Verdin in Borrego Springs

Verdin is a characteristic bird of the Anza-Borrego Desert.

Verdin. Borrego Springs, California. February 18, 2019.

More photos of Verdin in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy). (Rating eBird photos: How and why.)

Costa's Hummingbird in Borrego Springs

Costa's Hummingbird is the native desert hummingbird of the Anza-Borrego Desert. Around residential areas there are also Anna's Hummingbirds. These Costa's Hummingbirds were photographed from the car as I drove through areas of Borrego Springs recently.

Costa's Hummingbird. Borrego Springs, California. February 18, 2019.

More photos of Costa's Hummingbirds in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy). (Rating eBird photos: How and why.)

Black-throated Sparrow in Borrego Springs

Black-throated Sparrows are one of my favorites, with their smartly-marked black, gray, and white heads. They are small, the size of a Chipping Sparrow or Savannah Sparrow, smaller even than a junco.

They are found in the American Southwest, in the hottest and driest deserts. There they choose the hottest south-facing gravel slopes. This one was already singing in February in the Mesquite Bosque of Borrego Springs. This is a flat dusty clay area, not a typical ground choice, but mesquite is a favorite habitat.

Black-throated Sparrow. Borrego Springs, California. February 18, 2019.

More photos of Black-throated Sparrow in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy). (Rating eBird photos: How and why.)

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher in Borrego Springs

The Black-tailed Gnatcatcher is one of the typical birds of the Anza-Borrego Desert.

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher. Borrego Springs, California. February 18, 2019.

More photos of Black-tailed Gnatcatcher in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy). (Rating photos: How and why.)

Greater Yellowlegs at Borrego Springs

Here are three photos showing a Greater Yellowlegs in different poses.

Greater Yellowlegs. Borrego Springs, California. February 18, 2019.

Standing tall.

Crouching down.

More photos of Greater Yellowlegs in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy). (How and why.)