This is one of my favorite warblers! Meet the common yellowthroat. These tiny songbirds thrive in brushy wetland areas, spending their time hopping around and picking off small insects. It was a delightful surprise to encounter him, exposed, in the middle of winter. Tucson, AZ.
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A stunning male verdin brandishes the feather of a much larger bird, then poses for the camera. I spent the better part of a week watching him delicately place sticks amidst treacherous cholla spines. Mr Verdin would take periodic breaks to hop around the nearby treetops, earnestly singing for a hypothetical lady. On multiple occasions, this feather was carried to the slowly-progressing nest, delicately placed, then shifted a few times before being blown away by the wind. Finally, while Mr Verdin was too far away to notice, the wind blew this prize away to never be retrieved again. Poor fellow! Photo taken in Tucson, AZ.
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One of the stunning migratory birds that pass through Tucson.
Meet the Wilson's Warbler. Here is another small, beautiful bird that we can thank for all the insects / spiders he consumes! Tucson, AZ.
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This red-faced warbler perched a mere 10 feet from my post while awaiting a turn in the babbling stream. Spending a number of hours sitting near the only local source of flowing water, I was greeted with many a joyful visitor. Red-faced warblers were on a rotation with tanagers, jays, woodpeckers, thrushes, redstarts, and other warblers.
Madera Canyon, AZ. Prints of this image are not currently available for sale. Please check back for future availability!
Gloomy day wildlife photography can be uniquely frustrating. Moving subjects are hard to capture when light is so limited, but in this case, the dreary background created a wonderful effect! This bridled titmouse perched on the most beautiful flowery perch which just happened to be directly in front of me. Madera Canyon, AZ.
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Some of the earliest North American ornithologists described painted redstarts as "the most beautiful birds on the continent." Although beauty is quite the subjective term, it's hard to argue. These tiny summer migrants of Southern AZ favor areas near water where they snatch flies and other tiny insects from foliage and "on the wing." Madera Canyon, AZ.
Vermilion flycatchers specialize in catching flying insects "on the wing," often returning to the same favored perch sites. Males, cloaked in neon orange, certainly stand out in a crowd.
The golden cottonwood leaves made this scene all the inspiring! Tucson, AZ.
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Spectacular birds, tanagers are! Not unlike other tanagers, the summer variety enjoys a diverse diet of fruits, berries, and bugs. This fabulous fellow caught and gobbled down an enormous, pink grasshopper right in front of my wonderful companion and I as we meandered through the forest. Patagonia Lake State Park, AZ.
Hence their name, Cactus wrens choose the most sinister, yet well-protected nesting sites imaginable. The cactus spines provide an incredible defense from predators! While sitting at the edge of a campground with a tripod set up, watching the wrens, several passing humans tried to figure out what magnificent creature was hidden in the desert, far beyond the nest. Photographed at Rockhound State Park, NM, USA.
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Unlike most desert birds, the Western bluebirds vibrant cloak certainly stands out in a crowd! These stunning Sonoran gems are quite fond of both berries and bugs. Tucson, AZ.
True denizens of the desert, black-throated sparrows seem to relish hot, dry areas in the valley. They favor sloped habitat with lots of thorny plants, offering sinister yet fortified nesting habitat. Saguaro National Park West, AZ.
This stunning male verdin was entirely consumed by the construction of his nest, and what a sinister place he chose! I spent the better part of a week watching him delicately place spicks amidst treacherous cholla spines. Mr Verdin would take period breaks to hop around the nearby treetops, earnestly singing for a hypothetical lady. Verdins will often construct 5 or 6 decoys nests near the residence. Tucson, AZ. Prints of this image are not currently available for sale. Please check back for future availability!
Shrikes have a sinister reputation for catching insects or lizards, then impaling the creatures upon cactus spines. Although gruesome-looking, this actually serves as their food storage for lean times. Photo taken in Joshua Tree National Park, CA.
A fantastic female phainopepla spreading her tail feathers. These interesting birds will actually lay two egg clutches a year; once in the higher elevations, and once in the lower. They eat a lot of flying insects, but also appear quite fond of tiny berries, the ever-present mistletoe being a favorite. Their Picture Rocks, AZ.
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Bathed in the brilliant light of golden hour, further enhanced by the yellow grass, the flycatcher (species unknown) surveys his territory. Photographed atop a yucca in Willcox, AZ.
Have you seen the trogon? These words echo throughout Madera Canyon at springtime and early summer as birders frantically search for this stunning creature! Trogons are primarily tropical birds, but the elegant variety just so happens to migrate as far north as Southern Arizona, inhabiting only a few special locations. Their unique "song" resembles a barking chihuahua.
Corvids are incredible intelligent birds, applying unique problem-solving, sometimes involving the use of tools.
This group includes crows, ravens, and jay.
Sitting in the mouth of an old mine site, this Stellar's Jay bridged the gap between light and dark. Madera Canyon, AZ.
Late in the season, a juvenile elegant trogon calls to his sibling. Madera Canyon, AZ.
Absent from nearly all of the US, the yellow-eyed junco can be encountered in select habitats nearly exclusive to Southern AZ. This ground-foragers are often quite human-tolerant, sometimes venturing quite close to calm, respectful homo sapiens exploring their habitat. This featured fellow was seconds away from plunging into the water for a cool bath! Madera Canyon, AZ.
A Grace's Warbler plunges head first into the chilly stream. Photo taken at Madera Canyon, AZ.
While plunging into his / her chilly bath, yellow-eyed junco casually watches the surroundings. Photo taken at Madera Canyon, AZ.
In the winter, phainopepla rely heavily on the berries of desert mistletoe. They also nest amidst the dense branches. The mistletoe relies on phainopepla to spread their seeds in nutritious piles of fertilizer as these small birds cruise above the landscape. Tucson, AZ.
Spring is an exciting time for Mother Nature. New plants emerge from the ground, mammals re-animate after hibernating, and birds celebrate with their songs. This house wren seemed to be staking out territory. Madera Canyon, AZ.
The tiny, beautiful Townsend's Warbler frantically foraging amidst the foliage of an alligator juniper. Madera Canyon, AZ.
