Bird Conservation Region 34

Sierra Madre Occidental

Description: The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range runs northwest to southeast parallel to the Pacific Coast from the Mogollon Rim and isolated mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico through Sonora to central Mexico, where it connects with the Sur del Altiplano Mexicano. It is characterized by high elevations and a complex topography with the presence of oak-pine, pine, and fir forests along the mountain range and of semiarid scrub habitats on eastern slopes. In Mexico there are more than 20 IBAs in this BCR, including El Carricito, a remnant of old-growth pine-oak forest and habitat for the presumably extinct Imperial Woodpecker and other important species, such as Golden Eagle, Military Macaw, Thick-billed Parrot, and Eared Trogon. Other priority landbirds of this BCR in Mexico are the Rose-throated Becard, Spotted Owl, Golden Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. Among the species whose range extends into the United States in this region, highest priorities include the Red-faced Warbler, Strickland’s Woodpecker, and Montezuma Quail. Riparian areas in lowlands support many in-transit migrants as well as breeding Thick-billed Kingbirds, Western Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Most uplands in the United States are publicly owned, but lower-elevation grasslands and riparian habitat are subject to development and conversion. The whole region is an important corridor for migration of many species in the west. Significant wetland habitats, such as Santiaguillo Lagoon in Durango, Mexico, provide wintering habitat for large numbers of aquatic birds, highlighted by Northern Pintails and American White Pelicans.

Bird Conservation Plans
Landbirds - New Mexico, Arizona,
Shorebirds - Intermountain West
Waterbirds - Mexico-Southwest U.S.
Waterfowl -
All Birds - Sonoran Joint Venture Strategic Plan

Joint Venture area: Sonoran
Robert Mesta, JV Coordinator
Carol Beardmore, Science Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
738 North Fifth Ave Suite 215
Tucson, Arizona 85705

Joint Venture area: Intermountain West
Dave Smith, JV Coordinator
Intermountain West Joint Venture
3740 Rodeo Road
Missoula, MT 59803

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Note: Hawaii (not shown) is BCR 67

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