You Won’t Believe How Many Rare Birds You Can See in New Mexico This Summer

Quick Take

• The most famous birdwatching refuge in the state draws crowds in winter, yet summer visitors discover something the cold-season crowd completely misses.
• One of these sites sits in the middle of a desert, yet it pulls rare shorebirds weeks earlier than almost anywhere else in the country.
• A single 15-mile drive here passes through enough distinct bird habitats to fill a full day list, provided you know which stops to make.

Many don’t realize that New Mexico ranks among the four most bird-diverse locations in the United States, with more than 550 documented species. It’s easy for an avid birder to experience countless rare birds in a single day, thanks to the state’s varied elevations and climates. Summer is an ideal time to go birdwatching in New Mexico, but where should you go first?

Using New Mexico’s official birding resources, here are the best places to experience birdwatching this summer, regardless of the species you’re seeking.

Gila Wilderness and Gila National Forest

Spanning more than 3 million acres of southwestern New Mexico, the Gila National Forest has a huge range of habitat: there’s low desert along the Gila River and ponderosa forests along the Mogollon Mountains, and all ten of the region’s major bird habitat zones are accessible within a short drive of Silver City.

Most visitors come searching for the elegant trogon, a migrant species from Mexico that nests in the canyons here each summer, as well as seven hummingbird species. Hawks are also common sights here, and the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and surrounding canyon country make for a fantastic day of exploration.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Most people think of Bosque del Apache during the wintertime, as it is popular for both cranes and snow geese. However, summer has its fair share of species, too. Black-chinned, calliope, broad-tailed, and Rufous hummingbirds enjoy the feeders found at the desert arboretum near the visitor center, and vermilion flycatchers, summer tanagers, orioles, and yellow-breasted chats have nesting territories within the park.

Few places in New Mexico allow you to observe wetland birds, bosque birds, desert birds, and hummingbirds all within minutes of each other. However, summertime in this state offers birdwatchers an excellent chance to see a wide variety of species.

Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary

Three miles east of the Santa Fe Plaza, the Randall Davey Audubon Center includes a 135-acre sanctuary that’s made for a variety of birds.

Approximately 190 species have been recorded here across the seasons, with summer showing off black-chinned and broad-tailed hummingbirds, Cordilleran flycatchers, Virginia’s warblers, spotted and canyon towhees, canyon wrens, mountain chickadees, and black-headed grosbeaks. Free and guided bird walks happen every Saturday morning, so head here if you’re looking to learn from the experts.

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park

The Rio Grande Nature Center State Park is only minutes from downtown Albuquerque, making it a convenient stop if you’re spending time in this city. Waterfowl love the park’s ponds year-round, and summer birds include Gambel’s quails, Swainson’s hawks, black-chinned hummingbirds, ladder-backed woodpeckers, vermilion flycatchers, and black-headed grosbeaks.

This state park also lies beneath the Rio Grande flyway, which means even more migratory species can be seen if you time it right. Plus, it has a network of interpretive trails and covered viewing areas over ponds, making it ideal for families and beginners alike.

Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Northeast of fascinating Roswell, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge is an underrated birding destination, given that it’s a wetland in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert. In summer, blue-winged and cinnamon teals nest, and the refuge’s watery zones attract even more species throughout the year.

As summer transitions, early shorebird migration begins in New Mexico. Adults of several species head south as soon as their young can feed independently, so July and August bring Western, least, and Baird’s sandpipers and long-billed dowitchers to the refuge earlier than most states. An eight-mile driving route and several hiking trails make most of this habitat accessible. Be sure to bring water, especially during the summer months.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains

A single drive up Highway 475 from Santa Fe toward the ski basin will take you through multiple distinctive climate zones in only fifteen miles, which means birding along it is always rewarding.

Lower elevations have Virginia’s warblers and spotted towhees, mid-elevation forests have hermit thrushes, red-naped sapsuckers, Grace’s warblers, and Steller’s jays, and the mountains bring out Clark’s nutcrackers and many other songbirds. With its views of the Rio Grande valley, this route is worth the drive even without the birdwatching opportunities.

Rattlesnake Springs, Carlsbad Caverns National Park

With a name like Rattlesnake Springs, this location may not sound inviting. However, the American Birding Association has called it one of the country’s top spots for viewing rare neotropical bird species, including cave swallows, groove-billed anis, great kiskadees, yellow-green vireos, and blue mockingbirds.

Summer birds in particular include painted buntings, summer tanagers, Bell’s vireos, and multiple hummingbird species along the cottonwoods. There’s a handy checklist posted at the Carlsbad Caverns visitor center, which stays current with recent sightings, so be sure to check it before you hit the trails.

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

All the way up in the northeastern corner of the state, Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge has grasslands and roughly 700 acres of wetlands. Summer birding here focuses on nesting waterbirds. White-faced ibis, American avocet, black-necked stilt, and Wilson’s phalarope are common, alongside Cassin’s sparrow, scaled quail, and greater roadrunner sightings.

There’s a ten-mile driving loop that meanders through the refuge, making it easy to check out a variety of this prime habitat from the comfort of your car, which is particularly helpful during New Mexico’s midday heat. It’s a beautiful location, with plenty of stunning birds to see.