Interesting timing: I just spent a week in the desert on the California-Arizona border.

You didn't mention time of year or day, which are big factors. If there are any flowers in bloom (spring), bees will be everywhere. Mornings will definitely have birdsong. Depends on the altitude, too, and terrain; there'll be some life everywhere unless, as stated before, it's dunes, but that's rare terrain. Frogs and crickets you'll hear mostly at night, near water and non-succulent plants, respectively, both of which can be scarce. (Make no mistake, the smallest water-filled hole can scream with frogsong after dark.) Raptors inhabit both open and mountainous desert terrain, including owls, and ravens are also common (stay away from that DAMN HAWK! :-p). Coyotes at night for sure. Lizards will often make all sorts of skittery movement sounds as humans (or any threats) approach. And, of course, wind in the bushes, and the scouring of wind-borne sand when things get really blustery (especially across roads).

Don't forget to keep altitude in mind; Arizona has quite a lot of variation in the height of its terrain!

I have some video with audio recorded on an iPhone of the AZ low desert. It's during the day. Mostly wind noise. I went 4 wheeling all over the desert with my brother inlaw in November. What I noticed during the day was wind and a few jets flying by really high. At night coyotes and wind and a few critters here and there. Pretty peaceful.

I recorded in White Sands National Monument once. It's in New Mexico of course but generally the same area.

It was completely dead. Only a few twittering birds in the distance, the occassional airplane flying over and that was it.

Waited for hours, no substantial change.

Paul

millions of years ago, it sounded like an ocean

hmm i think that the majority of people have not been to the Arizona desert so you could design from a blank canvas and most wouldn't question it. I dont live too far from the Nullabor desert (Western Australia) and it doesn't make an incredible amount of sound, but at different times of the day/night the dynamics of the sound changes. Morning you hear lots of birds of numerous kinds.. Nighttime you mostly hear mosquitos, wind through the bush,, up close you can hear lizards/skinks etc.. scuttling about the place. Its very calming, but also eerie, depending on your perspective of design.

Ssssssshhhhhheeeeeeeeooooooooowwww.