Bird Conservation Region 41
Islas
del Golfo de California
This region includes about 100 islands and as many islets between the
Colorado River delta and the 23rd parallel. The islands are important
as a rich center of endemism. They provide nesting sites for many oceanic
species and a corridor for migrants.The habitats are dominated by a dry
desert climate with flora similar to that of the Sonoran Desert. Desert
scrubland, mangrove, coastal dunes, and tropical deciduous forests are
the most common habitat types. Isla Ángel de la Guarda, one of
the largest islands in the Gulf of California, is an IBA that provides
nesting habitat for Heermann’s and Western Gulls, Brown Pelican,
and Osprey. Archipiélago Loreto, an IBA that includes Isla Monserrat,
Isla Catalina, and Isla Carmen, contains desert thorn-scrub, tropical
deciduous forest, and dune habitats and columnar cacti that support Short-eared
Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Great-horned Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Hooded Oriole,
Xantus’ Hummingbird, Redbilled Tropicbird, and two endemic subspecies
of Black-throated Sparrow.
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