arizona

Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) This subspecies is frequently called the Mexican Spotted Owl. Three subspecies are frequently recognized however, a fourth juanaphillipsae a Mexican endemic was published by Robert Dickerman in 1997. Photographed outside of Sierra Vista, Cochise County...

Convergent Ladybird Beetles (Hippodamia convergens: Coccinellidae) This is most common North American Ladybird Beetle. These small colorful beetles range from 0.6-1.3 cm (0.25-0.50 in) long with 13 black spots. The color behind their head is black and white. Photographed along Barfoot Peak...

Golden-mantled Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis: Sciuridae) Unlike Chipmunks they have no facial stripes. Their bodies range from 23-30 cm (9.1-12 in) long. Photographed near Alpine, Arizona, U.S.A. in an area strewn with granitic rock and boulders near a confier forest at 2,450 m (8,050...

Teddybear Cholla [Cylindropuntia (Opuntia) bigelovii: Cactaceae] This native cactus is considered a shrub or subshrub and grows to 2.4 m (8 ft) tall and produces beautiful flowers 3.8 cm (1.5 in) across with yellow-green petals streaked with red or lavender. Photographed in Tucson, Pima County...

Desert Caltrop also known as Large-flower Caltrop, Orange Caltrop, Caltrop Desert Poppy, Mexican Poppy (Kallstroemia grandiflora: Zygophyllaceae). This showy herbaceous annual is a common plant of the warm deserts of North America. Flowers are 2-4.5 cm (0.8-1.6 in) across. Photographed in...

Antelope Jackrabbit (Lepus alleni: Leporidae) This North American hare can only be found in the State of Arizona in the U.S.A. but can also be found in the States of Chihuahua, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora and on a small island off of Sonora called Tiburon in Mexico This hare is slightly larger...

Arizona Gray Squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis: Sciuridae) Ramsey Canyon, Cochise County nestled between Hereford and Sierra Vista, Southeast Arizona, U.S.A. in the Huachuca Mountains. Riparian dominated by oak/juniper/sycamore at ca. 5,400 ft elevation.

Sonoran Lyre Snake (Trimorphodon biscutatus lambda: Colubridae) This is a medium size snake reaching lengths of 1.2 m (4 ft). Its primary habitation is rocky canyons and arroyos of hills and mountains from sea level to 2,300 m (7,400 ft) elevation and is usually nocturnal. It is a mildly...

Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae: Phyllostomidae) These bats are only 6.4-7.6 cm (2.5-3 in) long but have a 35.6 cm (14 in) wingspan and only weigh 0.4-0.7 oz (1.2-20 gm). They feed exclusively on the fruit and nectar of night-blooming cacti like Saguaro and Organ Pipe cacti as...

Mexican Long-tongued Bat (Choeronycteris mexicana: Phyllostomidae) This long-tongued nectar feeding bat has a tongue that can extend 1/3 its body length. They have a wingspan of 33-38 cm (13-15 in). They weigh 10-25 gm (0.35-0.85 oz). Photographed in Ramsey Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains...

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) Excluding the Socorro Towhee (Pipilo socorroensis), there have been twenty five subspecies described, four have been synonymized leaving twenty one recognized subspecies. The Socorro Towhee is often treated at the species level while some authors still...

The late Marion Paton of Patagonia, Arizona, hummingbird hostess extraordinaire.

A favorite resident of the American southwest desert. Taken in Sabino Canyon, Tucson, ARizona

These quail are year-round residents in Tucson, AZ. They are so cute to watch when they have huge clutches that are superfast furballs running around. These male was watching over his family.

He's taken a short breather after chasing all others away from his feeder. They nest here Southern Arizona, which is the northern limit of their range.

These gregarious birds build nests in the all kinds of cactus, surrounded by a thicket of treacherous thorns, quite safe from harm.

Cooper's Hawk with meal of unfortunate woodpecker. I noticed the band after I downloaded the photo. Taken in my neighborhood in Tucson, AZ

Common name, Desert Cardinal, in Tucson AZ

Taken at Cochise Lake, Willcox, Arizona, 80 miles east of Tucson. This is part of the Sulpher Springs Valley, a major migratory flyway and wintering grounds for 30,000 Sandhill Cranes and many raptor species. Cochise Lake has many resident and migratory shore birds---an oasis in the desert.

CJ's Desert Dwellers: Round-tailed Ground Squirrel - Spermophilus teriticaudus Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae Length:15-20 cm (6-8 in) Weight:170-200 g ( 6-7 oz) Local (Spanish) name: juancito This squirrel is often mistaken for a tiny prairie dog. While they share some common habits...

One of my roadrunners grabbing breakfast. I have four of them competing over the area. This was taken as a 'headshot', with a very slight crop. CJ's Desert Dwellers: Greater Roadrunner - Geococcyx californianus This photo shows one of our four resident Greater Roadrunners - Geococcyx...

CJ's Desert Dwellers: Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna Length:100 mm (4 in) Wingspan: 130 mm (5.25 in) Weight: 4.3 g (0.15 oz) Family: Trochilidae The only U.S.hummingbird with a red crown!! Common in open woods, chaparral and flower gardens. Larger and sturdier than a Black-chinned with a...

CJ's Desert Dwellers: Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii Length: 140 mm ( 5.75 in) Wingspan: 180 mm (7.5 in) Weight:17 g (0.6 oz) Family:Emberizidae This bird is actually a 'national dweller', common across the United States, but rather inconspicuous in it's 'lifestyle'. Described as a...

CJ's Desert Dwellers: Tailed Orange Butterfly - Eurema proterpia Family: Pieridae Length: 35-44mm This is a male Tailed Orange Butterfly - Eurema proterpia. This species shows some good sexual dimorphism (differrent appearances for different sexes). It also varies in appearance by season...

CJ's Desert Dwellers: Rufous-winged Sparrow - Aimophila carpalis Family:Emberizidae Length: 140-150 cm (5.75-6 in) Wingspan: 187 cm (7.5 in) Weight: 15 gm (.53 oz) An uncommon bird to the United States. It's range is limited to a small area of southern Arizona. Identification marks include...