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The New Mexico Breeding Bird Atlas Project Atlas Handbook

The following species are among the earliest nesting species in New Mexico. Some of the species below start nesting early but also continue nesting later in the season as well. Other species only nest early. Catching the first nesting attempts of these species (March or April of most) will ensure that their presence as breeders in a block will be recorded.

      Red-tailed hawk
      Ferruginous Hawk
      Prairie Falcon
      Lesser Prairie Chicken
      Scaled Quail
      Barn Owl
      Great Horned Owl
      Western Screech-Owl
      Black-billed Magpie
      American Crow
      Horned Lark
      Juniper Titmouse
      White-breasted Nuthatch
      Bewick's Wren
      European Startling
      Rufous-crowned Sparrow
      Northern Cardinal
      House Finch
      House Sparrow