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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
BIRDS
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) – Recently split from Mallard - with which it hybridizes rather extensively - by the Clements Checklist folks at Cornell. This and the Ruddy Duck are probably the only species of ducks that we saw on our tour at Willcox that will stick around to breed in Southeast Arizona. All of the others are headed north.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis) [b]
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis) [b]
BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola) – Very late here at Willcox. [b]
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
One of the Mexican Ducks from Willcox was nicely photographed by participant Walt Hackenjos.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata) – Willcox is a great place to see this one in Southeast Arizona.
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii) – One of the more charismatic species in all of s. Arizona, we had our fill of this one at the Portal feeders.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) – A couple of birds only along the roadside in the Chiricahuas. Wild Turkey was pretty much extirpated from Arizona by about 1920, except for a couple of isolated mountain populations. The birds that you see in the mountains of Southeast Arizona are all likely the result of reintroductions in the '70's & '80's. [I]
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) – Several late lingering birds at Willcox (where they very rarely remain to breed). [b]
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata) – These birds are found reliably around Portal, where they frequent the many feeders in the area.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca) – Doing fairly well in the Portal area, but doing decidedly poorly in the rest of southern Arizona, for unknown reasons.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
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) – Another one of those uber-charismatic species that you really must see when you come to the Southwest!
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) – This one was glimpsed out of the van as we drove the Portal-Paradise road looking for it. We all heard it very well, but it seems as though the numbers along this road have decreased dramatically over the years.
BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus ridgwayi) – One of the big prizes on this tour, and it didn't disappoint! Numbers of this species in Arizona have waxed and waned over the years, primarily due to the fact that we're at the extreme northern periphery of the bird's range - and that's just what happens at the edges of species' ranges. This site, mere spitting distance from the Mexican border, has been very reliable for several years now.
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae) – Well, our audio for this one sure was great, but about the best that we could manage for our efforts to see this one were a pair of glowing eyes in the back of a tree, nearly completely obscured by branches. And, despite our best efforts, we couldn't make him budge an inch!
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis) – A few vocal birds foraging above Miller Canyon in the Huachucas during our hike there on Day 2.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens) – Formerly called the Magnificent Hummingbird (it was actually Rivoli's Hummingbird before that change!), this is the second largest of the U.S.'s breeding hummingbirds.
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae) – Fantastic looks at this one at the South Fork road bridge. The largest of the breeding hummers in the U.S.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri) – Hummingbird numbers, I thought, were well below what I would consider 'normal' on this year's tour. I think the reason for the drop in numbers is because we had such a wet winter and spring, producing lots of hummingbird flowers over a very wide area, so there was no concentrating effect at feeders. This one should have been much more prevalent.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) [*]
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris) – This seemed to be our most common and widespread hummer this year. Usually, Black-chinned Hummingbird takes that honor.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – Only a couple of birds had made it back to Willcox by the time our tour ran.
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) – There were plenty of these beautiful shorebirds at Willcox, with several apparently sitting on eggs. [N]
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus) [N]
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) [b]
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) – The 'peeps' at Willcox were almost gone, but this one outnumbered the former. [b]
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus) – These were headed north to the North Slope of Alaska. [b]
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) – Quite a few fine females were still coming through when we stopped at Willcox. [b]
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) [b]
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata) – A flock of 21 at Willcox on our second stop on the last day. [b]
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
FRANKLIN'S GULL (Leucophaeus pipixcan) – Early May usually finds a few of these at Willcox. [b]
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias) – A single bird flying toward the Mexican border at dusk at California Gulch was our only sighting.
CATTLE EGRET (Bubulcus ibis) – Quite rare in this part of Arizona.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) – Quite a few of these were still making themselves at home at Willcox. [b]
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
This Olive Warbler showed well for us. Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) – A surprise adult bird was spotted soaring above the lake at Willcox on our second visit there.
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii) – Including one bird sitting up at the Burrowing Owl spot in Tucson.
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) – Not quite as common as Red-tailed Hawk, but pretty close.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus) – This tiny owl is traditionally one of the species that gives me fits on this tour – but not this year! When we heard it, I suspect that it sounded like it was a long ways off to all of you, but lots of experience with this one told me that it was very gettable for our group. A short walk into the woods soon had this one in the light and visible to all! Whew! A very widespread Western owl species, but one that's very infrequently seen.
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis) – We had fantastic views and great audio of this one at the same place where we saw the above Flammulated Owl in the Chiricahuas. A virtual Western Screech-Owl look-alike, voice is obviously the best way to separate these two similar species. Other clues are the habitat preference (Whiskered prefers denser woodland at middle and upper elevations, Western prefers more open situations, usually at lower elevations), bill color (typically greenish in Whiskered, and black with a pale tip in the local race of Western), and a few subtle plumage differences.
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii) – This one gave us a little more trouble than it usually does on this tour, but we eventually found a responsive bird next to the road in the Chiricahuas. The 'bouncing ball' song of this one is the best way to i.d. this widespread species.
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) – It's always nice to see this familiar and widespread species. We had super views of a half-grown chick on a nest in a giant Arizona Sycamore in downtown Portal, while one of the parents kept a careful eye on us nearby. [N]
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (MOUNTAIN) (Glaucidium gnoma gnoma) – This was our prize for hiking up into Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mts on Day 2! There was really only one good angle to see this one up on the hillside above the trail, and that's where the scope needed to go. Northern Pygmy-Owl taxonomy is still unresolved, with this form, giving mostly paired notes while calling, extending from s. Arizona south through the mountains of Mexico.
ELF OWL (Micrathene whitneyi) – Our first owl of the trip was this tiny species, the world's smallest, low in a mesquite at the Buff-collared Nightjar spot near the Mexican border. This endearing species is quite widespread in s. Arizona, occurring in nearly all habitats with trees and old woodpecker holes. Historically, it occurred in cottonwoods at the lowest elevation point in s.w. Arizona near Yuma (gone from here now due to loss of habitat) up to about 7000' in the mountains of s.e. Arizona.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – A quick stop at the Chase Bank near the freeway in Tucson produced our great views of this charismatic owl species.
SPOTTED OWL (MEXICAN) (Strix occidentalis lucida) – After striking out with this one after a long hike in Miller Canyon, I got a little worried. But not too worried. I had to draw on that Spotted Owl card that I had up my sleeve – with a lot of help from Elliot! – but we came away with fantastic looks at this scarce and declining species later that same day! It must have been particularly satisfying for Elliot to have been the one to spot this one, and we all certainly appreciate his keen persistence and sharp eyes! A lifer for all!!
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans) – This was one of those sightings on a tour that gives great relief to your guide. A 'high value target' for any birder visiting birder, we were fortunate to have so many eyes on the road looking for this beauty!
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus) – Common, and rather comical.
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis) – On our route, the best place to see this one is at our Tucson airport hotel.
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus) [*]
This male Bronzed Cowbird was really handsome! Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae) – Nice studies of the Southeast Arizona specialty along our hike in Miller Canyon.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer) [*]
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (Contopus cooperi) – The first half of May is the time to see this one migrating through the mountains of the southeast. [b]
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax) – One particularly good one along the road to Rustler Park.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus) – A distinctive buzzy call separates this one from the nearly identical Eastern Wood-Pewee (of which there are only a few records for all of Arizona).
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (Empidonax hammondii) – This is typically the most common of the migrating Empidonax in the mountains of the southeast at this season. The high-pitched 'peep' call is reminiscent of the call of the Pygmy Nuthatch. [b]
DUSKY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax oberholseri) – Early May usually sees a few of these still moving through the oak woodland of the mountains, bound for the breeding grounds farther north. [b]
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax difficilis) [*]
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis) – This species was now just returning from the wintering grounds in the mountains of W. Mexico.
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya) – One of the few flycatcher species that's around the state for the entire year.
Participant Walt Hackenjos got a nice portrait of one of the adult Great Horned Owls from downtown Portal.
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – This beautiful flycatcher is currently on an incredible upswing in Arizona, with impressive numbers wintering successfully in s. Arizona.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer) – The smallest of the three regular Myiarchus species, and the only one in Arizona that utters that mournful whistled note.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens) – This is the Myiarchus that occupies the driest of the habitats in the state - as long as there are nest holes for this cavity-nesting species.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) – The largest and most colorful of our three Myiarchus flycatchers.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans) – This one usually occurs at slightly higher elevations than the next species, but there's a lot of overlap - like the hotel parking lot in Tucson!
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis) – A much paler kingbird compared with the similar Cassin's.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus) – Willcox was particularly good for this species this spring.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (ARIZONA) (Vireo bellii arizonae) [*]
HUTTON'S VIREO (INTERIOR) (Vireo huttoni stephensi) – We caught up with this Ruby-crowned Kinglet look-alike on our final day in the Chiricahuas.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus) – Nearly always within earshot in the pine-oak woodland of the mountains.
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) – The birds that we had along the South Fork road in the Chiricahuas were too low to be breeders.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri) – This species was really reduced in numbers several years ago when West Nile was first making its way through the state – but it has since recovered nicely.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) – A 'regular' in the pinyon pine & juniper habitat out on the Portal-Paradise Rd. in the Chiricahuas.
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi) – This one is always the most common of the 'blue jays' that one sees on a trip to Southeast Arizona.
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus) – Always difficult to separate from the very similar Common Raven, but the small size of this one was very evident on the ones that we saw that we were along the roadside en route to the Chiricahuas.
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax) – This is the only species of raven that you see in the foothills and mountains.
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris) – A regular and common breeder in the Willcox area.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) – A few migrants at Willcox - there are no banks here for this one to nest.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina) – The only species of swallow that breeds in the high mountains of Southeast Arizona.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri) – We had multiple great looks at this Chiricahua Mountain specialty on our final day of the tour. This is the only range within the U.S. where one can go to see this species (the Animas Mountains in s.w. New Mexico are off-limits to birders).
A male Cassin's Finch was a standout at the feeders in Portal. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi) – This endearing species is common in the oak woodlands throughout the southern one-half of the state.
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi) – Not difficult if you can find the right habitat.
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) – Common in the low desert habitats throughout, especially in the Tucson area. [N]
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus) – Seen well on our final day of the tour. Mostly confined to upland and mountain habitats here, the reports of 'Bushtits' in the lowlands at this season are usually immature Verdins without any color on the head.
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) [*]
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (INTERIOR WEST) (Sitta carolinensis nelsoni) – Our most common nuthatch in the state, this one occurs from lowland riparian habitat just south of Tucson up to the highest peaks.
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea) – Still common in the remaining pine forest that was spared from the numerous forest fires in the mountains in recent years.
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) – I suspect that we'll be revising the taxonomy of this one within North America – there are probably multiple species involved given the variation in voice and morphology between the 'races'.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) – Heard far more often than seen.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (MEXICANUS GROUP) (Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus) – Common and recorded daily.
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) – Arizona's state bird.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) – We had some big numbers still migrating through the mountains on the final day. [b]
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) – Our breeding race here is larger and paler than what you're likely used to seeing back home.
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre) – This is always the most common and conspicuous thrasher in s. Arizona. [N]
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei) – This very local species was seen well along State Line Rd. s.e. of Portal on our final morning. Young Curve-billed Thrashers in the spring are very often misidentified as this species.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum) – A few were still moving through the Portal area, which is normal for early May. [b]
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens) [*]
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – Outstanding views of this Southeast Arizona specialty species, now the only member of its family. I've never understood the 'olive' thing...
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
CASSIN'S FINCH (Haemorhous cassinii) – A brilliant adult male was a real treat to see at the feeders one afternoon in Portal. [b]
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus) – Still plenty of these at the Portal feeders. [b]
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria) – The 'default' goldfinch species in s. Arizona at any season.
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina) – A local breeder in the Chiricahuas.
Black-headed Grosbeak is a western specialty that showed well for us. Photo by guide Dave Stejskal.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata) – Great looks at this one at the Portal feeders, including a couple of recent fledglings. [N]
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata) – This was the 'grand finale' on the tour on our final afternoon. One more stop on our way back to the Tucson hotel was all we needed for this Southeast Arizona rarity – which popped up into view mere moments after we exited the van! What a way to finish!
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus) – At the Willcox golf course driving range on the final afternoon.
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus) – Delightfully plentiful in the upper reaches of the Chiricahuas.
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) – Most of the several White-crowns that were lingering at the Portal feeders were this subspecies, which breeds in the Rocky Mountain states (very rarely in n. Arizona). [b]
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii) – One of our White-crowns was this taiga-breeding pale-lored subspecies (which is the common wintering subspecies in the state). [b]
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca) – I grew up calling this one the Brown Towhee before it got split in the 70's.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps) [*]
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus) [*]
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus) – A common voice in the mountains.
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) – There always seem to be a few of these lingering at Willcox in early May. [b]
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae) – Typically the only meadowlark that one encounters in Southeast Arizona in May.
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus) – At the Portal feeders.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) – The most widespread of the orioles in the state.
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) [*]
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus) – That male at the Portal feeders was really outstanding - for a cowbird, that is.
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) – Look for a split of this one soon, possibly this August.
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae) – We didn't catch up with this pine specialist until the final day.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens) – Very common throughout the pine-oak woodland in s. Arizona.
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi) – We normally see a number of these in the mountains passing northward in early May – we found one this year. [b]
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla) – One of the most common of the migrant warblers in the state. [b]
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons) – That close bird along the roadside on our way up to Rustler Park was really something! We couldn't have asked for a more cooperative bird.
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus) – One of my favorite birds anywhere!
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – Usually found outside of the riparian habitats in the mountains, so not normally overlapping with Summer Tanager.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – A strict riparian specialist here in Arizona.
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) – May usually finds this one in just about every conceivable habitat, but it only breeds in the high firs and spruces.
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) – The subspecies superbus here, with a longer crest and tail, and more vibrant red plumage than the birds in eastern N. America.
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus) – Several handsome birds at the Portal feeders.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) – The Western replacement species for the familiar Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) – Several lingering birds were still at the Portal feeders. [b]
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus) – This was the cottontail in the wooded mountain habitats.
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii) – The flat desert habitat was where we saw this one. Longer-eared than the Eastern.
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus) – The common jackrabbit species throughout the state.
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis) – The only species of chipmunk in s.e. Arizona.
This Red-faced Warbler we saw near Rustler Park was just wonderful! Photo by participant Walt Hackenjos.
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii) – Great looks at this cute species at the Portal feeders.
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis) – Like the Mexican Chickadee, the Chiricahuas are the only place where you can see this handsome squirrel within the U.S.
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis) – This regional endemic squirrel replaces the above species to the west of the Chiricahuas.
RINGTAIL (Bassariscus astutus) – A couple of us were lucky enough to see this one, Arizona's state mammal, dart across the road in front of the van one night in the Chiricahuas.
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis) – A brief view along the roadside in the Chiricahuas.
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) – The second smallest race of White-tailed Deer in N. America, Coues's White-tailed Deer, is the one found here.
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana) – Along the roadside in Sierra Vista on our way to Miller Canyon for some.
Herps
GLOSSY SNAKE (Arizona elegans) – One of these was found crossing the dirt road as we ascended the Chiricahuas on the final morning.
SONORAN WHIPSNAKE (Masticophis bilineatus) – A very brief look at this one on the roadside and another small individual with the Rock Rattlesnake in Miller Canyon.
COACHWHIP (Masticophis flagellum) – It had just been hit by a car...
ROCK RATTLESNAKE (Crotalus lepidus) – This was the herp highlight of the tour! We were very lucky to see this one in Miller Canyon as it moved off of the trail toward the stream bed.
CLARK'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus clarkii) – A couple of these big arboreal lizards were seen by some in the group.
YARROW'S SPINY LIZARD (Sceloporus jarrovii) – Usually more common than we saw them in the mountain canyons.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 159 bird taxa and 11 mammal taxa