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Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

At the Amado wastewater treatment plant.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors)

We saw a few at Lake Cochise.

NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)

AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana)

MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)

MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi)

We had nice looks at a pair along the Santa Cruz River.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)

RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)

Odontophoridae (New World Quail)

SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)

We saw these cotton-top quail outside of Willcox and along State Line Road near Portal.

GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)

Seen almost daily throughout the tour.

MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae)

This was the first time I've seen Montezuma Quail three times on a tour! First we saw a pair above the Southwest Research Station in Portal, then we saw one fly across the road on our way down Carr Canyon and then we saw a pair down at Patagonia Lake in the riparian area.

Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)

WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)

Podicipedidae (Grebes)

PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps) [*]

Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)

ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)

EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)

INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)

COMMON GROUND DOVE (Columbina passerina)

We ran into a few on the trail at Patagonia Lake.

WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)

MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)

Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)

This was a high priority for everyone on the tour so you could imagine the excitement of seeing a pair strut across the road and fly into a tree at eye level near Portal!

Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)

LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)

These desert dwellers were snatching insects at the intersection in Green Valley.

COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)

We were fortunate to find several on the road at Mount Hopkins and in the Chiricahuas.

MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae)

We had great looks at one in the Chiricahuas and at Mount Hopkins.

Apodidae (Swifts)

WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)

Several zipped by overhead at South Fork of Cave Creek in the Chiricahuas.

Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)

We had great views of this enormous hummer at Miller Canyon.

BLUE-THROATED MOUNTAIN-GEM (Lampornis clemenciae)

A frequent picnic breakfast companion at Cave Creek Lodge.

LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer)

Our feeder watching at Ash Canyon finally paid off with great views of a glowing male.

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)

An everyday hummer.

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)

Another visitor to the Ash Canyon feeders.

BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)

We had great views of a male on territory in a patch of flowering New Mexico Locust in the Chiricahuas.

BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)

One of the most common spring hummers in SE Arizona.

VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Leucolia violiceps)

One visited the feeders at Miller Canyon.

Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)

COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)

AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)

Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)

KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)

Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)

LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)

Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)

FRANKLIN'S GULL (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

One of these scarce migrants touched down on Lake Cochise, then took off again and disappeared.

RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)

GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)

SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)

CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)

GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)

Cathartidae (New World Vultures)

BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)

TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)

Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)

COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)

HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)

The final afternoon of the tour we checked out the nest that Chris alerted me to and saw two birds perched nearby. The female was noticeably larger than the male.

GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus)

A pair mated right in front of us at Patagonia Lake.

SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)

Several migrants were out in the open country, recently returned from their wintering grounds in Argentina.

ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus)

One soared past us with nesting material along the road above Portal. We also saw several around Patagonia.

RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)

Strigidae (Owls)

WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)

We saw one in the same area where we saw the Elf Owls near Portal.

WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)

We saw one at dusk near Portal and then saw one at a nest cavity at the San Pedro River.

GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)

Seen right in Portal during the late afternoon. We thought it was a decoy owl at first!

ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi)

We watched a male and female interact along the road at the Chiricahuas.

BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)

I had low hopes of finding this out along State Line Road, but there it was! Great scope views!

SPOTTED OWL (MEXICAN) (Strix occidentalis lucida)

I was really happy to see this one roosting out in the day time up in the Chiricahuas. It's been a while since I've seen a spotted owl.

Trogonidae (Trogons)

ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans)

Our patience finally paid off as one peeped its head out from the nest cavity at South Fork. Also at Ramsey Canyon.

Picidae (Woodpeckers)

ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)

GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)

LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)

ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae)

Close views of this predominantly Mexican species at Miller Canyon.

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

GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides)

Top-notch views of a top-notch bird near Tucson.

Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)

AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)

PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus)

One buzzed by along State Line Road.

Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)

ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae)

We watched the male bring cottonwood fiber to add to his already massive globular nest along the Santa Cruz River.

Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe)

We had just fabulous close views of one along the road near Patagonia.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi)

We stopped to see one on a snag on our way down to Portal.

GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax)

These were singing all over the place up at Barfoot in the Chiricahuas.

WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)

CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis)

The olive green flycatcher that was right off the bridge at South Fork.

BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons)

This made the drive up Carr Canyon worth it! What a cooperative bird!

BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)

SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)

VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

We had great views of a stunning male at Whitewater Draw.

DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)

ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)

BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)

The larger, heavier-billed of the Myiarchus flycatchers in Arizona.

SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris)

We saw these along South Fork and Ramsey Canyon, fresh from their wintering grounds in the Western Amazon.

TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)

Seen from the bridge at Tubac.

CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)

We had multiple nice studies of this species throughout the tour.

THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris)

These were thick in the riparian area above Patagonia Lake.

WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)

Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)

BELL'S VIREO (ARIZONA) (Vireo bellii arizonae)

One finally came into view along the riparian area above Patagonia Lake.

HUTTON'S VIREO (INTERIOR) (Vireo huttoni stephensi)

PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)

Good views in the Chiricahuas.

WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)

Laniidae (Shrikes)

LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)

Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)

STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)

WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)

MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)

CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)

We saw several out in the grasslands near Lake Cochise.

COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)

Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)

MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)

Seen feeding young in a nest up in the Chiricahuas!

BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)

JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)

We chased one down along the road to Paradise outside of Portal.

Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)

VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)

Hirundinidae (Swallows)

NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)

These desert Purple Martins were flying around outside of Tucson.

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)

BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)

BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus)

Sittidae (Nuthatches)

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

PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)

Certhiidae (Treecreepers)

BROWN CREEPER (ALBESCENS/ALTICOLA) (Certhia americana albescens)

I was surprised to see one singing along the Santa Cruz River. I picture them to breed at higher elevations.

Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)

BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)

BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura)

We had nice close looks at this desert gnatcatcher near Tucson.

Troglodytidae (Wrens)

ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)

CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)

One sang from an open perch at Montosa Canyon.

HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)

A few were singing away at Pinery Canyon.

BEWICK'S WREN (MEXICANUS GROUP) (Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus)

CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Sturnidae (Starlings)

EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris)

Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)

CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)

The more common of the desert thrashers.

BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)

We scoped a few out on State Line Road. They were surprisingly quiet.

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)

Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)

WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)

HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) [*]

AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)

Bombycillidae (Waxwings)

CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Some rather late migrants were hanging out along the Santa Cruz River.

Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)

PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)

Watching them build a nest of plant fibers and spider web was outstanding!

Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)

OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus)

I was pleasantly surprised by how many we saw up in the pines above Portal. We had one particularly cooperative male singing from right above us.

Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)

Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)

HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)

RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra)

This was my personal highlight of the tour. Watching them feed right at eye level on Douglas Fir buds was absolutely awesome.

PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)

LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)

Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)

RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis)

Common in the cactus deserts right around Tucson.

BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii)

I thought this bird was going to land on me out in one of the brushy fields outside of Portal.

FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispizopsis quinquestriata)

One of the first birds of the tour out at Box Canyon. There are very few places to see this species in the US.

BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis)

There were quite a few along the road to Paradise.

BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)

YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)

Common in the mountains.

SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)

CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)

ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)

This Sonoran Desert endemic proved to be quite common in the riparian corridors we birded towards the end of our tour.

RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)

We had nice close looks at one on one of the dry slopes above Portal.

SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)

Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)

YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)

If you want to see Yellow-breasted Chats, Patagonia Lake is the place to go! We saw dozens of them that morning.

Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)

YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Just one was patrolling the shoreline at Lake Cochise.

EASTERN MEADOWLARK (CHIHUAHUAN) (Sturnella magna lilianae)

The meadowlarks we saw out on State Line Road.

HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)

BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)

SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum)

I love hearing their song echo through dry canyons dotted with Agaves. We had our best views of this species at South Fork.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)

BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)

GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Parulidae (New World Warblers)

LUCY'S WARBLER (Leiothlypis luciae)

Not the showiest of warblers but a lifer for everyone nonetheless!

VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Leiothlypis virginiae)

We saw a few in some of the burn areas in the Chiricahuas. This species favors hillsides that have regenerated after a fire.

COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)

YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)

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

GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)

One of my favorite sounds of spring! Their bubbly rising song, always cheers me up. We had super looks at a male that was almost at eye level in the Chiricahuas.

BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)

This warbler favors dry juniper woodland. We saw some in the Chiricahuas.

TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)

Migrants were still passing through the high elevations.

RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER (Basileuterus rufifrons)

Wow! This outstanding rarity was singing up a storm along the riparian area above Patagonia Lake.

WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)

A couple of these migrants were still moving through.

RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)

This bird always brings me back to my childhood of birding the pine forests near Prescott Arizona. We had outstanding looks at a few in the Chiricahuas.

PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)

One of the flashy specialty birds of the Arizona Highlands. We had good looks at some along the windy roads in the Chiricahuas.

Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)

HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)

The first afternoon of birding around Box Canyon we saw a male in one of the flowering Ocotillos. It blended right in with the flowers!

SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)

Both males and females showed well along the Santa Cruz River.

WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)

We saw several migrants pushing through the desert including some really brightly colored males.

NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)

PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)

We never tired of seeing this desert-dwelling cardinalid.

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

This scarce migrant was at at the feeders in Portal--a nice brightly colored male!

BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)

We saw a couple in the riparian area above Patagonia Lake.

VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor)

This gorgeous blue and purple bunting was at Box Canyon and Montosa Canyon.

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MAMMALS

EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)

We saw a few in the higher elevations above Portal.

DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)

Common in the lowlands.

BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)

Seen along State Line Road outside of Portal.

CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)

HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)

We had great views of some coming down to the feeders in Portal.

ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)

MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)

These handsome squirrels were along South Fork near Portal.

ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)

The big gray squirrels we saw at Patagonia Lake.

ARIZONA COTTON RAT (Sigmodon arizonae)

These were surprisingly abundant. Seen in many of the riparian areas we visited.

GRAY FOX (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)

One crossed the road as we headed up Miller Canyon. Gorgeous!

WHITE-NOSED COATI (Nasua narica)

One hobbled across the road at Montosa Canyon.

STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)

The skunk we drove past in Portal.

COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)

We watched a herd with youngsters roam around near the feeders in Portal.

MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)

WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)

Seen almost every day of the tour!

PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)

We saw a male with big horns out near Patagonia.

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HERPS

WESTERN LYRESNAKE (Trimorphodon biscutatus)

Our first afternoon of birding at Box Canyon we found one wedged in a crack in the cliff.

GOPHERSNAKE (Pituophis catenifer)

We ran into a few of these gorgeous snakes throughout the tour.

AMERICAN BULLFROG (Lithobates catesbeianus)

ELEGANT EARLESS LIZARD (Holbrookia elegans)

We saw one cross the trail near Tubac.

ORNATE TREE LIZARD (Urosaurus ornatus)

SOUTHWESTERN FENCE LIZARD (Sceloporus cowlesi)

DESERT SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus magister)

CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii)

We had nice scope views of this one at Sweetwater. We could see the banding on its arms and legs.

YARROW'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus jarrovii)

The spiny lizards that were out on the rocks at the Chiricahuas.

TEXAS HORNED LIZARD (Phrynosoma cornutum)

Wow! What a thrill to find one along the road to Portal!

DESERT GRASSLAND WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis uniparens)

The whiptails near the San Pedro River.

TIGER WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis tigris)

MADREAN ALLIGATOR LIZARD (Elgaria kingii)

One slithered by at the Portal feeders.

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Totals for the tour: 174 bird taxa and 16 mammal taxa