Abstract
We report year-round avian diversity and abundance at Cave Buttes, a site in the Sonoran Desert on the northern edge of the Phoenix metropolitan area. We conducted surveys on foot and by slowly driving a vehicle along little-used roads; we detected 109 species and a total of 10,078 individuals. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelli), House Finch (Haemorphous mexicana), White- crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), and White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatic) accounted for 55% of all individuals observed, and 10 species accounted for 67% of all individuals observed. Gambel’s Quail were significantly more abundant following 2 successive wet winters. Of Passerines, the Emberizidae (sparrows and towhees) showed the highest species richness and abundance. Nonnative synanthropic birds – House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), and European Starling (Sturnus vulgari) – were rare relative to surrounding urbanized habitats. Our results add to the documentation of the flora and fauna of Cave Buttes by providing a longterm inventory of birds over multiple years and seasons.
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Recommended Citation
Bowker, Robert W. and Sullivan, Brian K.
(2025)
"Birds Of Cave Buttes:A Maricopa County Flood Control SiteIn Northeastern Phoenix, Arizona,"
Arizona Birds: Vol. 1:
Iss.
18, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/arizona_birds/vol1/iss18/3