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Lucifer Hummingbirds are regularly seen at only a very few sites in Arizona. We had wonderful views of about four individuals at the Ash Canyon Sanctuary. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
We enjoyed a great week of birding in some truly beautiful areas in southeast Arizona. We birded and hiked in mountains, deserts and canyons in several locales, seeking the specialty birds of this part of Arizona as well as more widespread western species. We kept busy throughout our ten days of birding, starting with a Burrowing Owl in Tucson, and finishing with a leisurely look at the feeders at Madera Canyon. In between, we dashed up Miller Canyon to see an owl and Rufous-capped Warbler, got haboobed with the dust storm during a nightbirding foray near Portal, dodged monsoonal rain, and bounced into and out of California Gulch. We did have a pretty warm day or two, but the summer rains brought cooler temperatures and most of our birding sites were lush with fresh green growth. Only the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains had missed the seasonal rains.
We had lots of highlights, which included a pair of Montezuma Quail picking at seed, a pair of calling Golden Eagles soaring overhead in Cave Creek Canyon, at least 52 Swainson's Hawks in a field in the early morning, a perched Zone-tailed Hawk in a large cottonwood near Patagonia, and a locally uncommon breeding plumaged Black-bellied Plover near Willcox. We also had several Greater Roadrunner sightings, saw a Western Screech-Owl hugging the side of a building, and a calling Northern Pygmy-Owl perched for a scope view. Some of the specialty birds of southern Arizona were the four Lucifer Hummingbirds, a handful of adult Elegant Trogons in Huachuca Canyon with three juveniles nearby, our Buff-breasted Flycatcher at its nest, Thick-billed Kingbirds also at a nest, a pair of quite rare Rose-throated Becards visiting a large leafy nest, great looks at the very local Mexican Chickadee, and a cooperative Black-capped Gnatcatcher. Other highlights were great studies of both Bendire's and Crissal thrashers, a wonderful experience with a singing Rufous-capped Warbler, Red-faced Warblers flitting just above us in the mountains, a plethora of singing Botteri's and Cassin's sparrows, wonderful Five-striped Sparrow, a flock of mostly breeding plumaged Lark Buntings, the oddly colored Varied Bunting, and two male Painted Buntings. A Bobcat crossing the road in front of us was pretty cool, too.
It was great to be lead this trip with Felipe and birding with all of you. I hope to get together on another trip soon. Best, 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)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) – We had a couple fly over at the Rio Rico ponds then another that circled a few times at the Amado STP on our last morning.
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata) – A few were on the lake at Willcox.
AMERICAN WIGEON (Mareca americana) – Quite uncommon this time of year. We saw a few at the Benson STP and again at Willcox.
MALLARD (NORTHERN) (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos)
MALLARD (MEXICAN) (Anas platyrhynchos diazi) – This form of Mallard is a likely candidate for a split in the near future. We saw a good number in a few locations.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
REDHEAD (Aythya americana) – One was at the Benson STP on our first morning in the field.
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Peeking through the leaves, a well-hidden Barn Owl saw us before we saw him at an oasis below Portal. Photo by participant Jody Gillespie.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata) – It took a while, but one was finally spotted at Deborah's house. A bit later in the morning, we saw them again.
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae) – Thanks to the hospitality of some friends in Portal, we saw a pair walk into their yard and start picking at seed on the ground. This is a beautifully marked bird. Unfortunately, they never came right up to the window as we hoped.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis) – A breeding plumaged individual was on the lake at Willcox.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – We saw at least two at Patagonia Lake where they were perched on a log right next to the following species for a nice size comparison.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – We saw a lone individual at Patagonia Lake. This is quite an uncommon bird here.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – We saw one at the Amado pond on our last morning.
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens) – At least one was scoped at Patagonia Lake.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) – About 15 individuals came out of the trees near the golf course at Willcox.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) – A quite local species in SE Arizona. We saw a few in the Patagonia and Nogales area.
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) – We got a tip and drove down the road in Cave Creek Canyon and found two magnificent birds soaring and calling above us.
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis) – A pair was seen near St. David where they are known to have a small population. Later in the trip, we saw another along the San Pedro River near Patagonia, where it is not known to breed.
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus hudsonius) – A male was coursing above the fields near Willcox.
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
We found three of these juvenile Elegant Trogons, which were still sporting a rarely seen plumage, in the Huachuca Mountains. Although they have seemingly very short wing feathers, we saw one of them make a surprisingly strong flight. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis) – A calling and flying bird in Miller Canyon finally came into view as we headed down the trail.
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus) – A quite beautiful raptor. We had scope views of a perched bird near Willcox.
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus) – This is a species that has moved out of the riparian areas and into adjacent drier canyons in recent years. We saw a handful of them.
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni) – We saw several, but the field with at least 52 individuals near Rio Rico was pretty great.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – Stu spotted a perched individual through a gap in the trees along Blue Haven Road. We saw another one or two flying.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
SORA (Porzana carolina) [*]
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata) – One was seen at Patagonian Lake.
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – Several were seen at Willcox.
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) – A large number of these handsome shorebirds were wading in the lake at Willcox.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola) – A near breeding plumaged individual, rather rare in the state, was seen well at Willcox.
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus) – There were two on the sandbar at Willcox.
MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa) – One was spotted at Willcox.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii) – A fair number of these long-distance migrants were at Willcox.
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
We watched this Buff-breasted Flycatcher tending to a nest in the Carr Canyon area of the Huachuca Mountains. This is a very local breeding bird in North America. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) – Hundreds were spinning about and feeding at Willcox.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (Tringa semipalmata) – Stu may have seen this bird just before it flew off at Willcox.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus) – There was one faded individual at the lake at Willcox that had been there for a few weeks.
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri) – A single individual was flying about the pond near the golf course at Willcox.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata) – We had a scope view of one in the higher elevations of the Chiricahuas.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) – Lots were seen everyday.
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus) – We saw this great bird several times, but Jody didn't nail it with pixels until the last day.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus americanus) – We had a few nice looks at this riparian specialist.
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba) – We just happened to park right under a tree that had a roosting Barn Owl in the desert flats below Portal. The owl didn't seem to care a bit.
Strigidae (Owls)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii) – We were searching for a day roosting screech-owl without luck until Felipe spotted it only five feet away hanging on to the side of the house, where we all enjoyed a great view.
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis) – We had nice views of a calling bird in the Huachuca Mountains just after dinner.
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma) – After a bit of a chase up the mountain, we found this species giving a high-pitched trill vocalization that is supposedly from a juvenile bird, but it certainly looked like a full adult in the scope.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – This was one of the first birds we saw on our first afternoon in Tucson. We spotted one at the edge of a parking lot next to a fairly busy street.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – On our way to Sierra Vista, Felipe spotted one flying about over an agriculture field during the day. We had nice views as it made several passes.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles minor) – A quite uncommon species in SE Arizona. We spotted one in the lights next to a large grassy area at Fort Huachuca.
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
BUFF-COLLARED NIGHTJAR (Antrostomus ridgwayi) – In California Gulch, we had an individual fly by four times at late dusk as it gave some call notes.
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae) – After getting blown out by wind on one of our nights, we could only get a distant vocalization from four different birds in the Chiricahuas. [*]
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens) – We had several nice looks at this large hummingbird in the Chiricahua Mountains.
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae) – These were quite common in a couple of places in the Chiricahuas.
LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer) – We figured we had at least four individuals visiting the feeders at Ash Canyon in the early evening. This is a quite restricted species in SE Arizona.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
The Varied Bunting is one of the more unusually colored birds of the southwest; they seem to have about five different shades of blue on them. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) – A fair number of females and a handful of males were seen on multiple days.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus) – These migrants on their way south were in good supply.
CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus calliope) – We saw a nice male coming to a feeder below Portal.
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia violiceps) – There were two individuals making somewhat regular visits to the feeders at the Paton Preserve near Patagonia.
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans) – We really had a show from this magnificent species in Huachuca Canyon. We saw several adults and three juveniles that were all gray and white with short tails. We ended up tallying 10 individuals that we saw and heard along the trail here!
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus) – These were conspicuous just about everywhere there were oak trees.
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus) – We saw a couple at the highest elevations we visited.
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Picoides arizonae) – A local specialty. We had good views of a few during the week.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides) – On our first afternoon, it took a bit of looking, but we ended up with wonderful looks at this specialty of the Sonoran Desert.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – On our first afternoon in the desert outside of Tucson, we heard a calling individual, then spotted two of these great falcons soaring over the saguaros. [E]
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe) – We had to check several areas before finding this tiny flycatcher after getting a tip from our friend Gavin.
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax) [*]
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
GRAY FLYCATCHER (Empidonax wrightii) – We saw one, a migrant, in the desert behind the wall at the 4 Bar Cottages.
It usually requires a quite bumpy ride into California Gulch, but we were fortunate to find the very local Five-striped Sparrow on the slopes at Montosa Canyon. We still did a bumpy ride into California Gulch. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax difficilis) – This species is virtually identical in appearance to Cordilleran Flycatcher, the mountain breeding species of SE Arizona, but those seen in lowland habitats this time of year are almost all Pacific-slope. We had a couple of "unknowns", but the one we had our first afternoon in the saguaro desert outside of Tucson was certainly a Pacific-slope.
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis) [*]
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons) – We got a few quick glimpses before returning to a site in the Huachuca Mountains where we found a bird at a nest. This species has a very restricted range in the U.S.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – Always a favorite. We saw a few during the week.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens) – This is a quite common nesting species in SE Arizona but they begin to move and get very inconspicuous by August. Felipe spotted one along the Santa Cruz River that gave us good looks.
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris) – We had nice looks at this unusual flycatcher at a couple of places in the Huachuca Mountains.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – Another flycatcher with a restricted range. We saw about three individuals with the best looks near the open fields at Rio Rico.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris) – Surprisingly, we saw this uncommon species on three different days, including a pair at a nest.
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae) – Formerly a regular visitor and nesting species in SE Arizona, this species disappeared for a number of years, and has only returned and been reliable the last two. We had nice views of a female and a male making visits to a nest along the Santa Cruz River.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii) – Many more of these were heard than seen, but we had nice looks on our first morning, and also saw a bird feeding young at a nest.
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni) – We had a few good looks at this pine-oak specialist.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) – A migrant in the areas where we saw it. We ended up seeing this species about 5-6 times during the week.
While Rufous-capped Warblers are turning up in more localities in southeast Arizona, they can still be quite difficult to get to and see well. This individual, which Felipe heard singing in Miller Canyon, ended up showing very well for us. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) – This subspecies gained full species status a couple of years.
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
PURPLE MARTIN (HESPERIA) (Progne subis hesperia) – We saw a few in the Sonoran Desert on our first afternoon. This subspecies breeds in the saguaro forests of Arizona and Mexico.
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) – There was at least one individual flying about the golf course pond at Willcox.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – These were nesting on the outside wall of our motel in Nogales.
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri) – A bird that has a tiny range within the United States. We had nice looks at 4-5 individuals when we ventured to the higher elevations of the Chiricahua Mountains.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi) – We finally tracked down a calling bird along the Paradise Road.
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) – A true desert specialist. We saw these several days of our trip.
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea) – This "yellow" pine specialist was seen in the upper reaches of the Chiricahuas.
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana) – Formerly a species we had to seek out, they have become a lot more common over the past ten years in the mountain areas we visit. This may be due to the number of fires these areas have experienced recently.
One of the most sought-after species in southeast Arizona, Elegant Trogons performed very well for us, with multiple individuals seen in Huachuca Canyon. Photo by participant Jody Gillespie.
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) – This bird has one of the iconic vocalizations of the southwest. The one that flew right at us almost landed on Michael.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
MARSH WREN (Cistothorus palustris) – Felipe got one to pop out of the marsh at Patagonia Lake.
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) – The largest of the North American wrens. We saw these several times during the week.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura) – This was another of the first birds we found on our initial afternoon in the field when we birded the saguaro forest outside of Tucson.
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila nigriceps) – Still considered a much sought-after Mexican species in Arizona, we had nice looks at Montosa Canyon.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis) – There were a few seen along the road at Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre)
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei) – A calling bird perched up for us in the Chihuahuan Desert below Portal.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) – Often a quite difficult species to see well anytime but the early spring. We ended up seeing it quite well on a couple of occasions.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – This bird has been an anomaly for decades and has only recently been placed in its own family. We had a nice look at an orange-headed male in the Chiricahuas.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae) – After hearing a few, and getting glimpses, we finally caught up with this small warbler near Kino Springs.
NASHVILLE WARBLER (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis virginiae) – We had nice views of a bird that was singing in Carr Canyon.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae) – Another pine habitat specialist. We saw a few with mixed-species flocks in the Chiricahuas.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
HERMIT WARBLER (Setophaga occidentalis) – We saw about four of these migrants with flocks in the higher elevations of the Chiricahuas.
RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER (Basileuterus rufifrons) – We had great looks at this Mexican rarity along the trail above Beatty's guesthouse in Miller Canyon. It stuck around long enough for us to get another group on to it. Yip! Yip! Yip!
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons) – A great looking warbler. We saw a couple or three in the Chiricahuas.
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
The quite sharply marked Bridled Titmouse was a species we saw several times in the Huachuca and Chiricahua mountains. Photo by participant Jody Gillespie.
Passerellidae (New World Buntings and Sparrows)
RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis) – A specialist of the Sonoran Desert. We saw it well near Kino Springs near the end of our trip.
BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii) – With the onset of the summer rains, this grassland species was in full song and we had a few nice looks.
CASSIN'S SPARROW (Peucaea cassinii) – Another grassland species that becomes much more conspicuous when the summer rains begin and they start to sing. We had a couple of views. This is a species that is quite dear to Felipe.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum) – A vocalizing individual popped up onto a fence wire in the grasslands at the foot of the Huachuca Mountains.
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (Spizella atrogularis) – We chased a singing bird along the roadside in the Chiricahua Mountains but many didn't get a great look before it disappeared.
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata) – One of the specialties of the California Gulch area. We had great looks at a singing bird there. The following morning we had another individual in Montosa Canyon, a site where they have been found only a few times in the last several years.
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
LARK BUNTING (Calamospiza melanocorys) – We had a flock of about 30 individuals along State Line Road below Portal. This is a migrant from the north that had just recently returned from the north.
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus) – These were pretty common in the higher elevations of the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains.
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens) – This is another species that is usually considered a skulker and can be hard to get a look at. But, we had good luck seeing it well, and even had one perched up in the scope for quite awhile.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – A species that is found in the pine-oak woodlands. We saw it both in the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana) – Many of these had already started moving and were seen in the lowlands away from their mountain breeding grounds.
Most of the western warblers don’t have the colors of warblers seen in eastern North America, but an exception is the beautiful Red-faced Warbler, which we saw in the Chiricahua Mountains. Photo by participants David & Judy Smith.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus) – This species is the desert version of the Northern Cardinal, and can't be too far removed genetically. We saw it quite well several times.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea) – It seemed there were a lot of these seen and heard singing this year.
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)
VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor) – Our first was at Deborah's house near Portal, then we saw a couple more as we headed to the lower Sonoran Desert near Nogales. This is an unusually colored species that has about five shades of blue on it.
PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) – A rare but regular late-summer migrant to SE Arizona. We had two dynamite males near Kino Springs. This is always a favorite.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) – It seemed a bit early for these to be arriving as migrants but we saw them in a couple of locations.
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae) – One of our first ones gave us a terrific view as it was perched on a fence right next to us.
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) – One showed pretty well in Carr Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus) – We only had a couple of glimpses and never got on one for real.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria) – These were encountered every day of the tour.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus) – We saw a handful in the mountains and foothills.
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii) – This species was seen well in the deserts and lower elevations we visited.
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus) – We only encountered a few.
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii) – This was the small squirrel with the tail curled up over its back.
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis) – A riparian species in various parts of Arizona; this species has a quite limited range.
YELLOW-NOSED COTTON RAT (Sigmodon ochrognathus) – This was the rodent that Stu and I saw hiding within a shrub at the Chihuahuan Desert Museum when we first ventured outside.
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
BOBCAT (Lynx rufus) – A rather large individual walked across Blue Haven Road as we were cruising slowly. It got into the vegetation pretty quickly but most of us could see pieces of it through the leaves. A real treat to see at any time.
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus) – We saw a few in the lower desert.
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) – These were quite common in some places in the mountains.
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana) – A group of about eight were spotted in the grasslands north of Douglas on our way to Portal.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 208 bird taxa and 13 mammal taxa