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
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 17-21, 2025 ($2225) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
A short tour focused on this area's many owl and nightjar specialties.
Jul 12-26, 2025 ($8895) 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 ($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.
Oct 5-18, 2025 ($7625) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 8
A new itinerary focused on Bolivia’s rich lowlands with chance for Blue-throated Macaw, Masked Antpitta, Chaco Eagle, and numerous Amazonian and Andean foothill birds while based at the new and cozy Barba Azul and Sadiri Lodges
Nov 9-18, 2025 ($4125) 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.
Jan 3-14, 2026 (To be determined / 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 (To be determined / 2025=$6225) with Micah Riegner & John Coons
Tour Limit: 12
Specialty birds, wintering Monarchs, and up-close whale encounters on this exciting tour!
Feb 14-20, 2026 (To be determined) with Micah Riegner & Jorge Montejo-Diaz
Tour Limit: 6
A week-long tour in pristine cloud forest replete with Horned Guans, Resplendent Quetzals, Fulvous Owls and Blue-throated Motmots while based out of the El Triunfo base camp. Can be combined with our Enchanted Chiapas tour.
May be combined with Mexico: Enchanted Chiapas
Feb 20 - Mar 1, 2026 (To be determined / 2025=$4125) 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's El Triunfo or Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
Apr 10-21, 2026 (To be determined / 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 (To be determined / 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 (To be determined / 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 (To be determined) 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 (To be determined / 2025=$5225) 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 (To be determined / 2025=$4325) 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 (To be determined / 2025=$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 (To be determined / 2025=$2925) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
Exceptional winter birding on a short tour with numerous specialties and potential rarities.