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America’s National Parks

Puzzle 51 · The Desert Southwest · Page 75 in print

Saguaro

The gilded flicker and Gila woodpecker excavate nest cavities inside the saguaro’s pulpy flesh. When a woodpecker abandons a cavity, elf owls, screech owls, purple martins, finches and sparrows may move in.

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Looking uner a green palo verde tree, 10 small Saguaros sit under the shade (ranging from 1 to 2 feet tall)

A young saguaro sheltered by a palo verde nurse tree.

NPS · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

crown of saguaro flowers viewed from the pole-camera perspective above, showing bio-tech down below

Saguaro flowers seen from above.

NPS/Lupe S. · Public domain (U.S. federal government work) · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

The words

  1. Bajada

    Bajada Loop Drive, the scenic road in the park's west district.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  2. Cactus Forest

    Cactus Forest, the saguaro landscape explored by Cactus Forest Drive in the east district.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  3. Elf Owl

    The elf owl, a small owl using abandoned saguaro nest cavities.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  4. Gila Monster

    The Gila monster, the lizard occurring in the park's Rincon Valley habitat.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  5. Gilded Flicker

    The gilded flicker, the bird excavating nest cavities in saguaros.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  6. Hohokam

    The Hohokam people, the Indigenous people whose villages and rock art remain in the park region.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  7. Nurse Tree

    A nurse tree, a tree sheltering young saguaros from sun and frost.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  8. Palo Verde

    Palo verde, a desert tree serving as a nurse tree for young saguaros.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  9. Rincon Peak

    Rincon Peak, a mountain summit in the Rincon Mountains east of Tucson.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  10. Saguaro

    The saguaro, the large cactus growing in the Sonoran Desert.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  11. Signal Hill

    Signal Hill, the named rock-art site in the Tucson Mountain district.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  12. Sky Island

    A sky island, the isolated mountain habitat represented by the Rincon Mountains.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  13. Sonoran

    The Sonoran Desert, the desert containing Saguaro National Park and its namesake cactus.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  14. Tohono O'odham

    The Tohono O'odham people, whose traditional lands and saguaro fruit harvest include the park.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

  15. Wasson Peak

    Wasson Peak, the mountain summit reached by trails in the Tucson Mountain district.

    National Park Service (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Getting Around - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service
  2. Saguaro - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service
  3. The Crested (Cristate) Saguaro - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service
  4. Rincon Valley Area - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service
  5. Petroglyphs - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service
  6. Saguaro Flower Power Project - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service
  7. Hiking Trail Recommendations - Saguaro National ParkNational Park Service

How we choose sources and photographs