This is a very out-of-the way hotspot, with few lists recorded. Birders can contribute a better understanding of species and frequency in the Chuska Mountains by visiting this hotspot.

Williamson's Sapsucker

This is the only New Mexico hotspot in the Chuska Mountains;  there is one Arizona hotspot in the northern Chuskas, at Buffalo Pass. The Chuska Mountains, 10-15 miles in width, extend from north of Tohatchi, New Mexico, in the south almost 60 miles north-northwestward across the state line to near Roof Butte, Arizona, all within the Navajo Nation. The mountains, receiving significantly more rainfall than the lowlands to the east and west, are forested in pine, fir, aspen, spruce, and oak. 

Nabona Pass Picnic Area is a day-use area about 7 miles east of Crystal, between mileposts 13 and 12 (closer to milepost 12) on the east side of NM-134 (aka BIA-32 and Navajo Route 32). There is a small rotunda, and each July this is the gathering place for a foot race, the Narbonna Classic. During winter, the pass may be snowed in as the day-use area lies at 8,320 feet.   

Just northeast of the day-use area, NM-134 crosses Crystal Creek, then a branch of that creek, before reaching the western entrance to the pass maar (shallow volcanic crater). South of Milepost 11, NM-134 meets Navajo Route 30 to Todacheene Lake. Less than half a mile past milepost 11 is the summit of the pass, at 8,721 feet. You leave the crater just southwest of milepost 10, and the milepost marker indicates the pass’s east portal. Therefore, the pass offers somewhat less than 3 miles of roadside viewing, as well as the day-use area. The pass appears on old maps under its previous name, Washington Pass;  it is known as Béésh Łichííʼí Bigiizh in Navajo.