Birds of New Mexico Field Guide

ISBN-13: 9781647551964

Media Type: Paperback(2nd Revised ed.)

Publisher: Adventure Publications Incorporated

Publication Date: 09-21-2021

Pages: 384

Product Dimensions: 4.40(w) x 3.80(h) x 0.70(d)

Series: Bird Identification Guides

Naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 175 field guides, nature books, children’s books, wildlife audio CDs, puzzles and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 25 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

Read an Excerpt

American Goldfinch
Spinus tristis

Size: 5" (13 cm)

Male: A perky yellow bird with a black patch on forehead. Black tail with conspicuous white rump. Black wings with white wing bars. No marking on the chest. Dramatic change in color during winter, similar to female.

Female: dull olive yellow without a black forehead, with brown wings and white rump

Juvenile: same as female

Nest: cup; female builds; 1 brood per year

Eggs: 4-6; pale blue without markings

Incubation: 10-12 days; female incubates

Fledging: 11-17 days; female and male feed young

Migration: partial migrator, flocks of up to 20 birds move around North America

Food: seeds, insects, will come to seed feeders

Compare: Pine Siskin (pg. 81) has streaked chest and yellow wing bars. The female House Finch (pg. 83) has a heavily streaked white chest. Male Yellow Warbler (pg. 295) is all yellow with orange streaks on chest. Male Wilson’s Warbler (pg. 287) lacks black wings.

Stan’s Notes: Most often found in open fields, scrubby areas and in woodlands. Often called Wild Canary. A feeder bird that enjoys Nyjer seed. Late summer nesting, uses the silky down from wild thistle for nest. Appears roller-coaster-like in flight. Listen for it to twitter during flight. Almost always in small flocks. Moves only far enough south to find food.

Table of Contents

Introduction

What's New? 6

Why Watch Birds in New Mexico? 7

Observe with a Strategy; Tips for Identifying Birds 9

Bird Basics 12

Bird Color Variables 12

Bird Nests 13

Who Builds the Nest? 17

Fledging 17

Why Birds Migrate 17

How Do Birds Migrate? 19

How to Use This Guide 20

Range Maps 20

Sample Pages 22-23

The Birds

Black 25

Black and White 53

Blue 83

Brown 107

Gray 229

Green 311

Orange 327

Red 333

White 347

Yellow 353

Birding on the Internet 376

Checklist/Index by Species 377

More for New Mexico by Stan Tekiela 380

About the Author 384