Sabino in Flight

I took another hike in Sabino last weekend and particularly enjoyed the birds and butterflies.

First off, an iconic cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Apparently cardinals are the state bird of seven states in the US.

Next, a very appropriately named black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata). There were several other sparrows around, but none as distinctive as this one.

This one confused me for a bit, because the shape reminded me of a titmouse, but the stripes on the face didn't look like any titmouse I knew. Well, it turns out that here in Arizona there's a species called the bridled titmouse (Baeolophus wollweberi).

These are curve-billed thrashers (Toxostoma curvirostre) again, another species endemic to the southwest and Mexico. 

Butterflies are notoriously difficult to identify, with many species looking remarkably similar, but I think this is a spring azure (Celastrina ladon). Several of these breezed by us on the hike and this one hung out on a branch next to us as we sat, snacked, and chatted.

And for a close-up:

Not pictured, the enormous volumes of water pouring through the canyon. This is my favorite time of year in Tucson (and the best time to visit!).