Why is SE Arizona such a great place to go birding? Well, here are 100 good reasons…
(all photos taken in Arizona, copyright © Richard Fray)
Least Grebe
Status in SE Arizona: Rare visitor.
Status in USA: Found regularly in S Texas only.
Habitat/location: Ponds and lakes. When they arrive in Arizona they often stay for long periods. A pair that arrived at Pena Blanca Lake in July 2010 have created a small population and up to 23 birds were found there in late 2011.
Neotropic Cormorant
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Can only be found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Habitat/location: Regular at some lakes and ponds including Patagonia Lake, and various lakes and ponds in Tucson and Phoenix. Breeds regularly in Phoenix. A pair nested at Silverbell Lake in Tucson in 2011.
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Can only be found in Arizona and S Texas.
Habitat/location: Ponds, flooded fields and lakes, nesting in cottonwood trees along streams. Regular at Rio Rico, Patagonia Lake, Kino Springs and sometimes Amado Pond, as well as various lakes and ponds in Phoenix.
“Mexican” Mallard
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Arizona, Texas & New Mexico. Currently a subspecies of Mallard but formerly a separate species, Mexican Duck. Could be closer related to Mottled Duck.
Habitat/location: Ponds, streams and lakes in SE Arizona. Found at sites along the Sonoita Creek and Santa Cruz and San Pedro Rivers. Sometimes found at ponds and lakes in Tucson but more often prefers a ‘wild’ environment.
Common Black-Hawk
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor.
Status in USA: Most are in Arizona, a few in other states.
Habitat/location: Regular on migration along San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers, especially on March mornings. Breeds in riparian habitat at select sites, mostly north of Tucson, such as Aravaipa Canyon.
Harris’s Hawk
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Arizona, Texas and small parts of New Mexico and California.
Habitat/location: Usually seen quite easily at Sweetwater Wetlands, where they nest in tall eucalyptus trees along Sweetwater Drive, and other sites in and around Tucson. Scarcer in rural areas but groups persist at traditional sites.
Gray Hawk
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Arizona, S Texas and New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Still a noteworthy bird but a welcome recent increase in numbers mean that it’s now reasonably easily seen along Sonoita Creek and the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers plus and other suitable riparian habitats around and to the north of Tucson.
Zone-tailed Hawk
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Can be found from the foothills to high in the mountains, and sometimes in Tucson where one or two often spend the winter. Nests in large trees at sites such as Mt Lemmon, California Gulch and the Sonoita Creek.
Short-tailed Hawk
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor, rare winter visitor.
Status in USA: Also in Florida.
Habitat/location: Reasonably recent arrival in Arizona and still very scarce. Breeds in small numbers high in the Chiricahua and possibly Santa Catalina and Huachuca Mountains. One has wintered in suburban Tucson in recent years.
Crested Caracara
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce resident.
Status in USA: Also in Texas and Florida.
Habitat/location: Most easily seen on traditional wintering grounds northwest of Tucson, in the Santa Cruz Flats and around Red Rock. Occasionally seen elsewhere, around Tumacacori and in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Nests on the Tohono O’odham reservation.
Montezuma Quail
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Also at a few sites in New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Very hard to detect on mid-elevation oak-strewn grassland slopes, particularly in the Pajarito Wilderness and Atascosa Highlands along Ruby Road, the Patagonia, Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains.
Gambel’s Quail
Status in SE Arizona: Very common resident.
Status in USA: Confined to a few states in the Southwest and West.
Habitat/location: Ubiquitous and often conspicuous resident of classic Sonoran desert habitat. Frequently seen in other desert, grassland, foothill, riparian and suburban settings.
Scaled Quail
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to find but much more habitat specific than Gambel’s, primarily in sparse desert, foothills and high desert grassland in the Sulphur Springs Valley, around Sonoita, the Huachuca foothills and other similar sites.
Northern Jacana
Status in SE Arizona: Rare visitor.
Status in USA: Also recorded in Texas.
Habitat/location: Lakes, ponds and water treatment plants. Only recorded on a handful of occasions but once they do arrive they are often very long staying.
Mountain Plover
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce winter visitor.
Status in USA: Breeds in the Midwest, winters in Arizona, California and Texas. Near threatened, with a population of only 5,000-10,000 individuals.
Habitat/location: Winters in small flocks in the Santa Cruz Flats and Sulphur Springs Valley, preferring sod farms, short grass and crop fields. Tends to use traditional areas but they can sometimes be difficult to find.
White-winged Dove
Status in SE Arizona: Very common summer visitor, scarce winter visitor.
Status in USA: Increasingly seen in southern USA and expanding northwards.
Habitat/location: Can be found almost anywhere in summer when it os one of the commonest birds in the region. Winters at a few regular sites but is increasingly found in winter in rural areas.
Inca Dove
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Habitat/location: Increasingly difficult to find in suburban Tucson where it was previously quite common. Also found in riparian and rural/agricultural habitats. Often associates with Common Ground-Dove.
Ruddy Ground-Dove
Status in SE Arizona: Rare visitor.
Status in USA: Most records are from Arizona.
Habitat/location: No regular sites at present but sometimes small populations persist for a few years. Tends to occur in similar or more open habitats than Common Ground-Dove and frequently associating with them and Inca Doves.
Common Ground-Dove
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found in southern states.
Habitat/location: Unobtrusive resident of riparian habitat. Population tends to fluctuate. Regular sites include Paton’s in Patagonia and elsewhere along the Sonoita Creek, San Pedro House and elsewhere along the San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers.
Spotted Owl
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found in Western states; “Mexican Spotted Owl” almost entirely in Arizona and New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Resident of mid to higher elevation forests. Most likely to be seen in summer at traditional sites in Miller or Scheelite Canyon in the Huachucas, but also present in the Santa Rita, Santa Catalina and Patagonia Mountains.
Elf Owl
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found in restricted areas of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Lower to mid elevation woods or lush Sonoran desert. Best seen at known nesting sites such as Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon or other sites in the Chiricahua and Huachuca Mountains.
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Mid to higher elevation oak and pine forest. One of the more vocal night birds in the Santa Catalina, Santa Rita, Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains.
Northern Pygmy-Owl
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found in various Western states. “Mountain” subspecies/species only in Southeastern Arizona.
Habitat/location: Always hard to find, primarily in higher elevation forests but also sometimes in foothills and mid-level elevations.
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Status in SE Arizona: Very scarce resident.
Status in USA: The main US population is in S Texas. A few birds cling on at secret sites in S Arizona. The last pair left Tucson in the mid 2000s.
Habitat/location: Prime Sonoran desert, lush canyons and foothills in a few very specific locations in S Arizona. Declining.
Buff-collared Nightjar
Status in SE Arizona: Very scarce summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Used to be regular at Oro Blanco Mine near California Gulch and other recent records from Madera Canyon, but none were seen or heard in Arizona in 2010 or 2011.
Mexican Whip-poor-will
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Only in Arizona and small parts of California, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Relatively easy to hear at higher elevation forest in the Santa Catalina, Santa Rita, Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains, but not so easy to see.
Lesser Nighthawk
Status in SE Arizona: Common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada.
Habitat/location: Easy to see around Tucson and other urban areas at dawn and dusk.
Plain-capped Starthroat
Status in SE Arizona: Rare summer visitor.
Status in USA: Only recorded in the USA in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Very rare but usually one or two found annually at a feeding station or coming to flowers in lush lower to mid elevation canyons.
Lucifer Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor.
Status in USA: Very restricted sites in SE Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Regular at Ash Canyon B&B and one or two other sites in the foothills of the Huachuca Mountains. Sometimes found at other feeding stations but generally rare away from Ash Canyon.
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Violet-crowned Hummingbird
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Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor, rare in winter.
Status in USA: SE Arizona and SW New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Regular at Paton’s in Patagonia, and one or two other sites along the Sonoita Creek and in Bisbee. Sometimes found at other feeding stations. One or two winter regularly in suburban Tucson and sometimes at Paton’s.
Berylline Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor.
Status in USA: Only regularly recorded in USA in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Recent breeding records from Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains and Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains. Very rare elsewhere.
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Common summer visitor, scarce in winter.
Status in USA: Only regularly recorded in USA in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Easy to see at feeders and flowers, particularly further south in the region. Prefers riparian and mid elevation woodland. A few winter in suburban Tucson and occasionally elsewhere.
White-eared Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor.
Status in USA: Only regularly recorded in USA in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Recent breeding records from Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains and Miller Canyon in the Huachuca Mountains. No regular sightings from any site in 2011.
Blue-throated Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Only regularly recorded in USA in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to see at Miller and Ramsey Canyons in the Huachuca Mountains, Portal in the Chiricahuas and Mt Lemmon in the Santa Catalinas. A few spend the winter, especially at Portal.
Magnificent Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor, scarce in winter.
Status in USA: Only regularly recorded in USA in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to see at higher elevations, especially at feeding stations in the Santa Catalina, Santa Rita, Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains.
Anna’s Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Breeds along the West coast only, as far north as Washington state.
Habitat/location: Seen throughout the year in Tucson, where it is the commonest hummingbird. Distribution elsewhere throughout the region varies but often the most regular species.
Costa’s Hummingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Arizona, Nevada and California.
Habitat/location: Reasonably easy to find in prime Sonoran desert and foothills. Seen throughout the year in some areas. Occasionally visits feeding stations elsewhere, generally at low to mid elevations.
Eared Quetzal
Status in SE Arizona: Rare visitor.
Status in USA: Most US records from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Less than annual and very difficult to see, usually in remote locations in higher elevation forests.
Elegant Trogon
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Breeds in Arizona Sycamores and other trees with cavities along riparian corridors within mid to higher elevation oak and pine forests. Sometimes winters in the same areas at lower elevations. One has returned to Patagonia Lake for many years.
Green Kingfisher
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce visitor.
Status in USA: Resident in S Texas.
Habitat/location: Occurs rarely in SE Arizona on a semi-permanent basis at lakes, rivers and creeks. Regular sites include Green Kingfisher Pond at San Pedro House and Patagonia Lake. None recently.
Acorn Woodpecker
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: West Texas, New Mexico, California and Oregon.
Habitat/location: Vocal and easily seen in oak woodland canyons throughout the region. Regularly visits feeding stations and never far away from a granary (dead tree or telephone pole).
Gila Woodpecker
Status in SE Arizona: Very common resident.
Status in USA: Found across much of Arizona and small parts of California and New Mexico.
Habitat/location: An almost constant site and especially sound in suburban Tucson and in most habitats throughout much of SE Arizona.
Arizona Woodpecker
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to find in wooded canyons at mid elevations. The best sites include Madera Canyon in the Huachucas, Ash Canyon in the Huachucas and Mt Lemmon in the Santa Catalinas.
Gilded Flicker
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found only in Arizona and a small portion of California.
Habitat/location: Primarily seen in Sonoran desert.
Rose-throated Becard
Status in SE Arizona: Very scarce summer visitor, rare in winter.
Status in USA: Found in SE Arizona and occasionally S Texas.
Habitat/location: Riparian breeder, preferring large Arizona Sycamores. Not recorded at the one traditional breeding site at Patagonia Roadside Rest, or anywhere else in summer, since 2007. Several winter records in recent years.
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor, rare in winter.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Occurs in dense scrub near water, particularly along the Sonoita Creek, San Pedro and Santa Cruz Rivers. Also found near lakes and ponds in Tucson, particularly Agua Caliente Park. Occasional winter records.
Greater Pewee
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in Arizona.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to locate in higher elevation forests, especially when singing its distinctive song. Sometimes found with mixed flocks in fall.
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in Arizona.
Habitat/location: Sometimes fairly easy to locate in higher elevation forests. Usually nests colonially in very specific areas. Most reliably found at sites such as Sawmill Canyon in the Huachucas and Mt Lemmon in the Santa Catalinas.
Black Phoebe
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Found mostly in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Habitat/location: Conspicuous and usually easy to find at ponds, lakes, streams and anywhere near water.
Vermilion Flycatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Common summer visitor, fairly common in winter.
Status in USA: Found mostly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Easily seen in a variety of open habitats. Often seen flycatching from low in trees, signposts, chain-link fences and other prominent perches. In winter it is easily found in almost any Tucson park.
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to find, especially by its distinctive call, in riparian and mid to high elevation oak woodland habitats. Regular sites include Madera Canyon, Miller Canyon and Sonoita Creek.
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found mostly in Arizona and S Texas.
Habitat/location: Vocal and quite easy to find, usually in large trees in riparian and suburban settings. Parks in suburban Tucson, Madera Canyon and Sonoita Creek are regular sites.
Thick-billed Kingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Only found at a handful of regular sites, never far from water, in riparian habitat. The best known site is Patagonia Roadside Rest but also found elsewhere along Sonoita Creek and Arivaca Cienega.
Tropical Kingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Occurs in open, often agricultural habitat close to water and some large trees. Traditional sites include Rio Rico, Tumacacori and Sweetwater Wetlands in Tucson.
Cassin’s Kingbird
Status in SE Arizona: Common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Southwestern USA.
Habitat/location: Common in a variety of open habitats, including grassland, desert, riparian and agricultural habitats as well as suburban Tucson. Often found in the same area as other kingbirds.
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to find in at specific mid to higher elevation riparian habitats due to its distinctive call. Madera Canyon, Miller Canyon and Ramsey Canyon are traditional sites.
Gray Vireo
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce summer visitor.
Status in USA: Restricted to scattered sites across the Southwest.
Habitat/location: The main sites are to the north of Tucson. Some years it can be found at Moloino Basin in the Santa Catalina Mountains, but otherwise specific sites in sparse juniper habitats at mid elevations.
Yellow-green Vireo
Status in SE Arizona: Rare summer visitor.
Status in USA: Recorded very rarely in most southern states.
Habitat/location: Seen less than annually in SE Arizona and often doesn’t hang around. Riparian habitat and lush canyons are preferred habitats.
Hutton’s Vireo
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident
Status in USA: Pacific race on the west coast, Mexican race in SE Arizona and small parts of New Mexico and Texas only.
Habitat/location: Unobtrusive bird of oak woodland at mid to high elevations. Easiest to find in the breeding season or at the end of summer in mixed flocks.
Mexican Jay
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Arizona and small parts of New Mexico and Texas only.
Habitat/location: Very common and easy to see in oak woodland. Noisy, raucous and prominent, arriving in flocks which can scare other birds away. Can always be found at feeding station sites such as Madera and Ash Canyons.
Chihuahuan Raven
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Easily seen in a variety of habitats but never easily identified. Generally confined to lower elevations and more likely to form flocks than Common Raven.
Bridled Titmouse
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Found in Arizona and a small part of New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Usually easy to find in riparian habitat and oak woodland at mid to high elevations. Commonly seen at feeding stations in Madera and Ash Canyons as well as along Sonoita Creek and on Mt Lemmon.
Mexican Chickadee
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Relatively easy to locate at higher elevations in the Chiricahua Mountains only.
Verdin
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Easily seen in many habitats. Common in Tucson and a classic bird of Sonoran desert, but also found in open habitats and riparian areas.
Cactus Wren
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Easily seen in desert and suburban habitats, but not present throughout the region. Common around Tucson and at prime Sonoran desert sites such as Saguaro National Park.
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Common but often inconspicuous resident of desert and scrubby habitats in the lowlands and foothills.
Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Rare and irregular resident of lush foothill canyons such as California Gulch, Florida and Madera Canyons and around Patagonia. Currently the most reliable site is Montosa Canyon in the Santa Rita foothills.
Aztec Thrush
Status in SE Arizona: Rare visitor.
Status in USA: Almost all USA records are from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Less than annual, mostly in late summer. Almost all records are from fruiting trees in oak woodland at higher elevations. Often found in small groups but always rare and sometimes difficult to see.
Rufous-backed Robin
Status in SE Arizona: Very scarce visitor.
Status in USA: Most USA records are from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Recorded in SE Arizona annually. Most are in winter feeding on hackberies or ornamental fruits close to riparian or other lush habitats. Occasionally found in wooded areas in agricultural habitat.
Bendire’s Thrasher
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in Arizona.
Habitat/location: Sometimes quite hard to find at specific sites in sparse desert scrub, agriculture and grassland. Most reliably found in the Sulphur Springs Valley and Santa Cruz Flats, as well as desert around Phoenix.
Curve-billed Thrasher
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Classic bird of SE Arizona. Easily seen in desert and suburban habitats. Common in Tucson and far showier and easy to see than other thrashers in the region.
Crissal Thrasher
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Never common and often very difficult to see in dense mesquite washes, scrubby desert and lush canyons. Sites such as Slaughter Ranch, Montosa Canyon and Catalina State Park offer opportunities.
Le Conte’s Thrasher
Status in SE Arizona: Very scarce resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in California and Southwestern Arizona.
Habitat/location: Difficult to see in scattered mesquites and saltbush in very sparse desert. No longer found in SE Arizona, the best known site is ‘The Thrasher Spot’ near Buckeye, to the west of Phoenix.
Phainopepla
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly in California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Easily seen in Sonoran desert, grassland and foothill habitats. Closely tied to and most common in mesquites with plenty of mistletoe, where it usually perches prominently.
Tropical Parula
Status in SE Arizona: Rare summer visitor.
Status in USA: Resident in S Texas, most other records from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Less than annual, usually at higher elevations.
Lucy’s Warbler
Status in SE Arizona: Common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Mostly in Arizona and small parts of other states.
Habitat/location: Common and easily found in Sonoran desert, mesquite scrub and riparian habitats. Fairly unobtrusive and can easily be overlooked.
Grace’s Warbler
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: Mostly in Arizona and New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Found in higher elevation pine forests but never common. The best places to try are Mt Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains and high in the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains.
Painted Redstart
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor, scarce in winter.
Status in USA: Found in SE Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas.
Habitat/location: Fairly common and easily found in oak woodland at mid to high elevations. Conspicuous and vocal. A few spend the winter at slightly lower elevations, often close to water.
Red-faced Warbler
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor, scarce in winter.
Status in USA: Found in Arizona and New Mexico only.
Habitat/location: Relatively easy to locate at higher elevations in pine forest, usually close to water. Often feeds at lower levels in willows. Mt Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains gives the best opportunities.
Rufous-capped Warbler
Status in SE Arizona: Very scarce resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Currently the only site is Florida Canyon. Recent sites have included Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Sycamore Canyon and French Joe Canyon.
Olive Warbler
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Found in Arizona and a small part of New Mexico only.
Habitat/location: Found in mid to higher elevation oak and pine forests. Never common and often difficult to find. Winters at mid elevation in canyons. Madera Canyon, Mt Lemmon and the Dragoon Mountains are all worth checking.
Flame-colored Tanager
Status in SE Arizona: Rare summer visitor.
Status in USA: Most US records are from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: A male returned every year to Madera Canyon from 2002 to 2010. Otherwise less than annual in mid to higher elevation canyons such as Miller Canyon.
Hepatic Tanager
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor, rare in winter.
Status in USA: Mostly Arizona and New Mexico.
Habitat/location: Found in oak and pine forests at mid to higher elevations, but sometimes lower. A few winter each year at id elevations at sites such as Madera Canyon.
Pyrrhuloxia
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Quite easily seen in Sonoran desert, mesquite desert scrub and open habitats such as agriculture and scrubby grassland. Sometimes found alongside Northern Cardinal but usually a more rural bird.
Yellow Grosbeak
Status in SE Arizona: Rare summer visitor.
Status in USA: Most US records are from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: About annual but usually doesn’t hang around.
Varied Bunting
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor.
Status in USA: SE Arizona plus small parts of New Mexico and West Texas.
Habitat/location: Quite easy to see in the right habitat, which tends to be dense mesquite washes and lush canyons in the foothills. Try Montosa, Madera and Florida Canyons in the Huachucas, California Gulch and along the Sonoita Creek.
Canyon Towhee
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Found in a variety of habitats in lower and mid elevations, including Sonoran desert, desert scrub, grassland and rocky foothill slopes.
Abert’s Towhee
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Mostly southern Arizona only.
Habitat/location: Fairly shy but common and usually quite easily seen near water throughout the region. Most of the world’s population is in southern Arizona, so even though it can be quite common here, it’s a very special bird locally.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Scattered across Southwest.
Habitat/location: Fairly easy to see in quite specific mesquite desert and foothill habitats. Lush canyons with rocky slopes are good, such as Montosa Canyon, California Gulch and Florida Wash.
Botteri’s Sparrow
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident/summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona and S Texas.
Habitat/location: Very habitat specific, being found in desert grassland with scattered mesquites. Easy to find when males sing during the monsoon. Grasslands around the Huachuca Mountains, Las Cienegas, Patagonia Lake and Madera Canyon are classic sites.
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Quite common and usually easy to find in desert and other open habitats with mesquites. This bird has a small world range with much of the population in southern Arizona, so it’s a particularly important species locally.
Five-striped Sparrow
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident/summer visitor.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Only reliably seen in summer at California Gulch and possibly a few other less accessible sites nearby. In summer 2011 a few were regular and easy to see in Montosa Canyon.
Black-chinned Sparrow
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon resident.
Status in USA: Scattered distribution across the Southwest.
Habitat/location: Uncommon and unobtrusive bird of specifically brushy mid elevation slopes. Sites include Florida and Montosa Canyons in the Santa Ritas, Sabino Canyon in the Santa Catalinas and the Dragoon Mountians.
Baird’s Sparrow
Status in SE Arizona: Scarce winter visitor.
Status in USA: Breeds in Montana and the Dakotas, winters in SE Arizona and W Texas only.
Habitat/location: Difficult to see in pure grassland habitat. Almost all records come from the San Rafael Valley. Best seen perching on roadside fences just after dawn.
Yellow-eyed Junco
Status in SE Arizona: Common resident.
Status in USA: Found exclusively in SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: Easily seen in higher elevation pine forests, many retreating to mid elevations in winter. Mt Lemmon offers by far the easiest chance year round, and some come down to feeders in Madera Canyon in winter.
Bronzed Cowbird
Status in SE Arizona: Uncommon summer visitor, rare in winter.
Status in USA: Mostly Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Habitat/location: Fairly uncommon in chiefly agricultural, riparian and grassland habitats, usually near water. Can be seen in summer at Rio Rico, around Patagonia and other sites. Occasional in winter, sometimes in Tucson.
Streak-backed Oriole
Status in SE Arizona: Rare visitor.
Status in USA: Most US records from SE Arizona.
Habitat/location: A very rare visitor and occasional breeder which is usually seen in SE Arizona less than annual. Some are long-staying or returning individuals.
Hooded Oriole
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor.
Status in USA: Mostly California, Arizona and Texas.
Habitat/location: Found in a variety habitats at lower to mid elevations, including riparian, mesquite, desert scrub and suburban settings with palm trees.
Scott’s Oriole
Status in SE Arizona: Fairly common summer visitor, rare in winter.
Status in USA: Across the Southwest.
Habitat/location: Found in juniper, oak and pine-oak woodland and lush foothill canyon slopes. Regular sites include the Dragoon Mountains, Madera Canyon and Molino Basin. Rare but fairly regularly recorded in winter from lower elevations.
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Status in SE Arizona: Irruptive winter visitor, sometimes fairly common, often scarce.
Status in USA: Mostly California and Arizona.
Habitat/location: Found along streams in riparian habitat and especially weedy edges of ponds and lakes. irruptive and irregular in appearance, some winters there will be few while other years they arrive in their hundreds.
