Limited to pine forests at higher altitudes, the Grace\s Warbler feeds on insects at the tops of tall trees. Its nest is on a horizontal pine branch and constructed of oak catkins and plant fibers.'
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A species closely associated with Saguaro Cactus and open desert, this woodpecker eats fruit and insects, especially ants from the ground. It makes its nest hole in a tall cactus but is often driven from the nest cavity by Starlings.
A desert species, the Gila Woodpecker makes nest holes in Saguaro cactus, riparian trees and buildings. These holes are often used by many other cavity nesting birds that can not make their own holes. This woodpecker adjusts readily to humans and is common in desert cities and suburbs. It feeds on insects, fruit and berries, and has been known to eat bird eggs.
In hot dry deserts, coveys of this quail are common, even entering suburban areas in search of water and food. It feeds on plant shoots, seeds, fruits and occasionally insects. During the hottest part of mid day they frequently rest in the shade or perch in a low bush. The nest is a shallow depression in the soil and lined with leaves and other vegetation.
Introduced from Europe, this dove is expanding its range in North America rapidly. It is almost always associated with human habitation, farms, ranches and feed lots. It forms small flocks and is usually obvious in the open habitats it prefers. The poorly-constructed nest is made up of small twigs and placed in a bush or low tree.
This skulking warbler is restricted to dense vegetation along water courses, and its song and calls are the easiest way to detect its presence. It feeds mainly on insects and spiders caught on vegetation near the ground. Its cup-shaped nest is placed low in a bush and is large and loosely constructed of stems and grass.
One of the most wide-ranging birds in the world, it also occupies a great variety of habitats from mountain tops to deserts. Ths huge bird often soars on its wide wings like a hawk high overhead. Usually found in pairs but occasionally small flocks will form in the winter. A pair will sometimes take over abandoned nests of hawks and owls, but it is always a massive structure built of twigs and branches. The nest is usually placed high in a dead tree but in cities they will use buildings. Common Ravens eat considerable carrion, but they will also eat fruits, insects and small animals.
Nocturnal and shy, this bird is much more often heard than seen. It can be found regularly sitting in the middle of a lonely gravel road where it will fly up in the headlights of a vehicle like a huge moth. Apparently it spends much of the winter in northern parts of its range in a state of torpor or hibernation concealed in rock piles. It catches insects at night in its gaping mouth by flying low over the desert floor. Its nest is a shallow depression on the ground, usually near a steep hill.
Most conspicuous at dusk when it hawks high over head for flying insects, this nighthawk occurs in open areas, such as fields, savannas and commonly city centers. The nest is a scrape in the soil surface, and occasionally on a flat, textured roof top. The Common Nighthawk winters in South America.
Limited to salt and brackish marshes along the coast, only in the desert southwest does the Clapper Rail occur in freshwater marshes. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, these large rails often will emerge from the dense aquatic vegetation and walk boldly along the water\'s edge with the short tail pointed up. One of the best times to see this skulking species is at exceptionally high tides when individuals are forced out into the open by the inundation.