Field Guide · Regional

Wildlife in Arizona

The birds, plants, and insects most often recorded in Arizona. A starting field list, drawn from iNaturalist research-grade observations, for what is likely living near you.

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Birds

Birds Commonly Recorded In Arizona

Most-recorded birds reported across the state.

  1. Mourning Dove Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 10,512 records
  2. Gambel's Quail Callipepla gambelii 10,194 records
  3. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 9,474 records
  4. Gila Woodpecker Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis 9,012 records
  5. Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus 8,736 records
  6. Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna 8,405 records
  7. Curve-Billed Thrasher Curve-Billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre 8,393 records
  8. Great-Tailed Grackle Great-Tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 8,320 records
  9. Mallard Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 8,224 records
  10. Cactus Wren Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus 7,336 records
  11. Red-Tailed Hawk Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 7,096 records
  12. Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 6,859 records
Plants

Plants Commonly Recorded In Arizona

Plants observers log most often statewide.

  1. Saguaro Saguaro Carnegiea gigantea 53,313 records
  2. Creosote Bush Creosote Bush Larrea tridentata 30,037 records
  3. Fishhook Barrel Cactus Ferocactus wislizeni 19,495 records
  4. Ocotillo Ocotillo Fouquieria splendens 18,122 records
  5. Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus Echinocereus engelmannii 17,740 records
  6. Brittlebush Brittlebush Encelia farinosa 12,263 records
  7. Graham's Nipple Cactus Graham's Nipple Cactus Cochemiea grahamii 10,307 records
  8. Chain-Fruit Cholla Cylindropuntia fulgida 9,865 records
  9. Buckhorn Cholla Buckhorn Cholla Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa 9,479 records
  10. Stinknet Oncosiphon pilulifer 8,635 records
  11. California Barrel Cactus California Barrel Cactus Ferocactus cylindraceus 8,020 records
  12. Soaptree Yucca Yucca elata 7,784 records
Insects

Insects Commonly Recorded In Arizona

The insects that turn up most in records.

  1. Queen Queen Danaus gilippus 7,716 records
  2. Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera 7,670 records
  3. White-Lined Sphinx Hyles lineata 6,482 records
  4. Marine Blue Marine Blue Leptotes marina 4,804 records
  5. Pipevine Swallowtail Pipevine Swallowtail Battus philenor 4,802 records
  6. American Snout American Snout Libytheana carinenta 4,670 records
  7. Painted Lady Painted Lady Vanessa cardui 4,266 records
  8. Empress Leilia Empress Leilia Asterocampa leilia 3,592 records
  9. Flame Skimmer Flame Skimmer Libellula saturata 3,433 records
  10. Pallid-Winged Grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis 3,409 records
  11. Gray Bird Grasshopper Gray Bird Grasshopper Schistocerca nitens 3,222 records
  12. Blue Dasher Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis 2,974 records

Go Deeper

Use the live finder to narrow this to your town and season. Then read Who Lives Here, how to attract wildlife to your yard, and planting for local wildlife. For tools and field guides, see the recommended gear.

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