Birds of the Arizona Deserts

Kathy recently gave a talk at the Nature Regina meeting about birding in Arizona.  We have spent time in Arizona most winters over the past six years and have come to know and love the desert creatures, and the many good people we have met there.

The map below shows the State Parks where we have spent time: Dead Horse Ranch in Cottonwood, south of Sedona; Lost Dutchman in Apache Junction, east of Phoenix; Catalina in Oro Valley, north of Tucson; and Patagonia Lake between Patagonia and Nogales, near the Mexican border.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is along the Verde River in Cottonwood and has three lagoons that are stocked with fish.  The lagoons are filled with water from the Verde River via an irrigation channel called the Hickey Ditch.

Mingus Mountain viewed across the lagoon at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, AZ

Bluffs and lagoon at Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Mountain Bluebird

Pygmy Nuthatch on Mingus Mountain

Lost Dutchman State Park has no natural water source, so the birds found there get moisture from  occasional rainfalls and plants.

Superstition Mountain at Lost Dutchman State Park, near Apache Junction, AZ

Most of the campsites at Lost Dutchman have magnificent views of Superstition Mountain

Phainopepla, Male

Phainopepla, Female

 

Cactus Wren

Canyon Towhee

 

Gambel's Quail

Rock Wren

Curve-billed Thrasher

Northern Cardinal, Male

Northern Cardinal, Female

Black-throated Sparrow

Abert's Towhee

Verdin

House Finch and Verdin competing for the orange

Gilded Flicker, Male

Gilded Flicker, Female

Green-tailed Towhee

Harris's Hawk

Gila Woodpecker, Male

Gila Woodpecker, Female

Catalina State Park is situated along the Cañada Del Oro river, north of Tucson.

Catalina State Park overlooking the Cañada del Oro river and the community of Oro Valley

Laurence's Goldfinch

Greater Roadrunner

Western Bluebird

Yellow Eyed Junco, found on Mount Lemmon

Rufous Backed Robin, a Mexican bird that sometimes wanders into southern Arizona

Between Tucson and Yuma, in the Sonoran Desert, are the lands of the Tohono O'odham Nation.  This area is home to the Crested Caracara, which can be found in Mexico, Central and South America, and small sections of Texas, Florida and Southern Arizona.

Crested Caracara

Madera Canyon is one of the most famous birding areas in the United States. The Santa Rita Lodge, located in the canyon, has a variety of bird feeders which attract many different birds.    http://www.friendsofmaderacanyon.org/birding.html

Acorn Woodpecker

Hepatic Tanager

Dark-eyed Juncos: foreground - Gray headed, background - Pink sided

Mexican Jays

Wild Turkey

Arizona Woodpecker, Male

Arizona Woodpecker, Female

Northern Pygmy Owl

Patagonia Lake State Park is located in southern Arizona, between the town of Patagonia and the City of Nogales, AZ.  Patagonia Lake has a hiking trail along the south-east side of the lake, and following Sonoita Creek for about a mile.  This is a very popular birding area.

Patagonia Lake State Park, looking south toward Mexico

Patagonia Lake looking north

Anna's Hummingbird, Male

Anna's Hummingbird, Female

Inca Dove

White-winged Dove

Red-naped Sapsucker

Lesser Goldfinch, Male

Lesser Goldfinch, Female

Great-tailed Grackle

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Male

Broad-billed Hummingbird, Female

Rufous Hummingbird

Pyrrhuloxia, Male

Pyrrhuloxia, Male

Pyrrhuloxia, Female

Costa's Hummingbird, Male

Black-chinned Hummingbird, Male

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Rufous-winged Sparrow

Rufous-winged Sparrow

Commonn Galinule

Mexican Mallard: left - Female, right - Male

Eared Grebe in non-breeding plumage

Great Egret

Green Heron

Virginia Rail

Double-crested Cormorant

Neo-tropic Cormorant

Left - Double-crested Cormorant; Right - Neo-tropic Cormorant

Great Horned Owl

Green Kingfisher female

Elegant Trogon

Elegant Trogon

Elegant Trogon with sulphur butterfly

Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Male

Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Female

Gray Flycatcher

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Black Phoebe

Vermilion Flycatcher, Male

Vermilion Flycatcher, Female

Vermilion Flycatchers

Vermilion Flycatcher, Juvenile

Tropical Kingbird

Cassin's Kingbird

Hutton's Vireo

Plumbeous Vireo

Cassin's Vireo

Bridled Titmouse

Bewick's Wren

Winter Wren

Canyon Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet defending his territory

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Northern Mockingbird

Crissal Thrasher

Northern Parula

Lucy's Warbler

Lucy's Warbler

Black-Throated Gray Warbler, male

Wilson's Warbler, Male

Lazuli Bunting, Male at a feeder at The Paton Centre for Hummingbirds in Patagonia Town

Lazuli Bunting, Male

Lazuli Bunting, Male

Lazuli Bunting, Female

Swamp Sparrow

Black Vulture

All photos are copyrighted by Kathy Hamre.