Birds of the Sonoran desert

This is in no way all the birds that are in the Sonoran, but it is some of the birds we have at our camp spot. It’s also a few we have spotted in the general area. Camping here has been great with all the birds. Usually we only see a few, so it has been a real treat to have so many.

First, some raptors we have seen in our local travels. This red tailed hawk was at the organ pipe monument. We spotted him when we were driving the loop road. I shot these from the truck, with no tripod. So, they could have been better. Especially the flying one. But he was gorgeous to watch.

The day we went to Kitt peak observatory, I spotted these birds right off the road. There were 4 or 5 of them all together in an old snaggly tree. Of course by the time we turned around and went back, they scattered. Thankfully they didn’t fly too far away.

I researched, a fancy word for googled, and found out they are Harris hawks. They actually hunt in packs like wolves. That explained why there were so many together. Normally raptors are solitary. They are handsome though.

I mentioned the day we attracted the hummingbirds with our feeder as soon as we got here. So, the other day we went to the store in Ajo and I picked up a bird seed thing, were the seed is all stuck together. I knew we had Cardinals, Gila woodpeckers, and several kinds of sparrows in the neighborhood. And I wanted photos. Best 5 dollars I ever spent.

This bird is tiny, he actually comes to the hummingbird feeder. I found out he is called a Verdin. He makes the cutest little peeping sounds.

And quail, gotta love them.

You can never have too many photos of hummingbirds. These guys are a blast to watch as they chase each other around.

This little guy had to see what all the commotion is I suppose. He is a white tailed antelope squirrel.

We have also had 3 different kinds of sparrows, a thrasher, and a couple of birds I am still trying to identify. I bought an Audubon book of all the plants and animals of the desert, so that has been helpful.

Al has already painted the male cardinal, and has ideas in his head for more bird paintings. We love birds. Watching them, listening to them, and creating art around them.