ML644498202

Observation details

Always an exciting bird to see; ever more so here! 2 individuals - a male and a female; photos of both. Located just below the Water Canyon Road where it cuts below South Baldy Peak at 10,300 ft. (33.9882485 x -107.1865838). Flew in to top of Douglas Fir tree and perched quietly for about 3 minutes before flying over dense forest to the south together. A large finch with long, forked tail. Male had red head, nape, mantle, rump, and ~2/3 down breast; white wing bars and flight feather edging; scapulars scalloped gray and black; bill rather small, conical, and decurved. Female with yellow head and gray breast. According to eBird this is a Socorro County record; also perhaps the furthest south observation of the species in New Mexico and one of the most southerly observations on the continent (see also Mt Baldy, AZ and 2000 record from the Guadalupe Mtns, Texas)!