National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service: U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
 
 
Making America's Best Idea Even Better
Bandelier National MonumentTurkey Vulture
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Bandelier National Monument
Summer and Migratory Birds Continued
Red-winged Blackbird
NPS Photo by Sally King
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Wingspan 18"
Common along the Rio Grande in the summer, less common in spring and fall.  Best place to see is marshy areas along the Rio but watch for rattlesnakes.
 
Young Violet-Green Swallow
Fledgling Swallow
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
Wingspan 13.5"
Common in the riparian and mesatop areas. Frequently seen nesting in Cottonwood Picnic Area and along the Nature Trail.
 
Male Violet-green Swallow at nest
NPS Photos by Sally King
Adult Female Violet-Green Swallow at nest
 
Ash-throated Flycatcher
NPS Photo by Sally King
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
Wingspan 12"
Common in the summer, and less so in the spring, especially in the riparian areas.
 
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
NPS Photo by Sally King
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Wingspan 6"
Somewhat uncommon but can be seen in the park especially on the brushy mesas.  Best trails to see them include Frijolito Loop Trail and Frey Trail.
 
Say's Phoebe
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
Wingspan 13"
Common in the riparian areas of the park.  Has been seen along the Main Loop and Nature Trails.
 
Rock Wren
NPS Photo by Sally King
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)
Wingspan 9"
Relatively common in the canyons especially Frijoles Canyon.  Often seen in Tyuonyi or at Long House especially in spring and fall.
 
Virginia's Warbler
Photo by Sally King
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Vermivora virginiae)
Wingspan 7.5"
Common especially in the riparian areas. 
 
flycatcher
NPS Photo by Sally King
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi)
Wingspan 13"
Uncommon but has been seen on the Main Loop Trail. 
 
Peregrine Falcon
Photo by Sally King
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Wingspan 41"
Not common but has been seen and heard in the monument.
 
yellow-breasted chat
Photo by Sally King
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
Wingspan 9.75"
Relatively common along the Rio Grande. 
 
White-crowned Sparrow
photo by sally king
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
Wingspan 9.5"
Common some years during migration.
 
Bullock's Oriole
photo by sally king
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
Wingspan 12"
Uncommon but have been seen along the Rio Grande or in Frijoles Canyon.
 
Wilson's Warbler
photo by sally king
WILSON'S WARBLER (Wilsonia pusilla)
Wingspan 7"
Common in the riparian zones.  Easiest to see in spring.
 
Orange-crowned Warbler
photo by sally king

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Vermivora celata)
Wingspan 7.25"
Common in the riparian areas.  Easiest to see in the spring.

 
Killdeer with eggs
photo by sally king
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
24" wingspan
Uncommon but has been seen along the Rio Grande and at the park sewer lagoons.  More common on the adjacent Valles Caldera.
 
Least Sandpiper
photo by sally king

LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
13" wingspan
Uncommon but has been seen at the park sewer lagoons and at mountain ponds, mostly during migration.

 
Wilson's Phalaropes
photo by sally king
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)
Rare but has been seen at the park's sewer lagoons during migration.
 
Common Nighthawk
photo by sally king
COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor)
Wingspan 24"
Uncommon but can be found on the dry mesatops such as Frijolito Loop Trail or the Burro Trail.  Active mostly at night and well camouflaged for roosting on the ground.
 
Scaled Quail
photo by sally king
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)
Wingspan 14"
Rare in Bandelier but has been seen near Tsankawi and the nearby town of White Rock.
 
Upper Falls  

Did You Know?
Frijoles Creek drops approximately 80 feet over the Upper Falls. The falls occur where the waters of Frijoles Creek hit the more resistant, dense basalt rock from the neck of an ancient volcano.

Disclaimer Accessibility Privacy Policy FOIA Notices USA.gov

Last Updated: August 23, 2009 at 15:57 EST