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We saw this gorgeous Red-faced Warbler in the Chiricahuas. One of the specialties of Arizona, and always a favorite! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
Every spring Arizona tour is different. Weather plays a big part in how it all turns out, and ours turned out pretty darned well! Wind played a very minor role in our birding, and that was mostly felt in the Chiricahuas. Temperature can vary widely at this season, but our temps were nearly idyllic. One late storm system off of the Pacific can make it downright cold in the mountains - and can sometimes even produce snow in May at high elevations - or a stubborn high pressure can heat up the region into the 100's. I'm glad we got the weather that we got!
We really started this tour off right with a visit that first afternoon and evening to nearby Madera Canyon to the south of Tucson. It was a little quiet at first, but then we got into the canyon itself and were treated to a big helping of owls to whet our appetites for what was to come later. Northern Pygmy-Owl, Elf Owl, Whiskered and Western screech-owls, and Lesser Nighthawk all cooperated for us to make our first day together one that will be remembered for quite a while!
Some local birding in the morning to follow was productive, too, adding Burrowing Owl to our growing list as well as such Southwestern specialties as Gilded Flicker, Greater Roadrunner, Vermilion Flycatcher and Abert's Towhee. After we left Tucson, we really started adding to our list with the likes of Mississippi Kite, Harris's Hawk, Scaled Quail, a nice variety of waterbirds at Willcox, Chihuahuan Raven, and many more. That delicious Mexican lunch in Willcox stands as a highlight of the day, too! After arriving in the Chiricahuas, we had a nice dinner at the Portal Peak Lodge, caught our breath and rested up for more excitement to come!
Our two days in the Chiricahuas were incredible! High on the list of special birds were our confiding Elegant Trogon, five species of beautiful hummingbirds, our first looks at all of those local mountain warblers (Red-faced, Olive, Grace's, and Painted Redstart), that fantastic vagrant Slate-throated Redstart, fabulous Spotted Owl and Mexican Whip-poor-will, a cooperative Common Poorwill in the road, yet another Northern Pygmy-Owl, Mexican Chickadee, Bendire's Thrasher, and so many others.
Next was our stay the Sierra Vista area, our base for birding the lofty Huachuca Mountains. We began our stay with a bang by tallying a stunning male Lucifer Hummingbird that first afternoon at the delightful feeding station at Ash Canyon B&B. Then it was off to the high mountains themselves the following day. A drive to the top of Carr Canyon was both scenic and incredibly productive for us with highlights such as Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Zone-tailed Hawk, Virginia's Warbler, Arizona Woodpecker, and our only male Olive Warbler of the tour, among a number of old friends that we first encountered in the Chiricahuas. The next day brought us looks of Botteri's Sparrow, the first Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers to arrive in the state this spring, and our first 'whiff' of Montezuma Quail before we made our way west to Patagonia.
The Patagonia/Nogales area boasts some of the best birding in the entire state, and we weren't disappointed with our haul of avian bounty. With birds like Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Thick-billed Kingbird, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Rufous-winged Sparrow, Gray Hawk, Montezuma Quail, you simply can't go wrong! We culminated our stay here with an afternoon/evening visit to California Gulch to the west of Nogales and nestled among the very scenic Pajarito and Atascosa mountains. It was here that we were rewarded with incredible looks at a rare trio of birds: Five-striped Sparrow, Varied Bunting, and Buff-collared Nightjar.
We still had some work to do on our final day together, and those efforts produced gratifying views of a rare Rose-throated Becard along the Santa Cruz River and then an adult and fledgling of the gorgeous and super-rare Rufous-capped Warbler in Florida Canyon. What a way to close out this trip!
Thank you all so much for joining me on one of my favorite tours - to my 'back yard' of Southeast Arizona! I always hope for a great group of enthusiastic and congenial birders to join me for this one, and this group was all of that and more. I hope we all have a chance to bird together again somewhere soon! Cheers and good birding – Dave
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)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
MALLARD (NORTHERN) (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) [b]
MALLARD (MEXICAN) (Anas platyrhynchos diazi)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) [b]
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera) [b]
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata) [b]
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca) [b]
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris) [b]
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
We had such good looks at this stunning Elegant Trogon. This is one of the species that birders come to SE Arizona to see. Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii) [N]
MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) [I]
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) [b]
WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis) [b]
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus) [b]
The Thick-billed Kingbird is a rare breeder in the U.S. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) [b]
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis) [N]
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana) [N]
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) [N]
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus) [b]
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) [b]
The Greater Roadrunner is one of the symbols of the desert southwest. Photo by participant Oleg Gurvits.
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER (Calidris pusilla) [b]
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) [b]
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus) [b]
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) [b]
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis) [b]
CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) [b]
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba)
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)
The tiny Elf Owl is widespread in Arizona, but we don't always see them this well. Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) [N]
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma)
ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi)
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
SPOTTED OWL (Strix occidentalis)
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL (Aegolius acadicus) [*]
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus ridgwayi)
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae)
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae) [N]
LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer)
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae)
Lucifer Hummingbird is primarily a Mexican species; we were lucky to have this one come to the feeder in Ash Canyon right after we got there! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia violiceps)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis) [N]
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Picoides arizonae)
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) [b]
A lovely pair of Loggerhead Shrike fledglings. Photo by participant Oleg Gurvits.
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Empidonax hammondii) [b]
DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri) [b]
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax difficilis) [b]
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis)
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons)
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
We had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time, and so we got great views of this Rose-throated Becard. Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus) [N]
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)
CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) [b]
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus) [N]
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) [b]
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
The Gray Hawk is expanding its range in Arizona. This one flew right overhead, and gave us a great look! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (WOODHOUSE'S) (Aphelocoma woodhouseii woodhouseii)
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax) [N]
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor) [b]
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) [b]
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) [N]
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
The ornate Montezuma Quail is one of the sought-after species on this tour; we had some great views, didn't we? Photo by participant Oleg Gurvits.
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila nigriceps) [N]
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) [b]
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH (Catharus ustulatus) [b]
A family of American Coots. Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum) [b]
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata) [b]
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae)
Gambel's Quail are common, but they are always fun to see! This male posed nicely for participant Oleg Gurvits.
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis virginiae)
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Geothlypis tolmiei) [b]
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi) [b]
RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER (Basileuterus rufifrons) [N]
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla) [b]
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
SLATE-THROATED REDSTART (Myioborus miniatus)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis)
BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
Rufous-capped Warbler is a Mexican species that has recently been found breeding in SE Arizona. Although we had to work for it, we found this beautiful adult, plus a fledgling! Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) [b]
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis) [b]
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) [b]
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis) [N]
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
While many of us have Northern Cardinals in our neighborhoods, ours don't always measure up to the SE Arizona birds. Look at the bright color, and the crest on this beauty! Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) [b]
VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) [b]
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
ANTELOPE JACKRABBIT (Lepus alleni)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)
Our group at Madera Canyon. Photo by participant Herb Fechter.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus tereticaudus)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
NORTHERN RACCOON (Procyon lotor)
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
BOBCAT (Lynx rufus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)
Herps
AMERICAN BULLFROG (Lithobates catesbeianus) [I]
CANYON TREEFROG (Hyla arenicolor)
POND SLIDER (Trachemys scripta) [I]
COMMON LESSER EARLESS LIZARD (Holbrookia maculata)
ORNATE TREE LIZARD (Urosaurus ornatus)
DESERT SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus magister)
CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii)
SONORAN SPOTTED WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis sonorae)
DESERT GRASSLAND WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis uniparens)
GOPHERSNAKE (Pituophis catenifer)
Totals for the tour: 204 bird taxa and 15 mammal taxa