Spring Birding in Joshua Tree National Park: A Weekend Full of Desert Birds
Wandering among giant granite boulders and twisted Joshua trees, I found far more bird activity than I ever expected. I already love visiting the desert for its birds, wildflowers, and wildlife, so any day out there feels worthwhile. This trip turned into something even better. Around our campsite, birds seemed to appear from every direction, including several families with recently fledged young, making it one of the most memorable weekends I've spent birding in Joshua Tree.
We visited in early April, right as spring was settling into the desert. The weather was beautiful - sunny and warm, low 70’s, with light breezes. We set up our campsite and I quickly grabbed my camera and wandered off. After setting up camp, we settled in with books and an easy campsite dinner before the birds started appearing all around us. Over the afternoon and into the next day, this was easily one of the best desert times I’ve had with birds. It was April 2022, and now in June 2023, it remains one of my favorite birding days!
Here are some of the birds that made this short Joshua Tree weekend so memorable.
Gambel’s Quail
Gambel's Quail seemed to be everywhere around camp. Coveys wandered between the creosote bushes while their distinctive topknots bobbed with every step.
Ash-Throated Flycatcher
Ash-Throated Flycatchers have become one of my favorite desert birds, and this trip reminded me why. They always seem so curious, hopping out into the open to grab insects before returning to a perch to look around. Their soft calls drifted through camp all afternoon, and I never got tired of watching them.
Hammond’s Flycatcher
Finding a Hammond's Flycatcher was a fun surprise. It spent its time quietly watching from shaded branches before darting out after insects. Compared to some of the busier birds around camp, it was easy to overlook unless you stopped and watched for a while.
Verdin
Verdins are one of my favorite desert birds because they're constantly moving. They barely slowed down long enough for photos as they worked through the shrubs looking for insects.
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
These tiny birds never stopped moving. Every time I thought I'd finally caught one in the viewfinder, it darted to another branch.
Phainopepla
Finding a family of Phainopeplas was easily one of the highlights of the trip. Watching the adults keep track of the youngsters added another layer to an already incredible afternoon.
Black-throated Sparrow
Seeing recently fledged Black-throated Sparrows begging from their parents was another reminder that spring was in full swing.
Costa’s Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbirds zipped from flowering shrubs to exposed perches, never staying still for long. Every now and then one would pause just long enough for me to appreciate those brilliant flashes of purple before disappearing again. They always seem perfectly suited to the desert landscape.
Rock Wren
Rock Wrens look completely at home among the giant boulders.
California Thrasher
The California Thrasher spent most of its time working quietly through the desert vegetation, flipping leaves and searching the ground for food. But paused for one moment to fluff and unfluff.
Northern Mockingbird
Even familiar birds can become memorable when they fit so naturally into the landscape.
Say’s Phoebe
A Say's Phoebe greeted us near camp, patiently watching from a low perch before making quick flights to catch insects. It returned to the same lookout again and again, giving me plenty of chances to admire it.
