By Garry Rogers

Arizona Birds

Loggerhead Shrike

Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Counts show that since 1967, many U. S. birds have declined.  Many of our most familiar bird species have lost at least half their populations.  For example, over the past 50 years, sightings of Loggerhead Shrikes, a common Arizona species, declined by 72 percent.  The Loggerhead Shrike in the photograph is the only one I have seen in 15 years of watching at my location.  (Other photos of birds at Coldwater Farm)

Observers have reported direct connections between bird declines and habitat destruction (farming and building), habitat harvest (logging, livestock grazing, and water diversion), habitat invasions by introduced plant species, and habitat poisoning with pesticides.  These forces are increasing worldwide as humans steadily increase and replace other species.

Arizona Bird Conservation Status

According to the list published by AZGFD, there are 551 bird species and subspecies found in Arizona.  Only 451 of these are regular residents.  AZGFD wildlife biologists conclude that 58% of the regulars are imperiled or vulnerable.  Another 20% are of possible long-term concern.  The U. S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) protects only about 1% of Arizona bird species.

Bird Species Numbers

• World:  10,000
• U. S.:  1,000
• Arizona Total:  551
• Arizona birds regularly present:  451
• Arizona regulars of concern (ranked S1 to S3):  260 (58%)
• Arizona regulars of Possible Long-Term Concern:  (S4):  95 (21%)
• ESA Arizona regulars Listed Endangered:  6 (1%)
• ESA Arizona regulars Listed Threatened:  1 (<1%)
• ESA Arizona regulars of Concern:  26 (6%)

Arizona Bird References

• The Naturalist’s Bookstore has field guides (at the end of the category list) and other references.  Go to:  http://bit.ly/RKW2bC.
• Alderfer, J., Ed.  2006.  Complete Birds of North America.  National Geographic Society, Washington, DC.  696 p.
• American Birding Association:  http://www.aba.org.
• American Ornithologists’ Union:  http://www.aou.org/.
• ABC.  AZ Bird Committee:  http://www.azfo.org. Checklists  :  http://www.mexicobirding.com/arizona/checklist.html
• Arizona Field Ornithologists:  http://azfo.org.
• Arizona Game and Fish Department:  http://azgfd.gov/
• American Bird Conservancy:  www.abcbirds.org.
• Audubon Society:  http://birds.audubon.org/common-birds-decline.
• Brandt, F.  2001.  Birding the Flagstaff Area. Northern Arizona Audubon Society.  Flagstaff, AZ.
• Corman, T.E., and C. Wise-Gervais.  2005.  Arizona breeding bird atlas.  University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM.  636 p.
• Gilmore, V. 2003.  Birding Sedona and the Verde Valley.  Northern Arizona Audubon Soc.  Flagstaff, AZ.
• Partners in Flight:  www.partnersinflight.org.
• Rosenberg, G.H., and D. Stejskal. 2002 (2nd Edition).  The Arizona Bird Committee’s field checklist of birds of Arizona.  Bird Committee, Tucson, AZ.
• Sogge, M.K., D. Felley, D., and M. Wotawa.  1998.  Annotated species list and summary in riparian bird community ecology in the Grand Canyon-Final Report.  U. S. Geological Survey, Colorado Plateau Field Station, Northern Arizona Univ, Flagstaff, AZ.
• Thayer Birding Software:  http://www.thayerbirding.com/.
• Tomoff, C.S.  2003 (3rd Edition).  Birds of Prescott, AZ:  Annotated checklist of the relative abundance and seasonal status of Prescott-area birds. Carl Tomoff Publications, Prescott, Arizona.
• U. S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center:  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r2/4.htm
• WildBirds:  www.WildBirds.com.
• Wingert, K.  1996.  Birds in and around Prescott and the Verde Valley.  The Left Hand Press, Prescott, AZ.  vii + 63 p.
• Witzeman, J., S. Demaree and E Radke. 1997.  Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County.  Maricopa Audubon Society, Phoenix, AZ.

Posts about the birds at Coldwater Farm

• Barn Owl
• Barn Owl Disaster
• Black-Hawk Has a Busy Day
• Black-Hawk Raids GBH Nests
• Cooper’s Hawk

Arizona Bird Checklist

Click for list of conservation status (AZ & ESA) symbols.