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.
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The desert landscape is stark but beautiful in southern Arizona. Gems tucked away in this landscape include California Gulch, Cave Creek, and other relatively lush ravines in the Chiricahuas. Our tour visited many of these sites in search of nightbirds and slowly but surely we pulled out these targets to all of our enjoyment. Photo by participant Joel Schmidt.
We said it time and time again... we felt really lucky! Target after target fell into place, we dodged storms here and there, but we were still rewarded with stunning looks at a wonderful variety of the nightbirds that Arizona has to offer. Even during the day, we were delighted to find goodies like Montezuma Quail, Elegant Trogon, and day-roosting Spotted Owls.
We hit the ground running and birded down in the California Gulch area on our first evening. We were met with awesome looks at the rare Five-striped Sparrow and, as dusk set in, we were treated to point-blank looks at Elf Owl and the rare Buff-collared Nightjar! What a beautiful spot to enjoy an evening.
We started the next day by visiting our little owl friend at the bank in Tucson. The Burrowing Owl was there waiting for us and may have even winked our way. As we wound our way east, we visited the ponds at Willcox which provided numerous waterbirds and shorebirds like a couple of Willets and a whole flock of Wilson's Phalaropes. Higher up, in the Chiricahuas, we found ourselves in the presence of a snoozing Spotted Owl! That night, we continued our streak of good luck by seeing a Flammulated Owl and Whiskered Screech-Owl near Portal.
The next day we birded in the famed Cave Creek where we enjoyed a number of Arizona specialties like Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Painted Redstart, and Hepatic Tanager. Closer to lunch time, we somehow stumbled on a pair of Montezuma Quail slowly walking up a roadside edge. Just a bit farther down the road, a Bobcat was seen strolling slowly across the road. What luck! That night we found ourselves in the flats below Portal where we added Barn Owl and a bunch of Lesser Nighthawks winging it over at dusk. Closer to Cave Creek, we even added Western Screech-Owl.
As morning broke in Portal, we were met with rare spring thunderstorms. Although we dodged storms the rest of the morning, we still found a beautiful male Elegant Trogon, said hello to our Whiskered Screech-Owl friend on its dayroost, enjoyed the hard-to-see Black-chinned Sparrow higher up in the mountainside scrub, and even found the local Buff-breasted Flycatcher in Pinery Canyon.
I want to thank all of you for coming along on this quick but productive tour through southeast Arizona. The nightbirds were ready and so were you! I know I had a blast and I hope you made lasting memories of our good time looking for owls, nightjars, and a whole lot more!
Until we meet again, good birding.
- Cory
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)
CINNAMON TEAL (Spatula cyanoptera)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)
GADWALL (Mareca strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
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The oasis at Willcox had attracted a wealth of shorebirds, waterbirds, and songbirds during our visit. One of the shorebird highlights was this duo of Willets tucked away along the shoreline. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata)
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
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The Buff-collared Nightjar is a very rare and hard-to-find nightbird here in the US. However, we were up to the challenge and came away with outstanding looks! Photo by participant Fred Dalbey.
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
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)
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To see a Spotted Owl at all is a treat but we managed to see one during the day, at length, as it snoozed! Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte costae)
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)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)
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Not all owls are fond of trees; some like to hang out in ditches in the middle of Tucson! Either way, we enjoyed watching this little Burrowing Owl on our first full morning. Photo by participant Joel Schmidt.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (AMERICAN) (Tyto alba pratincola)
Strigidae (Owls)
FLAMMULATED OWL (Psiloscops flammeolus)
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The smallest owl species in the world, the Elf Owl, sure did give us a good show near California Gulch on our first evening! Photo by participant Fred Dalbey.
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus) [N]
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)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus) [*]
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We had a couple of tricks up our sleeves like where this Whiskered Screech-Owl liked to snooze during the day. "Whiskey", as it's been called, was present and we enjoyed repeated looks at it. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis)
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
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Near Portal one night, this little Western Screech-Owl came in and looked us right in the eye! What a fun encounter and it was nicely captured by participant Fred Dalbey.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
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)
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The Flammulated Owl is a notoriously difficult owl to see well but the stars must have aligned for us because this one provided views like we never expected. Fantastic! Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus)
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The award for the largest owl of the trip went to this family of Great Horned Owls that were nesting in downtown Portal! Photo by participant Fred Dalbey.
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)
BEWICK'S WREN (MEXICANUS GROUP) (Thryomanes bewickii eremophilus)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
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One of the rarest birds we enjoyed on our trip was this Five-striped Sparrow in California Gulch. We were even able to count the stripes! Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) [*]
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) [*]
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
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Another attractive sparrow we added to our list was this Rufous-crowned Sparrow that popped up along a roadside. Photo by participant Fred Dalbey.
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha)
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-bRkpkNn/0/c5966d4f/O/i-bRkpkNn.jpg)
The Lazuli Bunting is surely one of the most attractive western species. Lucky for us, they were attending feeders in Portal and we got to enjoy great looks. Photo by participant Fred Dalbey.
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
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)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae)
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Geothlypis tolmiei) [*]
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-RB9Kr4b/0/ce5f524d/O/i-RB9Kr4b.jpg)
Some sparrows are downright tricky to cross paths with. One such species is the Black-chinned Sparrow. We had good luck with this attractive Spizella on the slopes above Cave Creek. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga coronata coronata)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
![](https://photos.smugmug.com/Triplist-Media/Triplist-images-2019/n-qcDf3K/i-x9jKF3X/0/e2e9acec/X5/i-x9jKF3X-X5.jpg)
It wouldn't be a trip to southeastern Arizona without this little gem, the bold and beautiful Painted Redstart! In fact, we even got to watch this bird gathering nesting material. Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
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-xpr8tDQ/0/e7186611/X5/i-xpr8tDQ-X5.jpg)
Our trip had just begun when we paused to take this group photo at the interesting Texas Canyon rest area. But by this point, we had already seen several awesome nightbirds the night before! Photo by guide Cory Gregory.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)
WHITE-THROATED WOOD-RAT (Neotoma albigula)
GRAY FOX (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
NORTHERN RACCOON (Procyon lotor)
BOBCAT (Lynx rufus)
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
Totals for the tour: 149 bird taxa and 11 mammal taxa