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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
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

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)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
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)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca)
COMMON GROUND-DOVE (Columbina passerina)
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Coccyzus americanus)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Chordeiles acutipennis)
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
MEXICAN WHIP-POOR-WILL (Antrostomus arizonae arizonae)
Apodidae (Swifts)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)

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)
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Lampornis clemenciae)
LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax lucifer)
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus alexandri)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus platycercus)
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus rufus)
BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD (Cynanthus latirostris)
VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia violiceps)
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 CURLEW (Numenius americanus)
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER (Calidris bairdii)

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)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE (Phalaropus tricolor)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
NEOTROPIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax brasilianus)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
MISSISSIPPI KITE (Ictinia mississippiensis)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
HARRIS'S HAWK (Parabuteo unicinctus)
GRAY HAWK (Buteo plagiatus)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (Buteo albonotatus)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto alba)
Strigidae (Owls)
WHISKERED SCREECH-OWL (Megascops trichopsis)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (Megascops kennicottii)
NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL (Glaucidium gnoma)

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)
SPOTTED OWL (Strix occidentalis)
Trogonidae (Trogons)
ELEGANT TROGON (Trogon elegans)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
GILA WOODPECKER (Melanerpes uropygialis)
LADDER-BACKED WOODPECKER (Dryobates scalaris)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Dryobates villosus)
ARIZONA WOODPECKER (Dryobates arizonae)
NORTHERN FLICKER (RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes auratus cafer)
GILDED FLICKER (Colaptes chrysoides)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe)
GREATER PEWEE (Contopus pertinax)
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)
BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHER (Empidonax fulvifrons)
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
VERMILION FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus cinerascens)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
TROPICAL KINGBIRD (Tyrannus melancholicus)
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (Tyrannus vociferans)
THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD (Tyrannus crassirostris)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (Tyrannus verticalis)
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)

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)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)
PLUMBEOUS VIREO (Vireo plumbeus)
WARBLING VIREO (Vireo gilvus)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
MEXICAN JAY (Aphelocoma wollweberi)
CHIHUAHUAN RAVEN (Corvus cryptoleucus)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
PURPLE MARTIN (Progne subis)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BANK SWALLOW (Riparia riparia)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
CLIFF SWALLOW (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri)
BRIDLED TITMOUSE (Baeolophus wollweberi)
JUNIPER TITMOUSE (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
Remizidae (Penduline-Tits)
VERDIN (Auriparus flaviceps)
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (INTERIOR) (Psaltriparus minimus plumbeus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)
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)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus)
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
CACTUS WREN (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea)
BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila melanura)
BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER (Polioptila nigriceps)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
EASTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia sialis)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)

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)
BENDIRE'S THRASHER (Toxostoma bendirei)
CRISSAL THRASHER (Toxostoma crissale)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
RED CROSSBILL (Loxia curvirostra)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROW (Peucaea carpalis)
BOTTERI'S SPARROW (Peucaea botterii)

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)
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (Ammodramus savannarum)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
FIVE-STRIPED SPARROW (Amphispiza quinquestriata)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO (Junco phaeonotus)
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)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (LILIAN'S) (Sturnella magna lilianae)

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)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (Icterus parisorum)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
BRONZED COWBIRD (Molothrus aeneus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
LUCY'S WARBLER (Oreothlypis luciae)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
GRACE'S WARBLER (Setophaga graciae)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
RED-FACED WARBLER (Cardellina rubrifrons)
PAINTED REDSTART (Myioborus pictus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Piranga flava)
SUMMER TANAGER (Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
NORTHERN CARDINAL (Cardinalis cardinalis)
PYRRHULOXIA (Cardinalis sinuatus)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
BLUE GROSBEAK (Passerina caerulea)
LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena)
VARIED BUNTING (Passerina versicolor)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
EASTERN COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus floridanus)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
CLIFF CHIPMUNK (Tamias dorsalis)

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)
SPOTTED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus spilosoma)
ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
ROUND-TAILED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus tereticaudus)
MEXICAN FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus nayaritensis)
ARIZONA GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus arizonensis)
COYOTE (Canis latrans) [*]
BLACK BEAR (Ursus americanus)
STRIPED SKUNK (Mephitis mephitis)
COLLARED PECCARY (Tayassu tajacu)
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
WHITE-TAILED DEER (Odocoileus virginianus)
PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana)
Totals for the tour: 182 bird taxa and 17 mammal taxa