Birding in New Mexico

The top birding locations in New Mexico include Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Acomita Lake, Belen Marsh, Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, Bill Evans Lake, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Bluewater Lake State Park, Boone's Draw, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - Main 2-Way Road (East-West), Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - National Monument-1 to North Observation Area, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - Seasonal Tour Road (closed Oct. 1 - Mar. 31), Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - South Loop, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge - Visitor Center (do not use for whole refuge), Bosque Redondo Park, Bosque Trails West of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge - NMSLO, Brantley Lake, Buffalo Thunder Casino Ponds (view from parking lot only), Caballo Lake State Park, Caballo Lake State Park - Riverside Recreation Area (below dam), Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Rattlesnake Springs, Cibola National Forest - Water Canyon, Clayton Lake State Park, Clovis WTP, Cochiti Lake, Conchas Lake State Park, Corrales Bosque - Dixon Road Access, Corrales Bosque - Northernmost, Corrales Bosque - Romero Road Entrance, Eagle Nest Lake State Park, East of Las Cruces Dam, Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Main Marina, Elephant Butte Lake State Park - North Monticello Point, Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Paseo del Rio, Elephant Butte Lake State Park - South Monticello Point, Estancia (town, including Arthur Park), Farmington Lake, Galisteo, Gila Bird Area, Gila Bird Area - River Vista, Gila National Forest - Apache Creek Campground and Tularosa River riparian, Gila National Forest - Lake Roberts, Gila National Forest - Quemado Lake, Gila River Preserve - Gila River Farm, Glenwood Fish Hatchery, Guadalupe Canyon, Heron Lake State Park, Hillsboro (town), Holloman Lakes (Closed indefinitely), J Kenneth Smith Bird Sanctuary, La Joya Wildlife Management Area, La Llorona Trail Extension, Lake Avalon, Las Animas Creek, Las Palomas Marsh, Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, Leasburg Dam State Park, Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve (Jun - Oct; Fee and Entry through Las Golondrinas), Loco Lagoon, Lordsburg Sewage Ponds, Los Poblanos Open Space, Mangas Springs, Marty Sanchez Golf Course Pond, Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, McAllister Lake Wildlife Management Area, Melrose Woods, Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park, Milnesand, Montessa Park, Morgan Lake, National Monument-1 - San Antonio to Bosque del Apache Boundary, Ned Houk Park, North Diversion Channel Outflow (East of Fourth Street Bridge only), Oasis State Park, Ohkay Owingeh Fishing Lakes, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument - Dripping Springs NA, Percha Dam State Park, Picacho Hills, Randall Davey Audubon Center, Randall's Pool, Red Rock Wildlife Management Area, Rio Fernando Wetlands (Fred Baca Park and adjacent Rio Fernando Park), Rio Grande at Buckman, Rio Grande del Norte National Monument - Orilla Verde Recreation Area, Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Rio Grande Valley State Park - Alameda Bridge Bosque Trails (including Alameda Open Space), Rio Grande Valley State Park - Pueblo Montano Bosque Trails, Rio Grande Valley State Park - Tijeras Arroyo Bosque Trails, Rio Grande Valley State Park - Tingley Beach Bosque Trails, Rodeo (town), San Vicente Cienega Trail, Santa Rosa Lake State Park, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Six-Mile Dam, Springer Lake, Storrie Lake State Park, Stubblefield Lake, Sugarite Canyon State Park, Sumner Lake State Park, Sumner Lake State Park - Below the Dam, Turtle Bay Park and New Mexico Tech campus, Tyrone Sewage Ponds, UNM - Main Campus (including Duck Pond), Ute Lake State Park - Main Boat Ramp & Campground, Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, Vaughn WTP & Woodlot, Washington Ranch (request permission in advance, 575-785-2228), Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area. Each offers unique habitats and species.

The best seasons for birding in New Mexico are Spring and Fall and Winter. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area. Winter offers opportunities for cold-weather specialties and waterfowl.

Notable species in New Mexico include Sandhill Crane, Snow Goose, Bald Eagle, Gambel's Quail, Roadrunner, White-winged Dove, Lesser Goldfinch, White-crowned Sparrow, and more. The state supports wetland, desert, grassland, lake, chaparral, urban park, forest, canyon, river/riparian, coastal habitats.