From the Las Vegas (NM) National Wildlife Refuge, and Bosque del Apache NWR.

I just got back from a trip to New Mexico (May 2007), my first, and found some birds I had not seen before. Some I think I’ve figured out, but some are still Personal Mysteries, on which you experts can surely shed light. I’m pretty sure about the Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Great-Tailed Grackle, Ring-Necked Pheasant, and Gambel’s Quail-on-a-stick, and then think the next one is an Eastern (?) Meadowlark. But I’d be pleased for ID help on Quiz 1 and Quiz 2. Quiz 3 spent a lot of time showing off – leaping up into the air, scooting after insects, catching them, and then perching on the Flight Deck railing until going off for another round. (It’s maybe a flycatcher? See close-up for view of the fly it caught.) Quiz 4 has at least one Great-Tailed Grackle (third platform) – but I cannot tell what the other three birds are, maybe Common Grackles? Do Grackles spend a lot of time in mixed-grackle flocks? I’ve included a close-up view of Grackle Contestant #1 – the one on the leftmost platform. Quiz 5 is a hawk, seen too briefly and too far away, and sunward – but perhaps you can tell me what kind of hawk? All photos from Las Vegas (NM) NWR, on a storm-threatened afternoon, or Bosque del Apache on a mosquito-infested mid-morning journey.

See https://pbase.com/millerr/nm_birds for the photos.

Thanks for all help and advice on this. I’ll correct any mistakes and fill in the consensus answers in a couple of days.

Rich Miller