Spring Bird Watching in the Tucson Area

By Matt Griffiths

Arizona Woodpecker is one of seven woodpecker species you can find on a day trip up Mt. Lemmon, Mick Thompson

May is a great month to find birds in Southeast Arizona. It’s an overlap time of year when migrating songbirds and shorebirds can still be found as they head north, and most of our breeding species have returned for the summer. And some of these breeding species are considered “specialty birds” for the region, as they are colorful, unique, and found nowhere else in the US!

The high diversity of birds in Southeast Arizona is a direct result of the diversity of habitats, and this in turn adds to the fun of the spring season. Right in Tucson, you can look for birds amongst the giant saguaros of the Sonoran Desert valleys, cottonwood riparian forests, oak woodlands and grasslands, and pine/fir forests—all in the same day!

The birding and nature photography options are endless. Here are some of Tucson Audubon’s favorite spots to try:

Mt. Lemmon

The Santa Catalina Mountains are affectionately known as Mt. Lemmon, its highest peak at 9,171 ft. Exploring the Catalina Highway of Tucson’s very own “Sky Island” makes for an epic day of bird watching and scenic vista gazing. Nowhere else can you drive “from Mexico to Canada” in one hour and see this incredible diversity of bird life. (As a fun example, keep track of the woodpeckers listed here!) Starting down in the desert, you’re surrounded by Cactus Wrens, Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Gila Woodpeckers, Gilded Flickers, Rufous-winged Sparrows, and Lucy’s Warblers. Leaving the cactus behind, you’ll head into grassland with mixed mesquite and oaks and find Phainopeplas, Scott’s and Hooded Orioles, Blue Grosbeaks, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, and Acorn Woodpeckers. Next in the thicker forest of oak and pine, you may come across Plumbeous Vireo, Bridled Titmouse, Spotted Towhee, Arizona Woodpecker, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, and Mexican Jay.

Before going up the mountain even further, be sure to make a stop at Windy Point to admire the view of the valley below and the rocky outcroppings called hoodoos. Next you’re up in the deep forests of pine and Douglas fir, and you may be reminded of being in Canada. Some of the birds will be the same too! The raucous cries of Steller’s Jays fill the treetops, the haunting song of Hermit Thrushes and the friendly calls of Mountain Chickadees envelop you. But, this is Southeast Arizona, so keep an eye and ear out for specialty birds such as Red-faced, Olive, and Grace’s Warblers, Yellow-eyed Juncos, or a rare Short-tailed Hawk. And if you’re keeping score in the woodpecker game, yes, there are Hairy Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers at the top of Mt. Lemmon. Seven woodpeckers on this trip! This is a full day—enjoy a meal in Summerhaven, and if you start down the mountain at dusk or in the dark there are many owls you could pick up! No doubt a story for another time.

If you’re lucky, you can spot a Green Heron lurking in the reeds at Sweetwater Wetlands, Hemant Kishan

Sweetwater Wetlands

If you’re pressed for time and only have a morning to spend looking for birds, Sweetwater Wetlands is always a good bet. Located right in Tucson with easy freeway access, the wetlands are an oasis of human-made riparian habitat. Wander under the shade-giving cottonwood and willow trees to look for waterfowl amongst the reeds. Lingering ducks, Marsh Wrens, Common Yellow-throats, Green Herons, Brown-crested Flycatchers, and Abert’s Towhees are just a few of the water-loving species to be found. Rarer birds such as Tropical Kingbird, Mexican Duck, American Bittern, and Gray Hawk sometimes show up. Check the tops of the tallest trees for regular desert riparian birds like Summer Tanager, Bullock’s Oriole, Yellow Warbler, other late migrating warblers, and maybe even a Thick-billed Kingbird if you’re lucky!

Tucson Audubon has led Wednesday morning bird walks at Sweetwater for many years. Sign up for one of these and let us show you the birds! See tucsonaudubon.org/field-trips for the latest.

Birders come from across the country to get their “lifer” Elegant Trogon in the cool forests of Madera Canyon, Shawn Cooper

Madera Canyon

A great way to spend a long morning is to travel down to the bird-world-famous Madera Canyon and give yourself a chance of seeing the amazing Elegant Trogon. This group of long-tailed and colorfully striking birds ranges down into the tropics, and this specific species is the only one that breeds in the US, and only in Southeast Arizona at that! Birders come from across the country to get their “lifer” Elegant Trogon in the Sky Island mountain ranges of our region, and Madera Canyon is probably the most well-known location to do that. May is the best time to hear the loud barking trogon calls echoing in the canyons amongst the oaks and sycamore trees the bird favors for nest cavities. This is also the time when Tucson Audubon stages the annual trogon survey to monitor the population of this beloved bird. Learn more at aziba.org.

While hiking to find a trogon may take some effort, a stop at the Santa Rita Lodge is a relaxing and rewarding experience where the birds come to you! The array of feeders is vast and varied, resulting in a riot of bird species from Arizona Woodpeckers to the flock of Wild Turkeys that regularly stops by. The hummingbirds are the stars of the show, and from the benches you can get great looks at Rivoli’s, Broad-billed, Broad-tailed, Black-chinned, and Anna’s Hummingbirds, and in recent years a very rare Berylline Hummingbird has shown up. This is also an easy spot to see specialty birds such as Hepatic Tanager, Scott’s Oriole, Painted Redstart, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and Varied Bunting.

Farther Afield

If you really have time to explore, the region has many more birding hotspots that are worth your effort. The San Pedro River is a world-renowned migration corridor that attracts millions of birds and is a Riparian National Conservation Area. The eastern canyons of the Huachuca Mountains are wild and feeder station experiences where you can find rare birds such as Lucifer and White-eared Hummingbirds. And finally, the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, owned and run by Tucson Audubon, is a showcase for habitat restoration and is also the easiest place in the US to see the Violet-crowned Hummingbird.

Learn more about the exciting birds of Southeast Arizona at tucsonaudubon.org.

Matt Griffiths is Communications Coordinator for Tucson Audubon.