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Are you ready to discover the amazing avian diversity of Arizona? From White-winged Doves and Lesser Goldfinches in summertime, to Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Anna’s Hummingbirds during winter months, there is no shortage of backyard birds that call Arizona home.
Whether you are looking for a new hobby or just want some feathered friends around your yard, this guide will help identify these birds by sight and sound plus show how to attract them with feeders.
Plus learn about birdwatching hotspots and organizations throughout the state! With knowledge comes power – so let’s get started on our journey into discovering all kinds of backyard birds in Arizona.
Table Of Contents
Key Takeaways
- White-crowned Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers are common winter backyard birds in Arizona.
- Mourning Doves and Gila Woodpeckers can be found year-round in Arizona backyards.
- Lesser Goldfinches are summer visitors to Arizona backyards.
- Native plants and bird feeders will attract a variety of backyard birds in Arizona.
Arizona Birds and Birding in Arizona State
You’ll find over 565 types of birds in Arizona, with the Cactus Wren as the official state bird and the Mourning Dove spotted most often. Whether you’re a beginning birder or seasoned expert, Arizona offers outstanding birding opportunities across diverse habitats.
Search for rare species in the Sky Islands and Southeast AZ, or observe more common birds up-close in urban parks. With patience and the right gear, you may glimpse tropical species along the Colorado River or capture a bird migration spectacle at Ramsey Canyon.
Join local Audubon chapters to meet fellow enthusiasts and discover new birding hotspots. As you become more skilled at identifying birds by sight and sound, your connection to nature will deepen.
Observe carefully, move quietly, and open your senses.
Arizona Bird Identification
Here are some common backyard birds you may see in Arizona. The Anna’s Hummingbird can be identified by its shimmering green back and rose-pink throat patch, while the plump Gambel’s Quail travels in coveys making their distinctive ka-KAA-ka calls.
You’ll recognize the Abert’s Towhee by its solid black head and habit of scratching leaf litter to uncover food, and listen for the sharp phee-bee calls of the Black Phoebe and elongated zree of the Say’s Phoebe.
Anna’s Hummingbird
The tenacious Anna’s Hummingbird frequents 42% of Arizona count sites, its metallic green-and-rose plumage glimmering brightly as it darts among feeders. This versatile bird is year-round in lower elevations. It exhibits agility in flight and fierceness in safeguarding nectar sources.
Anna’s constructs a compact nest in trees or shrubs, incubating eggs for 14-19 days. It feeds on nectar and insects with a long bill and extensible tongue. To make it through cold nights, Anna’s enters torpor, slowing its metabolism.
Although small, Anna’s holds its own among backyard birds with flashy plumage and feisty personality.
Gambel’s Quail
You might spy coveys of these speckled quail scurrying through the brush as you hike desert trails. Flocks of Gambel’s quail chatter and forage across the desert floor for seeds and foliage. Their cactus habitat provides cover, nesting sites, and food. Breeding pairs perform a bobbing mating dance.
The quails’ distinctive chi-ca-go call rings out as coveys regroup after fleeing predators. Arizona offers ideal habitat for healthy Gambel’s quail populations. Observe their swift dashes between shrubs when hiking rocky foothills.
Abert’s Towhee
Spot Abert’s towhees scratching up leaves as they forage in thickets. These large sparrows frequent dense shrubs and thickets across the Southwest.
- Note their long dark tail with white corners.
- Listen for their sharp chewink call.
- Watch them hop along the ground searching for seeds and insects.
Though widespread, Abert’s towhees face threats from habitat loss. Help track populations by reporting sightings to eBird.
Black Phoebe
Look outside – a flash of dark feathers darts after insects near the stream as the Black Phoebe makes its presence known. This striking flycatcher lives near water, using overhanging branches and rocks as hunting perches from which it snatches flying insects mid-air with great skill.
In winter, some Black Phoebes migrate as far south as Central America, while others remain in the Southwest year-round. Though not a bird of special conservation concern, you can support these birds by providing safe nesting spots and keeping insect populations healthy through responsible land stewardship.
With a bit of luck, this handsome bird will grace your yard often with its dark flashes of movement and musical call.
Say’s Phoebe
Hear the distinctive sad song of the Say’s phoebe, a loner found at only 5% of sites with an average group size of just one. You’ll spot this bird alone, hunting insects from open perches and singing its melancholy song.
It nests in protected niches on buildings or under bridges, migrating south for the winter. Join citizen science projects like the Cornell Lab’s FeederWatch to help track Say’s phoebes – learning their habits while contributing to conservation.
Common Birds in Arizona
Arizona offers excellent opportunities for backyard birding throughout the year. The most common backyard birds will shift with the seasons as winter residents like white-crowned sparrows arrive and summer breeders like verdins nest, but year-round residents such as mourning doves and Gila woodpeckers can often be observed in your backyard habitat regardless of the season.
Most Common Backyard Birds Throughout the Year
Your feeders are often mobbed by Mourning Doves and House Finches, while Verdins flit through nearby bushes and Gila Woodpeckers hammer on trees. Throughout the year, the backyard birds you see will vary. Winter brings White-crowned Sparrows and Yellow-rumped Warblers, while spring and summer welcome nesting birds such as Verdins, Curve-billed Thrashers, and Gambel’s Quail.
Embrace each season’s feathered visitors by providing food, water, shelter, and nesting spots.
Most Common Backyard Birds in Winter
Watching winter bird activity gives insights into the season’s rhythms as species like Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows shift through on migration while year-round birds like Northern Cardinals remain steadfast.
| Bird Species | Migration Status | Food Sources | Nesting Sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Cardinal | Year-round resident | Seeds, fruit, insects | Shrubs, vines |
| White-crowned Sparrow | Winter migrant | Seeds, insects | Ground, shrubs (north) |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Winter migrant | Fruit, insects | Trees (north) |
| Northern Flicker | Year-round resident | Ants, insects | Cavities in trees |
| Dark-eyed Junco | Winter migrant | Seeds, insects | Ground, shrubs (north) |
As the winter solstice nears, birders ready feeding stations, secure heated birdbaths, and review winter bird ID. Avian influenza safety starts with wild bird exclusion from domestic poultry areas. Placing birdhouses away from prevailing winds and freezing rain helps ensure winter bird-housing success.
Most Common Backyard Birds in Summer
Grabbing the binoculars when that familiar sweet coo rings out, you spot a pair of mourning doves busily gathering nesting material while lesser goldfinches flutter down to perch on a nearby branch, their bright plumage glinting in the summer sun.
With summer in full swing, Arizona’s backyard birds are busy raising young. Attract nesting birds by offering natural materials like twigs, leaves, moss, and pet fur. Provide fresh water for bathing and drinking. Keep feeders filled to support energetic babies.
Enjoy watching the antics of newly fledged chickadees, finches, and doves as they stretch their wings.
Common Backyard Birds of Phoenix, Arizona
Among the city birds flocking to Phoenix yards, you’ll often spot social Gila Woodpeckers pecking at feeders.
Consider visiting the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch for prime birdwatching just outside the city. Bring binoculars and a field guide to identify species from Verdins to Cactus Wrens.
To attract birds, provide fresh water, limit pesticides, and landscape with native plants like jojoba and mesquite.
Join the Valley Field Ornithologists for guided bird walks and presentations. Check their events calendar for the latest field trips and talks.
With a little preparation, your yard can become an urban oasis for our feathered friends.
Common Backyard Birds of Tucson, Arizona
While Phoenix offers great birding opportunities in urban areas like the Desert Botanical Garden, Tucson opens up exciting habitats like the Sonoran Desert. This unique ecosystem draws in species adapted to the arid climate and saguaro-dotted landscape.
Top spots to observe birds in Tucson include Sabino Canyon, where you may spot a Phainopepla perched atop a desert willow or hear the descending song of a Canyon Wren echoing off the rock walls.
Don’t miss a visit to Madera Canyon, a mountain oasis that attracts everything from Elegant Trogons to nesting Lucifer Hummingbirds.
And you can easily attract species like Vermillion Flycatchers, Cactus Wrens, and Curve-billed Thrashers to your own backyard by providing native plants, a water source, and seed feeders.
With a sharp eye and a little patience, Tucson offers a wealth of avian life waiting to be discovered.
Conclusion
With over 565 types of birds to observe, Arizona is a bird-watcher’s paradise! From the official state bird, the Cactus Wren, to the most common bird, the Mourning Dove, which was reported in 46% of all sightings, there’s plenty of avian diversity to explore.
Join local bird watching clubs to learn more about the amazing birds of Arizona, and don’t forget to pack a pair of binoculars like the Celestron 8×42 Nature DX ED for the best viewing experience. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’re sure to be impressed by the stunning colors and behaviors of these incredible backyard birds.
