Broad-billed Hummingbird

This is a great occasion as this is a rare bird sighting for New Mexico! This juvenile female Broad-billed Hummingbird has been visiting an Aldea resident’s yard for the past two weeks. It is important to note that it is attracted to specific flowers and not a hummingbird feeder. Range maps show that the only place in New Mexico where a Broad-billed could possibly be found was in extreme southwest part of the state and only during migration. Maybe migration patterns are changing and this species is moving slightly north?

The plants it was visiting are Raspberry Delight Hybrid Bush Sage, Salvia Raspberry Delight, and Black and Blue Salvia, among others. Note: I will be planting these plants in my yard next year and encourage other Aldea residents to also plant them.

The only other authenticated sighting was mid-November 2012 in Eldorado. Both that sighting and this one here in Aldea have been confirmed by members for eBird since it is so rare and the sighting really needed to be authenticated by more than a few people. So... this is official! 

I am delighted to post photos taken here in the Aldea yard of the sighting. Shout out to the advanced Aldea birders for being such vigilant observers and downright enthusiastic birders!

Of note — on cold nights hummingbirds can slow down their heart rates and metabolism to enter a temporary state of hibernation called torpor. This allows the hummingbird to save precious energy demanded by its high rate of metabolism. It is also interesting to note that early ornithologists assumed hummingbirds were too small to fly long distances and it was thought they rode on the backs of geese and other large birds. It is now well-documented that some hummingbirds cross the Gulf of Mexico to migrate without stopping.

Destruction of habitat in South America is threatening hummingbirds and some species are now in the vulnerable and endangered status categories.

A group of hummingbirds are known as a “bouquet”, “glittering”, “hover”, “shimmer” or “tune”.

Click on photos to enlarge.
Photo 1: Courtesy of and copyright by Bernard Foy
Photos 2, 3, 4 : Courtesy of and copyright by Jonathan Batkin

Hermit Thrush

This Hermit Thrush is the first one I have seen in our Aldea backyard in two years of living here. I had been hearing a new bird in the yard and adjacent areas in the last week or so and was curious what it could be. I think this may have been it based on studying its calls using the iBird Pro app.

I made the identification as the Hermit Thrush as it has smudged spots on its breast and its back and tail areas are a muted reddish-orange, along with having a rich brown head and upper back. The distinct markings set the Hermit Thrush apart from similar species such as the Swainson’s Thrush, which we can also have in Aldea during migratory periods of the year. I have not seen a Swainson’s in Aldea yet.

The Hermit Thrushes eyes, with a pale eye ring, are almost piercing as they stare right into your soul it seems. I tend to have a soft spot for these shy, sweet birds as they mostly show up alone (and lonely!) as they did in our San Francisco backyard. Upon further research, however, there are estimated to be over 56 million of these thrushes globally. So, not so lonely. They are very inconspicuous and show up at odd times when the yard is calm and lacking any other birds or chatter has been my observation. 

The seasonal ranges for the Hermit Thrush all intersect in this part of New Mexico so it could be here almost anytime of the year. Woodlands and forests are a favorite habitat during migration so this one could have been traveling on through to prime winter habit in the southern part of New Mexico and further south to Mexico and below the equator.

Hermit Thrushes scurry and forage on the ground through leaf litter spearing insects with their bills. So I was not surprised to see it this one on the ground near a shallow water source in our yard.

A group of thrushes are known as a “hermitage” or “mutation” of thrushes.

Clink on photos to enlarge.

Lincoln's Sparrow

This Lincoln’s Sparrow was in our Aldea yard over the last week or so. It was scurrying under bushes, flowers, and native grasses looking for seeds and insects in typical sparrow fashion. I finally managed to get some close ups of this beautiful sparrow just by luck recently.

Generally they are not common here and they migrate on through the Santa Fe area on the way to Mexico and winter destinations further south. Their summer breeding range extends up into almost all of Canada and Alaska. Although they can also be found during summer in the Rockies and extreme northern New Mexico. They can winter along the west coast of the U.S.

I actually had a difficult time identifying what sparrow this was and then I heard from other Aldea community members they have seen them here recently too. The bird was named by Audubon after his friend, Thomas Lincoln. Lincoln shot the bird on a trip to Nova Scotia with Audubon in 1834. Audubon named it in Tom’s honor.

They are a very secretive bird and they are often not seen or heard even where they are common. I feel lucky to have snapped a few close-ups of this one. 

Lincoln’s Sparrows are monogamous solitary nesters. They are a medium-sized sparrow with dark-streaked, pale brown, light buff-orange underparts and white further underparts with dark streaks. The head had a brown crown with a gray central stripe and a pale eye-ring. There is a brown streak extending behind the eye. Upper mandible is dark and lower mandible is orange-brown. Sexes are similar. 

Click on photos to enlarge. 

Common Raven

Finally, a Common Raven landed in one of the fall-colored Honey Locust trees in our Aldea front yard. It was really making a racket and was interested in something on the ground that also had other birds creating a fuss. I heard it and grabbed my camera as it was so close to the house and close to where I was sitting.

It is rare to catch this stunning black bird in perfect light with blue sky in the background. We also have American Crows in Aldea but this is a Common Raven. You can tell by the large size of the bird and also by the very large, long beak. Also a giveaway was the fact that the bird was alone. Crows tend to be in groups and make the typical “caw-caw” calls. Also, Common Ravens have longer wedge-shaped tails with longer middle tail feathers than American Crows.

Ravens emit lower chattering and clicking sounds. Ravens are omnivores and feed on carrion, insects, human food waste, grains, berries, fruit, and small animals. I have seen them take out rats. Ravens are smart birds and are known for their problem-solving skills. They are acrobatic flyers and have even been observed flying upside down for as far as a mile. In many cultures the raven is viewed as a symbol of wisdom, fertility, and creation.

A group of ravens is know as a “bazaar”, “constable”, “rant”, “storytelling” (my personal favorite), and an “unkindness” of ravens.

Click on photos to enlarge.