John Coons

Field Guides Leader

John Coons combines birding excellence with a natural ability as a tour guide. He has been leading tours since 1985. Since then, his great group skills, attention to detail, easy laugh, and unfailing sense to spot (and remember!) what's fascinating in things large and small have brought delight to innumerable Field Guides participants on tours from the High Arctic to the tip of South America and throughout Australasia.

When not on tour, John enjoys exploring and birding the remote mountains, canyons, and mesas of his home in northern Arizona. His ambition of developing a completely sustainable yard of native wildflowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs is a goal that consumes more time than expected each spring and summer.

Scroll down to see John's current schedule of tours.

Client comment
"John's knowledge is thorough and extensive. He knows the habits of the birds we are looking for and where to find them, making it much more likely that we will see them. He's organized and attentive to details, making the trip as smooth as possible for all guests. His gentle sense of humor and his anecdotes sharing during bus rides add to the enjoyment of the trip." D. & E.T., AUSTRALIA

"I'd heard wonderful things about John and they were all true." J.M., NORTHERN ARIZONA'S CANYONS & CONDOR

"All aspects of the tour met or exceeded my expectations. A wonderful leader, interesting new locations, and great birds. John Coons was wonderful, both in his birding skills of course (and his knowledge of Arizona flora and fauna, among other things), but he is also a very personable leader, with fun stories and a good sense of humor. He worked hard to find and get everyone on every bird, and was great company while in the field. He was also great at communicating our agenda for the next day each evening (something I really appreciate). I would definitely do another trip with John in the future." G.J., ARIZONA: BIRDING THE BORDER


John's Upcoming Tours


PANAMA'S CANOPY LODGE: EL VALLE DE ANTON
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
Dec 29, 2024 - Jan 5, 2025 ($4575) with John Coons & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A superb introduction to Neotropical birds or a complement to your broader Middle American birding, all based at a charming lodge.
PANAMA'S CANOPY TOWER & LODGE
Status: One space available
Jan 26 - Feb 2, 2025 ($4825) with John Coons & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
This tour combines the best of both worlds into a great week: The Canopy Tower and Pipeline Road with the Canopy Lodge and the montane forest of El Valle de Anton.
PANAMA'S CANOPY TOWER & LODGE
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
Mar 9-16, 2025 ($4825) with John Coons & local guide
Tour Limit: 7
This tour combines the best of both worlds into a great week: The Canopy Tower and Pipeline Road with the Canopy Lodge and the montane forest of El Valle de Anton.
TEXAS COAST MIGRATION SPECTACLE
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
Apr 12-18, 2025 ($2875) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 7
The migration mecca of High Island plus specialties of the Big Thicket and myriad waterbirds and shorebirds.
TEXAS COAST MIGRATION SPECTACLE
Status: Open
Apr 19-25, 2025 ($2875) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 7
The migration mecca of High Island plus specialties of the Big Thicket and myriad waterbirds and shorebirds.
NORTHERN ARIZONA'S CANYONS & CONDOR
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
May 17-23, 2025 ($3025) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 7
A tour for mountain and high-desert birds of the western US amidst stunning scenery with California Condors at the Grand Canyon, all guided by our own Flagstaff-based resident expert, John Coons.
SPITSBERGEN & SVALBARD ARCHIPELAGO: A CRUISE TO THE NORWEGIAN ARCTIC
Status: One space available
Jun 29 - Jul 11, 2025 ($8200) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 9
A high-arctic adventure aboard a comfortable vessel for fantastic seabirds, marine mammals including Walrus and Polar Bear, and fabulous scenery.
AUSTRALIA
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
Oct 14-29, 2025 - Part Two (Fee TBD / 2024=$8100) with John Coons & Cory Gregory
Tour Limit: 12
In two parts for those with limited time. Part I covers the environs of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, southwest Australia, and Alice Springs. Part II begins in Darwin and continues to Queensland (Cairns, Atherton Tableland, Outback Queensland, and O'Reilly's Guest House). Both parts combine for a complete birding tour of Australia. An optional endemic-rich extension to Tasmania follows Part II.
(Tasmania Extension to Nov 3, 2025)
PANAMA'S CANOPY CAMP: LOWLAND DARIEN
Status: Open
Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$5295) with John Coons & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A birding tour to a remote part of Panama with many specialties seen nowhere else in Central America.
CENTRAL MEXICO & BAJA: BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES & WHALES
Status: Open
Jan 25 - Feb 5, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$6225) with Micah Riegner & John Coons
Tour Limit: 12
Specialty birds, wintering Monarchs, and up-close whale encounters on this exciting tour!
PANAMA'S CANOPY TOWER & LODGE
Status: Open
Mar 6-14, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$4825) with John Coons & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
This tour combines the best of both worlds into a great week: The Canopy Tower and Pipeline Road with the Canopy Lodge and the montane forest of El Valle de Anton.
TEXAS COAST MIGRATION SPECTACLE
Status: Open
Apr 11-17, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$2875) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 7
The migration mecca of High Island plus specialties of the Big Thicket and myriad waterbirds and shorebirds.
NORTHERN ARIZONA'S CANYONS & CONDOR
Status: Open
May 16-22, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$3025) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 7
A tour for mountain and high-desert birds of the western US amidst stunning scenery with California Condors at the Grand Canyon, all guided by our own Flagstaff-based resident expert, John Coons.
SPITSBERGEN & SVALBARD ARCHIPELAGO: A CRUISE TO THE NORWEGIAN ARCTIC
Status: Open
Jun 27 - Jul 9, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$8200) with John Coons
Tour Limit: 9
A high-arctic adventure aboard a comfortable vessel for fantastic seabirds, marine mammals including Walrus and Polar Bear, and fabulous scenery.
PANAMA'S CANOPY CAMP: LOWLAND DARIEN
Status: Open
Dec 27, 2026 - Jan 4, 2027 (Fee TBD / 2024=$5295) with John Coons & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A birding tour to a remote part of Panama with many specialties seen nowhere else in Central America.