Chihuahuan Raven	White-necked Raven	Cuervo llanero		Corvidae	Corvus cryptoleucus	Chihuahuan ravens inhabit yucca desert, mesquite groves, and desert grasslands.  They can also be found in  lowlands  with trees or utility poles nearby for nesting.		Chihuahuan ravens are carnivorous. They primarily eat insects and carrion.			Chihuahuan ravens are actually a smaller version of the common raven.  They are an black bird. However, their thick ruffs hide white neck feathers which are visible during flight. Although they make a "caaa" sound like other ravens, their voice is higher pitched.		Chihuahuan ravens are gregarious birds who roost communally and perform group aerial displays.  They are known for perching and soaring.  This bird will also reuse the same nest year after year.  A scarcity of trees may have caused this bird to do this.								Soaring and gliding.		Chihuahuan ravens mate for life and use the same nest every year, possibly due to shortage of trees. During mating season the male courts the female with fancy soaring. They also soar, preen and construct the nest together.  Four to seven greenish, blotched eggs will be layed into the nest.  These nests are often found in mesquite or yuccas or even on a utility pole!	Bird	thwhiteneckraven.jpg	MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Tweit, S. J. (1992).  The great Southwest nature factbook. Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books.;  Udvardy, M.D.F. (1988). The Audubon Society field guide to North American birds. New York: Knopf.;  Photograph:  Patrick Holian.	196		whiteneckraven.jpg			 Length:  19 - 21 in. (48 - 53 cm).	
Common Poorwill	The Sleeping One;  Goat-milk-suckers	Tapacamino teśii	Navaho:  BeŽ zhee; Hopi: Hšlchko	Caprimulgidae	Phalaenoptilus nuttallii	Common poorwills inhabits desert, chaparral, sagebrush, and arid woodlands.		Common poorwills are insectivorous. They eat night-flying moths and other insects.			Common poorwills are plump and stocky without the tapered necks characteristic of most birds.  They are mottled all over with shades of gray and brown except for a white streak across the throat and white tips on its rounded tail. They are named for their melancholy mating call which sounds like "poor-will."  The poorwill is the smallest bird in the nightjar family.	Common poorwills are known among Hopi Indians as hšlchko meaning the sleeping one. Old wise tales said that poorwills drank milk from goat's teats.	Common poorwills are the only southwestern desert bird that hibernates in the winter. Due to cold weather and lack of food, the poorwill hibernates in canyon walls which provides an excellent camoflage. Breathing and heartrate become undetectable, metabolism slows and temperature drops as much as 60 percent. 										Common poorwills lay 2 white or cream-colored eggs in shallow depressions in gravel on the ground, or on bare rock.  Incubation is done by both the male and female.	Bird		Jaeger, E. C. (1961). Desert Wildlife. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.; MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Reader's Digest.  (1990).  Book of North American birds.  New York: Reader's Digest.;  Tweit, S. J. (1992).  The great Southwest nature factbook. Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books.;  Photograph:  .	197	Common poorwills are nocturnal birds who feed on moths while flying, similar to the way bats feed.  				Length:  7 - 8.5 in. (18 - 22 cm).	
Golden Eagle		Aquila real		Accipitridae	Aguila chrysaetos	During the summer golden eagles can be found in the mountain forests or open woodlands.  In the  winter they may be seen over the deserts throughout many areas of the southwest.	Man was once this bird's main enemy, but laws now prevent them from being hunted. 	Golden eagles are carnivorous. Their favorite foods are rabbits and squirrels. They also eat foxes, birds, snakes and carrion. Thes birds will occasionally attack and kill large animals such as coyotes, pronghorn, or bighorn sheep and rarely, young livestock.			The golden eagle is a very large, dark brown bird with feathered legs and feet and a slightly banded tail.  Its beak is huge, curved, and sharp for tearing its food, and it has large sharp talons on its yellow feet. The eagle's name comes from its golden collar and the slightly gold tint to its feathers.  The voice of the golden eagle is a high-pitched "kee-kee-kee."  They also have a high scream or squeal, but are usually silent.	During the "Middles Ages" in Europe, the golden eagle was called the King of Birds and used in hunting. Some Native American tribes believed that the golden eagle could fly through a hole in the sky and bring messages back from another world. They often used the feathers in fans, headdresses, and sacred objects. Now that the golden eagle is protected by federal law, Native tribes must get permits to use feathers of dead birds by the Department of the Interior.	Golden eagles have special flying maneuvers made up of swoops and dives. They  use these during courtship and to display territorial boundaries. Young golden eagles are very aggressive to each other, and the larger birds may sometimes kill the smaller ones or take all their food. Between predators, disease, and starvation, up to 75% of eaglets may die in their first year. 								High soaring  but may drop very quickly on the squirrel or rabbit that it is going to eat. It can soar for hours by riding the thermals and  flattening its wings. Golden eagles have been known to fly at 150 to 200 miles per hour!		Golden eagle pairs stay together for a number of years. After a dramatic courtship in the sky, the eagles nest in high mountains, on cliffs or on tall trees. Its nest is made of sticks, and each year it adds more of them until the nest is up to five or six feet tall and just as wide. Nesting can occur any time from February to June, depending on the climate.  There are usually two white eggs with brown spots which hatch after about 35 - 45 days. Although the female does most of the incubating and child care, both parents find food for the eaglets. The young eagles are ready to leave the nest in 2 - 3 months, although they may continue to get food from their parents for several more months.	Bird	thgoldeneagle.jpg	Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  Guterson, B. (1994). Seasonal guide to the natural year. Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.;  Harrison, K., & Harrison, G. (1986). The gallery of birds . In A. E. Mace (Ed.), The birds around us. San Francisco, CA: Ortho.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  O'Gara, B. W. (1994). Eagles. In S. E. Hygnstrom, R. M. Timm, & G. E. Larson (Eds.), Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Division.;  Photograph: New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.	198	Golden eagles are diurnal.  They are most active during the day when they are soaring over the high mountains and deserts searching for food.  Desert eagles may be either year-round New Mexico residents or migratory birds who come down from the North for the winter. The migrating birds are usually in the Southwest from October to March.  	goldeneagle.jpg			Length: 30 - 41 in. (76 - 104 cm ).  Wingspan:  78 inches (2 m).	
Harris' Hawk	Bay-winged Hawk; Chestnut-thighed Buzzard; Harris Buzzard	Sarceta verde		Accipitridae	Parabueto unicinctus	The Harris' hawk is found in chapparal and in open woodlands.   It may also be seen on the ground or sitting in the trees and bushes of riparian and desert areas.		Harris' hawks are carnivorous. Their favorite foods are small mammals, such as ground squirrels, rabbits, and mice. They will also eat small reptiles and  birds.			Harris' Hawk is a slim, medium-sized bird with dark feathers on its body. It has light brown on its shoulders, wings, and thighs, and a white rump. The tail is black, with a white band on the edge and white on the sides. The hawk's beak is curved for tearing food. It has a long, loud, high pitched scream that sounds like "iirrrrr." 		Unlike most hawks which hunt alone, the Harris' hawk sometimes hunts in groups of 3. This gives it a good success rate for catching prey.								Their flight pattern is to beat their wings rapidly  a few times, and then to glide for a short time. They fly in wide circles.		The Harris' hawk nests in saguaro cactus or trees. The female lays 2 - 4 whitish eggs with brown or light blue spots, and hatches them herself. The male participates by bringing her food.  Unlike most birds, these females may have 2 mates at a time who both help provide for the female and the young.	Bird	thharrishawk.jpg	Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  Harrison, K., & Harrison, G. (1986). The gallery of birds. In A. E. Mace (Ed.), The birds around us. San Francisco, CA: Ortho.;  Heintzelman, D. S. (1979). Hawks and owls of North America: A complete guide to North American birds of prey. New York:  Universe Books.; MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Terres, J. K. (1980). National Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. New York: Knopf.; Photograph: New Mexico State Cooperative Extension Service. 	199		harrishawk.jpg			Length: 18 - 30 in. (46 - 76 cm).  Wingspan: 43 in. (109 cm).	
Ladder-backed Woodpecker		Carpintero mexicano		Picidae	Picoides scalaris	Ladder-backed woodpeckers can be found in desert mesquite bushes and in the trees of riparian areas, especially near desert streams.		Ladder-backed woodpeckers are omnivorous.  They eat ants, beetles, larvae, moths, and other small insects. They also like cactus fruit and oranges.			The ladder-backed woodpecker has black and white zebra stripes on its back and black and white spots on its belly. The male has a red cap on the front of its head. Tail feathers are stiff and pointed  and legs are short with sharp claws. These special features help the bird to balance on the sides of trees and cacti. The rhythmic drumming of the woodpecker's beak against wood or metal is one way to recognize the bird. This noise helps establish territory and attract mates.  These woodpeckers have a loud rattling call.	The woodpecker's habit of pecking holes sometimes causes damage to homes or barns in rural areas. Although they prefer natural wood, they will also poke holes in stained or painted wood and plastic used in solar heating panels.  This is especially damaging to buildings that are not used all the time, like vacation homes.	This woodpecker lives as part of an interesting eco - system with the agave plant (also called the century plant) and the agave beetle. The beetle pollinates the plant and then lays its eggs in the stalk. The larvae hatch and eat some of the seeds of the plant. The woodpecker then eats the larvae, which allows the plant's seeds to develop and the plant to mature. After the seeds mature, the plant dies and the woodpecker uses the stalk as a nest site.										This woodpecker usually  builds its nest high in the agave plant or saguaro cactus, although it will also nest in mesquite or other desert bushes when necessary. The ladder-back female lays from 3 - 6 eggs in the spring. Both male and female hatch the eggs and feed the squeaking young.	Bird	thladderback.jpg	Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.; Marsh, R. E. (1994). Woodpeckers. In S. E. Hygnstrom, R. M. Timm, & G. E. Larson (Eds.), Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Division.;  Photograph:  G. Morris Southward.	200	Ladder-backed woodpeckers are diurnal.  They are most active during the day.	ladderback.jpg			Length: 6 -  7 in. (15 - 17 cm).	
Curve-billed Thrasher		Cuitlacoche (songbird) pico curvo		Mimidae	Toxostoma curvirostre	Curve-billed thrashers can usually be  found in cholla cactus, mesquite, creosote and palo verde in desert lowlands.		Curve-billed thrashers are primarily insectivorous, but they also eat berries, fruit, and seeds.			The curve-billed thrasher is grey-brown with a brownish streaked belly and a light throat. It has a long dark tail, and bright orange eyes, and sometimes has light bars on its wings. These birds get their name from their long curved beak. They have a soft musical song with varied tones, but when bothered they make a distinctive call that sounds like "whit-wheet". 		Curve-billed thrashers are very active and aggressive birds. They are known to drive other birds off feeders and may even attack a squirrel. Curve-billed thrashers have large, strong feet for their size, and often run, rather than fly. They find their food by poking around under dry brush and dirt on the ground.										Curve-billed thrashers, like cactus wrens, nest in cholla cactus because of the protection their young will get from the thorny plants. In fact, the thrasher may tear up a cactus wren's nest and chase the smaller bird away to take a particularly good site for its own eggs. Between January and July, females lay 2 - 4 greenish speckled eggs in cup-shaped nests that are made of twigs and lined with grass. Thrasher females rarely leave their nests unless an intruder approaches them too closely.	Bird		Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  Jaeger, E. C. (1961). Desert wildlife. Stanford, CA:  Stanford University.;  Kirk, R. (1973). Desert: The American Southwest. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.; Tweit, S. J. (1994). The great Southwest nature factbook. Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books.;  Photograph:  .	201	This bird is a permanent year-round resident of the Southwest. 				Length: 10 - 11 in. (25 - 28 cm).	
Black-chinned Hummingbird	Summer Hummingbird	Colibri barba negra		Trochilidae	Archilochus alexandri	Black-chinned hummingbirds inhabit a variety of areas in the Southwest.  They may be found in shrub deserts, chaparral, open woodlands, and in mountain forests.  They also live in cropland orchards and in the gardens of urban areas.		Black-chinned hummingbirds are both nectivorous and insectivorous. They drink nectar from flowers, particularly red ones. They also eats insects. Hummingbirds get the water they need from flower nectar when it is available.  When the flowers are no longer blooming, another source of water must be found.			The black-chinned hummingbird gets its name from the black chins which appear only on the males. Males also have blue-violet bands on their throats, while the females' throats are white. The backs and heads of these birds are iridescent-green, and their underbellies are white or whitish-brown. In flight, these small hummingbirds make a buzzing sound with their wings. They have two calls: one sounds like a buzz, and the other is a short tup sound.	When converting Indians to Christianity, Jesuit priests found a place for hummingbirds in their spiritual teachings.They illustrated Christ rising from the dead by likening the event to hummingbirds coming out of their torpor. 	Black-chinned hummingbirds are very territorial birds, especially when nesting. Males have been known to fatally attack intruders, stabbing them with their long pointy beaks.  Hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly backward, straight and down and sideways!  Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world.										Female hummingbirds construct a soft cup - shaped nest and incubate two eggs while the males defend the territory.  Males court with fancy aerial displays but do not stay with females after the mating cycle.	Bird	thbchinnedhummer.jpg	Guterson, B. (1994). Seasonal Guide to the natural year. Golden, CO: Fulcrum.;  Jaeger, E. C. (1961). Desert wildlife. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.;  Kirk, R. (1973).  Desert: The American Southwest. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Tweit, S. J. (1992). The great Southwest nature factbook. Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books.;  Photograph:  Patrick Holian.    	204	Black-chinned hummingbirds are diurnal.  They must go in and out of torpor throughout the day to put their high energy needs on hold. Black-chins also winter in Mexico when food is scare in the northern parts of their range. 	bchinnedhummer.jpg			Length:  3.25 - 3.75 in. (8 - 10 cm).	
Black-throated Sparrow	Desert Sparrow 	Zacatonero garganta negro		Fringillidae	Amphispiza bilineata	Black-throated sparrows inhabit deserts with sagebrush and cactus as well as dry urban areas and in croplands.	Snakes	Black-throated sparrows are omnivorous.  They eat dry seeds during hot dry seasons. After the rains, they switch to green vegetation and insects. During seed eating season these sparrows drink frequently at watering holes, but they do not need to drink water when eating a lot of vegetation.			True to its name, the black-throated sparrow has a black throat and tail with a gray body. Above and below its eyes are two white racing stripes that run from the beak to the back of the head. Its underbody is also white. It is often found singing melodiously on a creosote bush. Its song sounds like "cheeeet cheeeet cheeee," ending in a throaty trill.		Black-throated sparrows are one of the few creatures that can limit the amount of water eliminated in its droppings. This serves it well in the desert, where it often needs to conserve moisture.										These sparrows build a soft grassy nest close to the ground in creosote bushes and cholla cactus. They breed once in the spring and again in the summer, having 3 or 4 chicks each time.	Bird		 Jaeger, E. C. (1961). Desert wildlife. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Zwinger, A. H. (1989) The mysterious lands. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press.;  Photograph:  .  	205	Black-throated sparrows are diurnal.  They are most active during the day, beginning with the first gray light of morning.  Desert sparrows are year round desert residents and active singers except in the northern most part of their range.  				Length:  4.75 - 5.5 in. (12 - 14 cm).	
Torrey Yucca	Spanish Dagger, Spanish Bayonet, Palm Yucca	Palma		Agavaceae  (Agave family)	Yucca torreyi	Dry soils of plains, mesas, and foothill slopes; desert grasslands and shrub thickets.			Many small, flat, rough, dull black seeds similar in appearance to watermelon seeds.		The Torrey yucca is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It can grow with either one trunk or can branch into several trunks. A cluster of long, yellow-green bayonetlike leaves, usually 2 feet to 3 1/2 feet long, grows on top of the trunk. The leaves taper from a wide base to a sharp, spiny tip at the end. The tips can hurt you if you run into them! 
	Many Native Americans depended on the yucca for food, and used the fibers of the leaves to make ropes, mats, sandals, baskets, and cloth. The yucca is the New Mexico state flower.	Cactus wrens build their nests in Torrey yuccas.  The spines on the leaves offer natural protection from predators.		Flowers are clustered around the upper end of a stalk that grows from the top of the plant. They are 3 - 4 inches long (8 - 10 cm), white or purplish-tinged, and are bell-like in appearance.  	The fruit is 4 - 5.5 in. long (10 - 14 cm) and 1.25 - 2 in. wide (3 - 5 cm).  It is brown to black and contains many seeds.	Zone: 6, 7.	Used in native landscapes and as an ornamental or accent plant.	Low. It can survive with whatever water it gets from rain and snow.					Plant	thtorreyyucca.jpg	Hodoba, T.  (1995).  Growing desert plants from windowsill to garden.  Santa Fe, NM:  Red Crane Books.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Knopf.;  Photograph:  Justin Van Zee.	206		torreyyucca.jpg	Plant the seeds in full sun in well-drained soil. When transplanting, be careful not to remove the soil from around the roots. Once established, yucca needs little care, and requires no fertilizer or supplemental water.		Height: Trunk: 3 - 24 ft. (90 - 720 cm).  Leaves:  2 - 4.5 ft. (60 - 135 cm).  Stalk:  3 - 4 ft. (90 - 120 cm).	
Ocotillo	Coachwhip	Palo Verde		Fouquieriaceae  (Ocotillo family)	Fouquieria splendens	Desert grasslands, plains and on rocky, gravelly slopes up to 5,000 ft.					Ocotillo branches grow from the ground straight up, then slightly curve when they begin to flower. This shrub breaks out in tiny, bright-green leaves after a summer shower.  The leaves fall off during dry spells to save water.  During dry spells, tubular, fire-red flowers bloom at the end of the branches. Flowering occurs between April and July, attracting many hummingbirds.	A white flame is created when ocotillo is burned. That led to native peoples and early settlers calling it candlewood. Southwest Indians used the flowers and seeds as food.  Ocotillo stems have been used to make corrals and fences.
	Ocotillo is the only member in its family. There are 11 species. 		The ocotillo has beautiful, tube-shaped orange-red flowers in clusters at the tip of the stems.  <a href="http://horizon.nmsu.edu/ddl3/images/plant/ocotilloblossom.jpg">See bloom</a>	Oval capsule filled with many flat seeds.	Zone: 7, 10, 11, 12, 13.	Used in decorative security fencing by planting cut branches a foot apart.	Low.	Soil must drain quickly or plant begins to rot.				Plant	thocotillo1.jpg	Crumpler, H.  (1994).  On the trail of the desert wildflower.  New York:  Harper Collins Publisher, Inc.;  Hodoba, T.  (1995).  Growing desert plants from windowsill to garden.  Santa Fe:  Red Crane Books.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred K. Knopf.;  Wasowski, S. & Wasowski, A.  (1988).  Native Texas plants: Landscaping region by region.  Austin, TX:  Texas Monthly Press.;  Photograph:  1)  Norm Lownds;  2)  G. Morris Southward.	207		ocotillo2.jpg	Ocotillos are very hardy plants that grow throughout the desert.  Can be grown from seeds or cut branches.		Height: 8 - 20 ft. (243 - 609 cm).  Width: 6 ft. (182 cm). Stems: 3 in. diameter. (8 cm).	
Great Horned Owl	Big Hoot Owl; Cat Owl; Chicken Owl; Eagle Owl; Hoot Owl; Horned Owl; King Owl;Virginia Horned Owl	Bircho cornudo		Strigidae	Bubo virginianus	Great horned owls inhabit the desert and desert mountains in areas where they can find shelter and nesting sites.  They are found throughout North America in riparian areas, open woodlands, mountain forests and even croplands and urban areas.	Humans	Great horned owls are carnivorous. They have a varied diet, because they are powerful enough to bring down prey that weighs several times more than they do.  They eat mammals like mice, squirrels, rabbits and even opossums, woodchucks, beavers and skunks. They will also eat birds like grouse, crows, hawks and other owls. They are capable of fishing, and will nab fresh water fish and other aquatic inhabitants, such as snakes, right out of the water. 		Up to 29 years in captivity.	Great horned owls are the largest and best known of common owls.  They  are named for the two pointed tufts of feathers on opposite sides of the head - crown that look like horns. Their deep yellow, front-facing eyes are set within typical owl eye circles. They are mottled and take on the coloring of their habitat ranging from dark browns to light grays. More often heard than seen, the call of a great horned sounds like "hoo, hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo," and carries well.  The call of the young has been described as a blood-curdling scream.  	Because of their intelligent and intimidating appearance, great horned owls have sometimes been described as being the human match in the animal kingdom. In fact, our expression "wise as an owl" relates to these birds. Great horned owls have been responsible for the death of small livestock and many barnyard birds, and so they were once killed in numbers by hunters and farmers. They are now federally protected and a permit is required to kill a great horned owl.	Great horned owls hunt silently at night by swooping down and grasping their prey in their fierce talons.  The prey is brought to a roosting site and then torn into swallowable pieces. Owls do not chew their food, instead they swallow it whole and later regurgitate indigestible matter, such as bones and fur, in the form of pellets. Examination of these pellets tells researchers what the owls have eaten. Great horned owls use an astonishing number of hunting strategies. They have been known to steal muskrats from traps; enter wired chicken coops and slip into hen houses through small, low openings; attack roosting owls, hawks, and turkeys; descend into chimneys to get at swifts; and wade into shallow streams to fish. It seems that great horned owls love a challenge! 								Owls fly silently, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph.		Great horned owls build nests that look as if they were thrown together hastily with large twigs. Sometimes they will use the nests of other large birds such as red-tailed hawks. The nesting season runs between January and June depending on the area.  Both parents incubate  2 - 3 eggs and provide food for the owlets. Female owls are larger and the primary hunters. The owlets remain in the nest for up to 10 weeks.  	Bird	thhornedowl.jpg	Cameron, A., & Parnall, P. (1971). The nightwatchers. New York: Four Winds.;  Heintzelman, D. S. (1979). Hawks and owls of North America: A complete guide to North American birds of prey. New York:  Universe Books.;  Hygnstrom, S. E., & Craven, S. R. (1994). Hawks and owls. In S. E. Hygnstrom, R. M. Timm, & G. E. Larson (Eds.), Prevention and control of wildlife damage.;  Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Division.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Terres, J. K. (1980). National Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. New York: Knopf.; Photograph:  Doug Burkett.  	208	Great horned owls are primarily nocturnal.  They are wonderfully adapted nighttime hunters.	hornedowl.jpg			Length:  25 in. (63 cm).  Wingspan:  55 in. (139 cm).	
Pi–on Jay	Blue Crow, Pi–on Crow, Maximilian's Crow or Jay (the discoverer), Pi–onero	Chara pi–onero		Corvidae	Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus	Pinon jays can be found in the foothills of the Southern Rockies in Pi–on -  Juniper open woodlands.		Pinon jays are omnivorous. They prefer to eat the nuts from pi–on pine trees, when available. Otherwise they will eat other types of seeds, grasshoppers, beetles, fruits and berries.			Pi–on jays are in the crow family, and look like miniature blue-gray versions of their larger cousins.  Their underbellies are a paler blue and their throats are white streaked with blue.  Noisy, crow-like and nomadic, pi–on jays caw, mew and chatter. Their genus name, Gymnorhinus, means "naked nose".  The jays were so named because their nostrils are not covered by feathers like other members of the crow family.  The species name, cyanocephalus, means "blue head".		A flock of jays collect nearly a ton of the nutritious, fatty, pi–on seeds in late summer and early fall and stores them under leaves for the winter. They can transport up to 20 seeds to the seed cache by packing them in their esophagi. The seeds that don't get eaten by the jays may sprout into new trees in locations that are far from the parent tree, enlarging the range of the tree.										Pi–on jays are so closely associated with pi–on nuts that they will delay breeding for a season if the current crop of nuts is not large enough to meet their needs. They settle in a suitable area during nesting time, between February and June, and each couple lays 4 to 5 blue and green tinted eggs.  The nest is a bulky cup of twigs, roots, grass, and hair.  Incubation is done by the female only and lasts 15 - 17 days. 	Bird		Reader's Digest (1990).  Book of North American birds.  New York: Reader's Digest.;  Terres, J. K. (1980). National Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. New York: Knopf.;  Tweit, S. J. (1992).  The great Southwest nature factbook. Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books.;  Photograph:  . 	209	Pi–on Jays travel and live in flocks of several hundred birds. Because they only like to eat pi–on nuts, they store food in preparation for winter when the nuts are scarce.				Length:  9 - 11.75 in. (23 - 30 cm).	
Four-wing Saltbush	Wing-scale, Shadscale	Chamiso		Chenopodiaceae  (Goosefoot family)	Atriplex canescens	Found in desert valleys, plains, mesas and hillsides.  Usually grows in sandy and somewhat alkaline soils.			Very small seeds surrounded by four winglike structures.		Four-wing saltbush has a weedy appearance with nondescript colors.  The gray-green leaves on the branches are long and narrow. In August and September, papery fruit grows in clusters at the end of branches.  Four-wings grow with little encouragement, in the poorest of soils with little water.	The four-wing saltbush's pollen is known to cause hay fever in some people. It is nutritious and an economically important source of food to animals and man.	Often used as erosion control on sandy hillsides. This drought-resistant shrub is fire-resistant.  If it burns it grows back next year.		Small, yellow flowers about 1/16 of an inch long.	Four winglike membranous structures, 1/4 - 3/4 in. long, surround a small seed.	Zones:7, 8, 9.	Desert landscapes. Sometimes used as a privacy hedge.	Low					Plant	thsaltbush2.jpg	Hodoba, T. (1995). Growing desert plants from windowsill to garden.  Santa Fe:  Red Crane Books.;  MacMahon, J. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.;  Sunset Magazine Editors.  (1988).   Sunset Western garden book.  Menlo Park, CA:  Sunset Publishing Co.;  Wasowski, S. & Wasowski, A.  (1988).  Native Texas plants: Landscaping region by region.  
Austin, TX:  Texas Monthly Press.  Photograph:  Norm Lownds.	210		saltbush1.jpg	Once established, they will flourish if left alone.		Height: 3 - 8 ft. (90 - 243 cm).  Width: 8 ft. (243 cm).	
Coppery-tailed Trogon	Elegant Trogon	Trog—n elegante		Trogonidae	Trogon elegans	Coppery-tailed trogons inhabit cool, mountain forests with riparian micro-habitats.		Coppery-tailed trogons are both insectivorous and frugivorous.  They are primarily eat grasshoppers, mantids, leaf beetles, caterpillars and moths.  They also eat certain fruits, such as grapes and cherries.			Coppery-tailed trogons are exotic, tropical birds known for their beauty.  Trogons are related to quetzals considered the most beautiful birds in the world. Coppery-tailed trogons are so named for their long copper-colored tails which hang straight down. Males have a dark green or golden bronze head with this color extending to the chest. The underbelly is rose-red with a white band across the breast and their beaks are bright yellow.  Their beauty does not extend to their call, which is a coarse, croaking sound easily heard and used to locate the birds.	The quetzal, which is a close relative of the coppery-tailed trogon, is the national bird of Guatemala. Among the Aztecs in Mexico, the birds were so prized that only rulers wore their feathers, and anyone else harming a quetzal would be put to death.	The nesting female trogon eats insects and fruits while hovering over her meal low in the forest. This makes her easy prey for Cooper's hawks, who hide in the foliage and then swoop down for the kill. The male trogon often feeds higher, which keeps him safer from the plummeting birds.										Coppery-tailed trogons breed between March and June, usually in May. Before mating, a male trogon will look at several tree hollows or deserted woodpecker holes until he is joined by the female at a suitable spot. The female lays 3 - 4 white eggs, and the young hatch in about 2 1/2 weeks. The babies remain in the nest for another 2 - 3 weeks after hatching.	Bird	theleganttrogan.jpg	Guterson, B. (1994). Seasonal guide to the natural year.  Golden, CO: Fulcrum Publishing.;  Kirk, R. (1973).  Desert: The American Southwest. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.;  Terres, J. K. (1980). National Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. New York: Knopf.;  Photograph:  Patrick Holian. 	212	Trogons come to several mountain areas in Southern Arizona near the New Mexico border to breed in May every year. In the Chiricahuas, they nest in altitudes between 5000 and 6500 feet. The rest of the time they live in tropical areas of Mexico and Central Mexico.	eleganttrogan.jpg			Length:  11 - 12 in. (28 - 30 cm).	
Carp	Common Carp			Cyprinidae	Cyprinus carpio	Common carp are found in permanent fresh water environments, either in lakes or slow-moving streams and rivers. They prefer quiet, shallow, warmer waters with lots of vegetation. In New Mexico, they are plentiful and can be found in the Rio Grande River.	Turtles, eagles, large fish.	Omnivorous. When young, they prefer crustaceans, insect larvae, and plankton.  When they become adults they still eat insect larvae, but include mollusks, larger crustaceans, and aquatic vegetation into their diet.		Average age is 12 years,  but some carp have lived to 40 or 50 years!	Carp are fairly thick-bodied fish with gold to olive colored backs and yellow-gold sides. They have white bellies and orange, yellow, or light green fins. The nose and mouth are large and protrude forward, and the mouth angles down like a frown.  Carp have four "dagger-like"  barbels which are used as feelers to help them find food.  Most carp are covered with scales outlined in a dark color, which makes each scale look like a little square.  	The history of carp goes all the way back to ancient China, where they have been cultivated since the fifth century BC. They are also known to have been eaten in ancient Rome and Greece.  There are even tales told about people seeing carp that weighed 400 lbs!!  That's a pretty big fish story!  Carp were introduced into the United States in the late 1880's.  Today, they are an important source of food (protein) to many people throughout the world, although they are not very popular in the United States.  Sport fisherman also enjoy fishing for carp because they are fun, yet difficult to catch.  	Carp are related to goldfish. They are originally from Japan, China, and Central Asia.  When a carp is searching for food, it has the unique ability to pull its' head back and seize prey that's above it.  Carp are considered pest fish because they disturb other fish habitats.  They do this by eating their eggs, uprooting vegetation, and stirring up and muddying the waters.	Average 15 lbs. (6.8 kg), but up to 60 lbs. (27 kg)									Carp breed when the weather and the water gets warm - about 75 degrees F (24 C).  They lay about 220,000 eggs,  and scatter them among plants and debris. The eggs hatch in 3 - 16 days, if the temperature is right. Young carp grow quickly to adult size.	Fish	thcarp.jpg	Burton, M. & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.; Paxton, J. R., & Eschmeyer, W. N. (1994). Encyclopedia of fishes. San Diego, CA: Academic Books.;  Sublette, J. R., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York:  Macmillan.;  Photograph:  John F. Scarola - New Hampshire Fish & Game.
	213	Carp are both nocturnal and diurnal. They feed during almost any time of the day or night.	carp.jpg			Length:  20 - 30 in.  (51 - 76 cm)	carpbn.jpg
Catfish	Channel Catfish			Ictaluridae	Ictalurus punctatus	Catfish live in cool to warm permanent, fresh water environments. They like ponds, reservoirs, and large rivers with many aquatic plants.	Turtles. Also large fish eat small catfish.	Omnivorous.They eat aquatic insects, other fish, crustaceans, frogs, and plant material. Large catfish will even eat small water birds and mammals.			Catfish are famous for their "whiskers" which are actually  barbels.  Their long bodies are greenish to pale blue with a little bit of silver. Their sides have some dark spots and their bellies are white. Catfish have flat heads and no scales. During mating season, the males become darker and their heads get larger.	Catfish are important to sport fisherman and commercial fisherman alike. They can be grown in a fish hatchery and are a valuable food fish.  There are many tales about how big catfish can grow.  Some local tales might include stories of divers going into deep lakes and seeing giant catfish as big as cars, and other stories of catfish eating small children. However,  none of these stories have ever been proven.	Catfish are sometimes called "mudeaters" because they do their feeding on the water bottoms.They use their "barbels" (whiskers) as feelers. Barbels are covered with taste buds to help them detect food in front, below and alongside of where they are swimming. The dorsal and pectoral fins of the catfish have spines that they can use as weapons against enemies.  	Average about 25 lbs. (11.3 kg)									Spawning takes place from May to June. The male creates a nest for the spawning female under the banks of the water's edge, in rubble, boulders, or logs. The female spawns once a year and may lay up to 100,000 eggs!	Fish	thcatfish.jpg	Burton, M. & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.  North American wildlife. (1982). Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.;  Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M.D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York: Macmillan.;  Photograph:  Wydoski & Whitney.	214	Catfish are primarily nocturnal, being most active from sundown to midnight. They usually live a solitary life.	catfish.jpg			Length: 2 - 40 in.  (5.08 - 101 cm)   Max:  55 in.  (127 cm)	
Rainbow Trout				Salmonidae	Oncorhynchus mykiss	Permanent aquatic, fresh water environments. They may be found in cold, clear, lakes or in swift-moving streams.		Primarily carnivorous. They eat insect larvae, mollusks, and crustaceans. Larger trout will also eat other fish. Rainbow trout occasionally eat some algae. 			The rainbow trout is a very pretty fish. The top of the head, back and upper sides are bluish-green to brown with small dark spots. The lower sides are silvery gray with a reddish-pink stripe. The lower fins are yellowish and the belly is white.  	The rainbow trout is considered one of the best angling (fly fishing) fish by sportsman. It is famous for its high leaps and its strong fight once hooked. Rainbow trout is a popular food fish. It is good to eat and is grown in fish hatcheries both for commercial sales and to stock rivers, lakes, and streams. In fact, much of the trout that is now in New Mexico lakes, rivers, and streams is stocked fish rather than wild fish.  	Rainbow trout were originally only found west of the Rocky Mountains. They were introduced into New Mexico because they easily adapt to new environments.  They are now plentiful in streams and other waterways. Rainbow trout are very territorial. They will pick an area in which to live and will fight off any other fish that try to invade their territory! 	From 3 - 8 lbs. (1.36 - 3.63 kg)  Max: 18 lbs. (8 kg)									Rainbow trout usually migrate upstream in the spring to spawn.   The female makes a place to spawn, called a "redd", in an area with gravel. After laying 200 to 12,000 reddish orange eggs, she will cover them with gravel. Eggs hatch in about 2 months. The young grow quickly and reach full size in about 2 years.  Rainbow trout live in warm waters with brown trout and in cooler waters with cutthroat trout. They will breed with these other species.	Fish	thrainbowtrout.jpg	Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh- and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Sublette, J. E., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wernert, S.J. (1982).  North American Wildlife.  Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York: Macmillan.;  Photograph: 1. Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game 2. Daniel W. Gotshall.	215	Mainly diurnal. Rainbow trout may feed at any time of the day, although they favor early morning and late afternoon. Large fish will generally feed in deep pools, while smaller ones may be found in the shallows. The trout sometimes hide under rocks, logs, plants, and in deep pools. 	rainbowrock.jpg			Length: 1 - 3 ft. (30 - 152 cm)   Max: 5 ft.  (152 cm)	
Largemouth Bass	Sunfish			Centrarchidae	Micropterus salmoides	Permanent aquatic, fresh water environments.  Prefers rivers that run slowly, or quiet, warm lakes and ponds with lots of vegetation.	Striped bass, osprey, & bald eagles.	Carnivorous. Adults eat insects, crayfish, frogs, snails, and other fish. The young primarily eat zooplankton.		About 16 years.	The largemouth bass is olive-gray to green on top, with yellowish-brown eyes. The belly is light with a pinkish tint. Many bass have dark green blotches on the back and sides that seem to form a band from eye to tail. The largemouth bass gets its name from its long mouth which is turned upward, and extends beyond the bass's eyes. The dorsal fins are separated, and are usually olive in color.	The largemouth bass is an important sports fish, being the object of huge bass fishing tournaments. It is considered a <a href="http://horizon.nmsu.edu/ddl3/images/fish/largemouthbass2.jpg">trophy fish</a> by many fishermen. These bass are also good to eat. They can be grown in fish hatcheries and then used to stock rivers, reservoirs, ponds, and lakes. Largemouth bass are native to North American waters, but have now been exported to Europe.	This bass is abundant throughout New Mexico, particularly in lower elevations. It survives well in murky waters with lots of vegetation. Partly due to their successful breeding strategy, the bass's environment sometimes becomes overcrowded with fish, which may cause them to become cannibals. The bass's growth and breeding behaviors are also strongly affected by the water temperature. 	5 - 25 lbs. (2.3 - 11.3 kg)									Largemouth bass will breed when they reach 7 - 8.5 inches in length. About 1 - 5 days before spawning, the male makes a nest in the protection of boulders, slopes, or  plants by using its fins to fan out a circular area.The female will spawn, usually in late April or early May,  when the temperature of the water is 18 - 24 C. The eggs hatch in about 4 days.The male guards both the eggs and the newly hatched young. They are completely mature at about the age of 3.	Fish	thlargemouth.jpg  	Boschung, H.T. Jr., Williams, J.D., Gotshall, D.W., Caldwell, D.K., Caldwell, M.C. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to North American fishes, whales, & dolphins. NY: Knopf.; Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh- and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. Wernert, S.J. (1982). North American Wildlife. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.; Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M.D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;
Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York: Macmillan.;  
Photograph: 1. Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game. 2. Byron Wright, New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.  	216	Largemouth bass may be either nocturnal or diurnal. They often feed greedily at the surface, most actively in the early morning, at dusk, or at night. However, they have been known to feed at any time of the day.	largemouth.jpg			Length: Up to 3 ft. 2 in. (97 cm)	
Pupfish	Killifish, Salt Creek Pupfish, Alkali Minnows, Top Minnows, Toothed Carps			Cyprinodontidae	Cyprinodon salinus	They live in both ephemeral and permanent aquatic environments, often in shallow, salty,  pools of water.	Diving Beetles and larger fish.	Omnivorous and detrivorous. They eat algae, plant and animal material, insects, worms,  or whatever is available.		Short life - will live only one season.  	Pupfish are very small gray-green to brownish in color. There are vertical bars or stripes down the sides. They have a small upturned mouth, and smooth scales.  The males can be very colorful during mating season, and are larger than females.	Pupfish are a very popular aquarium fish. However, there are already five species of pupfish that are extinct, and more on the endangered species list. In many cases, their habitats have dried out. Irrigation and human uses of water have also affected the flow of springs that feed their pools. The introduction of larger fish that compete for food or eat the pupfish is another problem. 	These fish have made many successful adaptations for living in the desert. They can live in water temperatures greater than 100 F, and in water that is six times saltier than many ocean fish can survive in. In fact, their species name, salinus, comes from the Latin word for salty. Because many of the pools they live in are so shallow, they dry up quickly. So pupfish bury their fertilized eggs in the mud bottom. The eggs wait there until the next rain, and then hatch, in many cases after the parent fish have died. Pupfish can also flip themselves from one small pool to another, or burrow in the mud when their pools are drying out or freezing over.										Pupfish spawn in the summer and lay about 200 eggs either on the bottom or in vegetation. They may bury their eggs in the mud bottom of the pool to protect them from drying out. The eggs hatch from 3 weeks to 6 months later, depending on pool conditions. 	Fish	thpupfish.jpg	Burton, M. & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Smith, C. L. (1994). Fishwatching: An outdoor guide to freshwater fishes. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.;  Sublette, J. R., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wernert, S.J. (1982).  North American Wildlife.  Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York:  Macmillan.;  Photograph: Dr. V.W. Howard, New Mexico State University.	217	They are considered surface  feeders, often hanging motionless near the surface of the water waiting for insects.  They will jump short distances over the ground in wet weather and will catch insects on their way.	pupfish.jpg			Length:  1 - 5 in.  (2.5 - 12.7 cm)  Max: 7 in. (18 cm)	
Gizzard Shad				Clupeidae	Dorosoma cepedianum	Found in permanent,  fresh-water environments. The young prefer the quiet, surface waters of  lakes and reservoirs. Adults like the deeper waters on or near the bottom of rivers or lakes. They are quite common in New Mexico in the Rio Grande and Pecos Rive	Bigger fish and water fowl.	Detrivorous and herbivorous. They will eat any type of debris or plankton they can find at the bottom of the water. They filter this food through "gill rakers".		4 to 6 years.	The gizzard shad has a silvery blue body with a white belly.  Fins are dark. When young, it has a dark purplish spot, about the size of an eye, right behind its gills. The mouth is small and the nose is rounded. The gizzard shad's mouth has a distinct notch in the upper jaw and it has no teeth. The back dorsal fin has a long, stringy filament that extends along the back and back toward the tail. The gizzard shad is named for its stomach, which is thick-walled and muscular like a bird's gizzard.	The gizzard shad is a bony fish and not a valuable food source for man. It rarely strikes a hook, so is not valued by sportsmen, either. Most of its value is as a food source for bigger game fish. 	Gizzard shad are a type of herring, and like herrings, travel in large "schools". When disturbed, they leap into the air, which stirs up the water in which they live. This sometimes has a bad effect on other fish that prefer to be in quieter waters.										Spawning occurs in spring, at night, in shallow water for about 6 weeks.  Eggs are scattered around and they stick to plants, rocks, and other solid material under the water.  The eggs hatch in 2 to 4 days depending on the water temperature. The young grow rapidly for 2 - 3 years before they are fully mature.	Fish	thgizzardshad.jpg	Burton, M. & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Sublette, J. R., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Photograph: Charles Purkett  .	218		gizzardshad.jpg			Length: 8 - 14 in.  (20 -  36 cm)	
Walleye	Pikeperch, Walleyed Pike,  Yellow Pikeperch.			Percidae	Stizostedion vitreum	Permanent aquatic, fresh-water environments. They live in large rivers and streams with sandy or gravel bottoms, or the deep, cold waters of lakes and reservoirs. 		Carnivorous. Adults primarily eat native fish and crayfish but will also eat frogs and insects. The young mostly eat insects.		15 - 16 years	The walleye is a slender fish, with a greenish-brown or golden upper body with dark spots, and a white belly. It has silvery eyes, a blunt snout, strong teeth on the lower jaw and rough scales all over. The dorsal fin is in two distinct parts; the first is rounded and spiny, the second is squared and soft. The walleye gets its name from the eye, which seems to have a film, or a "wall", over it. 	The walleye is an important fish for sportsmen.  It's also an excellent food fish because of it's great taste and texture. Walleye travel in schools, so if one is caught, there are usually many more caught within a short period of time.	Walleye were originally found in North America east of the Mississippi river. Now they are being introduced into the cool, deep, waters of many Western states. The walleye is often confused with either the pike or the pickerel, which are both known for their teethed jaws and carnivorous habits. However, pike and pickeral are generally solitary, shallow-water fish, unlike walleye, which are usually found in deeper waters traveling in "schools".	Average: 5 -11 lbs.  (2 - 5kg)  									The walleye spawns at night in spring. It takes place in shallow waters over rubble, gravel, or aquatic vegetation. It scatters it's eggs over the rocks and sand and then leaves them alone to hatch. Young walleye are completely mature in 2 - 3 years.	Fish	thwalleye.jpg	Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Sublette, J. R., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York:  Macmillan.;  Photograph: John F. Scarola, Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game.	219	Primarily nocturnal. In clear waters and good weather, adults begin feeding at dusk and continue into the night. In stormy waters or during bad weather, they may also eat during the day. Generally, they spend their days in deep water, and only come to the shallow waters at night.	walleye.jpg			Length: 2 - 3 ft.   (61 - 91 cm)	
Northern Pike				Esocidae	Esox lucuis 	Permanent aquatic. It lives in shallow lakes, swamps, and slow moving rivers, with lots of vegetation.	This pike has few enemies because it's so aggressive.  	Carnivorous. They mainly eat other fish. When Northern pike are young, they prefer invertebrates such as crustaceans and insect larvae, water fleas, worms, and fry fish. As they get older, they eat young fish, tadpoles, newts, salmon, trout, water birds, small mammals, amphibians, and other pike. They are so aggressive, they will even eat fish and other animals their own size and bigger!		7 - 10 years or more.	The Northern pike has a long slender body with blue-gray to olive-green back and sides, and a white belly. The sides also have horizontal rows of yellow and white spots. It has a long snout with very pointed jaws, and both upper and lower teeth.  The fins are located way back by the tail. Females are larger than males.	The Northern pike is both an important sport fish and commercial food fish. It is the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world.	The pike's teeth are very important to its behavior.  The bottom teeth are very strong, and stick straight up to help catch prey. The upper teeth are actually located on the top of the mouth. They are curved backward,  which prevents its prey from getting away. Northern pike are often called "freshwater sharks" because its such an aggressive predator of other fish. Like many carnivores that live on land, it stalks other fish by hiding and then springing out to ambush its prey. It hunts by sight and not by scent. 	Up to 50 lbs. (22.7 kg)									Spawning occurs in early spring in shallow water along the banks of rivers and sometimes in flooded grasslands. The spawning female will be accompanied by 2 or more males. She will shed 40,000 -  500,000 eggs over the vegetation. The eggs will hatch in 2 - 3 weeks in water of proper temperature. The female eggs will hatch first and and grow faster than the males.	Fish	thnorthernpike.jpg	Boschung, H.T. Jr., Williams, J.D., Gotshall, D.W., Caldwell, D.K., & Caldwell, M.C. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to North American fishes, whales, & dolphins. NY: Knopf.;  Burton, M. & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh- and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Paxton, J. R., & Eschmeyer, W. N. (1994). Encyclopedia of fishes. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.;  Wernert, S.J. (1982).  North American Wildlife. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York:  Macmillan.;  Photograph: John F. Scarola, Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game.	220	Northern pike lead solitary lives except when spawning. They are so sensitive to temperature changes of the water that they will change their habits with the seasons. In spring, winter, and fall, they stay in the shallows and feed. In summer, they remain in deeper, colder water and spend less time eating.	northernpike.jpg			Length: 2 - 4 ft. (60 - 122 cm)  Max: 5 1/2 ft. (165 cm)	
Bannertail Kangaroo Rat		Rata Canguro		Heteromyidae	Dipodomys spectabilis	Desert grassland, slopes with brush and shrubs, usually with creosote bush or acacia trees. Likes gravelly soil.	Rattlesnakes, owls, badgers, bobcats, ringtail cats, skunks, foxes, coyotes.	Herbivorous. They eat desert grass seeds, mesquite, tumbleweed, sunflowers, and sand burrs.			One of the largest kangaroo rats, the bannertail kangaroo rat is dark buff color on top and white below. It gets its name from its dramatic looking tail, which has white stripes on the sides, a wide black band near the end, and a long, very bright  white tip. The eyes are large and black and are set back on the sides of the head. It also has long, 4-toed  hind feet, as well as pouches in its cheeks, used for transporting food to its burrows.	Bannertails have had a strong impact on the Chihuahuan Desert by helping to change it from desert grasslands to shrub desert.This is because the areas around their burrows provide fertile soil in which the shrubs can grow. They eat desert grass seeds and immature stems, which may keep some of the grasses from seeding new plants. Bannertails may also compete with livestock for food, because of their very large appetite for grasses!!	Kangaroo rats are rodents that are closely related to pocket mice and ground squirrels. They get the "kangaroo" part of their name from the way they hop like kangaroos. In fact, bannertails can hop up to 10 feet at a time. They are also excellent runners, zig-zagging back and forth to get away from predators. When running they can quickly change their course of direction by swinging the long rudder-like tail to one side.  This often confuses their pursuer. Bannertails are well adapted to the desert. They don't need to drink water because they can get all the liquid they need from their food. They have long nasal passages that keep them from losing moisture when they breathe. Like other kangaroo rats, bannertails like to take dust baths to keep their fur from getting too greasy, often using the same location many times.	About 3 - 5 oz. (0.09 - 0.14 kg).								When walking, paw prints from the front feet are small and round, while the tracks for the back feet are much larger with 4 toe marks. The tail also leaves a  drag mark. When hopping, the tail and front feet are often missing from the track.	Kangaroo rats usually breed in late spring, and give birth to 2-4 babies at a time.The females  raise the young, who stay in their burrows until they are full grown (for about 2 months). They then leave to make their own burrows.	Mammal	thbankangaroorat.jpg	Findley, J. S. (1987). The natural history of New Mexican mammals. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Knopf.; Olin, G. (1988). Mammals of the Southwest deserts. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.; Whitaker, J.O.Jr. (1996). National Audubon Society field guide to North American Mammals. New York: Knopf.; Photograph: New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.; Photograph: Roger W. Barbour, ©The Smithsonian Institution.	221	Bannertails are usually nocturnal and not very sociable among themselves.  Usually only one individual will occupy a mound, except when a female is raising young.  Their burrows are large, with many connecting tunnels and chambers that may go down as far as six feet underground. The dirt from the excavated burrow remains outside, creating a pile or mound in which desert shrubs often thrive.  Each rat lives alone in this complicated burrow, collecting large quantities of seeds which it stores for the winter. In the past, bannertails remained in one burrow for most or all of their lives. Now that there are less grasses in the desert, they often must move several times to find a new food supply.	bankangaroorat.jpg			Length: 12 - 15 in.  (30 - 38 cm).  Tail: 7 - 9 in.  (18 - 23 cm).	bannertailkratbn.jpg
American Kestrel 	Sparrow Hawk	Cernicalo americano		Falconidae	Falco sparverius	American kestrels inhabit open meadows, open woodlands, croplands or urban locations near high perches, telephone poles, or wires.	Occasionally, a kestrel may be caught by a ground predator.  Kestrels may be accidentally poisoned by pesticides.	American kestrels are carnivorous. They primarily eat insects, small snakes, lizards, and a few mice.			The kestrel is the smallest falcon of the desert. It is the size of a blue jay, and has about a 2 ft. wingspan, with the female a bit larger than the male.  The kestrel has a rust colored head, back, and tail, with black marks behind the ear and under the eyes. Its back is rust with black bars, and the underside is light buff to white with black dots. The male has grey-blue and rust colored wings, while the female's wings are reddish with dark streaks. It has a loud call that sounds like "killy-killy-killy."	The kestrel's feeding habits help keep the rodent population in control, since the more the mice breed, the more mice kestrels will eat. They can often be seen hunting over highway medians, and adapt well to living in nest boxes in these locations.  Some states put up these nesting sites on the backs of highway signs to keep kestrels in the area.	The American kestrel has a very fast metabolic rate (burns food quickly) so it needs to eat often. Some kestrels are known to have eaten 90 mice in a year, which is quite a lot for a bird that weighs less than a quarter of a pound! They also have very light, air-filled bones, which allow them to be agile and quick fliers. Kestrels scan for prey either from perches or by hovering in the air. When they see something good, they quickly beat and then fold their wings, plunging down to stun or kill their prey.										As part of the mating ritual, male kestrels offer food to the females.  They usually nest in hollows in trees, old woodpecker holes, or even under the eaves of buildings.  The female lays from 3 to 5 eggs that are buff to pinkish white with brown dots.  It takes from 29 to 31 days for the eggs to hatch.	Bird		Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.; Tweit, S. J. (1992).  The great Southwest nature factbook. Anchorage, AK: Alaska Northwest Books.;  Photograph:  Patrick Holian.  	222	American kestrels are diurnal. They are most active during the daylight hours.				Length: 9 - 12 in. (23 - 30 cm).   Wingspan: 2 ft. (60 cm).	
Western Kingbird		Tirano palido		Tyrannidae	Tyrannus verticalis	Western kingbirds inhabit desert grasslands, brushland,  chaparral, and roadsides.	Man is the greatest enemy.  Man moves into areas where this bird lives and the bird has to leave.	Western kingbirds are omnivorous. They eat flying insects, fruit and seeds.			The western kingbird has a grey cap, light grey throat and chest, yellow belly, and blackish wings and back. The square, dark tail has white on the side feathers. The kingbird has a low but sharp call, with a longer flight song.		Kingbirds prefer living in open spaces.  Because of this, they are frequently found in alfalfa fields and in pastures. They perch on tree limbs or on fence posts looking for flying insects. When they find one, they pounce quickly, sometimes catching it in the air.								This bird has the interesting ability to hover while it searches for food.   It can also dart and change direction quickly,  which gives you a good chance to see its underside and tail.		The Western kingbird prefers to nest in mesquite and cottonwoods.  However, it may build a nest on telephone poles, windmills or other tall places if cottonwoods are not available. The nest is large and built with twigs, string, leaves, and then animal hair.  Both sexes help to build it. The female lays 3 to 5 creamy-white eggs with brown or lavender blotches.  The eggs hatch in 12 to 14 days.	Bird	thwesternkingbird.jpg	Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.; MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred P. Knopf.;  Photograph:  Dr. V.M. Howard.	223	Kingbirds are diurnal. Some stay in the area through the winter and some migrate south when the weather gets cold.  	westernkingbird.jpg			Length: 8 - 9 in. (20 - 23 cm).  Wingspan:  7 in. (18 cm).	
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher		Perlita del desierto		Muscicapidae	Polioptila melanura	Black-tailed gnatcatchers can be found in the desert near washes lined by creosote bushes or near  mesquite and sagebrush.		Black-tailed gnatcatchers are insectivorous.  They exclusively feed on insects.			The black-tailed gnatcatcher is a very small and slender bird. It has a pointed short black bill.  Its back and the top of the wings are blue-grey and the underside is a light greyish-white. The long black tail has white edges. During the summer, the male has a black crown. The sound of this gnatcatcher is "chee chee chee."  		Despite their seemingly frail appearance, gnatcatchers are not afraid of anything.  They attack blue jays and even crows who encroach on their territory.								These birds fly in a  quick darting motion.		Black-tailed gnatcatchers build nests that are made of a compact cup of grass, bark strips, and fibers.  It is about 2 1/2 inches across, and 3 1/2 inches high in mesquite, creosote, sagebrush, cactus, or any brush they can find.  There are 3 or 4 pale blue eggs with reddish specks which hatch in fourteen days.  Incubation is done by both the female and the male.  	Bird		Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  Reader's Digest.  (1990).  Book of North American birds.  New York: Reader's Digest.;  Photograph:  .	224	Black-tailed gnatcatchers are diurnal.  They are very active during the day. It hops from branch to branch catching small insects from the leaves and branches. It also can catch insects in the air.				Length: 4.5 - 5 in. (11 -13 cm).	
Verdin		Baloncillo		Paridae	Auriparus flaviceps	Verdins can be found near mesquite and other shrubs in the desert.	Small hawks, owls, and roadrunners.	Verdins are omnviorous. They eat insects, seeds, berries and nectar.			The verdin is one of the smallest of the desert birds and very active. You can find it quickly hopping around inside large bushes. It has a yellow head and throat, a grey back, light belly, and brown shoulders. The bill is straight and sharply pointed.  These birds make a thin "tsilip," sound that is frequently repeated.	The name verdin comes from the French word for yellow. The bird is named for its bright colored head.	The male verdin actually builds the nest with very little help from the female. If she will not nest in it when he is done with the construction, he will build another one for her.  These birds seem to have no need for water.  They evidently get what they need from their diet of insects and seeds, the verdin has never been seen drinking or bathing.								Very quick and bouncy.		Verdins nests are quite large in comparison to the size of these birds.  It is made of thorny twigs with a hole in one side and a roof, and is in the thickest part of a cactus, palo verde or mesquite. The female lays 3 to 5 greenish dotted eggs which are well protected in the nest.	Bird		Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.;  IV the birds: Bird of the month. (June 23, 1997). [On-line]. Available: http://www.pavilion.co.uk/outdoor/docs/birdotm.htm.;  Reader's Digest.  (1990).  Book of North American birds.  New York:  Reader's Digest.;  Photograph:  .	225	Verdins are diurnal.  They are very active during the day.				Length: 4 - 4.5 in. (10 - 11 cm).	
Greater Sandhill Crane	Sandhill Crane	Grullagris		Gruidae	Grus canadensis	Sandhill cranes inhabit riparian areas with shallow water, sandbars, prairie ponds, and open marshes where they can see enemies from far away.   They can also be found near the larger desert rivers, flooded areas, or sometimes large stock ponds. They also	Coyotes, bobcats and other large predators may catch cranes when they are on the ground feeding in fields covered with cornstalks or other tall brush and grasses.	Sandhill cranes are omnivorous. They will eat almost any thing. Cranes use their strong bills to dig for seeds and worms. They also eat insects, small mammals, bird eggs, baby birds and berries.			The sandhill crane is very tall, slender, grey bird with a red forehead. Sometimes it may be partly rust-colored because of the minerals in the water in which it stands. The crane has a long neck, long sharp bill, and long legs. Sometimes it will stand on just one leg when resting or feeding. The crane can make many kinds of noises, although its normal sound is a loud  "karrrrooo."  The sandhill crane is especially graceful when flying.	The annual migration of the cranes from their northern, breeding range to their winter home in the south is a famous event. Yearly in October, many people gather for the Festival of the Cranes at Bosque del Apache in New Mexico. The cranes come in large flocks flying in V-formation that land within days of each other.  	These birds live in very large flocks during the winter, but only in pairs in the summer when they are raising their young.  When cranes fly to a feeding place, the whole flock travels together and may cover large sections of the sky. Cranes can fly up to 50 mph, and migrate as far as 3000 miles at an altitude of 1640 feet. Cranes are famous for their complex and graceful body movements, primarily during courtship and at other times, although we are not sure what the purpose is.	Male: 8.7 lbs.; Female: 7.6 lbs.							Sandhill cranes fly with a slow wingbeat.  All cranes fly with their necks streched out and their legs out behind.  Cranes can fly up to 50 mph, and migrate as far as 3000 miles at an altitude of 1640 feet. 	Tracks may be seen very well in mud around wet places.  They are about 6 in. long with three 3 in front and 1 in back.	Cranes fly north for the summer where they nest and raise their young. They return to the same place every time. The courting activities of the cranes are famous and are called the Dance of the Cranes. Before mating, the male and female raise their heads and call to each other, the male once and the female twice. They also flap their wings, leap and kick, as if dancing. The crane nest is made from reeds, rushes, sticks and moss. It is built in or near shallow water on a grassy mound or on other grassy plants. The nest is 3 to 5 feet across and has a small dip in the center.  From 1 to 3 smooth, olive-green eggs  with lavender-brownish spots are laid.   Both male and female incubate the eggs, which take 21 to 30 days to hatch.  The chicks can stand and walk in a few hours. The first chick joins the male to look for food while the female sits on the eggs that are left. Both parents take care of the young once they are all hatched.	Bird	thsandhillcrane.jpg	Davis, B. L. (1977). A field guide to birds of the desert Southwest. Houston, TX: Gulf.; Wild wings heading south: Migration: Sandhill crane. (June 23, 1997). [On-line]. Available:http://www.pbs.org/audubon/wildwings/sandhillcrane.html.;  Photograph:  Patrick Holian.	226	Sandhill cranes are diurnal. In the early morning they will leave the roost to fly to feeding places in open fields, then return at night. Sometimes they fly very long distances for food. Cranes migrate in the winter. Their northern breeding range may be in Siberia, Alaska, Northern Canada, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes Region, or northern prairies. In the fall, they move south to winter in a more moderate climate. The Rocky Mountain cranes winter in Bosque del Apache, a wildlife preserve in New Mexico.	sandhillcrane.jpg			Length:  34 - 48 in. (86 - 122 cm),  Wingspan: 80 in. (203 cm).	
Great-tailed Grackle		Zanate mexicano		Icteridae	Quiscalus mexicanus	Great-tailed grackles inhabit desert grasslands, marshlands, urban areas and croplands. They are also common in riparian areas like the Rio Grande River Valley,  where they feed in the muddy shallows of rivers.	Mammals like raccoons which may eat the eggs.	Great-tailed grackles are omnivorous. They will eat seeds, fruit, insects, worms, garbage, and even some carrion. 			The male great-tailed grackle is a medium-sized shiny, purplish-black bird with yellow eyes. Females and young grackles are brown with dark eyes and pale brown bellies. Grackles get their name from the male's long tail, which it sometimes spreads behind itself on the ground like a small fan. The great-tailed grackle is a noisy and active bird that is not shy about appearing in human environments.  These birds have a variety of whistles, clucks, and hissing notes.  		Although this grackle was originally a Mexican and South American bird it has begun to extend its range dramatically throughout many regions of the United States west of the Mississippi. Currently, these birds are found almost to the Canadian border, and they are continuing to spread. There are 3 different subspecies, with the one in southern New Mexico being primarily the largest and darkest of the three, called monsoni.								When the great-tailed grackle flies, its tail is held vertical (up and down) rather than horizontal (across).  From the side it looks like a triangle behind the bird with the small end attached to the body.	Great-tailed grackles make 2 inch  tracks with 3 toes in the front and 1 in the back	Great-tailed grackles build nests that are made up of a cup of grass and twigs 2 - 20 feet above the ground.  The female lays 3-5 bluish eggs with brown streaks.  Incubation is done by the female and lasts about 14 days.	Bird	thgreattailedgrackle.jpg	IV the birds: Birds of the Imperial Valley. (June 23, 1997). [On-line]. Available:  http://www. imperial.cc.ca.us/birds/iv-birds.htm.;  Jaramillo, A. (June 23, 1997). The spread of the great grackles. [On-line]. Available:  http://users.quake.net/~alvaro/gtgr.html.;  Terres, J. K. (1980). National Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. New York: Knopf.;  Photograph:  V.M. Howard.  	227	Great-tailed grackles are diurnal.  They are most active during the day. Most are year-round residents, although some in the northernmost ranges may migrate to the south for the winter.	greattailedgrackle.jpg			Length: Male 16 - 17 in. (40 - 43 cm); female 10 -13 in. (25 - 33 cm). 	
Brown Trout	Loch Leven, German Browns			Salmonidae	Salmo trutta	Found in permanent aquatic environments, most often in freshwater streams and lakes. Some lake strains of trout in New England, called "salters," will travel to salt water and come back without their black spots.		Carnivorous (primarily insectivorous). Favorite foods are mayflies and other types of flies, ants, caterpillars, and grasshoppers.  The larger the trout gets, the larger the insects it will eat. Big trout will also eat small fish, and even other species of trout.			The exact coloring of the brown trout varies according to where it lives and what strain of fish it is. It will generally range from brown to olive-brown, with a light belly, which is usually some shade of yellow.  Black spots cover the back, sides, and dorsal fin, and the sides also have red spots outlined with blue. The large adipose fin is tinted orange.  	These trout are very popular sports fish, although they are sometimes  hard to catch. They may frustrate even expert anglers with their ability to evade a lure, and some large browns are simply considered uncatchable. 	Brown trout were introduced into North America through several separate European strains. Predominant were German browns and  Loch Levens from Scotland, two sub-species of the European brown trout. After coming to the United States, these strains intermixed to make a new strain - a hybrid brown trout. Brown trout are wary and also adapt well to new environments. These qualities have made them survivors that have thrived where other trout have been depleted. In areas of New Mexico where the native Gila trout or cutthroat trout have disappeared, brown trout have sometimes been introduced in their places.	From 2 to 5 lbs. (.9 - 2.3 kg) in streams and 12 to 15 lbs. (5.4 - 6.8 kg) in lakes.									Brown trout are fall breeders and will bury their eggs in stream bottoms or lake gravel, in which the female has prepared a hole. The male defends the territory.  The size a fish grows depends on the size of the water habitat it lives in. For example, streams produce smaller fish than lakes.	Fish	thbrowntrout.jpg	Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh - and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Koster, W. J. (1957). Guide to the fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Photograph: 1. Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game. 2. New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service.  	228	Nocturnal or diurnal. Brown trout are surface feeders who eat either in the early morning, at dusk, or at night. The older, larger fish seem to be more completely nocturnal than the smaller ones. Although they are often wary and not easily caught, trout seem to be more easily hooked at night than in the daytime. 	browntrout.jpg			Length:  From 8 to 40 in. (20 - 102 cm).   	
Common Kingsnake	Desert Kingsnake, Chain Snake, Thunder Snake			Colubridae	Lampropeltis getula	Common kingsnake can live almost anywhere.  In New Mexico they tend to prefer riparian areas and grasslands, but can also be found in desert and open woodlands.		Carnivorous: they like to eat lizards, rodents, birds, and other snakes, even poisonous ones. A kingsnake will kill a large snake by looping several coils around it and squeezing. It then swallows the whole snake from the head down.			This medium-sized reptile is well-known as an eater of rattlesnakes and other poisonous snakes. Kingsnakes come in a variety of colors and patterns, depending on their location. The New Mexico kingsnake is generally black and white, with a pattern of crossbands, stripes, blotches, speckles or a combination of these. The head of this snake is small and rounded and its scales are smooth.	Common kingsnakes are not poisonous, and are in no way harmful to humans. Their ability to eat poisonous snakes and rodents actually makes them very useful. The common kingsnake is usually gentle and makes a good pet, although when annoyed it may vibrate its tail and strike viciously.	Common kingsnakes are immune to snake venom and will eat poisonous snakes, but they seem to prefer the nonvenomous ones if given a choice. They are powerful constrictors and have been known to feed on snakes longer than themselves. Other snakes recognize a snake-eating snake by an odor given off through its skin, and will try to avoid the kingsnake when possible. 										Common kingsnakes mate in early spring. The female lays up to 20 leathery-shelled eggs in spring or summer. The eggs hatch after 40 - 73 days, with the exact time depending  on the air temperature. 	Reptile	thkingsnake.jpg	Degenhardt, W.G., Painter, C.W., & Price, A.H. (1996). Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Knopf.;  Stebbins, R.C. (1954). Amphibians and reptiles of Western North America. New York: McGraw-Hill.;  Stoops, E.D., & Wright, A. (1992). Snakes and other reptiles of the Southwest. Phoenix, AZ: Golden West.;  Photograph:  Doug Burkett.  	229	Common kingsnakes are diurnal most of the year, usually  coming out in the early morning and at sundown.  They become nocturnal during the warm summer months. In colder regions kingsnakes have been known to hibernate in the winter.	kingsnake.jpg			Length:  36 - 82 in. (91.4 - 208.3 cm).	
Desert Grassland Whiptail				Teiidae	Cnemidophorus uniparens	Desert grassland whiptails inhabit arid and semiarid grassland and desert scrub. 	Known predators include roadrunners, owls, and loggerhead shrikes.	Carnivorous these whiptails use their good eyesight and forked tongues to locate insects, and they especially favor termites when available. They also eat other invertebrates and eggs.			This slender-bodied reptile has six to seven light stripes placed between dark reddish-brown or black bands.  The throat and belly are white and the chin is blue. Adult desert grassland whiptails have long, olive-green tails, while the babies are born with bright blue tails. Skin is smooth with small round scales on the upper body and rectangular scales along the bottom. These whiptails have well developed legs, and they move in a quick, jerky manner, especially when threatened.		Dessert grassland whiptails can express both male and female - like behavior, especially right before egg-laying time.  The range of this whiptail is getting larger as the desert becomes more scrub and less grass, because it can adapt to either habitat. At the same time, some of the other whiptail species are losing habitat because they need to live in grasses.										These whiptails are unisexual, which is why their species name is uniparens, meaning one parent. Lizards lay 1 - 4 eggs in the summer, which hatch in 7 - 8 weeks. Essentially each young lizard is a clone of its mother.	Reptile	thwhiptail.jpg	Degenhardt, W.G., Painter, C.W., & Price, A.H. (1996). Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Knopf.;  Stoops, E.D., Wright, A. (1992). Snakes and other reptiles of the Southwest. Phoenix, AZ: Golden West.;  Photograph:  Doug Burkett.  	230	Desert grassland whiptails are diurnal, with most activity either in the early morning or very late afternoon.  These lizards are not very territorial; although they have home ranges for hunting, the ranges overlap. Also the size of the average range of these lizards will change, depending on how much prey is available.	whiptail.jpg			Length: 6 - 9 inches (15 - 23 cm).	
Bullfrog				Ranidae	Rana catesbeiana	Bullfrogs lives mainly in riparian areas with permanent water supplies, such as ponds, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Occasionally, they may be found in temporary waterways, such as large ditches in croplands.	Known predators are snakes, herons, alligators, raccoons, snapping turtles, otters, mink, and fish.	Carnivorous as adults, they primarily eat insects, spiders, crayfish, and other invertebrates. They have also been known to eat mice, small turtles, fish, snakes, birds, and other frogs. Tadpoles are detrivorous. They eat algae and other organic matter in the water.		Minimum 5 - 6 years.	Like all frogs, a bullfrog is an amphibian. It has generally smooth skin with scattered bumpy areas. It is usually a shade of green, but can be brown, yellow, white, or even blue with darker mottling. The male has a yellow throat, while the female's throat is white. The bullfrog can be recognized both by its large size, and by the ridge of skin that extends from  behind its eyes, over its ears, and down to the bottom of its front legs. Except for the last joint of the longest toe, the bullfrog's hind feet are webbed.	Humans hunt bullfrogs for their large legs which are considered a delicacy. They are protected in New Mexico, where hunting season is limited and requires a fishing license. However, bullfrogs are sometimes responsible for wiping out other smaller species of frogs, snakes, and small vertebrates in their territories, and for feeding on the fish in fish farms. Many people feel that they should be more freely hunted because of this.	A bullfrog's loud song sounds as if it is saying "jug-o-rum". Males sing at night during breeding time as a signal that they have established their territories.  These singers tend to be the oldest and largest individuals and they will be very aggressive to other males trying to enter their areas. A female will choose her mate based on the quality of his territory. Bullfrogs hunt in a lazy fashion,  by waiting to see what will come by and catching what they can. They can leap up to three feet in order to catch prey in mid-air, although this is rarely necessary.										Bullfrogs mate from spring to early summer. The female lays 50 - 60 eggs at a time. An average of 11,000 eggs are eventually deposited on the water's surface. Eggs that survive predators, such as leeches, hatch within two weeks during late spring and summer. The tadpoles are olive green and may be 4 - 6 in. long. They may live in the water for as long as 2 years before they become bullfrogs.	Reptile	thbullfrog.jpg	Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of reptiles, amphibians & other cold-blooded animals. London: Octopus Books.;  Degenhardt, W.G., Painter, C.W., & Price, A.H. (1996). Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Knopf.;  Moler, P. E. (1994). Frogs and toads. In S. E. Hygnstrom, R. M. Timm, & G. E. Larson (Eds.), Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Division.;  Tyning, T.F. (1990). Stokes nature guides: A guide to amphibians and reptiles. Boston: Little, Brown.;  Photograph:  Paul W. Hyder. 	231	Generally nocturnal, bullfrogs become active when the temperatures get warm.  They usually spend their nights near the banks of the water or sitting on floating logs, waiting for prey to come by.  During the day, full grown bullfrogs hide under plants or sit in shallow water near the edge. When disturbed, they will splash into the middle of the water for safety. They disappear underwater for the cold months of winter.	bullfrog.jpg			Length: 3.5 - 8 in. (9 - 20 cm).	bullfrogbn.jpg
Great Plains Skink				Scincidae	Eumeces obsotetus	Inhabit open desert grasslands and lower woodlands of desert slopes.   In New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas, they commonly live in riparian areas. 	Birds of prey, snakes, and small mammals such as skunks, badgers, and domestic cats.	Carnivorous, they feed on insects, spiders, and small lizards.		6 - 8 years.	Very short legs and rounded body give this reptile a somewhat snake-like appearance. Great plain skinks are the largest member of the skink family. Newly hatched young are black, with bright blue tails and white spots on the scales and head. By the end of the first hibernation, the skink takes on its adult colors of yellow, greenish-gray, or grayish-brown with irregular black spots on the edges of its scales. This lizard's tail is approximately one and a half times the length of its body. The soles of the front feet have large scales, adapted for digging.	These lizards do not make good pets because they continue to try to bite anyone attempting to handle them, even after being in captivity for a period of time. The bite of an adult can be quite painful.	Great plain skinks have 3 primary methods of defense against predators. The first is its habit of living in burrows. The skink spends most of its time beneath the surface of the desert. When above ground, the skink's yellowish, brownish, or greenish coloration also makes it easy to hide by remaining still in grasses or on rocks. Finally, if caught, great plain skinks are capable of giving a very nasty bite to whatever is holding on to it.										Great plain skinks mate in the spring.  The female lays 7 - 21 eggs in a nest under rocks. Unlike many lizards, the skink guards its eggs for the entire incubation period. The eggs hatch approximately two months later.	Reptile	thskink.jpg	Degenhardt, W.G., Painter, C.W., & Price, A.H. (1996). Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Knopf.;  Stoops, E.D., Wright, A. (1992). Snakes and other reptiles of the Southwest. Phoenix, AZ: Golden West Publishers.;  Photograph:  Doug Burkett.  	232	Great plain skinks are diurnal, although they may only be active on cool mornings in the shade or immediately after a rainstorm. They are secretive and are seldom seen, often hiding under rocks, logs, or leaves, or in rodent burrows. Like other lizards, they hibernate during the winter.	skink.jpg			Length: 6 - 12 in. (15 - 30 cm).	
Longnose Gar	Billfish			Lepisosteidae	Lepisosteus osseus	Permanent aquatic. Prefers sluggish, weedy rivers and lakes. Occasionally they are found in salt water. In New Mexico, longnoses live in the lower Pecos River and connecting waters.		Carnivorous. Longnose gar mainly eat other fish as well as crustaceans, water insects, worms, frogs, salamanders, insects, and birds.			A longnose gar has a very long, thin, light olive-colored body and pale underbelly. The dorsal and anal fins are close to the tail and all fins are black spotted. The gar's scales do not overlap and they are covered with a special substance that makes the skin almost impossible to penetrate. The longnose gar gets its name from its snout or bill, which is long and narrow like needle-nose pliers. These bills contain very sharp dangerous teeth.	This fish in not well liked by fisherman because it can be extremely destructive to other game fish and damages gill nets. They are often caught for sport but are extremely difficult to catch. Their hard scales are sometimes used to make jewelry. People in Mexico and Seminole Indians eat longnose gar.	Longnose gar have a lung-like air bladder which makes a grunting sound when filling with air. Because of their ability to take in oxygen directly, these fish are difficult to kill and may live for hours out of the water.  Even clubbing and shooting them does not always subdue them. They are also unlike other fish in their bone structure. Their vertebrae grow in a ball-and-socket arrangement like reptiles, rather than convex and concave like most fish.	Up to 50 lbs. (22 kg).									Longnose gar spawn in late spring in shallow water. Each female is accompanied by 3 or 4 males. The eggs are released and stick to rocks and vegetation. The roe (eggs) are believed to be poisonous to some animals.	Fish	thlongnosegar.jpg	Boschung, H.T.Jr., Williams, J.D., Gotshall, D.W., Caldwell, D.K., & Caldwell, M.C. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to North American fishes, whales, & dolphins. NY: Knopf.;  Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh- and saltwater species.  New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Herald, E. S. (1972). Fishes of North America. New York: Doubleday & Company.;  Koster, W. J. (1957). Guide to the fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York: Macmillan.;  Photograph: William Pflieger.	233	The longnose gar are highly predatory, stalking and catching other fish and animals near the surface.	longnosegar.jpg			Length: To 6 ft.  (183 cm).	
White Crappie	Papermouth Perch; Calico Bass; Sago; Grass Bass; and many others.			Centrarchidae	Pomoxis annularis	White crappies live in permanent aquatic environments, typically in turbid waters of lakes, rivers, and their backwaters. In New Mexico, they are found in streams and in man-made reservoirs and ponds.		Carnivorous. As adults, they eat crustaceans, insects, and other fish. When young, they mostly eat zooplankton.  			The white crappie is a pretty fish but it's not white!  It has eyes that are greenish yellow and its body is several shades of green, blue, and silver, with some dark markings. It has a pointed snout, a lower jaw that protrudes forward, and a large mouth with lots of sharp teeth. During breeding season, the male crappie tends to turn much darker in color, and is sometimes confused with the black crappie.	A popular sporting fish, easy to catch and tasty to eat.	The white crappie has benefited by the introduction of the gizzard shad into the same waters. The young shad provide a steady diet of small fish for the adult crappies.	From 1/2 to 5 lbs. (0.23 - 2.3 kg).									The crappie spawns in spring and summer near a bank. The male makes a circular nest in the gravel under the protection of vegetation. The depth of the water at the spawning site can be anywhere from a few inches to many feet, depending on how clear the water is. After the female spawns, the male aggressively guards the nest and the eggs for about 10 days. The fish mature in about 2 - 3 years.	Fish	thwhitecrappie.jpg	 Colvin, M. (April, 1996). King crappie. [On-line]. Available:  http://www.state.mo.us/conservation/conmag/1996/apr/ap96rath.html.;  Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh- and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;   Koster, W. J. (1957). Guide to the fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Sublette, J. R., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York: Macmillan.;  Photograph:  Charles Purkett.	235	Diurnal. In the spring, summer, and fall, they search for food in shallow water close to the shore. During mid-day in summer and early fall, they hide under the protection of boulders and vegetation or just stay in deep water. In the winter, they are basically inactive and often remain in deeper waters.	whitecrappie.jpg			Length: 12 - 20 in.   (30 - 51 cm)	
American Eel				Anguillidae	Anguilla rostrata	Eels are very widespread throughout the country.  During most of their lives, they remain in permanent fresh water habitats, such as muddy rivers, creeks, lakes and bays. They return to the ocean for breeding. 	Fish eating birds and mammals, especially otters.	Carnivorous and detrivorous. They eat crustaceans, fish (either dead or alive), insect larvae, and refuse of any kind.		20 - 50 years.	The American eel has a very long, slender body similar to a snake's.  When young, its color is a yellowish-olive, but as it matures it darkens to a shiny black or bronze color. Right before it begins its final journey back to the sea to spawn, it turns silvery and its eyes grow much larger. A unique feature of the eel is its long fin. This starts about 1/3 of the way down the body and continues all the way to the end, then around the bottom, ending up underneath where it started. The eel has scales that are deeply embedded into the body.	Although it is a nutritious fish and eaten fresh or smoked throughout most of the world, eel is not popular among people in the United States. This is probably because of the way it looks. Eels have been used to represent the characters in many "sea monster" tales. Eels have also been an object of human curiosity from the time of Aristotle because of their mysterious migration and breeding habits.	An eel resembles a snake, but it's really a true, bony fish with a well developed jaw and a single pair of gill openings. Eels do 60% of their breathing through their skin, so they can spend short periods of time on land, as well as in the water. During the long period of their migration to spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea, (learn more about this in the "breeding" section), eels do not eat.	Up to 16 1/2 lbs (7.5 kg).									The breeding cycle of these eels is very mysterious. What is known is that they begin their lives in the Sargasso Sea in the Mid-Atlantic near Bermuda. The larvae, called leptocephali, look like transparent ribbons floating in the water. Eventually these become elvers, or young eels, which make their way out of the ocean and into fresh water. They end up in streams, rivers, ponds, or lakes. Many make their way into the Southwest by entering the Rio Grande where it drains into the Gulf of Mexico.  After many years in a fresh water environment (usually 7 - 12 years but up to 40 years in some cases), the adult eels  journey back to the breeding grounds in the Sargasso Sea. There they spawn a new generation of eels who begin the cycle all over again. The adults do not return to fresh water, and seem to die in the ocean after the breeding takes place.	Fish	thamericaneel.jpg	Boschung, H.T.Jr., Williams, J.D., Gotshall, D.W., Caldwell, D.K., Caldwell,M.C. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to North American Fishes, Whales, & Dolphins. New York: Knopf.;  Burton, M., & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Herald E. S. (1972). Fishes of North America. New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc.;  Smith, C.L. (1994). Fish watching: An outdoor guide to freshwater fishes. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.;  Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M.D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York: Macmillan.; Photograph: John F. Scarola, Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game.	236	The American eel is nocturnal, lying buried in sand or gravel at the bottom of the water during most of the daylight hours. Eels feed primarily at night and don't always stay in the water to do so. Female eels have the capability  of leaving their rivers and traveling short distances to feed in ponds or very damp land areas.	americaneel.jpg			Length: 2 - 4 ft. 11 in.  (61 to 148 cm).  Females can grow twice the length of males.	
Bullhead Minnow				Cyprinidae	Pimephales vigilax	Live in permanent aquatic environments, such as the pools and backwaters of rivers and streams. Also found in reservoirs.	Any fish that is bigger!	Omnivorous and detrivorous. They mainly feed on or near the bottom of the water and eat larvae and  invertebrates.  They also eat organic waste.			The bullhead minnow has silvery sides and belly, with an olive colored back.  The scales are outlined with black and there is a dark spot on the dorsal fin. Its snout is short and rounded.	The bullhead minnow is not considered a "game" fish, but is raised in fish farms for use as bait.	The minnow family of fish is the largest in the United States.										The bullhead minnow will spawn in the spring and summer in shallow water with slow or no current. The male builds the nest beneath a solid object such as a log or plant. Eggs are laid under the nest, and the males guard them until they hatch.	Fish	thbullheadminnow.jpg	Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM:  University of New Mexico Press.;  Photograph: Dr. William L. Pflieger.	237	Bullhead minnows travel in "schools" of fish along the smooth bottom, close to the shore line, looking for food.	bullheadminnow.jpg			Length: Up to 2.6 in. (6.6 cm)	
Longear Sunfish	Red-bellied Bream			Centrarchidae	Lepomis megalotis	Permanent aquatic. Prefers the pools of streams with moderate current over sand, gravel, or rocks. Will also live in reservoirs and lakes. In New Mexico, they are primarily found in the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers.		Carnivorous. The adults primarily eat insects, but occasionally  eat small fish. The young eat a variety of invertebrates, fish eggs, and algae. 			The longear sunfish is a very colorful fish with orange and blue streaks on the cheeks, a brownish to olive green back, with spots in shades of yellow and green. It has a reddish orange belly.  Even the fins are colorful with green and orange spots. The sunfish's most notable feature is its large colorful ear flaps.  	Longear sunfish are popular with fisherman, although less than some other New Mexico fish. Sometimes sunfish are used in aquariums, although the bigger ones start fights with other fish!	Longear sunfish prefer to make their nests far away from other fish nests and traffic. Minnows sometimes lay their eggs in sunfish's nests. It is not known why, but they seem to be attracted to the male sunfish's method of nest-building.	About 1/2 lb. (.23 kg)									Spawning occurs in the summer.  A male makes a shallow, circular depression on the sandy bottom, and then grunts to attract the female to the nest. After the female spawns the eggs, she leaves and the male stays to guard and care for the eggs until they hatch in about 7 days.	Fish	thlongearsunfish.jpg	Boschung, H.T. Jr., Williams, J.D., Gotshall, D.W., Caldwell, D.K., & Caldwell, M.C. (1997). National Audubon Society field guide to North American fishes, whales, & dolphins. NY: Knopf.;  Burton, M. & Burton, R. (1975). Encyclopedia of fish. London: Octopus Books.;  Dalrymple, B. (1981). Complete guide to game fish: A field book of fresh- and saltwater species. New York: Book Division, Times Mirro Magazines.;  Paxton, J. R., & Eschmeyer, W. N. (1994). Encyclopedia of fishes. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.;  Wernert, S.J. (1982).  North American Wildlife. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.;  Wheeler, A. (1975). Fishes of the world. New York:  Macmillan.;  Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Photograph: Charles Purkett.  	238	Except during breeding, the longear sunfish leads a solitary life, searching for food.  	longearsunfish.jpg			Length: 9 in. (23 cm)	
Mosquitofish	Livebearer			Poeciliidae	Gambusia affinis	Permanent aquatic. The mosquitofish can be found in several habitats because it is very adaptable.  It prefers shallow water that has lots of vegetation, and often lives in the still waters of pools, ponds, irrigation ditches, lakes, and sluggish streams.		Primarily carnivorous. It eats insect larvae, crustaceans, and fish fry, including its own. It will also eat algae.		1 - 2 years	The mosquitofish has a tan to olive colored body with a blue sheen. There are black spots on the sides, and the dorsal & caudel fins. The belly is yellowish. During the breeding period, females have a dark spot on the belly. Its head is flat, its lower jaw protrudes, and it has a dark line below the eyes. Males are much smaller than females. 	The mosquitofish has been introduced into New Mexico to control mosquitoes.  Its perfect for the job because it can eat its own weight in mosquito larvae everyday!  However, it also eats other mosquito-eating fish, eliminating those species and taking over the area in which it lives. Mosquitofish are sometimes used in aquariums, but this is often a problem because they may become aggressive towards other fish and they will eat their own young.	Can survive in stagnant water by obtaining oxygen from the surface. It does not like cold water, and will try to swim to warmer waters in the winter.  										Mating occurs from March to October.  Like its cousin the guppy,  the young of the mosquitofish are born live in about 5 - 6 weeks. This is unusual among fish, and accounts for its nickname, livebearer. The average number of mosquitofish born at one time is usually 40 - 60, but up to 226 have been reported. The female may produce 4 or 5 broods before dying during her second year.	Fish		MacMahon, J. A. (1997). Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.;  Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M. D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM:  University of New Mexico Press.;  Wernert, S.J. (1982).  North American Wildlife. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest.;  Photograph:  .	239	Spends its time eating as much mosquito larvae as it can find.				Length: Female: 3/4 - 2 1/2 in. (1.9 - 6.3 cm)  Max 6 in. (15 cm).    Males: 1 1/8 in. (3 cm.)	
Common Crow	American Crow	Cuervo		Corvidae	Corvus brachyrhynchos	Common crows inhabit mountain forests, croplands, open woodlands, riparian areas, and  desert fringes.	Hawks, owls, foxes.	Common crows are omnivorous. These birds will readily change their diet to adapt to what food is available. A crow's diet is usually about 25% animal matter, including insects, crustaceans, bird eggs, small mammals, reptiles, and carrion. The other 75% of the diet comes from plants (often corn) but also nuts, fruits and other crops.		Some crows have lived over 20 years in captivity, but probably usually live less than 5 years in the wild.	Common crows are medium to large-sized birds. They are very easy to pick out because they are totally black - even the beak, legs, and feet are black. Their eyes are very dark brown. The beaks are strong and large, and their tails are square at the bottom. Crows are also known for their characteristic call, which sounds like a loud "caw" repeated several times. 	Crows are one of the most easily recognized, and also one of the most commonly disliked birds. Farmers consider them to be pests because they are known for stealing food from the fields. In fact, that is where we get the idea for a scarecrow, which is a human-like figure that is put up in a field to scare away birds. Corn growers, in particular, suffer big losses because of crows, and sometimes resort to poisoning, shooting, or even using explosives to kill them.  Many do not realize, however, that crows also eat a lot of harmful insects that attack the same fields, compensating for some of the damage that they cause. 	Crows are known to be very intelligent birds.  Those raised as pets can sometimes learn to imitate human voices like parrots do.  Laboratory studies of crows have shown that they learn very quickly, and use their intelligence to adapt very well to human development of nature. 								Crows are good flyers, easily flying 20-30 miles per hour.		Crows build their nests of twigs in trees or shrubs, and line them with softer strands of bark. 4-6 eggs are laid, which range in color from off white to bluish-white, to greenish-white, with brown or gray blotches. Both the males and females incubate the eggs by sitting on them, and the eggs hatch about 18 days after being laid. 	Bird	thcommoncrow.jpg	Bent, A. C. (1964).  Life histories of North American jays, crows and titmice. New York: Dover Publications.;  Reader's Digest.  (1990).  Book of North American birds.  New York: Reader's Digest.; Photograph: Brian Schmidt.
	241	Common crows are diurnal.  They are most active during the day.  During the summer, crows live in pairs with their mates. In the fall, large numbers of crows often roost together, sometimes numbering into the thousands. 	commoncrow.jpg			Length: 17 -  21 in.(43 - 53 cm).	
Little Blue Heron	Blue Egret	Garceta azul		Ardeidae	Egretta caerulea	Little blue herons inhabit riparian areas near ponds, marshes, and small lakes.		Little blue herons are carnivorous.  They eat small fish, crayfish, amphibians, and insects.			The little blue heron is a medium sized bird (but fairly small for a heron) with a long neck and long, skinny, dark-colored legs. The head and neck are purplish, and the rest of the feathers are bluish gray. Plumage of immature birds is totally white. When the bird reaches maturity, their feathers are molted and replaced by blue ones. The little blue heron usually holds its neck in an s-shape, instead of being extended to its full length.  Little blue herons are usually silent.  They squawk when alarmed and croak, grunt, and scream at the nest site.	These birds are helpful to people because they often feed on insects such as grasshoppers and locusts that destroy crops.	Little blue herons hunt by walking slowly through shallow water or grassy areas looking for food. When they see something appetizing, they quickly snatch it up with their beaks. These herons are quite shy, and hide from people.								Little blue herons are graceful flyers.  Their heads are drawn into their shoulders and their legs trail behind them. They use their 40 inch wingspan to effortlessly glide for long distances.		Little blue herons build nests that are made of loosely woven twigs, and are built in low trees. Eggs are a pale, bluish-green color, and are usually laid in clutches of 3 - 6. Both parents incubate the eggs until the baby birds hatch 21 - 24 days later. Both also help feed the hatchlings. The young little blue herons learn to fly in about a month.	Bird	thlittleblueheron.jpg	Hancock, J., & Kushlan, J. (1984). The herons handbook. New York: Harper and Row.;  Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico.;  Photograph: Brian Schmidt. 	243	These birds breed from the Gulf of California to the Gulf of Mexico, and up the Atlantic coast to Massachusetts. In the fall, the northern birds fly south to Florida. Some even fly further to South America and spend their winters there. These birds are rarely seen in New Mexico, but sometimes found in Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.	littleblueheron.jpg			Length: 25 - 29 in. (63 - 74 cm).  Wingspan: 41 in. (104 cm).	
Desert Shrimp	Tadpole Shrimp (sometimes called "Fairy Shrimp", although this term is probably better applied to Brine Shrimp and their close relatives).				Triops longicaudatus.	Ephemeral ponds, puddles and temporary irrigation ditches in agricultural areas.	Fish, tadpoles.	Omnivorous. They eat algae, bacteria, fungi and other small growing things in ponds and puddles.		12 - 18 days.  Metamorphosis simple- egg, immature stages, adult.Life cycle that depends on the wet and dry periods common in the desert. The shrimp needs water to live, and dies when its puddle dries up. The eggs remaining after the puddle disappears need to dry out completely before they can hatch.	Desert shrimp are crustaceans, like lobsters, crabs and ocean shrimp. Fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and clam shrimp are three of the five varieties that live in the Chihuahuan Desert. The clam shrimp could fit on a thumbnail while the fairy and tadpole shrimp are 1 - 2 inches long.  Each species has a different type of segmented body and exoskeleton. The shell of the clam shrimp is clam shaped. These shrimp breathe from their feet, since that is where their gills are located.		These shrimp have made some unusual adaptations to be able to survive in the desert. For example, the eggs of tadpole shrimp and clam shrimp cannot hatch until they have dried out for at least 30 days. In fact, some have been known to hatch after being dry for 10 years! Sometimes the eggs are transported to other areas by the wind or by getting caught in the fur or feet of animals. That way if a temporary pool stays dry for too long, the eggs can be hatched in a new area of the desert. 										Desert shrimp have adapted to the desert environment so well that their life cycle and breeding routine actually need periods of drought. During the short time when there is water in its home puddle, the tadpole shrimp will lay eggs many times. The shrimp dies when the water evaporates away, but the eggs will hatch after the next heavy rain if they have had enough time to dry out. Often only some of the eggs will hatch after the first rain storm. That way if all the puddles dry out before the young have a chance to complete their life cycles, there will be a second hatching after the next rainstorm.  Each species of desert shrimp has some special method for breeding. Clam shrimp incubate fertilized eggs in a special brood chamber on their backs for 18 hours. Other species have no females, but instead have hermaphrodites, which can either breed alone or mate with the males.That way if a single shrimp is in a temporary pond, it can still breed to continue the species.	Insect	thtadpoleshrimp.jpg	 Zucker, N. Professor, Dept. of Biology,  New Mexico State University. Personal communications. July 12, 1996 & August 15, 1996.  Pennak, R. W. (1978). Freshwater invertebrates of the United States, 2nd ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York.;  Photograph:  Naida Zucker.	244	Diurnal.	tadpoleshrimp.jpg				
Common Snipe				Scolopacidae	Gallingo gallingo	Common snipes inhabit riparian areas near freshwater, including marshes, ponds, and streams.		Common snipes are primarily carnivorous. They eat insects (including aquatic ones), crustaceans, worms, and snails. Sometimes they will also eat seeds. 			The common snipe is a medium-sized wading bird, with a long tail and a very long bill. The lower chest, belly and undertail is white, and the rest of the body is light brown with streaks of dark brown. The bill, legs and feet are greenish-gray, and the bill has a black tip.  The voice of this bird is a sharp, rasping "scaip" sound. 		These birds feed by probing soft ground with their sensitive bills, looking for worms or insects below the surface. Their bills are flexible near the tip, and so they can grab underground prey, and bring it to the surface where it is quickly eaten. 								Snipes are strong but erratic flyers.  They tend to zig-zag irregularly as they fly. 		Common snipes breed during the spring, making their nest in a depression in a clump of grass. They line it with leaves and dead grass. The eggs are laid in groups of 3 - 6, and are yellowish or greenish-brown with dark splotches. Both parents tend to the eggs and to the baby birds, which hatch  20 days after the eggs are laid.	Bird	thcommonsnipe.jpg	Knopf, A. A.  (1986).  The Audubon Society field guide to North American birds.  New York: Alfred, A. Knopf.;  Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico.;  Reilly, E. M ., Jr. (1968). The Audubon illustrated handbook of American birds. New York: McGraw Hill.;  Photograph: Brian Schmidt.	245	Common snipes are diurnal.  They seek food early in the morning and in late afternoon, and seem to be more active on cloudy days.  These birds breed in both North America and Eurasia, and spend winters in South America or Africa. Some of these birds migrate into New Mexico for the winter.	commonsnipe.jpg			Length: 10.5 - 12.5 in. (26 - 29 cm).	
Canada Goose	Honker	Ganso canadiense		Anatidae	Branta canadensis	Canada geese are wide-ranging riparian residents. They  live anywhere near shallow water having aquatic vegetation, including woodlands, prairie and even semi-deserts. They can be found in North America from northern Canada to northern Mexico.	Coyotes, wolves, golden eagles, owls, and sometimes foxes.	Canada geese are omnivorous. They prefer aquatic plants, grains, and grasses, and small animals such as frogs, small fish, worms, and mollusks.			The Canada goose is a large bird with a brown body, and a black head, neck, tail, bill, and feet. The throat, rump, and cheeks are white. The bill is flattened, and the feet are webbed, allowing for efficient swimming. The call of these birds is a loud, characteristic "honk."		These birds are usually found on or near freshwater. They are good swimmers, and can dive underwater to feed on water plants and small animals. They sometimes migrate in groups as large as 50,000 geese! They can be seen across the sky in large V-shaped formations.	About 8 lbs.							Canada geese are strong flyers that travel long distances when migrating.		Canada geese often mate for life. Nests are usually in a depression in the ground, or in a mound of grass. 4 - 10 white eggs are laid, which are incubated by the female, with the male close-by. Baby geese hatch 28 - 30 days after the eggs are laid, and can swim and dive almost immediately after hatching. The young birds eventually learn to fly when they are 60 - 75 days old.	Bird	thcanadagoose.jpg	Bellrose, F. C. (1976). Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.;  Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM: The University of New Mexico.;  Photograph: Brian Schmidt. 	246	These geese are seen throughout New Mexico during the fall and spring migratory seasons.	canadagoose.jpg			Length: 22 - 26 in. (56 - 66 cm) for small races, and 35 45 in. (89 - 114 cm) for large races.	
Golden Shiner				Cyprinidae	Notemigonus crysoleucas	Permanent aquatic environments.  Golden shiners are found in lakes, quiet streams and rivers of New Mexico, especially in Caballo Lake. They prefer waters that have an abundance of vegetation.	Larger fish.	Primarily carnivorous. They like small crustaceans and insects. They will also eat algae.			The golden shiner, a type of minnow, has a dark olive or golden colored back and lighter colored sides. There is a pretty silvery reflection all over! Its belly is yellowish-silver, and a breeding male has orange on its pelvic and anal fins. The shiner's mouth is small and its eyes are large. This fish's belly  is different from that of other minnows because it has a ridge, called a keel, which is not crossed by any scales. 	These fish were introduced into New Mexico as bait for catching game fish. Shiners are now the most common bait fish in the United States, and are often raised in large fish hatcheries.	Golden shiners usually swim in "schools" near shorelines. They are an important food source for some larger fish in their habitats. However, they can be harmful to native fish.										In spring and summer, females will deposit their eggs on aquatic vegetation. The eggs will stick there until they hatch 2 - 4 days later. 	Fish	thgoldenshiner.jpg	 Koster, W. J. (1957).  Guide to the fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  MacMahon, J. A. (1985).  Deserts: National Audubon Society nature guides. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.;  Sublette, J.E., Hatch, M.D., & Sublette, M. (1990). The fishes of New Mexico.  Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.;  Photograph: John F. Scarola, Reproduced by permission from the New Hampshire Fish & Game. 	247		goldenshiner.jpg			Length: 5 - 12 in.  (12.7 - 30 cm)	
Gadwall	Gray Duck	Pato Ruidosa		Anatidae	Anas strepera	Gadwalls inhabit riparian areas near shallow, quiet freshwater lakes and ponds. They are widely distributed throughout North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia in riparian areas, and are occasionally found in irrigated croplands and near ephemeral lakes, as well.	Red fox, mink, weasel, great horned owl, hawks, coyotes.	Gadwalls are primarily herbivorous, although they may also eat insects. Their favorite foods are water plants, grasses, grains, and nuts.			Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks with dark, flattened bills and yellowish, webbed feet. Males are grayish in color, with a brown head and neck, black feathers above the tail, and a white stripe on each wing. Females are more drab in appearance, and are a dull brownish color all over, except for a white stripe on each wing. During the summer, the males lose their more colorful plumage and look very much like females.  The voice of the gadwall is a duck-like quack.  It also utters "kack-kacks," and whistles. 	Gadwalls are known to hunters as the "Gray Duck," it is a popular gamebird and is abundant in winter in southern marshes.	Gadwalls are related to mallards, and they have the widest range of any duck, breeding almost throughout the North Temperate Zone.	About 2 lbs.							Gadwalls are strong, but not particularly agile flyers. 		In the spring, these birds build a nest in a depression in grass or underneath bushes. The nest is lined with soft feathers and 7 - 15 white eggs are laid there. The female incubates them alone, and the young hatch 25 - 28 days later. The female raises the young, and they can be seen following her around for 50 - 60 days until they are grown.	Bird	thgadwell.jpg	Bellrose, F. C. (1976). Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.;  Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press.; Photograph: Brian Schmidt.   
	248	Gadwalls are diurnal. They are good swimmers, and spend much of their time during the day on the water feeding on plants at or under the surface. These birds migrate south in the fall to the southern United States and Mexico, and return to their breeding areas in the spring. During the migratory season, some of them reside along the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.  	gadwell.jpg			Length: 18 - 23 in. (46 - 58 cm).	
Mallard	Greenhead	Pato de collar		Anatidae	Anas platyrhynchus	Mallards can be found at or near any shallow body of fresh water.   Mallards can also be found from northern Mexico to northern Canada in riparian areas and croplands.	Foxes, minks, weasels, great-horned owls, hawks, coyotes.	Mallards are omnivorous. They eat aquatic plants, grasses, grains, berries, and some insects.			Mallards are medium-sized ducks with stocky bodies and broad wings. Their bills are yellowish or orange and flattened, and their feet are webbed. Males have a metallic green head and a chestnut brown chest, separated by a white ring. The rest of their feathers are grayish. Females are a rather drab mottled brown color, and both sexes have a design on their wings consisting of a bright blue band, bordered by black and white stripes. From early summer to early fall, the males have the same coloration as the females.  The mallards' call is the familiar "quack" that people usually associate with ducks.
		Every duck is waterproof because it has an oil gland near its tail.  In an action called preening, the duck will stroke this oil gland with its bill and smear the oil all over its feathers.  The feathers will not get wet because oil and water don't mix!	2.5 lbs.							Mallards can fly long distances with their broad wings, but are not especially agile flyers.		These birds build nests on the ground made of dead grass and reeds. The female plucks soft feathers from herself which she uses to line the nest. Typically, 8 - 10 greenish white eggs are laid, which the female sits on until the ducklings hatch 23 - 29 days later. The female alone cares for the young, and leads them to the water almost as soon as they hatch. The baby ducks can swim almost immediately, but do not learn to fly until they are about 50 - 60 days old.	Bird	thmallards.jpg	Bellrose, F. C. (1976). Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books.; Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico.;  Goldin, A. (1965). Ducks don't get wet. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.;  Photograph: Brian Schmidt. 
	249	Mallards are diurnal.  They spend much of their day feeding on plants on or near the water. In North America, these birds spend their winters in the southern United States and northern Mexico, and breed during the winter in the northern United States and Canada. During the migratory and winter seasons, they are commonly seen in New Mexico along the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers.	mallards.jpg			Length: 16 - 27 in. (41 - 68 cm).	
Tree Swallow	White-bellied Swallow	Golondrina bicolor		Hirundinidae	Iridoprocne bicolor	Tree swallows inhabit riparian areas located in deserts. They are widely distributed throughout North America.	Falcons	Tree swallows are primarily carnivorous. They mostly eat flying insects such as beetles and flies, but occasionally eat berries and seeds.			The tree swallow is a small, slim bird with metallic blue-black or green-black plumage above, and a pure white underside. The tail is slightly forked, and the beak is short and flattened. Its call is pleasing to hear, and sounds like "silip" repeated rapidly.	In recent years, the numbers of these birds has declined in some areas, and this decline has been blamed on the use of 
pesticides.	During the breeding season (spring), these birds stay in pairs and will defend their territory from other tree swallows. Outside the breeding season, these birds are more social, and often form small to large flocks.  These birds are very sportive and cheerful.  They enjoy chasing feathers and other windborne objects. 	20g							Tree swallows are very quick and agile flyers.  They need to be, since they catch most of their food while flying.		Tree swallows nests are a cup of grass and feathers found in deserted woodpecker holes, other tree cavities, or birdhouses.  The female lays 4 - 6 white eggs and incubates them alone. The young hatch 13 - 16 days later, and are able to fly only 16 - 20 days after hatching.	Bird	thtreeswallow.jpg	Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM:  The University of New Mexico Press.;  Turner, A. (1989). A handbook to the swallows and martins of the world. London: Christopher Helm.;  Photograph: Brian Schmidt.
	250	Tree swallows generally migrate south for the winter to areas between the southern United States and Central America. Their northern breeding range is from Alaska through the Southern United States. During the fall and spring migrations, these birds are often seen throughout  New Mexico. 	treeswallow.jpg			Length: 5 - 6 in. (13 - 15 cm).	
Ring-billed Gull		Gaviota pico anillado		Laridae	Larus delawarensis	Ring-billed gulls commonly live in riparian areas near lakes, ponds, rivers and sand flats.  They  occasionaly  visit temporary aquatic environments, such as ephemeral lakes.		Ring-billed gulls are carnivorous. They eat large insects, worms, mice, fish, and eggs of other birds.			The ring-billed gull is a white bird with black wing tips and yellow legs and feet. The bird gets its name from a black ring around its bill near the tip.    	Farmers in Canada and the norther United States are glad to see the ring-bills return in the spring to their breeding grounds.  They are great insect-eaters on newly plowed fields--and for grasshoppers in particular.     	Ring-billed gulls often nests in very large colonies; as many as 85,000 pairs nest on a single island in Lake Ontario.  								These gulls are light and graceful flyers, and can glide for long distances with a good breeze.		Ring-billed gulls build nests in the spring on the shores of freshwater lakes and rivers.  They are quite social, and often breed together in large numbers in favorable locations. The nests are made of twigs and dried grass and rest right on the ground. The eggs can be many different colors - from yellow to pink to green, and they have brown speckles. The gull lays 2-3 eggs which hatch 21 days later. 	Bird	thringbilleddove.jpg	Bent, A. C. (1947). Life histories of North American gulls and terns. New York: Dover Publications.; Ligon, J. S. (1961).  New Mexico birds and where to find them. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico.; Reader's Digest (1990).  Book of North American birds.  New York: Reader's Digest.;  Photograph:  .	253	Ring-billed gulls spend their spring and summer breeding season mostly in southern Canada.  They migrate south for the winter, living in areas from the Great Lakes down into Mexico. These birds are often seen along the Rio Grande near Albuquerque, New Mexico and at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.	ringbilleddove.jpg			Length: 18 - 21 in. (45 - 53 cm).	
Desert Blister Beetle	Inflated Beetle	Cantarida		Meloidae (Blister Beetles)	Cysteodemus wislizeni	Desert surface.	Very few because of poisonous defensive chemicals produced by the beetles. 	Herbivorous as an adult. It eats nightshade, aster, Arizona poppy. Other species eat different  plants. Many of the larvae are insectivorous and feed on grasshopper eggs.		One year.Metamorphosis complete. The stages of metamorphosis are egg, active young larva, grub-like later larva, pupa, adult (this type of complete metamorphosis is called hypermetamorphosis).	This insect is a flightless dark metallic purple to blue beetle with enlarged (inflated) wing covers (elytra). The wing covers, which are not used for flight, probably trap air to help insulate body organs, preventing overheating. The desert blister beetle may be seen wandering over the surface of the desert. 	Blister beetles have been used in folk medicine. However, they produce a dangerous chemical and can cause death if eaten.	These beetles produce a blistering substance (cantharidin) as part of their defense system, and should not be handled. In fact this substance is so potent that blister beetles of some species can poison horses and other livestock if they are baled with hay fed to the animals.

										Mostly in summer.	Insect	tncysteodemus.jpg	 Richman, D. B., Sutherland, C. A., & Oseto, C. Y. (1993). One hundred common insects of New Mexico. Las Cruces, NM: New Mexico State University, Cooperative Extension Service.;  Smith, R. L. (1992). Venomous animals of Arizona. (Bulletin No. 8245, 4th printing). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension Service.;  Werner, F. G., Enns, W. R. and Parker, F. H.  (1966). The meloidae of Arizona. (Tech. Bulletin 175). Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona, Agricultural Experiment Station.;  Photograph: David B. Richman.   	254	Diurnal.	cysteodemus.jpg			Length: 1 - 1.5 cm.	
Devil Scorpion	Striped-Tailed Scorpion	Alacran, Escorpion		Vaejovidae (one family of Scorpions)	Vaejovis spinigerus and V. coahuilae	Plains at the foothills of desert slopes and mesas.	Pallid bats, burrowing owls, grasshopper mice, some lizards, other scorpions.	Insectivorous. It eats other arthropods.		May live for several years. Scorpions give birth to live young , which the mother carries on its back until the first molt.  Metamorphosis simple- immature stages, adult.	The devil scorpion is a relatively slender, yellowish arachnid with crab-like claws and a stinger at the end of its long tail. The tail has four pencil-thin dark stripes on the underside. Vaejovis spinigerus is the larger of the two species. However, V. coahuilae looks much like its larger relative, except for its size and the fact that its last few tail segments are thinner. Scorpions have 2 unusual comb-like appendages, called pectines, underneath their bodies near the last pair of legs. Although scientists are not completely sure of their function, they now think that they are used like sensory organs to feel vibrations. If true, this would be an advantage when hunting in the dark. Mouthparts chewing-sucking.	There are about 20 species of scorpion in New Mexico, only one of which, the Arizona bark scorpion, is dangerous to humans. That scorpion's sting can cause convulsions, paralysis, and death. Most other scorpion stings cause only a small swelling, like a wasp sting.	 Scorpions are very ancient, dating back to the Silurian Period (400 million years ago.) They once were aquatic and apparently had compound eyes. However, they are well adapted to living in the desert because of their hard, waxy, multi-layered cuticle and nocturnal habits. This helps them retain moisture and avoid dessication.										Summer.	Insect	tnvaespin.jpg	 Polis, G. A. (Ed.). (1990)  The biology of scorpions. Stanford University Press.;  Richman, D. B., Sutherland, C. A., &
 Oseto, C. Y. (1993). One hundred common insects of New Mexico. Las Cruces, NM: New
 Mexico State University, Cooperative Extension Service; 
 Smith, R. L. (1992). Venomous animals of Arizona.  (Bulletin No. 8245, 4th printing). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension Service.;  Photograph: David B. Richman.	255	They are nocturnal, and most active during the summer. They live under rocks or in other shelt