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.
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-qmj82fn/0/295f288d/O/i-qmj82fn.jpg)
This Spotted Owl was a lifer for the group, thanks to great spotting by Elliot! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
This year's first Arizona Nightbirds tour didn't have to deal with any crazy, windy days, any forest fires, or anything else that can really affect a short tour like this. We just had beautiful weather, a great group, and lots of fantastic birds! Just the way I like it!
We began our adventure with a late afternoon/evening visit to the Pajarito Wilderness along the Mexican border west of Nogales. We didn't get much of the late afternoon birding that I'd wanted but, after a nice picnic dinner in the shade of a few sprawling mesquites, we enjoyed our first nightbird of the trip - a cooperative male Buff-collared Nightjar! This was soon followed by a close encounter with a diminutive Elf Owl, foraging just a foot or so above the desert floor.
The next full day was even better. Starting with an urban Burrowing Owl in Tucson, we next scored on a tooting Northern Pygmy-Owl in the Huachuca Mountains, an incredible Spotted Owl on the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains (Elliot!!), followed by a close Whiskered Screech-Owl and the best looks at a Flammulated Owl that I've had in years!
By the end of this short tour to Southeast Arizona, we wound up seeing eight species of owls and three species of nightjars, along with a bunch of Southeast Arizona diurnal species like Elegant Trogon, Five-striped Sparrow, Mexican Chickadee, and Red-faced Warbler!
Thanks to all of you for joining me on my penultimate Arizona Nightbirds tour. You were all great sports and good company for this one, making my job as a guide all the more enjoyable. I hope our paths cross again in the coming years! Cheers – 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)
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Spatula discors) [b]
CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera) [b]
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata) [b]
GADWALL (Mareca strepera) [b]
AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana) [b]
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis) [b]
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis) [b]
BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola) [b]
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-n42ZBbF/1/ce4b1091/X3/i-n42ZBbF-X3.jpg)
One of the Mexican Ducks from Willcox was nicely photographed by participant Walt Hackenjos.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) [I]
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) [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)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-HVwK99x/1/49af45f9/O/i-HVwK99x.jpg)
A lovely male Pyrrhuloxia was one of the birds that entertained us at the feeders in Portal. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus ridgwayi)
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae)
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae)
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) [*]
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) [N]
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) [N]
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) [b]
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-h3TXd6V/1/30bfb9a3/X3/i-h3TXd6V-X3.jpg)
This Cattle Egret was an unexpected tick for us; the species isn't often seen in southeastern Arizona! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) [b]
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus) [b]
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) [b]
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) [b]
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata) [b]
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
FRANKLIN'S GULL (Leucophaeus pipixcan) [b]
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) [b]
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-nN2cGvL/1/afc0929d/O/i-nN2cGvL.jpg)
This Olive Warbler showed well for us. Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus)
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) [N]
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (MOUNTAIN) (Glaucidium gnoma gnoma)
ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi)
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
SPOTTED OWL (MEXICAN) (Strix occidentalis lucida)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus) [*]
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-22QdJLR/1/7b00f570/X3/i-22QdJLR-X3.jpg)
This male Bronzed Cowbird was really handsome! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae)
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer) [*]
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) [b]
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) [*]
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-j9rmqvS/2/6a6893fb/O/i-j9rmqvS.jpg)
Participant Walt Hackenjos got a nice portrait of one of the adult Great Horned Owls from downtown Portal.
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 (ARIZONA) (Vireo bellii arizonae) [*]
HUTTON'S VIREO (INTERIOR) (Vireo huttoni stephensi)
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
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)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-nJk5VWD/1/89c8c9d2/X3/i-nJk5VWD-X3.jpg)
A male Cassin's Finch was a standout at the feeders in Portal. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) [N]
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) [*]
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (INTERIOR WEST) (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-KdNCgNh/1/5ba7c3b8/O/i-KdNCgNh.jpg)
We ended this short tour with a bang when this Five-striped Sparrow popped out for us on our last stop. Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (ALBESCENS/ALTICOLA) (Certhia americana albescens)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (MEXICANUS GROUP) (Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) [b]
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre) [N]
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)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
CASSIN'S FINCH (Haemorhous cassinii) [b]
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) [b]
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-H3jRrSJ/1/dd722a03/X3/i-H3jRrSJ-X3.jpg)
Black-headed Grosbeak is a western specialty that showed well for us. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata) [N]
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata)
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) [b]
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) [b]
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps) [*]
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) [*]
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-FmZDHKQ/1/b3c4841f/O/i-FmZDHKQ.jpg)
One of two kingbirds species we saw was this Western Kingbird. Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) [b]
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) [*]
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 (Oreothlypis luciae) [*]
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis virginiae) [*]
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]
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla) [b]
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-WvKgVFx/1/a92f9ad0/X3/i-WvKgVFx-X3.jpg)
The lake at Willcox was the place to be for a nice group of Wilson's Phalaropes. Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) [b]
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-WqLFNHt/1/821b3ea5/O/i-WqLFNHt.jpg)
This Red-faced Warbler we saw near Rustler Park was just wonderful! Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
RINGTAIL (Bassariscus astutus)
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)
Herps
GLOSSY SNAKE (Arizona elegans)
SONORAN WHIPSNAKE (Masticophis bilineatus)
COACHWHIP (Masticophis flagellum)
ROCK RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus lepidus)
CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii)
YARROW'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus jarrovii)
Totals for the tour: 159 bird taxa and 11 mammal taxa