Birds of Arizona

Birds, the free tenants of earth, air, and ocean,

Their forms all symmetry, their motions grace,

In plumage delicate and beautiful,

Thick without burthen; close as fish's scales,

Or loose as full blown poppies on the gale;

With wings that seem as they'd a soul within them,

They bear their owners with such sweet en-chantment.

(James Montgomery)

551 species of birds are listed by the Arizona Bird Committe (as of Dec 2011).

The noisy Cactus Wren was named the state bird in 1931.

25 bird species are considered endemic in South-western North America. (http://en.wikipedia.org/

(wikiCategory:Endemic_birds_of_Southwestern_North_America)