The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in New Mexico This Week

Q: What rare birds are in New Mexico this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Albuquerque, then the whole state. Each species is checked against five years of confirmed sightings, and the most unusual come first.

Q: How many bird species are seen in New Mexico?

520 bird species in 119,573 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 70 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the state, so a new one of them is news.

Q: What counts as rare in New Mexico?

Near Albuquerque or your own ZIP, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings within 25 miles in five years, or one that is seen there but almost never in these weeks of the year. On the statewide list, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings anywhere in New Mexico.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in New Mexico?

The New Mexico Bird Records Committee. From its page: “The New Mexico Bird Records Committee (NMBRC) was established to evaluate and archive records of unusual bird species occurring in New Mexico.”

Q: How do I see rare birds near me in New Mexico?

Enter your ZIP on the rare bird alert for a list around your own spot, and check it each week in spring and fall migration, when most strays turn up. Each bird links to its iNaturalist species page with photographs and a range map.

Q: Are needs ID sightings included?

Yes, for this week only, because confirmation takes days and a rare bird may be gone by then. The five year record the week is checked against counts research grade sightings only.

New Mexico logged 119,573 confirmed bird sightings across 520 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 70 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Albuquerque covers 25 miles around the city. The New Mexico Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Albuquerque

Rare birds near Albuquerque this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Albuquerque in the last seven days, with the ones that are rare there, out of season or uncommon first and the reason for each.

Reading this week's bird sightings within 25 miles of Albuquerque from iNaturalist.

Somewhere else in New Mexico? Enter your ZIP for the circle around it.

New Mexico birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

119,573

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

520

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in New Mexico

Species seen 3 times or fewer

13 percent of the state list, the birds that make news

25 mi

Live circle

around Albuquerque, or any ZIP you enter

Counted from iNaturalist’s research grade bird records in New Mexico from October 9, 2021 to October 1, 2026, read October 9, 2026.

Across New Mexico

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in New Mexico in the last seven days, checked against the state’s own five year record: Rare here means 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the whole state.

Reading this week's bird sightings across New Mexico from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in New Mexico

520 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in New Mexico over five years, and 70 of them were confirmed 3 times or fewer. A sighting of one of those is the kind a state records committee reviews before it joins the official list.

New Mexico Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in New Mexico.

“The New Mexico Bird Records Committee (NMBRC) was established to evaluate and archive records of unusual bird species occurring in New Mexico.”

New Mexico Bird Records Committee, read October 9, 2026.

Nine birders and photographers on a wooden boardwalk over a marsh, with long lenses, a spotting scope and binoculars all pointed to the left, under spring trees — Birders and photographers setting up on an overlook. Word of an unusual bird travels this way: one person posts a photograph, and the people nearby go and look. “Birdwatchers stop to set up equipment at overlook”, Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

New Mexico rare bird questions

What rare birds are in New Mexico this week?

How many bird species are seen in New Mexico?

What counts as rare in New Mexico?

Who confirms rare bird records in New Mexico?

How do I see rare birds near me in New Mexico?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for New Mexico birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.New Mexico fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.New Mexico hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.New Mexico sandhill crane migrationWhere the cranes stage and when.New Mexico winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.New Mexico duck migrationWhen the ducks come through.

Rare birds in other states

Sightings and records from iNaturalist, read live for this week. The lists are built from counts per species, and each bird links to its species page. For your own spot, enter a ZIP on the rare bird alert.