A large, plain, long-tailed sparrow with drab grayish-brown plumage, a dark mask, a pinkish bill, and distinctive orange undertail coverts. 

It inhabits riparian corridors, particularly areas with dense brush, and is found primarily in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, with a limited range extending into surrounding states and northern Mexico. This secretive bird typically forages on the ground for seeds and insects.

Medium-sized woodpecker with a brownish-gray body, black-and-white barred wings and back, and a distinctive black patch on the lower back. Males have a bright red crown, while females have a plain gray-brown crown. 

It is commonly found in desert habitats, especially areas with saguaro cacti, where it excavates nesting cavities and searches for insects, fruits, and other foods. 

The species is widespread throughout the Sonoran Desert and is particularly well adapted to the hot, arid environments of the Southwest.

Small, compact hummingbird with a green back, pale underside, and short, slightly curved bill. Males are especially distinctive for their brilliant purple crown and throat, with elongated feathers that flare out along the sides of the neck, while females have more subdued green and gray plumage. 

It inhabits dry, desert environments as well as coastal scrub and woodland edges, where it feeds on nectar and small insects. The species is well adapted to arid habitats and is commonly found throughout parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Small, stocky hummingbird with a green back, grayish underside, and broad, rounded wings. Males are easily recognized by their brilliant rose-red crown and throat, while females have more subdued green and gray plumage with small red patches on the throat. 

It is commonly found in gardens, open woodlands, and urban areas, where it feeds on nectar and small insects. Unlike many other hummingbirds, Anna’s Hummingbird remains in much of its range year-round and is especially common along the Pacific Coast and in parts of the southwestern United States.

Large, boldly patterned wren with brown, white, and black plumage, a long, slightly curved bill, and a distinctive white eyebrow stripe. Its back and wings are heavily spotted and barred, while the breast is marked with dark spots that are especially noticeable on the throat and chest. 

It inhabits dry desert and scrubland environments, where it is commonly found among cactus, thorny shrubs, and other dense vegetation. Often active and conspicuous, the Cactus Wren forages on the ground for insects, seeds, and fruit and frequently builds its large, football-shaped nests in cholla and other thorny plants.

A distinctive, pot-bellied wren with a long, slender, slightly curved bill, a fairly long tail, and strong, short legs. It has short, rounded wings and rusty brown plumage, with a neat white throat that contrasts with its grayer-brown head, which is speckled with white. The tail is a brighter rusty brown than the back, while the wings and tail are barred with black. 

It inhabits rocky canyons, cliffs, and steep, rugged terrain, where it uses its strong legs to climb along rock faces and searches for insects and spiders in cracks and crevices. Often secretive and difficult to spot, the Canyon Wren is frequently identified by its distinctive descending song echoing through rocky landscapes.

A large, powerful bird with entirely glossy black plumage. It has a thick, heavy bill, and a long, wedge-shaped tail. Its four-foot wingspan (which is equal to the length of a Red-tailed Hawk wingspan), shaggy throat feathers, and heavy bill help distinguish it from the smaller American Crow. 

Common Ravens inhabit a wide variety of environments, including deserts, forests, mountains, and open landscapes, and are often seen soaring high above rugged terrain. Highly intelligent and adaptable, they feed on carrion, insects, small animals, seeds, and other available foods.

A large, broad-winged hawk with a brown back and wings, a pale underside, and a distinctive reddish-orange tail that is most noticeable in adults. Its belly often features a dark band of streaking, while its broad, rounded wings give it a powerful appearance in flight. 

It is the most common hawk in North America and inhabits a wide variety of environments, including deserts, grasslands, forests, and open country, where it is often seen soaring overhead or perched along roadsides and on tall poles. The Red-tailed Hawk primarily hunts small mammals such as rodents and rabbits, often scanning the ground from elevated perches before swooping down to capture its prey.

This small, slender songbird measures about 4.5–5 inches (11–13 cm) in length and only weighs about as much as a nickel! It sports a long black-and-white tail, a thin pointed bill, and pale gray plumage. Males have a distinctive black cap and black markings on the face, while females have a more subdued gray crown. Its long tail is often held upright or flicked from side to side as it moves actively through shrubs and low vegetation. 

It inhabits dry deserts, scrublands, and thorny brush, where it searches for insects and spiders among the foliage. Its call is a distinctive series of short, nasal, chattering notes, often described as a harsh, scratchy or buzzy sound. The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is particularly well adapted to the arid landscapes of the southwestern United States and Mexico.

The Curve-billed Thrasher is a medium-sized, long-tailed songbird with a grayish-brown body, bright yellow-orange eyes, and, as the name would suggest, a distinctive curved bill. Its plumage is covered with small, dark spots, giving it a subtly patterned appearance, while its long tail is often held upright as it moves through the desert. 

It is commonly found in deserts, scrublands, and open areas with cactus and thorny vegetation, where it forages on the ground for insects, seeds, and fruit. The Curve-billed Thrasher is especially common in the deserts of the Southwest and is often recognized by its loud, varied calls and distinctive, repeated songs.

A small, slender songbird with a rounded head, thin pointed bill, and a relatively long tail. It has warm gray-brown plumage overall, with a reddish-brown rump and tail that contrast with its paler underparts, while its throat and breast are lightly streaked. 

It is strongly associated with desert habitats, particularly riparian areas and dense stands of mesquite, where it searches for insects among the foliage. Lucy’s Warbler is the only warbler in North America that regularly nests in natural cavities, often using abandoned woodpecker holes or other sheltered openings. It breeds primarily in the desert Southwest and migrates south into Mexico during the winter.

This tiny, round-bodied desert songbird, with a short, pointed bill and a long tail, is known for its distinctive yellow head and throat. Its body is mostly gray, with rusty-brown patches on the shoulders and back, while its small size and bright facial coloring make it easy to recognize. 

It inhabits dry deserts, thorny scrub, and brushy areas, where it actively moves through vegetation in search of insects, spiders, seeds, and fruit. Verdins are especially common in the deserts of the American Southwest and are often found among mesquite, palo verde, and other desert shrubs, where they build large, enclosed, spherical nests.

A stocky, medium-sized songbird with a short, thick bill and a relatively short tail. Males have a glossy black body with a rich brown head and neck, while females are plain grayish-brown overall with subtle streaking. 

It inhabits a wide variety of open and semi-open environments, including grasslands, desert edges, agricultural areas, and woodland clearings, where it forages mainly on the ground for seeds and insects. Brown-headed Cowbirds are best known for their brood-parasitic behavior, laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species and leaving the host parents to raise their young.

This small, plump desert bird is easily recognized by its distinctive teardrop-shaped topknot and scaly-looking plumage on its underside. It has bluish-gray plumage across much of its body, while males have copper-colored feathers on the top of the head, a black face, white stripes above the eyes, and a distinctive black patch on the lower breast. 

The Gambel’s Quail can be confused with the closely related California Quail, but the two can usually be distinguished by their range and appearance: California Quail have more strongly scaled plumage, while male Gambel’s Quail have a black patch on the lower breast that is absent in California Quail.