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Common Sonoran Desert Birds

The birds listed here are those that are likely to be seen in areas away from ponds, streams, rivers, cities and agriculture, i.e. the desert proper. Virtually all birds seek water for drinking and bathing and so these birds will also move into riparian and other areas with water. Desert birds tend to be much more abundant where the vegetation is lusher and thus offers more insects, fruit and seeds as food. Washes, canyons and bajadas tend to be birdier than desolate creosote flats. Where the Arizona cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and Mesa adjoin desert washes or foothills these birds can be common as well. Drought forces more desert birds to move into moister, man-altered habitats. Birds more likely to be seen in and near water or riparian zones are shown on Riparian and Wetland Birds. Editing suggestions were kindly provided by Carol Anderson.

Verdin Auriparus flaviceps Common, year-round along desert washes, riparian streams and in cities. Yellow head and small maroon patch on shoulder. Overall light gray. More info	Gambel's Quail Callipepla gambelii Forages and runs on ground. Top feather on head curves forward. Rufous cap and black face. More info	Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus Terrestrial and avid runner. Long tail and conspicuous crest. Red and white eye brow. More info	Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus Highly vocal wren of foothills and washes. Large by wren standards. White eyebrow and dark bib breaking into spots on belly. More info	Gila Woodpecker ♀ Melanerpes uropygialis Conspicuous woodpecker associated with Saguaros. Adobe brown head; black & white banded back. Female w/o red on head. More info
Phainopepla ♂ Phainopepla nitens Male is glossy black, with distinct crest and red eyes. White patch in wing visible in flight. Common near mistletoes. More info	Phainopepla ♀ Phainopepla nitens Female phainopepla appears solid gray when perched; white patch in wing visible in flight. Distinct crest and red eyes. Common near mistletoes. More info	Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Musical singer and common in many habitats. Largely gray color with bold black and white in long tail and wings. More info	Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysodes Large bird with heavy bill and a black bib. Chest and belly are boldly spotted. Usually near saguaro cactus. Fantastic singer! More info	Ladder-backed Woodpecker ♀ Picoides scalaris Smallest of the desert woodpeckers. Mostly black and white with fine barring on the back. Female has no red on head. More info
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Polioptila melanura Sprite little birds, sharply gray, white and black with a long tail. Tail black on underside. Black cap fades in winter. Common near desert washes. More info	Anna's Hummingbird ♂ Calypte anna When sunshine is behind the observer, head and throat appear magenta. Common in cites, desert washes and riparian habitats. More info	Anna's Hummingbird ♀ Calypte anna A few speckles of magenta possible on throat. Females of Costa's, Anna's and Black-chinned v. similar. More info	Costa's Hummingbird ♂ Calypte costae Except when lighting is from behind observer, head and throat of males appear black. Otherwise head and gorget is violet/purple. More info	White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica Larger. White patch in wing. Tail squared off. Spring and summer, rare rest of year. More info
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Common year-round esp. near agric. and cities. Long, tapering tail. Blue skin around eyes. More info	Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre Almost uniformly gray-brown bird with very faint speckles on chest. Long curved bill, long tail, yellow-orange eyes. Fantastic singer! More info	Bendire's Thrasher Toxostoma bendirei Ever so slightly smaller than curve-billed thrasher, with bill that is usually shorter and less curved. Brushy desert slopes and canyons. More info	Leconte's Thrasher Toxostoma lecontei Uncommon. Restricted to low salt bush covered desert habitat. Very pale, w/o breast spotting. Dark malar stripe. More info

Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus Small, active, common wren of rocky tops and hillsides. Eye line faint. Underside pale with a bit of rust towards lower belly. Hunts on ground scrambling between rocks. More info	House Finch ♂ Carpodacus mexicanus Males have red on upper chest and head. Brown streaking lower belly. Common to abundant along washes, in cities and at feeders. More info	House Finch ♀ Carpodacus mexicanus Females are brown with a white belly. Heavy streaking on chest and belly. Common to abundant along washes, in cities and at feeders. More info	Canyon Towhee Pipilo fuscus Mostly brown. Thick bill. Rusty cap and faint necklace of darker spots below throat. Common in foothills but wary and often unnoticed. More info	Lesser Goldfinch ♀ Carduelis psaltria In canyons and along rivers with plenty of seeds. Yellow belly, darker head, conical beak. Melodious singer. More info
Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens Upright posture for sallying out to catch bugs mid-air. Pale gray throat, pale yellow belly, rusty-brown on tail and wings. More info	Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus Upright posture for sallying out to catch bugs mid-air. Similar to Ash-throated, but bill is heavier and lower belly yellow usu. brighter. More info	Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya Upright posture. Sits in open 1 to 2 meters above ground. Pale salmon color on chest/belly. Fields and open areas near river flood plains. More info	Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Spring and Fall migrant. Tends to avoid driest areas. Likes farming areas and pastures. Pale gray with yellow belly. More info	Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata Commonly in groups foraging near ground. Year-round. Bold black bib and white lines above and below eyes. More info
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Sharply contrasting black and white crown. Seed-eating bill orange-pink. Common to abundant in winter months. More info	Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri Small, gray-brown sparrow with finely streaked crown and clear, pale breast. Winter resident. Pale bill with dark tip. More info	Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Small, streaky, winter sparrow found in open habitats where there are some grasses/seeds. Yellowish eye stripe. More info	Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina Noticeably smaller than white-crowned sparrows. Crown is reddish brown which is more red in breeding males. Black line through eye. More info	Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus Relatively large sparrow with boldly marked face, black stick-pin on clear chest/belly, and long tail. Winter resident. More info
Rufous-winged Sparrow Peucaea carpalis From Tucson area south look in mesquite bosque - grassland areas. Rusty crown and two whisker marks. More info	Lucy's Warbler Vermivora luciae Small, active bird found especially in mesquites. Spring-summer only. Gray and white with rufous patch on crown and rump. Fine bill. More info	Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus Predatory song bird. Hefty bill with hook. Gray and white plumage with black mask. Perches high in open. More info	Western Scrub Jay Aphelocoma californica Margins of Sonoran Desert where it meets chaparral. Azure blue back and gray-white throat and belly. Long tail. More info	Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Medium sized bird with yellow chest marked with black 'v'. Winter bird mostly of agric. fields in Sonoran Desert. More info
Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis Crepuscular and nocturnal. Acrobatic flights chasing insects in sky. White bands near wing tips. Cryptic plumage for daytime resting. More info	Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura May appear entirely black soaring in distance. With better light red head and two-toned plumage visible. More info	Common Raven Corvus corax Soaring all-black bird. Often flying in pairs that croak loudly to each other. More common towards mountains but ranges widely. More info	Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus Nearly black plumage contrasting with rich rusty-brown on shoulders and thighs. Bright white patch at base of tail in flight. Year round. More info	Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Very common soaring bird with pale tail reddish on *top*. Black feathers on wrists. Most common in winter and near agric. fields. More info
Ferruginous Hawk Buto regalis Winter reident. Rusty legs form a 'V' against white belly when seen overhead. More info	Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni Migratory soaring bird - appearing in Sonoran Desert only briefly in spring and fall. Light bands on tail. Dark chest bib. More info	American Kestrel Falco sparverius Small raptor but clearly heavily built. Coppery and steel-gray upper mantle. Sharp beak and talons. Common on wires, utility poles and tops of trees. More info	Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus Sleek bird with pointed wings, spotted chest and with a dark gray whisker marks. More info	Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Mostly only in winter in the Sonoran Desert. Hangs around feeders and other concentrations of small birds it eats. More info
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia Long-legged, ground dwelling owl, often crepuscular or diurnal in habit. Prefers open terrain such as agricultural areas. Hides and nests in abandoned rodent burrows. More info	Barn Owl Tyto alba Nocturnal. White face and dark set eyes. Roosts in mine shafts, old buildings and under bridges. More info	Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Large bird with big yellow eyes and two feather-horns off head. Mostly nocturnal but commonly seen by day. More info

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Copyright Michael J. Plagens, 1999-2011, updated 21 Jan. 2019.		Web Sonoran Desert Naturalist