The birds of southeastern Arizona are always enjoyable. Our recent trip was a success, we tallied about 160 species without even touching shorebirds or waterfowl!
I managed 7 ABA lifers. They were (in order):
Black-capped Gnatcatcher
Sinaloa Wren
Lucifer Hummingbird
Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Bendire's Thrasher
Scott's Oriole
Black-chinned Sparrow
I also SAW several species that I had never visually "seen" before:
Montezuma Quail
Elf Owl
Whiskered Screech-Owl
Western Screech-Owl
Red-faced Warbler
We had great luck with quail! We saw broods of both Scaled and Gambel's. What's more exciting was how frequently we stumbled on Montezuma Quail (at least 5 times)!
Here is a SCALED QUAIL near Madera Canyon:
And here is a MONTEZUMA QUAIL also below Madera Canyon:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IcBPJMb4Y8MA9XD2Qx20ARI3Vn-DGdqpcXuEvL-bURfESuHb4uuH-65bmilY01yLTpQMINQUFWYW_a0sBzypGLOw0-PdbGYcl2nepwOyYU8H2kcHljon3HaozzzmY0Cit1hVjiHf26xr/s400/MONQ.jpg)
Below is a Gambel's Quail near the "Willow Tank" (near Rodeo, NM):
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQxMuYRz2D5zmOCzos2Vr_CdVpM-uJD5MSnEJJc9A6dZWn1nBsb-YKzQZ_iQgMjN0rFYexHC0rV7Jd720wLb0by0Vp8qWTR33fLsLyUcfaJ3_dNarPxEDCuHk3nNqV6N4rg2vzPM4tt93/s400/GAQU.jpg)
We also had decent luck with raptors. We tallied:
Red-tailed
Swainson's
Zone-tailed (4)
Short-tailed (1)
Gray (5+)
Harris's (1)
Cooper's (3)
Am. Kestrel
Our most interesting find was a ZONE-TAILED HAWK in Aravaipa attending young! Below is that Zone-tailed:
Another highlight was finding the SHORT-TAILED HAWK at Barfoot Park in the Chiricahuas:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsVMhHtuP0vRtmyyZqj_7mgatmVnPvrhWXPSjcgUBKrcV1OHOiZBDoE0Hc41-NfKIDW3NepxSaysxXu95N31Q9LDtYzTyJHS4oAytksVXg5WMANgariElN8hcYr6mH2HR6zcR_tOEpxtkr/s400/STHA+(30).jpg)
And you can't forget GRAY HAWKS. This one was soaring above Sycamore Canyon:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-j3KbmKJFiNsaPlf7-lsPYJtclDp7Zk_TY0dCtqxH335pMfIwTyCCpAuv_1ThG8n_S_PPqrw-_SA2x7jGYhlOd_9dmV8toid4aHFXakbUFgi2_jWJKX5GCzfAWoT3yESdt8XmttXExiuw/s400/GRHA+(5).jpg)
One of my favorite birding spots near Tucson is Catalina State Park. After dark, we had this nice look at a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL:
And the GREATER ROADRUNNERS there always provide something to photograph:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXbBi_saL6HZz76KuIV04gKzoTZa1vVS5VMq1KSSbdZg56MhOtaYOi7zKMv69qWC8ABbV2AgaYD61Z5yURVdw1cC2qpXQ0NdccLKzmj2BibtwWHbTSdKWNn6ZJ-r_uvyrklainulX4qlI/s400/GRRO+(22).jpg)
A definite highlight of this trip were the hummingbirds. We tallied an amazing 12 species (not bad for the US, huh?). I managed photos of all 12 kinds:
One of the rarer species we saw were the WHITE-EARED HUMMINGBIRDS (2-3) in Miller Canyon:
Below is a VIOLET-CROWNED HUMMINGBIRD at the Portal Store. We also saw this species at the Patton's house in Patagonia.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0k4dI6UTReSx6FTqOdnTtD5iHu2OgtnHvQqT3UFZ0BGfKKuUK81JybHpRb0R_aDkwXCcIRyiAoew0T4ZbpnMlpUt3ZI__UjuyWVWfXLE99L2uhI2-bxL011cfWvuj63Xqk14jQHMQ-4OP/s400/VCHU+(2).jpg)
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS are back in se AZ during August. Here is a nice male:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5I1fIjmbgXcqqfGafXqQwj-SuIihLu0SgA0h1EcyPDzEqCpXdfJ0j_srja6X-50FyP8p87YsGZrORTLWrzYJkTMlML1rUzTc7HWXaMwAeeKP0E5arTXBmISw82Hpu3APncovbSR9GC3sQ/s400/RUHU+(1).jpg)
One of the largest hummingbird species in the US is the MAGNIFICENT HUMMINGBIRD:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKL7QCYz8yaV8pJRHhn6MAW2V2mzBnw6aGxU9fMiBsZI8DYZ7Nrb2ZjOwKRUJQdJHb8vKH-qxTFzYpT00hlQXhPwwYeANTKfQq3Kk8EbiviQvaAHIIk4SRmCw4V-Jui27ddSVtNQCA_cj/s400/MAHU+(3).jpg)
A personal highlight for me was seeing the LUCIFER HUMMINGBIRDS at Mary Jo's feeders in Ash Canyon. The picture isn't great but that's not what matters! Here's the male:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7yi536GukSaet8p9Ebg-_b-oxfwYRAuF17xqY6VhGH2dqNP3mR4ERZV-S7LYNlpMl-Zi8L4SoMlR-YJsqXTTaqj7d3ryQqWtBhGUXEflg4GGMLg1gEWalqZCgjF5SFjkYTegk0qaoJeR/s400/LUHU.jpg)
One of the harder hummingbirds to find during our stay was Calliope. However, this male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD was at the Portal Store:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfUTdDWOmxwSszsC8HlSdBVehTP1eTWghjKx9Ds0e78_x7_rQG6DZzd9AcwxEUiYMzsC7qftlu4GLTfDAVbcw0jbCZlpA_VqMFJfas4dGIYMqJHjNfoaPAIxQwtIy5NDdzyEAPwJ-RF3FP/s400/CAHU.jpg)
Don't forget about BROAD-TAILED HUMMINGBIRD. Here is a male in Miller Canyon:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-u-ft8FKk0XiAoAFKMtlRvbuamUI2BDl_tBRJ48gSCJ-8SMzt87WGX0p5sQbRnY6LMXFX08V6ZuZGNYmJ_mVPaUAQbiRno6Eq0b1UUcuMtFvkRQ6KaNXYMOrAVDEsSFcd9G1_bSb0DWnM/s400/BTAH.jpg)
A very common hummer in AZ was the BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri4W9LwDQpR9yYhSw9QIEJUHU8BuUePKGw5y_mB2tgy6gHsooHJ5LbvkkO65j9bO_3yUeQ5_MhWyAvUQ-UUrjo8p5Fh6FLrGHVhCXbrhuDGQKLk9LnhpPkjkAvG3NZuG2fsyLhI22BFkV/s400/BBIH+(8).jpg)
A tricky guy to photograph, below is a BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD in Miller Canyon. This individual proceeded to bathe in the rain:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ojB81yqEwa3dJ90dt_TajFKtlpyeiLFe18caASFK2eyE6U0d__Uez0kwgRrg5uXyCIHHU7JvVNgZEMHkWHKGTiAi2sJJ98sZNtjosXnI66TR9JYMYSz-LQN6NYxl776vJ-fKObp5FDGd/s400/BTHH.jpg)
Another very common hummer was the BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkB6ObiGrmX8K796MN7Ey_kQLDsRk20uyGzfKUjy-0ne3vuOdLostQUc91EKWaTvewLYPdJ4l4232ePO8daGCtpq347r6Pr36ocBKLniiE8uJK60rggTowPDUKJ9zR6fb5TwWTEhQ0Uwxa/s400/BCHU.jpg)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were also pretty common. This male was at Miller Canyon:
And lastly, it's been a very good year in se AZ for BERYLLINE HUMMINGBIRDS. There are multiple birds in Miller Canyon. Here is one of those birds:
Many birders enjoy the ELEGANT TROGONS found in southeastern AZ. We came across this species many times during our trip (Madera, Sawmill, and Scheelite Canyons):
We also saw quite a few species of woodpeckers. Here is an ARIZONA WOODPECKER:
... and the ACORN WOODPECKERS provided something to check out as well:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnaDtfMZoSfe3wHxFxrgWcprxbFk3BZ8KM2vtNJ2H8P2bshE1KUBYYsyeGyj8qnlY5f9dyCNsFQk0waqXBSoO5XEHRJLBDrXxefEqYW0CEqi5ES-cU94bptWU35p1tUMwhSvhyphenhyphen2oBUzHz/s400/ACWO.jpg)
Flycatchers of all different varieties can be found while birding AZ. Here is a NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYANNULET below Madera Canyon:
... and TROPICAL KINGBIRDS at Tubac:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSA6QEZTRULnuE7l-b_CwEdu1c-oEr8rnSeJfNb4eL8h4kV6pYh3V2y2pMPbftPEQ9Eap1mft1fi3AlzZnXR0k2bVqTEMVAH1OJ-dUBo9FGkh8wzgDoD9ktpYE4JNm4aZpQlWtaV6o0OqY/s400/TRKI.jpg)
...and SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0O2q1uGTCVUmkcpAtmvNu_Vqv512GqQFWP8VYlTxvc4d_yI1Ps1cWF0u7NJ9u8qYYNET1CxPW1MmsA5emg-q1eZG5frzJjCD7ieVkHhKyj53njkdA-iDZZPWMELZe34U9XK6mP2Icsll_/s400/SBFL.jpg)
A highlight for me was seeing 10+ BUFF-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS in Sawmill Canyon! There were a couple family groups and I watched as adults fed young, etc:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldyO2A-MVmnTfERsG_xr3eOAHxQc640Bp3m2_HC_T0yYruYc4NJg-JjgtySpMUnBootdWq5FGOvJkYsofnYhnjlCzKiOreM08PkCUxGd6EqKkeqFMawSaRwLHQgRYiEJvWZMIEHTqFyGc/s400/BBFL.jpg)
Another highlight was seeng a long-time nemesis bird of mine: the BLACK-CAPPED GNATCATCHER. This female was at Florida Canyon in the Santa Ritas:
Since the ID of gnatcatchers can be a challenge, it was helpful to have a clear look at the undertail (note the mostly white tail and the graduated tail feathers). The bird cooperated stuningly:
Below is a BRIDLED TITMOUSE, a common species in southeastern AZ:
The MEXICAN CHICKADEE only occurs in the US on one mountain range, the Chiricahuas. We had great looks at this species at many locations during our visit:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UrDJBmYj2D0Um7SmgeShvNM-mxKcyBNQySccDvPxWhd-j7H1tFqzvqZnl5e5M05EBT2uLo1Q5j3nijVugH1SYtEUIphA-icJapSbV88inTEgdwUOauTo2-XfwBXaRFznjcBoOf068Vu7/s400/MECH.jpg)
As far as thrashers go, we had good looks of a BENDIRE'S THRASHER near Rodeo. Note the yellow iris, straight bill (compared to Curve-billed), and the pale base of the bill:
Below are two of the target warblers we found. First a RED-FACED WARBLER near Pinery campground:
...and this PAINTED REDSTART at Madera Canyon:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrglRo9KjgPIPZ8NYa0sfZ0nB8UpLlY2MvxXhyphenhyphen9o1uaKt_lUzbB4L2UkEQHZQ7V6HVkRdd1gvf5VHinfZzR2t8QTrDHH-MTkef9htMyBL2bDZUEzk_dfl7y244oyhPnnUotqiAfzdBvQDe/s400/PARE.jpg)
Other warblers we saw included:
Olive
Hermit
Black-throated Gray
Grace's
Virginia's
Yellow
C. Yellowthroat
Some sparrows and things we saw also included this VARIED BUNTING below Madera Canyon:
... and RUFOUS-WINGED SPARROWS at Catalina State Park near Tucson:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39aWY1Iqfuws-RpaKHDAVbMgoS28j7C62HgSu1FoCr4avKWFq8yQQSyd-bJuxhzQBF4509kgJwrksRHIyBxKQYQHyyR-dbEf-O131MONVnec_53KeNlCqeCV902egmKTMcKso-pWnXoXp/s400/RWSP+(7).jpg)
Many of the grasslands there this time of year have singing CASSIN'S and BOTTERI'S SPARROWS. Below is a BOTTERI'S below Madera Canyon:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmsbb87F6vo9Jg5boxjpbdoNK7DLOBQI8AYKhNbdeyUxHjjdDBzo3P9kbc6LEuOBCTWyazet7HC09jpcPm9XmT9zqTjCTRkMELLysSvTFYxBxxVeYaTvH-ZYkzD0wkDkxHBAjiZLD1wAK/s400/BOSP.jpg)
Also, while up in the Chiricahuas, YELLOW-EYED JUNCOS were quite common:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwDIXzNdZU72hqRZ3SXrBQsTnkGw-gN70Z-No14Ikm7WOzYqvMWhLsuDACoJimmqYFD_hxCAF6FLtoe5wKyg4fv3lSNemj4asBLXuddjHkfH8cCk5_Z4XCU7NfRflXjEmK4Wypo0vTUpu/s400/YEJU.jpg)