Birding at Rancho Gallina

New Mexico is home to the second greatest number of bird species that reside in or pass through our state in all of the continental United States. Rancho Gallina is a great place to see birds, with a source of water (our pond), some of the tallest and thickest tree stands around, and the Arroyo Gallina that serves as a wildlife corridor (and home to both great horned owl and red-tailed hawk nests).

One of our guests, an avid birder, posted the following list of species that he encountered in a single weekend in June. It accounts for 31 species, or about 10% of the total species that pass through Santa Fe county in a given year.

Rancho Gallina Birding June 8-11

Common birds:
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch – most common small bird – active nest building
Mourning Dove
Starling – only one
American Crow – only one
Black-billed Magpie – only one
Rock Pigeon – only one pair

Nesters:
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Swainson’s Hawk – nest 1/3 mile north on Arroyo Gallina
Great-horned Owl – fledged three

Others:
Western Scrub-Jay – on Arroyo Gallina
Pinyon Jay – only one
Ladderback Woodpecker
Western Kingbird
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Northern Mockingbird – very loud
Blue Grosbeak – male in breeding pl
Lesser Goldfinch – pair
Western Bluebird – pair
Juniper Titmouse – two
Spotted Towhee – mating calls
Say’s Phoebe
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Rock Wren
Turkey Vulture – midday
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel – only one
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Western Meadowlark

Heard:
White-breasted Nuthatch