The Top 5 Raptors You’ll See in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert

When outsiders think of a desert, they usually imagine a vast, empty landscape that is barren and windblown. The few creatures hardy enough to exist in the desert must be a rare find.

Anyone who lives in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona knows this couldn't be further from the truth. While it's still a vast expanse of arid land stretching across Arizona and into Mexico, our desert is home to diverse wildlife.

Arizona's Diverse Desert Ecosystem

Arizona is home to an array of raptors. These beautiful birds play a crucial role in our desert ecosystem by controlling rodent populations and adding to Arizona's biodiversity.

READ: Listeners name the K101 Radio Station Hawks in Sierra Vista

Learning about these beautiful creatures - some who soar across the skies during the light of day and others who hunt during the cloak of night - is a great way to discover part of the landscape of animals in our part of the world.

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Arizona Red Tail Hawks: A Family Close to Home

Seeing these beautiful birds in action is a treat. Our radio station is host to a family of red-tail hawks who live in our broadcast tower.

READ: Sierra Vista's Radio Station Hawks

The family of hawks have been in the area for several generations. Our longtime business manager can remember the birds calling the towers home for at least 25 years and estimates they've been here even longer than that.

Here are the top five raptors that rule the skies of this desert landscape.

[ DigitalLibraryDesertMuseum.org | Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum ]