Birds of National Park

Mexican Spotted Owl

For the Birdwatcher Whether you are a beginner or a veteran guesswork out of it, this brochure is birder, you can find a wondrous variety of provided as a general guide to the birds in Saguaro National Park. From birds of Saguaro National Park. Up to date that are adapted to the extremes of the lists are available at the visitor centers, as desert, to birds that prefer the tall pines well as staff who can help you plan your of the mountains, over 200 species of birding trip. birds live in or migrate through the park. Bird watching in unfamiliar territory can be difficult. To take some of the Birds of the Desert What birds will you find among the cacti One of the best ways to find desert birds of Saguaro National Park? is by simply getting out there and hiking. Where can you find them? Saguaro National Park offers over 75 miles of park trails in desert scrub habitat. Stop The common birds of the desert are frequently to look and listen for birds. greatly varied. From the roadrunner dash- ing across a trail, to the diminutive verdin For a less strenuous trip, you might try gleaning tiny insects from the branch of one of our short, accessible nature trails or an acacia, to Harris’ hawks hunting in a a picnic area. Take your bird guide, bin- family group, birds occupy every niche of oculars and drinking water. the desert scrub habitat.

Birds of the Mountains To those who are more adventurous, or the canyon wren. More easily heard than simply have more time, a hike into the seen, it is distinguished by its tumbling Saguaro Wilderness Area in the Rincon cascade of notes. Mountain District of the park will open new vistas and different habitats. The grasslands abound with sparrows, their distinctions often challenging the Birds, such as the red-faced warbler, that veteran birder. are seldom seen on the desert floor, may be found with regularity in the grasslands High on the mountaintop, peregrine and the forests of the higher elevations. falcons nest among the rocks at Helen’s If camping in a wilderness area appeals Dome, while the threatened Mexican to you, ask for information at the visitor spotted owl hunts among the ponderosa Golden Eagle center. pines. In the canyons of the park, you may find

9,000

Mixed Conifer Forest 8,000

Pine Forest 7,000

6,000 Pine-oak Woodland 5,000 Oak Woodland 4,000 Desert Grassland 3,000 Desert Scrub Elevation (in feet) Where to Start Rincon Mountain District (east) birding opportunities. Visitors often see 1) A moderate 1.8 mile loop hike begins ash-throated flycatchers and Say’s phoe- at the Douglas Spring Trailhead. Just east bes hunting insects off the back patio. of the sign-in station, turn south on to the Cactus wrens and curve-billed thrashers Garwood Trail. Watch for activity, particu- often feed around the building. A short larly on your left, as various sparrows fre- stroll in the cactus garden might reveal a quent the area. It is also a good place to gilded flicker or Gila among find the Lucy’s warbler in summer. When the . you reach the Converse Trail, turn right and proceed to the Wildhorse Trail. Follow 2) Another excellent birding area starts the Wildhorse Trail north to Speedway at the King Canyon Trailhead. As you Boulevard. Along the way, watch for birds begin your hike, watch for pyrrhuloxias in the washes. Ash-throated and brown- and phainopeplas along the wash to your crested flycatchers, Bell’s vireos, rufous- left. Continue on to the intersection of winged sparrows and Crissal thrashers Sendero Esperanza and turn to your left. may be found here seasonally. Trail maps The grassy arroyo below Mam-a-gah are available at the visitor center. picnic area is an excellent place to look for canyon towhees and black-throated spar- Ash-throated Flycatcher 2) On the north end of the Cactus Forest rows. To complete this 2.4 mile loop hike, Drive is the paved, quarter-mile Desert return to the parking lot via the Gould Ecology Trail. One can expect to see mine trail. For additional birding opportu- several species of birds on this wheelchair nities, continue up to Wasson Peak via the accessible trail. Look for rufous-winged King Canyon and Hugh Norris Trails. For sparrow and verdins along the wash. a 7.5 mile loop, return to the trailhead via Cooper’s hawks are known to frequent the Hugh Norris, Sendero Esperanza and the large mesquite trees along the wash Gould Mine Trails. as well. 3) The Bajada Loop Road is a six-mile, 3) Another area to check is the Javelina graded, unpaved road that will give you Picnic Area at the south end of the Cactus the feeling of being deep in a desert Forest Drive. Sit down at one of the rama- wilderness. Watch for the very social Har- das and watch the birds around you, but ris’ hawks along the drive. Secretive rock please don’t feed them. A quarter-mile wrens and verdins may be seen along the hike up the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail from hillsides and washes. Look for Gambel’s here will take you up to a small canyon quail along the road. where you may find the canyon wren or the black-chinned sparrow. Tucson Mountain District (west) 1) The visitor center at the Tucson Moun- tain District offers a surprising number of

A Little Quiz 1) Which birds are the architects of the 4) What tiny, nocturnal hunter lives in saguaro boot? saguaro cavities?

______

2) Which black bird spreads the seeds 5) Which cardinal look-alike has a of desert mistletoe? crest and yellow bill?

Roadrunner ______

3) Which bird builds a football-shaped 6) Which small yellow-headed bird nest in cholla cactus? builds ball-shaped nests?

______

elf owl 5) pyrrhuloxia 6) verdin 6) pyrrhuloxia 5) owl elf

flickers 2) phainopepla 3) 4) 4) wren cactus 3) phainopepla 2) flickers Answers: 1) Gila and gilded gilded and woodpeckers Gila 1) Answers:

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