Chiricahua

T his list of the approximately 100 most common birds of Chiricahua National Monument is based on previous documentation of abundance (A) and separated into three categories. Abundant (A) birds are likely to be seen daily and in large numbers, while common (C) birds may be seen daily as a solitary bird or in smaller groups. Uncommon (U) birds are more rare, and likely to be seen on a monthly basis. Habitats (H) are separated into four categories. Riparian (R) birds can be found in or along water bodies that include riparian vegetation, such as rush-filled temperate marshlands. Grassland (G) habitats include the grassy vegetation native to drier settings, such as gramas and some mixed desert scrub. Woodland/Chaparral (WC) areas include short trees, such as Sonoran scrub oak and manzanita, while Forest (F) consists of upper-elevation evergreen trees, such as pines and other conifers. The varied habitats of southern Arizona provide a vital environment for birds across the seasons (S). Birds that do not migrate are considered Year-round (Y) residents and can be seen at any time of year. Summer (S) residents are at the park roughly during June–August, while Winter (W) residents occur during colder times of year. Migratory (M) birds may be seen at various times as they briefly pass through the monument on their way to other habitats. Key Abundance (A) A H S Gambel’s quail C R,G,WC Y Montezuma quail U R,G,WC,F Y wild turkey U R,G,WC,F Y C R,G,WC,F S TURKEY AND QUAIL VULTURES turkey vulture √ Common Name A H S northern flicker C R,W,F Y red-shafted flicker C R,W,F Y U R,G Y western wood-pewee C R,W S gray flycatcher U R,W,F M FALCONS American kestrel TYRANT FLYCATCHERS HAWKS Cooper’s hawk U R,G,WC,F Y Pacific-slope flycatcher U R,W M red-tailed hawk C R,G,WC,F Y cordilleran flycatcher U R,W,F S dusky-capped flycatcher C R,W S PIGEONS AND DOVES band-tailed pigeon U W,F S ash-throated flycatcher C R,W S Eurasian collared-dove C R,G,WC Y brown-crested flycatcher C R,W S white-winged dove C R,G,WC S Cassin’s kingbird C R,G,WC,F S mourning dove C R,G,WC,F Y western kingbird C R,G S R,W,F S ROADRUNNERS greater roadrunner VIREOS U G,W Y plumbeous vireo C Cassin’s vireo U R,W M flammulated owl U R,W,F S Hutton’s vireo C R,W,F S western screech-owl U R,G,WC Y warbling vireo U R,W,F M whiskered screech-owl U R,W,F S elf owl U R,W S OWLS CORVIDS Steller’s jay U W,F Y Mexican jay C R,G,WC,F Y A—Abundant common poorwill C G,W S Chihuahuan raven U R,G,WC Y C—Common Mexican whip-poor-will C R,W,F S common raven C R,G,WC,F Y C G,W,F Y C R,G,WC,F S U R,W,F Y R—Riparian G—Grassland Season (S) Common Name GOATSUCKERS U—Uncommon Habitat (H) √ SWIFTS white-throated swift SWALLOWS HUMMINGBIRDS CHICKADEES AND TITMICE WC—Woodlands/Chaparral magnificent hummingbird U F—Forest blue-throated hummingbird black-chinned hummingbird Y—Year-round S—Summer W—Winter M—Migratory Photos clockwise from top left: cactus wren, black-chinned hummingbird, western tanager, red-tailed hawk, greater roadrunner. All photos ©Robert Shantz except cactus wren, ©Greg Lavaty. This checklist was produced by the National Park Service, Sonoran Desert Network. violet-green swallow R,W,F S Mexican chickadee U R,W,F S bridled titmouse C R,W,F Y C R,G,WC S juniper titmouse U R,W Y Anna’s hummingbird U R,G,WC,F Y VERDINS AND BUSHTITS broad-tailed hummingbird C R,G,WC,F S verdin U R,G Y bushtit C R,W Y acorn woodpecker C R,W,F Y NUTHATCHES AND CREEPERS red-naped sapsucker U R,W,F W white-breasted nuthatch U R,W,F Y hairy woodpecker C R,W,F Y pygmy nuthatch U W,F Y Arizona woodpecker C W,F Y brown creeper U R,W,F Y WOODPECKERS √ Common Name A H S WRENS √ Common Name A H S EMBERIZINES rock wren U G,W,F Y green-tailed towhee U R,G,WC W canyon wren U G,W,F Y spotted towhee C R,W,F Y G,W Y house wren C R,W,F S rufous-crowned sparrow U Bewick’s wren C R,W Y canyon towhee U G,W Y cactus wren U G Y chipping sparrow A R,G,WC W Brewer’s sparrow C R,G W R,G,WC W KINGLETS AND GNATCATCHERS blue-gray gnatcatcher C W S white-crowned sparrow A ruby-crowned kinglet C R,W,F M dark-eyed junco A R,W,F W yellow-eyed junco C R,W,F Y hepatic tanager U R,W,F S summer tanager U R,W S western tanager C R,G,WC,F S black-headed grosbeak C R,G,WC,F S blue grosbeak U G S brown-headed cowbird U R,G,WC,F Y Scott’s oriole C R,G,WC,F S THRUSHES western bluebird U R,W,F Y hermit thrush C R,W,F Y American robin C R,W,F S MIMIDS AND THRASHERS northern mockingbird U R,G,WC Y curve-billed thrasher U G Y U R,G,WC Y SILKY FLYCATCHERS phainopepla WARBLERS TANAGERS GROSBEAKS ICTERIDS orange-crowned warbler U R,G,WC,F M Nashville warbler U R,W,F M Virginia’s warbler U R,W,F S house finch C R,G,WC,F Y yellow-rumped warbler A R,W,F Y pine siskin U R,W,F Y Audubon’s warbler C R,G,WC,F Y lesser goldfinch C R,G,WC,F Y Grace’s warbler U R,W,F S black-throated gray warbler C R,W,F S Townsend’s warbler U R,W,F M Wilson’s warbler U R,W,F M red-faced warbler U R,W,F S painted redstart C R,W,F Y FINCHES The information in this list is based on bird observations, inventories, and surveys at Chiricahua National Monument. However, bird lists are always works in progress. The list is arranged by family, with common names following the American Ornithologists’ Union’s Check-list of North American Birds, 7th edition, and its supplements to 2013. National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Chiricahua National Monument Willcox, Arizona Bird Checklist