of logging, there was no dis-cernible effect on bird occurrences during the atlas project,but longer term effects, particularly on raptors, have yet tobe determined.


Codes for Breeding Criteria Observed: An observation of a species believed not to nestin the block because the species is well out of itsbreeding range or habitat; it is before or after thebreeding season; or this is a single observationin an area visited often.

Possible: A species present in the block in the right habi-tat during the breeding season.

Probable: Species behavior that indicates likely breeding.

1) Presence of a pair. Two birds obviously as-sociating together or engaging in activitiestogether. Just the presence of two birds ofthe same species in the block is not sufficientevidence.

2) Evidence of established territory.

a. Territorial song at the same location atleast twice, one week or more apart.

b. Several territorial males singing in thesame area at the same time.

c. Territorial defense where one bird chasesanother bird, usually male chasing male.

3) Courtship behavior. Mate feeding, display-ing; or copulation.

4) Visiting probable nest site (by nuthatches,woodpeckers, swallows, other hole nesters).

5) Nest building by wrens and woodpeckers.Wrens build dummy nests, and woodpeck-ers drill roosting cavities as well as nestcavities.

6) Agitated behavior or anxiety calls fromadult. Suggests likelihood of nearby nest oryoung.


Confirmed: Species behavior that indicates positivebreeding.

1) Nest building (except wrens and woodpeck-ers).

2) Occupied nest.a. Adults entering or leaving a nest site in

circumstances indicating an occupiednest.

b. Adult incubating or brooding.

c. For hole nesters, when adult enters anappropriate hole and stays inside orleaves after having been inside for someminutes or when the parents trade placesin the hole.

3) Nest with eggs.

4) Nest with young seen or heard.

5) Recently fledged young or downy young ofprecocial species restrained to natal area bylimited mobility.

6) Adult attending young.

a. Carrying food for young (avoid confu-sion with courtship feeding).

b. Feeding recently fledged young.

c. Carrying fecal sac.

7) Injury feigning or distraction display.

8) Used nest or eggshells below nest; onlywhen positive identification is possible.


The species are arranged in American Ornithologists’ Union(AOU) check list order (AOU 1983). The text includes thestate and county geographical distributions, seasonal occur-rence, habitat preferences, and selected breeding behavior.The first statement gives the breeding range of the speciesfor New Mexico, in most cases taken from the Revised Check-list of the Birds of New Mexico by John P. Hubbard (1978).This is followed by a brief description of the Los Alamos dis-tribution as determined by the atlas project.

Habitat preferences and information about breeding behav-ior were gathered from the ornithological literature as wellas from our own observations. The term “local” is used indiscussing range and habitat to indicate that the species doesnot occur in all or most of the suitable appearing areas. Theterm Los Alamos, by itself, refers to the atlas definition of theLos Alamos County area. The Los Alamos National Labora-tory and its grounds are referred to as the Laboratory.

For migratory species, the dates for arrival and departure forthe species in the county are given. These dates are mediandates (as many dates before as after) from the number ofyears of observations indicated. These migration data comefrom the collected Los Alamos records of Les Hawkins, W.Burton Lewis, Patricia Snider, James Travis, and others, aswell as from the atlas data file.

The table below the sketch, showing breeding status accord-ing to habitat as defined by major overstory vegetation, wasobtained from the species map on the preceeding page. Thenumber of blocks occupied by the species in every desig-nated habitat in which it was found is given for each breed-ing criterion. The habitat designations used are for sets ofblocks that contain mostly a single habitat—mixed conifer(17 blocks), ponderosa pine (11 blocks), and piñon/juniper(6 blocks) and those that contain significant areas of morethan one habitat—mixed conifer/ponderosa pine (5 blocks)and ponderosa pine/piñon/juniper (21 blocks). A few spe-cies were found in blocks neighboring major-habitat bound-ary blocks into which the habitat extends slightly. Theseblocks are designated “Adjoining.”

Several additional habitat designations are used in the text toidentify the location of the breeding populations in thecounty. “Higher mixed conifer” (17 blocks) excludes those

Species Accounts


mixed conifer blocks that also contain ponderosa pine forest.“Mesa ponderosa pine” (21 blocks) includes all blocks thatcontain ponderosa pine forest except those that also containmixed conifer forest or the lower canyons. “Forested blocks”(54) include all blocks except the six “pure” piñon/juniperblocks in the southeast corner.

On the opposite page, the geographic distribution of each ofthe Los Alamos breeding birds is displayed on a map of thecounty with the atlas grid superimposed. Different symbolsare used to indicate the degree of certainty of nesting. Anopen circle, , indicates possible breeding, a circled plussign, +, indicates probable breeding; and a solid circle, , in-dicated confirmed breeding.

The breeding date bar graph at the bottom of the page con-tains all the dates on which the species was confirmed (ex-cluding used nests), regardless of block, including multiplerecords in a block. The graph shows the number of records(vertical axis) that fall in each 5-day period indicated on thehorizontal axis by the mid-date of the 5 days.

Sonograms of the songs of three Empidonax flycatchers areillustrated in the accounts. A sonogram shows the fre-quency/time representation of a song. The vertical scale isfrequency marked for every 1 kHz. The horizontal scale istime marked for every 0.5 s. The most useful characteristicsof a sonogram are duration and pattern. Duration may be forthe entire song or the length of its components. Revealed inthe pattern are phrasing (separate notes, repetitions, andtrills), tempo (steady, slowing, or accelerating), changes inpitch, and quality (clear or harsh, for example). A harsh orbuzzy sound appears on a sonogram as a closely packed se-ries of up and down strokes covering a wide frequencyrange. A sound at constant pitch would be a horizontal line.A click, which is made up of many frequencies, would be avertical line at one time position.


+

Mallard

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


MALL

Habitat Occurrence Conf Prob Poss

Rio Grande gorge (6) 3 1 1 1

Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)

Mallards are resident in north-east New Mexico and from thePecos Valley westward, breed-ing in wetlands from thelowlands locally up to higherelevations (Hubbard 1978). Thebreeding season in NewMexico generally extends fromlate spring through late sum-mer (young are present fromMay through August)(Hubbard 1977).

During the atlas period, Mal-lards were found in 50% of theblocks containing riverinehabitat. One brood of downyyoung attended by theirmother, found near the easternbank of the Rio Grande onJune 6, 1987, was the onlyconfirmed breeding record.Two pairs were reported alongthe shoreline in April 1987 andanother in May 1988.

Mallards are typical river andpond surface feeding ducksand prefer water that does notexceed 12 to 16 inches indepth—the maximum they canreach when “tipped up”(Pough 1953). Nest buildingbegins a few weeks after pairformation, signalled by persis-tent quacking of the female.The male at this time defends asmall territory, usually within100 yards of the nest site,

Mallard

which includes open water for feeding, dense cover for protection,and an open area of land—a loafing area—for preening andresting. During the time of nest building and egg laying, thefemale joins the male in his territory, but she drives him awayshortly after she begins incubating. The male retires to a safe placeand molts into eclipse plumage (Stokes 1979). The nest is usuallyin cover on the ground, among tall vegetation, grasses, or bushes,and may be on a small island (Harrison 1978). Ground litter maybe as important in the choice of a nest site as the surroundingcover (Laughlin and Kibbe 1985). The young are led to water theday after hatching and are cared for by the female for about 2months before she leaves them and goes to a protected area tomolt.

Mallards are regular transients and winter visitors at ponds in LosAlamos from September to early May and are found uncommonlyyear-round along the Rio Grande from Española to Albuquerque.


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Turkey Vulture

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


TUVU


Cliff (30) 10 2 0 8

Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)

The Turkey Vulture is a com-mon summer resident in NewMexico. Because it rangeswidely and evinces littleterritorial or courtship activity,we had problems determiningits local breeding status.

Vultures were observed over-head in almost all blocksduring the atlas project, butfew of these observationscould be attributed to possiblebreeding. Vultures could beseen daily drifting away fromtheir overnight roosting areasto forage and then returning toroost again at sunset. Twohistoric communal roosts haveexisted for decades in LosAlamos: one in Frijoles Can-yon in the tall cottonwoodsalong the stream 70 yardssouth of the Bandelier NationalMonument headquarters(Block 9-5), and the other inLos Alamos Canyon 150 yardswest of the skating rink (Block5-3). In a typical summer, 80vultures roost in FrijolesCanyon and 20 in Los AlamosCanyon.

Two active nests were foundduring the atlas project, both incaves in the tuff cliffs. Onenesting cavity was 70 feetabove the floor of BarrancaCanyon (Block 4-6) on May 15,1984; the other, containing onenestling in early July 1987, was35 feet above the ground in anoffshoot of Sandia Canyon

Turkey Vulture

(Block 5-5). Possible breeding was accepted for the atlas only whena vulture was observed on or near the ground, but not feeding orroosting alone away from the communal roosts.

The Turkey Vulture is recognized by its dihedral wing position andhabitual rocking flight by which it alternately exposes and hides itssilvery underwings (Dunne et al. 1988), but the similar appearanceand behavior of the Zone-tailed Hawk can be confusing.

Turkey Vultures arrive in Los Alamos in late March (March 31median date in 28 years) and depart in late September (October 1median date in 19 years).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Sharp-shinned Hawk


SSHA


Mixed conifer (17) 3 0 1 2Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 1 1 0 0Ponderosa pine (11) 1 1 0 0Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 1 0 0 1

Total 6 2 1 3

Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)

The Sharp-shinned Hawk isresident in New Mexico inmountainous areas southwardto the Mogollon and Sacra-mento highlands (Hubbard1978). In the summer it is lesscommon, nesting sparingly inthe montane forests (Ligon1961).

During the atlas project, a fewnesting, or potentially nesting,Sharp-shinned Hawks werefound scattered in the forests.Breeding was confirmed in twoblocks. Both confirmations wereof fledglings attended by adults.

Typically, the nest is placed in asmall stand of dense youngconifers near a forest opening.Apparently concealment near asuitable hunting area is ofprime importance (Palmer1988). While in its territory, thebird is quiet and secretive.

It is the most common accipiterin the winter in Los Alamos,frequenting the lower forestedareas and from time to timepreying on birds attracted to afeeding station.

Sharp-shinned Hawks andCooper’s Hawks have similarplumages and are difficult totell apart. Size is definitive, buta small male Cooper’s Hawk isonly slightly larger than a largefemale Sharp-shinned Hawk. Inproportion to body size, theSharp-shinned Hawk has largerwings and a shorter tail than theCooper’s Hawk (Palmer 1988).

Sharp-shinned Hawk


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B

+

Cooper’s Hawk

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24

5-day Intervals Tick on central date

4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

The Cooper’s Hawk is residentalmost statewide, nestingmainly in riparian and adjacentwoodlands and locally inmiddle elevation forests(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Cooper’s Hawks nested in allquadrants of the county. Nestlocation by block has not beenshown on the map because ofpersistent nest raiding in LosAlamos County.

A few Cooper’s Hawks spendthe winter in Los Alamos, butmost of those that breed heremigrate. They return in earlyspring usually to last year’sterritory. Although quiet mostof the year, when nestingcommences, the pair, like otheraccipiters, begins each day witha duet. The nesting cycle can befollowed by recognizing thedifferent vocalizations relatedto the phases of breedingactivity through to the persis-tent calling of young fledglings.

A dense canopy cover is aconsistent vegetative character-istic of nest sites (Palmer 1988).All seven nest trees identifiedduring the project were pon-derosa pines. Nest heightsranged from 25–50 feet.

Cooper’s Hawk

COHA


Mixed conifer (17) 3 1 0 2Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 1 0 0 1Ponderosa pine (11) 6 4 0 2Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 14 8 0 6Piñon/juniper (6) 4 0 0 4

Total 28 13 0 15


+

Northern Goshawk

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)

The Northern Goshawk isresident in the Northern,Mogollon, and Sacramentohighlands, nesting in forestsand adjacent woodlands(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,goshawks nested in the north-western quadrant of thecounty and were present intwo others. Because of persis-tent nest raiding, block loca-tions are not shown on themap. Nesting goshawks leaveLos Alamos for the winter,returning early in the spring.

Except in definitive breedingplumage, the Northern Gos-hawk can be confused with theCooper’s Hawk. It can best beidentified in flight. In propor-tion to its larger size, the tail ofthe Goshawk appears shorterthan that of the Cooper’sHawk and is less rounded,appearing squarish whenfolded. The wings appearlonger than those of theCooper’s Hawk (Palmer 1988).

Northern Goshawk

NOGO


Forest (53) 4 1 0 3


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Zone-tailed Hawk


Zone-tailed Hawk(Buteo albonotatus)

The Zone-tailed Hawk sum-mers in the southern part ofthe state, most regularly in thesouthwestern and southeast-ern canyonlands, and north-ward very locally to the JemezMountains. It nests in canyonsin pine/oak, evergreen, andriparian woodlands (Hubbard1978). Zone-tailed Hawkswere first identified in LosAlamos in the mid-1950s andnested, albeit unsuccessfully,in Los Alamos Canyon belowthe Laboratory’s TechnicalArea 21 in 1964 (Audubon FieldNotes 1964).

During the atlas period, wediscovered one nest with twonestlings in Ancho Canyon(June 1, 1986) and anotheroccupied nest in Bayo Canyon(June 1, 1988). Both were stickplatforms 70 to 75 feet abovethe ground in mature pon-derosa pines located in can-yon bottoms. The adultsdefended their nest vigor-ously. Most conspicuous werethe dives on intruders withaccompanying series of raspy,whistled, descending “tseer”nest-defense calls.

The number of breedingZone-tailed Hawks variedannually during the atlasperiod. The highest numberwas in 1986 when pairs werefound in three of the lowercanyons: Pueblo (Blocks 4-5and 4-6), the Rio Grande(Blocks 7-8 and 8-8), and

Ancho (Block 9-6). Several immature Zone-tailed Hawks wereseen during the atlas period as well.

The striking resemblance between soaring Zone-tailed Hawks andTurkey Vultures causes confusion in identification. They bothhave the same two-toned underwing pattern of dark in front andlighter behind and the dihedral wing position while soaring. Thetendency for this hawk to associate with vultures in the air adds tothe confusion.

Based on only a few years’ sightings, spring arrival is in late April(April 25 median date in 4 years) and fall departure is in mid-September (September 19 median date in 3 years).

ZTHA


Ponderosa pine (11) 2 0 0 2Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 6 2 1 3Piñon/juniper (6) 2 0 2 0

Total 10 2 3 5

Zone-tailed Hawk


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Red-tailed Hawk

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B

BBB

B

BB

B

B

B B

RT

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)

The Red-tailed Hawk is resi-dent almost statewide, breed-ing from the lowlandshrublands up into the moun-tain forests (Hubbard 1978). Inhigh mountainous country,these hawks usually nest inpines or on rimrock ledges(Ligon 1961).

Red-tailed Hawks inhabitedmost of the suitable habitatover the eastern half of thecounty during the atlas project.Nesting was confirmed in 48%of the occupied blocks. Of the12 nests found, 7 were in tuffcliffs either on a ledge or insidea cave, and 5 were built high inthe crowns of ponderosa pines.

Pairs of Red-tailed Hawksdefend large home rangesyear-round in Los Alamos. Ahome range includes huntingand nesting areas and a fewfrequently used perch trees.Courtship activities begin inlate March with spectacularaerial displays—high circlingand contact soaring of the pairover its territory and theprecipitous dives of the sky-dance (Palmer 1988).

One incidence of nest buildingwas noted (April 3, 1984).Several pairs used old nests,and at least two nests wereoccupied in more than 1yearduring the atlas project. Requi-

Red-tailed Hawk

sites for the nest site are isolation from disturbance, a command-ing view, unobstructed access, and an adequate hunting ground(Palmer 1988).

Six of the confirmations were of females on the nest (June 1 to July4); the others were of nestlings and fledglings being fed (from thefirst week in June to the first week in August).

RTHA



Total 28 14 2 12


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

American Kestrel

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BB

B BB

B

B

B B

B B

B B B

B B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


AMKE



Total 32 17 7 8

American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)

The American Kestrel isresident almost statewide,breeding in the higher pineforests and down into low-lands where nestholes areavailable (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,kestrels were found in 76% ofthe blocks containing woodedmesas and lower canyonbottoms, and they were con-firmed breeders in 55% ofthese blocks. Most of the atlasconfirmations were of adultsfeeding dependent young.

About every other year,kestrels have been found herein winter (from late Decemberto late March). The springinflux of kestrels occurs in lateMarch when they can be seenperched on power lines alongPajarito Road, in SanIldefonso, Pojoaque, and alongthe highway to Santa Fe. In a7-year period, the median datefor peak migration was April10. Two weeks after theirreturn, males are establishingterritories. Courtship is evi-dent, characterized by nest siteinspection, aerial display, andmuch vocalization—series ofrapid, high-pitched “klee kleeklee” calls expressing excite-ment (Willoughby and Cade1964). The earliest sightings ofpairs in Los Alamos wereApril 24, 1985, and April 23,1986.

Their preferred nesting habitatis in open or broken stands ofponderosa pine and pine/

grassland borders. Most commonly they nest in old flicker holeson east-facing slopes in sheltered areas like canyon bottoms.Protection from stormy weather, access to suitable huntinggrounds, and easy transport of prey to the nest influence thechoice of the nest tree location (Balgooyen 1976). Kestrels huntfrom high exposed perches overlooking forest openings and fields,or by hovering over open areas.

The three nest sites reported by atlas fieldworkers were cavities inponderosa pines, 23 to 40 feet above the ground. We observed nestactivity at one nest in 1985, visiting it almost weekly from April 24to July 1. At another nest, a male was seen feeding a lizard tonestlings. Adults attending dependent young were reported fromJune 26 to July 24. The reported fledging success was nine cases oftwo fledglings and two cases of one fledgling.

Kestrels typically leave the county at the end of October (October31 median date for 15 years).

American Kestrel


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Blue Grouse

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BB

B

B


BUGR


Mixed conifer (17) 8 5 0 3Ponderosa pine (11) 1 0 0 1

Total 9 5 0 4

Blue Grouse(Dendragapus obscurus)

The Blue Grouse is resident inthe spruce/fir and adjacentpine forests in the northernand southwestern mountainsof New Mexico (Hubbard1978). It prefers somewhatopen forests, especially forestedges and ridges with scat-tered trees and shrubs(Farrand 1983).

During the atlas project, BlueGrouse inhabited 36% of themixed conifer blocks. Thepresence of broods attendedby the female parent providedconfirmation of breeding in56% of the occupied blocks.Broods were found from lateJune to mid-July.

Blue Grouse winter in thespruce/fir forest high in themountains. In spring bothsexes move to lower eleva-tions, and males seek out areassuitable for territories—flat,open ground in stands ofconifers or conifers mixed withaspens. Females mate on thehooting grounds, then nest ontheir own nearby territories.They reappear in July at thehigher altitudes with theirdowny young (Johnsgard1983a).

Blue Grouse


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Wild Turkey

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B


WITU



Total 8 3 4 1

Wild Turkey(Meleagris gallopavo)

The Wild Turkey is resident inmontane regions of NewMexico and locally in canyonareas. Turkeys live in forestsand evergreen, pine/oak, andadjacent riparian woodlands,where there are brushy cover,open water, roost trees, and asupply of mast.

The population of Wild Tur-keys in Los Alamos has fluctu-ated over the years since thetime of the Los Alamos RanchSchool. Formerly, flocks win-tered regularly in FrijolesCanyon, Water Canyon, andthe open forest in the south-western corner of the Labora-tory’s Technical Area 16, but inrecent years, few turkeys havebeen seen in these areas.During the atlas period, nest-ing success was poor and onlya few scattered records wereobtained. Breeding WildTurkeys were found in twoareas: in the mixed coniferousforest on the north and easternslopes of Pajarito Mountainand in the ponderosa pineforest around Sawyer andGarcia canyons in the north-eastern corner of the county.One nest with eggs and threeseparate broods constituted theconfirmed breeding records.

Ligon (1961) described theplight of Wild Turkeys indisrupted mountain forests.Turkeys travel some milesfrom their nesting areas to awinter range where food

Wild Turkey

supplies are plentiful, particularly where the mast crop (acorns,piñon, and other pine nuts) is good. Manmade disturbance ofwinter range and habitual routes between summer and winterranges have seriously disrupted the natural life patterns of theturkey, resulting in diminished populations.


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Gambel’s Quail

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


GAQU


Piñon/juniper (27) 2 1 0 1

Gambel’s Quail(Callipepla gambelii)

Gambel’s Quail is a nativeresident in southwestern NewMexico north to about latitudeN 34°. Extension of its rangefurther northward, e.g., intothe San Juan Valley and up theRio Grande Valley to theEspañola area, appears to bethe result of human introduc-tion (Hubbard 1978).

This quail is fully adjusted to awide variety of climatic condi-tions, from desert to the upperreaches of canyon water-courses, as high as 6500 feet(Ligon 1961). It is found inshrubby lowlands and locallyup into evergreen woodland(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Gambel’s Quail were reportedfrom two blocks in residentialpiñon/juniper woodlandabove the Rio Grande gorge.One was a confirmed breedingrecord—a covey of chicks witha parent in late July 1984, theother an adult in early June1985. Because game-farmstock has been kept in thearea, it is suspected that thesesightings resulted from therelease or escape of localdomestic quail.

Occasionally in the past,Gambel’s Quail, considered tobe naturally wild, have beenseen in the lower canyonbottoms in Los Alamos.

Gambel’s Quail


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Spotted Sandpiper

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularia)

The Spotted Sandpiper sum-mers along streams locally inthe north (west of the plains)and west (south to the GilaValley). It occurs most regu-larly in the Northern andMogollon highlands, in theRio Grande Valley south toElephant Butte Lake, and nearClayton (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Spotted Sandpipers werefound in 67% of the blockscontaining riverine habitat(the Rio Grande shoreline) inLos Alamos. Young sandpip-ers attended by an adult onthe river bank (August 11,1986) were the only confirmedbreeding record for the atlas.Pairs were observed at otherlocations June 6, 1987, andJune 28, 1986.

Spotted Sandpipers arrive inlate April and early May in theupper Rio Grande Valley. Thefemales, identical to the malesbut a little larger, arrive firstand establish territories, oftenreturning to the same oneseach year. Territories containmainly the nest site becausefeeding is done elsewhere. Thenest is a shallow depression inthe ground lined with a fewgrasses. In response to intru-sion, the nesting bird may give

Spotted Sandpiper

an aggressive song—a rapid series of short ascending whistles—and when disturbed may perform a distraction display whichconsists of fluttering along the ground with wings partly opened,and tail spread and dragging on the ground. For about 3 weeksbefore they can fly, the downy young are watched over by one orboth parents (Stokes and Stokes 1983).

Occasional Spotted Sandpipers are seen in the winter along theRio Grande.

SPSA




8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

+

Band-tailed Pigeon

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


BTPI



Total 7 0 3 4

Band-tailed Pigeon(Columba fasciata)

The Band-tailed Pigeonsummers in the mountains ofNew Mexico, breeding inforests and nearby wood-lands—especially pine/oak,oak, and piñon/juniper.Breeding appears to be mainlyin June, July, and August inthe northern part of the state(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project, Band-tailed Pigeons were found inseven blocks containing mixedconifer or ponderosa pineforests. They occurred mostfrequently in upper RendijaCanyon. Nesting was notconfirmed, but the presence ofpairs was indicative of prob-able breeding in three blocks.Pairs were reported May 5,1985, May 25, 1984, and June8, 1987.

Although uncommon in thesummer, they occur regularlyin the oak shrub/ponderosapine habitat in late summer(from August 20 median datein 13 years, to September 9median date in 11 years).

The Band-tailed Pigeon isconsidered migratory, but itsmovements to locate anadequate food supply, prima-rily mast, are not far from itssummering areas, althoughoccasionally it reaches thelowlands. Even during nestingseason, there is evidence thatwhen a dependable food

Band-tailed Pigeon

supply is lacking they may shift and wander and even foregonormal breeding activities (Ligon 1961).

Nests, usually loose, bulky platforms of twigs, are in pine, Dou-glas fir, or oak 10 to 45 feet from the ground (Ligon 1961). Thenest tree usually stands above a small precipice or slope and isadjacent to or very near a clearing (Goodwin 1976).

The quality of the advertising coo used in pair formation andcourtship is like that of other pigeons, not owl-like as describedin several field guides. The coo is typically a two-noted “whoo-hoo,” repeated several times. It lasts 2 seconds and is tonally lowand weak. The second syllable in each coo tends to be shorterand to drop in pitch (Peeters 1962). Their courtship flight isdescribed by Pough (1957). They launch horizontally from a highperch and fly slowly around in a circle several hundred feet indiameter, frequently uttering a drawn out, rasping, buzzy note.Display flights and cooing occur with highest frequency in lateafternoon (Peeters 1962).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B B

B

B

B

BBB

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Mourning Dove

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)

The Mourning Dove breedsstatewide from the lowlandsup into the pine forest. Anadaptable species, it nests inopen woodland, cultivatedareas with trees or shrubs, andsemiarid areas, but not inheavily forested areas.

During the atlas project,Mourning Doves were scat-tered throughout the pon-derosa and piñon pine forestsof the mesas and lower can-yons (in 98% of the appropri-ate blocks), but they weredifficult to confirm as breed-ers. Only 26% of the atlasrecords were confirmations;six of these were nests. Prob-able breeding was determinedfor 59% of the occupied blocksmostly from observation ofcourtship and pairs.

The male advertizes for afemale shortly after his springarrival with the long coo:“oo-ah-oo, oo, oo, oo.” Themales sing to attract a mate,but do not set up territoriesuntil they are paired. Theshort coo, which sounds likethe first three notes of the longcoo, “oo-ah-oo,” reveals thelocation of the nest site. It isgiven by the male whencalling the female to the nestsite during nest selection orduring nest building, and bythe female while she is on thenest (Stokes and Stokes 1983).When frightened from its nest,it may do a distraction dis-play, falling to the ground,

Mourning Dove

MODO



Total 42 11 26 5

hopping, and fluttering about. The nest is a platform of sticks,usually on a horizontal tree branch, 4 to 30 feet above the ground.

Doves have a long breeding season—from April to September—probably because they are renesting. One nest with eggs wasdiscovered May 5 and two others on May 9 in ponderosa pineforest. A late nest with one egg was found on August 16 in a lonepiñon pine in the dry mouth of Frijoles Canyon. Wing-flutteringdistraction displays were observed at five different sites (July 7 to26). A nest with two nestlings was found June 28 in piñon/juniperwoodland. Nest heights were from 4 to 8 feet off the ground.

Mourning Doves arrive in Los Alamos in late April (April 25median date in 24 years) and leave in late September (September21 median date in 13 years).


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Flammulated Owl

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B


FLOW



Total 9 3 5 1

Flammulated Owl(Otus flammeolus)

The Flammulated Owl sum-mers in the mountains almoststatewide. It is found in pineand fir forests, pine/oakwoodland, and locally, as inthe Santa Fe area, in middle-elevation riparian woodland(Hubbard 1978).

Flammulated Owls werefound in 17% of the forestedblocks in Los Alamos. Thepresence of fledglings con-firmed breeding in one-thirdof these blocks, all in thesecond week of July. Probablebreeding was ascertained fromterritorial calling in fiveblocks. They usually nest in anold woodpecker hole in aconifer or aspen.

These owls arrive in thesouthwestern United Statesfrom late March to mid-April.They are the most common ofthe small owls in Los Alamos.Walking along a forest trail,such as the one from Pon-derosa Campground toFrijoles Canyon in BandelierNational Monument, on a stillnight in early May, one maleafter another can be heardhooting repetitiously. Theystart a half hour after sunsetand may continue for 30 or 40minutes.

Flammulated Owl

The call of the male is a single hoot (sometimes preceded by twolower pitched grace notes) uttered at regular intervals from 2 to 8seconds. The mating song is a two part “boo-boot” with accent onthe second syllable (Tyler and Phillips 1978). The female is hardlyever seen or heard.

The earliest spring date for arrival of the Flammulated Owl in LosAlamos is April 23. There are records of the banding of the birdson September 3, 1958, and September 14, 1963.


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Great Horned Owl

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B B

B


Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)

The Great Horned Owl isresident statewide—from thelowest elevations to the mon-tane ponderosa pine forest(Hubbard 1978).

Many evening and predawnhours were spent searching forGreat Horned Owls during theatlas project—more than forany other species. They werefound widespread but wellseparated in the county (theirbreeding territory ranges from2 to 4 square miles) mostcommonly in canyons charac-terized by cliffs with crevices.They occupied 56% of theblocks containing mesa andlower canyon woodlands.Breeding was confirmed in20% of the occupied blocks; ofthese, three were nests built incaves or crevices in cliff walls.One nest, in a crevice 16 feetup a cliff face, contained youngon April 24. Attended youngwere seen on June 15 andJuly 15.

Probable breeding was deter-mined for 28% of the occupiedblocks from repeated observa-tion of male hooting. The callof the male is a deep resonant“whoo, hu-hoo, whoo, whoo;”that of the female a shorter,higher pitched sequence ofnotes with a less regularcadence. Calling begins ap-proximately 30 minutes aftersunset and recurs just beforedawn. On nights when themoon is full the calling contin-ues for a longer time.

Great Horned Owl

GHOW



Total 25 5 7 13

These owls, the largest in the county, are especially careful aboutrevealing themselves near the nest location. They seem pro-grammed to avoid predation. In Vermont, atlas fieldworkersconfirmed breeding in only 12% of the total blocks from whichthey were reported.

nestlings


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

NorthernPygmy-Owl

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B


NPOW



Total 5 2 1 2

Northern Pygmy-Owl(Glaucidium gnoma)

The Northern Pygmy-Owl isresident in almost all moun-tainous areas of New Mexico.

These little owls were found infive blocks during the atlasproject. All were in openmixed conifer woodland,either in canyon bottoms or onsouth slopes of major canyons.There were two confirmedbreeding records: nest occu-pation in Frijoles Canyon(May 5, 1987) near the trail toCeremonial Cave and a fledg-ling in Vallecitos Canyon(Block 2-3) on July 16, 1988.

Pygmy-Owls are largelydiurnal—feeding early andlate in the day. They callduring the day as well. Thecall is a series of mellow,uninflected, evenly spacedshort whistles uttered at 1- to2-second intervals. The callnote has been likened to thatof the Townsend’s Solitaire,but is more “liquid sounding”(Bailey and Niedrach 1965).Mobbing by a group of noisysongbirds will frequentlyreveal the presence of theNorthern Pygmy-Owl.

NorthernPygmy-Owl

In the summers of 1977 and 1978, after the La Mesa fire, Wauer(Foxx 1984) found two Northern Pygmy-Owls on each of his three100-acre study areas (on Burnt Mesa, Escobas Mesa, and ApacheSprings).

Their nests are built in old woodpecker holes or natural cavities intrees. Ligon (1961) reported nest holes only in aspens.


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Spotted Owl

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


Spotted Owl(Strix occidentalis)

Spotted Owls are residentalmost statewide in forestcanyons, pine/oak wood-lands, and adjacent riparianhabitats (Hubbard 1978). Theyare secretive and seldom seen.In his study in New Mexico,Ligon (1926) found themgenerally in dense Douglas firgrowing in box canyonswhere there was little or nopenetration of sun rays.Nesting of the Spotted Owlusually begins in late Marchor early April. Nests areplaced in pockets or crevicesin well-shaded caves incanyon walls (Ligon 1961).

Spotted Owls were found intwo blocks during the atlasproject. An attended fledglingin Guaje Canyon on August31, 1986, was the only con-firmed breeding record. Theother, calling from the northrim of Frijoles Canyon aboveUpper Crossing on April 29,1986, was a possible breedingrecord.

This owl’s basic call, tran-scribed as “hoo…ho-hoo…hoo,” consists of aninitial short hoot followed bya pause, then two more shorthoots followed by a largerpause, and then a final hoot oflonger duration (Tyler andPhillips 1978). The basic call ofthe Great Horned Owl islower in pitch and is a seriesof five hoots.

Spotted Owl

SPOW


Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 2 1 0 1


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

NorthernSaw-whet Owl

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


Northern Saw-whet Owl(Aegolius acadicus)

The Northern Saw-whet Owlsummers in mountainousareas. It is local in forests andriparian and evergreen wood-land at middle elevations(Hubbard 1978).

A fledgling found in pon-derosa pine woodland nearthe south rim of RendijaCanyon on August 5, 1985,was our only atlas record.

The nest is placed typically ina tree cavity 14 to 60 feetabove ground, usually in anabandoned flicker hole. Saw-whet Owls are silent except inlate winter and early spring.The most common call, “avery long series of toots orwhistles, 2 to 3 notes persecond” (Farrand 1983), maybe heard as early as Februaryor March and through thenesting season. The saw-whetting call is seldom givenbut is best heard in the earlymorning (Tyler and Phillips1978). This call is a rasping“skree-awe, skree-awe, skree-awe” that sounds like thefiling of a saw.

There are records of thebanding of Saw-whet Owls inLos Alamos on September 14,1959, and October 24, 1966,and the sighting of one bird inwinter, February 14–21, 1989.

Northern Saw-whet Owl

NSWO


Ponderosa pine (11) 1 1 0 0


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

CommonNighthawk

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B

B


CONI


Mixed conifer/ pondersosa pine (5) 4 0 4 0Ponderosa pine (11) 9 3 3 3Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 18 2 12 4Piñon/juniper (6) 4 0 4 0

Total 35 5 23 7

CommonNighthawk

Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)

The Common Nighthawk isone of the most widely distrib-uted birds in the state duringthe breeding season. It nestsfrom grasslands up locally intoopen forest (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,nighthawks were found in 84%of the mesa and lower canyonwoodlands, but breeding wasconfirmed in only 14% of theoccupied blocks. The confirma-tions were of attended eggs oryoung.

Nighthawks arrive in LosAlamos at the end of May(May 30 median date in 21years)—the latest of our springmigrants. Within a few days,territories are assumed andcourtship activities can beheard and seen. Males defendtheir territories against othermales, chasing them whileuttering loud “peent” calls.The defense may includeperiodic dives from high abovethat end with a loud boomingsound, which comes from thespread primaries as the birdpulls out of the dive above theintruder.

No nest is built; the eggs arelaid on open ground and astrong preference is shown foroutcrops or barren gravel(Pough 1953). In a study ofnighthawk nesting in Idaho,Rust (1947) describes its breed-ing behavior. In June when theevening feeding begins, malesin the vicinity of the incubatingfemales circle over their re-

spective nesting sites, where they execute dives, each ending witha boom. Rust could locate a nesting site by watching the malenighthawk dive and boom over it. Almost invariably he couldflush the female from some portion of the area thus pointed out.When disturbed at the nest, the female nighthawk may showresistance, displaying her fully opened bright red mouth. At othertimes, the female simulates crippling by fluttering her wings onthe ground and taking short flights away from the nest.

Nighthawks gather in feeding flocks in late August and leave thecounty by the end of September (August 31 median date in 10years).


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Common Poorwill

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


Common Poorwill

COPO


Ponderosa pine (11) 6 1 4 1Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 13 0 11 2Rio Grande gorge (6) 1 0 0 1

Total 20 1 15 4

Poorwills called nightly starting 20 minutes after sunset and thenagain shortly before dawn. Feeding—typically hawking aftermoths from the ground—started shortly after calling had begun.The active period of feeding and calling was only 30 minutes,except on nights of full moon, then it lasted 2 hours or more.Occasional calls are given in the daytime. Otherwise poorwills restquietly on the ground during the day.

The eggs may be laid in a scrape on gravelly ground or on flatrock (Harrison 1979). When disturbed near the nest, the parentbirds flop about on the ground hissing loudly with their mouthsopen widely.

Common Poorwills arrive in Los Alamos in mid-April (April 25median date in 4 years). The latest fall report is October 30.

Common Poorwill(Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

The Common Poorwill sum-mers locally in open foreststatewide up to about 9000feet elevation (Hubbard 1978).It nests on the woodland floorin gravel-paved, scatteredstands of piñon/juniper orponderosa pine, or in rocky,brush-grown canyons(Blackford 1956).

During the atlas project,Common Poorwills werefound primarily in the mesaforest and woodland between6500 and 7500 feet elevation.They occupied 58% of themesa ponderosa pine blocksand 40% of the lower canyonblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in only one block: arecently hatched youngguarded by a parent perform-ing a distraction display.Probable breeding, found in75% of the occupied blocks,was determined from persis-tent calling for periods greaterthan a week.

Although the poorwill iseasily heard in the duskbefore dawn, the ventriloquialcharacter of its song makes itdifficult to locate. Addition-ally, its color camouflagemakes finding one a nearlyhopeless task that succeedsonly by accident. In his studyof poorwills in southernCalifornia, Brauner (1952)found regular daily singingpatterns starting in spring andcontinuing into June.


+

White-throatedSwift

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

BB BB

B B


White-throatedSwift

White-throated Swift(Aeronautes saxatalis)

The White-throated Swiftsummers widely in montaneareas and canyonlands in NewMexico. During the atlasproject, there was breedingevidence in 77% of the blockscontaining cliffs. Breeding wasconfirmed in 31% of the occu-pied blocks.

Swifts are among our earliestspring migrants, some yearsarriving in Los Alamos in earlyMarch (March 28 medianarrival date in 19 years). Theyrange widely while foragingand seeking water, but arefound most frequently cours-ing at high speed over thesteep-walled canyons wherethey nest. Pairs and smallgroups frequently engage invociferous chases duringwhich they make repeatedpasses at the face of theirnesting cliff, only to turn asideat the last moment and con-tinue their aerial pursuit(Pough 1957). The far-reaching,chittering song is a series ofhigh, shrill, strident notes thatalmost run together.

Nesting takes place in cracksand crevices in rocky cliffs andoften in colonies (Ligon 1961).The nest of plant materialglued together with the bird’ssaliva is built far back in anarrow crevice, often beyondreach and out of sight. Pres-ence of the nest is betrayed by

WTSW


Cliff (30) 23 9 6 9Adjoining 6 0 3 2

Total 29 9 9 11

the twittering calls of the female or pair from within the crevice.Nest building in a cliff crevice was observed on May 27. Eightoccupied nests, all in crevices in the steep cliff walls, were re-ported from June 9 to July 21.

White-throated Swifts leave the county by the end of September(September 24 median date in 11 years).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Black-chinnedHummingbird

+


BCHU


Piñon/juniper (27) 11 4 6 1

Black-chinnedHummingbird

Black-chinnedHummingbird(Archilocus alexandri)

The Black-chinned Humming-bird summers almost state-wide, nesting inwoodland—especially inriparian and residential ar-eas—up to elevations of 7500feet (Hubbard 1978).

It reaches the southeasternedge of Los Alamos in resi-dential areas in the piñon/juniper woodlands and in thelower canyon bottoms. Thelocal range of the Black-chinned Hummingbird over-laps the range of the morecommon Broad-tailed Hum-mingbird in the canyon bot-toms. However, the latter isusually found on the mesaswest of the piñon/juniperwoodlands.

During the atlas period, Black-chinned Hummingbirds werefound in 41% of the blockscontaining piñon/juniperwoodland. Breeding wasconfirmed in 36% of thoseblocks. Three nests werefound: nest building on May10 and 31 and a female incu-bating on June 21. Reportednest heights were from 7 to 12feet above the ground.

Males arrive in Los Alamos inlate April (April 29 mediandate in 8 years) a week or sobefore the females. With theappearance of females on themale’s territorial areas, aerial

display begins. It consists of a series of long, swooping,pendulum-like maneuvers about 30 meters long, with the malepassing very close to the female at the bottom of the arc(Johnsgard 1983b). Courtship flights were observed from Maythrough early July during the atlas period.

The nest is built typically 4 to 8 feet above the ground saddled ona branch or in a fork of a limb, frequently over water or a drycreek bed (Terres 1980).

Fall departure is in mid-September (September 10 median date in4 years).


Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding+

Broad-tailedHummingbird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

B B B

B B B B

B B B BB

B B B B

B B

B

B B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Broad-tailedHummingbird

Broad-tailedHummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus)

The Broad-tailed Humming-bird summers in mountainousareas statewide. It is ubiqui-tous in Los Alamos, summer-ing throughout the forested,wooded, and residential areas.It favors ponderosa pines,Douglas firs, and aspens inmoist canyons for nesting andforages in forest parks andgardens (Johnsgard 1983b).

Broad-tailed Hummingbirdswere found in 98% of the atlasblocks and breeding wasconfirmed for 42% of them.

Males arrive in mid-April(April 15 median date in 22years) and establish activelydefended feeding territories.Their defense is by visual andvocal display, dive displays,and chases. An intrudinghummingbird invokes thespectacular U-shaped divedisplay from the humming-bird whose territory has beenencroached. Females arrive aweek or so later and establishnesting territories differentfrom the males and fromwhich they drive out allintruders including the males.Essentially all of the activitiesassociated with nesting andthe rearing of the young arethe sole responsibility of thefemale (Johnsgard 1983b).

Nineteen occupied nests werefound between May 12 and

BTHU



Total 59 25 16 18

July 27. Nests were built from 2 to 30 feet above the ground onhorizontal branches of a variety of trees. Ponderosa pines weremost frequently used.

Broad-tailed Hummingbirds leave Los Alamos in mid-September(September 15 median date in 21 years).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B BB

+

Lewis’ Woodpecker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


LEWO


Ponderosa pine—La Mesa Fire (7) 4 4 0 0

Lewis’ Woodpecker

Lewis’ Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis)

Lewis’ Woodpecker is residentin river valleys in the northernpart of the state and in moun-tainous areas from theMogollon and Sacramentohighlands northward. It ismigratory in Los Alamosmoving into the lower valleysfor the winter where thespecies is found year-round.

Its preferred habitat is opencountry with scattered trees,forest clearings with tall snags,and blackened ghost forestsleft by fires. It nests in pineforest, evergreen woodland,and locally in orchards andlowland riparian woodland.

The atlas data show that thepresent breeding range ofLewis’ Woodpecker in LosAlamos is the burned-overponderosa pine forest resultingfrom La Mesa fire (Foxx 1984).Breeding was confirmed in allthe blocks containing thishabitat. Three active nests werefound, all in isolated pon-derosa pine snags in theburned areas. Three otherrecords of confirmed breedingwere of adults feeding young.All of the breeding recordswere from the end of June tothe third week in July.

Before La Mesa fire, Lewis’Woodpeckers were rarely seenin summer in Los Alamos.

Wauer (Foxx 1984) did not find them in his censuses on theburned-over mesas neither before nor in 2 years after the fire, butduring the atlas period they nested regularly.

Lewis’ Woodpeckers have seldom been seen in Los Alamos inwinter or spring—there are only four records from these seasonsin 30 years, but they do occur regularly in fall, usually in thepiñon woodlands where they forage on piñon nuts. They are heretypically from September 14 (median date in 7 years) to October 2(median date in 5 years).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB B

BB

B

BB

B

B

Acorn Woodpecker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding+

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Acorn Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker(Melanerpes formicivorus)

The Acorn Woodpecker isresident in the mountains ofNew Mexico almost state-wide, but is very localized inthe Jemez, Sangre de Cristo,and other northern mountains(Hubbard 1978). It prefersareas where various speciesof oaks and pines overlap, atelevations ranging from 7000to 8000 feet (Ligon 1961).

During the atlas project,Acorn Woodpeckers werefound in localized canyons in42% of the blocks containingponderosa pine forest and in30% of the blocks containingthe lower canyon bottoms.Breeding was confirmed in71% of the occupied blocks.Granary trees were noted inlower Pueblo Canyon (Block4-6) and Los Alamos Canyon(Block 5-5).

Acorn Woodpeckers arecommunal nesters. Membersof the colony share in territo-rial defense, excavation ofcavities, and caring for nest-lings. Highly vocal, theirpresence is easily detectable.Their interactive “waka,waka” calls may carry 500yards.

Wauer (Foxx 1984) found no Acorn Woodpeckers on his censusesin the forested areas burned over by La Mesa fire, neither beforenor after the fire, but they were readily observed in those areasduring the atlas period. Among the locations were Escobas, Burnt,and Frijoles mesas, and Mesa del Rio (Blocks 7-2, 7-3, 7-4, and 8-2).

ACWO


Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 1 1 0 0Ponderosa pine (11) 5 4 0 1Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 8 5 1 2

Total 14 10 1 3


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB

B

+

Red-napedSapsucker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Red-napedSapsucker

Red-naped Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus nuchalis)

The Red-naped Sapsucker,until recently considered to bea form of the eastern Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, summers inthe mountains primarily inconiferous forests containingaspens.

The Red-naped Sapsucker is anuncommon breeding bird inLos Alamos. It was found inonly 27% of the blocks contain-ing the mixed conifer habitat.Breeding was confirmed in60% of those. One nest holewas found—30 feet up in anaspen on June 24. The otherconfirmations were adultsfeeding young (June 26 to July9).

Red-naped Sapsuckers areamong the earliest of the springmigrants in Los Alamos (April7 median date in 11 years).Within a few weeks of theirarrival, their calling and drum-ming are conspicuous in theforest as the males establishtheir territories.

Drumming of the Red-napedSapsucker is usually two tothree rapid beats followed byan irregular series of doubleand triple beats, all within 2 to4 seconds (Farrand 1983). TheRed-naped Sapsucker sharesthe mixed conifer/aspenhabitat with the more commonWilliamson’s Sapsucker fromwhich it can be distinguishedby its drumming pattern aswell as by its plumage. Thepresence of both sapsucker

species is revealed by regularly spaced, squarish holes drilled intrees from which the birds feed on sap and insects attracted to thesap pits. They usually nest in green aspens, 10 to 30 feet above theground (Ligon 1961). Their nests are easily found because the foodcalls of the young are loud and the adults become very vocalwhen alarmed (Harrison 1979).

Red-naped Sapsuckers leave Los Alamos near mid-October(October 10 median date in 6 years).

In his study of breeding birds in the Sandia Mountains, Tatchl(1967) found 10 nests, mostly in aspens in the midst of densestands of trees. In contrast to Los Alamos, the Red-naped was themore common sapsucker in the Sandia Mountains.

RNSA


Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 1 0 0 1Mixed conifer (17) 5 3 1 1

Total 6 3 1 2


+

Williamson’sSapsucker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

B B

B

B

B

B

BB

B

B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


WISA



Total 28 15 4 9

Williamson’sSapsucker

Williamson’s Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus thyroideus)

Williamson’s Sapsuckersummers and is variablyresident in the mountains ofnorthern New Mexico and isresident southward to theMogollon Highlands. It nestsin pine and fir forests wherethere are aspens (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas period,Williamson’s Sapsuckersoccupied 77% of the blockscontaining mixed coniferousforest. Nesting was confirmedin 85% of these. They werescattered locally through theponderosa pine woods and inthe lower canyon bottoms butonly 29% of these were con-firmed breeders. Discovery ofnest holes comprised half ofthe confirmed records. Of theseven nest trees identified, fivewere aspens, one was a pon-derosa pine, and one was aspruce. The nest holes were 9to 50 feet above the ground.Nestling dates (9) were fromMay 20 to July 13.

The Williamson’s Sapsucker isconsiderably more abundantand widespread in LosAlamos than is the Red-napedSapsucker. Tatchl (1967) foundit to be an uncommon breed-ing bird in the Sandia Moun-tains. Territorial drumming ofthe Williamson’s Sapsucker isslower and more regular thanthat of the Red-naped Sap-sucker, whose range it over-laps. It consists of a roll or twofollowed by three or four taps.

This sapsucker is unique among American woodpeckers in thedegree of difference between the sexes, which were originallyconsidered to be different species.

Although occasionally a Williamson’s Sapsucker has been seen inthe winter in Los Alamos, the species has usually left the countyby October (September 29 median date in 8 years). Its springarrival, determined from years in which there were no winterreports, is in early May (May 1 median date in 5 years).

Male

Female


+

Ladder-backedWoodpecker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles


LBWO


Rio Grande gorge (6) 2 0 0 2Adjoining 1 0 0 1

Total 3 0 0 3

Ladder-backedWoodpecker(Picoides scalaris)

The Ladder-backed Wood-pecker is resident in southernNew Mexico and north locallyto the Mogollon Plateau, theupper Rio Grande Valley toDixon, the Mora Valley, andthe Dry Cimarron Valley. It isfound in lowland shrublandup locally into evergreenwoodland (Hubbard 1978).

Ladder-backed Woodpeckersare uncommon but of regularoccurrence in Los Alamos andare resident in the juniper/yucca/cholla grassland of thelower canyon bottoms wherethey open into the Rio Grande.During the atlas project, theywere possibly breeding inthree blocks in the southeasttip of the county, but breedingwas not confirmed. Therewere only three reports, eachfrom a different year (1986–1988). Both sexes were seen.

Ladder-backedWoodpecker


+

DownyWoodpecker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BB

B

B


DownyWoodpecker

Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)

The Downy Woodpecker isresident in mountainous areasand adjacent river valleys,south locally to the Mogollonand Sacramento highlandsand in the lowland rivervalleys including the San Juan,Rio Grande, and upper SanFrancisco. It is found inforests containing aspens andin riparian woodland(Hubbard 1978).

In Los Alamos it occupies thesame major habitats as theHairy Woodpecker, but itsoccurrence is more localizedand its numbers fewer.Downy Woodpeckers prefermixed, broken forest wherethere are aspens. Their habitatpreference is in subtle contrastto that of the Hairy Wood-pecker. Although often foundin conifers, they feed and nestchiefly in deciduous trees(Udvardy 1977).

During the atlas project, theywere found in 36% of themixed conifer blocks with ascattering of possible orprobable breeding recordsfrom the lower forestedblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 36% of the occupiedblocks.

The soft incessant twittering ofnestlings revealed nest holesto atlas fieldworkers in severalof the blocks in the periodJune 27 to July 4. The fournest holes containing youngwere in aspens. Three were

from 6–10 feet above the ground and the fourth was 50 feet abovethe ground.

Downy Woodpeckers are uncommon in Los Alamos in winter.They were reported in 6 of 13 winters of adequate observation.Typically, they are last seen in November (November 18 mediandate in 6 years of late fall observations) and reappear in March orApril.

DOWO



Total 14 5 2 7


+

Hairy Woodpecker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

B B

B

B B

B B B B

B

B B B B

B B B

B

B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Hairy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)

The Hairy Woodpecker isresident in the mountains andtheir vicinities almost state-wide (Hubbard 1978). Itspreferred habitat is the conif-erous forest.

During the atlas project, HairyWoodpeckers were found in93% of the forested blocks,although less frequently in theblocks with extensive spruce/fir forest. They did not occurin the piñon/juniper wood-land in the southeast corner.Breeding was confirmed in48% of the occupied blocks.

Occupied nests were foundfrom June 2 to June 14. Theother confirmations wereattended young or fledglings.Of the four nest trees identi-fied, three were dead pon-derosa pines and one was anaspen. Nest heights (4 re-ported) ranged from 5 to 35feet above the ground. Thenoisy squeaking of nestlingsrevealed the nest trees.

The Hairy Woodpecker is themost abundant of the fourpicoides woodpeckers foundin Los Alamos. It is spreadrather uniformly through theforests, but it is relativelysecretive. Pairs maintain alarge foraging range in winterand a contracted breedingterritory in summer.

HAWO



Total 50 24 15 11


+

Three-toedWoodpecker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B


Three-toedWoodpecker

Three-toed Woodpecker(Picoides tridactylus)

The Three-toed Woodpeckeris resident in mountains southto the Mogollon and Sacra-mento highlands in spruce/fir, fir, and adjacent pineforests (Hubbard 1978). It ispartial to burned-over forestand may be found concen-trated in such areas for a fewyears.

Before La Mesa fire in June1977, Three-toed Woodpeck-ers had been rarely seen inLos Alamos. In censuses justbefore the fire on three of theburned-over mesas inBandelier National Monu-ment, Wauer (Foxx 1984)found one, but it was in anearlier 1-acre burn. Shortlyafter La Mesa fire, Wauerfound four per 100 acres ontransect censuses on BurntMesa (Blocks 7-3 and 8-4) andon Escobas Mesa (Blocks 7-2and 8-3) and two per 100 acresalong the Apache Spring Trail(Block 7-1). Censuses in thesummer of 1978 and 1979revealed that the populationhad increased by threefold inthose 2 years.

By 1984, the first year of atlas fieldwork, the number of Three-toedWoodpeckers had fallen to the level before the fire. None werefound during the atlas period in the blocks containing Burnt andEscobas mesas. One confirmed breeding record was obtained inthe partially burned ponderosa pine forest along the ApacheSpring Trail (an adult feeding young on July 21, 1985). Anotherconfirmation, again adults feeding young, was obtained in themixed conifers of upper Pajarito Canyon on July 31, 1988.

TTWO


Mixed conifer (17) 1 0 0 1Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 2 2 0 0

Total 3 2 0 1


+

Northern Flicker

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

B B

B B B

B B B

B B B B

B B B

B B B

B B B B

B

B

B

B

BB B

B

B

B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)

The red-shafted form of theNorthern Flicker is resident inmountainous areas and downinto valleys statewide(Hubbard 1978). Flickers breedwherever suitable trees for nestholes are found, from thelowest elevations to neartimberline (Ligon 1961). Itshabitat is coniferous forests,deciduous and mixed woods,and parks and gardens, with apreference for open situationswith scattered trees and snags.

Red-shafted Flickers livethroughout Los AlamosCounty. Primarily a groundfeeder, flickers can often beobserved eating ants from thered ant hills found alongroadsides through the openforests. During the atlasproject, they were recorded in98% of the blocks and nestingwas confirmed in 63% of these.

Although present in LosAlamos throughout the year,flickers move out of the higherforests in the winter. Head-bobbing displays, conspicuouscalling, and pairing began inlate March and early April inthe atlas period. The earliesthole digging observed was onApril 30. Occupied nests (16)were found from June 3 to July22. Of the 12 nest trees re-ported, nine were ponderosapines, two were aspens, andone was a box elder. Nestheights ranged from 10 to 35feet with a median of 17 feet(16 records).

NOFL



Total 59 37 12 10

Wauer’s surveys in blocks partly burned in the La Mesa fireshowed a two-fold increase in the Red-shafted Flicker populationfollowing the fire (Foxx 1984). The fire created more of the openhabitat preferred by flickers. We confirmed breeding in all ofthose blocks in the atlas period.

In September, migration brings an influx of flickers, which driftthrough the area in small groups moving south.

Wintering Red-shafted Flickers roost in cavities in trees or self-excavated holes. In the absence of trees containing such winterretreats, they may resort to sidings of houses or other manmadestructures, pecking their way into the interior, thus making theirpresence objectionable (Ligon 1961).

Northern Flicker


+

Olive-sidedFlycatcher

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B


OSFL



Total 11 2 3 6

Olive-sidedFlycatcher

Olive-sided Flycatchers arrive in Los Alamos in mid-May (May 17median date in 11 years). They announce their arrival with songfrom conspicuous treetops—a vigorous, far-carrying three-syllablecall phoneticized as “whip-three-beers.” The dawn song of theOlive-sided Flycatcher is a regular repetition of the three-syllablecall. Because of their aggressiveness in defense of their territories,breeding pairs are well separated (Pough 1953).

In a typical year, the Olive-sided Flycatcher is last noted in thecounty in early September (September 9 median date in 7 years).

Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus borealis)

The Olive-sided Flycatchersummers in the mountainssouth to the Mogollon andoccasionally to the Sacramentohighlands. It is found inspruce/fir, fir, and adjacentpine forests and riparianwoodland. Spring migrantspersist locally into June, evenat lower altitudes, whileautumn migration begins byAugust; thus “summer”occurrence may not be indica-tive of breeding (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project, Olive-sided Flycatchers nested in thehighest part of the county.They were found in 50% of theblocks containing mixedconiferous forest. Breedingwas confirmed in only 18% ofthe occupied blocks, andbreeding was probable inanother 27%. Observationsindicating possible breedingfrom June 12 to July 12 wereaccepted for the atlas. Earlierand later dates were consid-ered likely to be those ofmigrants. The earliest evi-dence of territorial defensewas on June 7, 1988. Wediscovered one nest locatedhigh in a lone tall conifer, onJuly 12, 1986.


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB

BB

B

B

BB

B

B

B

B B

B B

B B B B B

B BB B B

BB

+

WesternWood-Pewee

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)

The Western Wood-Peweesummers statewide, but theeastern limits of the mainbreeding populations are theDry Cimarron, Canadian, andPecos valleys. It is found inponderosa pines in woodlandand forest habitats (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project,Western Wood-Pewees inhab-ited most of the forest andwoodland blocks in LosAlamos. They were found in100% of the blocks containingponderosa pine forest and 65%of the higher mixed coniferblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 51% of the occupiedblocks.

Nesting began early in June,and feeding of fledglingspeaked in mid-July. Nestbuilding by five pairs wasreported. The nests weretypically saddled to a horizon-tal fork or limb in a ponderosapine from 10 to 30 feet abovethe ground.

The territorial song of theWestern Wood-Pewee is along rhythmic sequence ofpaired phrases—an emphatic,down-slurred phrase, which ismuch like the daytime callnote, followed by a rising,three-syllabled phrase.

Extended predawn song occurs daily during territorial establish-ment and courtship. It is one of the earliest in the dawn chorusand usually ends before daylight.

Western Wood-Pewees arrive in Los Alamos in mid-May (May 11median date in 20 years) and depart in early September (Septem-ber 13 median date in 8 years).

WWPE



Total 53 27 16 10

WesternWood-Pewee


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B B B

B B

B B B

B B

B

B B

B

B

B B

B+

Hammond’sFlycatcher

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Hammond’sFlycatcher

Hammond’s Flycatcher(Empidonax hammondii)

The Hammond’s Flycatchersummers locally in the SanJuan, Jemez, Sangre de Cristo,and Sandia mountains. Itshabitat is principally themontane coniferous forests ofspruce/fir, mixed conifers,ponderosa pine, and locallymixed cottonwood/conifer

streamside habitat. It fre-quents midrange to upperlevels of mature trees.

During the atlas project,Hammond’s Flycatchers werefound in 65% of the forestedblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 54% of the occupiedblocks. Six nests were foundbetween June 26 and July 16 inthe ponderosa pine forest andlower canyons, all in pon-derosa pines, and from 18 to40 feet above the ground.Adults feeding young wereobserved in all of the nests.

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 0.5 1.0Time (s)

f (k

Hz)

1.5 2.0 2.5

HAFL



Total 37 20 12 5

Hammond’s and Dusky Flycatchers are almost indistinguishable bysight. The only sure way to tell them apart is by song, which issung with regularity only at dawn. Each utilizes a varied series ofthree syllables. The distinguishing features are the lower-pitched,heavily burred syllable of the Hammond’s (syllable 3) and thehigher, up-slurred whistled syllable of the Dusky (syllable 3).Identification of territorial Hammond’s Flycatchers was made fromthe song.

Hammond’s Flycatchers arrive in Los Alamos in early May (May 4median date in 17 years) and depart in mid-September (September10 median date in 5 years, determined from systematic banding).

1 2 3


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Dusky Flycatcher

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Dusky Flycatcher

Dusky Flycatcher(Empidonax oberholseri)

The Dusky Flycatcher summerslocally in the San Juan, Jemez,and Sandia mountains, on MountTaylor and Sierra Grande, andcasually elsewhere in the north-ern part of the state (Hubbard1978). Its habitat is the oak shrubin open areas in pine forest andforest brushland in open spruce/fir and mixed conifer communi-ties. Its preferred nesting situa-tion is in open, sunny bordersand clearings, and the deciduouslower understory of open forests(Blackford 1956).

the species—4 feet above the ground in a crotch of a Gambel’s oak inopen ponderosa pine woods.

The song, given principally at dawn, is a varied sequence of three syl-lables (one snappy, one burry, and a clear ascending one) (Farrand1983). Recognizing differences in the character of the individual syl-lables that comprise the dawn song is the only reliable way to distin-guish Dusky from Hammond’s Flycatchers. Characteristic are syllable3 of the Dusky and syllable 3 of the Hammond’s.

Identification of the Dusky Flycatcher during the atlas period was bysong, mostly during persistent dawn singing. From the study of re-cordings, the field leaders learned the songs of the Hammond’s andDusky Flycatchers and how to distinguish between them. Tape re-cordings were made of singing Duskies from 6 of the 14 blocks fromwhich they were reported.

Dusky Flycatchers arrive in Los Alamos in early May (May 6 mediandate in 6 years) and depart in mid-September (September 12 mediandate in 4 years, determined from systematic banding).

DUFL



TOTAL 14 2 8 4

1 2 3

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 0.5 1.0Time (s)

f (k

Hz)

1.5 2.0 2.5

During the atlas project, DuskyFlycatchers were found spar-ingly, scattered in various openhabitats in patchy forest andwoodland. They occurred in26% of the forested blocks.Breeding was confirmed in onlytwo blocks (14% of the occupiedblocks). These records were ofadults feeding young.

There is one Los Alamos nestrecord before the atlas project.The nest location was typical of


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B

B

B

+

Gray Flycatcher

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Gray Flycatcher

Gray Flycatcher(Empidonax wrightii)

The Gray Flycatcher summersin the northwest part of thestate, eastward to the Pecosarea, and southward locally(and perhaps only occasion-ally) to the Silver City areaand the Jicarillo Mountains. Itis most widespread andnumerous in evergreen wood-lands west of the Rio Grandeand north of the MogollonPlateau (Hubbard 1978). InLos Alamos, it is restricted tothe piñon/juniper woodlandcommunity, which includesareas of interdigitation ofpiñon and ponderosa pines.

During the atlas project, GrayFlycatchers inhabited 85% ofthe piñon/juniper blocks.Breeding was confirmed in19% of the occupied blocks.One nest was found. It was 11feet off the ground in a piñonpine tree and contained twonestlings being fed at regularintervals by both parents.

Gray Flycatchers look muchlike their congeners, theHammond’s and DuskyFlycatchers. They can beidentified with certainty in thefield by voice. The dawn songof the Gray Flycatcher consistsof a series of short double-noted syllables (1) inter-spersed occasionally with ahigher pitched, whistled

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 0.5 1.0

Time (s)

f (kH

z)

syllable (2). There are typically 5 to 10 of the double-noted syl-lables to every whistled syllable.

Gray Flycatchers arrive in Los Alamos in mid-April (April 18median date in 9 years). We have no data on their departure date.

GRFL



Total 26 5 16 5

1 2


+

CordilleranFlycatcher

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BB

B B BB

B B B

B

B

B

BConfirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


CordilleranFlycatcher

Cordilleran Flycatcher(Empidonax occidentalis)

The Cordilleran Flycatchersummers in mountainousareas statewide (Hubbard1978). It inhabits a variety ofhabitats in its extensive range,but typical are canyon bottomswith conifers shading a de-ciduous understory (Farrand1983).

During the atlas project,Cordilleran Flycatchers werefound in 91% of the forestedblocks above 7200 feet inelevation. Breeding wasconfirmed in 41% of theoccupied blocks. The locationof 11 nests included four inniches on cliff faces, three inunused outbuildings, one in aroadside bank, and two onresidential porch rafters.Occupied nests were foundbetween June 21 and July 22.

The Cordilleran Flycatcher isone of the latest spring mi-grants to arrive in Los Alamos.Nest-building begins shortlyafter arrival. Males defendtheir territories vigorously.Their sharply rising, explosivecalls are given regularlythrough the day. The dawnterritorial song has threesyllables as do the songs of theHammond’s and DuskyFlycatchers, but it is regular inthe ordering of the syllables inthe sequence.

WEFL



TOTAL 39 16 15 8

The spring arrival of Western Flycatchers* in Los Alamos is inmid- to late May (May 21 median date in 13 years). We have noinformation on the date of its fall departure.

*Until recently, the Cordilleran and Pacific-slope Flycatchers wereconsidered conspecific under the name Western Flycatcher (“37thSupplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of NorthAmerican Birds,” Auk 106, pp. 532–538, 1989). Since both migratethrough New Mexico, and are indistinguishable in the field except bysong, they are lumped as Western Flycatcher for migration data.


+

Black Phoebe

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe(Sayornis nigricans)

Black Phoebes are residentalong watercourses andponds in southern NewMexico, and they summernorthward in the Rio GrandeValley locally to Alcalde.They nest regularly underbridges crossing irrigationand drainage ditches in theAlbuquerque area.

Breeding was not confirmedduring the atlas period in LosAlamos, but Black Phoebeswere found in 83% of theblocks through which the RioGrande flows. Observation ofcourtship activity in one blockand a pair in another blockindicated probable breeding.

Our lack of confirmation ofnesting is probably due to thedifficulty of access to the clifffaces bordering the RioGrande. Typically thephoebe’s mud nest is plas-tered to a vertical surface,often beneath an overhangingprojection and over or nearwater. A Black Phoebe isalmost always near water andusually in plain view sittingrestlessly on an exposed twig,

BLPH



flitting its tail, then flying off to pursue an airborne insect. Itusually makes its presence known by its liquid chipping note(Ligon 1961).

Black Phoebes arrive in the spring along the Rio Grande fromFrijoles Canyon to Española in early May (May 9 median date in 5years) and have been seen as late as the first week of November.


+

Say’s Phoebe

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

B B BB

B B

B

B B B B B

BB

B BB

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Say’s Phoebe

Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)

The Say’s Phoebe summers upto middle elevations through-out much of New Mexico.Although resident in thesouthern part of the state, it islargely migratory in thenorthern part. It shuns for-ested areas, preferring morearid, open terrain and has aproclivity for living nearhuman habitation (Ligon1961).

During the atlas project, Say’sPhoebes were found in 90% ofthe blocks containing residen-tial and Laboratory areas.Breeding was confirmed in85% of the occupied blocks.

The arrival of Say’s Phoebespresages spring in LosAlamos. Some appear in mid-March (March 20 median datein 24 years) and soon set upterritories and begin courtshipwith the pair trilling in unisonaround the nest site. Thenesting season is long, anddouble broods are frequent.The earliest nest building is inearly April. Nest building onJune 9 and a nest with eggs onJune 16 were second nestingsfor one season. Nestlingswere reported from May 5 to

SAPH



TOTAL 26 22 3 1

August 23. The typical brood size was three (six of seven records).Of the 15 nests reported, 87% were built on manmade structures:seven were under eaves, four on shelves inside unused buildings,one in the air shaft of a well house, one in a crevice in the bermwall at an explosives firing site, and the two in natural conditionswere in holes in cliffs.

Say’s Phoebes generally leave the county in late September (Sep-tember 20 median date in 7 years).


+

Ash-throatedFlycatcher

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

B B

B

BB

BBB B

BB

BBB

B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Ash-throated Flycatcher(Myiarchus cinerascens)

The Ash-throated Flycatchersummers almost statewidefrom lowland shrubland upinto pine/oak woodland(Hubbard 1978). Its habitat isscrub, chaparral, and open andriparian woodlands, especiallypiñon/juniper in open orscattered stands (Ehrlich et al.1988).

During the atlas project, Ash-throated Flycatchers inhabited100% of the piñon/juniperblocks and 81% of the mesaponderosa pine blocks. Breed-ing was confirmed in 53% ofthe occupied blocks.

These flycatchers nest incavities. Eight nests, all withnestlings, were discoveredbetween June 3 and June 29.Three were in residentialbirdhouses. The others were inholes in trees, including cotton-wood, piñon, and ponderosapine. The nest holes were from5 to 25 feet above the ground.

Ash-throated Flycatchersarrive in Los Alamos in earlyMay (May 5 median date in 16years). The latest fall report isAugust 17.

ATFL



TOTAL 36 19 13 4

Ash-throatedFlycatcher


+

Cassin’s Kingbird

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

BB

B

B B BB

B B B B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Cassin’s Kingbird

Cassin’s Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans)

The Cassin’s Kingbird sum-mers almost statewide west ofthe eastern plains from low-land woodland locally intoevergreen woodland, includ-ing residential plantings(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Cassin’s Kingbirds werefound in 81% of the piñon/juniper blocks. Breeding wasconfirmed in 54% of theoccupied blocks.

Their nest sites are locatedtypically along the borders ofthe habitat. Territories arewell defended and widelyseparated. Kingbirds areaggressive toward crows,hawks, and most other intrud-ers. Because of their vigilant,vociferous defense, nest sitesare easy to find. Eleven of the14 confirmations were nests.The nests were placed wellout on a limb of an isolatedpiñon or ponderosa pine treefrom 25 to 45 feet above theground.

Cassin’s Kingbirds arrive inLos Alamos in late April orearly May (May 4 mediandate in 25 years). The latestrecorded autumn sighting isSeptember 19.

CAKI



TOTAL 26 14 11 1


+

Violet-greenSwallow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

BB

B B B B B

BBBBB

B B B B

BBBB

B B B

B

B

B BBB

B B

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Violet-greenSwallow

Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)

The Violet-green Swallowsummers in mountainousareas statewide, nesting inforest and pine/oak andadjacent riparian woodlands(Hubbard 1978).

Violet-green Swallows nestthroughout Los Alamos, fromthe rim of the Rio Grandegorge to the mountain tops.During the atlas project, theywere found in all blocks butone, with breeding confirmedin 61% of these.

They arrive in Los Alamosmid-April (April 17 mediandate in 27 years) and nestingbegins about a month later,with the height of activityoccurring in late June and July.Four instances of nest buildingwere observed from May 23 toJuly 8. Observations of nest-lings being fed were reportedfrom June 27 to August 12.The nests were in holes,mostly old woodpecker holes,from 4 to 50 feet above theground (two-thirds of themfrom 20 to 30 feet above theground). Nest sites wereponderosa pines (13), aspens(4), box elders (2), cotton-woods (2), house sidings (2),and a crevice in a cliff (1).

Through the breeding season,until young are in the nest, themale engages in daily, erratic,twisting, predawn courtshipflights just above the trees inthe vicinity of its nesting area.

The accompanying song is a continuous repetition of shrill chat-tering notes: “tsip, tseet, tsip . . . .” In late summer the swallowsgather in flocks as the young become independent. They leaveLos Alamos in early September (September 10 median departuredate in 20 years).

VGSW



TOTAL 59 36 15 8


+

Cliff Swallow

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B


Cliff Swallow

Cliff Swallow(Hirundo pyrrhonota)

The Cliff Swallow summersalmost statewide west of theeastern plains, nesting on cliffsand manmade structures(Hubbard 1978), near opencountry over which to feed,and near water because itneeds mud for its nest.

Cliff Swallows are gregariousin their nesting habits, and it isexceptional to find isolatednests distant from others of thespecies (Bent 1942). During theatlas project in Los Alamos,they were found in two-thirdsof the Rio Grande gorgeblocks. Isolated nests werediscovered in two blocks.They were typical gourd-shaped structures made frommud, plastered against thevertical cliff face 30 to 40 feetabove the base. Occupiednests were found May 18, 1986,June 28, 1986, and June 9, 1987.This is the first documentednesting in the county, althoughCliff Swallows are seen irregu-larly alone or in small groupsin the Rio Grande gorge orover the open areas near thecliff tops in summer.

The nearest colony, active atleast since the mid-1950s, is inEspañola on the old bridgespanning the Rio Grande.

Cliff Swallows arrive inEspañola in the first week inMay (May 4 median date in 6years) and have been observedthere as late as October 13.

CLSW


Cliff (30) 5 2 1 2


+

Gray Jay

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


Gray Jay

Gray Jay(Perisoreus canadensis)

The home of the Gray Jay isamong the firs and spruces ofthe highest mountains ofnorthern New Mexico. It is apermanent resident in the SanJuan, Jemez, and Sangre deCristo mountain ranges(Hubbard 1978).

The only contact with GrayJays during the atlas projectwas near the top of CaballoMountain (altitude of 10,400feet) in the spruce/fir forestsurrounding the extensivemeadow that covers the southface. A sighting on July 9,1988, of a young jay being fedby a parent confirmed breed-ing in Los Alamos.

Sightings from earlier yearshave been on Pajarito Moun-tain in late May and in winter.

GRJA


Mixed conifer (17) 2 1 0 1


+

Steller’s Jay

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

B

B

BBB

BBB B B

BBBBBB

B B

BBB

B B

B

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Steller’s Jay

Steller’s Jay(Cyanocitta stelleri)

The Steller’s Jay is resident inmountainous areas statewide(Hubbard 1978). It is a charac-teristic breeding bird of theponderosa pine, mixed coni-fer, and spruce/fir forests.Locally it extends its breedingrange down into pine/oakand piñon/juniper wood-lands.

During the atlas project,Steller’s Jays inhabited 96% ofthe forested blocks. Breedingwas confirmed in 56% of theseblocks. Atlas fieldworkersobserved six nests being builtin the time period March 31 toJune 16. Ponderosa pineswere utilized most (6 of the 8nest trees identified). Nestheights ranged from 15 to 60feet above the ground. Twonests were built in residentialplantings (5 to 8 feet above theground).

Steller’s Jays are noisy duringmost of the year, as groupsroam the forests reacting tointrusion of possible enemies,but they become quiet andunobtrusive while nesting, aclue to the presence of activenests.

There is a narrow overlap inthe local ranges of the Steller’sJay and the Scrub Jay whereponderosa pines extend intothe piñon/juniper woodland.

STJA



TOTAL 52 29 11 12


+

Scrub Jay

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B B B

BB

B B B

B B B B BB

BBB

B B B B

B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Scrub Jay

Scrub Jay(Aphelocoma coerulescens)

The Scrub Jay is resident inmountainous and canyonareas statewide (Hubbard1978). In summer it occurswherever there is scrub oak,piñon, and juniper andaround human habitation inthis habitat from altitudes of5000 to 7000 feet (Ligon 1961).

During the atlas project,Scrub Jays inhabited 100% ofthe piñon/juniper blocks.They also nested successfullywhere piñons intermingledwith ponderosa pines fartherto the west. Nest sites in-cluded piñon pine, juniper,pyracantha, and a house-climbing honeysuckle atheights ranging from 5 to 8feet (average of 6.7 feet) abovethe ground (7 records). Nestbuilding was observed onMay 11. Occupied nests werereported from May 10 to June19 and fledglings or attendedyoung from June 5 to August10.

Scrub Jays are highly territo-rial, living as pairs year-round, presumably in familyparties just after breeding.Good feeding areas, such asbird feeders, may be fre-quented by several pairs andnot defended by any of thepairs. A sentinel is alwaysalert; one member of the pairkeeps watch perched on ashrub or other vantage point,while the other feeds on theground (Goodwin 1977).

SCJA



TOTAL 34 26 4 4


+

Pinyon Jay

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B

BB

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Pinyon Jay

Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinuscyanocephalus)

The Pinyon Jay is variablyresident almost statewide inmiddle elevation areas con-taining piñon/juniper wood-land. The region of regularoccurrence is in the north,south to the Mogollon andSacramento highlands, andalong the Canadian Basin.

When not breeding, nomadicand gregarious flocks ofPinyon Jays wander widely insearch of food. Nesting isoften prolonged, but is unpre-dictable, depending on avail-ability of food. Fresh eggsmay be found in New Mexicofrom late February intoOctober (Ligon 1961).

During the atlas project, atleast possible breeding wasrecorded for Pinyon Jays in37% of the piñon/juniperblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 60% of the blocks inwhich they were found. Theonly nest record was nestbuilding observed on April 7,1984. The nest was placed 12feet up in a piñon pine at theedge of a residential area.

Data for attended young,although scanty and incom-plete because all the relevantblocks were not canvassedeach year, suggest annualvariability. In 1984, attendedyoung were found July 24 andAugust 3; in 1985, nest build-ing was observed on April 7and attended young on June28 and July 2. In 1986,

attended young were found even earlier in the year, on May 25and June 24. No breeding was observed in 1987. In 1988, prob-able breeding activity, pairs and agitated behavior, were observedin mid-May and attended young on July 11.

Although Pinyon Jays nest communally in other parts of NewMexico (Ligon 1971), nesting in Los Alamos was by isolated pairs.

Pinyon Jays appear throughout the year in Los Alamos, but aremost notable in late summer and fall when they forage in thepiñon woodland and frequent feeders in White Rock and PajaritoAcres. Their numbers vary greatly from year to year, probably inrelation to the quantity of piñon mast.

PIJA


Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 5 2 1 2Piñon/juniper (6) 5 4 0 1

Total 10 6 1 3


+


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BB

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding



Clark’s Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana)

Clark’s Nutcracker is residentin the montane mixed coniferand spruce/fir forests, butoccurs irregularly in summerand fall at lower elevations(Hubbard 1978), particularlyin piñon woodlands when thenut crop is good.

Determining the breedingstatus of Clark’s Nutcracker inLos Alamos during the atlasperiod was problematic.Breeding was confirmed inonly three blocks (19% of theblocks in which they werereported). Behavior inter-preted to be territorial orpairing activity was consid-ered evidence of probablebreeding in another 16% ofthese blocks. Nutcrackerswere observed in many of theother wooded blocks, butmost of these were in mid-and late summer when thebreeding season waspresumed to have finishedand the nutcrackers wereforaging in the lowerelevation woodlands.

The confirmed breedingrecords were from slopes ofundisturbed deep canyons:Alamo (Block 8-0), Pajarito(Block 6-4), and Cañon deValle (Block 6-3). An earlierrecord in 1973 was fromSandia Canyon (Block 5-4).All of these records were offledglings being fed or at-

tended by adults from May 7 to June 7. These dates imply thatnesting began in mid to late March.

No confirmation of breeding was obtained for the higher moun-tain slopes, despite expectations based on nutcracker nestingbehavior elsewhere, such as in Colorado (Bailey and Niedrach1965) and in the Sandia Mountains (Tatchl 1967).

CLNU



TOTAL 17 3 9 5


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

Black-billedMagpie

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Black-billedMagpie

Black-billed Magpie(Pica pica)

At the southern extent of itsrange, the Black-billed Mag-pie resides year-round locallyin the Northern Highlands(Hubbard 1978). Magpiesavoid dense forest, preferringwooded foothills, meadows,and wooded valleys, gener-ally not far from inhabitatedareas. Santa Fe and Las Vegasare as far south as they occurin New Mexico (Ligon 1961).

Although magpies have beenseen in winter along theeastern edge of the PajaritoPlateau, only in recent yearshave they appeared with anyregularity. They are raresummer visitants.

During the atlas project, a pairof magpies fledged six youngfrom a nest in the piñon/juniper woodland on thesouth rim of Bayo Canyon onNorth Mesa (east of the rodeogrounds). The nest was 6 feetoff the ground in a piñonpine. The female was incubat-ing in early June.

The Black-billed Magpiebuilds an unusually large,domed nest structure, asmuch as 3 feet high and 2 feetacross, with an entrance oneither side.

BBMA


Piñon/juniper (21) 1 0 0 1Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (6) 1 1 0 0

Total 2 1 0 1


+

American Crow

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


American Crow(Corvus brachyrynchos)

The American Crow is resi-dent in the Northern High-lands and vicinity, southwestlocally to the Mogollon andSacramento highlands, andnests in riparian woodlandsand locally in evergreenwoodlands and forests(Hubbard 1978).

Small groups of crows areseen sporadically in LosAlamos regularly from Octo-ber to March, but rarelyduring the summer breedingseason. When the piñon-nutcrop has been heavy, flocks ofseveral hundred crows haveinvaded the piñon/juniperwoodlands to forage on thenuts in autumn.

The only confirmed breedingrecord for Los Alamos, ob-tained during the atlas projecton May 13, 1986, is an occu-pied nest in a cottonwood onthe west bank of the RioGrande. The nest was located25 feet above the ground in afork in the tree.

American Crow

AMCR




8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BBB

B B BB B

BBBBB

B B B

BB

B B B B B B

BBB

+

Common Raven

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-17 4-11 5-06 5-31 6-25 7-20 8-14


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Common Raven

Common Raven(Corvus corax)

The Common Raven is resi-dent statewide in variedhabitats at all elevations, butperhaps is most common inwooded areas. Typically itbreeds on cliffs, but it usestrees and sometimesmanmade structures whencliffs are scarce or absent(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Common Ravens were foundthroughout the county. Theywere seen, if only flying over,in all blocks. They werereported breeding in 68% ofthe mixed conifer blocks andin 91% of the blocks contain-ing the mesa and lowercanyon woodlands. Breedingwas confirmed in 56% of theoccupied blocks. Thirteennests were found. Elevenwere on ledges or in holes incliffs, one was on top of abuilding in the Laboratoryarea, and another was 70 feetup in a ponderosa pine.

Flocks of ravens can be seenall year in Los Alamos, but areparticularly evident in winter.In late winter, courtshipactivity between mated pairstakes place, sometimes in theform of spectacular aerobaticsover the townsite. Nesting

begins in March; the earliest observed nest building activity wason March 15. Nestlings were reported from April 20 to June 28and attended young or fledglings from May 29 to July 27. Thebrood size (nestlings or fledglings) ranged from two to four with amean of 2.7 (from 10 reports).

CORA



TOTAL 50 28 13 9


+

MountainChickadee

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B B

BBBB

B B B B B B

BBB

B B B B

BBB

B B B

BB

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


MountainChickadee

Mountain Chickadee(Parus gambeli)

The Mountain Chickadee isresident in New Mexicothroughout the montaneconiferous forests and inadjacent riparian woodland(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Mountain Chickadees werefound in 98% of the forestedblocks. They were absent fromthe lowest elevation piñon/juniper woodland. Breedingwas confirmed in 54% of theoccupied blocks, mostly byfinding adults attendingyoung.

Pairs form and separate fromthe winter flock in March orApril signified by the whistled“fee-bee-bee” song. Duringterritorial formation anddefense in April and May,song increases, and often avocal duel can be heard whereneighbors alternate giving thesong. A clue to nest location isthe whistled dawn song in lateApril and early May. The malewill be singing from the nesttree. The whistled song con-sists of three or four high, clearwhistled notes often of equallength. The pattern varies: thenotes may all be on the samepitch, descend the scale in half-tones, or have the second andthird notes at the same pitchbut lower than the first.

The nest is in a natural cavityor an old woodpecker holeusually a few feet off the

ground, but occasionally high off the ground. Nest building wasnoted on May 13 in a hole high in an aspen. Four more nests werefound during the atlas period in ponderosa pines in or near openareas. Occupied nests (3) were reported from June 3 to July 1 andattended young or fledglings from June 26 to August 25.

MOCH



TOTAL 53 30 13 10


+

Plain Titmouse

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B

B

BBBB

B B B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Plain Titmouse

Plain Titmouse(Parus inornatus)

The Plain Titmouse is residentalmost statewide, west of theplains in evergreen wood-lands, especially piñon/juniperwoodlands.

During the atlas project, thePlain Titmouse occupied 100%of the piñon/juniper blocks.Breeding was confirmed in42% of the occupied blocks.Three occupied nests, eitherwith eggs or nestlings, werefound in late May.

Adults established on territo-ries tend to remain paired forlife and defend rather largeterritories (average 6 acres)throughout the year (Dixon1949). Their breeding seasonbegins in April announced bymale song: a series of three tofive double-noted, whistledphrases. The Plain Titmousenests in a natural tree cavity,an old woodpecker hole, or anest box.

PLTI



TOTAL 31 13 12 6


+

Bushtit

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

BBB

B B B

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


BUSH


Piñon/juniper (6) 6 2 1 2Ponderosa pine/ piñon juniper (21) 16 8 2 7

Total 22 10 3 9

Bushtit

Bushtit(Psaltriparus minimus)

The Bushtit, a resident speciesranging almost statewide invarious habitats, breedsexclusively in the piñon/juniper woodland in the LosAlamos area.

During the atlas period,Bushtits were found in 81% ofthe piñon/juniper blocks.Breeding was confirmed in45% of the occupied blocks.

Foraging flocks of a dozen ormore individuals, formedfrom the joining of familygroups in late summer, roamthrough the woodland in falland winter, at times frequent-ing feeding stations. In latewinter these flocks divide intosmaller groups, and pairs splitoff to set up loosely defendedterritories. Courtship behav-ior, which consists chiefly ofexcited location notes, trills,and sexual posturing, may beobserved in pairs that haveseparated from flocks. Thesong, combinations of thelocation notes and quiveringtrills, from a small group isindicative of breeding. Thenest is an intricate, elongatedpendent structure with anentrance hole on one side nearthe top, the whole nest widen-ing gourd-like toward thebase.

Nest building was observed on May 6. Occupied nests (3) werereported from May 27 to June 26 and attended young from May28 to July 29. Two broods of four fledglings and one of six werefound. Nests were located in junipers (one in a ponderosa pine),from 10 to 25 feet above the ground.


Red-breastedNuthatch

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Migration of Red-breasted Nuthatches in New Mexico typicallybegins in August (occasionally in July) (Hubbard 1978). In LosAlamos they first appear at the lower elevations (ponderosa pineforest and piñon/juniper woodland) in mid-August and Septem-ber. Irruptive winter flights from the north occur periodically withsome individuals lingering even in lower elevation piñon/juniperand riparian woods well into the next breeding season.

Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)

The Red-breasted Nuthatch isresident in the mountainsnorthward from the Mogollonand Sacramento highlands inspruce/fir and fir forests(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas period, Red-breasted Nuthatches werefound breeding only at eleva-tions above approximately8500 feet. They inhabited 82%of the blocks containing mixedconiferous forest. Breeding wasconfirmed in 22% of the occu-pied blocks. The confirmationswere observations of fledglingsor adults attending young.

The Red-breasted Nuthatchwas common through theentire nesting season in themixed coniferous forest at thehigher elevations, but breedingwas difficult to confirm. Atlasrecords suggest that the breed-ing season was prolonged inthe years of atlas fieldwork incomparison to what is de-scribed elsewhere (Laughlinand Kibbe 1985). Territorialsong and pair interactionswere well along by mid-Mayand persisted until mid-August. Fledglings and at-tended young were found inlate summer (July 20 to August1). These dates for dependentyoung imply egg laying inmid-June [assuming 12 days ofincubation and 18–21 days asnestlings—(Harrison 1978)].

Red-breastedNuthatch

RBNU



TOTAL 18 4 9 5


White-breastedNuthatch

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB B B

B

B B

BBBB

B B B B B

BB B

BBBB

B B B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)

The White-breasted Nuthatchis resident in northern NewMexico, principally from theponderosa pine to the spruce/fir community. It favors openforest and associated habitatwhere there are large trees inopen areas.

During the atlas project, White-breasted Nuthatches occupied94% of the blocks that con-tained lower canyon wood-land, mesa-top ponderosa pineforest, and montane mixedconifer forest. Breeding wasconfirmed in 52% of the occu-pied blocks.

White-breasted Nuthatchesremain within a large, fairlyfixed range throughout theyear, but claim a smallerterritory within this range fornesting (Stokes and Stokes1983). Following establishmentof this territory in midwinter isan extended courtship periodthat includes tree-top song anddisplay of the male at dawnand mate feeding. Nests arebuilt in existing tree cavities,often in rotted-out knot holes.Nest building begins in lateApril in Los Alamos. Occupiednests (3) were reported fromMay 17 to July 7. Most of theconfirmations were fledglingsand attended young, foundfrom June 12 to August 16. Theaverage reported fledglingbrood size was 2.5 (either 2 or3 fledgings from 11 reports).

White-breastedNuthatch

WBNU



TOTAL 52 27 11 14


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BBBB

B B B B

BBBBB

B B B B B B

BBBBBB

B B B B B B B

BBBBB

B B

B

Pygmy Nuthatch

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


PYNU



TOTAL 47 43 0 4

Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea)

The Pygmy Nuthatch is resi-dent statewide in montaneponderosa pine and mixedconifer forests.

It is the most common speciesin the ponderosa pine forest inLos Alamos and occurs wher-ever there are ponderosa pines.During the atlas project,Pygmy Nuthatches inhabited97% of the blocks containingponderosa pine and 64% of thehigher mixed conifer blocks,nesting where ponderosa pineoccurred. Breeding was con-firmed in 91% of the occupiedblocks, the highest percentagefor any native species.

Nest building was observed onthree occasions (April 4 to May11). Of the eight nest sitesidentified, seven were inponderosa pines, the other onewas in a cottonwood snag.Nest heights ranged from 4feet above the ground in aponderosa stump to 30 feet.Occupied nests were reportedfrom June 8 to July 13 andfledglings or attended youngfrom June 12 to August 19.

Dependent fledglings are veryvocal. When feeding takesplace, the volume of theirmusical twittering increases,accompanied by wing quiver-ing or fluttering. This behaviormakes for easy breedingconfirmation.

Pygmy Nuthatch

A breeding pair of Pygmy Nuthatches may be assisted by a helperand sometimes by more than one helper. The helpers, unmatedmales, assist in nest building, maintenance, feeding the female onthe nest, and feeding the young (Ehrlich 1988).

Territories are maintained all year, but defense is limited to thevicinity of the nest cavity. In winter, groups of 4 to 15 forage as aflock and roost communally in nest cavities (Ehrlich 1988).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B B B B

BB

B

B

Brown Creeper

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)

The Brown Creeper is residentin montane forests almoststatewide (Hubbard 1977).

During the atlas project, BrownCreepers were found in 82% ofthe blocks containing mixedconifer forest, 43% of the mesaponderosa pine blocks, and36% of the lower canyonblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 35% of the occupiedblocks.

Partially migratory, a few ofthese birds winter in LosAlamos. Their presence isindicated by the frequentlyuttered, but faint, position notethat sounds like “the shortest,lightest pronunciation of theletters “ts” (Bent 1948). Song isheard most frequently duringterritory establishment in mid-April and early May.

The nest is constructed under-neath a long strip of loose barkagainst the tree trunk and isalmost impossible to discoverunless it is revealed by thepresence of one of the birds.Nest building was seen on May10 on one occasion. Five nestswere found. Three of thesewere in ponderosa pines (twoof them snags), and one in adead aspen, at heights from 6to 35 feet above the ground.Occupied nests (4) were re-ported from June 8 to July 17and attended young from June26 to July 23.

Brown Creeper

BRCR



TOTAL 31 11 7 13


Rock Wren

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B BB

BBB

B B B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


ROCK WREN(Salpinctes obsoletus)

The Rock Wren summers inthe mountains of northernNew Mexico; it is a permanentresident in the southern part ofthe state (Hubbard 1978). Itinhabits exposed rocky areas,canyons, and cliffs, usuallywhere there is some brushyvegetation.

During the atlas project, RockWrens were found in 87% ofthe blocks containing the majorsteep-walled canyons. Breed-ing was confirmed in 45% ofthe occupied blocks.

Two nests were discovered:one was in a crevice in acanyon wall, the other, atypi-cally, was in a hole in a piñonpine, two feet above theground. An unusual character-istic of the Rock Wren’s nestingbehavior is its paving of theentrance to its nesting cavity,and often the area around thenest proper, with small flatstones (Ligon 1961). Fledglingsand attended young werereported from June 6 to July 31.

Rock Wrens are early springarrivals in Los Alamos (April14 median date in 18 years).They typically leave by lateSeptember (September 23median date in 8 years), buthave been seen in November.

The range of the Rock andCanyon Wrens matches almostidentically in Los Alamos,although the Rock Wren has awider habitat tolerance.

Rock Wren

ROWR


Cliff (30) 26 13 6 7Adjoining 1 0 1 0Other 2 0 0 2

TOTAL 29 13 7 9


Canyon Wren

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B

B

B B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus)

The Canyon Wren is residentin the southern part of NewMexico. It summers and isresident, at least locally in thenorthern part. The degree towhich it is resident or migra-tory is poorly known(Hubbard 1978). CanyonWrens are partly resident inLos Alamos; at least some ofthem winter every year (e.g.,in Frijoles Canyon).

Cliffs, steep-sided canyons,rocky outcrops, and boulderpiles are its natural habitat(American Ornithologist’sUnion 1983).

During the atlas project,Canyon Wrens were found in90% of the blocks containingsteep-walled canyons, andbreeding was confirmed in26% of these occupied blocks.Their nests are typically builtin crevices and recesses inrock walls. Three such nestswere found and nest-sitesearching was observed intwo additional blocks duringthe atlas fieldwork. Breedingactivity began in late Apriland dependent young wereevident from June 4 to July 22(7 records).

Canyon Wren

The song, enhanced by the acoustical properties of the rock forma-tions, is a startlingly loud series of silvery, bell-like whistles,beginning high in pitch and running down the scale to end in alow trill or buzz (Pough 1963). Canyon Wren song has been heardevery month of the year in Los Alamos.

CAWR


Cliff (30) 27 7 14 6Adjoining 1 0 0 1

TOTAL 28 7 14 7


Bewick’s Wren

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B B

B

B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Bewick’s Wren(Thryomanes bewickii)

The Bewick’s Wren is residentin the south and summerslocally northward to the SanJuan and Dry Cimarron val-leys. It is found in evergreenwoodland and locally inlowland riparian woodland. Itsstatus in the vicinity of theNorthern Highlands is poorlyknown (Hubbard 1978).

Where it is found in the west,the Bewick’s Wren breeds inalmost any brushy area(Harrison 1979). It is a charac-teristic breeding bird of thepiñon/juniper habitat andregularly nests as well inundercover tangles amidststreamside cottonwoods,willow, and alder (Blackford1956).

During the atlas project,Bewick’s Wrens were found in70% of the piñon/juniperblocks. In 33% of the blocks inwhich they were reported,breeding was confirmed. Anest being built was observedin burned-over ponderosa pineforest habitat adjacent topiñon/juniper woodland, andfledglings were seen there later(June 28, 1986). The otherconfirmed and all the probablebreeding records were frompiñon/juniper habitat. A pairtried to nest in a backyardbirdhouse, but abandoned it(after June 19, 1985). Probablebreeding was reported for 43%of the occupied blocks. Pairswere first seen together in

early May (May 6 and 18 in 2 years). Territorial establishment, asindicated by persistent song, was reported from June 6 to July 21.

The Bewick’s Wren is an early spring migrant in Los Alamos(April 14 median date in 7 years), typically preceding the HouseWren by 2 weeks. October 12, 1958, is the only late fall report onrecord. Bewick’s Wrens winter fairly regularly in the EspañolaValley.

Bewick’s Wren

BEWR



TOTAL 21 7 9 5


House Wren

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B B B

B B B B

BBB

B B B B B B

BBBB

B B B B

BBBBBB

B B B B B B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

5

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


Num

ber

Con

firm

ed

10

15


House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)

The House Wren summers inforests and adjacent riparianwoodland in mountainousareas of New Mexico(Hubbard 1978). It is a charac-teristic bird of the ponderosapine habitat, and it breedsregularly in mixed fir/pon-derosa pine forest (Blackford1956). It nests in thickets,along edges of woods, and insunny openings and gardens.Our western House Wren isless domestic and more of awoodland bird than theeastern form (Bent 1948).Primitive nesting sites are innatural cavities or crevices instumps or in fallen or standingtrees; these days a bird box oralmost any sort of cavity abouta building seems preferred bythe eastern House Wren(Pough 1953).

House Wrens are widespreadin Los Alamos. During theatlas period, they occurred in93% of the forested blocks, butthey did not nest in the lowestelevation piñon-juniper wood-land. Breeding was confirmedin 75% of the occupied blocks.Observation of all stages of thenesting cycle provided breed-ing confirmation. We found 18nests. The earliest evidence ofnest building was on May 13,the latest on June 28. Nestswith young were found fromJune 28 to July 22. Of the 14nest-hole sites reported, 7were in aspens, 5 in ponderosapines, 1 in a wall of a building,and 1 was a nest box.

House Wren

HOWR



TOTAL 51 38 7 6

Males usually arrive first, typically by May 1 (median date in 20years) in Los Alamos, but in some years by mid-April. Progressthrough the nesting cycle can be monitored by listening carefullyto the male’s song. They advertize with persistent song and defendsmall breeding territories. As part of territorial establishment, amale starts to claim nest sites and begins nest building. Severalnests may be started before the female appears. She completes thenest or builds a new one and lays the eggs. During this time, themale sings less frequently. During incubation the song rate in-creases, then drops again while the male helps feed the nestlingsand fledglings (Wilson and Bart 1985).

House Wrens may renest, repeating the cycle. They leave LosAlamos in mid-September (September 18 median date in 14 years).


+

American Dipper

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B


American Dipper(Cinclus mexicanus)

The American Dipper isresident along streams in themountains of the Northern,Mogollon, and Sacramentohighlands (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,dippers were found in twoblocks in the Rio Grandegorge. A pair nested belowPajarito Spring east of WhiteRock. This is the only con-firmed breeding record for theatlas period. A pair wasobserved in two different yearsalong the Rito de Frijolesbelow Lower Falls in BandelierNational Monument, whichindicates probable breedingthere. Historically, dippershave nested regularly in bothof these areas, although theseplaces are near their lowerelevational limit in NewMexico, and in high mountainstreams to the west of thecounty.

The nest is always near astream, often close to or be-hind a waterfall, beautifullyconcealed because the livingmoss of the nest resembles theundisturbed moss of its sur-roundings (Ligon 1961).

American Dipper

AMDI


Lower Canyon (10) 1 0 1 0Rio Grande gorge (6) 1 1 0 0

Total 2 1 1 0


Golden-crownedKinglet

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)

The Golden-crowned Kinglet isresident in the montanespruce/fir forests of NewMexico.

In Los Alamos, Golden-crowned Kinglets nest exclu-sively in the spruce/fir forestthat covers the highest moun-tain areas of the county’swestern edge. They werefound in all the blocks contain-ing spruce/fir during the atlassurveying. Breeding wasconfirmed in 30% of the occu-pied blocks by observations ofadults attending young (fromJuly 9 to August 1).

Their nests are extremely wellhidden, usually in a fork at abranch tip in thick foliage.None have been found in LosAlamos. Kinglets are difficultto locate because of theirdiminutive size, the remote-ness and concealing character-istics of their habitat, and theirthin, very high-pitched calls.

In Los Alamos, although theyfavor the dense conifers in thesummer, Golden-CrownedKinglets occasionally movedown to the lower elevationwoodland in winter.

Golden-crownedKinglet

GCKI


Mixed conifer (17) 10 3 2 5


Ruby-crownedKinglet

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)

The Ruby-crowned Kingletsummers in the spruce/firforests of the high mountainsof New Mexico.

During the atlas project, Ruby-crowned Kinglets occupied73% of the blocks containingmixed conifer forest. Breedingwas confirmed in only 15% ofthe occupied blocks, as deter-mined by observation offledglings being fed by theirparents (July 9 to July 20).

Their nests are placed in densefoliage near the tops of tallconifers and much of thekinglet’s activities are carriedon high in the trees. Thus,confirmation of breeding isdifficult to establish. Theterritorial behavior of a malesinging over a period of timeindicates probable nesting.Probable nesting was deter-mined for half of the occupiedblocks using this criterion(May 25 to July 16).

The song of the Ruby-crownedKinglet has three distinctparts: it begins with four toeight very high weak notes,followed by a rapid chatter offive to ten notes at a muchlower pitch, and then a louder,musical conclusion consistingof a few repeated three- tofour-note phrases (Bent 1949).

Ruby-crownedKinglet

RCKI



Total 15 2 7 6

Although migratory, occasionally these kinglets are found inwinter in Los Alamos. They are among the earliest spring mi-grants to appear (April 18 median date in 10 years), and theyusually have left the county by November (October 28 mediandate in 11 years).


Blue-grayGnatcatcher

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Blue-gray Gnatcatcher(Polioptila caerulea)

The Blue-gray Gnatcatchersummers almost statewide,northward locally to the SanJuan and Canadian valleysand the upper Rio Grande tothe Dixon area (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project, theBlue-gray Gnatcatcher wasfound in 81% of the piñon/juniper blocks, but breedingwas confirmed in only 8% ofthe occupied blocks. However,evidence of territorial estab-lishment and the presence ofpairs indicated probablebreeding in 46% of the occu-pied blocks. One nest wasdiscovered on July 19, 1984. Itwas saddled at eye level on alimb of a conifer in the piñon/juniper flats.

Gnatcatchers are thinly dis-tributed in the Los Alamosarea. They betray their pres-ence by their sizzling voicesand continual nervous activ-ity. But breeding activity wasdifficult to observe, whichdiffers from experienceelsewhere, where theirfearless, intense preoccupationwith their nesting activitiesallows close observation.

Blue-grayGnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are migratory, arriving near the end ofApril in Los Alamos (April 27 median date in 14 years). Theyleave the county unobtrusively, probably in late August. There area few autumn records, of which the latest is September 13.

BGGN



TOTAL 24 2 11 11


Western Bluebird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BBB

B B B

BBBB

B B B B B

B

B

B

B

B B

BB

B

BBB

B B B BB B B B

BB

BB

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


Num

ber

Con

firm

ed

4

6

8

10

12

14


Western Bluebird(Sialia mexicana)

The Western Bluebird isresident in mountainous areasalmost statewide (Hubbard1978). In Los Alamos it sum-mers from the open ponderosapine forest and piñon/juniperwoodland of the plateau intothe higher mixed conifer forestwhere openings in the canopyoccur.

During the atlas project,Western Bluebirds nestedthroughout the forests andwoodlands below 8500 feetelevation. They were found in94% of the blocks containingthis habitat. Breeding wasconfirmed in 90% of the blocksin which they were found.

Small wintering flocks, foundmuch of the time in piñon/juniper woodland where theyfeed on juniper berries, beginto break up into pairs inMarch and move up into thepine forest. Pairs set up territo-ries of about 1 acre and beginthe search for a nest hole.Western Bluebirds requireforaging perches from whichthey drop to capture prey onthe ground. They prefer welllit areas containing low, sparsevegetation and little under-story. Although there is almostcomplete overlap in habitatoccupation by Western andMountain Bluebirds, Westernstend to nest higher up in theforest whereas the MountainBluebird favors more openareas with fewer trees. West-ern and Mountain Bluebirdsmaintain mutually exclusive

Western Bluebird

WEBL



TOTAL 48 43 3 2

territories where they share the same habitat (Pinkowski 1979).

In late April and May, territories can be located from the predawnsong given as the birds fly around in the dark just above the tree-top level. This song, one of the earliest in the awakening dawnchorus, is a rapid repetition, with small variations, of the call note,a liquid descending “kew.” The nest is made by filling a naturalcavity in a tree or an old woodpecker hole with grasses and otherplant material. Bluebirds compete with Violet-green Swallows fornesting sites.

Of the nest holes reported, four were in ponderosa pines and onewas in an aspen. Nest heights were from 10 to 40 feet above theground. Occupied nests (11) were found from May 25 to June 29,and fledglings or attended young were found from May 29 toAugust 25.

Western Bluebirds often have two broods; the male tends the firstbrood of fledged young while the female renests. Local evidencewas two broods raised in a birdhouse in White Rock.


Mountain Bluebird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BBB

B B B B

BB

B B B BB

BBB

B B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)

The Mountain Bluebird isresident in mountainous areasalmost statewide. In summer itranges from just below timber-line down into piñon/juniperwoodland. In winter it movesout of the higher elevationsinto the lower forests andvalleys, often in large flocks(Hubbard 1978).

In the Los Alamos region, theMountain Bluebird avoids theforested mountain slopesexcept for sizeable parkswidely interspersed in theforest. It is common in thesummer in the Valle Grandeand in the lower mesa forests.It favors more open habitatthan the sympatric WesternBluebird.

During the atlas project,Mountain Bluebirds nestedprimarily in ponderosa pineand piñon/juniper woodlandsbelow 7500 feet elevation.They were found in 72% of theblocks in this elevationalrange. Breeding was con-firmed in 66% of the blocks inwhich they were recorded.

Three of the nests found werein old woodpecker holes inponderosa snags in burned-over areas (La Mesa fire), threewere inside unused out-buildings, two under residen-tial eaves, two in birdhouses,one in a hole in a dead aspen,and one in an external air-conditioner housing. Nestheights ranged from 4 to 25

feet; the higher ones were in the natural sites. Nest building wasreported from March 30 to June 9, nestlings from May 22 to July19, and attended young (or fledglings) from June 4 to August 8.Reported brood sizes for fledglings were two (5), three, and four.

This is a remarkably silent bird. Flocks in flight give a low “terr”call, much like that of the Western Bluebird. Territorial and court-ship song is given only before dawn. It consists of a few shortwarbled and trilled phrases uttered 1 to 2 seconds apart(Bondesen 1977). Its hovering, foraging behavior is distinctive.

MOBL



TOTAL 32 21 6 5


Townsend’sSolitaire

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB

B

B B

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)

Townsend’s Solitaire summersin the mountains from theMogollon and Sacramentohighlands northward fromtimberline down locally intothe pine forests (Hubbard1978).

Nesting of the Townsend’sSolitaire in New Mexico hasbeen reported only in thehigher forests (above 9000feet). During the atlas project,solitaires nested primarily inmixed conifer and ponderosapine forests from 7000 to 8500feet elevation (in 72% of theblocks in this elevationalrange).

Solitaires nest on the ground.One nest was discovered in aroadside bank 6 feet above theroadbed on June 27, 1987, inmixed conifer habitat. Twoweeks later the nest containedtwo eggs. Recent fledglingswere observed in disturbedponderosa pine forest in theLaboratory area. Two broodswere seen on July 7, and abrood of two was found on theground July 24. A brood ofthree begging fledglings andadults attending young wereobserved in Garcia Canyon(July 27, 1988, and August 25,1986, respectively) in lowercanyon bottom habitat.

Solitaires move into the piñon/juniper woodland for thewinter in Los Alamos, wherethey feed principally onjuniper berries. They areusually first seen there in late

TOSO


Mixed conifer (17) 9 1 4 4Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 5 1 3 1Ponderosa pine (11) 9 2 2 5Ponderosa pine/ pinon juniper (21) 8 3 0 5

TOTAL 31 7 9 15

September (September 29 median date in 7 years ) and leave fortheir breeding areas in mid-April (April 15 median date in 15years).

Solitaires may be heard singing any time of year. Song may beused for defense of winter feeding territories, but is at its best insummer on the breeding grounds. The call note, an often monoto-nously repeated single piping note, is characteristic and identifiesthe species year-round.

Townsend’sSolitaire


Hermit Thrush

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

B

BB

BB

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Hermit Thrush(Catharus guttatus)

The Hermit Thrush summersin montane spruce/fir, fir,and adjacent pine forests andriparian woodlands (Hubbard1978). It has a wide habitattolerance: it nests in forestdepths, dry hillsides, dampwooded areas, and recentlycut forest.

During the atlas project,Hermit Thrushes nestedprimarily in mixed coniferand ponderosa pine forestsabove 7000 feet elevation.They occupied 93% of thishabitat. Breeding was con-firmed in 22% of the blocks inwhich they were recorded.

Breeding of the HermitThrush is relatively difficult toconfirm because of its retiringnature. Most confirmationswere based on adults feedingyoung. One nest was discov-ered, on June 6, 1986, located2 feet off the ground.

The song, given from firstarrival in early May until latein the season, is a good indica-tor of territory establishment.The song is strongest neardawn, then again at sunset,the latter more common latein the breeding cycle. Thelarge, well-built nest of bark,mosses, and coarse grasses is

Hermit Thrush

typically placed in low conifers or other bushes a few feet aboveground (not on the ground as in the eastern race) (Harrison 1979).

Spring arrival in Los Alamos is in early May (May 4 median datein 18 years). Autumn departure is in mid-October (October 19median date in 8 years).

HETH


Mixed conifer (17) 17 5 11 1Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 5 3 2 0Ponderosa pine (11) 9 1 6 2Ponderosa pine/ pinon juniper (21) 14 1 6 7

TOTAL 45 10 25 10


American Robin

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BB BB

B B B B B

BBBBB B

BB B B B B

BBBB

B B B B B B B

BBBBBBBB

B B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


American Robin(Turdus migratorius)

The American Robin summersin montane areas and locallyin the lowlands almost state-wide, nesting in forest, ripar-ian woodland, residentialareas, and adjacent habitats.Robins winter statewide,especially in areas of juniper,Russian olive, and wild fruit-ing trees (Hubbard 1978).Originally a summering birdof mountane forest parks inthe west, the robin hasadapted remarkably to thepresence of man, residingaround human habitationwherever its habitat require-ments of moist grassland forfeeding and mud for nestingare met.

During the atlas project,American Robins were foundthroughout the county—in theconiferous forests and woodedcanyon bottoms and especiallyas an abundant nesting speciesin residential areas. They werefound in 95% of the blocks.Breeding was confirmed in81% of the occupied blocks.

Thirty-one robin nests werefound. The dates of nestbuilding range from March 30to June 1. Nests with eggswere found from May 14 toJune 20, and nests with nest-lings from May 30 to June 24.Nest sites utilized were vari-ous: planted residentialconifers (6), planted residen-tial deciduous (4), manmadestructures (4), naturally occur-ring conifers (5), and naturally

American Robin

occurring deciduous growth (4). Nest heights ranged from 3 to 50feet above the ground, with a 10-foot median height (from 22reports).

Robins winter in flocks in Los Alamos, the number varying withthe season and from year to year. Daily altitude shifts occur withsome regularity. The birds feed in the lower juniper woodlandand roost at night in the higher mixed coniferous forests.

AMRO



TOTAL 57 46 3 8


NorthernMockingbird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)

The Northern Mockingbirdsummers statewide in thelowland shrublands and theevergreen woodlands of thefoothills. It winters locally inthe south and northwardoccasionally to the EspañolaValley (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,mockingbirds were found inthree residential areas inpiñon/juniper woodland nearthe rim of the Rio Grandegorge. There was only oneconfirmed breeding record, anest containing four eggs onJune 6, 1984, from which threeyoung fledged.

Mockingbirds are irregularsummer visitors in LosAlamos. They have beenreported in about 50% of thesummers of the last 30 years(in 1984 and 1986 during theatlas project). Mockingbirdson breeding territory areeasily detected from theirremarkable and persistentsinging.

Northern Mockingbird

NOMO


Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 1 0 0 1Piñon/juniper (6) 2 1 0 1

Total 3 1 0 2


European Starling

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BBB

B B

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)

The European Starling isresident in settled areas,including residential andagricultural areas, almoststatewide. It nests in holes instructures, cliffs, and trees,and in bird houses (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project,starlings bred only in theresidential areas. They inhab-ited 100% of the residentialblocks and breeding wasconfirmed in all of them. Nestbuilding was observed fromApril 10 to May 20.

Starlings were first detected inNew Mexico in 1935 in theCarlsbad region. By the timeperiod 1959–1962, they weresummering in Albuquerqueand Santa Fe (Hubbard 1978).Casual sightings have beenreported from Los Alamossince 1958, and regular sum-mering of starlings has oc-curred since 1964. Groups ofstarlings are seen regularly inthe winter; in recent yearsthey sometimes number in theseveral hundreds.

European Starling

EUST


Residential (10) 10 10 0 0


Solitary Vireo

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed85

00

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BBBB

B B

BBB

B B B

BBBB

B B B

BB

B B


Solitary Vireo(Vireo solitarius)

The Solitary Vireo summers inmountainous areas almoststatewide. It favors openwoodland, especially pine, andadjacent habitats includingpiñon/juniper and lowlandriparian woodland locally(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Solitary Vireos were foundprimarily in the ponderosapine forest, but they occurredup to 8400 feet in the mixedconifer forest. They occupiedall the ponderosa pine andlower canyon bottom blocks.Breeding was confirmed in56% of the occupied blocks.

Within a conifer stand, theirterritories are usually associ-ated with a deciduous compo-nent. They prefer woodlandswith openings in the canopyand a dense understory(Andrle and Carroll 1988). Of10 Solitary Vireo nests foundduring the atlas fieldwork, 5were in ponderosa pines, 1 in apiñon pine, 1 in a juniper, and3 in deciduous trees. Theirheight above the ground wasfrom 5 to 40 feet. Nest building(5 nests) was observed fromMay 13 to June 6.

The nest is a semipensilebasket suspended by its upperrim from a fork on a horizontalbranch. It is bulkier and moreloosely constructed than thenest of the Warbling Vireo(Harrison 1979).

Solitary Vireos arrive in Los

Solitary Vireo

SOVI



TOTAL 46 26 14 6

Alamos in late April or early May (May 1 median date in 20years). The median departure date is September 27 in 12 years.


Warbling Vireo

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B B B

B

B

B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Warbling Vireo

Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)

The Warbling Vireo summerswidely in all major montaneareas of New Mexico(Hubbard 1978). It is a charac-teristic breeding bird whereaspens are interspersed anddominant in coniferous forestsand mountain valleys, andalong upper stream borderswhere conifers and cotton-woods are intermixed. Pre-ferred nesting sites are maturetrees in edge and open loca-tions.

During the atlas project,Warbling Vireos were found in86% of the blocks containingmixed conifer forests, 52% ofthe mesa ponderosa pineblocks, and 73% of the lowercanyon blocks. Breeding wasconfirmed in 26% of the occu-pied blocks.

Warbling Vireos sing almostcontinuously on their territoryduring the early stages ofnesting. They are easy to locateby their song, but are surpris-ingly difficult to confirm asbreeders. Nest building (3) wasobserved between May 27 andJune 15, and occupied nests (7)were found from June 6 to July9. Nest heights ranged from 2to 35 feet above the ground.The lowest nest was in a box

WAVI



TOTAL 38 10 14 14

elder along a trail in Frijoles Canyon, suspended, but well con-cealed in terminal branchlets. Several others in the lower canyonbottoms were in cottonwood trees.

Warbling Vireos arrive in Los Alamos in mid-May (May 10 me-dian date in 20 years) and depart in mid-September (September 14median date in 10 years).


Orange-crownedWarbler

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

B

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Orange-crownedWarbler

Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)

The Orange-crowned Warblersummers in the New Mexicomountains. It breeds regularlyin mixed coniferous/decidu-ous forest where it is shrubbyand open, in clearings, and atforest edges. Porter (1972)found them nesting in mixedgrowth of Gambel’s oaks andponderosa pines in the Sangrede Cristo Mountains.

During the atlas project,Orange-crowned Warblersinhabited the mixed coniferforests primarily above 7700feet. They were recorded in68% of the mixed coniferblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 33% of the occupiedblocks. All the confirmationswere of adults feeding fledg-lings.

Their nests are on or near theground and very difficult tofind. They are well hidden andnot readily revealed by theactions of the birds; thus, wehave a low percentage ofconfirmations of breeding.

Orange-crowned Warblersarrive in Los Alamos in lateApril (April 29 median date in14 years). The last of the fallmigrants leave in October(October 1 median date in 14years).

OCWA


Mixed conifer (17) 12 3 5 4Mixed conifer/ ponderosa pine (5) 3 2 0 1Ponderosa pine (11) 2 1 1 0Ponderosa pine/ piñon juniper (21) 1 0 1 0

TOTAL 18 6 7 5


Virginia’s Warbler

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

BBBB

B B

BBBB

B B B

B B B

BB

B B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Virginia’s Warbler

Virgina’s Warbler(Vermivora virginiae)

The Virginia’s Warbler sum-mers in the mountains almoststatewide in shrubby habitatsin and near fir and pine forestsand in oak and pine/oakwoodlands, including riparianshrubland at middle eleva-tions (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Virginia’s Warblers werefound throughout the inter-mingled oak scrub woodlandof the plateau and its canyons.They occurred in 93% of theblocks containing this habitat.

Their nests, none of whichwere found by atlas field-workers, are built on theground and are well concealedin the thickets in which theylive. Confirmations, in 50% ofthe occupied blocks, weremostly of adults carrying foodto young.

Adults were feeding fledglingBrown-headed Cowbirds in 3of the 20 broods observed inthe atlas fieldwork.

Virginia’s Warblers arrive inLos Alamos in late April(April 26 median date in 27years) and depart in mid-September (September 14median date in 13 years).

VIWA



TOTAL 46 23 14 9


Yellow-rumpedWarbler

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

B

B B B

BBB

BBB

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Yellow-rumpedWarbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)

The Yellow-rumped Warblersummers in the mountainsalmost statewide, south to theMogollon and Sacramentohighlands. It nests in spruce/fir, fir, and locally in adjacentpine forests. Yellow-rumpedWarblers winter in the south,north locally to the San JuanValley and to Española in theupper Rio Grande Valley(Hubbard 1978).

In Los Alamos it nests in thehighest spruce/fir and inter-mediate mixed conifer forestsdown to the ponderosa pineforest of the plateau. Duringthe atlas project, Yellow-rumped Warblers were foundin 86% of the mixed coniferblocks and in 57% of the mesaponderosa pine blocks. Breed-ing was confirmed in 45% ofthe occupied blocks.

Nest building was observed inthe high mixed conifer foreston June 27, active nests on June12 and July 1, and fledglingsand attended young from June18 to July 13 (eight records).The July 1 records were simu-lated broken-wing distractiondisplays from two differentareas. Two nests were found inponderosa pine forest (one onJuly 13), and adults attendingyoung were reported fromJune 24 to July 16 (fiverecords).

Yellow-rumped Warblers are seen early in spring in Los Alamos(April 21 median arrival date in 22 years). Fall migration persistsusually through October (October 29 median departure date in 18years). Occasionally a few will linger well into the winter. Thereare winter sightings in 8 of 22 years of recorded observations.

YRWA



TOTAL 31 14 11 6


Black-throatedGray Warbler

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Black-throatedGray Warbler

Black-throated GrayWarbler(Dendroica nigrescens)

The Black-throated GrayWarbler summers in moun-tainous areas almost state-wide, but it is more local andless numerous in some of theeastern parts of its range. Itnests in evergreen and pine/oak woodlands, but is par-ticularly associated withpiñon/juniper woodland inthe north (Hubbard 1978). InLos Alamos it occurs almostexclusively in the piñon/juniper woodland and is theonly warbler to be foundthere.

During the atlas project,Black-throated Gray Warblerswere found in 48% of thepiñon/juniper blocks. Breed-ing was confirmed on June 23,1986, when adults wereobserved feeding their young.

Because these warblers arewidely separated in theirnatural habitat and secretivein their ways, it was difficultto locate them and confirmtheir breeding.

The arrival of the Black-throated Gray Warbler in late April (April28 median date in 9 years) is indicated by its wheesy song. Thesong is a variable series of buzzy notes, less stylized than that ofits congeners, but recognizable by its quality. It is full of “z”sounds (Peterson 1961). Its dawn song seems not as persistent asthat of other warblers, but it sings off and on during the dayadvertising for a mate while perched high in an evergreen tree. Itsfavored breeding areas are trees spaced widely with much inter-vening brush.

BGWA


Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 13 1 5 7


Grace’s Warbler

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BBBB

B B B

B

BBB

B BB B

BBB

B

B B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Grace’s Warbler(Dendroica graciae)

The Grace’s Warbler summersin the mountainous regions ofNew Mexico, closely associ-ated with ponderosa pinewoodlands.

During the atlas project,Grace’s Warblers were foundin 96% of the mesa-top blockscontaining ponderosa pinesand in 100% of the blocks inthe ponderosa pine-woodedlower canyon bottoms. Nest-ing was confirmed in 63% ofthe occupied blocks. A fewrecords were obtained inblocks at slightly higherelevations to the west whereponderosa pines are inter-mixed with other conifers.

They arrive in Los Alamosabout the third week of April(April 24 median date in 25years). The birds spend mostof their time high in theponderosa pines. Their nestsare difficult to find. Threenests with nestlings werediscovered from June 3 to July5 during the atlas period. Mostof the confirmations (21) wereof adults attending young,from June 20 to August 23.

Grace’s Warbler

GRWA



TOTAL 42 24 9 9

Grace’s Warbler was the species most heavily parasitized byBrown-headed Cowbirds in Los Alamos. Of 13 parasitized nests inwhich the host was identified, 38% were those of Grace’s War-blers. Almost half of the Grace’s Warblers nests that fledgedyoung had been parasitized by cowbirds.

Grace’s Warblers leave Los Alamos in late September (September20 median date in 11 years).


MacGillivray’sWarbler

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B

B

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


MacGillivray’sWarbler

MacGillivray’s Warbler(Oporornis tolmiei)

The MacGillivray’s Warblersummers in the mountainsfrom the Mogollon and Sacra-mento highlands northward. Itis found in shrubby habitats inspruce/fir and fir forestsincluding adjacent riparianshrubland (Hubbard 1978). Itsnesting habitat is low denseundergrowth, shady dampthickets, and forest edges.

In Los Alamos it nests princi-pally in moist, mixed conifercanyon bottoms. During theatlas project, MacGillivray’sWarblers were found in 50% ofthe blocks containing mixedconifer, 33% of the mesa pon-derosa pine blocks, and 36% ofthe lower canyon blocks.Breeding was confirmed in 27%of the occupied blocks. Six ofthe seven confirmed breedingrecords were adults attendingfledglings (June 28 to July 17);the other was a distractiondisplay (July 13).

MacGillivray’s Warblers are thelatest of the warblers to arrivein Los Alamos (May 12 mediandate in 17 years). They revealtheir presence early in thebreeding season with loud songfrom the males and active

MGWA



TOTAL 22 6 7 9

courtship, but thereafter they are shy and secretive. Intrusion ontheir territory elicits the sharp alarm note repeated frequently byboth sexes, but the female is seldom seen.

They leave the county in late September (September 22 mediandate in 16 years).


8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

B B

B

B B B

B

Hepatic Tanager

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Hepatic Tanager(Piranga flava)

The Hepatic Tanager summersin mountainous areas in thesouth, northward locally to theZuni, Jemez, southern Sangrede Cristo, and Sierra Granderanges from pine forest downinto evergreen and adjacentwoodlands (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Hepatic Tanagers were foundin 67% of the blocks contain-ing piñon/juniper woodland,but breeding was confirmedprimarily in the lower canyonbottoms. Breeding was con-firmed in 50% of the occupiedblocks. Six nests were discov-ered, all in ponderosa pinesand 40–45 feet above theground. Occupied nests werereported from June 6 to July 7.

Shortly after their arrival inmid-May (May 13 mediandate in 6 years), they establishterritories of a few acres eachand begin breeding activities.Although their actions whilefeeding along branches and inthe foliage are slow anddeliberate, they are restlessbirds moving from tree to tree,often traveling distances ofseveral hundred yards at atime.

Despite its bright plumage, themale Hepatic Tanager isseldom conspicuous, evenwhile in full-throated advertis-ing song. Its song, a series ofclear warblings, is like thesong of the Black-headedGrosbeak and resembles thesongs of the American Robin

Hepatic Tanager

HETA



TOTAL 20 10 5 5

and Western Tanager and even versions of the Solitary Vireosong. Thus, to quote Bent (1958) writing about the Scarlet Tanager,“unseen and unheard (or unregarded), it is often considered a rarebird, even in localities where it breeds commonly.” The callnote—a low, soft “chuck”—distinguishes the Hepatic Tanagerfrom the other species having similar songs.

Its fall departure is in mid-September (September 15 median datein 4 years). Because of the scarcity of spring and fall records, weare uncertain of the arrival and departure dates.


Western Tanager

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B B

BB

B BB

BB B B

BBBBB

B B B B

BBB

BBB B B

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana)

The Western Tanager sum-mers in mountainous areasstatewide. It is a bird of ma-ture but open woodlands,frequenting the mixed coniferand ponderosa pine forests.

During the atlas project,Western Tanagers were foundthroughout the forests andwoodlands, inhabiting 90% ofthe blocks. Breeding wasconfirmed in 57% of theoccupied blocks.

Nine nests with either eggs ornestlings were found, mostlyin ponderosa pines, at heightsof 15 to 30 feet above theground. Six instances of nestbuilding were observed, fromthe first gathering of nestmaterial on May 26 to a com-pleted nest on June 28. Typi-cally, nests were near the outerend of a conifer limb, but onenest was placed in the crotchof a 20-foot Gambel’s oak.

Western Tanagers arrive inLos Alamos within a few daysof the same date every spring(May 9 median date in 34years). The males are strik-ingly evident around thetownsite for a week beforethey settle on their territoriesfor nesting. Two instances ofcourtship were noted: afemale wing quivering in abegging posture and matefeeding on the nest.

Western Tanager

Western Tanagers move away from their nesting areas in mid-summer, appearing commonly again around the townsite. Theyare last seen in the county in late September (September 27 me-dian date in 19 years).

WETA



TOTAL 56 32 19 5


Black-headedGrosbeak

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B B

BBB

B B B B

BBBBB

B B B B

BBBB

B B B B B B B

BBBB

B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Black-headedGrosbeak

Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)

The Black-headed Grosbeaksummers in the mountainsand adjacent river valleysstatewide in wooded andforested areas, mainly atmiddle elevations (Hubbard1978). Its nesting habitatpreferences are open canopywith some admixture ofshrubs, edges with deciduoustrees, and bushy openings inwoods or gardens (Pough1961). It avoids extensive areasof unbroken coniferous forest.

Black-headed Grosbeaks werefound in all the forested areasof Los Alamos during the atlasproject except for the highestones in the extreme northwestcorner. They occupied 86% ofthe mixed conifer blocks and95% of the blocks containingponderosa pine forest andpiñon-juniper woodland of themesas and lower canyonbottoms. Breeding was con-firmed in 82% of the occupiedblocks. Nests were placed inscrub oak, Forestiera, mul-berry, and ponderosa pine atheights from 5 to 10 feet abovethe ground. The earliest nestbuilding observed was May 2,1986. The peak of dependentyoung feeding was the middletwo weeks of July.

Black-headed Grosbeaksarrive in Los Alamos at thebeginning of May (May 5median date in 27 years) anddepart in mid-September(median date September 19 in14 years).

BHGR



TOTAL 55 36 12 7


Blue Grosbeak

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Blue Grosbeak

Blue Grosbeak(Guiraca caerulea)

The Blue Grosbeak summersalmost statewide inshrublands at lower andmiddle elevations, but ap-pears to be largely absent inmost of the central-westernarea, including much of theMogollon Highlands(Hubbard 1978).

In the Los Alamos area, BlueGrosbeaks are found prima-rily in the deciduous shrubalong the Rio Grande. Duringthe atlas project, they were in100% of the Rio Grande gorgeblocks. In half of these blocks,breeding was confirmed. Nestbuilding was observed onJune 6, and a nest with threenestlings and one egg wasdiscovered 4 feet up in aRussian olive tree on July 11.

Blue Grosbeaks are among thelatest migrants to appear inthe spring in New Mexico.They arrive in mid-May in theEspañola Valley (May 18median date in 7 years). Thelatest sighting in autumn wasSeptember 8.

BLGR


Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 3 0 1 2Rio Grande gorge (6) 6 3 2 1

TOTAL 9 3 3 3


Lazuli Bunting

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Lazuli Bunting

Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)

The Lazuli Bunting summersin the north and casuallysouthward mainly in riparianand adjacent shrublands atlower and middle elevations. Itsummers regularly in theNorthern Highlands and in theRio Grande Valley south toAlbuquerque (Hubbard 1978).

Although appearing fairlyregularly in the spring (May 5median arrival date), it is anelusive summering species inLos Alamos. During the atlasproject, Lazuli Buntings werepossibly breeding in six blocks.They were seen in the lowercanyon bottoms and along theRio Grande. Breeding was notconfirmed in the county, norare there any breeding recordsfrom earlier years.

In Colorado, where they nestregularly, the majority arrivewell after the first week ofMay. The males choose theirbreeding territories among lowshrubs in moist swales, often atthe edge of stands of pon-derosa pines and in meadowsgrown with willows andalders. Nest building by thefemales does not start untilwell into June (Bailey andNiedrach 1965).

The nest, usually in lowshrubby growth, is well con-cealed and difficult to find. Thebright male sings within histerritory from a series ofconspicuous song perches

throughout the breeding cycle, but he stays away from the nestsite. Singing is most frequent in the early morning and evening,but can be heard throughout the day.

Breeding records from nearby regions include: Jensen’s record(1923) of a nest with eggs on June 19 near Santa Fe and Tatchl’srecord (1967) of a nest with young on July 27 at Cedar Crest.

LABU


Ponderosa pine/ piñon/juniper (21) 3 0 0 3Rio Grande gorge (6) 3 0 0 3

TOTAL 6 0 0 6


Indigo Bunting

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)

Since the 1960s Indigo Bun-tings have summered almoststatewide in riparian habitatsof the major river courses.They are found regularly andhave nested in the Rio GrandeValley north to Dixon(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,singing male Indigo Buntingswere found in three areas: onein the Bayo Canyon bottomand two along the Rio Grande.Extended territorial song,indicative of probable breed-ing, was observed in Block 7-9in June 1988. Breeding was notconfirmed.

The brilliantly plumagedmales are easily located, butthe drab, quiet females aredifficult to detect. The maleand female often lead quiteseparate lives, so that byfollowing the male often youget no closer to the female.One clue to the location of thenest is that on the approach ofan intruder, the male (andsometimes the female) inter-venes twitching its tail fromside to side and giving sharp“chip” calls (Stokes and Stokes1983).

INBU


Lower canyon (10) 2 0 1 1Rio Grande gorge (6) 1 0 0 1

TOTAL 3 0 1 2


+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

Green-tailedTowhee

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

BB

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Green-tailed Towhee(Pipilo chlorurus)

The Green-tailed Towheesummers in northern NewMexico, southward locally tothe Mogollon and Sacramentohighlands. It is found inshrublands from sagebrush-like areas at middle elevationsto riparian and copse habitatsat higher elevations (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project,Green-tailed Towhees wererecorded in 32% of the blockscontaining mixed coniferforest. They were foundbreeding locally wherever theappropriate thicket andmeadow habitat occurred.They were recorded in 29% ofthe mesa ponderosa pineblocks, where they wereconcentrated in disturbedcanyon and mesa areas of thesouthern portion, especially inthe shrubby regrowth in theburned-over areas. Breedingwas confirmed in 36% of theblocks in which they wererecorded. One nest, located ina locust thicket, was found onJuly 10 in a shrubby area incleared mixed conifer forest.

Wauer (Foxx 1984) did notfind Green-tailed Towhees inhis systematic surveys in theburned-over areas just beforeLa Mesa fire nor in the first 2years after the fire. Presum-ably, suitable habitat for thistowhee had developed in the 6years that had elapsed by thetime atlas fieldwork began.

Green-tailed Towhees typically arrive in Los Alamos in late April(April 25 median date in 14 years) and leave by the end of Septem-ber (September 27 median date in 13 years).

Green-tailedTowhee

GTTO



TOTAL 14 5 6 3


Rufous-sidedTowhee

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed85

00

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BBB

B B

BBB

B B B

BBB

BB B B B

BBB

B B

B

B B B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Rufous-sidedTowhee

Rufous-sided Towhee(Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

The Rufous-sided Towhee isresident in mountainous areasstatewide and locally inlowland river valleys. Itsummers from middle eleva-tion shrubland and woodlandlocally up into adjacent forestsand down into lowland ripar-ian habitats (Hubbard 1978).Its habitat requirementsinclude dense cover where theground is well carpeted withdead leaves and leaf mold, inwhich it can forage (Pough1953). Favored habitats, onhillsides and canyon floors,are brushy openings andundercover in wooded areas,border and streamside thick-ets, and vine tangles. In LosAlamos it is common in thebrushy areas on the mesas andin the canyons.

During the atlas period,Rufous-sided Towhees inhab-ited 100% of the blocks con-taining the mesa and lowercanyon woodlands. Breedingwas confirmed in 57% of theoccupied blocks. Four nestswere reported. Two groundnests, each with three eggs,were found in lower canyonbottoms (April 17 and 29). Ofthe other two, one containingeggs was in a residentialraspberry bush (June 28) andthe other was in a low shrub inopen ponderosa pine wood-land (undated).

RSTO



TOTAL 46 28 12 6

This is one of the first species to sing in spring. Males singingpersistently from an exposed perch reveal the location of theterritory, but beautiful concealment of the nest and the crypticcoloration of the secretive female thwarts nest detection. Most ofthe confirmed breeding records were of attended young or recentfledglings.


Canyon Towhee

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB

B

B

B B B B B

BBB

B B B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Canyon Towhee

Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus)

The Canyon Towhee* isresident in mountainous areasalmost statewide inshrublands and woodlands atlower and middle elevations(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Canyon Towhees inhabited78% of the piñon/juniperblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 63% of the occupiedblocks. They nested regularlynear human habitation situ-ated in the piñon/juniperwoodland. Eight nests (28%of the confirmations) werefound. Of five nest sitesreported, four were in piñonpines, 4 to 8 feet above theground, and one was underthe roof of a backyard porch.

Canyon Towhees are seden-tary, living on their territoriesall year. Their nesting seasonis long. It starts early inspring—the earliest occupiednest was April 13, 1988—andruns into the autumn. Nest-building was observed as lateas July 26, 1988. The latestconfirmed fledgling date wasSeptember 28.

BRTO



TOTAL 24 15 4 5

*In a recent revision of the A.O.U Checklist, the Brown Towhee was divided into two species, the Canyon Towhee and theCalifornia Towhee (Auk, 106, pp 532-538, 1989, 37th Supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of NorthAmerican Birds). The New Mexico species is the Canyon Towhee.


+

Rufous-crownedSparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Rufous-crownedSparrow

Rufous-crowned Sparrow(Aimophila ruficeps)

The Rufous-crowned Sparrowis resident in mountainousareas of the south, northwardlocally and disjunctly to theGlenwood area, the SandiaMountains, and the DryCimarron Valley. It is found ingrassy shrubland on slopes,mainly at lower and middleelevations (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project, wefound Rufous-crowned Spar-rows in 83% of the Rio Grandegorge blocks on the rockyslopes below the canyon rim.They were also found in dryareas in two lower canyonbottoms. Breeding was con-firmed, an adult feeding twoyoung, August 8, 1988, inBlock 8-9 in the gorge.

Few birds stick closer to theground and are harder toflush. They sing, however,from the top of a small bush,but when approached, flusheasily and reappear at somedistance (Pough 1957). Thesong is a staccato chitteringthat usually changes its pitchtwo or three times. It has beenlikened to a softened HouseWren’s song (Bent 1968). Itscharacteristic location call is aclear descending note, usuallygiven in a series of three(Pough 1957).

The loosely constructed, thick-walled nest is on the groundusually sunk into a smallhollow and often under aclump of grass or low shrub.

Nesting times may correlate with the amount of rainfall; thusfresh eggs have been found from March until August in its normalrange (Harrison 1979). Evidence from Arizona populations sug-gests that breeding may occur in the fall after the summer rains, ifthe previous winter and spring have been dry. Tatchl (1967) founda nest with young on September 6 in the Sandia Mountains.

We have no winter records for Los Alamos. They were seen fromMay 5 through August 26 in the years 1986 through 1988, but thelimited fieldwork in their habitat precludes a determination ofwhether they are resident or not.

RCSP



Lower canyon cliffside 2 0 0 2

TOTAL 7 1 2 4


+

Chipping Sparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BBBB

B B B

BBBB

B B B

BBBBB

BB

B

B B B B

B BBBBB

B B B B B

B B B

B

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Chipping Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)

The Chipping Sparrow sum-mers in mountainous areasalmost statewide (Hubbard1978). It has benefited fromhuman alteration of the natu-ral environment, particularlythe opening of the forests andplantings around habitations.It is at home in residentialareas, parks, forest edges, andthe shrub level of open standsof ponderosa pine and Dou-glas fir forest.

During the atlas project,Chipping Sparrows werecommon throughout thecounty except in the highmontane forests in the north-west corner. They inhabited65% of the mixed coniferblocks and 93% of the blockscontaining the mesa and lowercanyon forests and wood-lands. Breeding was con-firmed in 80% of the occupiedblocks. Most of the confirmedbreeding records were ofadults feeding recentlyfledged young.

Five nests were found. Threewere in ponderosa pines atheights of 12 to 30 feet abovethe ground. Two of these weregrass cups near the end of ahorizontal branch, one in aneedle clump, and the other ina horizontal fork. Another nestwas 6 feet up in a Gambel oak.Nest building was observedon May 22 and incubation onMay 14. Nests with youngwere found from June 28 toJuly 19.

Chipping Sparrows begin migrating in late June or July afterbreeding, and by mid-August foraging flocks roam the shrubby,grassy areas and roadsides in the county before they depart forthe winter (October 16 median departure date in 18 years).

Chipping Sparrows are among the earliest of the spring migrantsin Los Alamos (April 13 median date in 24 years).

CHSP



TOTAL 51 41 5 5


+

Vesper Sparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Vesper Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)

The Vesper Sparrow summersin the northern part of NewMexico and southward to theMogollon Plateau. It is foundin sagebrush shrublands andlocally in the north up into thedrier montane shrublands(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Vesper Sparrows were foundin 61% of the abandonedagricultural blocks. Breedingwas confirmed in 25% of theoccupied blocks. Feeding ofnestlings was observed onJuly 9, 1987. The nest waslocated in heavy grass be-neath a shrubby juniper in anabandoned agricultural field.The other two confirmationswere of fledglings, both onJuly 16, 1988, in equivalenthabitat, but in different areas.

Vesper Sparrows arrive earlyin spring in Los Alamos(April 9 median date in 10years) and establish theirlarge territories by early May.Perched conspicuously,singing males are easilydetected, but the well-hiddenand protected nest is difficultto find.

The few recorded late autumndates indicate that VesperSparrows leave the county bymid-October (October 9median date in 4 years).

VESP


Abandoned fields (18) 11 3 6 2Adjoining 1 0 0 1

TOTAL 12 3 6 3


+

Lark Sparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

BB

B

BB

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Lark Sparrow

Lark Sparrow(Chondestes grammacus)

The Lark Sparrow summersalmost statewide, but it occursonly locally in the easternplains and the extreme south.It is found in shrublands andopen woodlands at lower andmiddle elevations (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project, LarkSparrows were found in brushnear open areas, primarily inthe piñon/juniper woodland.Breeding was confirmed in50% of the occupied blocks.All confirmations were adultsfeeding young (June 28 to July29).

Male Lark Sparrows arrive inLos Alamos in early May (May9 median date in 11 years) anddefend territories vigor-ously—singing from a varietyof perches within their territo-ries, posturing, and chasing.The song consists of clearnotes, buzzes, and trills. AsRidgway described the song(Bailey 1928): it “begins with achant of clear ringingnotes . . . then follows a silverytrill . . . and a succession ofsprightly, sparkling notes,varied by rising and fallingcadences, finally dying awayuntil scarcely audible . . . .”

The nest is usually a grass-filled depression in the ground. Thepresence of nestlings is revealed by the soft trilling note they usewhen begging for food.

Lark Sparrows leave Los Alamos by the middle of September(September 12 median date in 8 years).

LASP


Ponderosa pine (11) 1 0 1 0Ponderosa pine/ piñon-juniper (21) 8 5 3 0Piñon-juniper (6) 5 2 1 2

TOTAL 14 7 5 2


+

Song Sparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)

The Song Sparrow is residentin the Northern Highlands inriparian shrubland and marsh-land (Hubbard 1978). Itsprincipal habitat is brushycover near water.

During the atlas project, SongSparrows were found in ornear the few marshy areas ofthe county. They occurred in77% of the marsh-containingblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in one: nesting in themarsh east of the sewage plantin lower Pueblo Canyon (Block4-6). Nests were discovered in1984 and 1985 in shrubberybeside cattails. Nest buildingwas observed July 5, 1984, andrecent fledglings were seenfrom the second nest on June 6,1985. Song Sparrows estab-lished territories in threeadditional blocks in later years.

Because of the scarcity ofsuitable habitat, Song Spar-rows are uncommon in thesummer in Los Alamos. Theatlas records are the firstconfirmation of breeding in thecounty.

The earliest recorded springsighting is March 10, 1986; thelatest fall record is November10, 1976. Song Sparrows havenot been recorded here in thewinter, but a large populationwinters in the cattail marshesin the Española Valley.

Song Sparrow

SOSP


Marsh (9) 7 1 3 3


+

Lincoln’s Sparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Lincoln’s Sparrow

Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)

At the southern tip of its vastrange, the Lincoln’s Sparrowsummers in high-elevationriparian shrubland in the SanJuan, Jemez, and Sangre deCristo mountains (Hubbard1978). Lincoln’s Sparrows areprimarily edge-dwelling birdsand are found in open areasinterspersed with thick, lowcover. Mountain meadows arefavored summer haunts.

During the atlas project, theywere found in grassy mead-ows in the midst of aspen/conifer stands near the moun-tain tops. They inhabited 24%of the blocks containing themixed conifer forest. Breedingwas confirmed in 75% of theseblocks. On three occassionsbetween June 28 and July 17,we observed broods beingfed. A fourth brood of fourrecent fledglings was seen onAugust 10.

Although rather conspicuouswhile singing, they are waryand secretive. The easiest wayto confirm breeding is towatch for parents carryingfood.

Arrival dates for springmigrants in Los Alamos havebeen reported for only 4 yearswith a median date of April 3.The last fall migrants are outof the county by October(September 28 median date in10 years).

LISP


Mixed conifer (17) 4 3 1 0(in mountain meadows only)


+

Dark-eyed Junco

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BBBB

B B B B B

BBB

B B B

B B B

B

BBB

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)

The Gray-headed Junco is theresident form of the Dark-eyedJunco in mountainous areas ofnorthern New Mexico. It is acharacteristic breeding bird ofthe mixed coniferous forests.Banding studies indicate thatmost of the summering Gray-headed Juncos leave LosAlamos in the winter and arereplaced by others, whichpresumably are migrants fromfarther north.

During the atlas project, Gray-headed Juncos inhabited 100%of the mixed conifer blocksand 73% of the predominantlyponderosa pine-forestedblocks. Breeding was con-firmed in 61% of the occupiedblocks. Of the 25 records ofconfirmed breeding, only 3were of nests. The nestscontained eggs and the datesof the records were from mid-June to mid-July. Two nestswere in hollows in the ground,well hidden under bunches ofgrass; the other was in a cavityin a cut along a forest road.

In a typical year, Gray-headedJuncos leave their winteringrange at the lower elevationsof Los Alamos by early May(May 5 median date in 6 yearsin Pajarito Acres; May 9median date in 11 years in theWestern Area of the LosAlamos townsite), and othersappear at about the same timeat the higher elevations wherethey nest.

Adults reappear in the Western Area of the Los Alamos townsitein early September (September 1 median date in 14 years) pre-ceded by immatures presumed to have fledged nearby (August 18median date in 7 years). These results were obtained from band-ing studies done on the rim of Los Alamos Canyon near thewestern edge of Los Alamos townsite.

DEJU



TOTAL 36 22 9 5


+

Red-wingedBlackbird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Red-wingedBlackbird

Red-winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)

Red-winged Blackbirds sum-mer statewide but only locallyat higher altitudes in the SanJuan and Sangre de Cristomountains (Hubbard 1978). Atnesting time they are foundabout marshes or pondsbordered with rushes or otheraquatic vegetation up to 8000feet elevation.

During the atlas period, Red-winged Blackbirds were foundin the several small marshesscattered about the county.Breeding was confirmed in oneblock—in the cattail marshbelow the sewage lagoon inPueblo Canyon (Block 4-6).Nest building was observedJune 27, 1984, and fledglingswere seen being fed on July 1.A male-attended young Red-winged Blackbird was seen inlate June of the following yearas well.

Territorial males were ob-served in live marshes in LosAlamos Canyon (Block 5-4),alongside the road in PajaritoCanyon (Block 7-6), and on thewestern bank of the RioGrande (Blocks 7-7 and 7-8).

Male Red-winged Blackbirdsappear in Los Alamos in earlyspring or late winter (April 2median date in 12 years) andare singing and displayingvigorously near their home

marshes by late April. Females arrive later and settle on the males’territories for the nesting season. Nesting Red-winged Blackbirdsleave their breeding areas by early autumn. In some winters, Red-winged Blackbirds appear variably around the townsite and in themarsh in Sandia Canyon (Block 5-4).

RWBL


Marsh (9) 7 1 4 2


WesternMeadowlark

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


WesternMeadowlark

Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)

The Western Meadowlark isresident in northern NewMexico, southward locally tothe Gila, lower Rio Grande,and lower Pecos valleys ingrasslands and agriculturalfields at lower and middleelevations (Hubbard 1978). Atleast in the last few years,meadowlarks have occurredregularly in Los Alamos in thesummer.

During the atlas project,Western Meadowlarks werefound in 50% of the blockscontaining abandoned agricul-tural fields. In two of theseblocks breeding was con-firmed with the discovery ofrecently fledged young. Bothwere found July 22, 1988, bydifferent observers in differentblocks.

Males arrive in Los Alamos inmid-April, a few weeks beforethe females, and immediatelybegin to establish their territo-ries with song. The flutelike,gurgling territorial song ismost frequently heard early inthe breeding season beforeincubation. Song followedimmediately by the chatter-call from another bird (thefemale) is indicative of amated pair (Lanyon 1957).Because there is reduction insong as breeding progresses,detection of meadowlarksbecomes more difficult. Adistinctive identifying call isthe throaty, emphatic “chuck,”given when an intruder entersthe territory.

WEME


Abandoned fields (18) 9 2 1 6

The nest is a loosely built structure of grass and plant stemshidden on the ground in dense grassy or weedy cover (Pough1953). Nests are difficult to find. None have been reported fromLos Alamos.

The earliest spring records during the atlas period were April 10,1986, and April 22, 1987. No fall dates were reported.


Brewer’s Blackbird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

BB

B B

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Brewer’s Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus)

The Brewer’s Blackbirdsummers in the north andlocally in the MogollonHighlands, nesting fromlower to middle elevations inmarshes, shrubland, andwooded areas, typically nearwater. In the north it breedssouth to the San Juan Valley,the Jicarilla Reservation, SantaFe, and the Maxwell NationalWildlife Refuge (Hubbard1978).

During the atlas project,Brewer’s Blackbirds fre-quented residential areasexclusively. They were foundbreeding in 90% of the resi-dential blocks. Breeding wasconfirmed in 80% of theoccupied blocks.

Courtship behavior wasreported in early May (May 4,1985, and May 6, 1987).Nestlings were found on June6 and June 25 and a sittingfemale on June 23. Two nestswere reported: one was inresidential shrubbery, theother, with four nestlings, was4 feet above ground in aplanted urban piñon pine.Adults attending fledgedyoung were reported fromMay 25 to July 3.

This is a gregarious species.Brewer’s Blackbirds winter inflocks associating with otherblackbirds. Flocks arrive inLos Alamos every springduring April (April 24 mediandate in 18 years). As describedby Laidlaw (Bent 1958) in his

study of this species, flocking behavior gradually gives way as thebirds associate more and more in pairs. After the pair is formed,the members are almost always together. Their activities are notconfined to any territory, but there is a focus of attention at thenest site, which is defended. After incubation has begun, the maleguards his female against approaches of other males but does notdefend a territory.

Brewer’s Blackbirds typically leave Los Alamos for the winter inearly October (October 9 median date in 9 years).

BRBL


Residential (10) 9 7 0 2Adjoining 1 1 0 0

TOTAL 10 8 0 2


Brown-headedCowbird

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB

B B

B B

BB

B

B B

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Brown-headedCowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)

The Brown-headed Cowbirdsummers statewide, breedingat lower and middle elevationsin varied habitats includingpine forest locally (Hubbard1978). It occurs most frequentlyin fields and pastures, openwoodlands, forest edges, andresidential areas, avoidingheavy forest and desert. In-creased fragmentation of theforest provides increasedhabitat favorable to the cow-bird.

In Los Alamos, the cowbirdoccupies primarily the pon-derosa pine forest and piñon/juniper woodland. During theatlas project, cowbirds werefound in 93% of the lowerwoodland blocks with con-firmed breeding in one-third ofthese. Only 11% of the blockswith cowbirds were in forestsat higher elevations (above8000 feet); in none of theseblocks was breeding con-firmed.

The Brown-headed Cowbird isa brood parasite. It builds nonest but instead lays its eggs inthe nests of other birds, relyingon the host to hatch and raisethe young. Of 13 nests para-sitized by cowbirds in LosAlamos, 5 were Grace’sWarbler nests in ponderosapine forest, 3 were Virginia’sWarbler nests in oak scrub, 2were Solitary Vireo nests, andthere was 1 nest each of theWestern Wood-Pewee, Chip-ping Sparrow, and Rufous-sided Towhee.

BHCO



TOTAL 45 13 21 11

From their arrival in late April (April 28 median date in 17 years)until midsummer, males are in frequent display as they court thefemales or vie with other males. Such displays provided evidencefor the probable atlas breeding records. Courtship was reportedfrom May 7 to June 30. Breeding was confirmed by observation of ahost adult feeding a single young cowbird or of a noisy fledglingcalling to be fed. Dates reported were June 28 to July 25 for Grace’sWarbler, July 15 to August 7 for Virginia’s Warbler, August 26 forthe Western Wood Pewee, July 18 for the Chipping Sparrow, andJuly 16 for the Solitary Vireo.

In mixed habitat areas like those utilized in Los Alamos where hostspecies are numerous and dispersed, female cowbirds are territo-rial—defending a breeding area of 10 to 50 acres. Males maydefend a mate from other males but do not defend a territory(Stokes and Stokes 1983).

Cowbirds disappear in July from many or most of the localities inwhich they breed, evidently for concealment during the moltingseason (Bent 1958). The latest autumn date on record in LosAlamos is August 31.


Northern Oriole

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Northern Oriole

Northern Oriole(Icterus galbula)

The Northern Oriole* sum-mers statewide, nesting inwooded areas at lower andmiddle elevations. It espe-cially favors riparian wood-land and planted trees(Hubbard 1978).

One nest was found in LosAlamos during the atlasproject. It was the typicalpendant nest made of grassand fibers, 20 feet above theground in a large cottonwoodtree in a residential area. Thenest, defended by a scoldingmale, was found on June 25,1985. Possible breeding wasreported from three otherblocks.

Few spring sightings ofNorthern Orioles in LosAlamos have been reported.The earliest is May 12 (May 15median arrival date in 4years). They regularly migratethrough the eastern edge ofLos Alamos in the fall (Au-gust 8 median date of appear-ance; September 5 mediandeparture date in 5 years).

*Both forms of the Northern Oriole occur in New Mexico. The form found in Los Alamos is the Bullock’s Oriole, a regularbreeder and migrant in the state. The Baltimore Oriole is an occasional migrant in the state.

NOOR



TOTAL 4 1 0 3


Scott’s Oriole

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Scott’s Oriole

Scott’s Oriole(Icterus parisorum)

Scott’s Oriole summers in thesouth, northward locally tothe vicinity of the San JuanValley, Sandia Mountains,and the Canadian Basin,nesting from lowland tree,yucca/grasslands up intopiñon/juniper and oak wood-lands (Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,Scott’s Orioles were foundalong the canyon rim in 82%of the blocks containing theRio Grande gorge. Theserecords are the first for Scott’sOrioles in Los Alamos. Onenest was found on July 7,1984. It was built of plantfibers in Virginia creeperalongside a dwelling near thecliffside in residential piñon-juniper woodland. The nestheight was 7 feet.

Although uncommon wherefound, the Oriole’s far-carry-ing, clear whistling song—agolden song comprised ofmolten notes (Bent 1958)—reveals its presence.

The earliest spring date notedfor this oriole was April 26; nofall dates were reported.

SCOR


Rio Grande gorge (6) 4 0 1 3Adjoining 1 1 0 0

TOTAL 5 1 1 3


Cassin’s Finch

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Cassin’s Finch

Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)

The Cassin’s Finch is residentin the San Juan, Jemez, andSangre de Cristo mountains,but its numbers fluctuate fromyear to year. In some areas thespecies occurs most regularlyduring seasonal migration(Hubbard 1978). Its habitat isthe open, more arid stands ofmixed conifer and ponderosapine.

Uncommon in the summer inLos Alamos, Cassin’s Fincheswere found in 19% of theblocks containing mixedconifer and ponderosa pinehabitat during the atlasfieldwork. Breeding wasconfirmed in 30% of theseblocks. These finches were notfound in the higher (above8700 feet), more dense forestsof the northwest third of thecounty.

One of the confirmed breed-ing records was a damagednest containing one egg,which was found on theground in Bayo Canyon(Block 4-6) on June 6, 1985.Another used nest with abroken egg was found May27, 1987. Adults were feedingyoung in June 1985 and 1986.These are the first reportedbreeding records for LosAlamos.

Cassin’s Finches were presentin Los Alamos throughout thewinter-spring seasons in 6 of12 years of systematic report-ing, although an occasionalbird was reported in the

CAFI



TOTAL 10 3 4 3

winter in every year but one. Spring flocks typically appear in LosAlamos in late winter (February 9 median date in 19 years) and,except for the few that remain to nest, depart by the end of April(May 4 median date in 19 years). The nesting season begins in Mayand extends into July. Only during these few months are Cassin’sFinches not found in flocks. Nests are almost invariably situated inlarge conifers and usually near the terminal ends of limbs at aconsiderable height above the ground (Bent 1968).


House Finch

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

BB

B B

BBBB

B B

B B B B

BB

BB

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus)

The House Finch is residentstatewide except in mountainforests and alpine meadows.Everywhere else—deserts,scrublands, and open woods,particularly around humanhabitation—anyplace with aclump of trees or a patch ofbrushy growth at low tomoderate elevation is likely tobe populated by HouseFinches (Collins 1965).

During the atlas project,House Finches inhabited 93%of the piñon/juniper blocks.The attraction of residentialhabitat has extended theirbreeding range locally intoponderosa pine forest west ofthe piñon/juniper woodlandas well. Breeding was con-firmed in 63% of the occupiedblocks. Twelve nests werereported, including somebeing built and the rest witheither eggs or nestlings. Nestbuilding was noted betweenApril 10 and April 28 andthen again between June 1and June 5. Nests with eggswere found from May 1 toMay 14 and again from June23 to July 10. The later datesfor the two breeding phasesare likely to be for secondbroods.

House Finch

House Finches occur in small flocks in winter, frequenting feedersat the lower elevations. In early March, with the approach ofspring, House Finches begin to sing in earnest and to investigatetheir favorite nesting sites. By mid-April nesting is well under-way. Nest sites in Los Alamos included a crotch in an apple tree, aresidential cholla, under a porch roof, a rafter in an open storagebuilding, a ventilator fan housing, an exterior switch box, andseveral rural mail boxes.

HOFI



TOTAL 30 19 4 7


Red Crossbill

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding


Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)

The Red Crossbill is resident inmountainous areas almoststatewide, but there was noactual breeding record for NewMexico up to the publication ofHubbard’s 1978 Check list,although grown juveniles hadbeen recorded in the JemezMountains and in most of thestate’s major ranges.

In Los Alamos during the atlasfieldwork, Red Crossbills werefound throughout the highspruce/fir forest, the pon-derosa pine forest of the mesas,and the mixed conifer wood-lands of the canyon bottoms (in60% of the appropriate blocks).Three records of confirmedbreeding were obtained. All ofthese were of adults feedingyoung in the period from July12 to July 22 (one in 1986 andtwo in 1987). Determining thecrossbill’s local breedingdistribution is problematic.Because they forage widely—flying some distance from onearea to another—we probablyhave sightings from all forestedblocks. Observations of cross-bills flying overhead were notaccepted as possible breedingrecords.

Red Crossbills in New Mexicofeed on cones of blue andEngelmann spruce as well aspines (Hubbard, January 31,1990). They are nomadic,following the cone crop; theymay occur commonly oneseason, following which theymay be scarce for several years.In the Rocky Mountain region,

dates of nesting are very irregular, usually in late winter or earlyspring, but breeding activity may occur at almost anytime. InColorado, nests have been found every month of the year. The nestis typically placed high in a pine tree, concealed among twigs andfoliage well out on a branch.

The birds associate closely when not occupied with activities at thenest. Fluctuating foraging flocks may include unmated birds, malesfeeding incubating females, pairs feeding nestlings, and birds withfledglings in tow (Bailey et al. 1953). Red Crossbills can be easilyidentified by the loud “kip-kip-kip” call notes uttered just beforeand during their undulating flight. Their song begins with severaltwo- or three-note phrases followed by warbled trills. It may beheard anytime of year. The most likely opportunity for confirma-tion of breeding is the 3-week period when adults are feedingfledglings. The fledgling crossbill looks like a female Cassin’sFinch—streaked brown and white. Its bill is not fully grown and isnot crossed. Juvenile plumage is worn in some Red Crossbills untilthe bill crosses.

RECR



TOTAL 32 3 3 26

Red Crossbill


Pine Siskin

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

BB

B

B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Pine Siskin

Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)

The Pine Siskin is resident inmountainous areas almoststatewide. It summers inforests and adjacent habitats(Hubbard 1978).

The distribution of PineSiskins in Los Alamos wasrather uniform throughoutthe mixed conifer, ponderosapine, and lower canyonwoodlands during the atlasproject. They were recordedin 77% of the blocks contain-ing these habitats. Confirmedbreeding—in only 10% of theoccupied blocks—was diffi-cult to obtain for this species.Confirmations were fledg-lings or adults feeding young,reported from late June to lateJuly.

Siskins have been seen in LosAlamos every month of theyear, but are irregularly foundin winter. In 16 years ofsystematic observation, theywere recorded in 6 winterseasons (December throughFebruary). Annually flocks ofsiskins appear in March(March 22 median date in 16years) and then disperse tonest in May.

Pine Siskins are much inevidence early in the nestingseason. While within flocksand then as they disperse,they engage in territorialchases, courtship flights, song,and mate feeding. All of these

PISI



TOTAL 40 4 24 12

activities indicate probable breeding, which was recorded for 56%of the occupied blocks. Courtship activities, including flight song,took place from mid-May to mid-July.

Where the density of siskins is high, breeding individuals join insmall, social flocks away from the nesting territory. A foragingmale may be accompanied by other siskins as he returns to thenest. Only a small nesting territory is defended (Bent 1968). Be-cause of all the group activity, it is difficult to recognize a breed-ing territory and find the nest.


Lesser Goldfinch

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B B

BBB

B B B B B

BB

B B B

BBBB

B B B

B+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


Lesser Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch(Carduelis psaltria)

The Lesser Goldfinch summersalmost statewide from lowlandriparian woodland up into theponderosa pine forests(Hubbard 1978). Its habitat ispartly open situations withscattered trees, woodlandedge, second growth, openfields, pastures, and aroundhuman habitation (AmericanOrnithologist's Union 1983).

During the atlas project, LesserGoldfinches were found in88% of the blocks containingmesa and lower-canyon wood-lands. Breeding was confirmedin 55% of the occupied blocks.Their breeding range extendedfrom the Rio Grande riversideup into the mixed coniferforest. Almost one-third of theconfirmed and probablebreeding records were atelevations greater than 7000feet.

The Lesser Goldfinch is a latenester. Goldfinches arrive inLos Alamos in mid-May (May13 median date in 13 years).Nest building was observed byatlas fieldworkers from June 17to July 10. Of five identifiednesting trees, four were pon-derosa pines, the other abackyard deciduous tree.Probable breeding was indi-cated by the presence of pairsand song-flight displays of the

male, wherein, with wings and tail spread widely, he flaps hiswings rapidly as he flies above the treetops, singing all the while.

Lesser Goldfinches depart in early October (October 8 mediandate in 14 years).

LEGO



TOTAL 42 23 8 11


House Sparrow

8500

7500

8000

65007000

9000

8000

8000

7500

7000

7000

8500

9000

70

80

71

81

72

82

73

83

74

84

75

85

76

86

77

87

78

88

79

95 96 97 98

06

51

61

52

62

53

63

54

64

55

65

56

66

41 42 43

34

44

35

45

36

46

11 12 13 14 15 16

21

31

22

32

23

33

24 25 26


Los Alamos Canyon

Pajarito Canyon

Water Canyon

Ancho Canyon

Cañon de los

Frijoles

B

B B

B

B

B B B B

B B

B B

+

Confirmed breeding

Possible breeding

Probable breeding

2

03-27 4-21 5-16 6-10 7-05 7-30 8-24


4

6

8

10

12

Num

ber

Con

firm

ed


House Sparrow

House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)

The House Sparrow is residentstatewide mainly in residentialand agricultural areas. It nestsat lower and middle eleva-tions and locally into the pineforest where there are settle-ments. Los Alamos is at itsupper elevational limit(Hubbard 1978).

During the atlas project,House Sparrows were con-firmed as breeding birds in allthe residential blocks.

The House Sparrow has aprolonged breeding season.Nest building (or repair) wasobserved from April 10 toAugust 2. Ten nests with eggsor nestlings were found fromApril 25 to July 28. Almost allnesting was on or in manmadestructures, typically from 7 to20 feet above the ground (9reports). Seven reports gavespecific nest sites: four werecavities under eaves, two werebirdhouses, and one was thetop of a porch light fixture.

HOSP


Residential (10) 10 10 0 0Adjoining 3 3 0 0

TOTAL 13 13 0 0


Additional SpeciesReported as ProbableBreeders

Besides the five species described in the Species Accounts sectionas either probable or possible breeders, namely the Band-tailedPigeon, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, LazuliBunting, and Indigo Bunting, there are another four speciesreported as probably breeding. These species are outside theirnormal breeding range or at the extreme edge of suitable habitatand, therefore, without further verification, are not includedamong the breeding species of the county. These are Virginia Rail(Rallus limicola), Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), CrissalThrasher (Toxostoma dorsale), and Black-throated Sparrow(Amphispiza bilineata).

On June 27, 1984, in the cattail marsh east of the Bayo Canyonsewage plant in Block 4-6, an adult Virginia Rail was heardcalling. It was answered by “shrieking” calls from another adult.The activity persisted for 15 minutes and both birds were seen.Although this behavior suggests probable breeding, later visits tothe area failed to reveal any further rail activity. Virginia Rails areresident in marshes near Española; they have been found, butrarely, in migration in Los Alamos.

A male Winter Wren set up a streamside territory in mixed coniferforest in Block 5-2. He sang persistently and engaged in nestbuilding during a 2-week period in early June 1987. In subsequentvisits, no further breeding activity was observed. The breedingrange of the Winter Wren extends south in the Rocky Mountainregion only to central Idaho and western Montana.

Two Crissal Thrashers were seen together on June 24, 1988, inriparian habitat on the east bank of the Rio Grande in Block 7-9.The range of the Crissal Thrasher extends northward from south-ern New Mexico, where it is resident, disjunctively to the SandiaMountains (Hubbard 1978). This is the only record of thisthrasher in the Los Alamos area.

Two Black-throated Sparrows were seen together on July 6, 1988,in piñon/juniper habitat east of the Rio Grande in Block 7-9.Black-throated Sparrows are resident in southern New Mexico,summering locally to the San Juan and upper Rio Grande valleysin microphyll and other shrubland habitats. Occasional sightingsof this sparrow have been made in Los Alamos in earlier sum-mers, but there are no other breeding records.


Appendix A: Atlas Data A matrix of the complete geographical data for the atlas isdisplayed in Table 4. Abbreviations of the species names arelisted alphabetically. These abbreviations, adopted by the USFish and Wildlife Service for bird-banding records, wereused for data input in the atlas project. This list of names fol-lows the matrix directly. Note that we have retained the ab-breviations for the old names of three species that wereredefined by the AOU near the end of the atlas period: YBSA(for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker) represents the Red-napedSapsucker, WEFL (for the Western Flycatcher) represents theCordilleran Flycatcher, and BRTO (for Brown Towhee) rep-resents the Canyon Towhee.

The Block numbers head the columns in order from Block 1-1 on the left to Block 10-6 on the right. Each numerical entrygives the breeding status for a given species in a particularblock, where 4 indicates confirmed breeding, 3 probablebreeding, 2 possible breeding, and 1 indicates that the spe-cies was observed but was not breeding. Thus, for example,for the first species, the Acorn Woodpecker (ACWO), breed-ing was confirmed in Block 4-3 among others, was probablybreeding in Block 9-6 and possibly breeding in Blocks 4-6, 7-3, and 7-4.

By reading down a column, one can find all the breedingspecies in a block. By reading across a row, one can find allthe blocks in which a particular species bred during the atlasproject.

This matrix was laid out early in the project, brought up todate frequently, and used as a Scorecard during the fieldwork.


111111 222222 333333 444444 555555 666666 7777777777 888888888 9999 0 123456 123456 123456 123456 123456 123456 0123456789 012345678 5678 6

ACWO ...... ...... ...... ..4444 ...44. ...244 ..422..... ..4...... .3.. .AMCR ...... ...... ...... ...... ...1.. ...... .........4 ......... .... .AMDI ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .......... ........4 .... 3AMKE .....4 ...... ....1. ...244 ..3444 .32334 ..34434222 2.4444242 443. .AMRO .3.444 444423 444442 444444 444444 244344 2244.44444 442444444 4242 4ATFL ....34 ...423 ....42 ...434 ...334 .2.344 ..44342334 .2.433344 4443 4BBMA ...... ...... ...... ...14. ...... ...... .........2 .......11 .... .BCHU ...... ...... ...... ...... .....4 .....3 .......233 ......433 4.4. 3BEWR ...... .....3 ...... .....3 .....2 ....44 ...4233342 1..24.233 .433 4BGGN ...... .....3 .....4 ....33 ....23 ...232 ..2.3.223. ...232232 4.32 3

BGWA ...... .....3 ....22 .....2 ...... ....33 .....22... ....3243. .2.. .BHCO ...333 ....23 ..2434 3.3443 .23344 .33434 .222343333 23..43234 4422 3BHGR .2.444 .4442. 244434 344444 344434 334444 2334444444 323.24444 4332 4BLGR ...... ...... ...... .....2 ...... ...... ......3.24 ........3 2.43 4BLPH ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ....1. .........2 ........3 ..32 2BRBL ...... ...... ...... ...244 ..244. ...... .......44. .......44 .... .BRCR 4..43. 22232. .43.32 222232 444432 32.... 424....... 4........ 4... .BRTO ...... .....3 ...2.. 1..443 ....42 ....42 .....44444 ...223444 4344 .BTHU 234444 224344 224444 434444 324444 232233 3233344222 334322223 442. 3BTPI ...... .2.... ...... 2.2331 ..3... 1..... 1..2...... ......... .... .

BTSP ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .........3 ......... .... .BUGR 24.... 44..2. 42.... ...... 2..... 4..... .......... ......... .... .BUSH .....4 .....4 ...... ....24 ....24 ...444 .....34442 ....22423 2..2 2CAFI ...... ...... ...... ...3.4 ..2.2. ...344 32........ ......3.. .... .CAKI .....3 ....2. ....41 ....34 ..3344 ....34 ...4334443 ....4.444 .433 3CAWR ....33 ....2. ....22 ...243 ...344 ....33 ....343233 .....2424 3333 4CHSP ..4444 ...444 .24444 334434 444444 444444 243444424. 42.444432 444. 4CLNU 1.1111 1..11. 31..1. 311133 .2.112 1244.. 31132.1.1. 4233111.. 31.. 1CLSW ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...1....42 ......3.4 ...2 .COHA ....44 ....44 ..444. ...224 .24444 .....4 .4...4.222 2.2.22..2 24.2 2

CONI ...344 ...333 ....33 ..22.. .33233 ..4.43 .233222.33 2.4.33333 323. 3COPO ...3.3 .....2 ....33 ....23 ..2.23 ..333. ..333..... ..4.33..2 .... .CORA 121224 232233 344423 344444 144444 24.443 4....33343 324434444 4442 2CRTH ...... .....2 ...... ...... ...... ...... .........3 ......... .... .DEJU 44244. 444443 444.2. 444211 443431 34322. 444....1.. 3333..... 1... 1DOWO ...... ...... 3..... 4.42.2 .2.... 42...3 .442...... 2...2...1 2... .DUFL ...... 4..... .....3 ...... ..3... .32... .3.332.... .34.3.... 2... 2EUST ...... ...... ...... ..444. ..444. ...... ...1...44. .......44 .... .EVGR ....1. 22221. .....2 134441 .224.1 3..3.. ..4....14. 2...21.3. 1.1. 1FLOW ...... ...... ...... .334.. ...4.. 3..... .33....... ......2.. 4... .

GAQU ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .......... .......42 .... .GCKI 44.... 22.... 23.... 3..1.. 4..... ...... 2......... 2......1. 1... .GHOW ...... ..2.22 ...... ....23 ..2342 2.3342 ..322..22. 3...4.423 .4.. .GRFL ...433 ....33 ....33 .....3 ....33 ...443 .....2232. ...23432. 334. 3GRJA 24.... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .......... ......... .... .GRWA ...444 ..4444 .24434 .22324 .34244 324444 .243.44... .233433.. 44.. 2GTTO .3.... .4.... 2..... 4..1.2 ..32.. .3.... ..343..11. .443..2.. 1... .


111111 222222 333333 444444 555555 666666 7777777777 888888888 9999 0 123456 123456 123456 123456 123456 123456 0123456789 012345678 5678 6

HAFL ...444 4.444. .24434 332323 444334 24.43. 334..2.... 3..3..... 44.. 4HAWO .24444 234343 .43323 .22424 343444 324233 424443.... 34344224. 34.. 4HETA .....3 ...... ....4. ....34 ....24 ...... ...2434.2. ...32.442 444. 3HETH 332333 333433 343322 43.2.. 34333. 443322 443.22.... 33423.... 42.. 3HOFI .....4 .....2 ...442 ..3434 ..4444 ...442 .....34444 .....2244 2443 3HOSP ...... ...... ...44. ..444. ..4444 ...... .......44. .......44 .... .HOWR .44344 44442. 443422 444444 443344 442344 44444423.. 44444..4. 42.. 3INBU ...... ...... ...... .....2 ...... ...... .........3 ......... .... 2LABU ...... ...... ...... ....22 ...2.. ...... .........2 .......12 .... 2LASP .....4 ...... ....1. ....3. ...34. ...443 .......224 .......44 ..3. 3LBWO ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .......... ......... .22. 2LEGO ....33 ..2323 ....44 .4.424 .44444 242433 ...2234443 2..224444 4442 4LEWO ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...4...... ..444.... .... .

LISP .4.... 4..... ...... 43.... .1.... ...... .......... ......... .... .MALL ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .........3 ........4 ...2 1MGWA ..4... ..44.. ..2.2. .42211 .34.32 333.12 .23....1.. .23..4... 2... .MOBL ....33 .....4 2...1. 4..442 ..4444 .4.423 ..244.444. .4.32.444 344. 3MOCH 443444 324444 444444 442423 443434 324344 443.24311. 33224422. 33.. 2MODO ..2334 ...343 ..3344 ..3433 ..3334 ...333 ...2333333 .32332234 4443 4NOFL 244443 234423 244433 443444 443444 434244 234443443. 424444444 4322 2NOGO ...... ..2.2. ...... ...... ...... ...... ...2...... .......2. .... .NOMO ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .......2.. .......24 .... .NOOR ...... ...... ...... 2..4.. ...2.2 ...... .......... ......... 1... .

NPOW ...... ..4... ...... ..3... .2.... 2..... .......... ......... 4... .NSWO ...... ...... ...4.. ...... ...... ...... .......... ......... .... .OCWA .42... 22.... .33... 34.1.1 3431.1 42.3.. ..4..1.... 324..1... 1... .OSFL ...... 42.... .2.... ...1.1 ...... 42.... 223....... 332...... 1... .PIJA ....1. .....1 ....11 .....2 .....2 ...... ......4444 ....11244 ..21 3PISI 33.323 332.3. 433342 233323 333422 .423.2 3323...... 3321.11.. 231. 1PLTI .....3 ...424 ....22 ....33 ...234 ...343 ...2333433 ....42444 4443 4PYNU ..2444 ..4444 .44442 .44444 444444 444444 4444444... 424444.2. 44.. 4RBNU 32411. 343... 243... 33.1.1 421..1 3..... 32......1. 3.2....1. .... .RCKI 24.... 43.... 22.... 32..11 33..1. 3..... 332....... 3.......1 1... .

RCSP ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .....2 ........32 ........4 .2.3 2RECR 32.222 2..22. 421.24 2221.2 .222.3 .2.2.. .222.2.... 322422... .... .ROWR ....32 ...... ..2.22 ....23 ...223 .....4 ...3434444 .2.43.244 4443 4RSTO ...444 .2.434 ..4434 ..2444 .23444 .33444 ..24444343 .32442334 4343 4RTHA ....44 ....4. 2...12 1...24 ..2444 24.3.2 2...244222 ..244.422 2423 2RWBL ...... ...... ...... ....14 ...3.3 .1.... ......332. ........2 .... .SAPH ...... ...... ...43. ..344. ..4444 .44442 ....444344 .......44 4.44 4SCJA ....44 ...4.3 ....32 ...444 ...444 ..3444 ...2444444 ...422344 4444 4SCOR ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .........2 .......42 ..23 .SOSP ...... ...... ...... ...224 ...3.3 ...... ......3... ........2 .... .

SOVI ...444 ..4444 ..3434 2.4434 334344 .44434 2234342..4 .3443322. 443. 3SPOW ...... ...4.. ...... ...... ...... ...... ..2....... ......... .... .SPSA ...... ...... ...... .2.... ...... ...... .........2 ........4 ..23 .SSHA ....4. ...... ...... .2.12. .4.11. .....1 3......... 2........ 1... .


111111 222222 333333 444444 555555 666666 7777777777 888888888 9999 0 123456 123456 123456 123456 123456 123456 0123456789 012345678 5678 6

STJA 242444 324422 444332 444444 444444 433242 334434211. 432332411 4... 2TOSO 3..344 2.343. .33.2. .22212 23424. 432242 ..2....111 2.231.2.1 1111 1TTWO ...... ...... ..1... ...... .4.... ...... ..4....... 3........ .... .TUVU .1.112 ..1... .1..12 1.1.24 ..1141 ....11 1..1.11111 111211121 2111 2VESP .....3 ....24 ...... ....3. ..4... .323.. ....3...4. ........3 ..2. .VGSW 432444 233424 444443 444444 324444 424344 4434334.32 433434443 4422 4

VIRA ...... ...... ...... .....3 ...... ...... .......... ......... .... .VIWA ....44 .2.323 ..4444 .33443 .34444 344433 ..33444.22 234342222 443. 4WAVI ...3.. 2244.. 322.33 3423.2 344324 322.32 3432...... 4332..2.. 422. 4WBNU 2.4444 224433 224234 243444 4.4444 323444 4344234... 32244224. 432. 2WEBL ...444 ...444 ..4443 42.444 .44444 .44444 4444444443 444444344 442. 4WEFL 2.444. 24433. .33... 444423 444332 332.4. 3432...... 323324... 4... 3WEME ...... .....2 ...... ...24. ...... .4.... ...22....2 .......23 .... .WETA .23434 344344 243444 444324 444344 444343 3343434..2 444334334 44.2 3WISA .....2 44444. 443.2. 34.... 433.22 42...4 442..2.... 4.2....2. 4... 1WITU ...344 ...... ...... 43.... 33.... ...... 2......... ......... .... 2

WIWR ...... ...... ...... ...... .3.... ...... .......... ......... .... .WTSW .1.3.3 .1...3 ..1.1. 1..224 .1.234 ...232 ...2.2..42 2233444.4 4433 2WWPE .2.444 22.334 4..343 4.2244 443334 443334 4443344.22 232443444 4432 3YBSA ..3.1. .2.... ...... 44.... .2..1. ...... ........1. 4........ .... .YRWA 33..33 42.24. 433... 343211 434341 3444.1 444..2.1.. 422.11111 1... 1ZTHA ....2. ...... ...... ...142 ....13 ....2. ...2.1..3. ....11..3 24.. .


Species Abbreviations

ACWO Acorn WoodpeckerAMCR American CrowAMDI American DipperAMKE American KestrelAMRO American RobinATFL Ash-throated FlycatcherBBMA Black-billed MagpieBCHU Black-chinned HummingbirdBEWR Bewick's WrenBGGN Blue-gray GnatcatcherBGWA Black-throated Gray WarblerBHCO Brown-headed CowbirdBHGR Black-headed GrosbeakBLGR Blue GrosbeakBLPH Black PhoebeBRBL Brewer's BlackbirdBRCR Brown CreeperBRTO Canyon TowheeBTHU Broad-tailed HummingbirdBTPI Band-tailed PigeonBTSP Black-throated SparrowBUGR Blue GrouseBUSH BushtitCAFI Cassin's FinchCAKI Cassin's KingbirdCAWR Canyon WrenCHSP Chipping SparrowCLNU Clark's NutcrackerCLSW Cliff SwallowCOHA Cooper's HawkCONI Common NighthawkCOPO Common PoorwillCORA Common RavenCRTH Crissal ThrasherDEJU Dark-eyed JuncoDOWO Downy WoodpeckerDUFL Dusky FlycatcherEUST European StarlingEVGR Evening GrosbeakFLOW Flammulated OwlGAQU Gambel's QuailGCKI Golden-crowned KingletGHOW Great Horned OwlGRFL Gray FlycatcherGRJA Gray JayGRWA Grace's WarblerGTTO Green-tailed TowheeHAFL Hammond's FlycatcherHAWO Hairy WoodpeckerHETA Hepatic TanagerHETH Hermit ThrushHOFI House FinchHOSP House SparrowHOWR House WrenINBU Indigo BuntingLABU Lazuli BuntingLASP Lark SparrowLBWO Ladder-backed Woodpecker

LEGO Lesser GoldfinchLEWO Lewis' WoodpeckerLISP Lincoln's SparrowMALL MallardMGWA MacGillivray's WarblerMOBL Mountain BluebirdMOCH Mountain ChickadeeMODO Mourning DoveNOFL Northern FlickerNOGO Northern GoshawkNOMO Northern MockingbirdNOOR Northern OrioleNPOW Northern Pygmy-OwlNSOW Northern Saw-whet OwlOCWA Orange-crowned WarblerOSFL Olive-sided FlycatcherPIJA Pinyon JayPISI Pine SiskinPLTI Plain TitmousePYNU Pygmy NuthatchRBNU Red-breasted NuthatchRCKI Ruby-crowned KingletRCSP Rufous-crowned SparrowRECR Red CrossbillROWR Rock WrenRSTO Rufous-sided TowheeRTHA Red-tailed HawkRWBL Red-winged BlackbirdSAPH Say's PhoebeSCJA Scrub JaySCOR Scott's OrioleSOSP Song SparrowSOVI Solitary VireoSPOW Spotted OwlSPSA Spotted SandpiperSSHA Sharp-shinned HawkSTJA Steller's JayTOSO Townsend's SolitaireTTWO Three-toed WoodpeckerTUVU Turkey VultureVESP Vesper SparrowVGSW Violet-green SwallowVIRA Virginia RailVIWA Virginia's WarblerWAVI Warbling VireoWBNU White-breasted NuthatchWEBL Western BluebirdWEFL Cordilleran FlycatcherWEME Western MeadowlarkWETA Western TanagerWISA Williamson's SapsuckerWITU Wild TurkeyWIWR Winter WrenWTSW White-throated SwiftWWPE Western Wood-PeweeYBSA Red-naped SapsuckerYRWA Yellow-rumped WarblerZTHA Zone-tailed Hawk


Appendix B: StatisticalModeling

To facilitate analysis and comparison, a numerical score,designated S, has been defined to provide a single measureof breeding likelihood that quantifies the difference in prob-ability of breeding indicated by the three breeding criteria.The weighting formula used is one, one-half, and one-quar-ter for confirmed, probable, and possible breeding, respec-tively. Thus, a breeding record in a block has a value of 1, 1/2, or 1/4. The weighting formula emphasizes confirmedbreeding; the higher the score, the greater is the probabilityof confirmed breeding. The aim of the atlas fieldwork was toconfirm breeding, and most of the effort was concentratedon doing this. When only probable or possible breeding wasreported, there is genuine uncertainty whether breeding ac-tually occurred. The weighting formula is arbitrary, but it ismy estimate of the degree of this uncertainty. The score for aspecies for the entire county is the sum of the values for allblocks. The score for a block is the sum of the values for allthe species in that block. For example, Block 5-3 with 54 spe-cies of which 29 were confirmed, 19 were probable, and 6were possible breeders, has a score of 40 (S = 1 × 29 + 0.5 × 19+ 0.25 × 6). If breeding had been confirmed for all the speciesfound in Block 5-3, S would have been 54. The score for amember of an association (Table 1) is the sum of the valuesfor the species in the blocks in which the association isfound.

A simple model (Campbell 1991) for the observed score, S, ina block is

S = B(p,N).

B is a binomial distribution of p and N, where p is the prob-ability of confirming breeding of a species in the block, andN is the number of species actually breeding. The actualnumber of breeding species is what we would like toestimate.

Uncertainty in the number of confirmed species found in ablock results from several factors. Among these are observerability, accessibility to the various habitats, and differencesin species detectability and population density, but the prin-cipal ones are the amount of habitat variety and the timespent in the field. All of these factors affect the probability ofconfirming breeding, but we treat only those with the largestexpected effect, time in the field and the number of habitatsin the block, with this model. With the assumption that the


probability of discovering a new species is proportional tothe number of undiscovered species remaining, we assumean exponential growth function for p,

p(t) = 1 - exp(-t/a)

where t is time in the field in units of field days. A field dayis taken as a day for which there are atlas records. The vari-ance of B(p,N) is equal to NP(1-p), so for p = p(t) close toone, that is when sufficient time has been spent in the fieldto find and confirm breeding in nearly all the species, thiscomponent of the variance vanishes. The parameter a is de-termined from analyzing cumulative score as a function ofthe time in the field.

The maximum number (R) of species that are likely to nest ina block is the number of species expected for the combina-tion of habitats in the block, which ranges from one to five.N is generally less than R, and N does not increase as fast asR as the number of habitats available in a block increases.This is what we would expect from the species/area effect,in which the number of species in an area increases as thearea investigated increases (Wiens 1989). Examination of thedata fitted by the exponential growth function for blockswith different R, suggests a form bRc for the expected num-ber of species in a block. The final values for the parametersa, b, and c are 7.007, 7.232, and 0.396, respectively, from fit-ting the data with this functional form. Given the compo-nents of variance due to the time and number of habitats, astatistical procedure (BLUP) was applied that gives the “bestlinear unbiased prediction” of the expected number of spe-cies. The estimated number of species that actually bred ineach block, N, is the weighted average of the number esti-mated from the growth curve and the estimated number ofexpected species. N for each block is shown in Fig. 6.

Because in a very well covered block nearly all the speciesthat could be expected to breed there were found and con-firmed, S is very nearly equal to the number of species actu-ally breeding (estimated by N) in that block, but for a lesswell-covered block, S is less than N. Comparison of S and Nthus gives a means of evaluating the adequacy of coverageas described in the Survey Results section. Evidence for theequality statement is that the number of breeding birds in avery well covered block is very close to that expected from


the species richness found for the habitats found in theblock.

The model could be improved in several ways. The probabil-ity of confirming breeding is not the same for each species.For a second cut we could estimate different p functions fordifferent levels of detectability. Also, the quality of the timein the field varied among blocks. Block-busting, for example,was more efficient at confirming breeding, because the dayschosen were at the peak of the breeding season. A more gen-eral exponential form for the p(t) function with a shape pa-rameter could be used to qualify time in the fieldappropriately for the different blocks.


References American Ornithologists’ Union, Check-list of North AmericanBirds, 6th ed. (Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas, 1983).

American Ornithologists’ Union, “Thirty-seventh supple-ment to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list ofNorth American Birds,” Auk 106, 532–538 (1989).

Andrle, Robert F. and Janet R. Carroll, Eds., Atlas of BreedingBirds in New York State (Cornell University Press, Ithaca,New York, 1988).

Audubon Field Notes, Vol. 18, “The Nesting Season,” (1964), p.527.

Bailey, A. M. and R. J. Niedrach, Birds of Colorado (DenverMuseum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado, 1965).

Bailey, F. M., Birds of New Mexico (New Mexico Departmentof Game and Fish, Press of Judd and Detweiler, Inc., Wash-ington, District of Columbia, 1928).

Balgooyen, F. D., “Behavior and Ecology of the AmericanKestrel (Falco sparverius) in the Sierra Nevada of California,”University of California Publications in Zoology 103, pp. 1–83(1976).

Bent, A. C., “Life Histories of North American Flycatchers,Larks, Swallows, and their Allies,” US National Museumbulletin number 179 (1942).

Bent, A. C., “Life Histories of North American Nuthatches,Wrens, Thrashers, and Their Allies,” US National Museumbulletin number 195 (1948).

Bent, A. C., “Life Histories of North American Thrushes,Kinglets, and Their Allies,” US National Museum bulletinnumber 196 (1949).

Bent, A. C., “Life Histories of North American Blackbirds,Orioles, Tanagers, and Their Allies,” US National Museumbulletin number 211 (1958).

Bent, A. C., et al., “Life Histories of North American Cardi-nals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, andTheir Allies,” O. L. Austin, Jr., Comp., US National Museumbulletin number 237 (1968).


Blackford, J. L., Western Wonderlands, A Guide to Bird Habitatsof the Western United States (Vantage Press, Inc., New York,1956).

Bondesen, P., North American Bird Songs—A World of Music(Scandinavian Science Press, Ltd., Klampenborg, Denmark,1977).

Brauner, J., “Reactions of Poorwills to Light and Tempera-ture,” Condor 54, 152–159 (1952).

Campbell, K., Los Alamos National Laboratory, unpublishedmanuscript, May 1991.

Collins, H. H., Jr., Familiar Garden Birds of America (Harper& Row, Publishers, New York, 1977).

Dixon, K. L., “Behavior of the Plain Titmouse,” Condor 51,110–136 (1949).

Dunne, P., D. Sibley, and C. Sutton, Hawks in Flight(Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1988).

Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye, The Birder’s Hand-book—A Field Guide to the Natural History of North AmericanBirds (Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, 1988).

Farrand, J., Jr., Ed., The Audubon Society Master Guide toBirding (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1983).

Foxx, T. S., Compiler, “La Mesa Fire Symposium, LosAlamos, NM, October 6 and 7, 1981,” Los Alamos NationalLaboratory report LA-9236-NERP (February 1984).

Foxx, T. S. and G. D. Tierney, “Status of the Flora of the LosAlamos National Environmental Research Park,” LosAlamos National Laboratory report LA-8050-NERP, Vol. II.(September 1984).

Foxx, T. S. and G. D. Tierney, “Status of the Flora of the LosAlamos National Environmental Research Park,” LosAlamos National Laboratory report LA-8050-NERP, Vol. III.(June 1985).

Goodwin, D., Crows of the World (Comstock Publishing Asso-ciates, Ithaca, New York, 1976).


Harrison, C., A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings ofNorth American Birds (Wm. Collins Sons, Glasgow, GreatBritain, 1978).

Harrison, H. H., A Field Guide to Western Birds’ Nests(Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1979).

Hubbard, J. P., New Mexico Department of Game and Fish,in letter to James R. Travis, January 30, 1991.

Hubbard, J. P., The Biological and Taxonomic Status of the NewMexican Duck (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish,Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1977).

Hubbard, J. P., Revised Check-list of the Birds of New Mexico(New Mexico Ornithological Society, Albuquerque, NewMexico, 1978).

Jensen, J. K., “Notes on the Nesting Birds of Northern SantaFe County, New Mexico,” Auk 40, 452–469 (1923).

Johnsgard, P. A., The Grouse of the World (University of Ne-braska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1983a).

Johnsgard, P. A., The Hummingbirds of North America(Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, District of Co-lumbia, 1983b).

Lanyon, W. E., “Comparative biology of the meadowlarks inWisconsin,” publications of the Nuttal Ornithological Clubnumber 1, (1957).

Laughlin, S. B., Ed., Proceedings of the Northeastern BreedingBird Atlas Conference (Vermont Institute of Natural Science,Woodstock, Vermont, March 1982).

Laughlin, S. B. and D. P. Kibbe, The Atlas of Breeding Birds ofVermont (University Press of New England, Hanover, Ver-mont, 1985).

Lawrence, L. de K., The Lovely and the Wild (McGraw-HillBook Company, New York, 1968).


Ligon, J. David, “Late Summer-autumn Breeding of thePiñon Jay in New Mexico,” Condor 73, 147–153 (1971).

Ligon, J. Stokley, “Habits of the Spotted Owl,” Auk 43, 421–429 (1926).

Ligon, J. Stokley, New Mexico Birds (The University of NewMexico Press in cooperation with the New Mexico Depart-ment of Game and Fish, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1961).

New Mexico Ornithological Society Field Notes, Vols. 1–28 (NewMexico Ornithological Society, Albuquerque, New Mexico,1962–1989).

Palmer, R. S., Handbook of North American Birds, Vols. 4 and 5,Diurnal Raptors (Yale University Press, New Haven, RhodeIsland, 1988).

Peeters, H. J., “Nuptial Behavior of the Band-tailed Pigeon inthe San Francisco Bay Area,” Condor 64, 445–470 (1962).

Peterson, R. T., A Field Guide to Western Birds, 2nd ed.(Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1961).

Pinkowski, B. C., “Foraging ecology and habitat utilizationin the genus Sialia” in The Role of Insectivorous Birds in ForestEcosystems, J. G. Dickson, R. N. Connor, R. R. Fleet, J. A. Jack-son, and J. C. Kroll, Eds. (Academic Press, New York, 1979).

Porter, Eliot, Birds of North America, A Personal Selection (E. P.Dutton and Company, Inc., New York, 1972).

Pough, R. H., Audubon Guides: All the Birds of Eastern and Cen-tral North America (Doubleday and Company, Inc., GardenCity, New Jersey, 1953).

Pough, R. H., Audubon Western Bird Guide (Doubleday andCompany, Inc., Garden City, New Jersey, 1957).

Rust, H. J., “Migration and Nesting of Nighthawks in North-ern Idaho,” Condor 49, 177–188 (1947).

Smith, Charles R., Ed., Handbook for Atlasing American Breed-ing Birds (Vermont Institute of Natural Science, Woodstock,Vermont, September 1990).


Stokes, D. W., A Guide to the Behavior of Common Birds (Little,Brown and Company, Boston, Massachusetts, 1979).

Stokes, D. W. and L. Q. Stokes, A Guide to Bird Behavior, Vol.II. (Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Massachusetts,1983).

Sutcliffe, S. M., R. E. Bonney, Jr., and J. D. Lowe, Compilers,Proceedings of the Second Northeastern Breeding Bird Atlas Con-ference (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, June 1986).

Tatchl, J. L., “Breeding Birds of the Sandia Mountains andTheir Ecological Distribution,” Condor 67, 479–490 (1967).

Terres, John K., The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of NorthAmerican Birds (Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1980).

Tyler, H. A. and D. Phillips, Owls by Day and Night(Naturegraph Publishers, Inc., Happy Camp, California,1978).

Udvardy, M. D. F., The Audubon Society Field Guide to NorthAmerican Birds—Western Region (Alfred A. Knopf, New York,1977).

US Energy Research and Development Administration, “TheLos Alamos National Environmental Research Park,” con-tract W-7405-Eng. 36, 36 p. (undated).

Wiens, J. A., The Ecology of Bird Communities, Vol. 1 (Cam-bridge University Press, New York, 1989).

Wilson, D. M. and J. Bart, “Reliability of Singing Bird Sur-veys: Effects of Song Phenology During the Breeding Sea-son,” Condor 87, 69–73 (1985).


Species Index BlackbirdBrewer’s 22, 33, 243, 266, 269Red-winged 21, 35, 239, 267, 269

BluebirdMountain 19, 31, 177, 179, 267, 269Western 15, 18, 31, 177, 179, 268, 269

BuntingIndigo 22, 217, 264, 267, 269Lazuli 19, 215, 264, 267, 269

Bushtit 18, 31, 32, 151, 266, 269

ChickadeeMountain 17, 20, 31, 147, 267, 269

CowbirdBrown-headed 19, 31, 197, 203, 245, 266, 269

CreeperBrown 20, 31, 159, 266, 269

CrossbillRed 20, 28, 31, 255, 261, 267, 269

CrowAmerican 22, 143, 266, 269

DipperAmerican 22, 169, 266, 269

DoveMourning 17, 19, 31, 67, 267, 269

EagleGolden 15

FalconPeregrine 15Prairie 15

FinchCassin’s 19, 28, 31, 251, 255, 261, 266, 269House 18, 28, 31, 33, 253, 267, 269

FlickerNorthern 14, 16, 18, 31, 105, 267, 269

FlycatcherAsh-throated 17, 18, 31, 123, 266, 269Cordilleran 20, 24, 26, 31, 117, 265, 268, 269Dusky 19, 24, 26, 31, 111, 113, 115, 266, 269Gray 18, 24, 26, 31, 32, 115, 266, 269Hammond’s 20, 26, 31, 111, 113, 115, 267, 269Olive-sided 20, 32, 107, 267, 269

GnatcatcherBlue-gray 18, 31, 32, 175, 266, 269

GoldfinchLesser 14, 17, 19, 28, 31, 259, 267, 269


GoshawkNorthern 49, 267, 269

GrosbeakBlack-headed 7, 15, 18, 31, 207, 211, 266, 269Blue 18, 31, 32, 34, 213, 266, 269Evening 18, 28, 31, 261, 266, 269

GrouseBlue 21, 31, 32, 57, 266, 269

HawkCooper’s 19, 25, 31, 32, 45, 47, 49, 266, 269Red-tailed 13, 19, 25, 31, 53, 267, 269Sharp-shinned 20, 31, 45, 267, 269Zone-tailed 18, 51, 268, 269

HummingbirdBlack-chinned 18, 31, 32, 85, 266, 269Broad-tailed 14, 16, 18, 31, 85, 87, 266, 269

JayGray 21, 31, 131, 266, 269Pinyon 18, 26, 27, 31, 32, 137, 267, 269Scrub 17, 18, 26, 27, 31, 133, 135, 267, 269Steller’s 17, 20, 26, 27, 31, 133, 268, 269

JuncoDark-eyed 20, 31, 237, 266, 269

KestrelAmerican 19, 25, 31, 55, 266, 269

KingbirdCassin’s 18, 31, 32, 125, 266, 269

KingletGolden-crowned 21, 31, 32, 171, 266, 269Ruby-crowned 21, 31, 32, 173, 267, 269

MagpieBlack-billed 18, 31, 34, 141, 266, 269

Mallard 22, 41, 267, 269Meadowlark

Western 21, 241, 268, 269Mockingbird

Northern 18, 31, 34, 187, 267, 269

NighthawkCommon 19, 31, 79, 266, 269

NutcrackerClark’s 20, 26, 27, 31, 139, 266, 269

NuthatchPygmy 15, 17, 19, 31, 157, 267, 269Red-breasted 17, 21, 31, 32, 153, 267, 269White-breasted 17, 20, 31, 155, 268, 269


OrioleNorthern 19, 31, 33, 247, 267, 269Scott’s 15, 22, 33, 249, 267, 269

OwlFlammulated 19, 31, 69, 266, 269Great Horned 13, 19, 25, 71, 75, 266, 269Northern Saw-whet 19, 31, 77, 267, 269Spotted 19, 75, 267, 269

PhoebeBlack 22, 119, 264, 266, 269Say’s 13, 14, 15, 18, 31, 33, 121, 267, 269

PigeonBand-tailed 19, 65, 264, 266, 269

PoorwillCommon 19, 31, 32, 81, 266, 269

Pygmy-OwlNorthern 20, 31, 73, 267, 269

QuailGambel’s 18, 31, 61, 266, 269Scaled 15

RailVirginia 35, 264, 268, 269

RavenCommon 18, 31, 32, 145, 266, 269

RobinAmerican 7, 14, 15, 18, 31, 185, 207, 266, 269

SandpiperSpotted 22, 63, 267, 269

SapsuckerRed-naped 21, 31, 32, 93, 95, 265, 268, 269Williamson’s 20, 31, 32, 93, 95, 268, 269

SiskinPine 20, 28, 31, 257, 261, 267, 269

SolitaireTownsend’s 20, 31, 73, 181, 268, 269

SparrowBlack-throated 264, 266, 269Chipping 15, 18, 31, 32, 227, 245, 266, 269House 22, 261, 263, 267, 269Lark 18, 31, 231, 267, 269Lincoln’s 21, 31, 235, 267, 269Rufous-crowned 15, 21, 225, 267, 269Song 21, 35, 233, 267, 269Vesper 21, 229, 268, 269

StarlingEuropean 22, 189, 266, 269


SwallowCliff 21, 129, 266, 269Violet-green 18, 31, 127, 177, 268, 269

SwiftWhite-throated 21, 83, 268, 269

TanagerHepatic 17, 18, 31, 207, 267, 269Western 15, 18, 31, 207, 209, 268, 269

ThrasherCrissal 264, 266, 269

ThrushHermit 20, 31, 183, 267, 269

TitmousePlain 17, 18, 31, 32, 149, 267, 269

TowheeCanyon 18, 26, 28, 31, 32, 223, 265, 266, 269Green-tailed 20, 26, 28, 31, 219, 266, 269Rufous-sided 17, 19, 26, 28, 31, 221, 245, 267, 269

TurkeyWild 20, 31, 32, 59, 268, 269

VireoSolitary 17, 19, 31, 32, 191, 207, 267, 269Warbling 20, 31, 191, 193, 268, 269

VultureTurkey 21, 43, 51, 268, 269

WarblerBlack-throated Gray 7, 18, 26, 27, 31, 201, 266, 269Grace’s 17, 19, 26, 27, 31, 32, 203, 245, 266, 269MacGillivray’s 17, 20, 26, 27, 31, 205, 267, 269Orange-crowned 20, 27, 31, 32, 195, 267, 269Virginia’s 17, 19, 27, 31, 32, 197, 245, 268, 269Yellow-rumped 17, 20, 26, 27, 31, 199, 268, 269

Wood-PeweeWestern 18, 31, 109, 245, 268, 269

WoodpeckerAcorn 19, 31, 32, 91, 265, 266, 269Downy 20, 31, 99, 266, 269Hairy 20, 31, 99, 101, 267, 269Ladder-backed 22, 97, 264, 267, 269Lewis’ 14, 19, 31, 89, 267, 269Three-toed 20, 103, 268, 269

WrenBewick’s 18, 31, 32, 165, 266, 269Canyon 21, 161, 163, 266, 269House 17, 20, 31, 167, 225, 267, 269Rock 21, 161, 267, 269Winter 264, 268, 269

Atlas of the breeding birds of Los Alamos County, New ......Diane Noveroske Alfred T. Peaslee, Jr....

Documents

Transcript of Atlas of the breeding birds of Los Alamos County, New ......Diane Noveroske Alfred T. Peaslee, Jr....