Vascular Plant and Vertebrate Inventory of Saguaro ... - USGS

Elevation Stratum
Low a Middle b High c
Species BWF BT LVW FR FW CC MC DS JS JB NST MMT MM M IS DHS
western tanager 0.3 0.2 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.9 0.5 0.2
spotted towhee 0.8 0.4 0.1 1.4 1.4
canyon towhee 0.3 0.4 0.3
rufous-winged sparrow 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.2
rufous-crowned sparrow 0.1
black-chinned sparrow 0.1
black-throated sparrow 1.3 0.3 0.2
yellow-eyed junco 0.6 0.5 1.6 0.6 0.3 1.0
northern cardinal 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7
pyrrhuloxia 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3
black-headed grosbeak 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.2
blue grosbeak 0.1 0.2
varied bunting 0.2 0.2
brown-headed cowbird 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2
house finch 0.8 0.1 1.1 0.5 0.2
house sparrow 0.3
a < 4000 feet elevation: BWF = Bridal Wreath Falls, BT = Broadway Trailhead, LVW = Loma Verde Wash, FR = Freeman Road,
FW = Freeman Wash, CC = Chimenea Canyon, MC = Madrona Canyon.
b 4,000 – 6,000 feet elevation: DST = Douglas Springs Trail, JB = Juniper Springs.
c > 6,000 feet elevation: JB = Juniper Basin, NST = North Slope Trail, MMT = Mica Mountain Trail, MM = Mica Mountain,
M = Manning Cabin, IS = Italian Springs, DHS = Deer Head Spring.
We believe that we recorded all but a
few species that were breeding in the district at
the time of the inventory. The breeding status
of only a few species remains questionable,
either because we did not record them during
the breeding season, or because we failed to
document breeding activity. Species that we
believe are regular breeders in the district, but
for which there has been no evidence of breeding
(Short 1996, Frederici 1998, Powell 1999, 2004)
include the sharp-shinned hawk, gray vireo,
northern beardless-tyrannulet, northern roughwinged
swallow, loggerhead shrike, juniper
titmouse, Bendire’s thrasher, European starling,
yellow-breasted chat, bronzed cowbird, and pine
siskin. All of these species were seen only a few
times or not at all during the peak breeding time
for the species. Most species that we observed
throughout the breeding season are assumed to
have bred in the district, even though we found
no evidence of nesting (Table 5.8; see also
Appendix C for list of all species that have been
observed breeding in the district). This group
includes the greater roadrunner, western scrubjay,
red-breasted nuthatch, and brown creeper.
Also, there are at least two species (wild turkey
and scaled quail) that we observed only once but
that we assume nested in the district because they
maintain year-round home ranges that probably
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include the district. Species that we saw during
the breeding season, but that were unlikely to
have nested in the district (because we made an
effort to determine their breeding status), were
the yellow-billed cuckoo, buff-breasted flycatcher
(a single male was observed in the same location
for four years; Chris Kirkpatrick, pers. comm.),
and elegant trogon.
Based on nesting records or possible
nesting attempts in nearby areas (e.g., Corman
and Wise-Gervais 2005), there are a number of
species that may have nested in the recent past
or may nest in the district irregularly. We review
these species by vegetation community:
• Low-elevation Sonoran Desertscrub/
Southwestern Deciduous Riparian: ruddy
ground dove (Columbina talpacoti),
buff-collared nightjar (Caprimulgus
ridgwayi), violet-crowned hummingbird
(Amazilia violiceps), northern roughwinged
swallow, thick-billed kingbird
(Tyrannus crassirostris), and indigo bunting
(Passerina cyanea).
• Semi-desert Grassland and/or Oak
Savannah: northern harrier and Swainson’s
hawk.
• Pine-oak and/or Conifer Forests: northern
saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus),
long-eared owl (Asio otus), white-eared