Birds

In the Desert

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Birds in the Desert

There are a lot of different species of birds in the desert. If you take your time and use a good pair of binoculars you'll be amazed at how many birds you'll find that frequent this desert habitat. Birds of Prey like the Osprey seen above in the center photo are fantastic birds to watch; the one above has a small fish in his talons.

Birds of Prey

Red Tailed Hawk

(Buteo jamaicensis)

This is a large stocky hawk. He has a broader, whiter chest, and more rounded wings then the Swainson Hawk and the Red Shouldered Hawk found in the desert. They mainly feed on small rodents.
Length = 18 to 25 inches
Wingspan = 4 ft.

Osprey

(Pandion haliaetus)

Often called the Fish Hawk; hunts his food in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. Brown above and white below. This one was photographed on top of a large cactus watching the water for signs of fish.
Length = 21 to 24 inches
Wingspan = 4 ft. 6 inches to 6 ft.

Burrowing Owl

(Athene cunicularia)

This Owl is a robin sized terrestrial owl, short-tailed and long legged. They fly silently. Yellow eyes and no ear tufts. They eat bugs, crickets being a favorite. This owl is diurnal. They are capable of digging their own burrows, but they have been known to use abandoned pocket gopher burrows.
Length = 9 inches.

Turkey Vulture

(Cathartes aura)

This Turkey Vulture is drying his wings early in the morning. This is an eagle sized blackish bird. In flight, the long wings are held upwards in a wide shallow V. The head is small, bare, and reddish in color: gray in immatures. They are often mistakenly called Buzzards..
Length = 25 to 32 inches
Wingspan = 6 ft.

Other Large Birds

Great Blue Heron

(Ardea herodias)

These large birds can be found anywhere in the desert where there is water nearby. They love to fish the rivers and small streams. You'll see them on old dead trees like here or standing on the shore or wading in the water. They eat large fish, frogs, mice, and small birds.
Length = 39 to 52 inches
Wingspan = 5 ft. 10 inches

Great Egret

(Ardea alba)

The Great Egret also is a great fisherman. All white plumage. The Great Egret can be distinguished from other white Egrets by it's yellow bill and black legs and feet.
Length = 33 to 40 inches
Wingspan = 4 1/2 ft.

Seagull

(Larus occidentalis)

Seagulls; there are many different species of seagulls. Although they are associated with the Oceans, they are often found in inland waters as well. This one was photographed at Alamo Lake, Arizona.

Green Heron

(Buterides virescens)

A dark crow sized Heron -- the Green Heron shown here was in the Gila River, Arizona. This greenish colored Heron feeds along the edges of any body of water. We've seen them catch fish up to 8 inches long; and not be able to swallow them. They eat fish, frogs, and a wide variety of insects.
Length = 16 to 22 inches

Greater Roadrunner

(Geococcyx)

The Greater Roadrunner is an unmistakable bird that is often seen in the desert. Bigger than a crow and capable of flying; but they seldom do. It's also called the Chaparral Cock by the Cowboys. They eat small snakes, lizards, mice, scorpions, and insects.
Length = 24 inches

Raven

(Corvus corax)

The Raven is found in the desert in many places. Canyons, washes, along rivers, and open areas. Large vocal bird. Similar to the American Crow but larger. They are primarily scavengers.
Length = 21 to 27 inches

Black-neck Stilt

(Himantopus mexicanus)

Black-necked Stilt feeds in flocks and wades up to it's belly eating aquatic insects. This one was photographed near a small pond next to the Colorado River.
Length = 14 inches

Doves are found all over in the desert. Pigeons and Doves are in the same family which includes some 300 species. Below are 4 that are common in the desert Southwest.

Eurasian Collared Dove

(Steptopeleia decaocto)

Eurasian Collared Dove, orginally from Asia.
Length = 13 inches

Mourning Dove

(Zenaida macroura)

Mourning Dove
Length = 12 inches

White-wing Dove

(Zenaida asiatica)

White-wing Dove
Length = 12 inches

Inca Dove

(Columbina inca)

Inca Dove
Length = 8 inches

Events Weather Writer's Cafe City Profiles Life in the Desert

Long-billed Curlew

(Numenius americanus)

North America's largest shorebird. The bill is longer on adult females than it is on males and juveniles.They visit the soutwest in the winter months.
Length = 19 inches

Continued ---

Page 2 Smaller birds that live in the southwest.

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