Bright and bold, the Painted Redstart makes itself even more obvious by flashing the white patches in its wings and tail. These movements startle insects to fly from leaves and trunks, which the redstart then flies out to catch in the air. Found in pine-oak woodlands and higher altitude coniferous forests, it forages from the forest floor to mid levels in the trees. Its nest is a shallow cup of grass and pine needles placed low in a shady niche or bank overhang.
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One of the few resident birds in open creosote bush deserts, the Leconte's Thrasher is no where abundant. Even with little vegetation in which to hide, this large bird is amazingly difficult to see. It streaks from the base of one bush to the next running with its tail up in the air. Only in early Spring does it become more obvious as it sings from the tops of the highest bushes in its territory. The bulky nest is in a dense cholla cactus or other dense shrubbery and is constructed of twigs, thorns and sticks.
A common garden bird in desert cities and suburbs, this thrasher also inhabits remote and dry desert areas. It tosses leaves and dry vegetation on the ground far to the side with its long, sickle-shaped bill and uncovers the spiders, snails, insects it likes to eat. The Curve-billed Thrasher also enjoys seeds at feeders, and when it arrives all other species, even large doves, beat a hasty retreat. The nest is a bulky cup-like affair placed in the middle of a sharp-needled cholla, other dense cactus, or thorny shrub.
Normally sneaky and retiring, this large thrasher occurs in chaparral, desert scrub and desert riparian areas. Here it is most obvious when it sits on a high bush or tree and sings. It is also likely to be noticed when it uses its huge bill to toss leaves and vegetation out of its way on the ground. It eats insects, berries and small invertebrates. The nest is a shallow cup made of shredded bark and grass and placed low in a dense bush.
One of the most widespread species in the world, the Common Moorhen occurs not only in North America but also South America, Eurasia and Africa. It swims duck-like but constantly bobbing its head while moving. This relative of the rails occupies freshwater marshes and ponds with cattails and other aquatic vegetation. The nest is located on a shallow platform of dead cattails, rushes, and other marsh plants, usually a few inches above water level. Young of the first brood help raise young of the following broods.
Primarily limited to coniferous forests at higher altitudes in the western mountains, the Clark\'s Nutcracker relies heavily on pine cone seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects for food. However, it is not above occasionally robbing eggs and nestlings from the nests of other birds. In a single summer, a single bird can cache up to 30,000 seeds by burying them in the ground, usually on more protected mountain slopes. These storage areas are then used throughout the winter as a food source, but many seeds are forgotten or lost, and new trees spring up here.
One of the most widespread and common warblers in North America, this species nests in mature coniferous forests or mixed broadleaf and coniferous forests. They feed on insects gleaned from vegetation or hawked from the air usually high in the trees. The cup-shaped nest is made of twigs and shredded bark and placed high on a horizontal branch. During the winter, the Yellow-rumped Warbler moves to more open forested habitats and suburbs and often moves in mixed species flocks. In the winter they often eat fruits.
Large sap wells are excavated in shallow but neat rows on the bark of a tree, and they are usually the first evidence of this sapsucker\s presence. The oozing sap as well as the insects attracted to it serve as a major source of food at some times of the year. The Williamson\'s Sapsucker is found in mountainous conifer forests and also feeds on ants and fruit in different seasons. The nest cavity is excavated in a conifer trunk from low down to almost the canopy. In the winter the females go to more open areas and are seldom found together with males.'
Common in arid riparian areas, deserts and vegetated suburbs, this large dove feeds on seeds, cactus fruits, and flower nectar. It is an important pollinator of Saguaro Cactus. In the late summer and winter they form often large flocks and are considered a game bird in some areas. The flimsy nest is made of a few sticks placed in the fork of a low tree.
Usually seen perched on a lone tree or telephone pole in savanna and grassy agricultural areas, this beautiful hawk also often hovers conspicuously over the ground looking intently down for prey. The kite feeds on small rodents, birds, reptiles and large insects. The nest is a stick platform placed at the top of a lone tree. The range of the White-tailed Kite has expanded considerably over the last 40 years, probably due to more extensive agricultural fields and the mice that live in them.