Associated Species: Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Gila Woodpecker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Lucy’s Warbler, Summer Tanager, Hooded Oriole, Bullock's Oriole

• mature gallery cottonwood-willow and mixed broadleaf forests with trees 75-100 ft (23-30 m) in height
• perennial streams with areas <12 in (30cm) deep with a moderate gradient and riffles
• perches include exposed boulders and low branches, and snags in rivers (NM PIF)
• may use intermittent streams if water seepage or pools are not available
• nest trees include cottonwood, sycamore, velvet ash, Arizona walnut, alder, Goodding willow, ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir: will not nest in isolated trees.
• average nest height 53.7 ft (17.9m), average distance from stream 126 ft (42m)
• chronic human presence causes abandonment, overnight campers may cause premature fledging dispersal from nest resulting in nest failure

Distribution: Found along the Gila, San Francisco and Mimbres Rivers in the southwestern quadrant of the state as well as along the Rio Hondo in the southeast. They have nested occasionally along the Rio Grande as far north as Albuquerque.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

• no BBS data available
• maintain a minimum population of approximately 100 breeding pairs in the state (Williams 1999)
• enhance riparian forests along the Gila, Mimbres, and San Francisco rivers to increase statewide population to 125 breeding pairs by the year 2019
• maintain a stable or increasing nest success rate of at least 78%
• conserve and rejuvenate existing riparian corridors.
• encourage nest-tree regeneration and limit grazing so young cottonwoods can become future nest trees
• creation of small impoundments near nest trees
• decrease of human disturbance during nesting period
• avoid channelization of the river

• deep, rough, rocky, wooded canyons; also cottonwood riparian forests
• nests from 25-100ft (8-30 m) above ground; along the Gila River nests have been from 60-82 ft (18-25m) above the ground (S. Stoleson pers. comm.); in the Jemez mountains and the Pajarito Plateau, nest heights averaged 75 ft above ground (22.9m) (Kennedy et al. 1995)
• nest trees in the Jemez mountains and the Pajarito Plateau were all ponderosa pine in the bottom of or on slopes of steep-walled canyons; averaged 78 ft (23.8m) high and 23 in. (59.8cm) dbh (Kennedy et al. 1995)
• open deciduous or pine-oak woodlands preferred
• will forage over agricultural bottom lands and open hilly uplands (S. Stoleson pers.comm.)
• prey items include birds, ground squirrels, snakes, and lizards
• often found in remote areas away from human disturbance
• arrives in northern NM: late March - early April; breeding season ends late Sept. (Kennedy et al. 1995)
• vulture mimicry and association may be a foraging technique (Zimmerman 1976)

Distribution: found in southwestern NM and the Sacramento mountains. A small population exists around Los Alamos and Bandelier NM and possibly Mills Canyon along the Canadian River. The potential exists for small populations throughout the state.

• no BBS data available
• maintain large pines in canyons and cottonwoods in riparian forests
• maintain large trees inside canyons
• create conservation areas in high density areas away from much human disturbance

Associated Species: Gambel's Quail, Bell's Vireo, Abert's Towhee, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, Varied Bunting, Crissal Thrasher

• found at elevations up to 5000 ft (1500m)
• shrubby riparian habitat often at the edges of riparian woodlands
• also found in desert shrub dominated by mesquite or Opuntia spp.
• may need bare ground component for feeding
• abandoned agricultural and tall weedy fields (D.Zimmerman pers.comm.)

Distribution: Found most frequently in the lower Gila Valley (from Cliff south) and Hidalgo county, especially in Guadalupe Canyon. Also rarely in the Rio Grande Valley south from Socorro and in Eddy County. (Williams 1999)

• in Region 2, T = -0.06%, p = 81, N =35, RA = 2.07 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• maintain presence in Mexican Highlands and Chihuahuan Desert
• maintain shrub component with bare ground in riparian woodlands
• leave border of tall weeds around agricultural fields

Associated Species: Common Poorwill, Gila Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bridled Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Lucy's Warbler

• occurs in low river bottoms and adjacent uplands
• will nest in holes of cottonwoods, sycamores, junipers, oaks, pines and other trees in these habitats
• feeds mostly on insects and other arthropods
• in Arizona, a minimum nesting density of 4.6 pairs per square km; density is believed to be higher in upland habitats

Distribution: Found in southwestern New Mexico, north to the Glenwood area and east to Las Animas Creek near Truth or Consequences. They occur as far north as the Magdalena mountains.

• no BBS data available
• maintain populations at Las Animas Creek, Mogollon Creek and the San Francisco and Gila Rivers
• maintain large cottonwoods and sycamores in riparian areas for nesting substrate
• maintain grassy understory for insect, especially moth, production
• limit grazing in riparian areas during the summer months to allow for sufficient grass growth and for nest tree regeneration

Associated Species: Zone-tailed Hawk, Elf Owl, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Hepatic Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Magnificent Hummingbird, Strickland's Warbler

• in New Mexico, riparian Arizona Sycamore- and oak-dominated system with a slope component
• sycamores, pine, and oak are critical habitat components in New Mexico (NMPIF)
• needs larger stem trees
• increased abundance associated with Strickland’s Woodpecker and Dusky-capped Flycatcher
• surface water may be important
• a cavity nester, in either live or dead trees, most often in sycamores, sometimes nests in oaks or pines

Distribution: Currently found only in the Peloncillo Mountains

• no BBS data available
• maintain current population in the Peloncillo mountains
• limit drawdown of water table in nesting canyons. A high water table is critical for sycamore rejuvenation
• maintain snags and larger trees in oak and oak/sycamore canyons
• enhance sycamore habitat on the Arizona portion of the Peloncillos

Associated Species: Common Black-Hawk , Elf Owl, Northern Flicker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Hooded Oriole

• mature cottonwood or sycamore forest
• found from 3700-4900ft (1130m - 1494m)
• nest cavities in New Mexico ranged in height from 8-40ft (2.4 - 12m) most were above 15ft (4.5m)
• Gila Woodpeckers did not occur in isolated cottonwood groves of less than 50ac (20ha) in Arizona (Rosenberg et al. 1991)
• competes with starlings (Rosenberg et al. 1991 in Williams 1999)

Distribution: Found in the lower Gila Valley in Hidalgo and Grant counties, Guadalupe Canyon, San Simon Cienaga, drainages of the Animas Mtns., and Bitter Creek in western Grant County.

• in Region 2, T = 0.5%, p = 0.72, N =30, RA = 7.79 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• maintain the current breeding pairs in the Animas Valley, and San Simon Cienaga in the Mexican Highlands
• maintain and enhance breeding habitat along the Gila River by allowing regeneration of sycamore and cottonwoods
• increase population to 2 breeding pair per mile of stream along the Gila River from the confluence of Mogollon Creek to the Arizona border bringing population to at least 50 pairs by the year 2019
• avoid channelization of rivers

Associated Species: Green Heron, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Lucy’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak

• riparian obligate needing dense habitat and wet soil (NM PIF)
• often found on broad, floodplain areas; avoids narrow and steep-sided canyons
• 10-33 ft (3-10m) tall tree willows, especially mid-successional stages of willows with coyote willow or other dense shrub understory offering multi-layered structure, very important (NM PIF)
• preferentially occupies older mixed species patches on the Gila River; younger patches occupied only where adjacent to densely populated, mature patches
• along the Gila, boxelder are predominantly selected , in declining order of use other nesting substrate are willow, Russian-olive, Arizona alder, cottonwood, seepwillow, sycamore, rose vine, and tamarisk
• along the Gila, mean nest height 24.2 ft (7.4m) with a range of 3.9-60.7 ft (1.2 - 18.5m), mean nest height is much lower elsewhere in the state (Sogge et al. 1997)
• preliminary analyses of microhabitat along the Gila indicates preference for open water or saturated soils, high stem densities, dense understory, dense foliage structure, high canopy cover, and presence of willows
• Willows are the preferred nesting substrates in New Mexico, with the exception of the Gila River, where they nest predominantly in boxelders
• cowbird parasitism rates were 11-16%, and were higher in younger habitats and in non-boxelder substrates

Distribution: Core population for the United States in along the Gila River. Other populations scattered across the state but only one current nesting site east of the Rockies.

• No BBS data available for this subspecies
• establish 3 disjunct populations of at least 12 breeding pair in the state by 2009
• establish 2 populations of lesser numbers near each core breeding area
• manage potential habitat to achieve structural and vegetation characteristics necessary to support increasing numbers of breeding Flycatchers within 20 years
• establish or maintain 6 disjunct populations of at least 12 breeding pairs each, with 2 satellite populations of lesser numbers by 2019
• maintain dense multi-storied riparian habitat
• maintain mature boxelders on the Gila River. In general, extremely dense, tall10-30 ft (3-10m) willows or other shrubs are required for nesting. Nesting in taller boxelder occurs on this river. On the Gila River, work will also benefit this species as long a multi-story habitat with willow presence is maintained
• manage water levels to maintain soil saturation in appropriate habitat
• tamarisk eradication is not necessarily part of managing for this species, however when paired with cottonwood and willow reintroduction the habitat eventually produced is considered more optimal

Associated Species: Western Wood-Pewee, Black Phoebe, Yellow Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lucy's Warbler

• occurs exclusively near water
• riparian associations containing cottonwood, willow, oak, mesquite, and sycamore
• often in association with openings or edges onto grassy or agricultural areas
• of 21 studied nests along the Gila, nests heights range from 11.5-93.5 ft (3.5 - 28.5m) averaging 40.3 ft (12.3 m), SD=25.6 ft (7.8m); nests are primarily in cottonwood and Goodding willow, but one is found in an elm; most nests are on or near an edge and from 6.6-13 ft (2-4m) horizontal distance from the trunk of the nest tree (S. Stoleson 1998)
• only occasionally parasitized by cowbirds (S. Stoleson 1998)

Distribution: Found along rivers and streams in the south; in the East, north to Roswell with scattered others north to the Logan area, in the Rio Grande Valley north to Bosque del Apache NWR, and in the West, along Gila drainages, Guadalupe Canyon and the lower Mimbres.

• in Region 2, T = -2.3%, p = 0.22, N = 47, RA = 0.65 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• stabilize population trends in New Mexico

Associated Species: Lucy's Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Cardinal, Blue Grosbeak, Painted Bunting, Abert's Towhee, Bullock's Oriole

• dense multi-layered habitat (low- and mid-story) needed 1.5 - 9 ft (0.6 - 3.0 m) above ground, characteristic of early successional stages, often near water
• habitat specialist in seepwillow- and mesquite- dominated habitats (even if tamarisk is available), a generalist in riparian scrubland dominated by tamarisk
• nests in mesquite have not been documented in NM (J. Parody unpubl. data)
• in New Mexico, nests most often found in hackberry, algerita, soapberry, or seepwillow (Williams 1999)
• forages up to 66 ft (20m) above ground but 69% of foraging is below 13 ft (4m)
• consumes more large insects than any other Vireo spp.
• uses small lateral or terminal forks of low pendant branches for nests, generally 1.5 - 4.5 ft (0.5 to 1.5m) above ground; ranging from 0.7-26 ft ( 0.2- 8.0m)

Distribution: Found in the Pecos valley north to drainages west of Roswell, in the Rio Grande Valley, north to San Antonio, and in southwestern New Mexico, in the lower Gila, at San Simon Cienaga and Guadalupe Canyon (Williams 1999)

• in Region 2, T = -3.4%, p = 0.02, N = 116, RA = 2.23; in the Pecos and Staked Plains, T = 1.4%, p = 0.7, N = 14, RA = 2.78 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• increase population to at least 8 breeding pairs at Rattlesnake Springs
• maintain populations along the Gila from Redrock to the Arizona border
• reduce parasitism to less than 50% per year in these areas
• increase known viable breeding populations to at least sites 10 throughout the Chihuahuan Desert by 2019
• maintain dense low and midstory habitat characteristic of early successional vegetation stages in close proximity to streamsides
• enhance habitat on the Rio Grande below Socorro, and especially along the Gila River
• limit grazing in order to maintain dense understory and reduce cowbird parasitism

Associated Species: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Gila Woodpecker, Summer Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Bullock's Oriole

• mature closed-canopy riparian bosque and late successional stage woodlands, (Stoleson 1998) up to approximately 5000 ft in elevation (T. Corman pers. comm.)
• nests in cavities or behind loose bark, burrows or depressions in banks or rocky crevices, may use tamarisk if all that is available. Occasionally they will nest in deserted Verdin or Toxostoma thrasher spp. cavities
• Nests in New Mexico have been found in cottonwood, Goodding's willow and boxelder; in Arizona where the species has been more extensively studied, the species nests primarily in tall, dense mesquite. This has not been documented in New Mexico
• nests in New Mexico range from 2.9-43.3 ft ( 0.9 - 13.2m) above ground with mean height of 23.3 ft (7.1m)
• will not use nest boxes
• cowbird parasitism may be a problem along the Gila River (Stoleson 1998)

Distribution: Found in the southwestern quadrant of the state north in the Rio Grande Valley to Socorro and occasionally to Bernardo and in the west north to Glenwood area. Not found further east than the Rio Grande River.

• in Region 2, T = -0.3%, p = 0.8, N = 35, RA = 8.22 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• maintain density of 35 pair per mile along the Gila watershed (Stoleson 1998)
• maintain or enhance suitable habitat to establish 8 pair per mile in the Rio Grande watershed from Socorro south
• maintain populations in the Mexican Highlands
• maintain closed canopy riparian forest
• maintain snags along streamsides
• reduce the use of levees to allow floodplain use by rivers during highflow events
• limit fuelwood gathering to downed logs

Associated Species: Black-crowned Night-Heron, Cooper’s Hawk, Common Black-Hawk,, Lewis's Woodpecker, Lucy’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blue Grosbeak

• occupies riparian woodlands dominated by tall cottonwood, willow, and sycamore where they occur (NM PIF)
• uses cottonwood, Goodding willow and boxelder for nesting in New Mexico (Stoleson 1998)
• May use tamarisk dominated woodland at higher elevations (up to approx. 5500ft); tamarisk must be at least 20 ft (66m) in height (B. Howe pers. comm.)
• nests on the Gila River ranged from 14-98 ft (4.3-30m) averaging 39.7 ft (12.1m in height) (Stoleson 1998)
• bee and wasp specialist; also takes other flying insects; will eat fruit in fall
• forages at average heights of approx. 31 ft (10m) in trees depending on forest structure
• in CA, average height of nests was 35ft (11.3m)

Distribution: Found in drainages in most of the southern two thirds of the state north to Cochiti, probably also regular in small numbers in the Canadian River drainage south of Mills Canyon.

• Region 2, T = -0.05%, p = 0.37, N = 115, RA=1.44 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• maintain a density of 6 pair per mile along the Gila watershed (Stoleson and Finch 1998)
• enhance habitat to create conditions favorable to the reestablishment of populations in at least one site above Cochiti Lake
• maintain mature riparian forests with cottonwood and willow associations
• maintain riparian tree height at 20ft (66m), preferably higher

Associated Species: Gambel's Quail, Bell's Vireo, Bewick's Wren, Northern Cardinal, House Finch

• well developed cottonwood-willow with a dense understory of shrubs; marginal habitat includes remnants of riparian woodland and shrubs, marshes and mixed exotic-native habitat
• especially common along the edges of mature mixed broadleaf forest along the Gila (Stoleson 1998); uncommon to nonexistent in early successional habitats such as pure Russian-Olive or willow
• prefers nesting in Baccharis spp. and Lycium or mistletoe, Mexican elderberry or thick cottonwood branches. Historic records in recently cut willow stumps surrounded by sprouts, will nest in mesquite.
• along the Gila, nests found in boxelder, Russian-olive, New Mexico locust, and Fremont cottonwood; nest heights averaged 5.6 ft (1.7m) with a range of3-8.2 ft ( 0.9 - 2.5m)
• prefers trees to shrubs as nest sites when both have leaves, but avoids bare trees

Distribution: Found along the Gila River from the Arizona border to Mogollan Creek. Also found at San Simon Cienaga.

• no BBS data available
• Increase populations to at least 50 breeding pairs along the Gila River
• Increase population to 8 breeding pairs at San Simon Cienaga
• Survey for additional populations in the Gila watershed
• maintain and increase cottonwood/willow associations with a dense understory
• limit grazing to the extent that a dense understory is maintained

Associated Species: Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Gila Woodpecker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Phainopepla

• large trees in riparian broadleaf forests
• open areas interspersed with large trees
• often found foraging on hillsides in Guadalupe Canyon

Associated Species: Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Varied Bunting

• found in arid and semi-arid habitats in mid-high elevation desert canyons, in riparian woodlands and foothills woodlands
• found in groves of sycamore/cottonwoods with dense mesquite at 3000 - 5000ft elevation
• in Guadalupe Canyon, nests in thickets near edge of canyon primarily with a northern exposure, bordered by rock outcroppings with hackberry, algerita, and mesquite (Baltosser 1989)
• has two nesting peaks: one starting mid-April coincides with peak blooming of Penstemon pseudospectabilis, the other starting in late June coincides with peak blooming of Agave parryi (Baltosser 1989)

Associated Species: Elf Owl, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Phainopepla

• in Guadalupe Canyon, uses broadleaf riparian forests with mature trees
• needs open areas near a stream with nearby xeric hillsides (Baltosser 1989)
• needs large amounts of herbaceous cover with shrubs near stream bottoms, seepwillow and burrobush
• hillsides, which often have sumac and algerita, are typical
• all NM nests occur in Arizona sycamore in open cups with overhanging leaf cover for shade (Zimmerman and Leroy 1960)

• no BBS data available for any of these species
• maintain the current breeding populations
• maintain habitat in Guadalupe Canyon
• cool-season only grazing, or cattle exclusion, in this canyon will benefit both hummingbirds
• Prescribed burns in this particular canyon will not result in a net benefit for any of the priority species. Two of the southwestern habitats which are not well-adapted to fire are riparian woodlands and Chihuahuan Desert scrub, which comprise the majority of habitat in Guadalupe Canyon.