Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in New Mexico

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in New Mexico. A starting field list, drawn from iNaturalist research-grade observations, for what is likely living near you.

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Birds

Birds Commonly Recorded In New Mexico

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 4,319 records
  2. Greater Roadrunner Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus 4,230 records
  3. American Robin American Robin Turdus migratorius 3,863 records
  4. Dark-Eyed Junco Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 3,547 records
  5. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 3,545 records
  6. Say's Phoebe Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya 3,038 records
  7. Red-Tailed Hawk Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2,824 records
  8. White-Winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 2,789 records
  9. White-Crowned Sparrow White-Crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys 2,561 records
  10. Curve-Billed Thrasher Curve-Billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre 2,318 records
  11. Cooper's Hawk Cooper's Hawk Astur cooperii 2,306 records
  12. House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 2,236 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In New Mexico

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Creosote Bush Creosote Bush Larrea tridentata 15,766 records
  2. Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Pinus brachyptera 8,758 records
  3. Soaptree Yucca Yucca elata 8,245 records
  4. Tree Cholla Tree Cholla Cylindropuntia imbricata 7,853 records
  5. Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus Echinocereus coccineus 6,620 records
  6. Devilshead Echinocactus horizonthalonius 6,014 records
  7. Silverleaf Nightshade Silverleaf Nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium 5,078 records
  8. Ocotillo Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens 3,951 records
  9. Colorado Pinyon Colorado Pinyon Pinus edulis 3,744 records
  10. Apache Plume Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa 3,739 records
  11. Fourwing Saltbush Fourwing Saltbush Atriplex canescens 3,706 records
  12. Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus 3,254 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In New Mexico

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 3,612 records
  2. White-Lined Sphinx Hyles lineata 3,368 records
  3. Convergent Lady Beetle Hippodamia convergens 2,407 records
  4. American Bumble Bee American Bumble Bee Bombus pensylvanicus 2,404 records
  5. Painted Lady Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 2,222 records
  6. Arizona Mantis Arizona Mantis Stagmomantis limbata 1,670 records
  7. Checkered White Pontia protodice 1,568 records
  8. Two-Tailed Swallowtail Two-Tailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata 1,468 records
  9. Rough Harvester Ant Pogonomyrmex rugosus 1,468 records
  10. Variegated Fritillary Variegated Fritillary Euptoieta claudia 1,368 records
  11. Variegated Meadowhawk Sympetrum corruptum 1,276 records
  12. Mourning Cloak Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa 1,244 records

Go Deeper

Use the live finder to narrow this to your town and season. Then read Who Lives Here, how to attract wildlife to your yard, and planting for local wildlife. For tools and field guides, see the recommended gear.

Photographs via iNaturalist contributors, used under their Creative Commons licenses: (c) jefferykarafa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by jefferykarafa  ·  (c) John D Reynolds, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by John D Reynolds  ·  (c) Craig K. Hunt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Craig K. Hunt  ·  (c) anonymous, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)  ·  (c) Ad Konings, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ad Konings  ·  (c) Mike Baird, some rights reserved (CC BY)  ·  (c) Tony Morris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)  ·  (c) Abby Sesselberg, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Abby Sesselberg  ·  (c) Ximo Galarza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)  ·  (c) arbyreed, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)  ·  (c) Cm195902 at Flickr, some rights reserved (CC BY)  ·  no rights reserved, uploaded by Owen McElroy  ·  no rights reserved, uploaded by Craig Martin  ·  (c) Platon Kleanthidis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Platon Kleanthidis  ·  (c) Sue Carnahan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sue Carnahan  ·  (c) jwaskowiak, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)  ·  (c) Richard Reynolds, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Richard Reynolds  ·  (c) Bobby McCabe, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bobby McCabe  ·  (c) Buddy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Buddy  ·  (c) roy pilcher, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by roy pilcher  ·  (c) J. N. Stuart, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)  ·  (c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley  ·  (c) Ken Slade, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)  ·  (c) Faby Galleta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Faby Galleta