Desert Birds
Where do you think is an excellent place to look for birds? Most people would say in the forest or open fields or wetlands. Not too many people would suggest looking for birds in the desert. Check out the many beautiful birds of the Sonoran Desert.
The Sonoran Desert
What is a desert? Most people think that a desert is a place of mostly sand. The definition of a desert is a place with little moisture. This does not necessarily mean a lack of plants, dirt, and birds. I have travelled to many deserts, including the Sahara, Sinai, Sonora, Chihuahuan and others. The Sonora is different from other deserts in that it is full of plants and cacti and has very little sand. Plants in the Sonora have adapted to a life with very little water. Each desert is unique. Some, like the Sahara, are mostly sand. The plant and birdlife are unique to each desert. The plants that grow in one desert cannot grow in other deserts.
The Sonoran Desert covers the southeast corner of California, the southwest of Arizona, and the northwest corner of Mexico, including the Baja California peninsula.
This is what the Sonoran Desert looks like. Very different from a typical sandy desert. Each desert is unique.
Birds of the Sonoran Desert
As each desert is unique, so is the wildlife that lives there. Here is a gallery of some of the birds of the Sonoran Desert.
- The Gila Woodpecker makes its home in the Saguaro Cactus, found only in the Sonora.
- Thousands of Sandhill Cranes from Canada & USA make their winter home in the Sonora.
- I was surprised to see a Northern Cardinal in the Sonora Desert.
- The bird that looks like a black cardinal is a Phainopepla of the family Silky Flycatchers.
- The Pyrrhuloxia is a relative of the Cardinal but is grey & red instead of bright red.
- Various species of Doves are common in the Sonora.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many birds that live in the Sonoran Desert. There are also tortoises, javelinas, foxes, coyotes, Gila Monsters, Tarantulas, snakes and much more. There are also many different kinds of cacti and other interesting plants.
Compared to the Sahara Desert, the Sonora is alive with plants and wildlife. I love spending time in the Sorona. Besides wildlife, visit the famous town of Tombstone. The Old Tucson movie studio, where many John Wayne and other westerns were made and the Sonoran Desert Museum at Tucson are also worth visiting.