Secondary consumers in desert regions include animals like snakes, spiders, and raptors that eat smaller herbivorous animals. Contrary to primary consumers, secondary consumers eat mostly meat. They appear as creatures like vultures, owls, hawks, roadrunners, and foxes.

Only tertiary consumers are ranked higher than secondary consumers in the desert food chain. The producers are where the food chain starts. These creatures, mainly plants and other types of flora, produce their own sustenance. The majority engage in photosynthesis, which entails soaking up sunlight and transforming it into energy. Glucose sugars are the form of energy that plants produce. Primary consumers are supplied with energy by producers.

Small mammals including rats, chipmunks, and squirrels are among the main consumers. They are more prevalent than secondary consumers in the majority of desert ecosystems, providing secondary consumers with a diversity of food options. Rattlesnakes are one type of predator that makes noise to attract prey. Others, such as the Elf Owl, adopt a covert, stealthy strategy. When flying, these owls are silent. They approach predators covertly, and the delicate feathers on their wing tips reduce noise. Elf owls are found in the deserts of the American Southwest and also have a small portion of their territory in Mexico. Moths, beetles, and scorpions are the main sources of food for elf owls. The owls are then eaten by foxes and coyotes, two other desert predators.