New Mexico Birds

November 2, 2013

Linking up Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-b-birdin  
I hope you are joining in and posting your birds and critters.

Congrats to Misty Dawn on her new baby girl! I wish the family all the best!

I am sharing more birds and critters from New Mexico and our visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

A Carlsbad Caverns National Park lifer.. the Lark Bunting

On the road into the park.. I looked over at a cliff and saw this Big Horn Sheep, Barbary Sheep or Aoudad in a little cave. At first I thought they were Bighorn sheep but the long hair and horns seemed different. I decided to do more research on the net.

Another Carlsbad lifer ...the Canyon Towhee

This is the Rock Wren also seen during our visit to the Carlsbad Caverns.

Barbary Sheep or also known as Aoudad were introduced into Texas and the Guadalupe Mountains.  They are reddish to sandy brown in color. These goats are native to North Africa and are vulnerable due to loss of habitat or hunting. Their habitats are steep rocky mountains, they have been introduced into Texas, New Mexico and California.

As we looked up to the top of the cliff, more  Barbary Sheep walked up to the edge as if to check us out too. On the photo above you can see the shaggy hair at the throat. They graze on grasses, bushes and lichen.

I hope you enjoyed my New Mexico birds and the cool looking sheep.

Thanks for stopping by and  I wish everyone a happy weekend.

 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters

 please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.