Micah Riegner grew up exploring the Central Arizona Highlands 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 pilgrimages to Amazonia, where he worked as a guide and participated in expeditions, mostly in Brazil. For his master's he studied the foraging ecology of Amazonian woodcreepers. When he's not in the field, he tries to make time to paint birds and other creatures that spark his interest.
Micah guided tours with Bret Whitney, John Coons, Dan Lane, and Tom Johnson before joining Field Guides full time in 2019. Micah is a generous guide with an easy laugh and is eager to share his love of birds and nature in the years to come. We know you will have a great time traveling with him, too!
Scroll down to see Micah's current schedule of tours.
Did you know our guides and staff are posting videos as a break from the news?
We've created a Take a break with us... web page where guides and staff are posting fresh videos regularly about what they are up to during this stay-at-home period. Check it out at this link (and give yourself a little diversion from the news cycle).
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
May 31 - Jun 16, 2023 ($12350) with Chris Benesh & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 14
Our fabulous survey of the best of Alaska birding: the Pribilofs, Kenai Fjords, Nome, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow).
Jul 6-20, 2023 ($7975) with Micah Riegner & Marcelo Barreiros
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!
Jul 30 - Aug 12, 2023 ($6575) with Bret Whitney & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
Two-week immersion in one of the most species-rich regions of Amazonia, including the white-sand forests near Iquitos.
Sep 11-27, 2023 ($7725) with Dan Lane & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
The special bird life of the Bolivian Andes; wonderful mountain scenery.
(Bountiful Beni Extension to Oct 2, 2023)
Nov 10-21, 2023 ($4325) 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.
Dec 4-9, 2023 ($2825) with Micah Riegner & Doug Gochfeld
Tour Limit: 12
A week-long get-away to explore the islands, estuaries, and cactus forests near Kino Bay.
Dec 22-29, 2023 ($3125) with Micah Riegner & Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 14
Superb birding with two dozen Mexican endemics and fascinating ruins while based in lovely Oaxaca City.
Jan 6-17, 2024 ($4425) 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 28 - Feb 6, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$3975) 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.
Feb 18-29, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$5450) with Micah Riegner & Bret Whitney
Tour Limit: 12
Specialty birds, wintering Monarchs, and up-close whale encounters on this exciting tour!
Mar 9-20, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$3825) with Dan Lane & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 14
A new itinerary exploring Oaxaca's Atlantic (Gulf) and Pacific Slopes and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with a long list of additional species for anyone who has already taken our long-running and popular Oaxaca Valley tour.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
Apr 13-23, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$4325) with Eric Hynes & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 14
An 11-day tour to seek out the state's prairie-chicken and grouse species.
May 2-6, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$1975) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 7
A short tour focused on this area's many owl and nightjar specialties.
May 29 - Jun 14, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$12350) with Chris Benesh & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 14
Our fabulous survey of the best of Alaska birding: the Pribilofs, Kenai Fjords, Nome, and Utqiagvik (formerly Barrow).
Jul 28 - Aug 10, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$6575) with Bret Whitney & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
Two-week immersion in one of the most species-rich regions of Amazonia, including the white-sand forests near Iquitos.
Aug 30 - Sep 14, 2024 (Fee TBD) with Bret Whitney & 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.
Dec 2-7, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$2825) with Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 12
A week-long get-away to explore the islands, estuaries, and cactus forests near Kino Bay.