While other boys in the area have not exhibited an appreciation for the birds, these two boys have shown a great interest. Not only are they making identification, but they are also building bird-houses to be placed on the property. We hope that they will continue to learn about birds and other aspects of nature. We also hope that other children, wherever they live, will be stimulated to develop an interest for themselves in the plant and animal life around them and come to realize the importance of these to their own survival.
According to his father, Josué prefers to draw the birds while Alejandro’s interest is more involved. He goes through an extensive process to identify each bird. He has not been taught this, but it seems to have come naturally to him. This is his process:
- He spots a feature.
- Then he identifies all the species with that feature.
- He examines and lists all the details of a species.
- Then he waits and watches until he sees the bird again.
- When the bird returns, he looks for additional features and focuses on those before running for his identification book.
Alejandro also has the ability to distinguish bird songs. He has no trouble telling people the difference between the songs of a curve-billed thrasher and a mockingbird, for example; or a Canyon wren versus a Bewick’s wren; and so on. It is amazing just how well he can pick out different songs and know which bird is singing, without even seeing it. Future goals include the acquisition of a digital camera with a telephoto lens, a parabolic dish with a sensitive microphone, and trips to different bird-watching spots – a natural process for many bird watchers.
During 2006, Alejandro, at the age of ten years, spent two months on a course from Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He was given the camera he wanted as a “graduation” present and has been practicing his skills in taking and collecting pictures of birds.
[112 species]
ANSERIFORMES (Waterfowl)
AnatidaeAnserinae
- Snow Goose – Chen caerulescens
GALLIFORMES (Landfowl)
Odontophordae
- Scaled Quail – Callipepla squamata
CICONIIFORMES (Long-legged Waders)
Ardeidae
- Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis
Cathartidae
- Black Vulture – Coragyps atratus
- Turkey Vulture – Cathartes aura
FALCONIFORMES (Diurnal Raptors)
Accipitridae Accipitrinae
- White-tailed Kite – Elanus leucurus
- Northern Harrier – Circus cyaneus
- Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii
- Swainson’s Hawk – Buteo swainsoni
- Zone-tailed Hawk – Buteo albonotatus
- Red-tailed Hawk – Buteo jamaicensis
- Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos
Falconidae Falconinae
- American Kestrel – Falco sparverius
- Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus
- Prairie Falcon – Falco mexicanus
COLUMBIFORMES (Doves)
Columbidae
- Rock Pigeon – Columba livia
- Band-tailed Pigeon – Columba fasciata
- Eurasian Collared Dove – Streptopelia decaocto
- White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica
- Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
- Inca Dove – Columbina inca
PSITTACIFORMES (Parrots)
PsittacidaeArinae
- Maroon-fronted Parrot – Rhynchopsitta terrisi
CUCULIFORMES (Cuckoos)
Cuculidae Neomorphinae
- Greater Roadrunner – Geococcyx californianus
STRIGIFORMES (Nocturnal Raptors)
Tytonidae
- Barn Owl – Tyto alba
CAPRIMULGIFORMES (Goatsuckers)
Caprimulgidae Chordeilinae
- Lesser Nighthawk – Chordeiles acutipennis
APODIFORMES (Hummingbirds)
TrochilidaeTrochilinae
- Blue-throated Hummingbird – Lampornis clemenciae
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Archilochus colubris
- Black-chinned Hummingbird – Archilochus alexandri
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird – Selasphorus platycercus
- Rufous Hummingbird – Selasphorus rufus
PICIFORMES (Woodpeckers)
PicidaePicinae
- Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker – Melanerpes aurifrons
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – Sphyrapicus varius
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker – Picoides scalaris
- Hairy Woodpecker – Picoides villosus
- Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratus
PASSERIFORMES (Perching birds)
TyrannidaeFluvicolinae
- Gray Flycatcher – Empidonax wrightii
- Pine Flycatcher – Empidonax affinis
- Black Phoebe – Sayornis nigricans
- Eastern Phoebe – Sayornis phoebe
- Say’s Phoebe – Sayornis saya
- Vermillion Flycatcher – Pyrocephalus rubinus
Tyranninae - Ash-throated Flycatcher – Myiarchus cinerascens
- Brown-crested Flycatcher – Myiarchus tyrannulus
- Cassin’s Kingbird – Tyrannus vociferans
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – Tyrannus forficatus
Laniidae
- Loggerhead Shrike – Lanius ludovicianus
Vireonidae
- Bell’s Vireo – Vireo bellii
- Hutton’s Vireo – Vireo huttoni
Corvidae
- Western Scrub-Jay – Aphelocoma californica
- Mexican Jay – Aphelocoma ultramarina
- Chihuahuan Raven – Corvus cryptoleucus
- Common Raven – Corvus corax
Hirundinidae Hirundininae
- Purple Martin – Progne subis
- Cliff Swallow – Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
- Cave Swallow – Petrochelidon fulva
- Barn Swallow – Hirundo rustica
Paridae
- Mexican Chickadee – Poecile sciateri
Remizidae
- Verdin – Auriparus flaviceps
Aegithalidae
- Bushtit – Psaltriparus minimus
Sittidae
- White-breasted Nuthatch – Sitta carolinensis
- Pygmy Nuthatch – Sitta pygmaea
Certhiidae Certhiinae
- Brown Creeper – Certhia americana
Troglodytidae
- Cactus Wren – Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
- Rock Wren – Salpinctes obsoletus
- Canyon Wren – Catherpes mexicanus
- Bewick’s Wren – Thryomanes bewickii
- House Wren – Troglodytes aedon
Regulidae
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Regulus calendula
Sylviidae
Polioptilinae
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Polioptila caerulea
Turdidae
- Eastern Bluebird – Sialia sialis
- Western Bluebird – Sialia mexicana
- Brown-backed Solitaire– Myadestes occidentalis
- Clay-coloured Robin – Turdus grayi
- American Robin – Turdus migratorius
Mimidae
- Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
- Long-billed Thrasher – Toxostoma longirostre
- Curved-billed Thrasher – Toxostoma curvirostre
Ptilogonatidae
- Phainopepla —Phainopepla nitens
- Gray Silky-flycatcher – Ptilogonys cinereus
Peucedramidae
- Olive Warbler – Peucedramus taeniatus
Parulidae
- Orange-crowned Warbler – Vermivora celata
- Cresent-chested Warbler – Vermivora superciliosa
- Yellow Warbler – Dendroica petechia
- Yellow-rumped Warbler – Dendroica coronata
- MacGillivray’s Warbler – Oporornis tolmiei
- Hooded Yellowthroat – Geothlypis nelsoni
- Wilson’s Warbler – Wilsonia pusilla
- Painted Redstart – Myioborus pictus
Thraupidae
- Hepatic Tanager – Piranga flava
Emberizidae
- Spotted Towhee – Pipilo maculates
- Canyon Towhee – Pipilo mesoleucus
- Rufous-crowned Sparrow – Aimophila ruficeps
- Chipping Sparrow – Spizella passerina
- Lark Sparrow – Chondestes grammacus
- Black-throated Sparrow – Amphispiza bilineata
- Savannah Sparrow – Passerculus sandwichensis
- Lincoln’s Sparrow – Melospiza lincolnii
- Yellow-eyed Junco – Junco phaeonotus
Cardinalidae
- Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
- Black-headed Grosbeak – Pheucticus melanocephalus
Icteridae
- Western Meadowlark – Sturnella neglecta
- Brewer’s Blackbird – Euphagus cyanocephalus
- Great-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus mexicanus
- Bronzed Cowbird – Molothrus aeneus
- Bullock’s Oriole – Icterus bullockii
- Audubon’s Oriole – Icterus graduacauda
- Scott’s Oriole – Icterus parisorum
Fringillidae
Carduelinae
- House Finch – Carpodacus mexicanus
- Pine Siskin – Carduelis pinus
- Lesser Goldfinch – Carduelis psaltria
Passeridae
- House Sparrow – Passer domesticus
See micro-photos of bird feathers
