Birds

Numerous bird species can be found at El Morro National Monument.

NPS Photo/P. Reed

 

Year-Round Residents

A plethora of life resides in El Morro. Birds are one of the most often spotted forms of wildlife that are found here. Year-round species such as the Red-tailed Hawk, Western Scrub Jay, Cliff Swallow, American Robin, Northern Flickers are often seen while hiking through the park. With some binoculars and patience, a sharp eye can spot smaller residents such as the American Kestrels, Pygmy Nuthatch, or the Canyon Wren. Ask for a birding list at the El Morro Visitor Center.

Migrators

Late spring and early summer bring famed migrators such as Black-chinned or Broad-tailed Hummingbirds, as well as many different warbler species such as the Virginia Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, and the Wilson’s Warbler. Sightings are most often reported near the pool along the Inscription Loop Trail in the mornings, or the northern stretch of the Headland Trail in the grassy meadows. Other good locations to spot migrators is from the campground amphitheater where the juniper forest meets the grasslands.

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

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El Morro National Monument

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Species attribute definitions

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