We welcome birders to come and try the winter birding experience in southwestern New Mexico. You can take advantage of great weather and great birds in the Land of Enchantment. You can travel from mountains to desert in an hour from Silver City and be rewarded with large numbers of Pinyon Jays, Western Scrub Jays, Stellar's Jays and Mexican Jays. The Juniper Titmouse, Acorn Woodpecker, Cassin's Finch and Pine Siskins are present during the winter months. Evening Grosbeaks are ocassionally sited.

       Look for small groups of Montezuma Quail in the nearby grasslands. Take a drive to Lake Roberts and the Cliff Dwellings to see Bald and Golden Eagles. Osprey are sited on the lake as well as a variety of ducks; American Coots, Common Loons, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Clark's and Western Grebes as well as Common Goldeneye, Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads, Northern Shovelers, Green-Winged Teal and Cinnamon Teal, and Gadwall.

       Walking around the Lake, it is easy to spot 40 to 50 different species of birds in a few hours, such as American Pipits, Williamson and Red-naped Sapsuckers, Mountain Chickadees, Pygmy Nuthatches, Red Crossbills, Townsend's Solitare, as well as White Crowned Sparrows and a few Harris Sparrows.

       Traveling the highways, you see a wide variey of wintering hawks. Traveling south from Silver City, you can count on seeing Black-Throated Sparrows, Gambel's Quail and Scaled Quail. Visit City of Rocks State Park and the nearby Faywood Hot Springs where you will find many wintering birds. Prairie Falcons, Ferruginous Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks and an ocassional Golden Eagle are seen in this area as well..

       Come visit the New Mexico Birding Trail during the winter months and enjoy pleasant weather and good birding in a uncrowded, beautiful setting.