Birds like roadrunners have found unique ways to survive in the desert. Roadrunners spend most of their time on the ground rather than flying, which uses more energy. Running allows the bird to conserve energy and water. The greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) runs in the open and reaches speeds of 15 miles per hour. A member of the cuckoo family, the greater roadrunner has a long tail, conspicuous crest and a red and white eyebrow. The year-round resident breeds in the spring and summer.
The cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) has been named the official state bird of Arizona. Usually wrens are small and brown, however the highly vocal cactus wren is spotted and striped. Another wren is the rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) which is one of the birds most often encountered in the Sonoran Desert.
While woodpeckers are expected to be found in the woods, the highly adaptable Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) is at home living off saguaros. The Gila woodpecker has a brown head with a black and white banded back. Only the male has red on the head. The diet consists of cactus fruits as well as mistletoe berries and insects.
The Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) is conspicuous in the Sonoran Desert. Plump and poor fliers, they spend most of their time on the ground. Another quail, the masked bobwhite was once common in the Desert. However, herds of cattle brought into the area eliminated the grass that made up the bird's diet and the bird disappeared, according the the Desert Museum website. While captive flocks do exist, there has been difficulty reintroducing them back into the wild.
Hawks appear at different times of the year. The very common soaring red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is most often seen in winter as is the sharp-skinned hawk. Other hawks include the migratory Swainson's hawk, appearing in the desert only briefly during the spring and fall. Harris's hawk remains in the desert year-round.
A variety of other birds are found in the Sonoran Desert. This includes the canyon towhee, turkey vulture, black-tailed gnatcatcher, gilded flicker and the verdin. Other bird types include a variety of owls, sparrows, hummingbirds, thrashers, finches, doves, phainopeplas, flycatchers and sparrows.
