This Is Why the Arizona Red Tailed Hawk A Desert Icon

I love Raptors. We have a family of red-tailed hawks that live in one of the towers behind our radio station. They've built a giant nest that's been used for more than 20 years by generations of red-tailed hawks, and every year they add a little more to the structure. I've taken to calling in the "Hawk Condo at Sierra Vista".

It's our own little slice of desert wildlife, and I could spend hours watching their aerial acrobatics.

Read more about our Sierra Vista's Radio Station Hawks

What Makes The Sonoran Desert So Full Of Wildlife?

The Sonoran Desert stretches across southern Arizona and into Mexico. What many people find surprising is that, despite the desert's arid reputation, it supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in North America.

It's a mix of desert scrub, riparian corridors, and mountain foothills that blend together to create habitats for a wide range of species, including many raptors.

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Why Are Raptors Important To Arizona’s Desert Ecosystem?

Arizona is home to numerous birds of prey, including hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles. These raptors are more than just beautiful; they help maintain ecological balance by snacking on rodents and small mammals, which helps control their population.

READ MORE: The Top 5 Raptors You'll See in Arizona's Sonoran Desert

Do Red‑Tailed Hawks Really Nest On Local Towers?

Red‑tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) are among the most common raptors in North America and frequently nest on tall structures, including utility poles, buildings, and towers.

They are year‑round residents in Arizona and often return to the same nesting sites for many years. Just like our family of Red‑tailed Hawks that have been nesting on our station’s broadcast tower for more than two decades, these raptors are part of the scenery in our corner of Arizona.

Do you prefer Corvids?? Read about How to Identify Ravens and Crows in Arizona

Which Raptors Are Most Common In The Sonoran Desert?

As much as I love Red-Tailed Hawks, I'm fascinated by other raptors frequently seen across Arizona’s desert regions. Here are five of the most common you might spot in the Sonoran Desert:

• Red‑tailed Hawk: One of the most commonly seen raptors, easily recognized by its reddish tail.
• Harris’s Hawk: A social species that hunts cooperatively in family groups.
• Gray Hawk: A riparian‑dependent raptor that has rebounded in Arizona thanks to conservation efforts.
• Great Horned Owl: A nocturnal hunter known for its deep hooting call and powerful talons.
• Peregrine Falcon: The fastest documented bird, capable of diving at speeds over 200 mph.

Spotting any one of these desert dwellers makes my day, but the Red-Tailed hawk, especially our radio-tower family of hawks, will always be my favorite.