This list of birds of New Mexico are the species documented in the U.S. state of New Mexico and accepted by the New Mexico Bird Records Committee (NMBRC). As of August 2022, 552 species were included in the official list. Of them, 176 are on the review list (see below), five species have been introduced to North America, and three have been extirpated. An additional extirpated species has been added from another source. An accidental species has also been added from a different source.
This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 63rd Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society (AOS). Common and scientific names are also those of the Check-list, except that the common names of families are from the Clements taxonomy because the AOS list does not include them.
Unless otherwise noted, all species listed below are considered to occur regularly in New Mexico as permanent residents, summer or winter visitors, or migrants. These tags are used to annotate some species:
(R) Review list - birds that if seen require more comprehensive documentation than regularly seen species. These birds are considered irregular or rare in New Mexico. (I) Introduced - a species established in North America as a result of human action (Ex) Extirpated - a species no longer found in New Mexico but which exists elsewhere
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl
Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
The family Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, bills which are flattened to a greater or lesser extent, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to special oils. Thirty-nine species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Black-bellied whistling-duck, Dendrocygna autumnalis (R) Fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor (R) Snow goose, Anser caerulescens Ross's goose, Anser rossii Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons Brant, Branta bernicla (R) Cackling goose, Branta hutchinsii Canada goose, Branta canadensis Trumpeter swan, Cygnus buccinator (R) Tundra swan, Cygnus columbianus Wood duck, Aix sponsa Garganey, Spatula querquedula (R) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors Cinnamon teal, Spatula cyanoptera Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata Gadwall, Mareca strepera Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope (R) American wigeon, Mareca americana Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Mexican duck, Anas diazi Northern pintail, Anas acuta Green-winged teal, Anas crecca Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Redhead, Aythya americana Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris Greater scaup, Aythya marila Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis Harlequin duck, Histrionicus histrionicus (R) Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata White-winged scoter, Melanitta deglandi (R) Black scoter, Melanitta americana (R) Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis (R) Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula Barrow's goldeneye, Bucephala islandica Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus Common merganser, Mergus merganser Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
New World quail Order: GalliformesFamily: Odontophoridae
The New World quails are small, plump terrestrial birds only distantly related to the quails of the Old World, but named for their similar appearance and habits. Four species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Northern bobwhite, Colinus virginianus Scaled quail, Callipepla squamata Gambel's quail, Callipepla gambelii Montezuma quail, Cyrtonyx montezumae
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump with broad relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans. Seven species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo White-tailed ptarmigan, Lagopus leucurus Gunnison sage-grouse, Centrocercus minimus (Ex) (R) Dusky grouse, Dendragapus obscurus Sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus (Ex) (R) Lesser prairie-chicken, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus (I)
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land. Six species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps Horned grebe, Podiceps auritus Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena (R) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis Western grebe, Aechmorphorus occidentalis Clark's grebe, Aechmorphorus clarkii
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere. Eight species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Rock pigeon, Columba livia (I) Band-tailed pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata Eurasian collared-dove, Streptopelia decaocto (I) Inca dove, Columbina inca Common ground dove, Columbina passerina Ruddy ground dove, Columbina talpacoti (R) White-winged dove, Zenaida asiatica Mourning dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners, and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails, and strong legs. The Old World cuckoos are brood parasites. Four species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Groove-billed ani, Crotophaga sulcirostris (R) Greater roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus Yellow-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Black-billed cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus (R)
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs, and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is cryptically colored to resemble bark or leaves. Seven species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Lesser nighthawk, Chordeiles acutipennis Common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor Common poorwill, Phalaenoptilus nuttallii Chuck-will's-widow, Antrostomus carolinensis (R) Buff-collared nightjar, Antrostomus ridgwayi (R) Eastern whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus (R) Mexican whip-poor-will, Antrostomus arizonae
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
The swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have very long, swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang. Four species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Black swift, Cypseloides niger Chimney swift, Chaetura pelagica Vaux's swift, Chaetura vauxi (R) White-throated swift, Aeronautes saxatalis
Hummingbirds Order: ApodiformesFamily: Trochilidae
Hummingbirds are small birds capable of hovering in mid-air due to the rapid flapping of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Seventeen species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Mexican violetear, Colibri thalassinus (R) Rivoli's hummingbird, Eugenes fulgens Blue-throated mountain-gem, Lampornis clemenciae (R) Lucifer hummingbird, Calothorax lucifer Ruby-throated hummingbird, Archilochus colubris (R) Black-chinned hummingbird, Archilochus alexandri Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna Costa's hummingbird, Calypte costae (R) Calliope hummingbird, Selasphorus calliope Rufous hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus Allen's hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin (R) Broad-tailed hummingbird, Selasphorus platycercus Broad-billed hummingbird, Cynanthus latirostris White-eared hummingbird, Basilinna leucotis (R) Violet-crowned hummingbird, Leucolia violiceps Berylline hummingbird, Saucerottia beryllina (R) Cinnamon hummingbird, Amazilia rutila (R)
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. Ten species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Rufous-necked wood-rail, Aramides axillaris (R) Clapper rail, Rallus crepitans (R) King rail, Rallus elegans (R) Virginia rail, Rallus limicola Sora, Porzana carolina Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata American coot, Fulica americana Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (R) Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (R) Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (R)
Finfoots Order: GruiformesFamily: Heliornithidae
Heliornithidae is a small family of tropical birds with webbed lobes on their feet similar to those of grebes and coots. One species has been recorded in New Mexico.
Sungrebe, Heliornis fulica (R)
Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae
Cranes are large, long-legged, and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Two species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Sandhill crane, Antigone canadensis Common crane, Grus grus (R)
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Two species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus American avocet, Recurvirostra americana
Plovers and lapwings
Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Eight species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover, Pluvialis apricaria (R) American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica (R) Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover, Charadrius melodus (R) Snowy plover, Charadrius nivosus Mountain plover, Charadrius montanus
Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae
Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to feed in the same habitat, particularly on the coast, without direct competition for food. Thirty-five species have been recorded in New Mexico.
Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus Hudsonian godwit, Limosa haemastica (R) Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (R) Black turnstone, Arenaria melanocephala (R) Red knot, Calidris canutus (R) Ruff, Calidris pugnax (R) Sharp-tailed sandpiper, Calidris acuminata (R) Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea (R) Sanderling, Calidris alba Dunlin, Calidris alpina Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii Little stint, Calidris minuta (R) Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis Buff-breasted sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis (R) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla