American Kestrels can be found throughout much of the United States including nearly all of Arizona. Although common, they are so small that they may be hard to identify. They’re about the size of a […]
Author Archives: Tom
Backyard Birds & A Bonus
Unlike some of the more elusive wildlife in my area of Scottsdale—like javelina or bobcats—birds can be found in nearly any back yard. They’re abundant. They’re colorful. They sing. And, most wonderful of all, they […]
Hummingbirds—Colorful Desert Wonders
Hummingbirds, in various varieties, can be found throughout the greater Phoenix, Arizona area, and they are truly wondrous to watch and photograph. Whether you have a hummingbird feeder on your patio or flowering plants in your […]
Gila Woodpeckers
Many of the holes you see in the Saguaro cacti throughout the Greater Pinnacle Peak area are active or former nest entrances of the Gila Woodpecker. The male has a distinctive bright red patch on […]
Wild Love Birds
A couple of years ago I was surprised to see two brightly colored birds feeding on a sock full of thistle seeds I have hanging in the yard. I took a few pictures at the […]
Arizona Cardinals
No…not the football team, but rather the wonderfully bright red bird known as the Northern Cardinal. Although not a common sight here in Arizona, the Northern Cardinal can be found with a little patience. When […]
Gambel’s Quail Chicks – The Next Generation
For those of you who live in the Greater Pinnacle Peak area of Scottsdale, Arizona, seeing a Gambel’s Quail is not a particularly unusual sighting. If you see one, you’re also likely to see another […]
You Got to Stop and Smell the Roses
I walk just about every day of the year, and it’s usually a long walk. It’s a great way to exercise, and it gives me the opportunity to “Stop and Smell the Roses” as Mac […]
Cactus Wren – Arizona’s State Bird
Cactus Wrens are fairly common throughout the southwest and especially in Northeast Scottsdale, Arizona. They were officially recognized as Arizona’s state bird in 1931. These birds, about the size of a common Robin, build their […]
Trumpicanus Donaldus – New Bird Species
I was excited to spot and photograph a new bird species the other day. Here’s an excerpt describing the bird from the authoritative Journal of United States Ornithological Ephemera: “The bird was first identified and […]