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There's gold in them there hills - nightbird gold! The entrance to Cave Creek Canyon as seen from Portal is surely one of the most beautiful vistas - anywhere! Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
We knew at the outset that we would be packing a lot of action into these four days in the Sky Islands of Southeastern Arizona, but I was still amazed at what we found! In addition to the hoped-for suite of excellent nightbirds that Arizona is famous for, we also saw three knock-out vagrant songbirds from Mexico.
On the nightbird front, we kicked things off with a Burrowing Owl in Tucson. Then it was to the south for a lovely male Buff-collared Nightjar, nesting Elf Owl, and a wonderfully cooperative Western Screech-Owl after a picnic dinner at California Gulch in the Pajarito Mountains west of Nogales. The next morning, on our first full day together, we headed to the Huachuca Mountains where we hiked up Miller Canyon and found two adult Spotted Owls. Moving east to the Chiricahua Mountains, nesting Great Horned Owls and a day-roosting Whiskered Screech-Owl were waiting for us in Portal. A dusk watch along a stream introduced us to a fantastic, close Mexican Whip-poor-will, but we didn't manage to track down a Flammulated Owl. The following morning in the Chiricahuas, we whistled up a Northern Pygmy-Owl in a sycamore in Cave Creek Canyon and then spent the rest of the day searching for songbirds high in the mountains. In the evening we found another Spotted Owl (this one was even calling!) and heard more Mexican Whip-poor-wills, but still the Flammulated Owl eluded us. On our final day, after we headed back to Tucson, we took a picnic up the Catalina Highway and with a bit of luck finally found a vocal male Flammulated Owl (yip yip!) and Common Poorwills. A Lesser Nighthawk zipped through the streetlights of Tucson as we drove back to our hotel near the airport.
As I mentioned earlier, we had remarkable luck with Mexican vagrants. A Tufted Flycatcher was staked out in upper Carr Canyon in the Huachucas and we found it despite a strong wind there. In Portal, a Streak-backed Oriole came in to the Rodrigues feeders to eat jelly (and was my first one north of Mexico). Finally, as we drove back to Tucson, we stopped at the site where a Slate-throated Redstart apparently nested with a Painted Redstart in 2016, just on a whim - and amazingly, within a few minutes, we found an adult Slate-throated Redstart! I can't emphasize enough how fortunate we were to see these special rarities on our short trip.
In between the exciting nightbirds and the rare Mexican visitors, we had time to find a nice cross-section of SE Arizona specialties from raptors to hummingbirds to flycatchers and plenty of warblers. Check out the annotated list below for the full rundown!
Micah and I had a great time birding and traveling with all of you, and we hope to share some more exciting times in the field with you in the future.
Good birding,
Tom & Micah
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)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas americana)
MALLARD (MEXICAN) (Anas platyrhynchos diazi)

Our hike up Miller Canyon was rewarded by these amazing, sleepy "Mexican" Spotted Owls. Photo by guide Micah Riegner.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)

This was our look at the long-staying Streak-backed Oriole in Portal. This Mexican species is very rare in Arizona. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
DUNLIN (Calidris alpina)
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)

We ate several picnic dinners to help us stay out in the field longer - I'm pretty sure none of us went hungry on this trip. After darkness fell on this scene, we heard a male Buff-collared Nightjar singing from very nearby - AND, we also discovered an Elf Owl nest about 40 feet away! Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia)
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto)
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus)

Kathy Calvert captured both Gambel's and Mountain White-crowned Sparrows in this image from a feeding station in Portal.
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma)
ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi)
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
SPOTTED OWL (Strix occidentalis)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) [*]

Even though this was a nightbird-oriented tour, we did see some spectacular hummingbirds including this male Broad-billed. Photo by guide Micah Riegner.
BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus ridgwayi)
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae)
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae)
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)

Micah found this Five-striped Sparrow near California Gulch just in the nick of time before it went to roost. Photo by Tom Johnson.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Picoides arizonae)
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
TUFTED FLYCATCHER (Mitrephanes phaeocercus)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi)
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Empidonax hammondii)

On our stroll along South Fork in the Chiricahuas, we were amazed by the close views of this striking Red-naped Sapsucker. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri)
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons)
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)
CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii)

This male Black-headed Grosbeak posed nicely and showed off its striking pattern for Kathy Calvert.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)

Red-faced Warblers were a beautiful feature of our trip. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (INTERIOR WEST) (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (ALBESCENS/ALTICOLA) (Certhia americana albescens)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)

We watched this Rufous-winged Sparrow as he sang near our picnic site in California Gulch. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
GRAY CATBIRD (Dumetella carolinensis)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)

This Western Screech-Owl peered at us from the low branches of a mesquite in the Pajarito Mountains on our first evening. Photo by guide Micah Riegner.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) [*]
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae)
NORTHERN PARULA (Setophaga americana)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens) [*]

During our final dinner (a picnic in the Santa Catalina Mts.), we lined up for a group photo. Photo by guide Micah Riegner.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
HERMIT WARBLER (Setophaga occidentalis)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
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)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis)
BREWER'S SPARROW (Spizella breweri)

The first major rarity of our tour was this awesome Tufted Flycatcher in Carr Canyon. Though conditions were windy, we heard the bird calling and were able to zero in for some nice views. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata)
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (GRAY-HEADED) (Junco hyemalis caniceps)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)

This flock of 14 Purple Martins posed on wires near Portal, where the species is quite rare. These were likely the saguaro cactus-nesting birds of the Sonoran Desert. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)

This breeding plumage Golden-crowned Sparrow showed up at feeders in Portal during our stay. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)
STREAK-BACKED ORIOLE (Icterus pustulatus)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus)
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
ANTELOPE JACKRABBIT (Lepus alleni)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)

Now that's a penetrating gaze! This Northern Pygmy-Owl stared us down from the top of an Arizona Sycamore near Portal. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
WHITE-NOSED COATI (Nasua narica)
BOBCAT (Lynx rufus)
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)
Herps
CHIRICAHUA LEOPARD FROG (Rana chiricahuensis)
CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii)
YARROW'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus jarrovii)
DESERT GRASSLAND WHIPTAIL (Aspidoscelis uniparens)
Totals for the tour: 178 bird taxa and 15 mammal taxa