The Sonoran Desert plays home to a wide variety of birds. From Golden Eagles to Hummingbirds, people will be surprised at the diversity of winged creatures capable of surviving the desert extremes.

A Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) - they were named by John Audubon after his friend and 19th century American naturalist Edward Harris

A Costa's Hummingbird rests atop an ocotillo branch on the Sonoran Trail - they are only 3 inches tall

Known for their striking black crest, the Phainopela lives off mistlestoe berries and small insects

Gambel's quail are common in the Sonoran desert and have an average life span of 1-2 years in the wild

Verdin can be found throughout the southwest and grow to only 4" tall

A Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) pecks a nest-hole into a saguaro cactus - they will let the hole dry for weeks before use

Cardinals are common in the lower foothills on the Sonoran desert and eat seeds, berries and insects

A Golden Eagle soars above the Lost Goldmine Trail - little is known about the eagle population in Arizona

The Cactus Wren is the state bird of Arizona

High winds blow the feathers of a Roadrunner near The Lookout in the Sonoran Preserve

A Mourning Dove on the Marcus Landslide Trail - their call greatly resembles an owl hoot

Gila Woodpeckers use saguaro cacti holes as nests, returning to feed their young inside the cactus

Anna's Hummingbird takes flight - Hummingbirds are integral to plant pollination in the Sonoran desert

A curve-billed thrasher on the Marcus Landslide Trail - they are predatory birds who dine on baby tortoise and lizards