Bird Menu

Alderfer, Jonathan (ed.). National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: Arizona/New Mexico . Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006. This handy, really pocket-size (4x6) guide includes most of the birds you're likely to see in Arizona. In addition to a photo, it includes information about behavior, habitat and specific local sites where you are likely to find the bird.

Chambers, Nina et al. Pollinators of the Sonoran Desert: A Field Guide. Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2004.

Corman, Troy E. and Cathryn Wise-Gervais (eds.) Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2005.

Dunn, Erica H. and Diane L. Tessaglia-Hymes. Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Feeding Habits, Behavior, Distribution, and Abundance. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999. Compiles information provided by thousands of feeder owners enrolled in Project FeederWatch.

Gray, Mary Taylor. Watchable Birds of the Southwest. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1995. Large color photos of the birds you are most likely to spot.

McMillon, Bill. Birding Arizona. Helena, Montana: Falcon Press Publishing Company, 1995. Gives 45 specific birding locations with maps and lists of the birds to be found at each one.

Tekiela, Stan. Birds of Arizona Field Guide. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, 2003. This book is an excellent guide for birders who are not interested in using the ornithological classification utilized by most bird identification guides. The method here is simple: note the dominant color of the bird, turn to the section bearing that color tab; next note the size of the bird. Birds in this book are listed from smallest to largest; so the "black" section begins with the European Starling and ends with the Turkey Vulture. The photos are large, and additional information includes range in Arizona, size in inches, nest, migration, food and "Stan's Notes" which give tips on how to differentiate this bird from similar birds.

Sibley, David Allen. Sibley's Birding Basics. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. Concise nformation on how to get started in birding.

______________. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. A complete guide to identifying birds of the U.S.

______________. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001. Includes general information about birds along with detailed descriptions of the adaptations and life patterns of the bird families of North America.

Thompson, Bill et al. IDentify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. A collection of articles from Bird Watcher's Digest magazine.

		Birds of Cochise County Herons Cattle Egret Turkey Vulture Black Vulture Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Prairie Falcon California Quail Gambel's Quail Scaled Quail Wild Turkey Sandhill Crane Killdeer Mourning Dove White-winged Dove Greater Roadrunner Burrowing Owl Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Elf Owl Western Screech Owl Hummingbirds Gila Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Ash-throated Flycatcher Southwest Willow Flycatcher Raven Cactus Wren Northern Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher Phainopepla Pyrrhuloxia Hooded Oriole Black-throated Sparrow Chipping Sparrow House Finch We will continue to add more birds to our list. Please check back often. Most frequently reported breeding birds in Arizona (in order of frequency) as reported by the Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas (2005) Mourning Dove Ash-throated Flycatcher House Finch Common Raven Red-tailed Hawk Northern mockingbird Black-throated Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Rock Wren American Kestrel Gambel's Quail Turkey Vulture Say's Phoebe Cactus Wren Loggerhead Shrike Phainopepla Verdin Great Horned Owl Bewick's Wren Western Kingbird Photo: Allen's Hummingbird, USFWS photo by Lee Karney Recommended birding books Alderfer, Jonathan (ed.). National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: Arizona/New Mexico . Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006. This handy, really pocket-size (4x6) guide includes most of the birds you're likely to see in Arizona. In addition to a photo, it includes information about behavior, habitat and specific local sites where you are likely to find the bird. Chambers, Nina et al. Pollinators of the Sonoran Desert: A Field Guide. Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2004. Corman, Troy E. and Cathryn Wise-Gervais (eds.) Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2005. Dunn, Erica H. and Diane L. Tessaglia-Hymes. Birds at Your Feeder: A Guide to Feeding Habits, Behavior, Distribution, and Abundance. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999. Compiles information provided by thousands of feeder owners enrolled in Project FeederWatch. Gray, Mary Taylor. Watchable Birds of the Southwest. Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 1995. Large color photos of the birds you are most likely to spot. McMillon, Bill. Birding Arizona. Helena, Montana: Falcon Press Publishing Company, 1995. Gives 45 specific birding locations with maps and lists of the birds to be found at each one. Tekiela, Stan. Birds of Arizona Field Guide. Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, 2003. This book is an excellent guide for birders who are not interested in using the ornithological classification utilized by most bird identification guides. The method here is simple: note the dominant color of the bird, turn to the section bearing that color tab; next note the size of the bird. Birds in this book are listed from smallest to largest; so the "black" section begins with the European Starling and ends with the Turkey Vulture. The photos are large, and additional information includes range in Arizona, size in inches, nest, migration, food and "Stan's Notes" which give tips on how to differentiate this bird from similar birds. Sibley, David Allen. Sibley's Birding Basics. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. Concise nformation on how to get started in birding. ______________. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. A complete guide to identifying birds of the U.S. ______________. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2001. Includes general information about birds along with detailed descriptions of the adaptations and life patterns of the bird families of North America. Thompson, Bill et al. IDentify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. A collection of articles from Bird Watcher's Digest magazine.