2023 Arizona – Spring Birding in Southeast Arizona

We have a full morning of birding in the varied habitats of Madera Canyon. In the bottomlands there are Cassin’s, Botteri’s, and Rufous-winged Sparrows, Bell’s Vireo, Blue Grosbeak, and Lucy’s Warbler. A climb into the oak belt will give us our first chance for Elegant Trogon, Greater Pewee, and Arizona Woodpecker. On a previous tour we found two AZTEC THRUSHES, an extremely rare Mexican endemic.

In addition to the more common species, rarities such as Plain-capped Starthroat and Flame-colored Tanager occasionally visit the feeders near the lodges. After dinner we will go in search of Elf Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, and Mexican Whip-poor-will. There may be Buff-collared Nightjar and Lesser Nighthawks along Proctor Road. Ringtail, a nocturnal mammal related to the Raccoon, may be found hunting near Santa Rita Lodge!

Overnight: Green Valley

We’ll head south by way of Arivaca and scenic Ruby Road, almost to the Mexican border at Nogales. From there we will visit Kino Springs to look for Tropical Kingbird and Vermilion Flycatcher. Patagonia Lake often has both Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants for a nice comparison, and perhaps a family of Black-capped Gnatcatchers as in previous years. We’ll do some late day birding along Sonoita Creek and spend a relaxing hour in a bird-rich backyard amidst Violet-crowned, Black-chinned, and Rufous Hummingbirds. Overnight at the Stagestop Hotel in the old west town of Patagonia. We have seen Zone-tailed Hawk soar over the courtyard as we were doing the evening checklist!

Overnight: Patagonia

We’ll begin our day at the famous Patagonia Rest Stop where Canyon Wren is possible and Thick-billed Kingbird is likely. In past years the Rest Stop has also given us several Violet-crowned Hummingbirds ON NESTS!

There will be plenty of time to explore Sonoita Creek Sanctuary for the rare Green Kingfisher, plus nesting Gray and Zone-tailed Hawks, Gila Woodpecker, and Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet. And more time with backyard feeder watching is always welcome, perhaps for Calliope Hummingbird or Painted Bunting. After looking for Western Screech-Owl and Barn Owl and maybe a Vinegaroon, we’ll settle down for a second night in Patagonia.

Overnight: Patagonia

Our first stop may be Sycamore Canyon or French Joe Canyon to look for the Rufous-capped Warblers, depending upon recent sightings. Other good birds are also possible. Much of the remainder of the day will be spent at Ramsey and Miller Canyons in the Huachuca Mountains, looking for Golden Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Coati.

A careful watch of the feeders could produce Magnificent, Blue-throated, and White-eared Hummingbirds, and perhaps as many as TEN species of hummingbirds, as on previous tours. We have seen Berylline Hummingbird in this area on many of our tours, and Plain-capped Starthroat is rare, but possible. After dinner we can search for Bendire’s Thrasher, Vermilion Flycatcher, Abert’s Towhee, and Lesser Nighthawk at the San Pedro House. Our first of three nights in Sierra Vista.

Overnight: Sierra Vista

At Fort Huachuca we’ll visit Huachuca and Garden Canyons to look for the rare Sinaloa Wren, Rufous-capped Warbler, Red-faced Warbler, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, (Mexican) Spotted Owl, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and Northern Pygmy-Owl. Huachuca Canyon has several reliable Elegant Trogons. Miller Canyon offers excellent habitat for additional highland species and soaring raptors.

The hummingbird extravaganza in Miller Canyon can be phenomenal, with lots of time to study these little gems. Nighttime owling will hopefully produce Whiskered and Western Screech-Owls and possibly Mexican Whip-poor-will or Common Poorwill.

Overnight: Sierra Vista

Our morning will take us to Miller Road and up the Canyon for highland species that could include Greater Pewee, Band-tailed Pigeon, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, (Mexican) Spotted Owl, and Northern Pygmy-Owl. We’ll have the afternoon to look for any species that may have eluded us, such as Lucifer Hummingbird. We may spend more time at Ramsey Canyon or visit an entirely new location such as the Ash Canyon bird viewing area.

Overnight: Sierra Vista

An early morning visit to the San Pedro River may yield Abert’s Towhee, Scott’s Oriole, Botteri’s Sparrow, and Great Horned Owl. We once found a Northern Waterthrush, quite unusual for this area! We’ll watch for Horned Lark and a herd of Pronghorn on the road to Rodeo, where we’ll look for Barn Owl, Scaled Quail, Greater Roadrunner, and Lark Sparrow. There is often a Lucifer Hummingbird at a local feeding station and a nice assortment of species at Dave Jasper’s and Quail Run. Overnight at Portal Peak Lodge, at the mouth of Cave Creek Canyon.

Overnight: Portal

Our goal in the morning is Bendire’s and Crissal Thrashers in the lowlands, then an after breakfast walk along South Fork Trail for Elegant Trogon, Virginia’s Warbler, and Painted Redstart. Higher in the mountains there are Mexican Chickadee, Steller’s Jay, and Olive Warbler. One year we found an exceedingly rare Northern Saw-whet Owl in a roost hole at Rustler Park.

Short-tailed Hawk has been seen here in recent years; we have had wonderful looks at a light-phase adult. After dark we’ll try for Elf Owl, Common Poorwill, Javelina, and Tarantula in our spotlight. We’ve had the good fortune to see Flammulated Owl (night) and Montezuma Quail (day) in this area on several occasions.

Overnight: Portal

Paradise Road is a good spot for Black-chinned Sparrow, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, and Juniper Titmouse. We’ll walk South Fork Trail, check some local feeders, then drive to Willcox for shorebirds, waterfowl, herons, ibis, and cormorants. Long-billed Curlew, White-faced Ibis, Cinnamon Teal, Wilson’s Phalarope, and Eared Grebe are all possible. On several occasions we’ve found as many as 50+ Black Terns.

Overnight: Tucson

Our entire day will be on Mount Lemmon, beginning in Sonoran desert habitat and working our way 25 miles up into the Canadian life zone. Desert species may include Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, and Cactus Wren, while the higher altitudes may yield a few warblers such as Red-faced, plus Mountain Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, and Townsend’s Solitaire. After our dinner we’ll return to Tucson for our final night of the tour.

Overnight: Tucson

We’ll spend the morning visiting several Tucson wetlands and sewage ponds, including the Sweetwater Wetlands Area. Common species include American Coot and Common Gallinule, and with any luck we may find a Sora, Peregrine Falcon, or Harris’s Hawk, and even a rarity like Least Grebe, or a Purple Gallinule that we found there on TWO occasions. There should be some nice additions to our duck and shorebird lists.

We’ll return to Tucson Airport by noon for anyone that is homeward bound, then begin our Post-Tour Extension for more great Southeast Arizona birding. See the separate itinerary for the extension.

YES! – This tour will depart Tucson at noon. One of our first targets is only a few minutes from from the airport.

Most participants choose to arrive in Tucson one day prior to the beginning of the tour. This helps to eliminate any possible conflict with a delayed or cancelled flight. This night is not included in the tour fee. Please consult about the full details of this arrangement when you begin the tour registration process.

Check the weather for the destination as close to your departure date as possible, and dress accordingly for your comfort level. You can also review our What to Bring page for more information.

There are many items the will be useful to you while on a Bird Treks tour. We have put together our list of recommendations on the What to Bring page.

Our tours are all conducted in English, but we do have some experience working with client that don’t speak English well – Some English would be needed for safety reasons. In locations where another language is predominately spoken, a native guide may accompany the tour.

Yes, we will always try our best to help with anything at all! We’re here to serve you. However, it is usually easier if you book your flight through your own travel agent as we can’t always get the best deals from your particular country. But we will help whenever needed!

While Day 1 is usually a travel (arrival) day, and the last day of the tour is usually also a travel day (departure), many people do like to arrive early and/or leave late. We can indeed book extra nights before and after the trip, and we in fact recommend you let us book them, as it avoids confusion and allows us to book the accommodation that is most convenient for the tour.

NOTE: Most often it is the same hotel or lodge that you use on the first night of the tour, but in some instances, it could be an airport hotel or an accommodation establishment where the guide is staying.

No, we do not. We find that it is better for trip participants to purchase their own medical, trip cancellation, and baggage insurance through their own insurance provider in the country they reside in. We expect all tour participants to have comprehensive insurance, and we encourage everyone to send us a copy of their insurance documents.

For most tours, meals are included in the tour price. This may include a hotel-provided breakfast, or guide-provided box lunches. For dinners, we strive to find interesting and delicious local restaurants – this allows us to give back to the local economy, and find exciting new place to eat.

You may participate in the 5-day extension with the regular 12-day tour, or take either tour separately. Simply tell us your preference: 5 days, 12 days, or the full 17 days.