Bird Watching

Ravens are common throughout the monument, but particularly like perching on Hovenweep Castle.

NPS Photo by Austin Tumas

Although Hovenweep may not be known for birding, the park has a variety of birds, from the black-chinned hummingbird to the common raven. Over 100 species of birds call Hovenweep home or travel through the monument during migration.

Where to Bird Watch

For smaller birds, look among the pinyon-juniper-sage cover or on the ground around vegetation. Larger birds – especially raptors - can be seen flying or perched on a tree or rock that gives them a good view of the surrounding landscape.

In the bottom of canyons, water and riparian plants attract birds not normally found in the high desert. The natural quiet of Hovenweep allows the many bird songs to drift through the canyon. You may even be startled by small birds making lots of noise in the brush as they scavenge for insects and seeds in ground litter (leaves, twigs, grasses). How to Bird

Basic birding etiquette:

• Tread lightly and quietly – birds may spook easily

• Don’t feed the birds to try to get them to come to you

• Please refrain from using recorded bird calls to elicit responses

Books about Birds

Books and other materials on birds are available for purchase in the visitor center bookstore.

 

With a distinctive song that echoes throughout the canyons, canyon wrens are easier to hear than see.

NPS Photo by Andrew Kuhn

Common Birds

During your visit, you’ll most likely see or hear one of the following:

• Common Raven – Ravens are common throughout the park.
• Long-Eared Owl – Hovenweep’s campground and nearby canyons usually have at least one nest a year, in the spring. Observe them with binoculars at dusk.
• Canyon Wren – Canyon wrens are easier heard than seen. From the canyon rim, listen closely for this wren’s cascading trill.

 

Look for jewel-toned western tanagers in the spring, when they migrate through Hovenweep.

NPS Photo

Rarer Finds

Birds found in the park, though not commonly seen include:

• Golden Eagle – Look for this large raptor flying overheard or on a high perch.
• Western Tanager – lucky birders may get a rare sight – this jewel-toned bird migrates through the Hovenweep area in the spring.
• Greater Roadrunner – These desert icons are most-easily seen in the fall, but even then are elusive.

Species List

 

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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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Species attribute definitions

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Learn More

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