Birds of the Gila
National Forest:
A Checklist
United States
Department of
Agriculture
PREPARED BY
Forest
Service
Southwestern
Region
PRODUCED IN COOPERATION WITH
Dale A. Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Southwest New Mexico Audubon Society
Using the Checklist
The first column after the species name is an indication of the
bird’s abundance. Bear in mind, however, that many species
are locally distributed and do not range throughout the Gila
National Forest which embraces a highly diverse range of
elevations and habitats (see below). Thus, the expressions of
abundance are to be viewed as general indications, and of
course only for the habitat(s) favored by the species in
question. Abundance also varies seasonally, and often from
year-to-year as well. Additionally, actual abundance is often
distinct from detectability. Some species may be common but
secretive and only rarely seen. Others may be numerically
sparse, yet highly vocal or otherwise conspicuous. The
following designations relate to abundance, not necessarily to
frequency of detection. An asterisk (*) following a species
name indicates breeding on the Gila National Forest.
A - Abundant
F - Fairly Common
R - Rare
C - Common
U - Uncommon
The second column reflects seasonal status, showing the time
of year when the species normally appears in the checklist
area:
P - Permanent Resident (present year-round)
S - Summer Resident (present from spring until fall
migration) or Summer Visitor (not known to breed
on the Gila)
W - Winter Resident (typically from October through
March)
T - Transient (present as a migrant in spring and/or fall)
V - Visitant (present at various seasons, often
irregularly)
The remaining columns indicate the usual habitat(s) of each
species. On the forest, vegetation types range from spruce/fir
forest high in the Mogollon Mountains to desert scrub and
remnant grassland in the lower Burro Mountains. Small
expanses of grassland are scattered in the higher ranges.
Generally, ponderosa pine is the dominant species at
elevations between 6,000 and 7,000 feet. Somewhat higher,
and in many canyons, is a mixed conifer forest typically
dominated by Douglas-fir, often with Gambel’s oak.
Woodlands of piñon pine, juniper and oak, in varying
combinations, are present on drier sites throughout the forest.
Riparian areas support rich deciduous or coniferous woodland
and, locally, small areas of marsh or other open habitats. This
great ecological diversity provides for a remarkably varied bird
fauna. This checklist includes 166 species known to breed on
the Gila, 114 others that are more or less regular nonbreeders, and 57 species considered to be casual (recorded 35 times) or accidental (recorded but once or twice).
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
Loons
__ Common Loon
R T
•
F
C
F
U
C
C
•
•
•
•
•
•
Grebes
__ Eared Grebe
__ Western Grebe
__ Clark’s Grebe
__ Pied-billed Grebe*
S
T
T
T
W
P
Cormorants
__ Double-crested Cormorant U T
__ Neotropic Cormorant
R T
• •
• •
Herons and Ibises
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron*
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
White-faced Ibis
R
R
F
R
U
R
U
U
T
T
P
T
T
S
S
T
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vultures
__ Turkey Vulture
C S • • • • •
•• •
Swans, Geese, and Ducks
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Snow Goose
Ross’s Goose
Canada Goose
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard*
Blue-winged Teal*
U
R
F
R
R
F
F
C
R
U
T
T
W
T
W
W
T
P
S
T
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
__ Cinnamon Teal*
__ Northern Shoveler
__ Northern Pintail
__ Green-winged Teal*
__ Canvasback
__ Redhead
__ Ring-necked Duck
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser*
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck*
F
F
F
F
U
C
U
U
U
U
F
R
C
F
U
R
F
R
U
S
T
T
W
S
T
T
S
T
S
T
T
W
T
T
T
P
T
S
•
•
•
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
S
T
S
W
S
W
P
P
P
S
S
S
T
P
T
W
W
P
S
T
W
• •
• •
•
•
Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons
__ Osprey*
__ Bald Eagle
__ Northern Harrier
__
__
__
__
__
__
Sharp-shinned Hawk*
Cooper’s Hawk*
Northern Goshawk*
Common Black Hawk*
Swainson’s Hawk*
Zone-tailed Hawk*
__ Red-tailed Hawk*
__ Ferruginous Hawk
__ Rough-legged Hawk
__ Golden Eagle*
__ American Kestrel*
R
U
R
U
R
U
U
F
R
F
F
U
U
C
U
U
R
U
F
C
F
• • • •
• • • •
• •
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
•
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•• •
• • •
• •
• •
•
• • •
•
• •
•
• •
•
• •
• • •
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
•
• • •
•
• • *
•
• • •
• •
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
__ Merlin
__ Prairie Falcon*
__ Peregrine Falcon*
U
U
U
R
R
T
W
P
S
T
•
•
• • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
U P
U P
F P
•
• •
•
•
Grouse and Relatives
__ Ring-necked Pheasant*
__ Blue Grouse*
__ Wild Turkey*
•
• •
•
Quail
__ Montezuma Quail*
__ Scaled Quail*
__ Gambel’s Quail*
U P
•
U P •
C P
• • •
•
Rails, Coots and Cranes
__
__
__
__
__
Virginia Rail*
Sora*
Common Moorhen
American Coot*
Sandhill Crane
U
U
R
C
U
S
S
T
P
W
•
•
•
•
• •
Plovers
__ Black-bellied Plover
__ Semipalmated Plover
__ Killdeer*
R T
R T
F P
•
•
•
R T
R T
•
•
U
U
R
R
F
R
R
R
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Avocets and Stilts
__ Black-necked Stilt
__ American Avocet
Snipes and Sandpipers
__
__
__
__
__
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper*
__ Long-billed Curlew
T
T
T
T
T
S
W
T
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Baird’s Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Common Snipe
Wilson’s Phalarope
Red-necked Sandpiper
R
F
F
U
R
U
F
U
R
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
T
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
R
R
U
R
U
R
T
T
T
T
T
T
•
•
•
•
•
•
U
F
U
C
R
W
P
S
S
P
V
R
Gulls and Terns
__
__
__
__
__
__
Franklin’s Gull
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Forster’s Tern
Black Tern
•
•
•
•
Pigeons and Doves
__
__
__
__
__
__
Rock Dove*
Band-tailed Pigeon*
White-winged Dove*
Mourning Dove*
Inca Dove
Common Ground Dove
• •
• • • •
• • • •
• • • • •
•
• •
•
•
•
• •
Cuckoos and Roadrunners
__ Yellow-billed Cuckoo*
__ Greater Roadrunner*
U S
U P • • • •
•
• •
Owls
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Barn Owl*
Flammulated Owl*
Western Screech Owl*
Great Horned Owl*
Northern Pygmy Owl*
Elf Owl*
Burrowing Owl*
Spotted Owl*
Long-eared Owl*
U
F
U
F
U
R
R
U
R
U
P
S
P
P
P
S
S
P
S
W
• • • • •
• •
• • • •
• • • • • •
• • •
• • • •
•
•
•
• •
•
• •
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
__ Short-eared owl
__ Northern Saw-whet Owl
R T
R W
• • • •
• • •
Nightjars
__ Lesser Nighthawk
__ Common Nighthawk*
__ Common Poor-will*
__ Whip-poor-will*
U
F
C
F
F
S
S
T
S
S
•
• • • •
• • • •
• • • •
• •
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
Swifts
__ Black Swift
__ White-throated Swift*
R T
R S
F S
• • • •
• • • •
• • • •
•
•
Hummingbirds
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Blue-throated Hummingbird R
Magnificent Hummingbird* R
Black-chinned Hummingbird* C
Anna’s Hummingbird
R
Calliope Hummingbird
U
Broad-tailed Hummingbird* C
Rufous Hummingbird
C
S
S
• •
S • • • •
T
• •
T
• • •
S
• •
T
• • •
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
Kingfishers
__ Belted Kingfisher*
U T
U W
R S
•
•
•
• • •
• • •
• • •
Woodpeckers
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Lewis’s Woodpecker*
Acorn Woodpecker*
Gila Woodpecker*
Red-naped Sapsucker*
U
C
R
F
C
R
Williamson’s Sapsucker* U
R
Ladder-backed Woodpecker* U
Downy Woodpecker*
U
Hairy Woodpecker*
C
S
P
•
S
S
•
T
•
W
•
S
W
P • •
P
P
•
• • •
• • • •
• • • •
• • • •
•
• •
• •
• • • •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
__ Three-toed Woodpecker* R P
__ Northern Flicker*
C P
• •
• • • • •
• •
Tyrant Flycatchers
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Olive-sided Flycatcher*
Greater Pewee*
Western Wood Pewee*
Willow Flycatcher*
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Dusky Flycatcher
Gray Flycatcher*
Cordilleran Flycatcher*
Black Phoebe*
Say’s Phoebe*
Vermilion Flycatcher*
Ash-throated Flycatcher*
Brown-crested Flycatcher*
Cassin’s Kingbird*
Western Kingbird*
F
R
C
R
F
F
F
C
C
C
F
C
R
C
C
S
S
S
S
T
T
S
• •
S
P
P
• •
S
S • • •
S
S • • •
S • • •
• •
• •
• •
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• • •
• • •
• •
• •
• •
• •
• •
• •
Shrikes
__ Loggerhead Shrike
R S • • • •
U T • • • •
•
•
U W • • • •
••
Vireos
__
__
__
__
__
Bell’s Vireo*
Gray Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo*
Hutton’s Vireo*
__ Warbling Vireo*
R
R
W
C
U
R
C
C
S
S
R
S
S
W
S
T
C
C
C
C
R
R
P
P
P
P
S
W
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• • •
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
• •
•
Corvids
__
__
__
__
__
Steller’s Jay*
Western Scrub Jay*
Mexican Jay*
Pinyon Jay*
Clark’s Nutcracker*
• •
• • •
• •
•
•
•
•
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
__ American Crow*
` __ Chihuahuan Raven
__ Common Raven*
F P
•
U W •
•
C P
• • • • • •
•
Larks
__ Horned Lark*
C P •
••
Swallows and Martins
__ Purple Martin*
__ Tree Swallow*
__ Violet-green Swallow*
__
__
__
__
F
U
C
C
No. Rough-winged Swallow* F
Bank Swallow
R
Barn Swallow*
F
U
Cliff Swallow*
F
S
T
S
T
S
T
T
S
S
•
• •
• • • •
• • •
• • • •
• • • •
• • • •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tits and Relatives
__
__
__
__
__
Mountain Chickadee*
Bridled Titmouse*
Juniper Titmouse*
Verdin
Bushtit*
C
F
F
U
C
P
• •
P
•
P
• •
S •
•
P
• • •
F
C
C
F
P
P
P
P
U
C
C
C
C
R
U
P •
P
• • •
P
• • •
P
• • •
S
• •
W
W
•
•
•
•
Nuthatches and Creepers
__
__
__
__
Red-breasted Nuthatch*
White-breasted Nuthatch*
Pygmy Nuthatch*
Brown Creeper*
• •
• •
• • •
• •
•
Wrens
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Cactus Wren*
Rock Wren*
Canyon Wren*
Bewick’s Wren*
House Wren*
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
•
•
• •
•
• •
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
Dippers
__ American Dipper*
F P
• •
Kinglets and Gnatcatchers
__ Golden-crowned Kinglet*
__ Ruby-crowned Kinglet*
__ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher*
F
F
C
C
F
P
S
T
W
S
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • •
• • •
•
•
•
R
C
C
F
F
U
F
R
F
C
C
F
W
P
S
T
W
S
W
T
S
S
T
W
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
R
F
R
U
U
F
U
T
•
S •
• •
W •
• •
T
• • •
W
• • •
P
• • •
P
• • •
•
•
•
•
Thrushes
__ Eastern Bluebird
__ Western Bluebird*
__ Mountain Bluebird*
__ Townsend’s Solitaire*
__ Swainson’s Thrush
__ Hermit Thrush*
__ American Robin*
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • • •
• • • •
• • • •
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
Mimids
__ Gray Catbird
__ Northern Mockingbird*
__ Sage Thrasher
__ Curve-billed Thrasher*
__ Crissal Thrasher*
•
Starlings
__ European Starling*
U P
•
U W
F T
•• •
•
Pipits
__ American Pipit
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
Waxwings and Relatives
__ Cedar Waxwing
__ Phainopepla*
U W
F T
U P
• • •
• • •
• • •
•
•
•
Wood Warblers and Relatives
__ Olive Warbler*
U P
__ Tennessee Warbler
R T
__ Orange-crowned Warbler* U S
C T
__ Nashville Warbler
U T
__ Virginia’s Warbler*
F S
__ Lucy’s Warbler*
F S
__ Yellow Warbler*
F S
__ Yellow-rumped Warbler* C S
C T
U W
__ Black-throated Gray Warbler* F S
F T
__ Townsend’s Warbler
F T
__ Hermit Warbler
U T
__ Grace’s Warbler*
C S
__ Black-and-white Warbler R T
__ American Redstart
U T
__ Northern Waterthrush
U T
__ MacGillivray’s Warbler*
R S
C T
__ Common Yellowthroat*
U S
C T
__ Wilson’s Warbler
C T
__ Red-faced Warbler*
F S
__ Painted Redstart*
U S
__ Yellow-breasted Chat*
F S
• •
•
•
•
• • •
•
• •
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • • •
• • • •
• • •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Tanagers
__ Hepatic Tanager*
__ Summer Tanager*
__ Western Tanager*
F S
F S
C S
• •
• • • • •
• •
•
• •
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
Towhees, Sparrows and Longspurs
__ Green-tailed Towhee
C
R
__ Spotted Towhee*
C
__ Canyon Towhee*
F
__ Abert’s Towhee*
R
__ Rufous-crowned Sparrow* F
R
__ Chipping Sparrow*
C
A
U
__ Brewer’s Sparrow
C
U
__ Black-chinned Sparrow* U
__ Vesper Sparrow
F
R
U
__ Lark Sparrow*
F
__ Black-throated Sparrow* U
__ Sage Sparrow
U
U
__ Lark Bunting
F
R
__ Savannah Sparrow
U
F
__ Fox Sparrow
R
R
__ Song Sparrow
F
__ Lincoln’s Sparrow
U
C
__ Swamp Sparrow
R
R
__ White-throated Sparrow
R
R
__ Harris’s Sparrow
R
__ White-crowned Sparrow A
C
__ Golden-crowned Sparrow W
__ Dark-eyed Junco*
C
A
C
__ Chestnut-collared Longspur F
T
W
P
P
P
S
W
S
T
W
T
W
S
T
S
W
S
P
W
T
T
W
W
T
T
W
W
W
T
W
T
W
T
T
T
W
R
S
T
W
W
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
•
•
••
•
••
• • • • ••
•
• •
• •
• • •
••
••
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
• •
• •
•
•
• •
• • •
• • •
• •
• • • • •
• • • • •
• • • • •
•
• •
•
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
• •
•
••
Abundance
Residence
Desert
Oak Woodland
Oak-Juniper
Pinyon-Juniper
Ponderosa Pine
Spruce-Fir
Mt. Grassland
Marsh/Open
Decid. Riparian
Conif. Riparian
Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
Northern Cardinal*
Pyrrhuloxia
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak*
Blue Grosbeak*
Lazuli Bunting
Indigo Bunting*
U
U
R
C
C
U
R
P
• • •
W • • • •
T
• • • • •
S
• • • • •
S
• • •
S
• •
S
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Icterids
__ Red-winged Blackbird*
F
C
U
__ Eastern Meadowlark*
C
R
__ Western Meadowlark*
F
U
__ Yellow-headed Blackbird* U
U
__ Brewer’s Blackbird*
C
C
R
__ Great-tailed Grackle*
U
__ Bronzed Cowbird*
R
__ Brown-headed Cowbird* C
R
__ Hooded Oriole*
U
__ Bullock’s Oriole*
F
__ Scott’s Oriole*
U
S
T
W
S
W
S
W
S
T
S
T
W
P
S
S
W
S
S
S
• •
• •
• •
•
•
•
•
• • •
• • •
• • •
• • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
•
•
••
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• • • •
Finches
__ Cassin’s Finch
__ House Finch*
__ Red Crossbill*
__ Pine Siskin*
__ Lesser Goldfinch*
__ American Goldfinch
__ Evening Grosbeak*
F
F
C
F
F
C
C
F
F
W
W
• • • •
T
• • • •
P • • • •
P
• •
S
• • • • •
T
• • • • •
W
• • • • •
S
• • • • •
W
• • • • •
R
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
• •
Casual (C) or accidental species on or closely
adjacent to the Gila National Forest.
Horned Grebe (C)
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Magnificent Frigate-bird
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Trumpeter Swan
Surf Scoter (C)
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
White-tailed Kite
Mississippi Kite
Gray Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Crested Caracara
Mountain Plover
Snowy Plover
Short-billed Dowitcher
American Woodcock
Laughing Gull
Heermann’s Gull
Black-billed Cuckoo
Groove-billed Ani
Chimney Swift
White-eared Hummingbird
Costa’s Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Buff-breasted Flycatcher (formerly)
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Couch’s Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe (C)
Northern Shrike
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Veery
Brown Thrasher (C)
Bendire’s Thrasher
Blue-winged Warbler
Northern Parula
Cape May Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Ovenbird
Hooded Warbler (C)
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Orchard Oriole
Painted Bunting
Purple Finch
Lawrence's Goldfinch (C)
Reprinted on recycled paper • 7/2002
Notes:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its
programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion,
age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not
all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice
and TTY).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights,
Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
Gila National Forest
3005 E. Camino del Bosque
Silver City, NM 88061
