Woodpecker (Gila)

A conspicuous resident in the deserts of the Southwest and Mexico, the Gila Woodpecker is a characteristic bird of the saguaro cactus forests.

Populations may be slightly declining, threatened by competition for nest sites with European Starlings.

When a pair of Gila Woodpeckers excavates a nest hole in a saguaro cactus, it typically does not use it for several months. Drying time is required for the inner pulp of the cactus to form a solid casing around the cavity.

Photographed in the wild, Phoenix and Tucon, AZ

Towhee (Abert's)

With one of the smallest total distributions of any U.S. birds species, the Abert's Towhee is much sought after by birders who must travel to the desert Southwest to observe it. Very large sparrow that lives in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Plain and rather secretive, Abert's Towhee stays in its breeding range year-round.

The greatest threat to the species in its limited range is the continued loss and fragmentation of its preferred desert riparian habitat. Abert's Towhee is often a rather inconspicuous bird because it forages in thick underbrush and seldom flies any great distance.



Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Sparrow (Lark)

Unlike many songbirds, the Lark Sparrow walks on the ground rather than hops. It hops only during courtship.

A courting male Lark Sparrow crouches on the ground, holds his tail up at a 45 degree angle from the ground, spreads the tail feathers to show off the white tips, and then struts with its wings drooping so that the wingtips nearly touch the ground. When the female is receptive, the male gives her a small twig just before copulation.

The Lark Sparrow often takes over old mockingbird or thrasher nests instead of building its own. Occasionally the eggs and young of two species are found in the same nest, suggesting that the Lark Sparrow shares the nest with the other bird.

Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ)

Sparrow (Chipping)

A crisp pretty sparrow whose bright rufous cap provides a splash of color and makes adults fairly easy to identify. They are also the only sparrow possessing a gray rump.

Chipping Sparrows are common across North America wherever trees are interspersed with grassy openings. Their loud, trilling songs are one of the most common sounds of spring woodlands and suburbs

Chipping sparrows are ground foragers feeding on insects, spiders, and seeds. They form small flocks and may join mixed-species

Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Phainopepla

The name "Phainopepla" comes from the Greek for "shining robe," (pronounced fay-no-PEP-la) a fitting characterization of the shiny, jet-black plumage of the adult male.

A crested songbird of the deserts and arid woodlands of the south-western United States and Mexico, the Phainopepla is particularly notable for its enigmatic pattern of breeding twice each year, in two different habitats

The Phainopepla, when pursued by predators or handled by humans, mimics the calls of other birds; imitations of at least 13 species have been recorded.

An individual Phainopepla eats at least 1,100 mistletoe berries per day, when they are available.

Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Oriole (Hooded)

Hooded Orioles belong to the same family as Blackbirds.  Named for the orange hood on the male, this slender oriole is at home in suburban areas of the southwestern United States, from central California, Nevada through central Arizona. They can be seen hanging upside down whilst searching for food or perched near the ground. They have strong direct flight.

It originally nested in the trees of desert oases, but finds ornamental trees suitable. They feed on insects, fruit, and nectar. The nectar is taken from plants, such as aloes, hibiscus, lilies, and other tubular flowers, by piercing the base of the flower's stem, which has the effect of avoiding plant pollination.

Hooded Orioles are social birds and can be seen flocking with other related birds. A group of orioles is referred to as a "pitch" or a "split".
Photographed in the wild Tucson, AZ

Harrier (Northern)

A long-winged, long-tailed hawk of open grassland and marshes, the Northern Harrier forages by flying slowly low above the ground looking for small rodents. It is one of the few raptors in which the sexes look quite different: the male is white below with a light gray back and hood, the female is mottled in browns

 

Unlike other hawks, the Northern Harrier relies on its hearing as well as its vision to capture prey. The feathers of the face are stiff to help transmit sound, and it shows a pronounced "facial disk," much like that of an owl.

 

The Northern Harrier feeds primarily on mice, other small mammals, and small birds. It will, however, take larger prey, such as rabbits and ducks. It has been known to subdue large prey by drowning it.

 

Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Hummingbird (Costa)

female

A desert hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird breeds in the Sonora and Mojave Deserts of California and Arizona. It departs the desert in the hottest days of summer, moving to chaparral, scrub, or woodland habitat.

 male colour change with the lighting

Researchers have found that Costa's Hummingbird can enter a torpid state, with slowed heart rates and reduced body temperatures, under low ambient night-time temperatures.

Juvinile

The hearts of torpid Costa's Hummingbirds beat about 50 times per minute, while those of non-torpid resting Costa's Hummingbirds beat 500 to 900 times per minute.

Photographed in Phoenix & Tucson, AZ

Hummingbird (Broad-billed)

A strikingly colourful bird, the Broad-billed Hummingbird reaches the northern limit of its range in south-eastern Arizona. Broad-billed Hummingbirds that nest in Arizona are migratory; populations in Mexico are resident year-round in their breeding range.

The male Broad-billed Hummingbird performs a courtship display, starting by hovering about a foot from the female and then flying in repeated arcs, like a pendulum.

Like other hummingbirds, the Broad-billed Hummingbird is incapable of walking or hopping. Its bill is also red unlike most that are black.

Photographed at Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ

and in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Goldfinch (Eastern-Texas)

The Lesser Goldfinch is a small, seed-eating finch of the Southeast. It has a dark-back and most common in Texas with a few in the southern Arizona area. Western Lesser have a greenish backs and common in Arizona and extend to California.

The Texas Lesser Goldfinches extends south to central Mexico, and all of the males have a black back. First year all lesser finches have a green back and are mistaken for the Californian western type.

photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Gnatcatcher (Black-tailed)

The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is a non-migratory bird that lives in pairs throughout the entire year. They forage among low shrubs and trees for small insects and spiders. Black-tailed Gnatcatchers are true desert birds, thriving where other bird life is sparse.

The male and female usually forage within a few yards of each other. Being together may give them a heightened need to communicate and have a surprising variety of call notes

Canopy height appears to be important for foraging; they spend at least 75% of their time in brush less than 9 feet high.

Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ

Flycatcher (Vermilion)

 

Though most flycatchers are unremarkably drab, the vermilion flycatcher is the most spectacular and distinctive colourful flycatcher in North America. This flycatcher inhabits riparian areas and scrub in the south-western United States and southward. It perches conspicuously, making periodic flights to nab insect prey.

The breeding male Vermilion Flycatcher spends about 90 percent of the day perched. The male Vermilion Flycatcher often seeks to initiate copulation by delivering a butterfly or other showy insect to the female.

These birds do not regularly visit backyard feeders, but they will come to yards that offer a water source such as a pond or birdbath.

photographed in the wild in Tucson, AZ

Dove (White Winged)

A mostly tropical dove, the White-winged Dove makes it into the United States in Texas and the Southwest. It is increasing its range northward and an introduced population has become established in Florida.

Although the White-winged Dove is mostly resident in the Southwest, it is expanding its range, and individuals can be found far afield. White-winged Doves have been seen from Alaska to Ontario, Maine, Newfoundland, and most places inbetween.

Common and increasing its breeding range. Declined in early 20th century because of overhunting and habitat destruction, but populations rebounded. Hunted in Arizona and Texas.

photographed at Desert Museum Aviry,

and in the wild inTucson, AZ

Cardinal (Pyrrhuloxia)

The name "Pyrrhuloxia" is a combination of the genus names Pyrrhula (bullfinches) and Loxia (crossbills). The roots mean "flame-colored" and "crooked," and aptly describe the reddish bird with the crooked bill. At a quick glance some get this fellow mixed up with the female Northern Cardinal... but the Grey colour gives him away. Some refer to it as a Grey Cardinal in Tucson. 

The Pyrrhuloxia lives in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. A thick-billed, reddish bird with a crest, it superficially resembles its close relative, the Northern Cardinal.

Where both the Pyrrhuloxia and Northern Cardinal breed, territories of the two species may overlap, and no conflicts have been recorded between the species. Tucson, AZ

Wild Life (Beared Dragon)

35 New birds from Arizona

Well I'm Back from Arizona and have found 35 new birds to add. First I have discovered errors in some posting here. The Goldfinch and the Lesser Goldfinch, which is divided into two varieties. I will fix them first and then start adding my 35 newbies. photo taken at Ried Zoo

Sparrow (White-crowned)

Elegantly marked in gray, brown, black, and white, the White-crowned Sparrow is one of the best-studied songbirds in North America.

Much of our knowledge of bird song and development is based on studies of this species.

A young male White-crowned Sparrow learns the basics of the song it will sing as an adult during the first two or three months of its life. It does not learn directly from its father, but rather from the generalized song environment of its natal neighbourhood. Males on the edge of two dialects may be bilingual and able to sing both dialects.

Photographed in the wild, Tucson, AZ