Bird Conservation Region 35
Chihuahuan
Desert
Description:
The Chihuahuan Desert stretches from the Sierra Madre
Occidental in the west to lusher scrub habitat of the Edwards Plateau
and Tamaulipan Brushlands in the east, and from the Southern Great Plains
to the north and over much of the central Mexican Plateau. Arid grasslands
and shrublands cover broad basins, and higherelevation oak-juniper woodlands
and conifers occur in numerous isolated mesas and mountains. In Mexico,
IBAs include Janos–Nuevo Casas Grandes, home of the Burrowing Owl,
Golden and Bald Eagles, Peregine and Prairie Falcons, Lucy’s Warbler,
and Mountain Plover. Sierra del Nido, with Eared Trogon, Thick-billed
Parrot, and Lucifer’s Hummingbird, and Mapimí are two other
key IBAs. Other important typical species are Scaled Quail in the lowlands,
Bell’s Vireo along some riparian zones, and Black-capped Vireo
in the montane scrub community. The Colima Warbler is a rare inhabitant
of a few of the higher mountains. The Río Grande and adjacent
wetlands provide important habitat for Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl, and
other riparian and wetland-dependent birds.
Bird
Conservation Plans
Landbirds
- New Mexico
Shorebirds - Intermountain
West
Waterbirds - Mexico-Southwest
U.S.
Waterfowl - in IWJV
Coordinated Bird Conservation Plan, Plans
by State
All Birds -
in IWJV Coordinated
Bird Conservation Plan, Plans
by State
Joint
Venture area: Intermountain West
Dave
Smith, JV Coordinator
Intermountain West Joint Venture
3740 Rodeo Road
Missoula, MT 59803
Joint
Venture area: Rio
Grande
Mary Gustafson
Rio Grande Joint Venture Coordinator
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
2800 S. Bentsen Palm Drive
Mission, TX 78572
Note: Hawaii (not shown) is BCR 67