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So, in the name of social distancing and also not going stir crazy, you're taking another walk through your neighborhood.Ìý

Us, too.Ìý

We are so thankful it's spring in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Because, global pandemic or not, the birds are still singing, and the sun is still shining.

And the wildflowers are still blooming, just don't expect to see too big a show in 2021.Ìý

"Because of the dry winter, we are not going to have much in terms of spring blooming this year," Massimo Boscolo, the horticulturist for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-Sonora Desert Museum, said via email. "Even perennial plants are looking drab and many are just beginning to leave out now." 

On recent ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ area-hikes Boscolo says the landscape is as dry as ever.

"So far the 'best' wildflower blooming I've seen was last weekend on the side of the road to Oracle, where there are a few populations of lupins already in bloom," he says.Ìý 

As you continue your own neighborhood wanderings this week, add some education to your exploration. Here's a guide to some of the most common birds and wildflowers you may encounter.Ìý

Flowers

Mexican gold poppies: You'll find these brilliant, orange cup-shaped flowers growing from a plant with fern-like leaves from around March through May. These poppies are a subspecies of the California Poppy, and it's pretty difficult to tell the two apart, according to a guide by the  in Texas.Ìý

Brittlebush: During the non-blooming seasons, the brittlebush is an unassuming little shrub hanging out along slopes and hillsides. But as spring approaches, long stalks will grow out of the plant and small yellow flowers will blossom.ÌýYou can find flowers blooming from late winter to early spring. This shrub is a member of the sunflower family! 🌻Read more brittlebush facts from the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-Sonora Desert Museum .Ìý

Lupine: There several species of lupine you can find in the . Most are identified by their their small, purple-blue flowers and slender stocks.Ìý

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Desert globe mallow: Orange globe mallows grow in sandy or gravelly soil, so you're likely to see these roadside. Globe mallows are perennials and look like a shrub, according to the . These bloom mostly in spring, but can be coaxed to bloom during other parts of the year, .Ìý

Parry's penstemon: These bright pink flowers on tall stalks are beloved by hummingbirds. You're most likely to see them from late winter to early spring, according to .Ìý

Desert marigold: These yellow flowers have long stems that branch out from gray-green leaves. Desert marigolds are perennials and love sandy or rocky soil, which is why you see them roadside, according to the . They mainly flower in the spring, but you might also catch them blooming other times of the year due to rainfall and humidity, according to .Ìý

Birds

³Õ±ð°ù»å¾±²Ô:ÌýThese year-round desert dwellers make those big nests of sticks in palo verde and mesquite trees. They're tiny song birds that have a that likely everyone in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has heard, says Jennie MacFarland, a bird conservation biologist with the . They're small and gray with yellow faces — like they dipped it in mustard, MacFarland adds.Ìý

Hummingbirds: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is a hummingbird haven, with four that you're likely to spot flitting around your neighborhood. You can spot Anna's Hummingbird for the males' bright pink faces. Male Black-Chinned Hummingbirds have a black throat with a bottom stripe of glittery purple. Male Costa's Hummingbirds have bright purple faces, and male Broad-Billed Hummingbirds have red bills and blue-green bodies with broad, blue tales, MacFarland says.

±Ê³ó²¹¾±²Ô´Ç±è±ð±è±ô²¹:ÌýIf you've got mistletoe, you've probably seen these guys. The males look like shiny, black cardinals, and the females are a more subdued gray, MacFarland says.Ìý

Lucy's Warbler: You're more likely to than seen them. MacFarland says they just arrived in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, and you can hear them singing everywhere. They're gray all over and the males have a bit of a rusty color on their head and the base of their tale. They â�¤ï¸�mesquite trees.Ìý

Gambel's Quail: We've all seen these speedy little friends scurrying through the desert, a trail of babies trotting behind them. MacFarland says they're just beginning to lay eggs now.Ìý

Lesser Goldfinch: This is another  with lots to say. The male has a yellow belly with a black back, and the female is a pale, lemon color, MacFarland says.Ìý