More
than 300 species of birds have been recorded in the Anza-Borrego region.
Many of these birds, like the Swainson's Hawk, are here only briefly each year,
during their seasonal migration. But Anza-Borrego's wide range of
elevations, from close to sea level in the east to 6,200 feet in the mountain
peaks, has created a great diversity of habitat. The photo gallery
does not include all of these species, but it does show many of the more common
ones, along with the wide variety of birds that live here.
The roadrunner is most
likely seen running in spurts across the open desert or darting across
a roadway as you drive along.
Although the Roadrunner can fly short distances, it prefers staying on
the ground, and can hit speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. The
Roadrunner is a fearless predator, and feeds on insects, small birds,
lizards, mammals, and small snakes, including rattlesnakes.
The Great Horned Owl is a
big bird, sometimes measuring more than two feet from top to bottom.
Like all owls, this one has exceptional hearing, and can locate its
prey by sound alone.
This owl feeds on mammals,
birds, snakes, and insects, and can take prey up to the size of a
small skunk.
In the local area, Great
Horned Owls are sometimes seen in the vicinity of Borrego High School,
where they have nests in the palms during the breeding season.
The Phainopepla is a
striking bird; the male a shiny black, and both males and females have
very distinctive red eyes.
The Phainopepla eats
insects, berries, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. This bird
has a specialized mechanism for more efficient digestion of small
fruits and berries. It has a gizzard that removes the skin from
berries so the skins and can be digested separately from the rest of
the fruit.
The Swainson's Hawk is a
long-distance traveler, spending the winter months as far away as
Argentina, and then returning each year to their breeding grounds in
western North America. Large numbers of Swainson's Hawks can be
seen here each year during the peak migration period; generally from
late February until early April.
This hawk is a beautiful
sight to behold around Borrego Springs as it peacefully glides on
updrafts against the clear blue sky.
There are several species
of hummingbirds that are commonly seen in Anza-Borrego, Costa's
Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, and the Black-chinned Hummingbird.
These smallest of birds are
most likely to be seen near clusters of brightly colored flowers, as
they dart about feeding on the nectar. Many people put
hummingbird feeders around their homes and the feeders can become so
popular that some of these tiny birds will begin to actively defend
the feeder as their very own territory.
The Cactus Wren is a common
bird in the desert, and the largest wren. It feeds on insects,
fruit, and seeds and is a common visitor to bird feeders and sources
of water.
The Cactus wren builds its
nest in cholla or other cactus and will use the nest as a roosting
location in-between the breeding season.
The Mockingbird mimics the
songs of other birds, and can have some of the most varied and
beautiful songs you will ever hear. Males will often sing at
night; so when you hear a beautiful birdsong long after the sun goes
down, there is a good chance you are hearing a mockingbird.
The Mockingbird eats insects and fruits and is often seen perching in
some prominent location, on the top of a bush or on a branch.
There are many different
varieties of sparrows you will see in Anza-Borrego. The
White-crowned sparrow is most common in the desert during the winter
months, but it is found year round in the state of California.
This sparrow feeds on the
ground, and searches for insects, seeds, berries, and other food items
by scratching backwards with its feet. Sparrows are often seen
in small groups.