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Adding a splash of color to the pine-oak forests of the mountains of southeast Arizona, this male Hepatic Tanager was one of several we saw during our trip. Photo by participant Andrew Kenny.
It was great fun traveling with all of you through the deserts, canyons and mountains of southeastern Arizona. Despite a late start to the summer rains, which cool the temperatures and prompt a second round of breeding for many species, we did well with the specialty birds of southeast Arizona. We started on our first afternoon with wonderful views of Gilded Flickers in the saguaro laden Sonoran Desert and finished nine days later with Five-striped Sparrows in Montosa Canyon. In between, we experienced the very warm temperatures of Tucson, a downpour of monsoonal rain near the New Mexico border, cool coniferous forests, and beautiful sunsets in our search for birds.
Highlights of our nine days included two pair of Montezuma Quail at the edge of the road in the Chiricahua Mountains, seeing 19 Greater Roadrunners, a pair of Mexican Whip-poor-wills sailing overhead, a female Lucifer Hummingbird cramming food down the throats of two tiny chicks in a nest, Violet-crowned Hummingbirds in a couple of locations, a group of 48 Long-billed Curlews, a soaring, then perched Golden Eagle, and a Mississippi Kite in a tree right next to the road. Other highlights included a Western Screech-Owl with two young in a close tree, a family of Spotted Owls on a day perch, finally connecting with a calling brilliant male Elegant Trogon in Huachuca Canyon, and a pair of Rose-throated Becards near a nest site. Mexican Chickadees, a nice study of a Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Bendire's and Crissal thrashers, a scope view of Olive Warbler, a couple of Red-faced Warblers, and multi-hued Varied Buntings were among others. We also saw an array of other wildlife, highlighted by the fantastic Black Bear we watched come to the edge of Cave Creek for a drink before wandering off into the forest. We were also all deemed secure enough to enter Fort Huachuca.
I hope we can get together again soon in another locale for more adventures. 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 saw seven at the gravel pit pond north of Nogales, and then a pair with three small chicks at the Amado STP.
Always a tough one to find because of its camouflage and general scarcity, this distinctly patterned Montezuma Quail was one of two pairs we saw along the road in the Chiricahuas. Photo by participant Dave Czaplak.
MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi) – We saw a good number of these. This is a recent split from Mallard and now stands as its own species.
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris) – We saw a lingering individual at the Benson sewage ponds.
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis) – A couple of males were seen at the pond at Willcox.
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
SCALED QUAIL (Callipepla squamata) – At Willcox, we saw a pair with about four chicks on the edge of the golf course.
GAMBEL'S QUAIL (Callipepla gambelii)
MONTEZUMA QUAIL (Cyrtonyx montezumae) – Surprisingly, we saw two pair on the road in the Chiricahuas on our way to Rustler Park. We heard a couple as well, and I flushed another pair while walking back to get the van at Rustler Park. This is always a tough bird to find and we had very good views.
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo) – We saw one on our way into the Chiricahuas, and about six near the entrance to Huachuca Canyon.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata) – Our only sighting was a fly-by near Rustler Park.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca) – This species has dropped in numbers in recent years in southern Arizona. We saw a few in Portal.
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica) – This was one of the species we saw every day of the trip.
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus) – We had a great time with the iconic bird of the southwest. On our first full birding day, we saw four individuals, and we totaled 19 birds in all, with a high of six in one day.
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus americanus) – We saw one near St. David on our first morning, then had a couple of brief views at Patagonia Lake and along the Santa Cruz River.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis) – A handful were flying around at dusk in the desert below Portal on our first evening there.
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) – We heard a few, but only got a brief look at one that flew in and landed in front of us before shooting off.
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae) – We saw two individuals in the Chiricahua Mountains that showed quite well as they flew overhead and perched briefly on logs.
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis) – These were mostly absent from their breeding areas but we saw some flying about on our last morning in Montosa Canyon.
Harris’s Hawk is a nicely marked raptor that has become harder to find in recent years, but we nailed this one near Willcox. Photo by participant Andrew Kenny.
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
RIVOLI'S HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens) – We saw a handful at feeders and a few in the wild.
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae) – Along South Fork in the Chiricahuas we had nice views of three birds that were flying around a shrub and perching close to us.
LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer) – At the Ash Canyon Reserve, we had great looks at a gorgeous male that made a couple of appearances with the second visit being rather lengthy. A few days later we watched a female feeding two tiny young in a nest in Box Canyon.
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna) – A few were seen and heard singing at Ash Canyon and at Madera Canyon.
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus) – Our best views were at the Beatty's where there were more males and females than others sites where we saw this mountain species.
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus) – This species was quite late in appearing and were in lower than normal numbers this year. We had our first at the 4 Bar and then a few more at Beatty's.
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris) – This was the most numerous of the hummingbirds we encountered.
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia violiceps) – Surprisingly, we saw our first at the feeders at Beatty's, where it made a couple of visits to these high elevation feeders. Then we saw it again at the Paton Center which has been the go-to site for this species for many years.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus) – There were a handful at the lake at Willcox.
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana) – A good number were seen at Willcox.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus) – At Lake Cochise at Willcox, we counted 48 individuals, which may be the most I have seen together at one time in Arizona.
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii) – At least two individuals were present at Willcox.
Violet-crowned Hummingbird is a quite distinctively marked species, with an exceedingly bright red bill and snow-white belly, that we saw several times during our trip. Photo by participant Dave Czaplak.
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla) – These were in fair numbers at Willcox.
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) – We saw a few, about six, at Willcox.
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor) – There were at least 100 individuals at Willcox where they were all in winter plumage.
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) – Our only ones were at Lake Patagonia.
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca) – About five birds were seen at Willcox.
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes) – Our only sighting was at Pesqueira Pit north of Nogales.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) – This is the more common of the two species in this part of Arizona. We saw about 12 at Patagonia Lake.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus) – One was hanging out with the Neotropic Cormorants at Patagonia Lake.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba) – While looking for the becards along the Santa Cruz River, one flew over the river headed upstream.
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula) – We saw one at Willcox and another at Patagonia Lake.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax) – There were four individuals flying about the golf course pond at Willcox.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi) – A lone bird was seen at Willcox.
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) – We saw a few each day we were in the Nogales area.
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos) – We had nice views of one that Chas spotted soaring over Box Canyon. We watched it circle then land on a cliffside for a nice scope view.
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis) – We saw about four individuals in the St. David area, with a great close view of one perched right next to the road.
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii) – On our first full day in the Chiricahuas we saw three individuals.
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus) – A species that is getting hard to find here; we had nice views of one near Willcox as it sat atop a power pole.
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus) – We saw and heard a few in the Nogales and Patagonia area.
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus) – Our first was flushed from a tree at dusk in the Chiricahuas, then we had a scope view of a perched individual at Patagonia.
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba) – We saw two flying birds in the desert below Portal one evening.
Strigidae (Owls)
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis) – A calling bird showed well in the light during a nightbirding foray in the Chiricahuas.
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii) – Two adults and two young were seen quite close to us on a day roost below Portal.
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma) – We did a lot of looking but finally tracked down a calling individual in the higher elevations of the Chiricahuas.
Formerly a bird that was nearly endemic to the Sonoran Desert, the Rufous-winged Sparrow has expanded its range into new habitats in the last decade or so. Photo by participant Andrew Kenny.
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia) – On our way to Douglas, we had a nice view of three different birds, presumably near a successful nest site, in the desert below the Chiricahuas.
SPOTTED OWL (Strix occidentalis) – With fingers crossed we started searching, and Andrew found this great owl on a day roost in the Chiricahuas. We then spotted two young perched in the tree behind it. Yip! Yip! Yip!
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans) – After only hearing one and glimpsing it flying in the Chiricahua Mountains, we headed to Huachuca Canyon and had great views of a male on our second try. Some of us also saw a juvenile here. This is a one of the most special birds of SE Arizona.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis) – We saw these just about everywhere, except the higher elevations we visited.
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus) – We saw one in the mixed-conifer forest near Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas.
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae) – This local specialty showed well with a few good sightings.
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides) – This was one of our first birds on our first afternoon of birding in the desert outside of Tucson. A bird with a quite limited range in the US, this flicker is tied to the saguaro cactus desert, but there was another at the San Pedro House that Andrew saw.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) – Dave spotted one that we got a scope on as it perched on the top of a cliff in the Chiricahuas.
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe) – We heard a few and saw about three, with the best view being the one at the Florida Wash Work Center. This is the smallest of the flycatchers in North America.
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax) – We had nice views of a silent individual on our first afternoon in the Chiricahuas. Then we heard and saw a couple others two days later.
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
Lucifer Hummingbird is a rather rare species in the U.S., but this male perched for a wonderful view at the Ash Canyon Reserve. Photo by participant Dave Czaplak.
CORDILLERAN FLYCATCHER (Empidonax occidentalis) – These were vocalizing quite a bit in the Chiricahuas where we had some nice studies.
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons) – After chasing a calling bird in Huachuca Canyon, we had nice looks at a couple of individuals in Garden Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains.
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus) – We ended up seeing many during our trip, with adult males, females and young males showing nicely.
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer) – A species of the riparian foothills; we had nice looks in the Chiricahuas, Huachucas and saw them in Peña Blanca Canyon.
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus) – These were quite vocal. We saw them in the Sonoran Desert on our first afternoon, then again at several sites during our birding.
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris) – For some reason, these were quite conspicuous this year. They showed well in South Fork and in Huachuca Canyon.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus) – There were at least three individuals near the golf course pond at Willcox and we also saw one along the Santa Cruz River near Tubac.
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris) – Our first was near Portal, where it is a quite unusual bird, and then we had nice looks at Patagonia, where it is more normal but still a specialty.
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae) – A quite rare species in North America. We walked along a muddy Santa Cruz River near Tubac and saw a female and young male hanging around a nest site. These used to be a rather regular bird many years ago, but they went through a drought and only showed up again in a somewhat reliable spot about three years ago.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus) – Most of our sightings were in the Portal and Sierra Vista areas.
In the Chiricahua Mountains, we found a fantastic Spotted Owl on a day perch, and we also saw a couple of juvenile birds tucked into a nearby oak. Photo by participant Andrew Kenny.
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
BELL'S VIREO (Vireo bellii) – Quite conspicuous by sound; we saw our first behind the motel in Tucson on our first morning.
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni) – This species was quite vocal, giving its monotonous song in most of the pine oak habitat that we visited.
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus) – We saw a migrant individual in Pinery Canyon on our first full day.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri) – A couple of individuals showed well near Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas.
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) – After a brief sighting near Paradise, we had good views of one from the parking lot of the motel in Portal.
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus) – One that we saw along the roadside was showing the white under-feathers around the neck. This species was formerly known as White-necked Raven.
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris) – We saw a couple or three on the hard packed sand around the lake at Willcox.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) – A few were around Willcox and there were more at Whitewater Draw.
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis) – On our first afternoon, we saw about three individuals hanging around cavities in saguaro cactus in the desert outside of Tucson.
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor) – There were a good number flying over and perching in the reeds at Whitewater Draw.
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina) – We only saw a few in the higher elevations of the Chiricahuas where this species breeds.
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia) – At least two individuals were at the wetland at Whitewater Draw.
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – We saw good numbers of these, especially around bodies of water.
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri) – This very localized specialty of the Chiricahua Mountains showed very well. We found them at just about every stop we made in the mixed-conifer forest in the Rustler Park area.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi) – A very handsome species of riparian areas in the southwest, we saw them on multiple occasions.
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi) – These are getting hard to find as they are just on the edge of their range in the Portal area, but we had a good view of one along the Paradise Road.
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps) – One of the quintessential desert birds, we saw several and heard even more.
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus) – Most of our sightings were in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis) – We saw one or two with mixed-species flocks in the Rustler Park area.
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
We spotted this adult Mississippi Kite, a very local breeder in Arizona, perched right next to the road near St. David. Photo by participant Andrew Kenny.
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea) – This tiny nuthatch gave us a few good views in the pine forests of the Chiricahuas.
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus) – We finally caught up with this species in Box Canyon where we had nice looks.
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) – One of the top songsters of the southwest. We saw a handful during our time in the canyons.
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) – The largest of the North American wrens. We had multiple views, including a pair that seemed to be working at a nest high in a sycamore in the Portal area.
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea) – We saw a few in the chaparral habitat of the Chiricahuas.
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura) – Another desert species; we saw these on our first afternoon and again at Box Canyon.
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila nigriceps) – After getting a chance to study a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher near Box Canyon, we had great looks a this quite rare species in the desert below the Santa Rita Mountains.
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) – It was quite unusual to find this migrant along the trail in South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon. It is quite early to be turning up here.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis) – We saw a few along the road to Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas and then again in an oak grove at Fort Huachuca.
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana) – There is a small breeding population of this species in the Chiricahuas and we saw a male near Barfoot Junction.
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus) – A few were seen and we heard these several times uttering their quite nice song.
One doesn’t often get this kind of view, frozen in time, of a Cassin’s Sparrow, but participant Dave Czaplak was quick on the draw with this one.
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CURVE-BILLED THRASHER (Toxostoma curvirostre) – This was the most widespread of the thrashers we encountered.
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei) – Often a quite tough species to find at this time of year; we had a great look at a close bird just over the state line in New Mexico and another at Whitewater Draw.
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale) – We were very fortunate to watch a perched individual sitting in a mesquite tree for a few minutes along State Line Road.
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens) – We started finding these to be rather common once we got to the Patagonia and Nogales area.
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – We saw a young male that stayed put long enough for a scope view, then another with a mixed-species flock in the higher elevations of the Chiricahuas.
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra) – There were a good number of these calling and perched in the pines on the way up to Rustler Park in the Chiricahuas. We got good views and heard them calling and with some song. We had nice views of the local breeding race, which is often referred to as the Type 6 form.
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria) – These were quite widespread.
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis) – A great sparrow that used to be essentially endemic to the Sonoran Desert, but it has expanded its range in recent years. We had great looks at this specialty on our first afternoon with one too close to focus our binoculars on. Near the end of the trip we even watched one singing from a power line which was new for me.
BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii) – One of our afternoons in the Portal area, we were birding in the desert flats when a rainstorm suddenly came up and we watched it rain hard for about ten minutes. When it was over, there were a handful of Botteri's Sparrows singing from mesquites and we had good views. We then heard them just about every subsequent day.
To see Mexican Chickadee in North America, you pretty much need to come to the Chiricahua Mountains where we saw several in the mixed-conifer forests. Photo by participant Andrew Kenny.
CASSIN'S SPARROW (Peucaea cassinii) – The delayed summer rains had not been strong enough to get this species in song mode, but we found a group of three near Double Adobe that showed well.
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum) – In the grasslands in the Hereford area, we had a nice view of this local species that landed on a fence wire for a fabulous views.
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata) – This handsome sparrow gave us a few nice looks.
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata) – One of North America's most range restricted breeders; we ended up seeing or hearing about six individuals in Box Canyon. The following day we saw at least five birds in Montosa Canyon where we had nice close views.
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus) – Many that we saw were juveniles that were chasing after their parents.
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia) – These were all seen along the edges of ponds.
CANYON TOWHEE (Melozone fusca)
ABERT'S TOWHEE (Melozone aberti) – Our first ones were found right behind our motel in Tucson on our first morning, then we saw a few more along the Santa Cruz and Sonoita Creek, as well as one that came to the feeder at Bob Rodrigues's place near Portal where it is quite unusual.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps) – A few showed well in the rocky foothills we visited.
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (Icteria virens) – After hearing a few, we saw our first at Bob Rodrigues's place outside of Portal, then we had great looks at one coming to the feeder at the Paton Center.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae) – This subspecies is a likely candidate for a split, but we have been saying that for many years.
One of the most sought after species in Arizona is the Elegant Trogon. It took quite a bit of looking, but we had great views of a male with a cicada in his bill in the Huachuca Mountains. Photo by participant Dave Czaplak.
HOODED ORIOLE (Icterus cucullatus) – We saw a handful, mostly males, in various desert locales.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) – A female-plumaged individual showed at the 4 Bar while we were watching the water drip.
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum) – Our first was in South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon that we had scoped just as the trogon started calling. We also saw them later in the trip at Box Canyon.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus) – A few were seen at the 4 Bar.
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus) – Virtually all of our sightings were around towns and cities.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae) – We had great looks at one showing well along Blue Haven Road near Patagonia.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas) – There was a singing individual at the golf course pond at Willcox and we heard a few more here and there.
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae) – A few were seen in the pine forests of the Chiricahuas.
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens) – This species of the chaparral and juniper habitat was seen a few times.
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons) – This beauty of the southwest gave us nice looks a couple of times in the Rustler Park area of the Chiricahuas. They were not vocalizing but we found them with small flocks in the mixed conifer forest.
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus) – We saw a few along riparian areas that we visited. Along South Fork we saw a family group including two young birds that showed no red on the belly.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava) – A bird of the pine-oak woodland. We saw a handful of males and females, especially in the Chiricahuas.
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra) – There were a few seen here and there, but our best view was a pair perched together in Peña Blanca Canyon.
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis) – Surprisingly, we saw this familiar species everyday of the trip.
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus) – After seeing our first in the desert outside of Tucson, we saw a few more at feeders in the Portal area.
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) – We saw many of these in the pine forests and at feeders.
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea) – This species showed well in a handful of locations.
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) – A couple of individuals were seen at the feeders near Portal.
VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor) – We had scope views of males on our day in the Patagonia area, then saw more the following day in Box Canyon and again in Montosa Canyon on our last morning.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
MAMMALS
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus) – At least one was seen in the mountains.
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii) – This is the smaller rabbit that is common in most years in the desert habitat.
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus) – Several were seen in the low desert in the Portal area and around Whitewater Draw.
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)
Aah, so that’s why it is called a Thick-billed Kingbird! We had a couple of nice looks at this uncommon species. Photo by participant Dave Czaplak.
HARRIS'S ANTELOPE SQUIRREL (Ammospermophilus harrisii) – This was the small squirrel with its tail curled up over its back.
SPOTTED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus spilosoma)
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus tereticaudus) – Our only sighting was near the San Xavier Mission on the way to the airport.
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis) – This quite reddish-hued species that is essentially only found in North America in the Chiricahua Mountains was seen by most of us there.
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis) – A riparian species of the mountains; we saw a few. This squirrel is not found in the Chiricahuas.
COYOTE (Canis latrans) [*]
BLACK BEAR (Ursus americanus) – It was a real surprise to see this favorite along the stream in South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahuas. It was coming to the stream for a drink and we watched it near the road before it lumbered off.
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu) – A few were seen in downtown Portal after dinner.
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus) – We saw a few in the low desert below Portal.
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus) – A rather common species of the mountains and oak woodland in southeast Arizona; we saw them virtually everyday we were in that habitat.
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana) – Our sole sighting was a lone male in the grassland on the drive up to Garden Canyon.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Totals for the tour: 182 bird taxa and 17 mammal taxa