Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, 26 - 37 cm. / 10 - 15 in. Also known as Yellow-legged Gallinule, found in warm swamps and marshes in southeastern US and in tropical regions of Central America, the Caribbean and Northern South America. Very RARE visitor to Arizona. Backlit and moving around in the cattails.
Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Birds of North America Rallidae American Purple Gallinule Purple Gallinule Yellow-legged Gallinule Porphyrio martinica ©bryanjsmith
© All Rights Reserved
Tropical Kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa, 22 cm. / 8.7 in. UNCOMMON. Semi-open areas of trees and shrubs, including roadsides and gardens, with high perches. A pair were observed working building on a nest.
Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Birds of North America Birds of Arizona Tyrannidae Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus. Tyrant Flycatchers ©bryanjsmith
© All Rights Reserved
Male Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoenixes nevadensis, 8.75 in. / 22.23 cm. COMMON and widespread in most habitat with water and tall vegetation, nests and roosts in wet, marshy or brushy habitats.
Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Birds of North America Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Icteridae Birds of Arizona Troupials and Allies ©bryanjsmith
© All Rights Reserved
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea amoemissima, 4.5 in. / 11.4 cm. COMMON and widespread in deciduous woodlands and thickets, often near water, also oak-juniper woodlands and chaparral.
Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Birds of Arizona Birds of North America Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers ©bryanjsmith Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
© All Rights Reserved
Desert Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus magister cephaloflavus, 7 - 12 in. / 17.8 - 30.5 cm. COMMON in arid and semi-arid habitat at low elevations where rocks and vegetation provide adequate cover. Orange-headed subspecies.
Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, United States.
©bryanjsmith.
Tags: Reptiles Lizards Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister Iguanid Family Reptiles of Arizona ©bryanjsmith
© All Rights Reserved