The Gila
River and adjacent Gila National Forest and Wilderness
are a crossroads for the largest diversity of bird species
found anywhere in New Mexico.
Bird species with largely southern distributions
include the White-faced Ibis, Black Hawk, Elf
Owl, Montezuma Quail, Gila Woodpecker, Scott's
Oriole, Phainopepla, Blue Grosbeak, Pyrrhuloxia,
Black Phoebe, Abert's Towhee, Lucy's Warbler intermix,
especially during times of migration with more
northern species, such as Sandhill Crane, Peregrine
Falcon, Blue Grouse, Common Nighthawk, Hairy Woodpecker,
Cactus Wren, Cassin's Kingbird, Mountain Chickadee,
White-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-breasted
Chat, Bullock's Oriole, Western Tanager, and Northern
Cardinal.
