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Birds of Prey
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Arizona is one of the best states for seeing birds of prey due to its diverse habitats—from deserts and canyons to forests and mountains. Here’s a streamlined list of the most notable raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons, owls, and vultures) you can find in Arizona:
🦅 Eagles
Bald Eagle – Found near lakes and rivers; year-round in some areas.
Golden Eagle – Prefers open country and cliffs; year-round resident in higher elevations.
🪶 Hawks
Red-tailed Hawk – Most common hawk; broad wings, red tail.
Swainson’s Hawk – Summer resident; migrates in large flocks.
Zone-tailed Hawk – Mimics vultures in flight; found in canyons and forests.
Common Black Hawk – Along streams in SE Arizona; broad wings, black body.
Cooper’s Hawk – Forests and suburbs; medium-sized, fast flyer.
Sharp-shinned Hawk – Smaller than Cooper’s; mainly winter visitor.
Harris’s Hawk – Social and unique; found in desert scrublands, often hunts in groups.
Gray Hawk – Limited to SE Arizona; small, light gray, found along streams.
⚔️ Falcons
American Kestrel – Small, colorful; common in open areas and near farms.
Peregrine Falcon – Fastest bird; found in cliffs and urban areas.
Prairie Falcon – Desert and grassland hunter; pale with dark wing pits.
Merlin – Small, fierce falcon; winter visitor.
🦉 Owls
Great Horned Owl – Widespread; large, with ear tufts and deep hoot.
Barn Owl – Pale, heart-shaped face; roosts in barns, cliffs, and saguaro cavities.
Western Screech-Owl – Small, camouflaged; found in desert and woodlands.
Elf Owl – Tiny (smallest owl); found in saguaro and sycamore groves in SE AZ.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Rare; seen in SE AZ deserts.
Burrowing Owl – Found in grasslands and desert burrows, often active during day.
Northern Pygmy-Owl – Small, forest dweller, active during day.
Long-eared Owl – Secretive; found in wooded riparian areas.
Short-eared Owl – Open grasslands; more often seen in winter.
♻️ Vultures
Turkey Vulture – Common scavenger, tilts side-to-side in flight.
Black Vulture – Less common; shorter tail, white wingtip
