Bird Conservation Region 33

Sonoran and Mohave Deserts

Description: The Mohave Desert covers southeastern California and southern Nevada and adjoins the Sonoran Desert, which extends from southwestern Arizona south on both sides of the Gulf of California into the Mexican states of Baja California, Sonora, and Sinaloa. This rid region is dominated by cacti, slow-growing grasses, creosote, and other desert shrubs. The Colorado River and adjacent wetlands provide habitat for ducks and other wetland birds, including some of the most important habitat in the arid southwest for Western and Clark’s Grebes and American Avocets. This region also includes El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve in northern Mexico, which is a unique biome providing habitat for many raptors, such as Golden Eagle and wintering Northern Harrier, Shorteared Owl, and Merlin. Isla Tiburón, located off the coast of Sonora in the Gulf of California, is an IBA that harbors endemic forms of the Northern Flicker, Cactus Wren, and Xantus’ Hummingbird and such pelagic birds as the Magnificent Frigatebird, Red-billed Tropicbird, Brown Booby, Blue-footed Booby, and Craveri’s Murrelet. Another Mexican IBA, the Sistema Tóbari, supports large numbers of American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Northern Pintail, and Lesser Scaup. This BCR is the center of distribution of the Rufous-winged Sparrow, LeConte’s Trasher, Lucy’s Warbler, and Abert’s Towhee. Riparian wetlands are habitat for the Yuma Clapper Rail and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The Salton Sea hosts large numbers of American White Pelicans, Eared Grebes, and other colonial waterbirds; shorebirds, such as the Black-necked Stilt and Long-billed Curlew; and waterfowl during both migration and winter.

Bird Conservation Plans
Landbirds - California, Arizona, Nevada
Shorebirds - Intermountain West
Waterbirds - Southwest U.S., Mexico
Waterfowl - in IWJV Coordinated Bird Conservation Plan, Sonoran JV Waterfowl Management Supplement
All Birds - IWJV Coordinated Bird Conservation Plan, Plans by State, Sonoran Joint Venture Strategic Plan, Sonoran JV Bird Conservation Plan

Joint Venture areas: Sonoran, Intermountain West

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Note: Hawaii (not shown) is BCR 67

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