Great-tailed Grackle ♂
Quiscalus mexicanus
Very common glossy black birds with huge tail. Males irridescent black; female brown. Almost always near water. Also in cities. Year-round resident. More info
Great-tailed Grackle ♀
Quiscalus mexicanus
Very common black or brown birds with large tail. Males irridescent black; female brown. Almost always near water. Also in cities. Year-round resident. More info
Brown-headed Cowbird ♂
Molothrus ater
Glossy black with brown head. Strange gurgling call. Females all brown. Common near agriculture but also riparian and city areas. More info
Hooded Oriole ♂
Icterus cucullatus
Brilliant spring and summer bird in trees along riparian corridors. Male has black on face, bib and wings. More info
Red-winged Blackbird ♂
Agelaius phoeniceus
Closely associated with open water or agric. fields/dairy feed lots year-round. Males are jet black with hideable red and yellow wing patch. More info
Brewer's Blackbird ♂
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Glossy black bird with conspicuous yellow eye and much shorter tail than grackles. Fall thru spring. Numbers vary widely from year to year. More info
Yellow-headed Blackbird ♂
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Striking yellow head and black body feathers. White in wings. Agric. fields and marshy wetlands. Fall and winter. More info
Yellow-rumped Warbler ♀
Dendroica coronata
Very common winter birds near water. Yellow rump concealed when perched. Yellow on shoulders and on chin. Fall through Early Spring. More info
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Virtually every open water spot in the Sonoran Desert will host Black Phoebes. Silky black except for a lily white lower belly. Year round resident. More info
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Sometimes common winter birds in better vegetated areas and in cities. Pale conical bill, black eyes, tail with conspicuous white outer feathers. Fall through Early Spring. More info
Yellow Warbler ♂
Dendroica petechia
Males are bright yellow with reddish streaks. Spring through fall in leafy trees along riparian streams. Common in this habitat. More info
Vermilion Flycatcher ♂
Pyrocephalus rubinus
During the winter months this impossibly red bird flycatches near waterways in the lower deserts. In summer it moves to higher elevations. More info
Bell's Vireo
Vireo bellii
Small active bird of mesquite tree thickets near riparian streams. Frequent, distinctive calls. Spring and Summer migrating south in winter. More info
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Regulus calendula
Tiny active bird v. common in winter along riparian habitats and sometimes lusher washes. Ruby in crown normally hidden. Absent in summer. More info
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
Drab spring and summer flycatcher partial to trees along riparian streams. No wing bars, no eye ring and thin bill w/orange on lower part. More info
Northern Cardinal ♂
Cardinalis cardinalis
Found in the Sonoran Desert in the lusher habitats along riparian zones where there are plenty of berries, seeds and insects. Year round. Uses feeders. More info
Summer Tanager ♂
Piranga rubra
Nests and forages in sycamores and other riparian trees. Sturdy ivory bill. Females yellow. Nearly uniform dark red plumage. Summer Breeder, migrating south for winter. More info
Abert's Towhee
Pipilo aberti
Large, brown overall with thick seed-eating bill. Generally does not stray far from thick vegetation near riparian streams. Kicks leaves from soil to feed More info
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Brown and gray with streaked breast and long tail. Strong, seed-eating beak. Usu. with distinct spot in chest center. Stays close to dense riparian cover. More info
Lincoln's Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
A winter visitor with shorter tail and finer bill than song sparrow. Streaks on buffy background upper half of chest. More info
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Unmistakeable raptor found along portions of the Salt and Verde Rivers. More info
Common Black Hawk
Buteogallus anthracinus
An all black hawk with broad wings and a distinct white band in black tail. A summer bird of gallery woodlands along perennial streams. More info
Copper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
A medium-sized hawk with long, black and white banded tail. Short, tappered wings for agile, bird-chasing flight. Bird of gallery woodlands. More info
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
A winter bird, familiar across much of North America, but sporadic in the Sonoran Desert where trees are fruiting. 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
Lazuli Bunting ♂
Passerina amoena
Found in the Sonoran Desert only during brief periods of migration in spring and fall. Females are gray-brown. Uses feeders. More info
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Rust-color chin patch. The mud nests are affixed to the undersides of road bridges over riparian habitats. More info
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Common migrant near ponds, lakes and rivers from autumn through spring. Brown above gray-white below. Swooping flight on long wings. More info
American Pipit
Anthus rubescens
A winter bird in the Sonoran Desert. Common along shores of water bodies and agric. fields. Light brown w/ streaked belly. Bill thin and straight. More info
Red-naped Sapsucker ♂
Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Secretive woodpecker uses cottonwoods, sycamores and other riparian trees. Winters here, migrates back north in summer. More info
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Large woodpecker restricted to wooded, riparian corridors in Sonoran Desert. Black bib, red shaft on side of head-neck, and white rump patch. More info
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Largest of herons found near ponds, lakes and rivers. Blue-gray feathers, long s-shaped neck, and long dark legs. More info
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Frequent all year along smaller ponds and streams. Upper half is rufous, lower back has greenish sheen. Long sharp beak used to spear and catch fish, frogs in water. More info
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Common heron around marshes and ponds, but mostly hiding by day. Stocky & shorter neck. More info
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Long-legged wading bird with bright white plumage, black bill & legs with yellow feet. Slow moving streams and marshes. More info
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Brilliant white plumage on very large, long-legged wading bird. Legs black and bill yellow. More info
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Stocky bird with all-white plumage when not breeding - rusty feathers during breeding season. Uncommon. Flooded fields and shallow ponds. More info
Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularius
Winter shorebird mostly occurring singly along margins of ponds, lakes, rivers. Spots usually absent from non-breeding plumage. More info
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Very small shore bird. Legs pale - hard to see in poor light. Moves together in flocks. Winters along rivers and ponds in Sonoran Desert. More info
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
Large bird with very long, decurved bill. Long legs. Seen in marshes, grasslands, flooded fields and the seashore. More info
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Occasionally very numerous on mud flats in spring and fall. Probe with machine-like jabs into mud for invertebrate prey. More info
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Common bird of open lake shores, river and stream banks, agric. fields and expanses of urban turf. Distinct double black collar on white. All year. More info
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Yellow or pale bill with a dark ring near tip. Rivers, lakes and Sea of Cortez during the winter. More info
California Gull
Larus californicus
During the winter months found along the Sea of Cortez. Yellow mandible shows orange and black at tip in adults. More info
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
At the coast in Sonora this is a common winter migrant from the north, but rare at inland waters. More info
Heermann's Gull
Larus heermanni
The red-shaded bill distinguishes this gull that can be found along the Sea of Cortez. More info
Ring-necked Duck ♂
Aythyla collaris
White ring around base of bill. Chest, back and head irridescent black. Very common on ponds and canals in winter. More info
American Wigeon ♂
Anas americana
Common duck in ponds and slow rivers during winter months. Drake has dash of white over head and a swatch of emerald green through eye. Underbelly white and shoulders/back light brown. Rump black. More info
Mallard ♂
Anas platyrhynchos
Wild-type male has emerald green head and yellow bill. Interbreeds with domestic ducks to produce wide range of intermediates. Found commonly on ponds and canals. Breeds here. More info
Northern Pintail ♂
Anas acuta
Drake has rich brown on head with distinct white on neck extending up behind ear. Long narrow tail. Found on shallow ponds in winter months. More info
Common Merganser ♀
Mergus merganser
Head of female is rusty brown with a sharp, orangish bill. Catches fish in ponds/lakes. Winter only in Sonoran Desert. More info
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Arrives in the Sonoran Desert at wetlands and urban ponds by autumn. Gray sides, black neck and head with white patch. Large, robust. More info
Ruddy Duck ♂
Oxyura jamaicensis
Small wintering duck to be found on ponds and calm marshes in the Sonoran Desert. White patch on side of face. More info
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Uncommon duck of ponds and slow rivers. Long neck, pink bill and black lower belly. Summer and fall mostly. More info
American Coot
Fulica americana
Abundant winter bird on ponds and rivers. Wanders onto lawns and grazes of fresh green growth. White bill. More info
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
Duck-like skulker stays close to reeds and cattails at edges of marshes or slow rivers. Bill red and orange. Nearly black plumage is partially irridescent. More info
Sora
Porzana carolina
Common, but rarely seen bird that hides in dense marsh vegetation. Yellow bill and slate-gray neck and chest. More info
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Fall and winter resident of rivers and ponds. Loud raucus call. Plunge dives for fish. Prominent crest. More info
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Small duck-like bird that dives below surface incessantly after fish. Ring on bill fades in winter. Common on small ponds. More info
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Often seen drying feathers after diving for fish. Long snakey neck and body. Heavy bill with hooked tip. More info
Neotropic Cormorant
Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Sleeker build and bill than dbl-crested. Greenish sheen visible in good light. Locally common but with fluctuating populations. More info
Green-winged Teal ♂
Anas crecca
Small wintering duck to be found on ponds and calm marshes in the Sonoran Desert. Rufous head marked with emerald green on sides. More info
Cinnamon Teal ♂
Male plumage is unmistakeable. More common in the Sonoran Desert during the warm months. More info
Wood Duck ♂
Aix sponsa
Amazingly colorful male - unmistakeable. Red eyes and a long green crest. More info
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
Long-legged wading bird with long down-curved bill. Mostly dark irridescent with some maroon shading in plumage. Late summer through winter months in flooded fields. More info
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Black and white plumaged wading bird with long, slender pink legs. Seen in shallow ponds and recently flooded crop fields. More info
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
Very long, thin, upturned bill captures small invertebrates in the mud. More info
Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
Tall birds often in big flocks foraging in agricultural field and marshes along Gila and Colorado Rivers. Fall and Winter. More info
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Huge white bird with robust orange bill. Black and white wings seen in flight. More info
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Where the Sonoran Desert meets the Sea of Cortez this is a common bird. Rare inland. Huge bill. More info
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
Very rare stray from Mexico. Large mostly white with black featers visible in flight. Huge bill. More info