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Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)

SNOW GOOSE (Anser caerulescens) [b]

A flock of thirteen birds continued at the ponds on Lower River Rd. near Buckeye on our first full day of the tour.

CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) [b]

A common bird in the Phoenix area during the winter months, but it's still quite rare in s.e. Arizona

CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera) [b]

There were a few of these gorgeous ducks lingering during the tour.

NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata) [b]

GADWALL (Mareca strepera) [b]

EURASIAN WIGEON (Mareca penelope) [b]

Unlike most years, there hadn't been any wintering birds in the Phoenix area at all this year, so we were very lucky to find a single drake with a small flock of American Wigeon near Buckeye!

AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana) [b]

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)

MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi)

Now split again (!) from Mallard. We had good looks at this one in the Sulphur Springs Valley.

NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta) [b]

GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis) [b]

CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria) [b]

Decent numbers of these and Redheads in the dairy pond south of Willcox.

REDHEAD (Aythya americana) [b]

RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris) [b]

GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) [b]

A single female at the dairy pond s. of Willcox was a very good find.

LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis) [b]

BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola) [b]

COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser) [b]

RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Odontophoridae (New World Quail)

GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)

Our best looks were on the first afternoon at Gilbert Water Ranch.

Podicipedidae (Grebes)

PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)

EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) [b]

Eared, not Horned, is the default small black-and-white grebe here in the winter months.

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)

ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]

INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)

A flock of these small doves showed early at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, giving us our only looks of the trip.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)

This one seems to be increasing as a wintering bird in the state.

MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)

Pullen was the only one to get on this one near Buckeye on our first full day. The drought hit this one pretty hard.

Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)

A very confiding adult male was a crowd-pleaser at the feeders in Madera Canyon. Formerly called the Magnificent Hummingbird before it was split into two species.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)

The most common and widespread wintering hummingbird here.

COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae)

A single female at the 'Thrasher Spot' near Buckeye was our only one of the tour.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)

Nice looks at Felipe Guerrero's house in Patagonia.

Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola) [b*]

SORA (Porzana carolina) [b*]

COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)

A few birds at Gilbert Water Ranch that first afternoon.

AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)

Gruidae (Cranes)

SANDHILL CRANE (Antigone canadensis) [b]

We ended up seeing this one in three different counties during the tour, with the overwhelming majority in the Sulphur Springs Valley on Day 5.

Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)

BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)

Good numbers of this one and the American Avocet at the Gilbert Water Ranch on the first afternoon.

AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) [b]

Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)

MOUNTAIN PLOVER (Charadrius montanus) [b]

We had to brave the muddy roads - and almost got hopelessly stuck! - but we ended up with super scope views at the sod farm in the Santa Cruz Flats on our drive to Tucson from Boyce Thompson Arboretum. This is always a 'high-value' target on this tour, and we don't always track it down.

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)

LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus) [b]

Nearly 300 birds in the alfalfa fields near Buckeye that first full day of the tour.

LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) [b]

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus) [b]

Loads of these at Gilbert Water Ranch, plus another four birds at Willcox later in the tour.

WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata) [b]

A couple of birds at Gilbert Water Ranch on that first afternoon.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) [b]

A single bird at Whitewater Draw was our only one of the tour.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca) [b]

Good numbers of these out in the field with the curlews.

Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)

NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)

We had good comparisons of the two cormorants in the Phoenix area.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Pelecanidae (Pelicans)

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) [b]

A small flock of these were spotted at Gilbert Water Ranch.

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)

GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) [b]

We only saw a few of these s.w. of Phoenix – I'm sure that there were many more somewhere nearby in the numerous agricultural fields.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)

This long-staying individual at Gilbert Water Ranch was starting to acquire quite a bit more pink in its plumage.

Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)

Rather uncommon and local in Arizona.

TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)

Pandionidae (Osprey)

OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) [b]

This one is much more common as a wintering species in the Phoenix area than it was only 20 years ago.

Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)

GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)

A couple of these gliding past the mountain slopes above us near Madera Canyon was a thrilling sight!

NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus hudsonius) [b]

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus) [b]

COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)

RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)

RED-TAILED HAWK (HARLAN'S) (Buteo jamaicensis harlani) [b]

I think that we may have had two different birds along those muddy roads in the Santa Cruz Flats, given some slight differences in the face patterns.

FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis) [b]

This was a good winter for this uncommon raptor, especially in the Phoenix area.

Strigidae (Owls)

BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)

A few birds were spotted standing watch over their nest burrow entrances near Buckeye.

Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)

BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon) [b]

This one doesn't nest in the Southeast Arizona region, but it's a regular migrant and winterer.

Picidae (Woodpeckers)

YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius) [b]

A single imm. male along the Santa Cruz R. on our final afternoon. A scarce but regular winter visitor here.

RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) [b]

Nice looks at this one along the road behind the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve.

LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis) [b]

I thought that we had struck out on this one on New Year's Day in Green Valley, but one, and then two, birds appeared atop some power poles bordering the pecan groves a short distance from the park. This has been a good winter for this irruptive species in s. Arizona.

ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)

Always reliable at the Madera Canyon feeders.

GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)

The most widespread of the woodpeckers seen on this short trip.

LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)

ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae)

This one finally showed up at Santa Rita Lodge just as the rain started again.

NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)

Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)

AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)

MERLIN (Falco columbarius) [b]

This uncommon wintering falcon was spotted on three consecutive days on the tour, starting with the first bird at the 'Thrasher Spot' near Buckeye.

PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus)

Wonderful scope views of a perched bird on our way to the Santa Cruz Flats.

Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)

ROSY-FACED LOVEBIRD (Agapornis roseicollis) [I]

Easy at Encanto Park in Phoenix!

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Empidonax hammondii) [b]

After going the entire tour without any Empidonax sightings, we ended up with sightings of singles of this, Gray, and Dusky on our final afternoon of the tour! This one has the shortest tail and the longest wing tip projection of the three that we saw.

GRAY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax wrightii) [b]

A bit of a surprise along the drainage next to the road en route to Florida Canyon near Madera Canyon.

DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri) [b]

We found one of these with that first mixed insectivore flock along the de Anza Trail near Tubac.

BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)

SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)

VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

This one will brighten any winter day!

CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)

A very good winter for this one in the state. Really impressive were the dozen or more in the fruiting pistache tree in Patagonia.

Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)

HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)

Singles at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and in Madera Canyon.

CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) [b]

We saw multiples of this one at the Arboretum. This one winters here from the West Coast.

Laniidae (Shrikes)

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)

We encountered very few of these on this trip this year.

Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)

MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)

Formerly called the Gray-breasted Jay (and it was called Mexican Jay before that!).

CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)

Surprising numbers near the corral in the grasslands near Patagonia, then others seen in the Sulphur Springs Valley the next day.

COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)

Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)

BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)

Great views at the feeders in Madera Canyon.

Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)

VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)

Alaudidae (Larks)

HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)

Hirundinidae (Swallows)

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

This is usually the only swallow species seen around the Phoenix area in late-December - January.

Regulidae (Kinglets)

RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) [b]

Sittidae (Nuthatches)

WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (INTERIOR WEST) (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni)

This one breeds in the tall riparian trees along the Santa Cruz River s. of Tucson (the lower elevational limit of its breeding range in the state).

Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)

BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura)

A regular at the 'Thrasher Spot'.

Troglodytidae (Wrens)

ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)

Our bird along the irrigation canal near Buckeye was at an odd location, but this one regularly winters in the desert lowlands away from the hills.

CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) [*]

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon) [b]

MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris) [b]

Seen by some in the reeds at muddy Whitewater Draw.

BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)

CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

A single bird sat in the open for us at Willcox just as we were leaving.

Sturnidae (Starlings)

EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]

Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) [b]

A surprise find at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in the same fruiting pistache tree were we saw the Rufous-backed Robin!

CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)

The easiest of the thrashers to see on this tour.

BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)

Good scope views in the short, open desert vegetation at the 'Thrasher Spot'.

LECONTE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma lecontei)

We got very lucky with this one at the 'Thrasher Spot' given that it was visible in the scope for such a short time!

CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale)

We caught up with this skulker next to the road in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Woo Hoo!!!

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)

Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis)

A calling flock overhead in the oaks near Patagonia.

HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) [b]

Good looks at the Arboretum.

RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN (Turdus rufopalliatus)

I had my fingers crossed when we started our walk at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, but we ended up finding the right fruiting pistache tree harboring this beautiful thrush from Western Mexico! The first record for this one in Arizona and the US was back in 1960 (in Nogales), but there have now been well over 250 records in the state, and it's even been found nesting here!

Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)

PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)

A really elegant bird!

Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]

Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)

AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens) [b]

Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)

HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)

PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) [b]

A single bird on the feeders at Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon was the only sighting.

LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)

LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH (Spinus lawrencei) [b]

This has been a very good winter for this species in the state, and we finally caught up with it for some great looks on the final morning in Green Valley south of Tucson.

Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Buntings)

CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) [b]

We had a couple of close flybys in the San Rafael Grasslands near Patagonia early one morning, but then we were able to watch a few birds on the ground outside of our van in the Sulphur Springs Valley. This is the most common and widespread of the four longspur species in the state (none breed here).

MCCOWN'S LONGSPUR (Rhynchophanes mccownii) [b]

We found one sizable flock of these scarce longspurs in the Sulphur Springs Valley, and ended up with good looks outside of the van as they came in to the rain puddles to drink and bathe. Now called Thick-billed Longspur.

Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)

RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis)

We pulled a couple of these out for some looks on our final afternoon near Tubac.

GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum)

A couple of these were in the same little bush that hosted our Baird's Sparrow in the San Rafael Grasslands.

CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina) [b]

A few briefly in the oaks near Patagonia.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (Spizella pallida) [b]

At least one of these scarce (in Arizona) sparrows along the entrance road at Whitewater Draw.

BREWER'S SPARROW (Spizella breweri) [b]

Very often the most common Spizella sparrow wintering in the state.

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)

I was very surprised that we only had one sighting of this beautiful sparrow, but it was almost surely hit hard by the drought.

LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)

We found a very confiding flock on our final morning in Green Valley.

LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) [b]

Numbers of this one fluctuate from year to year in Arizona. We found a big flock in the Sulphur Springs Valley, but that was it for the tour.

DARK-EYED JUNCO (Junco hyemalis) [b]

There were a few different distinctive races of this one at the feeders in Madera Canyon on our final day.

YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)

At least two of these joined the more numerous Dark-eyeds at the Madera Canyon feeders.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) [b]

This race, which breeds in the Rocky Mountains, is normally quite rare or absent in s. Arizona in the Winter, but we had an unexpected high number this year. This is the race with black lores and a pink bill.

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) [b]

This is the common wintering race here with pale lores and an orange-yellow bill.

SAGEBRUSH SPARROW (Artemisiospiza nevadensis) [b]

The split of the old Sage Sparrow a few years back really complicated Arizona birders' lives. A very difficult and rather subjective i.d. involves gauging the amount of back streaking and the prominence of the black malar of this and the next species, which don't always sit up long enough at the right angle to judge those two characters!

BELL'S SPARROW (CANESCENS) (Artemisiospiza belli canescens) [b]

The Robbin's Butte area along the Gila River s.w. of Phoenix seems to be one of the more reliable spots in winter for this one.

VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus) [b]

SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis) [b]

Extremely numerous in the San Rafael Grasslands near Patagonia.

BAIRD'S SPARROW (Centronyx bairdii) [b]

Checking a favored bush in the grasslands upon our arrival with a scope early one morning proved to be the winning strategy for seeing this scarce and local species.

SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)

LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii) [b]

SWAMP SPARROW (Melospiza georgiana) [b]

A single bird with some Lincoln's Sparrows at Whitewater Draw was a decent find there since they've been rather scarce this winter.

CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)

Only on our final day of the tour. This species was hit pretty hard by the drought.

ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)

We found this Arizona near-endemic species on most days of this short tour.

GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) [b]

Spotted with the sparrow flock on the Whitewater Draw entrance road.

SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)

Quite a few of these were wintering at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

A couple of quick flyover females at Whitewater Draw was all that we could muster for this one.

WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta)

Much more widespread at this season than the 'Lilian's' Eastern Meadowlark.

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)

Excellent views and audio of this local breeding form in the San Rafael Grasslands. My guess is that this one will be split from Eastern Meadowlarks in e. North America and elsewhere in the New World in the next couple of years and it looks like eBird (Cornell) is pushing the 'Chihuahuan Meadowlark' name.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)

A surprising number of these at the corral in the San Rafael Grasslands.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus) [b]

GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Parulidae (New World Warblers)

ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Leiothlypis celata) [b]

A little more common and widespread than usual at this season, but it's been a very good winter for insectivores.

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas) [b]

The only ones that I saw were migrants from the north (s. Arizona breeding birds are entirely yellow below).

BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (Setophaga caerulescens) [b]

I knew that one of these was seen in the late fall at Boyce Thompson, but I have to admit that this female was off my radar when we went there. A nice surprise and a real rarity in the state, especially in the winter!

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata) [b]

One seen by Pullen was our only sighting.

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni) [b]

The default Yellow-rumped at any season in Arizona.

BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)

Another wintering insectivore that was a little more common and widespread than usual this year.

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi) [b]

We found a couple of these wintering birds at Boyce Thompson Arboretum during our morning visit there.

WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla) [b]

A very skulky individual really made us work for any sort of look along the de Anza Trail near Tubac on our final day. A very rare wintering bird here.

PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)

Another bird that didn't give itself up very readily, but we all managed some sort of look late in the afternoon at Madera Canyon on the final day.

Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)

HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)

The male visiting the feeders at Madera Canyon was a nice splash of color on a cold day.

NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)

The long-crested, long-tailed race superbus here.

PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)

We almost missed seeing this one on the tour, getting only one sighting on our final day near Tubac.

LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) [b]

More than the usual wintering numbers in the Patagonia area this year.

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MAMMALS

DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)

Very plentiful at the Gilbert Water Ranch on that first afternoon in Phoenix.

CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)

I think that I may have been the only one to see this little guy at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, while the rest of the group got onto the next species - which looks a bit like a chipmunk!

HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)

ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)

Numerous where we saw our Burrowing Owls west of Phoenix on the first full day.

ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)

An Arizona near-endemic squirrel species, barely ranging into western New Mexico and n. Sonora, Mexico.

COYOTE (Canis latrans)

This was a very good trip for this widespread canid. I typically only see one or two/trip, but we had upwards of a dozen after it was all over.

MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)

In s. Arizona, this one is restricted to the desert lowlands.

WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)

This one replaces the above species in the canyons and mountains here in s. Arizona.

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Totals for the tour: 169 bird taxa and 8 mammal taxa