HORIZON MAGAZINE
INTRO TO: MESA COUNTY SUMMER ORNITHOLOGY
FIELD GUIDE LOGAN WAGNER
Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri
Increasingly prevalent as elevation increases. Adult males' wing beats produce a loud whistle.
During migration, may appear almost everywhere, although densities diminish greatly in higher elevation.
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheuticus melanocephalus
Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana
L 4"
L 6 3/4"
L 3 1/4"
BIRD FIELD GUIDE
Broad-tailed Hummingbird Selasphorus platycerus
SPRING 2020
WORDS, PHOTO & ART
Birds are ubiquitous. Anywhere you go, you can marvel at the sounds and spectacles they create. Every habitat lends a new set of avian life to enjoy. This selection is nowhere near a complete guide, but it’s a good start at discerning some common species of interest.   Before heading out, check an Ebird.com hotspot for a recent list at your planned destination and prepare yourself to find the noted species. Borrow some binoculars from Tomlinson or Mesa County Libraries or use a camera with a zoom lens to get a closer look at birds. Try out some of our suggested bird hotspots.
L 7 1/4"
Generally found in low-elevation habitats with thick cover including riparian and montane shrublands.
First spring migrants arrive in mid-May along low-elevation rivers. Nests most abundantly in forests from pinyon/juniper zone to spruce/fir zone.
Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena L 5 1/2" Most common birds to sing from cottonwoods in low elevation riparian areas. Also found in Gambel oak and mountain mahogany shrublands.
Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea L 6 3/4"
Primarily found in dense shrubs of lowland riparian zones and adjacent agricultural areas. Nest in tamarisk, willow, three-leaf sumac and Russian olive.
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