Micah Riegner grew up exploring the pine forests of Prescott, Arizona, and was fortunate to have parents who took him along on college field courses ranging from the coast of Mexico to the mountains of Costa Rica, where encounters with tinamous, barbets, and jacamars launched him into the birding world at a young age. During his time at Prescott College, he made annual visits to Amazonia Brazil, where he worked as a guide and studied woodcreeper foraging ecology for his master’s project. He now resides in Cuernavaca, Mexico, with his partner, Michelle, where they enjoy the resident White-naped Swifts that regularly fly overhead.
Micah guided tours with Bret Whitney, John Coons, Dan Lane, and Tom Johnson before joining Field Guides full time in 2019. His schedule includes Mexico, Suriname, Brazil, Peru and various tours in the U.S.
Scroll down to see Micah's current schedule of tours.
Client comment
"The best feature of the tour was the guides, Bret Whitney and Micah Riegner! Bret's knowledge, skill, and passion as a birder, tour leader and scientist are unparalleled. Micah is exceptional as well. He's passionate about the birds as well as all things nature. We've traveled with Field Guides for 30 years because they are a top-notch company, and we have had very little desire to try another company. We know we won't be disappointed on a Field Guides trip." C.P., BRAZIL'S JAPURA & TEFE RIVERS
Video from Micah's tours
Enjoy a video by Micah from our 2020 "Central Mexico & Baja: Birds, Butterflies & Whales" tour — great fun!
Link to Micah's artwork:
A website showcasing some of Micah's watercolors, field sketches, and photography.
Micah's Upcoming Tours
Jan 4-15, 2025 ($4575) with Micah Riegner & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A new itinerary highlighting rainforest wilderness areas that are home to specialty and hard-to-see birds such as beautiful and bizarre cotingas, large and small, and trumpeters.
Jan 18 - Feb 4, 2025 ($8575) with Bret Whitney & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
From beautiful beaches to barren badlands, our tour is a quest for specialties of the endangered caatinga, chapada, and Atlantic Forest habitats.
(Fernando de Noronha pre-tour extension from Jan 16, 2025)
May be combined with Brazil: Bahia Birding Bonanza
Apr 11-22, 2025 ($4975) with Micah Riegner & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
A tour to seek out the state's spectacular prairie-chicken and grouse species.
Apr 24-28, 2025 ($2225) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
A short tour focused on this area's many owl and nightjar specialties.
May 16-25, 2025 ($4125) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
One of the most exciting destinations in North America with a backdrop of spectacular mountain scenery.
May 31 - Jun 16, 2025 ($13575) with Micah Riegner & Sam Wilson
Tour Limit: 14
Our fabulous survey of the best of Alaska birding: the Pribilofs, Kenai Fjords, Nome, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow).
Jul 12-26, 2025 (Fee TBD) with Bret Whitney & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 10
Live-aboard luxury on an adventurous birding tour through the lower Madeira-Tapajos interfluvium of central Amazonian Brazil; be ready for the unexpected!
Aug 1-15, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$7775) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 8
Two-week immersion in one of the most species-rich regions of Amazonia, including the white-sand forests near Iquitos.
Nov 9-18, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$4075) with Micah Riegner & Jorge Montejo-Diaz
Tour Limit: 10
A ten-day immersion in the land of the Nava's Wren, Rosita's Bunting, and Pink-headed Warbler.
Dec 28, 2025 - Jan 6, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$5595) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 10
Wonderful introductory birding tour to South America's riches, including bellbirds, toucans, manakins, and motmots.
Jan 3-14, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$4575) with Micah Riegner & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A new itinerary highlighting rainforest wilderness areas that are home to specialty and hard-to-see birds such as beautiful and bizarre cotingas, large and small, and trumpeters.
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!
Feb 20 - Mar 1, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$4075) with Micah Riegner & Jorge Montejo-Diaz
Tour Limit: 10
A ten-day immersion in the land of the Nava's Wren, Rosita's Bunting, and Pink-headed Warbler.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
Apr 10-21, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$4975) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 14
A tour to seek out the state's spectacular prairie-chicken and grouse species.
Apr 30 - May 4, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$2225) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
A short tour focused on this area's many owl and nightjar specialties.
May 30 - Jun 15, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$13575) with Micah Riegner & Sam Wilson
Tour Limit: 14
Our fabulous survey of the best of Alaska birding: the Pribilofs, Kenai Fjords, Nome, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow).
Jul 29 - Aug 13, 2026 (Fee TBD) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 10
A third itinerary in our series of fantastic wilderness tours to Brazil aboard a delightful river vessel. We'll explore little-known sites for a rich diversity of Amazonian birds, with some exciting discoveries no doubt in store.
Sep 15-24, 2026 (Fee TBD) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
A diverse mix of West Coast specialties, montane species, and pelagics in rugged and scenic sites.
Oct 4-14, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$4275) with Micah Riegner & Jorge Montejo-Diaz
Tour Limit: 10
The amazing spectacle of huge numbers of migrating raptors combined with some highland birding and cultural highlights.
Oct 31 - Nov 16, 2026 - Part Two (Fee TBD / 2024=$7475) with Marcelo Barreiros & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
The fantastic center of avian endemism in eastern Brazil, particularly well endowed with hummingbirds, cotingas, antbirds, and beautiful scenery. Part I: North of the Tropic; Part II: South of the Capricorn.
Dec 27, 2026 - Jan 2, 2027 (Fee TBD / 2024=$2875) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
Exceptional winter birding on a short tour with numerous specialties and potential rarities.