A Field Guides Birding Tours Report
ARIZONA WINTER SPECIALTIES II 2021
December 29, 2021-January 4, 2022 with Micah Riegner guiding
It had been a while since I birded Southeast Arizona during the winter, so it was nice to get back to the open grasslands, deserts, and riparian corridors. We had a good run, despite the rain and the mud, and saw all the Arizona thrashers, several nifty sparrows including Baird’s, Bell’s and Sagebrush, hundreds of Sandhill Cranes, and a nice suite of waterfowl.
Day one we birded the Phoenix area. We started at the “Thrasher Spot” west of Buckeye. As soon as we stepped from the van I could hear the crisp, cheery song of LeConte’s Thrasher from up a Mesquite-lined drainage. We followed the sound to the source, which was a lot farther than I thought, and finally had excellent scope views of the bird singing away. We then switched our focus to Bendire’s Thrasher and, after zigzagging through the salt flats, we found one perched in a Wolfberry, a winter food source. We flushed some Sagebrush Sparrows along the way, which sat up on the bushes, nervously flicking their tails. What a glorious morning we spent out there looking for thrashers—it’s sad to think that all that habitat will be demolished to put in solar panels.
After a nice lunch in Buckeye, we birded the agricultural fields and saw a brilliant male Vermilion Flycatcher, then stopped at Robbin’s Butte to look for Bell’s Sparrows. We spread out in the salt flats and flushed a flock of Artemisiospiza, which turned out to be a mix of both Bell’s and Sagebrush sparrows, the Bell’s having darker malar stripes and more contrasting face patterns. We finished the day by birding around Encanto Park, in downtown Phoenix, where we scoped Rosy-faced Lovebirds, cagebird escapees native to Namibia.
The next several days we birded from Tucson, dodging rainstorms and muddy roads while seeking sparrows, raptors, and cranes. My favorite morning was the one we spent in the San Rafael Valley. As soon as we arrived, we had Baird’s Sparrow in the scope along with a couple Grasshopper and Savannah sparrows. I also enjoyed our day in the Sulfur Springs Valley. We arrived at White Water Draw just in time to witness the cranes taking off to go forage in the agricultural fields. That day we saw some close Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Crissal Thrashers, and flyover White-throated Swifts, kind of a surprise in the winter.
I’d like to thank Christine Boilard in our Austin office for making all arrangements and Dave Stejskal for all the information he passed along to us. And I’d like to thank all of you for such a fun week of birding—I hope to see you in the field again soon!
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera)
We had great looks at Whitewater Draw.
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)
GADWALL (Mareca strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)
BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola)
HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Watching those males display at the Benson Golf Course Ponds was one of the highlights of the tour!
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
We had great looks at these iconic desert birds at Gilbert Water Ranch.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
A few were on the ponds in Buckeye.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
Gary spotted a pair while we were driving along the road at Robbin's Butte wildlife area.
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
It was kind of a surprise to see these out Baker Road in the Sulfur Springs Valley.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
One was coming into the feeders at Madera Canyon.
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
We watched a close male feeding on Lycium flowers at the Thrasher Spot.
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
We saw a few at the feeders around Patagonia.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Gruidae (Cranes)
SANDHILL CRANE (Antigone canadensis)
It was a thrill to see huge flocks across the Sulfur Springs Valley!
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Both these and Black-necked Stilts were in the shallow water at Gilbert Water Ranch.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
We had nice close looks at Gilbert Water Ranch.
WILSON'S SNIPE (Gallinago delicata)
Two flew past us at Lake Cochise.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
We saw a few along some agricultural canals in Buckeye.
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
We scoped a distant flock at Whitewater Draw.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
The most abundant cormorant at Gilbert Water Ranch.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
At Gilbert Water Ranch.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
Jenny spotted one in a willow at Gilbert Water Ranch.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Some juveniles were hanging out near the spoonbill at Gilbert Water Ranch.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
ROSEATE SPOONBILL (Platalea ajaja)
This bird showed up at Gilbert Water Ranch a couple years ago and hasn't left.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus hudsonius)
We had several encounters throughout the tour.
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
We saw a second year bird while driving along the agricultural fields of Buckeye.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis)
We saw a couple light morph birds in the Sulfur Springs Valley.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
We had nice close looks at a bird at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis)
Dave alerted me to a bird in a pecan grove near Green Valley. When we got there it was still around. Thanks, Dave!
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Several were hanging out at the feeders at Medera Canyon.
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
I've never seen so many in my life! They were covering the cliffs at Boyce Thompson Arboretum!
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Kay spotted one out in the Santa Cruz Flats.
PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus)
We had brief looks at one before it took off in the Sant Cruz Flats.
Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots)
ROSY-FACED LOVEBIRD (Agapornis roseicollis) [I]
To be honest I wasn't excited about going to see an introduced bird, but once I saw them through the scope at Encanto Park, I was quite impressed. What a cool bird to have around the Phoenix area!
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Empidonax hammondii)
We had outstanding looks at one at Madera Canyon.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Kay spotted our first one as we were driving along the agricultural fields in Buckeye.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
Loads were our sunning themselves in Patagonia.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni) [*]
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
It was cool to see a pair doing a courtship display out at the Thrasher Spot.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
A large flock flew in while we birded Madera Canyon.
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
We scoped some out at the San Rafael Valley. Smaller than Common Raven with a funny shaped head.
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
They were foraging with a winter flock along the Santa Cruz River.
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
One sat for several minutes as we birded the Thrasher Spot.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
A couple flew past us in Green Valley.
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (INTERIOR WEST) (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
One worked its way up the wash at King Canyon near Tucson.
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura)
They were really vocal at the Thrasher Spot.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) [*]
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
One was at Boyce Thompson.
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris)
Plentiful in the marsh at Whitewater Draw.
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Amazingly, it took us until the very last day to locate one. I'm not sure how that happened.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
Our best looks were the very first day at Gilbert Water Ranch.
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)
Very similar to Curve-billed, but with a shorter bill. We saw two out at the Thrasher Spot.
LECONTE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma lecontei)
One of my favorite birds in Arizona! This was our primary focus our first morning at the Thrasher Spot. We followed the song of one for quite a ways until we finally spotted it singing on a shrub. Woohooo!
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale)
A widespread, but tricky-to-see thrasher. We saw a pair out in the Sulfur Springs Valley.
SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus)
The smallest of the AZ thrashers. We scoped one at the Thrasher Spot.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides)
We drove past a flock in the Sulfur Springs Valley.
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
Our best views were at Boyce Thompson.
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
RUFOUS-BACKED ROBIN (Turdus rufopalliatus)
We spent the afternoon watching one come in to a pyracantha at the Paton's Center, Patagonia.
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
We saw a flock at the Santa Cruz River and around Patagonia.
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
They were coming in to feed on fruits at Boyce Thompson Arboretum.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
SPRAGUE'S PIPIT (Anthus spragueii)
We flushed a couple birds out in the San Rafael Valley.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH (Spinus lawrencei)
Dave alerted us to some in Green Valley. It was cool to see them so close.
Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Buntings)
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus)
We had outstanding looks at a bird at close range in the Sulfur Springs Valley.
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum)
We saw a few in the San Rafael Valley.
BREWER'S SPARROW (Spizella breweri)
We saw quite a few at the Thrasher Spot.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
One of my favorite desert birds. We saw some near Tucson.
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
We saw a small flock in the pouring rain at the Santa Cruz Flats.
LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys)
These chunky sparrows were sunning along the road in the Sulfur Springs Valley.
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Junco hyemalis)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
At the Madera Canyon feeders.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
SAGEBRUSH SPARROW (Artemisiospiza nevadensis)
The common sparrow in the salt flats at the Thrasher Spot.
BELL'S SPARROW (CANESCENS) (Artemisiospiza belli canescens)
We sifted through a flock of Sagebrush Sparrows and spotted a few Bell's with dark malar marks at Robbin's Butte.
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
The most common sparrow we in the San Rafael Valley.
BAIRD'S SPARROW (Centronyx bairdii)
Woohoo! We had awesome scope looks at one alongside a Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrow for comparison.
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus) [*]
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)
The meadowlarks in the San Rafael Valley.
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Leiothlypis celata)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
Nice studies at the Santa Cruz River.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
One showed up momentarily at Boyce Thompson.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
Both male and female were coming to the feeders at Madera Canyon.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)
Several at Whitewater Draw.
MAMMALS
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
Several were scurrying about at Boyce Thompson.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
The big lanky squirrels at Madera Canyon.
BOTTAE'S POCKET GOPHER (Thomomys bottae)
One of the coolest mammal observations of the trip. We watched it pushing out dirt at Patagonia.
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
Kay spotted one as we drove out to the Whitewater Draw. We watched it lope along in the freezing cold.
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)
Totals for the tour: 132 bird taxa and 10 mammal taxa