For our tour description, itinerary, past triplists, dates, fees, and more, please VISIT OUR TOUR PAGE.
See this triplist in printable PDF format with media only on page 1.
It was a thrill to see this California Condor at the entrance to its nest grotto in Marble Canyon, just above Grand Canyon. The chick that hatched on May 30th is staying out of the late-afternoon sun. Photo by participant Len Sander.
Felipe and I had a great time birding with you in the vast array of habitats that make up our backyard in Northern Arizona. There is no place like Grand Canyon with its spectacular scenery and vastness, but we also enjoyed the Red Rock Country near Sedona, the high elevation meadows of the San Francisco Peaks, Oak Creek Canyon, Montezuma Well, and the interesting geology and seemingly emptiness of the Navajo Nation.
We were fortunate this year in having a fairly wet late-winter and spring which filled the lakes and ponds with more water than we have had in several years. Our bird list certainly benefited from this with more waterfowl than is typical.
The highlight of our birding was certainly the California Condor we saw perched on the edge of Marble Canyon at the entrance to a grotto and tending to its twelve day old chick. Other highlights included the screaming Common Black-Hawk perched in the large cottonwood, a few Virginia Rails showing themselves well, an adult and young Great Horned Owl along Oak Creek, Burrowing Owls calling right at dusk, a pair of Magnificent Hummingbirds at feeders, fantastic looks at a pair of Lewis's Woodpeckers, a pair of very different looking Williamson's Sapsuckers, a quite uncommon American Three-toed Woodpecker, a couple of Peregrines flying about over and in the Grand Canyon, good views of the quite local Dusky and Gray flycatchers, brightly colored male Vermilion Flycatchers, a quite local Gray Vireo, a very out-of-range Yellow-throated Vireo, Pinyon Jays joining us for dinner, a family of nicely plumaged Mountain Bluebirds, Crissal Thrashers, a scope view of Red-faced Warbler, colorful Painted Redstarts, a close singing Black-chinned Sparrow, many Green-tailed Towhees, a pair of Hepatic Tanagers, the locally rare male Bronzed Cowbird displaying to a couple of females, and a beautiful male Lazuli Bunting as our final new bird. And, we can't forget our server Andrew floating my credit card in the air at the restaurant in Cameron.
Thanks to all of you for making it a great trip and to Felipe for his wealth of knowledge. Hope to see you again down the road.
John
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
BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) – There were several pairs in a few localities including some with young.
GADWALL (Anas strepera) – A couple of pairs were at the Kachina Wetlands. This is an underrated duck in terms of subtle but beautiful feathering.
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera) – This western species is a real beauty.
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta) – We saw a male in the lake south of Flagstaff.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas crecca) – A few birds were seen at the Kachina Wetlands on our first afternoon.
We heard up to twelve individuals vocalizing, and a few Virginia Rails walked into the open at the Kachina Wetlands on our first afternoon. Photo by participant Len Sander.
REDHEAD (Aythya americana) – Quite uncommon in summer; we saw a few around Mormon Lake.
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris) – Another uncommon species that was certainly around this year because of the high water.
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) – Felipe spotted a pair in a pool at Mormon Lake. This species is quite irregular in summer in the Flagstaff area.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias) – We saw a nest with a young in Oak Creek Canyon, then had several scattered around at Mormon Lake.
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – There were at least two distant birds at Mormon Lake.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) – A few birds were in the Mormon Lake basin.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
CALIFORNIA CONDOR (Gymnogyps californianus) – After not seeing this great bird at the South Rim of Grand Canyon we headed north to Marble Canyon and saw a male perched on the cliff face only 150 yards away at the entrance to a nest grotto where a chick that hatched on 30 May was residing. We then saw the female of the pair perched under the bridge we were standing on.
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) – On our first afternoon we saw two birds, with at least one of them catching goldfish from the pond at Kachina Wetlands.
Another riparian species, Common Black-Hawks hunt frogs, lizards, and crawfish along streams such as Oak Creek and Beaver Creek. Photo by guide Felipe Guerrero.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii) – We had a fly-by at John and Becky's house along Oak Creek, then we saw a bird on a nest at Montezuma Well.
COMMON BLACK HAWK (Buteogallus anthracinus) – We arrived at John and Becky's house and were ushered through to the veranda where a calling adult was perched in a large cottonwood giving us a great view. We ended up seeing a pair here flying about and perched again.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – A single bird was soaring below the Rim in Grand Canyon Village. This species has increased its numbers in Northern Arizona over the last 20 years.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola) – We had great looks at this usually difficult to see species at Kachina Wetlands. We estimated at least 12 birds were heard and seen.
SORA (Porzana carolina) – A couple of individuals showed well at Kachina Wetlands.
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – A single bird was at the I-17 rest area pond in the desert south of Flagstaff.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) – There were one or two at Kachina Wetlands and another seen at Mormon Lake.
Somewhat similar to Ash-throated, the Brown-crested Flycatcher is large and more of a riparian species in Northern Arizona, as was this one along Oak Creek. Photo by participant Len Sander.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus) – Mae spotted one jogging along outside the window of the restaurant in Cameron while we were having dinner. It didn't stay long. This is a rather uncommon species here.
Strigidae (Owls)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – An adult and young bird perched for scope views along Oak Creek at John and Becky's house.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – After dinner in Cameron, we got to a site north of Flagstaff just in time to spot a couple of birds in the last light of the day. We then heard them calling around the large prairie dog colony. This is an extremely local species in the Flagstaff area.
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis) – We had our first views in upper Oak Creek Canyon then a few at the Grand Canyon, but the best show was about 350 individuals over the pond at the rest area off the freeway.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens) – Both a male and female were seen at the feeders in Oak Creek Canyon. This is at the northern terminus of this bird's range.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri) – We saw a handful at various feeding stations.
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) – A couple of birds were visiting feeders at both of John and Becky's places.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) – This is the common breeding hummingbird of the mountains of Northern Arizona. We had nice views on our first morning in Hart Prairie.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis) – We enjoyed great views of this unusual woodpecker at a nest site in Flagstaff. We saw a pair making flights where they seemed to be flycatching.
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus) – This colorful woodpecker showed up a few times.
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis) – A riparian species in this part of Arizona we saw a pair at a nest site at John and Becky's place along Oak Creek.
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) – After first seeing a quite interesting looking female we later found a stunning male in full color. The male and female were thought to be separate species when they were first described.
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris) – Our first was visiting John and Becky's hummingbird feeder south of Sedona.
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Picoides pubescens) – A rather uncommon species in the Flagstaff area; we saw at least three individuals in the Hart Prairie area.
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus) – We sorted through a few of these before we found our Three-toed.
AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER (Picoides dorsalis) – This one took some looking but Felipe picked up on this quite uncommon and local species moving about with a couple of Hairy Woodpeckers. We ended up with great scope views.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer) – Several were seen.
American Three-toed Woodpecker is a quite uncommon bird in much of its range. We had nice looks at this individual at the edge of a burn near Flagstaff. Photo by guide Felipe Guerrero.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – On our first afternoon we saw an adult flying over at the Kachina Wetlands. Then we had two at the South Rim at Grand Canyon during our condor search.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) – We had a nice look at a pair of birds in the upper Oak Creek area. This is another quite local bird here.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
GRAY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax wrightii) – This took a bit of looking but we had nice scope views of a calling bird south of Flagstaff.
DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri) – A very local breeder in Arizona we saw a few in the willows of the Hart Prairie area where this species was first described to science.
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis) – Our first was singing from the ponderosa pines at our pit stop near the San Francisco Peaks.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans) – We saw a few along Oak Creek and at least one near the Kachina Wetlands.
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – We saw two males in the pastures along Oak Creek near Page Springs.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens) – We saw our first at Grand Canyon, then we had a few more in the lower areas we visited near Sedona and Montezuma Well.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) – An aggressive pair showed well along Oak Creek at John and Becky's house. This is pretty much a riparian species in northern Arizona.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis) – Our first ones were calling quite loudly at the Cameron Trading Post on our Grand Canyon day.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii) – Always a tough one to see well, we had this rather plain bird at Page Springs and again near Montezuma Well.
GRAY VIREO (Vireo vicinior) – A rather local specialty, we had great looks at a quite plain but very interesting species along the slopes of Gray Mountain.
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Vireo flavifrons) – We had great looks at this eastern vagrant in Oak Creek Canyon. This bird represents only the second record for the county with the first being at this same site last year. It was singing away quite loudly when we arrived.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus) – After hearing a few our first couple of days we chipped away at calling birds over the next three days and finally caught up with this one.
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) – This was a quite common voice in the mixed-conifer and aspen forests near Hart Prairie.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
PINYON JAY (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) – A pair of birds came in to join us for dinner on the deck. This is another specialty of the area. We had great views.
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri) – A quite common bird of the ponderosa pine forests around Flagstaff, we saw a few. This race has white markings on the face, unlike the black-headed form in California.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) – Surprisingly, we never caught up with this species near the Grand Canyon. [*]
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga columbiana) – Felipe spotted our only one, a bird perched quietly in a dead tree at Hart Prairie.
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – We saw these daily.
An inquisitive Ash-throated Flycatcher came in for a closer look near Montezuma Well. Photo by participant Len Sander.
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax) – Quite common.
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris) – We heard a couple at dusk where we were looking for the Burrowing Owls north of the San Francisco Peaks. A couple flushed from the road on our way out but it was too dark to see them at that point. [*]
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) – Our best views were probably those flying about over Montezuma Well.
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis) – Felipe spotted one over the forest as we cruised by at Mormon Lake. We got out and ended up with scope views of a perched male. This southwest U.S. race is known to only nest in natural cavities.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina) – This was the common swallow we saw over the pine forests each day.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica) – A few were seen flying about at Kachina Wetlands but no one saw them at the hotel.
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – At least a couple of individuals were flying around with the large group of swifts over the pond just off the interstate.
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Poecile gambeli) – This handsome species showed well a few times.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi) – A few of these very cute birds were seen in the taller trees along Oak Creek near Page Springs.
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi) – A pair of birds showed well at the South Rim of Grand Canyon. We later heard a couple near Montezuma Well.
Rather common birds in the forests around Flagstaff, Pygmy Nuthatches spend much of their time foraging in the needles of ponderosa pines. Photo by participant Len Sander.
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) – This desert dweller made a few nice appearances at the lower elevations we visited.
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) – One or two came in for a look in the mixed-conifer forest where we had all three species of nuthatches at once.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea) – A pine forest specialty, we saw these each day of the trip.
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus) – The one we saw at Montezuma Well put on a nice show for us.
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) – We had a very close individual at Montezuma Well but it didn't stay long.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii) – One at John and Becky's house along Oak Creek gave us our best view.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea) – A few were whining away in the pinyon-juniper habitat at Gray Mountain and again near Montezuma's Well.
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) – A singing bird showed its ruby-red crown to us at the Snowbowl ski area.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana) – We saw a good number of these in the forests and edge habitats in the higher elevations.
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) – On our first morning we found a pair with at least four young birds along the highway outside of Flagstaff. This is a great looking species with a color of blue that is not seen much in the bird world.
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) [*]
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis) – We had good views of a singing bird along the Rio de Flag at Sawmill County Park in Flagstaff. A rare bird for the area this individual has been here for about three summers.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) – We heard one call a couple of times in the juniper habitat near Montezuma Well and we ended up seeing two individuals. One of them sat up in a tree top a couple of times for brief scope views. This is a tough bird to see at this time of year when they have finished breeding.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
No matter how often they are seen, Mountain Bluebirds always require a stop and look. Just outside of Flagstaff we encountered a pair with at least four young. Photo by guide Felipe Guerrero.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens) – A good number were around John and Becky's house along Oak Creek, then a few more at Montezuma Well.
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – A very rare bird in the Flagstaff area 25 years ago, this species has become quite regular in some areas. We had a couple of immature males at Hart Prairie then a nice adult male in the forest on our way to Mormon Lake. A taxonomic conundrum for decades, this species is now the sole member of its family.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata) – Another quite local breeder, we saw a singing bird at Hart Prairie.
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae) – This species gets up into Oak Creek Canyon but we had good looks in the lower elevations we visited with our first ones at the I-17 rest area on our way to Page Springs.
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis virginiae) – These were less responsive than normal but we eventually caught up with another species that has a fair-sized breeding range but not in places where birders frequent.
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Geothlypis tolmiei) – A denizen of moist willowy areas in northern Arizona, we had a good view of this often difficult to see species at Hart Prairie.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia) – A few were seen and many more heard in the riparian areas of Oak Creek and Montezuma Well.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae) – This ponderosa pine specialty showed well and even came down fairly low for good views.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens) – We heard a few but our best look was at the South Rim of Grand Canyon.
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons) – A brilliant individual showed well for us, even for a scope view, in the Hart Prairie area. This is a species often thought of as a SE Arizona bird, it is perhaps, easier to see around Flagstaff.
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus) – A couple of birds showed well in Oak Creek Canyon with our first at John and Becky's cabin.
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens) – It isn't often that this species stays perched long enough to get a scope view but that's what happened along Oak Creek near Page Springs.
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis) – We had great looks at this wonderful sparrow on the slopes of Gray Mountain after leaving Grand Canyon.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata) – One was perched up quite close to us along the trail at Montezuma Well.
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus) – A singing individual came in for a look in the forest south of Flagstaff.
DARK-EYED JUNCO (RED-BACKED) (Junco hyemalis dorsalis) – This is a quite common species around Flagstaff. Many races winter in the area but this is the breeding form.
Always a dazzler, this Red-faced Warbler stayed put for quite awhile in the mixed-conifer forest near the San Francisco Peaks. Often considered a southeast Arizona specialty, this species is quite regular in Northern Arizona. Photo by participant Len Sander.
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus)
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia) – We heard and saw a couple along Oak Creek and Beaver Creek at Montezuma Well.
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti) – A pair of birds showed pretty well along Oak Creek at John and Becky's house.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps) – A singing bird was perched up and we got it in the scope near Montezuma Well.
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) – These were nearly abundant in the willow area of Hart Prairie.
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – A quick stop just before going to dinner in downtown Flagstaff found a male and female right along the hillside. This is a pine-oak specialist throughout its range.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – We saw a few along the creeks at the lower elevations south of Flagstaff.
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) – We saw a handful of these colorful birds.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) – A fair number were seen including a rather oddly colored bird that has been in the Hart Prairie area for at least four years. It has much more white in the wing than it should and more yellow in the wrong places.
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea) – A nice male was seen in John and Becky's back yard.
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) – One of our last new birds, we saw a gorgeous male along the Rio de Flag in Flagstaff on our last afternoon.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta) – A few were in the Mormon Lake area.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) – We saw a few at the Kachina Wetlands on our first day where they were nesting and being inconspicuous.
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus) – These were seen daily but mostly right around Flagstaff.
Although Pinyon Jays occupy a range that is beyond the usual travels of many birders, they can be conspicuous in that habitat. A pair came in to join us for dinner on the deck in Flagstaff. Photo by guide Felipe Guerrero.
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus) – We made a quick stop in Sedona and saw a male and two females which are the first confirmed records for Coconino County. We were only about 200 yards from the county line but we'll take it. We watched the male strutting his stuff for the females at the edge of a golf course.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus) – A nicely plumaged male popped in to a tree right next to our lunch place in Sedona.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) – A few were seen with our first wanting to visit the hummingbird feeder at dinner on our deck.
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) – Another rather uncommon species in the areas we visit, we saw a male on the slopes of Gray Mountain and got it in the scopes.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra) – We had a pair flying over us in Hart Prairie. It is tough to get a good look at these perched.
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria) – Quite common in many habitats.
This very out-of-range Yellow-throated Vireo was singing loudly in Oak Creek Canyon. This individual is only the second record for Coconino County. Photo by guide Felipe Guerrero.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis) – A fair number were seen on the limestone just over the rim at Grand Canyon.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus) – Many were seen with most of those looking for handouts at Grand Canyon.
GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus lateralis) – This was the small squirrel that some saw the first afternoon at Kachina Wetlands then we saw it again near Hart Prairie.
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis) – Felipe spotted this riparian species peering out of a hole in a cottonwood tree along Oak Creek. This species has a quite restricted range in North America.
ABERT'S SQUIRREL (Sciurus aberti) – We saw at least one on the way into Hart Prairie. This is one of the more handsome squirrels in North America.
COYOTE (Canis latrans) – We heard a few in the distance at our Burrowing Owl site.
ELK (Cervus canadensis) – Our first were along the edge of the road at Grand Canyon, then we saw about 80 individuals scattered about the shoreline at Mormon Lake.
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus) – A few were seen in the forests near Flagstaff and at Grand Canyon.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 148 bird taxa and 8 mammal taxa