35 Backyard Birds in Arizona
What birds will you see in your backyards in Arizona? This article will help you identify the most common backyard birds in Arizona.
Which backyard birds of Arizona can you spot on your birdfeeders and what kind of birds should you look for on the ground? What kind of birdseed should you be using? All these questions will be answered.
This article will help you to identify common backyard birds in Arizona for all seasons. We will explain what to look for by color, shape, and size. We will also include a picture so you can refer to this guide when you can’t identify a bird in your backyard.
Depending on the time of year it is, there are over 560 bird species in Arizona. The most-seen backyard birds in Arizona are Mountain Bluebirds, American Robins, Spotted Towhees, Red-winged Blackbirds, European Starlings, Great-tailed Grackle, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Western Bluebirds, Chipping Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Yellow-headed blackbirds, and Western Meadowlarks.
The official state bird of Arizona is the Cactus Wren. It became the state bird in 1931 and Arizona is the only state that has the Cactus Wren as its bird. The people choose the Cactus Wren as it is native to Arizona and they loved its beautiful song.
1. cactus wren
Scientific Name: Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus Size: 7-8 inche
Description and field marks
The cactus wren is a medium-sized bird species found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is known for its distinctive appearance and its close association with arid desert habitats, particularly those with cacti. The bird has a mottled brown overall plumage, which helps it blend in with its desert surroundings. The upper parts are primarily brown with darker barring, while the underparts are paler with a whitish color.
The cactus wren has a boldly patterned head that features a white eyebrow stripe that extends from the base of the bill over the eye. Its crown is brown, and it has a black eye line and a white malar stripe (running from the base of the bill down the side of the throat). The bill is long, slightly curved, and pointed. It is dark gray or black in color.
Nesting
Cactus wrens build large, bulky nests that are often the largest among North American passerine birds. These nests are primarily made of twigs, grasses, and other plant materials, and are typically lined with softer materials like feathers or animal fur. The nests are shaped like globular structures with a side entrance hole.
The female cactus wren lays 3 to 5 eggs, which are creamy white or pale pink with brown speckles. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs, which usually takes about 15 to 17 days. Once hatched, the young are altricial (helpless and naked) and rely on their parents and helpers for food and care.
Diet
Insects make up a significant portion of the cactus wren’s diet. They also consume seeds and fruits when available.
Habitat
Cactus wrens are strongly associated with arid desert habitats, particularly those with abundant cacti such as saguaro, cholla, and prickly pear. They are commonly found in desert scrub, thorny thickets, and other xeric environments.
They can be seen year-round and have a relatively large range that covers most of Arizona, including the Sonoran Desert region in the southern part of the state and extending into the lower elevations of the Chihuahuan Desert in southeastern Arizona.
Call and Song
Cactus wrens are highly vocal and known for their complex and melodious songs.
2. red-winged blackbird
Scientific Name: Agelaius phoeniceus Size: 6.7-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The male red-winged blackbird is a large blackbird with white underparts and red wings. It has an orange-red patch on its shoulder and long pointed wings. But not all Red-winged Blackbirds have red wings. Some may have yellow or orange epaulets on their wings.
The female red-winged blackbird is striped and brown-streaked in color.
Red-winged blackbirds are usually active during the day, but they may be seen at night near lights.
Nesting
A red-winged blackbird’s nest is usually in a marsh or near water, but they have also been found on flat roofs and even in chimneys.
Their nest is made of twigs, grasses, and hair. They are lined with finer grasses, rootlets, or horsehair. The female lays 4 to 6 eggs that are a pale blue-green color. They also have black, brown, and purple speckles all over them. They are incubated by both parents for about 12 days. The young leave the nest after 14 days.
Diet
They are known to eat insects and seeds, including corn, wheat, and other grains. They also eat berries from shrubs and trees like elderberry, mulberry, wild grape, or honeysuckle.
Habitat
The red-winged blackbird is seen in Arizona all year round and is very common in many of our backyards.
Bird Note
You’ve heard the expression “Birds of a feather flock together”? Always check flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds for Common Grackles, European Starlings, and Brown-headed Cowbirds. These birds are often found together in large flocks.
Song And Call
Red-winged blackbirds can often be heard singing from a perch high in a tree or on power lines.
They have a loud, clear whistle that sounds like “fee-bee” and they also make a variety of cackling and chattering noises.
3. yellow-rumped warbler
Scientific Name: Setophaga coronata Size: 4.7-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The males are dark gray, with white on their wings, and yellow on their faces, sides, and rump. The east coast male could have a white throat instead of the yellow one. The females are duller and could be brown instead of gray with less yellow.
Nesting
Females built their nests in pine trees with materials brought to them by the male. She lays 1 to 6 white-speckled eggs. The incubation period is 12 to 13 days with a nesting period of 10 to 14 days.
Diet
The yellow-rumped warblers eat insects during the summer.
Habitat
In Arizona, you will see the yellow-rumped warbler in winter during the non-breeding season as the breed in the north. They like open areas, such as parks, woodland pine forests, dunes, and residential areas.
Song And Call
4. Gila woodpecker
Scientific Name: Melanerpes uropygialis Size: 8-10 inches
Description And Field Marks
The head, neck, and upper parts of the Gila Woodpecker are primarily brown or gray-brown in color. They have a crown on the head and the nape are black, forming a distinct black cap. The face features a bold, black eye stripe extending from the bill to the neck, contrasting with a pale yellow or beige color around the eyes and throat. The underparts are a pale yellow or buff color.
Gila Woodpecker is its black cap and face markings, including the black eye stripe and pale yellow or beige areas around the eyes and throat.
Nesting
Gila Woodpeckers are cavity nesters, and both males and females participate in excavating the nesting cavity. They typically breed from late spring to early summer. The female lays a clutch of 2-5 white eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them for about 14 days. After hatching, both parents contribute to feeding the chicks until they fledge, which occurs around 26-30 days after hatching.
Diet
The Gila Woodpecker has a diverse diet that primarily consists of insects and other invertebrates. Gila Woodpeckers have a unique adaptation that allows them to extract nectar from flowers. They are known to feed on the nectar of various desert plants,
Gila Woodpeckers also consume seeds. They may feed on the seeds of desert plants like mesquite, acacia, and other trees or shrubs that produce seed pods. In some instances, Gila Woodpeckers feed on tree sap.
Habitat
The Gila Woodpecker is native to the southwestern United States (mostly in Arizona) and northern Mexico. The preferred habitat of the Gila Woodpecker includes desert and semi-desert regions with scattered trees and saguaro cacti. They are well adapted to arid environments and can be found in various habitats such as desert washes, riparian areas, and open woodlands.
You can see Gila Woodpeckers all year long in Arizona but are more common during the breeding season. Some places to look for them include Saguaro National Park, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Riparian areas along rivers and streams, such as the San Pedro River and the Verde River, and even in city parks and residential area in the Phoenix area.
Call And Drumming
Gila Woodpeckers have various calls, including a series of loud, rolling “cha-cha-cha” notes or a rapid, chattering “rattle.” They can also produce drumming sounds on wood, which are typically slower and softer than those of larger woodpeckers.
5. white-crowned sparrow
Scientific Name: Zonotrichia leucophrys Size: 5.9-6.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
On the larger size for a sparrow, the White-Crowned Sparrow was a long tail and a small bill and its head appears peaked. Its colors are a pale gray bird but the crown has a bold black and white stripe. You can also identify them from their bills which are pale pink east of the Rockies and yellow to orange bill west of the Rockies and along the Pacific Coast.
Nesting
The white-crowned sparrow mostly nests below 10 feet from the ground in shrubs. The female builds the nest out of twigs, grasses, hair, and leaves. It takes between 5 to 9 days to do this.
The female lays 3 to 7 greenish to blue-greenish eggs. The incubation period is 10 to 14 days with a nesting period of 8 to 10 days. The birds will have between 1 and 3 broods each breeding season.
The pair stays together for the breeding season but will winter separately. About 2/3 will find each other again the following season to breed.
Diet
The birds’ diet mainly consists of weeds and grasses but they will eat insects and caterpillars during the summer. They will also eat grains such as corn, and bailey and fruits such as blackberries and elderberries.
Habitat
The white-crowned sparrow loves scrubs up to 10 feet tall and you will see them hopping from the ground to the shrubs. During winter you will mainly see them in weedy fields, thickets, farms, and in backyards.
You will see White-Crowned Sparrows during the winter, the non-breeding season, in Arizona.
Call And Song
Most of the time when you hear the White-Crowned Sparrow singing it’s the male. They learn to sing within the first few months of their lives, usually where they were born, and will have different dialects. Some will be able to sing in more than one dialect.
6. northern cardinal
Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis Size: 8.3-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
A male cardinal is bright red in color and the female is a brownish color with red on its wings. The male’s crest is also longer than the female’s. They both have a thick finch bill with black around their faces.
The Northern Cardinal is a songbird and males sing from high perches to attract mates. They are very territorial and will defend their territory from other Cardinals
Nesting
These birds like dense, thick foliage like pines, junipers, and shrubs to build their nests in. They average about 3 eggs each spring; the eggs are white but could have a hint of blue, green, or brown. The eggs can also have colored speckling of gray, brown, or red. They are incubated for around 11 to 13 days. Both parents will feed their young for a few months until they are able to survive on their own.
Diet
The Northern Cardinal is a seed eater, eating seeds from the ground or off plants. They also eat insects, fruits, and berries when available.
Cardinals are frequent users of feeders and are attracted by wild bird seed mix, black-oil sunflower seeds, and safflower seeds.
Habitat
The Northern Cardinal is one of the most common and popular backyard birds in the eastern half of the United States. The Northern Cardinal is found in Arizona year-round.
Bird Note
It is often said that when a “cardinal appears a loved one is near”, so the cardinal brings peace of mind to many.
Song And Call
7. lesser goldfinch
Scientific Name: Spinus psaltria Size: 4-4.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
Lesser Goldfinches are small birds with white wing bars that are noticeable during flight and bill that is black and short. The male has a glossy black cap extending from the forehead to the nape of the neck. The upper parts are bright yellow, extending from the throat to the belly.
The female has a dark olive-green or grayish-green crown and nape. The underparts are yellow, but paler than those of the male.
Nesting
The female Lesser Goldfinch is responsible for constructing the nest. She builds a small, cup-shaped nest using a variety of plant materials, including grasses, plant fibers, moss, and sometimes incorporating bits of leaves or twigs.
She lays a clutch of 3 to 6 pale bluish-white eggs with darker speckles and incubates the eggs alone for about 12 to 14 days. During this period, the male may assist in feeding the female while she incubates.
Both parents participate in feeding and caring for the nestlings once they hatch. They bring small insects and seeds to the nest to provide nourishment to the growing chicks. The nestlings typically fledge and leave the nest around 12 to 17 days after hatching.
Diet
Seeds make up a significant portion of the Lesser Goldfinch’s diet. They feed on a variety of seeds from different plant species, including grasses, flowers, and weeds. Also sunflower and thistle seeds.
Lesser Goldfinches also consume insects, especially during the breeding season when protein-rich food is essential for their young.
Habitat
Lesser Goldfinches are commonly found in a range of habitats, including open woodlands, scrublands, riparian areas, shrubby habitats, and even urban and suburban environments. They are often associated with areas where there is a mix of shrubs, trees, and open spaces.
In Arizona, you will see the Lesser Goldfinch year-round.
Call And Song
8. white-winged dove
Scientific Name: Zenaida asiatica Size: 11 inches
Description And Field Marks
White-winged doves are larger than mourning doves, with a blue-gray head, neck, and upper breast, and a brownish-gray back and wings. They have distinctive white patches on their wings, which are visible both when perched and in flight.
White-winged doves have a short, thick bill that is pale blue-gray in color. The tail is long and squared at the tip.
Nesting
White-winged doves typically nest in trees and shrubs, especially in areas with dense vegetation. They build their nests in the fork of a branch between 6 and 30 feet above the ground. The nest itself is a platform made of twigs, grasses, and leaves, and is often quite flimsy and loosely constructed.
White-winged doves typically lay two eggs per clutch. The eggs are white and oval-shaped. Both the male and female take turns incubating the eggs for approximately 14 days until they hatch.
Diet
White-winged doves are primarily granivorous, meaning they eat mainly seeds. They have a preference for seeds from various species of trees, including mesquite, acacia, and other legumes. They also eat seeds from grasses and other herbaceous plants. In addition to seeds, they may also consume fruits, berries, and small insects.
White-winged doves are known to be opportunistic feeders and may visit bird feeders that offer seeds, cracked corn, or millet. They are also attracted to areas with abundant food sources, such as agricultural fields, orchards, and urban parks.
Habitat
The white-winged dove can be found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
They are common in Arizona and can be found throughout the state year-round, especially in urban and suburban areas. They are more abundant in the southern and western regions, where there is suitable habitat, including brushy areas, riparian zones, and agricultural fields.
Call And Song
The call of a white-winged dove is a series of low-pitched, mournful coos that gradually increase in tempo and volume.
9. Barn Swallow
Scientific Name: Hirundo rustica Size: 5.9-7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Barn Shallow is the size of a sparrow but what stands out about them are their long, pointed wings and long, forked tail. The color on their face and back is cobalt blue and tawny on their underparts. Its throat and chin are rusty to orange. Males are more brightly colored than females.
The barn swallow is the most common swallow in the world. They are known for flying very low over the ground and water.
Nesting
Both the male and the female build their nests by making cup shapes of mud on rafters, eaves, and cross beams of barns and sheds, or even bridges. They sometimes use nests from previous years too.
Barn Shallows have 1 to 2 broods per season with 3 to 7 cream-pinkish eggs with brown, lavender, and gray spots. The incubation period is 12 to 17 days with the nesting period being between 15 to 27 days.
Diet
Barn Shallow diet consists of all types of flying insects including flies, needs, and moths. They caption most of their food while flying. They will also eat eggshells and oyster shells from the ground when humans put them out.
Habitat
Barn Swallow likes to be in open areas such as fields, parks, and roadways. You will also see them in marsh areas, along coastal waters, ponds, and meadows. They breed in the United States and Southern Canada and fly south would for the winter.
You will see them in Arizona during the spring and summer months.
Bird Notes
To attach them to your backyard leave eggshells and oyster shells on the ground or build platform feeders. Also by building platforms for nesting. If you have outbuildings on your property such as barns and sheds you can leave the doors and windows open so the barn swallows can build their nests inside. Having some mud around also helps them build their nests.
Song And Call
10. great-tailed grackle
Scientific Name: Quiscalus mexicanus Size: 16 to 18 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Great-tailed Grackle is one of the largest members of the blackbird family and has a stocky build with a long, slender beak and a strong, slightly curved bill. Adult males have glossy black plumage overall, including their head, body, and wings. Females have a more muted plumage with dark brown feathers that have a lighter streaked appearance. They both have yellow eyes
One of the distinctive field marks of the Great-tailed Grackle is its exceptionally long, keel-shaped tail. The tail feathers are broad and deeply forked, with the central feathers being longer than the outer ones. The male’s tail is particularly long and can be up to half the length of its body.
Nesting
Great-tailed Grackles tend to place their nests in colonies, where multiple nests are found in close proximity to one another. They build their nests primarily in trees, bushes, or other elevated structures. They are known for constructing large, bulky nests made of twigs, grasses, leaves, and other plant materials.
The female Great-tailed Grackle takes the primary responsibility for constructing the nest, while the male may assist by providing materials. Once the nest is built, the female lays between 3 to 6 pale bluish or greenish eggs with darker speckles.
Both the male and female share the incubation duties, taking turns to keep the eggs warm. Incubation typically lasts around 12 to 14 days. After hatching, both parents participate in feeding and caring for the chicks until they fledge, which occurs after about 2 to 3 weeks.
Diet
Great-tailed Grackles’ diet consists of a variety of food items including insects, seeds, grains, ripe fruits, and berries.
They have been observed feeding on agricultural crops such as corn, rice, wheat, and sunflower seeds. In urban areas, they may scavenge from bird feeders or gather seeds from lawns and gardens.
Habitat
Great-tailed Grackles are often found in agricultural landscapes, particularly during the breeding season when they forage in open fields. They have adapted well to urban environments and are often seen in cities and towns. You can find them in parks, parking lots, shopping centers, and residential areas.
Great-tailed Grackles are highly social birds and often form large flocks, particularly during the non-breeding season.
Great-tailed Grackles are commonly found throughout Arizona year-round.
Call And Song
They are known for their vocalizations, which include a variety of calls, squawks, and whistles.
11. Verdin
Scientific Name: Auriparus flaviceps Size: 4-4.5 inches
Description and field marks
The Verdin is a small songbird with distinct plumage features that make it easily recognizable. The adult Verdin has a yellowish-olive back, wings, and tail, while the underparts are pale yellow. The head is mostly bright yellow, which gives the bird a vibrant appearance. The face is adorned with a small black eye patch and a short, pointed bill.
Nesting
Verdins are renowned for their remarkable nest-building skills, creating intricate hanging structures that are pendant-shaped and resemble small, elongated sacks.
The female Verdin lays a clutch of 3 to 6 eggs, typically white or creamy white in color, with small brown or reddish speckles, and incubates the eggs for 12 to 14 days. The young remain in the nest for 15-17 days. The male helps by feeding the female during incubation and helping with the nestlings.
Diet
Insects form a significant portion of Verdin’s diet. They feed on a variety of small insects, including beetles, ants, wasps, caterpillars, spiders, and other arthropods. They also consume seeds, nectar, and small fruits and berries to supplement their nutrition.
Habitat
Verdins are primarily found in arid and semi-arid habitats of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They inhabit desert scrublands, thorny thickets, and mesquite woodlands. Their range extends from southern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Arizona in the United States.
You will see them year-round in Arizona.
Call and Song
Verdin’s vocalizations are high-pitched and melodious producing a variety of calls, including soft chattering and a rapid, musical trill.
12. Brown-headed cowbird
Scientific Name: Molothrus ater Size: 7.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
Chunky, dark-eyed blackbird with short tails and thick bills. Adult males are glossy black with iridescent brown heads. Females are brown with light streaks on the belly.
Nesting
Brown-headed Cowbirds nest in trees, but there is no nest-building involved. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are parasites – they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. In many cases, larger Cowbird nestlings will push the other species’ eggs or chicks out of the nest. Parasite hosts raise the Cowbird chick as their own.
Diet
Seeds, grasses, and insects make up most of the Brown-headed Cowbird’s diet. Females add snails and eggs from nests they parasitize; they need the extra calcium because they lay so many of their own eggs in other birds’ nests.
Brown-headed Cowbirds will come to feeders, usually with Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings that sometimes overwhelm household feeders.
Habitat
Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found pretty much everywhere but in heavy forests. They got their name by foraging among herds of grazing buffalo and cattle.
In Winter, Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found among the large flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, and European Starlings.
Bird Notes
The much smaller Yellow Warbler’s nests are targets for Brown-headed Cowbirds, but the Yellow Warbler has figured out a way to deal with this. Since they are too small to just push the Cowbird egg out of the nest, they build another nest on top of the Cowbird egg, smothering it and allowing their own eggs to hatch without intruders.
Song And Call
13. northern mockingbird
Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos Size: 10 inches
Description And Field Marks
Mockingbird bodies are grayish brown with white wing bars, (2 on each wing). Their breasts are slightly paler (may look whiteish) than their bodies. Mockingbirds have small heads, long legs, and long thin bills.
Nesting
The male builds several nests in trees and shrubs usually 3 to 10 feet but could go higher. The female will choose which nest she will lay her eggs.
Northern Mockingbirds lay 2 to 6 eggs which are pale blue or white in color with spots of red or brown. The incubation period is around 2 weeks and the young will remain in the nest for about 2 weeks.
They have between 2 to 3 broods a mating season and the male will continue to feed the young from the first brood when the female will lay eggs for the second brood, which she will choose enough nest for.
Diet
Northern Mockingbirds will eat insects during the summertime and will switch to fruit and berries during the fall and winter.
Habitat
Mockingbirds are very common in Arizona. They can be found all over the state. Common places to see them are along your fence, in trees, on scrubs, and on utility lines.
Song And Call
14. ladder-backed woodpecker
Scientific Name: Picoides scalaris Size: 6.3-7.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
A ladder-backed woodpecker is a small woodpecker the size between a sparrow and a robin. It is primarily colored black and white, with a barred pattern on its back and wings resembling the rungs of a ladder. The male has a red crown patch while the females have a black crown. Juveniles are similar to adult males, though the red is less extensive.
Nesting
The ladder-backed Woodpecker typically nests in a cavity excavated in a tree, large cactus, utility pole, or fencepost, usually 4-20′ above ground, although sometimes higher. Both sexes may excavate the cavity, but the male may do most of the work.
The pair may remain together for most of the year, performing displays such as raising head feathers, bobbing and turning the head, spreading wings and tail, and taking flight for territorial defense.
The female usually lays 3-4 white eggs, which hatch at about 13 days. Both parents feed the young insects, but the age when the young leave the nest is not well known.
Diet
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker has an omnivorous diet, primarily composed of insects such as wood-boring beetles, leafworms, caterpillars, ants, true bugs, and some insect larvae. They will also feed on berries and cactus fruit when necessary.
They may also come for mealworms offered at feeding stations, peanut butter, and black oil sunflower seeds. Additionally, they may be attracted to suet feeders in the northern parts of their range.
Habitat
The Ladder-backed woodpecker is primarily found in dry brushy areas and thickets deserts, such as the southeastern corner of California into Mexico. They may also inhabit treeless areas such as deserts, desert scrubs, and thorn forests with elevations of up to 7,600 feet.
They are found in the southwestern United States and appear similar to Nuttall’s woodpecker but have less black on their head and upper back.
The Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are very common in Arizona all year.
Call And Drumming
The Ladder-backed Woodpecker’s vocalizations and calls include a repeated, high-pitched “pik,” a slightly descending “jee jee jee” series, and a slower “kweek kweek kweek.” Its drum is an uncomplicated roll
15. mourning dove
Scientific Name: Zenaida mactoura Size: 9.1-13.4 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized bird from the dove family. It has a rusty brown color and a few black spots above the wings. They can reach up to 12 inches in body length while their wingspan can be up to 18 inches.
Nesting
The pair of Mourning Doves is monogamous and they usually mate for life. They use old nests of other birds or build their own nest on top of a post, tree branch, or even on the ground.
Mourning Doves lay two white eggs and incubate them for 13 days. The male also feeds her during this time. The young will leave the nest after 15-16 days.
Diet
Mourning Doves eat seeds and grains that are found in the backyard. They also eat insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles.
Mourning Doves are one of the vacuums of the bird world, so they don’t eat from feeders but from what falls on the ground when other birds use your feeder.
Habitat
The Mourning Dove is frequent in most parts of the United States.
Song And Call
16. Spotted towhee
Scientific Name: Pipilo maculatus Size: 6.7-8.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Spotted Towhee is roughly the same size as a robin, with a long, dark, fan-shaped tail with white corners on the end, and a round body with bright red eyes and dull pink legs.
Males have jet-black heads, throats, backs, and tails, while females are dark brown or grayish-black. Juvenile birds are mostly brown with brown streaking and tarnish spots. They have red eyes, pinkish legs, and thick, dark, pointed beaks.
Nesting
Spotted towhees breed during the spring and summer, typically laying 3 to 5 eggs per brood. The female builds the nest on the ground or low in bushes, often concealed by adjacent plants but not typically inside thickets. The nest is made of leaves, strips of bark, twigs, forb stalks, and grasses, lined with pine needles, shredded bark, grass, and sometimes hair.
The eggs are grayish or creamy-white with reddish-brown spots and are incubated by the female alone for 12 to 14 days. Once hatched, both parents feed the chicks, which leave the nest at 10 to 12 days but remain with their parents until 30 days of age.
Diet
The Spotted Towhee is an omnivore that primarily feeds on seeds, plants, acorns, and berries during the winter. However, during the breeding season, they mainly eat insects such as beetles, weevils, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, spiders, millipedes, snails, and wasps.
They are ground foragers and use a two-footed scratching method to locate food under the litter. The Spotted Towhee frequents brushy areas and is common at bird feeders wherever seed is scattered on the ground.
Habitat
The Spotted Towhee is found in shrubby habitats in forested lowlands throughout Washington and in open forests, brushy fields, and chaparrals across western North America.
They often use shrubby thickets in residential areas, on clear-cuts, and around wetlands. Towhees prefer to forage in areas with a thick layer of leaf litter and a screen of foliage and twigs low to the ground.
The Spotted Towhee is a common bird species found in Arizona and can be seen year-round.
Call And Song
17. ruby-crowned kinglet
Scientific Name: Corthylio calendula Size: 3.5-4.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
These tiny songbirds flicker around bushes and shrubs in your backyard. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are olive green in color with white around the eyes and white wings with a black bar in the wings. They have small, thin tails and strong tiny bills.
The male Ruby-crowned Kinglet will show its “red crown” only when excited otherwise it is invisible.
Nesting
The female and male pair will stay together during the building of the nest to when the young leave the nest, about two months. The female builds the nest in tall trees usually over 100 feet high in dense forests.
The Ruby-crowned kinglets have one brood per breeding season with up to 12 eggs. The eggs are white with red-brown spots on the ends. The incubation period is 12 to 14 days and the young remain in the nest for an additional 16 to 18 days.
Diet
Ruby-crowned kinglets mostly eat insects including spiders, ants, beetles, and wasps. They will also eat seeds and fruit when available. They will come to your backyard feeders to eat seeds during the non-breeding season.
Habitat
The Ruby-Crowned Kinglet visits Arizona during the nonbreeding season as they fly south in the winter. Look for the constant movement in their wings as they like dense bushes, as well as parks and backyards.
During the breeding season, they will stay in dense pine forests in the western United States and throughout Canada.
Song And Call
18. house sparrow
Scientific Name: Passer domesticus Size: 5.9-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The House Sparrow differs from another American Sparrow as they are not related. They have a rounder head and are chunkier, with a bigger chest, short tails, and thicker bills.
Like most other female birds, she is duller than the male, brown with dirty gray and brown underparts with striped backs in brown, black, and buff.
Male House Sparrows are chunky with a round head, stout bill, and full breasts. Colors include gray crowns, dark brown necks, white cheeks, black bibs, and gray crowns.
Nesting
House sparrows nest in cavities and use a variety of materials to build their nests. They are not known for being picky about where they nest, so if you have a birdhouse or an old nest box in your yard, it might attract house sparrows. House sparrows nest in cavities in trees or buildings.
The female lays 3-8 eggs. The incubation period is 10-14 days and the young stay in the nest for 10 to 14 days.
Diet
They eat seeds, grains, and insects. Sparrows will definitely be at your feeder eating birdseed, sunflower seeds, millet, and milo.
Habitat
The House Sparrow lives where people live. You will find them in cities and towns, in backyards and parks.
Song And Call
19. Western Bluebird
Scientific Name: Sialia Mexicana Size: 6-7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Western Bluebird is a small, brightly colored bird that is found in the western United States, Mexico, and parts of Canada. They have a bright blue head, back, and wings, with a rusty-red breast and a gray-blue belly. The blue coloration may appear more subdued in females and juveniles. They also have a white eye ring and a small, thin bill.
Nesting
Western Bluebirds typically choose nest sites that are sheltered and hidden from view, such as tree cavities, nest boxes, or birdhouses. They prefer sites that are at least 5-6 feet above the ground and have a clear flight path to the entrance hole.
The female does most of the nest building, with the male occasionally bringing in nesting materials as well. She lays 4 to 6 light blue or white eggs and incubates them for 14 days. The male will bring her food during this time.
The young will leave the nest in 17 to 21 days however the parents will continue to care for them for several weeks by providing food and protection.
Western Bluebirds are known to use artificial nest boxes or birdhouses, so providing suitable nesting sites can be a great way to attract them to your yard or property.
Diet
The Western Bluebird feeds primarily on insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, and caterpillars, as well as spiders and other arthropods. They also eat some fruits and berries, especially during the winter months when insect prey is less abundant.
They may consume small amounts of seeds or nectar, especially during the winter months. Even visit hummingbird feeders for nectar, and may also eat fruits such as elderberries and grapes.
Habitat
The Western Bluebird is found in a variety of habitats across its range, including open woodlands, oak savannas, pine forests, and sagebrush steppe. They prefer areas with scattered trees and shrubs, as well as open grassy or meadow areas.
They can be found in Arizona year-round.
Call And Song
The Western Bluebird is quiet and unobtrusive compared to some other bird species, but may occasionally give a soft “chur” or “chirp”.
20. American Robin
Scientific Name: Turdus migratorius Size: 7.9-11.0 inches
Description And Field Marks
The American Robins has a gray-brown back and wings, with white underparts. It also has a short tail and a pointed bill for catching insects in flight or on the ground. Males have a red patch on their breasts and a black head, throat, and upper chest. Females are duller looking than males with less contrast in colors.
They prefer an open country with scattered trees and shrubs. It is found in a variety of habitats, including farmland, grasslands, parks, yards, and gardens.
Nesting
The American Robin makes its nest in a tree or shrub, usually near water. The female Robin lays four to six eggs and both parents take turns sitting on them. The eggs are solid bright blue in color. The eggs hatch in about two weeks and the chicks leave the nest after another week or so.
Diet
They eat worms and insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, and crickets. It also eats fruit and berries in the summer. They don’t do feeders but love to find bugs and worms in the grass all around your yard.
Habitat
The American Robin is found in eastern North America, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It is also found throughout the United States and southern parts of Canada, including most of Alaska.
The American Robin can be seen year-round in Arizona.
Song And Call
They are very early-morning singers. Listen for their call
21. Eurasian collared-dove
Scientific Name: Streptopelia decaocto Size: 11.4-11.8 inches
Description And Field Marks
Bigger and heavier than the mourning dove, the Eurasian collared dove has plump bodies and long tails that are squared off at the tip. Their size is between a robin and a crow.
The Eurasian collared dove is brownish to gray in color with white on its tail. They have a black narrow patch around the nape of the neck. When you see them flying their wingtips are darker than the rest of the wings.
Nesting
Males pick the nest sites and gather the materials while females build the nest about 10 feet off the ground. It’s a simple platform-style nest and will use this nest for many broods (from 3 to 6) during the breeding season. In warm areas such as Florida, the doves will nest year-round.
Each brood has 1 to 2 white eggs with an incubation period of 14 to 19 days and a nesting period of 17 days.
Diet
The Eurasian Collared Dove mostly eats seeds and grains such as millet, wheat, corn, and sunflowers. They will eat seeds from your birdfeeders.
Habitat
They live in urban and suburban areas where they can access birdfeeders. They prefer warmer climates and you can see them in Arizona year-round.
Song And Call
22. White-breasted nuthatches
Scientific Name: Sitta carolinensis Size: 5.1-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The White-breasted Nuthatch gets its name from the fact that it stuffs nuts and seeds under tree bark, then uses its sharp beaks to hatch the seed from the shell. The White-breasted Nuthatch has a black cap on top of their heads, with white on either side and on their bellies.
Plump little birds, larger and heavier-bodied than Red-breasted Nuthatch. Nuthatches always start at the top of the tree and work their way down to the ground.
Nesting
They make their nets in tree cavities or holes made by woodpeckers at least 15 feet above the ground. Females build their nests out of grasses, twigs, mosses, and bark fibers.
They only have one brood per year consisting of 5 to 9 eggs. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. The eggs are incubated by the females. The males feed them during that time.
Both the male and female feed their young which leave the nest at any point from 14 to 26 days.
Diet
The White-breasted Nuthatch will visit most seed feeders and like mixed seed blends, black sunflower seeds, peanut butter, peanuts, or suet. They usually like to grab and run, taking a seed and immediately flying off to eat it or cache it in a nearby tree.
Habitat
It is a small bird that is the largest nuthatch in North America. The White-breasted Nuthatch is found year-round throughout Arizona and is a common backyard bird.
Song And Call
Their call sounds like a squeaky wheel.
23. Mountain Bluebird
Scientific Name: Sialia currucoides Size: 6.3-7.9 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Mountain Bluebird is a strikingly beautiful bird with vibrant blue plumage and distinctive rust-colored markings.
The male Mountain Bluebirds have bright blue upper parts, while their underparts are pale blue to white. They have a rust-colored throat and breast, and a white belly. Females are less vibrant, with duller blue upperparts and greyish-blue breasts.
They have short tails with a square or slightly rounded shape. Their bill is black, thin, and straight.
Nesting
The male often chooses a nest cavity before attracting a mate, and will sometimes begin building a nest or bringing nesting material to the site to show their readiness to breed. They require open habitats with suitable nesting sites such as tree cavities or nest boxes.
After mating, the female Mountain Bluebird constructs a cup-shaped nest from grasses, pine needles, and other plant materials, lining it with softer materials such as feathers, hair, and fine grasses. She lays a clutch of 4 to 7 light blue or white eggs, which she incubates for about 14 days. Both parents participate in feeding the nestlings, which fledge after about 18 to 21 days. They usually raise 1 to 2 broods per nesting season.
Diet
Mountain Bluebirds’ diet consists of a wide variety of insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, and spiders. They also occasionally feed on small fruits and seeds, particularly during the winter months when insects are less abundant.
During the breeding season, Mountain Bluebirds need a high-protein diet to support the growth of their young, and they may consume up to 500 insects per day.
Habitat
The Mountain Bluebird prefers open grasslands, meadows, and sagebrush steppe, and is often found in areas with scattered trees, snags, or other perching sites typically at elevations of 4900 to 9800 feet. Mountain Bluebirds are also found in alpine meadows and subalpine coniferous forests during the breeding season.
Arizona is a great place to see Mountain Bluebirds, as they are relatively common throughout the state all year long.
Call
The call of the Mountain Bluebird is a soft, low-pitched “chur” or “chirp” sound.
Song
24. Black-chinned Hummingbird
Scientific Name: Archilochus alexandri Size: 3.5 to 4 inches
Description And Field Marks
The male black-chinned hummingbird has a glossy dark green or blackish throat, which gives it its name. When the light hits the throat at the right angle, it may appear iridescent with shades of purple or violet. The upperparts are green, while the underparts are pale gray or white. The tail feathers are dark with white tips, creating a noticeable pattern during flight.
Female black-chinned hummingbirds have a more subtle appearance. They typically lack the dark throat of the males and have a plain pale gray or white throat and underparts. The upperparts are green, similar to the males.
Nesting
Black-chinned hummingbirds nests in shrubs, trees, or other vegetation. The nest is built by the female and is small and compact, resembling a cup or cone shape.
The female lays two tiny eggs, which are about the size of jelly beans. She incubates the eggs, taking turns to keep them warm and leaving the nest periodically to feed. The incubation period lasts 14 to 19 days. Once the eggs hatch, both the male and female are involved in feeding and caring for the young hummingbirds. The young birds remain in the nest for about 18 to 23 days until they fledge.
Diet
The diet of the black-chinned hummingbird primarily consists of nectar from flowers, but they also consume small insects and spiders for additional nutrients.
Habitat
The black-chinned hummingbird breeds in western parts of North America, including the western United States and parts of Mexico.
The Black-chinned Hummingbird is a common resident in Arizona and the second most commonly seen hummingbird in the state. They breed in Arizona and may remain year-round on the Gulf Coast.
Call And Wingbeat
25. dark-eyed junco
Scientific Name: Junco hyemalis Size: 5.5-6.3 inches
Description And Field Marks
The dark-eyed juncos are little birds that are slated gray in color. They are known as medium size sparrows with long tails, round faces, and white on their belly. They also have bright white markings on its tail.
Dark-eyed junco has a population of over 600 million making it one of the most common birds in the United States and Canada.
Nesting
The Dark-eyed Juncos lay three to six eggs. They are cream-colored with brown spots. The eggs are usually laid in a tree hole or on the ground.
Diet
The Dark-eyed Junco eats seeds, berries, and insects. They can be found in bushes and trees. Juncos LOVE feeders! They will eat whatever you put out black-oil sunflower seeds, suet, peanut butter, or generic wild bird food. They are not picky.
Habitat
When Juncos appear, Winter is near. You can see them in Canada and the western mountains during the spring and summer months. These birds flew south to North America for the winter months.
Look for them on deciduous forest floors and on the grass in your backyard. They can be found in bushes and trees all over Arizona during the winter months.
This is another bird that can travel in mixed flocks, so you never know who else will turn up at your feeder alongside the Juncos.
Song And Call
26. house finch
Scientific Name: Haemorhous mexicanus Size: 5.1-5.5 inches
Description And Field Marks
The House Finch is a small bird with a length of 7.5 inches and a weight of 5 ounces. The male House Finch has a brown back, wings, tail, and head with white underparts and varying shades of red around the head while the female is grayish-brown all over.
Nesting
House Finches build their nest anyway as long as it’s 12 to 15 feet above the ground usually in buildings and trees. Nests are made of grass, weeds, twigs, and leaves. The female builds the nest while the male will feed her during this time and incubation.
The eggs are pale blue with lavender and black dots and consist of 2 to 6 eggs. The incubation period is 13 to 14 days. Both the male and female feed their young for the 12 to 15 days they remain in the nest.
House Finches usually have 3 broods each year.
Diet
House Finches like to eat small worms, insects, seeds of small plants, and berries of some plants as well. They will visit the bird feeders often and really love sunflower seeds. They will also visit your Hummingbird feeders for the sugar water.
Habitat
Seen throughout North America, the House Finch is a very social bird and is usually seen in flocks except during mating season. You will find them in cities, suburban towns, and farmland. They love lawns, weedy areas, and trees but not dense forests.
Bird Notes
If the bird you’re looking for has a raspberry or light pink body check to see if it’s a purple finch.
Song And Call
The House Finch has a high-pitched sound that the male House Finch mostly uses to attract the female for breeding.
27. northern flicker
Scientific Name: Colaptes auratus Size: 11.0-12.2 inches
Description And Field
The Northern Flicker male and female are similar in color. They both have a rounded head, the bill is curved down and the tail tapers to a long point.
Although the same bird their colors differ from the eastern United States (bright yellow wing and tail feathers) and the western US (red wing and tail feathers).
The Northern Flicker is also known as “the woodpecker that doesn’t peck wood.” Instead, it gleans insects from the bark of trees.
Nesting
It nests in holes excavated by other animals, such as squirrels and woodpeckers. It lays 5 to 8 eggs which are all white. They only have one brood per nesting season.
The incubation period is around 2 weeks and the young stay in the nest for about a month.
Diet
Northern Flickers mostly will eat insects that they get from the ground. They will “drum” at the ground as other woodpeckers drum in trees and wood. During the winter months, they will also eat fruits and seeds.
These are beautiful woodpeckers. They may also stop in at your suet and peanut feeders, but most likely you’ll see them nesting in old trees.
Habitat
You will see Northern Flickers in city parks and backyards in the suburbs. You will also find them in woodlands with open trees, burned forests, swamps, and marshes.
The Northern Flicker has a wide range of calls. It has a typical woodpecker-like “drum” and a more musical, gurgling call that is often mistaken for the song of the Red-winged Blackbird.
The Northern Flicker is a common bird in Arizona and can be seen all year long.
Call And Drumming
28. European starling
Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris Size: 7.9-9.1 inches
Description And Field Marks
The European Starling is the size of a Robin and from a distance looks all black. However, they have a purplish-green iridescent color to them when you see them up close. Their yellow bill stands out and they have short tails.
You often see them in large flocks with blackbirds and grackles.
Nesting
Starlings will take other birds’ nests and use them as long as they are high off the ground, usually in trees, on streetlights, buildings, or nest boxes. The male will find these nests and will add twigs, pine needles, grasses, and feathers. Females will add greens to the nest before laying 3 to 6 eggs.
Both the male and female will incubate the eggs for a period of around 12 days. The egg color is bluish to greenish white. The young will stay in the nest for about 3 weeks.
Diet
European Starlings eat mostly insects but will also eat fruits. In addition, they will eat seeds, nectar, garbage, and livestock feed.
Habitat
They live where humans are, in towns and cities, and roost in trees and on buildings, also you will see them on wires. They like open fields and lawns and are not far from a water source.
Bird Notes
A fun fact about the European Starling is that all North American birds descended from 100 birds that in 1890 were intentionally released into Central Park in New York City. Today they have a population in North America of over 2 million.
Song And Call
The European starling is a highly sociable bird. It lives in flocks of up to 100 birds, and its calls include whistling and chattering noises.
29. song sparrow
Scientific Name: Melospiza melodia Size: 4.7-6.7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Song Sparrow is a medium size bulky sparrow. Their mostly brown body has streaks of white/light gray throughout. It has a long rounded tail and broad wings.
It’s larger than a chipping sparrow but smaller than a dark-eyed junco.
Nesting
The Song Sparrow nest is made of grass and twigs. They are also lined with hair, feathers, and wool. The nest is usually found in a bush or tree near water. They are not afraid of humans so can nest close to your home on lights or poles and in flower beds.
The Song Sparrows lays one to six eggs. The eggs are either, blue, blue-green, or gray-green with some brown spots on them. The incubation period is 12 to 15 days and the young spend another 9 to 12 days in the nest.
The Song Sparrow can have anywhere between 1 to 7 broods per year.
Diet
It eats insects, seeds, and berries. They will come to your feeders for any kind of seeds or suet.
Habitat
Song Sparrows are very common in New Arizona that can be found all over the state.
Song And Call
30. Chipping Sparrow
Scientific Name: Spizella passerina Size: 4.7-5.9 inches+
Description And Field Marks
Chipping sparrows are small brown sparrows with plain breasts and long tails. There is a difference between breeding and non-breeding birds. The breeding birds have a reddish cap and a white brow with dark eye lines. The non-breeding has a brown cap, duller dirty gray breast, a dark eye line, and a grayish rump.
Usually found in trees around your property. You will hear them before you see them.
Nesting
The chipping sparrow nests in dense shrubs or small trees near the ground. It is often found nesting under bird feeders.
The female builds the nest out of grass and other plant material and then lines it with hair or fine grasses. The nest is usually built on a horizontal branch in dense shrubs or small trees.
The female lays 3 to 5 eggs at a time and the young hatch after 11 days of incubation. Both parents feed the chicks until they are ready to leave the nest, usually after about 12 days.
Diet
The chipping sparrow diet consists of seeds, insects, and spiders. Occasional visitors to your suet and black-oil sunflower seed feeder.
Habitat
The chipping sparrow is a common bird and can be found in Arizona during the spring and summer for the breeding season.
You will find them in the woods, especially where there are pine trees. Other common places to see them are on backyards lawns, in cities, towns, and farms. During the fall and winter, you will often see them in flocks.
Song And Call
The song is more of a rattle.
The chipping sparrow has two calls: a sharp chip and a long, high-pitched trill.
31. Say’s Phoebe
Scientific Name: Sayornis saya Size: 6.5-7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The plumage of the Say’s Phoebe is a brownish-gray upper body, including the head, back, and wings. The underparts are pale yellowish to off-white, with a slight buff or peachy tinge on the breast and belly. The undertail coverts are pale buff. The bird has a distinctive pale gray to whitish throat and chin, which contrasts with the darker brownish-gray head.
The wings of the Say’s Phoebe are dark brown with two prominent white wing bars, one near the base of the primaries and another closer to the wing’s middle. The tail is brownish-gray, and the outer tail feathers may have faint pale edges.
Nesting
Say’s Phoebes cup-shaped nests are often placed against vertical surfaces, such as a wall or cliff face, utilizing the shelter and support they provide. The female takes the primary responsibility for nest building while the male assists by providing materials.
Say’s Phoebes lay a clutch of 3 to 6 creamy-white eggs with light brown or purple spots. The female incubates the eggs for 14 to 17 days while the male provides food to the female. Both parents participate in feeding and caring for the nestlings for 16 to 20 days or until the young leave the nest.
Diet
The diet of Say’s Phoebes primarily consists of insects. They are insectivorous birds and feed on a variety of flying and terrestrial insects.
The Say’s Phoebe is known for its characteristic flycatcher behavior. It perches on exposed branches, fences, or other prominent perches and sallies out to catch flying insects. After catching its prey, it often returns to the same perch. The pumping or wagging tail is a notable behavior.
Habitat
Say’s Phoebes are frequently found in grasslands, including both shortgrass and mixed-grass prairies. They are also found in desert habitats, including arid scrublands and desert grasslands.
Say’s Phoebes readily adapt to human-altered landscapes, and they can be seen in agricultural areas such as farmlands, pastures, and orchards. They may utilize structures like barns, sheds, and fences for nesting.
You can see them in Arizona all year long.
Call And Song
The vocalizations of the Say’s Phoebe are typically a soft and nasal “phee-bee” or “fee-bee” call, which is often repeated in quick succession.
32. Steller’s Jay
Scientific Name: Cyanocitta stelleri Size: 11.8-13.4 inches
The Steller’s Jay is a medium-sized bird songbird with a distinctive blue-black coloration on its head, neck, and upper body. They have a black crest on their head that can be raised or lowered depending on their mood. They also have a long, sturdy bill, and their eyes are dark with a faint white stripe above the eye. The wings and tail feathers are blue with black bars and white spots on the tips.
Nesting
The nest of a Steller’s Jay is typically a cup-shaped structure made of twigs, bark strips, moss, and grass. It’s placed in the crotch of a tree, on a horizontal branch, or in a coniferous tree. They may also build nests in shrubs, on utility poles, or in man-made structures.
The female is responsible for building the nest, while the male helps to gather materials. She lays 3 to 5 pale green or blue eggs with brown spots. The eggs are incubated for 16 to 18 days by the female, while the male brings her food. Both parents care for the young for 18 to 21 days when they leave the nest but will also continue to feed them for several more weeks.
Diet
The Steller’s Jays eat a wide variety of food including insects, nuts, seeds, fruits, and small vertebrates. They will also store food for later use.
Steller’s Jays are opportunistic and will eat almost anything including human food scraps, and pet food from campgrounds and picnic areas.
Habitat
The Steller’s Jay is native to the western part of North America, from Alaska to Mexico. They inhabit coniferous forests, oak woodlands, and other forested areas.
Steller’s Jays can be found in Arizona year-round.
Call And Song
They are known for their loud and harsh calls, which can be heard throughout the forest.
33. Brewer’s Blackbird
Scientific Name: Euphagus cyanocephalus Size: 8 inches
Male Brewer’s Blackbirds are medium-sized birds with entirely black plumage. They have a glossy purple-blue iridescence to their heads, a metallic green sheen on their bodies, and pale eyes.
They stand out when seen in sunlight. The glossy combination of black, dark blue, and metallic green feathers gleams brilliantly in full sun. Female Brewer’s Blackbirds are dark gray with dark eyes and while they have some blue-green iridescence on their bodies, are nowhere as noticeable as the males.
Both sexes have sharply pointed bills.
Brewer’s Blackbirds usually nest in trees but may also build a nest on the ground in taller grasses. The nest is a bulky cup made of twigs, grass, and pine needles lined with soft grass and animal hair.
Brewer’s Blackbirds feed on mostly insects and seeds. In summer, they seek out berries for a change of pace. The birds forage in shallow water and fields searching for food and have been observed following farm machinery to see what has been turned up.
Bird Notes
Brewer’s Blackbirds resemble Common Grackles. How to tell the difference? Look at heads and tails. Common Grackles are larger birds, with long tails and thicker bills. And male Common Grackles have a blue sheen to their heads while the Brewer’s Blackbirds display a purple sheen.
Song And Call
34. Western Meadowlark
Scientific Name: Sturnella neglecta Size: 6.3-10.2 inches
Description And Field Marks
The Western Meadowlark is a robin-sized bird with a flat head, a long, slender bill, and a round-shouldered posture nearly concealing its neck. The wings are rounded and short for the bird’s size and the tail is short, stiff, and spiky. It has yellow underparts with intricately patterned brown, black, and buff upper parts. A black “V” crosses the bright yellow breast; it is gray in winter, and the head has contrasting stripes of dark brown and light buff. The outer tail feathers flash white in flight.
Nesting
The Western Meadowlark builds its nest in a small depression in the ground, nestled in a clump of grass or other plants. The nest is woven together from dry grass, forming a bowl shape and lined with hair.
The female builds the nest and then lays 1 egg in the morning on consecutive days, with an average clutch size of 5 eggs. Incubation then begins with the laying of the last egg and normally lasts for 13 to 14 days. The nesting period is between 20 to 21 days. For up to 2 weeks after fledging the young remain dependent on their parents for food.
Diet
The Western Meadowlark has a varied diet, consisting largely of insect and vegetable matter. They feed mostly on the ground, foraging for items such as beetles, cutworms, grasshoppers, crickets, grain, and weed seeds. They also eat a wide variety of seeds and grain in late summer and autumn.
Birders can increase the chances of attracting western meadowlarks to their backyard by providing ample perching areas, open areas, and grass seeds, as well as ground bird baths.
Habitat
Western Meadowlark prefers open grassland, meadow, prairie, and pasture habitat but can also be found in cultivated fields and other rural areas. Regions with shorter or medium-length grasses are more likely to host western meadowlarks than areas with taller grasses.
The range of the western meadowlark extends from southern Canada, through the central and western United States and as far south as Mexico. You will see them in Arizona year-round.
Bird Notes
The western meadowlark is very similar to the eastern meadowlark, but the western meadowlark has a flute-like warbled song that contrasts with the simple, whistled call of the eastern meadowlark.
Call And Song
35. western tanagers
Scientific Name: Piranga ludoviciana Size: 7 inches
Description And Field Marks
The male Western Tanager is a colorful bird with a bright red head, a yellow body, and black wings with two white bars. Females are yellow-green with darker wings and back. Both have stocky bodies and thick, pale bills, and dark eyes.
Nesting
The Western Tanager is a bird species that nests in trees during the breeding season, typically from May to August. Here are some details about the nesting habits of Western Tanagers:
Western Tanagers build their nests in the outer branches of trees, usually between 10 and 50 feet off the ground. They prefer coniferous or mixed forests, but can also be found in deciduous forests and woodlands. The nest is a cup-shaped structure made of small twigs, grasses, and other plant materials. The inside of the nest is lined with fine grasses, rootlets, and sometimes animal hair.
The female Western Tanager builds the nest, while the male defends the territory. The female lays 3 to 5 pale green or blue eggs, which she incubates for about 12 to 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after about 12 to 14 days.
The Western Tanager is occasionally targeted by the Brown-headed Cowbird, which lays its eggs in the Tanager’s nest. Cowbird chicks typically outcompete tanager chicks for food, often resulting in the death of the tanager chicks.
Diet
The Western Tanager feeds on a variety of insects, including beetles, caterpillars, ants, bees, and wasps. They often catch insects while in flight or by gleaning them from the foliage.
They will also eat fruit, especially during the breeding season, and are known to feed on berries, cherries, and other small fruits.
Habitat
It’s worth noting that Western Tanagers are only found in western North America during the breeding season. They typically breed in coniferous or mixed forests in the western United States and Canada, and they migrate to Mexico and Central America for the winter.
The Western Tanager can be found in Arizona during the breeding season, which typically occurs from May through August.
Call And Song
What Are The Best Ways To Attract Backyard Birds?
1. Put Out Bird Feeders
There are many different types of bird feeders available on the market, each designed to attract different types of birds. The most popular bird feeders include tube feeders, hopper feeders, platform feeders, and window feeders.
Tube feeders are long and cylindrical in shape, with small holes near the top where birds can insert their beaks to reach the bird seed inside. Hopper feeders are similar in shape to tube feeders but have a large opening at the top where birds can perch and eat. Platform feeders are flat surfaces with raised edges, upon which birds can land and eat the bird seed placed there. Window feeders are designed to be attached to windows so that birds can eat right up close to your home.
The type of bird food you put inside your birdfeeder will also depend on the type of birds you want to attract. Bird food includes sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Some tips on how to put out your birdfeeder include using a squirrel-proof design and making sure that the feeder is level so that the seed does not spill out.
2. Add A Water Source
Adding a water source to your backyard is a great way to attract birds. Water is essential for birds, and they will be drawn to any backyard that has a water source. Birdhouses are also a great way to attract birds. Solar fountains are also a good option for attracting birds. These emit a gentle flow of water that will attract birds to your yard.
3. Offer Birdhouses
Building a birdhouse is a great way to attract birds to your yard. There are a few things to consider when building a birdhouse, such as the size and shape of the house, and what type of bird you want to attract.
The most important thing to remember when building a birdhouse is to make sure the entrance hole is the right size for the type of bird you want to attract. If the hole is too small, the bird will not be able to get inside, and if it is too large, predators will be able to get in.
Once you have decided on the size and shape of your birdhouse, you can start construction. It is important that the house is made out of sturdy materials that will withstand weathering and decay. Some good choices for materials include cedar or redwood for the exterior and plywood or pine for the interior.
After your birdhouse is built, you need to decide where to place it. The best location for a birdhouse is in an open area away from trees or other structures that could block access or provide perches for predators. Once you have found the perfect spot for your new house, simply mount it on a pole or post using screws or nails. Make sure that the house is secure so that it does not fall and hurt any birds.
4. Add Native Plants
Native plants are more effective in attracting backyard birds because they provide the birds with the type of food that these birds prefer. By adding native plants to your backyard, you can help promote a healthy ecosystem that supports both bird species and insects. Grow native plants that offer food, shelter, and fruit for the birds. Non-native plants can outcompete native plants and disrupt the ecosystem, so it’s important to select plants that will be beneficial to your backyard birds.
Conclusion
We just covered some of the many backyard birds in Arizona. If you want more information on any of these birds or numerous other birds that you can see in Arizona, check out the Audubon Southwest.
Happy birdwatching!
