Aridland Birds
Habitat loss is accelerating bird declines
Since 1968 the West has lost almost half (46%) of aridland habitat from pressures such as drought, wildfires, and invasive plants. Renewable energy development adds to these pressures, which collectively contribute to widespread declines for birds such as Sagebrush Sparrow and Cactus Wren.
Public/private/Indigenous partnerships are showing great promise in protecting aridlands habitat. Addressing pressures requires active management, including more voluntary, proactive conservation efforts that support healthy, intact aridlands for communities of birds, other wildlife, and people.

eBird Trends for Obligate Aridland Birds

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Aridland Birds on the Brink
Aridland Birds on the Brink: Nearly a quarter (seven) of the 31 aridland birds included in this analysis are designated as Tipping Point species. Scaled Quail and Rufous-crowned Sparrow are showing steep declines across more than half of their ranges.
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Aridlands Conservation for All
Landscape-scale efforts like Migratory Bird Joint Ventures focus on entire ecosystems and deliver broad benefits—including carbon sequestration, access for hunting and outdoor recreation, and sustainable groundwater supplies for communities and agriculture.
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Priority Planning for the Best Sagebrush
The Sagebrush Conservation Design working group has identified key areas for conservation and management funding. These areas are strongholds of bird populations where sage-grouse populations are stable, and sagebrush songbird counts are up to 10 times higher than in other areas.
Making Solar Energy Friendly for Thrashers
The Desert Thrasher Working Group has been conducting surveys across the aridlands region to fill in knowledge gaps about Bendire’s and LeConte’s Thrasher (both Tipping Point species).
What started as a localized effort in a single state has now expanded into a coordinated effort across multiple states in the southwestern U.S. and northwest Mexico, as well as by Indigenous Nations on both sides of the border. Recently the working group published a set of voluntary beneficial management practices for solar energy development sites to mitigate habitat fragmentation for thrashers and shrikes. The proactive measures are already being used by agencies to prevent further thrasher declines and reduce the need for regulatory measures and legal protections.

Abert’s Towhee
Allen’s Hummingbird
Bell’s Sparrow
Bendire’s Thrasher
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Black-throated Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Cactus Wren
California Thrasher
Canyon Towhee
Chihuahuan Raven
Costa’s Hummingbird
Crissal Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher
Gambel’s Quail
Gila Woodpecker
Gilded Flicker
Greater Sage-Grouse
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
LeConte’s Thrasher
Lucy’s Warbler
Phainopepla
Pyrrhuloxia
Rock Wren
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Sage Thrasher
Sagebrush & Bell’s Sparrow
Sagebrush Sparrow
Scaled Quail
Verdin
Wrentit