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One of our trip highlights was hearing this male Elegant Trogon calling up South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon and getting a few glances at it before we hustled down the canyon and found it perched right in the open for several minutes. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
Southeast Arizona is one of those places that all birders have to get to for all of the specialty birds of the Sonoran Desert and Sky Islands, and this year's tour did not disappoint. After a bit of drama at the beginning of our trip, with the fire on the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains which closed the road leading to the higher elevations of the mountains and prevented our return on a second day, and the high winds that beat us up for a couple of days, we settled in for the remainder of our trip. We were fortunate to not have any extremely hot temperatures and there was nary a cloud in the sky for the entire time.
Our trip started by visiting the saguaro cactus forests west of Tucson, where we encountered Gilded Flickers, Rufous-winged Sparrows and a Burrowing Owl in Tucson before heading to dinner. The next morning, we drove east with a few stops including the lake at Willcox where the wind made using the scope almost impossible. We just got through a recently started brush fire at the base of the mountains before the road was closed and anyone was on the scene, but we soon learned that firefighters were on the way. Higher in the mountains, we found a few Mexican Chickadees, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Grace's Warblers, Red-faced Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, and a nice Northern Pygmy-Owl before heading to the Southwest Research Station for our stay. Over the next couple of days, we explored Cave Creek Canyon and the desert below Portal, where we had a great long view of a perched male Elegant Trogon, Lewis's and Arizona woodpeckers, Thick-billed Kingbird, Bendire's and Crissal thrashers, Painted Redstart, Pyrrhuloxia, and a wonderful experience with watching a Bobcat strolling along on the slope opposite us. We also did well with nightbirding there, seeing several species of owls and three nightjars.
We next headed to Sierra Vista and the Huachuca Mountains, where we were unsuccessful in our quest for Spotted Owl but had a view of a Northern Goshawk on its nest. In the mountains and foothills, we also had nice looks at Zone-tailed Hawk, a fabulous pair of Montezuma Quail, Lucifer Hummingbirds, Buff-breasted Flycatchers, Greater Pewee, a male Olive Warbler, Botteri's Sparrow, and a Black-chinned Sparrow, among others.
The final leg of our trip took us to Patagonia and the Nogales area and the drainage of the Santa Cruz River. A brilliant Violet-crowned Hummingbird was one of the first birds we saw at the Paton's famous feeders. Further along, we had a pair of Northern Beardless-Tyrannulets and a Gray Hawk atop its nest. Five-striped Sparrows showed well in California Gulch, and they were worth the bumps and many turns in the road. On our final morning we did some target birding, and were quite successful in seeing a pair of Rose-throated Becards at a nest, a male Varied Bunting in its various shades of blue, a calling Black-capped Gnatcatcher, and a pair of Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers at Madera Canyon.
It was wonderful to travel with all of you through the mountains, streams, deserts, and foothills of Southeast Arizona and I hope to see all of you again soon. John
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors) – We saw a couple on the lake at Willcox.
CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera) – This beauty was represented by a few at Willcox.
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)
GADWALL (Mareca strepera) – A pair was at the pond at Willcox.
AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana)
MALLARD (NORTHERN) (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) – We saw these at Sweetwater Wetlands and at the lake at Willcox.
MALLARD (MEXICAN) (Anas platyrhynchos diazi) – This subspecies, which is a candidate for full species status, was seen at Willcox and at Patagonia Lake.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
We saw several Blue-throated Hummingbirds during our time in the Chiricahua Mountains. Jeff captured this one fanning its tail with the wings under the tail! Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata) – We had a great look at a couple of pairs that came in to Deborah's water feature in the desert flats below Portal.
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii) – These were almost a daily occurrence.
MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae) – We had a great experience on our return to the Ash Canyon B&B, where after a javelina and a couple of turkeys were run off, a beautiful pair of these usually very difficult birds came in to pick around at the seed. Yip! Yip! Yip!
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) – We heard a few before seeing them at the Ash Canyon B&B.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) – A single bird was seen at the lake at Willcox.
WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis) – A quite unusual bird for this time of year, we saw one at the pond at Amado that had been hanging around for several days.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – Our first was at Sweetwater then we saw about 20 individuals at Patagonia Lake.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus) – Two of these were perched on a log with several Neotropic Cormorants and the size difference was dramatic.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) – We saw one at the small pond at Willcox.
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) – A single bird flew past us at Sweetwater on our first afternoon.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) – A fair number were scattered about at Willcox.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) – Mary spotted two individuals that were flying over on the day we went to California Gulch.
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis) – We had a pretty good look at a female sitting on a nest in Miller Canyon. Tom Jr. took us up the trail and we could see the head of this bird peeking over the edge of the nest. The white line above the eye and red eye were visible.
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus) – We had a couple of good views including one hunkered down on a nest at Patagonia.
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) – We had a few nice looks at this long winged Buteo.
Arizona Woodpecker is a specialty of the pine/oak woodlands in SE Arizona, and we saw a few of them during our travels. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – We had a nice flyover of one while we birded in Carr Canyon and then two birds were seen at Peña Blanca Lake.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
SORA (Porzana carolina) [*]
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – There were several at Willcox.
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) – Always a very handsome shorebird, we saw a few at Willcox.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – There were about six individuals at Willcox.
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) – In the flock of peeps, we saw two individuals while we birded in the stiff wind.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) – A fair number, including some brightly colored females, were spinning around at the lake at Willcox.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) – There were two birds at Willcox.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri) – Initially thinking we had a distant Common Tern at Patagonia, I checked photos and this was a Forster's Tern we saw perched on the buoys.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata) – We only saw one in the Portal area.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca) – Our first two were in Portal, then we saw several at the San Pedro House near Sierra Vista.
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina) – Good views were obtained at the San Pedro House.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) – One of the few birds we saw every day, and in good numbers.
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
A resident of the pine forests of the southwest, Grace’s Warblers were seen a few places in the mountains. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus) – Always a great bird to see, we had encounters on several days. This is one of the iconic desert birds of the southwest.
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba) – We had pretty good views of one near Portal.
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus) – This bird took us on a chase for a couple of nights. We ended up circling the tall tree it was calling from on about three occasions but could never get a look at it. [*]
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii) – We had nice looks at individuals at roosting or at nest holes on two occasions. Once near Portal and another at the San Pedro House.
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis) – We enjoyed nice views of this local specialty perched in its cavity in the Chiricahua Mountains. During our nocturnal forays we heard a few calling.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – We had a good view of a family group in the hay barn near Rodeo.
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma) – We chased a calling bird down the road and spotted it in a tall conifer and enjoyed nice scope looks. We heard a couple more during the week.
ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi) – At a nest tree, we watched a male fly up at late-dusk and switch with the female that was in the hole. This is the smallest owl in the world.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – On our first evening we had a nice look at one near a nest site in Tucson.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – We saw a few flying over the high desert outside of Portal, then another flying in the day time as we headed to Montosa Canyon.
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) – We enjoyed pretty good views of a fly-by of this small nightjar in the desert below Portal.
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae) – On our second try, we had a male make a few passes right next to us while we birded the Chiricahuas.
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis) – We saw a handful flying about the cliffs in the Chiricahuas.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens) – We had nice looks at several individuals in the Chiricahuas.
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae) – The Chiricahua Mountains are the best place to see this species, and we saw several visiting the feeders at the Research Station.
LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer) – We saw at least three individuals, including some stunning males at the Ash Canyon B&B.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri) – This was the most common hummingbird we encountered.
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) – A few males and a female or two were visiting the feeders at Ash Canyon B&B.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) – This is a mountain species, and we saw a few males and more females at a few of the feeding stations we visited.
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris) – This brightly-colored species with the red bill was fairly common at the Paton's feeders.
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia violiceps) – This is a specialty of the Paton's feeders at Patagonia, and we saw our first one before we barely got through the gate. We had three or four more visit while there.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans) – We had a great experience along the South Fork Trail with this snazzy species. We heard it calling ahead of us, then got a couple of brief views as it moved past us down canyon. We gave chase and soon had a great five minute view of a brilliant male perched in the open.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis) – A quite unusual bird for the Portal area in May. We checked, when we remembered (!), about five times before we spotted it perched atop a power pole. This is a quite unusual looking woodpecker.
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus) – A fancy looking woodpecker that we saw in most areas where we were near oaks.
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis) – Our first ones were in the saguaro forests near Tucson. We also saw an individual at 4 Bar Cottages in the desert below Portal, where this is a rather uncommon species.
Our second visit to the Ash Canyon B&B paid off, as a pair of exquisite Montezuma Quail suddenly appeared through the vegetation. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus) – This widespread species is a higher mountain species in southeast Arizona and we saw one in Carr Canyon.
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Picoides arizonae) – A specialty of the area; we ended up getting a few views of this handsome woodpecker.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides) – This species is essentially endemic to the Sonoran Desert. We had great looks on our first afternoon in the saguaro forests west of Tucson.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius) – We saw a few males during our trip.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe) – We had a great view of two birds that were very cooperative and right next to the road near Patagonia. This is the smallest North American flycatcher.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) – Jeff spotted one at SWRS.
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax) – As we were looking for Olive Warblers in Carr Canyon, Jeff spotted a silent individual in the trees just in front of us. The orange lower mandible was quite evident.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus) – Many.
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Empidonax hammondii) – We saw a couple or three migrants while we birded in the Chiricahuas.
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis) – We had a few views of this mountain species in the Chiricahuas and again in the Huachuca Mountains.
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons) – A quite local species in SE Arizona, we had great looks at multiple birds in Carr Canyon.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans) – Jeff saw one near at SWRS but the low water levels were certainly responsible for the low numbers.
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) – Several were seen, including one nesting under the porch roof at SWRS.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – A great looking flycatcher; we had several encounters.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer) – Mostly a riparian species; we heard and saw several.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) – Our first ones were in the saguaros near Tucson where these utilize old woodpecker holes for nesting.
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris) – This may have been our last new species of the trip. We had a nice look at a pair in Madera Canyon. This is a rather late arriving species each year and we just got them on our final day.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – There were two birds that we saw on the walk in to the becard nest along the Santa Cruz River.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans) – Seen just about daily.
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris) – We enjoyed a nice look at a calling bird near Portal. This is a species generally associated with the Patagonia area but a pair has been seen around Portal for about three years.
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae) – Formerly a species that nested in a few places in SE Arizona, they seemed to mostly disappear for several years before returning last year. We walked in along the Santa Cruz River and had nice views of a gorgeous male and okay views of the duller female at a nest site.
We saw several Painted Redstarts in the canyons of the Chiricahua and Huachuca mountains. This species spends a lot of time foraging in the shadow of the slopes. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus) – Never considered a common species, but we saw a handful in various places during the week.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii) – A pair at the San Pedro House showed well and then we saw a few more in California Gulch and other locales.
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni) – A singing bird in the Carr Canyon area showed well.
CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) – We saw a single bird with a mixed flock in Carr Canyon.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus) – Several were seen well in the mountains and foothills.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (WOODHOUSE'S) (Aphelocoma woodhouseii woodhouseii) – We chased one around along the Paradise Road before getting views of it.
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi) – These were common and conspicuous whenever we were in the foothills where there were oaks.
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus) – Our best views were a group of three, then two near Rodeo, New Mexico.
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis) – A pair were flying about in the saguaro forests west of Tucson, where this species nests in the cavities in these large cactus.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina) – This was the higher elevation swallow that we saw in the late-afternoons around SWRS.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) – We saw these on several days including nests at the San Pedro House.
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – A few were seen flying about over some ponds but our best looks were at the hotels in Sierra Vista and Nogales, where they had nests on the side of the hotel.
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri) – The Chiricahua Mountains are the only site for this species in Arizona, and we had good views of a couple or three on the day we passed over the mountain. This was fortunate, as the fire below ended up closing the road later that day, and we would not have been able to get back up to see them.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi) – A very fancy looking small bird of riparian areas; we had several nice looks.
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi) – This took some looking, but we eventually got nice looks at this plain species in the juniper habitat near Portal.
Varied Bunting is an oddly-colored species that seems to have about five different shades of blue. We found one of the early arrivals into Arizona. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) – A true desert species.
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) [*]
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea) – A couple of individuals were curious and came in for a look at us as we birded our way over the Chiricahua Mountains.
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana) – A few were seen in the mountains throughout the week.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus) – On the drive in to California Gulch we stopped and had nice views of a calling bird on the... rocks.
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) – A great sound of the southwest. We had nice views in California Gulch of a bird perched on an ocotillo.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii) – Later in the trip, this was a daily species.
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) – This large wren showed well a few times.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura) – After getting blown out by the wind on our first couple of days, we finally caught up with this species in California Gulch.
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila nigriceps) – Another quite rare specialty, we looked in a few places before finding a calling male in the Florida Wash area on our final day of birding.
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) – We heard a few singing and saw them in the higher elevations of the Huachuca Mountains.
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre) – This was the common thrasher we saw on several occasions.
Seemingly peeking at us through one eye, this Western Screech-Owl paid us little concern at the San Pedro House near Sierra Vista. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei) – We had nice looks at one in the desert below Portal and another near the town of Double Adobe.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) – A tough one this time of year. We saw one that popped up on a gate along the Foothills Road outside of Portal. The much longer and more deeply curved bill is distinct for this species here.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum) – We heard a few along the road with the fruiting mulberries, then some of us saw one outside the Chiricahua Desert Museum near Rodeo.
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens) – A quite unusual species; we saw several of these fruit eaters along the side road near St. David on our first morning.
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – This took a bit of looking, but we got good views of a nice orange headed male in Carr Canyon. We were thwarted in looking for them in the Chiricahua Mountains because of the fire.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia noveboracensis) – A calling bird in the dense vegetation at Willcox had little chance of being seen because of the strong wind.
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae) – A quite common voice in several places. We had nice looks at this smallish warbler near Portal.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia) – We saw a few in riparian areas throughout the trip.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni) – Only a few were encountered in the higher mountains. We couldn't get to the areas of the Chiricahuas where they are most common because of the fire.
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae) – This southwest specialty gave us great views in the Chiricahuas and Huachuca Mountains.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens) – We saw a few with mixed flocks along the South Fork Road in Cave Creek Canyon.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi) – There were several of these, all migrants headed north, in the Chiricahuas.
RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER (Basileuterus rufifrons) – We walked up Hunter Canyon in hopes of seeing this rarity. After a lot of looking, Jeff got a good look at two birds overhead. We heard two and maybe three singing but couldn't get a view of one again though it popped up a couple of times.
Jeff captured this Zone-tailed Hawk soaring right above us at Carr Canyon. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons) – One of the great warblers of the southwest. We had nice looks in both the Chiricahua and Huachuca mountains.
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus) – We did well seeing this species on several days of the trip. Another dazzler of the canyons.
Passerellidae (New World Buntings and Sparrows)
RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis) – A specialist of the Sonoran Desert. We had close views and scope looks at this local species on our first afternoon in the saguaros west of Tucson.
BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii) – A grassland specialist that will be singing much more when the summer rains begin. We had a wonderful view of one on the way up Carr Canyon.
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis) – After not being able to find any in the Portal area, we had a nice look at a singing bird on our walk up Hunter Canyon.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata) – Also known by some as Desert Sparrow, this sharply marked bird was seen a few times as well as at feeders near Portal.
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata) – A very local species that was worth the bumps going in to California Gulch, we saw about four individuals on the rocky slopes.
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus) – One of the best marked sparrows; we saw several.
DARK-EYED JUNCO (GRAY-HEADED) (Junco hyemalis caniceps) – We stopped at a friend's house in Portal and saw a late-wintering individual.
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus) – A high elevation specialist of the sky islands in SE Arizona. We saw a few in the Chiricahuas and Huachucas.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) – Our first was at Sweetwater Wetlands on our first afternoon, then we saw a few at feeders later on in the trip. These are all migrants heading north.
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca) – We ended up seeing several later in the trip.
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti) – A somewhat local species. We saw a few along the Santa Cruz River after our first ones near St. David.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) – Our only sighting of this late migrant was at Deborah's house outside of Portal.
After chasing the toots, we spotted this Northern Pygmy-Owl perched high in a conifer on the slopes of the Chiricahuas. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens) – A well-known species that is now the sole member of its family. We had a nice look near Kino Springs.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – This pine / oak habitat specialist showed well on several days of the trip.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – We had a singing male on our first morning near St. David, then a few more later in the trip.
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) – Quite common as a migrant in some lowland areas. We saw several in the mulberries near St. David before finding a few on their mountain breeding grounds in the Chiricahuas and Huachucas.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus) – We had nice views of both a male and female at the Rodrigues feeders near Portal.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) – These were quite common in many areas.
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea) – Our first showed up at the 4 Bar Cottages, then we saw a couple more during the week.
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) – A fair number with some dazzling males were seen at feeders near Portal and a few other localities.
VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor) – This is another late migrant to appear, and we had just about given up at Montosa Canyon when we heard one sing down the canyon, and we soon had nice looks at this unusually colored male.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus) – One was seen at the 4 Bar Cottages and another near Patagonia.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) – We did well with this species, as we saw it on a few days. This bird has a great song that we heard around the station in the Chiricahuas.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus) – Our first was at the 4 Bar Cottages where it came in to drink. We later saw them at the Paton's.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
CASSIN'S FINCH (Haemorhous cassinii) – This was an extraordinary winter for this species in many places in Arizona and a few were still remaining at feeders in the Portal area.
RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra) – We heard one or two flying over while we were birding in Carr Canyon. [*]
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) – There were still a fair number remaining in lowland sites and we encountered them on several days.
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria) – Another widespread bird that we saw every day of the trip.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus) – These were the rabbits we saw in the mountains.
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii) – These were the rabbits we saw in the deserts.
Olive Warbler was a species we spent some time looking for in the higher elevations before encountering it in Carr Canyon. Photo by participant Jeff Barnum.
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii) – We saw a few of these small squirrels with their tails curled up over their backs.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis) – After a couple of years where these seemed to be down in numbers, we saw a few of these Chiricahua specialties.
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis) – This is a species that is essentially endemic to Arizona, a riparian species that we saw a few times.
BOBCAT (Lynx rufus) – We had great looks at this wonderful cat on our final morning in the Chiricahuas. We saw it flush a cottontail then walk up the opposite slope of the ravine.
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu) – Our first two came to the Rodrigues feeders near Portal then we had a quite large individual visit us at the Ash Canyon B&B.
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) – These were especially common in the Chiricahuas.
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana) – We stopped for a look in the grassland south of Portal along the drive to Douglas.
Herps
WESTERN DIAMOND-BACKED RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus atrox) – We had a nice look at one through the window as it was curled up next to the water feature at our friend's house outside of Portal.
AMERICAN BULLFROG (Lithobates catesbeianus) [I*]
COMMON LESSER EARLESS LIZARD (Holbrookia maculata)
STRIPED PLATEAU LIZARD (Sceloporus virgatus)
SOUTHWESTERN FENCE LIZARD (Sceloporus cowlesi)
CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 195 bird taxa and 12 mammal taxa