Rio Grande Nature Center State Park
New Mexico · Southwest
Easy
October-May
$5 per vehicle
Open daily, 8 AM - 5 PM
About This Location
Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is a productive birding destination in New Mexico, with 324 species recorded on eBird. This desert and chaparral habitat attracts Canada Goose, Wood Duck, and Cinnamon Teal among many others. The unique desert and riparian habitats support specialty species alongside wintering and migrating birds.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Hooded Warbler
Setophaga citrina
Red Crossbill (Ponderosa Pine or type 2)
Loxia curvirostra
Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided x Gray-headed)
Junco hyemalis
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
Merlin
Falco columbarius
Mexican Duck
Anas diazi
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
White-breasted Nuthatch (Interior West)
Sitta carolinensis
Mountain Chickadee (Rocky Mts.)
Poecile gambeli
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Wood Duck
Mallard
Black-chinned Hummingbird
American Coot
Cooper's Hawk
Black Phoebe
White-breasted Nuthatch
Mourning Dove
Green Heron
Western Kingbird
Barn Swallow
Greater Roadrunner
Turkey Vulture
Swainson's Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Black-capped Chickadee
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Spotted Towhee
Blue Grosbeak
Birding Tips
- 1
Start birding at dawn when desert birds are most active before the heat.
- 2
Check around water sources, which concentrate desert species.
- 3
Carry extra water and sun protection; mornings are the prime birding window.
- 4
Purchase your day pass online in advance to avoid wait times at the entrance station.
- 5
Bring quality optics — a good pair of binoculars (8x42 or 10x42) makes all the difference in species identification.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Bosque del Apache NWR
- Petroglyph National Monument
- Albuquerque BioPark
More in New Mexico
New Mexico Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in New Mexico →