Buteo jamaicensis

Family: Accipitridae

Common Name: Red-tailed hawk

Endemic: No

IUCN Status: Least concern

The red-tailed hawk can be found in Central America, and in the West Indies. The bird is most common hawk in North America. Its diet mainly consists of small mammals like mice, rabbits, and squirrels, including other birds and reptiles. During breeding season, the birds generally pair up and spiral down in freefall in the air to mate. The red-tailed hawk prefers open areas such as fields and deserts.

Psittacara brevipes

Family: Psittacidae

Common Name: Socorro parakeet

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Endangered

The Socorro parakeet is considered endangered by the standards placed by the IUCN in large part of sheep grazing and habitat destruction. These birds are endemic to Socorro and a large part of their diet consists of seeds and fruit pulps. The parakeets live in tropical lowland forests.

Columbina passerina

Family: Columbidae

Common Name: Common ground dove

Endemic: No

IUCN Status: Least concern

The Common ground dove can be found in areas in South of the United States and parts of Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. The bird is North America’s tiniest dove, which is distinctive by its yellow beak with a black tip. The bird lives in areas where there are mainly trees and bushes. The common ground dove regularly feed on vegetation, fruits, and seeds.

Micrathene whitneyi

Family: Strigidae

Common Name: Socorro elf owl

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Least concern

The Socorro elf owl can only be found on the Socorro Islands. The owls feed mainly on insects, mice, snakes, lizards, and scorpions. The owls are very quick, which makes them able to hunt for prey with ease. They are distinguishable by their gray beaks and spotting on their wings.

Mimus graysoni

Family: Mimidae

Common Name: Socorro mockingbird

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Critically endangered

The Socorro mockingbird is critically endangered, with less than 400 individuals estimated to exist altogether. Habitat loss from feral sheep and locusts have contributed to their downfall, along with predation by feral cats. They live in low forest above 600 meters and feed on endemic shrubs.

Click for map of known occurences

Nyctanassa violacea gravirostris

Family: Ardeidae

Common Name: Socorro yellow-crowned night heron

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Least concern

Yellow-crowned night herons are primarily coastal for foraging opportunities. They survive on crustaceans. The gravirostris variety is endemic to Socorro.  

Setophaga pitiayumi

Family: Parulidae

Common Name: Socorro tropical parula

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Least concern

This bird is a New World warbler. It feeds on insects and lives in low woody vegetation, like Croton masonii. The parulas are often found hopping on the ground, though this puts them in danger due to feral cats.

Pipilo maculatus

Family: Emberizidae

Common Name: Spotted towhee

Endemic: No

IUCN Status: Least concern

Towhees live in the low forest and shrubbery. They prefer thick undergrowth to search for insects. The towhees are found in western North America and parts of Central America.

Puffinus auricularis

Family: Procellariidae

Common Name: Townsend's shearwater

Endemic: No

IUCN Status: Critically endangered

Townsend’s shearwaters are rare seabirds that breed on Mounth Evermann on Socorro Island. They are critically endangered due to the sheep destroying breeding grounds and predator by feral cats.

Troglodytes sissonii

Family: Troglodytidae

Common Name: Socorro wren

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Near threatened

The Socorro wren lives in shrublands, particularly those where Croton masonii exists. It is considered near threatened, but prospects are not positive due to their range being severely limited by overgrazing sheep.

Zenaida graysoni

Family: Columbidae

Common Name: Socorro dove

Endemic: Yes

IUCN Status: Extinct in the wild

The Socorro dove went extinct in the wild in 1972. At least 100 birds remain in captivity and reintroduction programs are underway. Its extinction correlates with the appearance of feral cats. Sheep had already been limiting their range due to overgrazing.