Arizona

• Type: State/Region
• Location: United States of America
• Owner/Residents: Native habitat of the Thunderbird
• Key Features: Arid climate

Arizona is a state located in the Southwestern region of the United States of America. In the Wizarding World, its primary significance is its arid climate, which serves as the natural habitat for the powerful and magical Thunderbird creature. The state is not mentioned in the original seven-book series and its place within magical geography was established through supplementary materials. There are no known wizarding settlements, such as villages or hidden communities, located within Arizona, though nomadic magical individuals or groups may reside there. Its magical importance is tied directly to the fauna it supports.

Arizona plays no direct role in the narrative of the *Harry Potter* series but serves as important background lore for the North American magical community. Its status as the home of the Thunderbird connects it directly to the history and traditions of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Thunderbird is one of the four magical creatures after which the houses of Ilvermorny are named, signifying the creature's importance in American wizarding culture. Furthermore, wands with a Thunderbird tail feather core are known to be powerful, particularly for Transfiguration, and are favored by some Aurors (Pottermore). The existence of this specific wand core links the geography of Arizona to the craft of wandmaking in America.

The connection between Arizona and the Wizarding World was established by J.K. Rowling on the Pottermore website (now Wizarding World) and in the updated 2017 edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them textbook. This lore was developed to expand the magical world beyond the United Kingdom in conjunction with the Fantastic Beasts film series, which is set primarily in North America.