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Rimrocks and Mesas

17 Bird Species

American Kestrel

The smallest of North America's raptors, this extremely colorful and delicate falcon shows a striking head pattern with two vertical dark bars and a dark spot on the nape. Adult Male: The wings and crown are blue-gray, with a rufous spot on top of the crown. The back is rufous with black barring. The more...

Length: 23 cm Wingspan: 51 cm

Barn Owl

A large, pale, long-legged owl with no ear tufts and a very unique face pattern. Adult male has golden-brown back, pale underparts, scattered dark spotting, and pronounced facial disc with dark eyes in white, heart-shaped face. Female is like male but with darker orange breast and more dark spotting. more...

Length: 41 cm Wingspan: 107 cm

Barn Swallow

Relatively large and slender with long wings and a long, deeply forked tail. Glossy dark blue on rump, back, and crown. Dark wings and face. Adult males are burnt orange below, while females and immatures are buffer to almost white on the underparts. In all plumages the throat and forehead are chest more...

Length: 17 cm Wingspan: 38 cm

Canyon Wren

Adult has a mostly dark cinnamon-brown upperparts, with the nape and crown tinged with gray. Spiky tail is paler rufous with narrow dark barring. Dorsally mottled with small white and black spots, which are most dense on the nape and crown. Wings are dark cinnamon with dense dusky barring. Coverts ar more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 19 cm

Cliff Swallow

Medium to large swallow, with a thicker torso and broader more blunt wings than other swallows. Tail is squared-off and the rump is buffy orange. Has dark wings, back and tail. Adults have dark bluish-black cap and back, which also has vertical white stripes. White forehead distinctive, as are chestn more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 29 cm

Common Raven

Large, all glossy black. Very heavy bill with curved culmen. Shaggy feathers on throat. Wings and tail are fairly long. Separated from crows by its much heavier bill, larger size, and wedge-shaped tail. Flight is more raptor-like than crows with proportionally longer tail and wings. Chihuahuan Raven more...

Length: 61 cm Wingspan: 135 cm

Ferruginous Hawk

This is a very large buteo. On light morph individuals, the head appears mostly white with rufous and black streaking. The back and wing coverts are rufous with dark markings, while the flight feathers and primary coverts are dark. Underparts are mostly white with scattered rufous speckles. The tail more...

Length: 56 cm Wingspan: 135 cm

Golden Eagle

This large soaring raptor is dark brown overall with varying amounts of golden-brown on the crown and nape. Adults have some gray mottling on the tail, sometimes forming indistinct bands. Juvenile birds have white at the base of the tail and on the base of the primaries and secondaries, forming large more...

Length: 76 cm Wingspan: 203 cm

Great Horned Owl

The large, familiar "hoot" owl, widespread in North America. Adult is dark brown overall, thickly barred underneath and patterned on the back and wings, with yellow eyes, white throat, and obvious ear tufts. Some regional plumage variation; northern birds are relatively pale, western birds splotchy a more...

Length: 55 cm Wingspan: 111 cm

Peregrine Falcon

This large falcon is slate-gray or blackish above, with a black crown and bold mustache that give the bird a helmeted look. The breast is whitish with black spots. Black barring covers the belly, undertail coverts, and legs. At rest, the wing tips extend almost to the end of the tail. Juveniles are b more...

Length: 41 cm Wingspan: 109 cm

Prairie Falcon

This large falcon of the western steppes is warm brown overall. The face shows a thin mustache mark and a small pale area surrounding the large dark eye. The eye-ring and cere are yellow. The underparts are whitish with dark spots. Juveniles are darker brown above and buffier below, with gray eye-rin more...

Length: 37 cm Wingspan: 90 cm

Red-tailed Hawk

This is the default large hawk species over most of North America. Unless you have evidence to the contrary, it is a Red-tail. It is also the most variable, with many different subspecies occurring throughout the range. Eastern birds and lighter western races are dark brown above with coarse white mo more...

Length: 48 cm Wingspan: 117 cm

Rock Pigeon

Familiar resident of urban areas and cliffs across North America. Typical adult is gray overall with iridescent green and purple plumage on neck, two black bars on wings, dark band on tail tip, red eye, and white spot at base of bill. Various uncommon color morphs range from sandy-brown to dark or ev more...

Length: 32 cm Wingspan: 71 cm

Rock Wren

Adult is gray and buffy overall, with gray wings finely spotted with white, buffy belly, white undertail coverts with black bars, thin gray streaks on breast, gray tail with fine dark bars and buffy tail corners, pale supercilium, dark gray face and crown, and relatively long, slender bill. Canyon Wr more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

Say's Phoebe

This species appears more slender and longer-tailed than Eastern Phoebe and a bit bulkier than Black Phoebe. Overall pattern suggestive of a small dull American Robin; the upperparts, head, and breast are pale brownish-gray, lighter on the throat and breast. The tail is blackish with a white outer we more...

Length: 18 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Turkey Vulture

Black overall with a brownish cast. The bare head is red with an ivory bill, and the legs are dark pinkish. Young birds have gray heads and whitish legs. In flight, the long tail and the long square wings distinguish this species from Black Vulture. The undersides of the flight feathers are pale gray more...

Length: 64 cm Wingspan: 173 cm

Non-vegetated Areas

17 species

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Canyon Wren

Catherpes mexicanus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Bare Rocky Slopes, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Common Raven

Corvus corax

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Boreal Forest, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Alpine Slopes, Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Rimrocks and Mesas, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Clearcuts, Boreal Forest, Oak Savannah and Woodlands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Oak Savannah and Woodlands, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Urban Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands

Rock Wren

Salpinctes obsoletus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Bare Rocky Slopes

Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Dry Western Woodlands

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Clearcuts, Oak Savannah and Woodlands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Coastal Cliffs, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Salt Water

5 species

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Common Raven

Corvus corax

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Coastal Cliffs, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Human-altered Areas

9 species

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Common Raven

Corvus corax

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Urban Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

Fresh Water

3 species

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Grassland and Scrubland

16 species

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Oak Savannah and Woodlands

Canyon Wren

Catherpes mexicanus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Bare Rocky Slopes, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Chapparal, Dry Western Woodlands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia

Common Raven

Corvus corax

Ferruginous Hawk

Buteo regalis

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis

Rock Pigeon

Columba livia

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Urban Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands

Say's Phoebe

Sayornis saya

Rimrocks and Mesas, Open Country and Grasslands, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains, Dry Western Woodlands

Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Coastal Cliffs, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains

Forest and Woodlands

10 species