Flutter & Chirp: Birding in Arizona

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Hundreds of bird species soar throughout Arizona. Thanks to the state’s diverse habitats, ideal temperatures and status as a migration hotspot – visitors flock to Arizona to see a diverse array of birds up close. With binoculars in hand, visitors can explore these birding paradises across the state and see how many species they can spot.

 

Southern Arizona 

Sierra Vista

Catch sight of hummingbirds fluttering around Sierra Vista, the hummingbird capital in the U.S., where 15 different species of hummingbirds migrate annually from April to September. Explore the Ramsey Canyon Preserve, a birder’s paradise thanks to its unique ecology, to observe blue-throated hummingbirds and dusky-capped flycatcher, just to name a few. Witness 100 breeding bird species and 250 migrating bird species at San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, where more than half of the known breeding bird species in the U.S. have been spotted including grey hawks and yellow-billed cuckoo.

 

Willcox

Bird watchers flock to Willcox every year to welcome the 20,000 sandhill cranes that migrate to the Willcox Playa from October through February. Meet thousands of fellow bird lovers at the Wings Over Willcox Birding & Nature Festival, a weekend-long bird festival held every January. The festival offers bird watching tours to see skulking sparrows, hawks, woodpeckers and sandhill cranes in between attending various seminars and exploring the nature expo. While in town, hike the Chiricahua National Monument, one of the top five birding destinations in the U.S., and home to over 200 bird species including the elegant trogon and red-face warbler.

 

Yuma

Catch sight of roadrunners, great blue herons and white-winged doves in Yuma, a town adjacent to three national wildlife refuges offering a combined 1,000 square-miles to explore. Their ecosystems range from desert to grassland to forest, allowing many different species of birds to thrive here. Visit Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, a riparian habitat on the Colorado River that has more than 288 species of birds, before exploring Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to see quails, woodpeckers, cactus wrens, red-tailed hawks and many more. Stop by the observation tower at the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge to see great egrets, cinnamon teals and bighorn sheep. Visit Yuma during the spring, especially in April, or in the winter to experience exceptional bird sightings.

 

Central Arizona

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch

While enjoying metro-Phoenix attractions, jaunt on over to hear birds chirping at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, a 110-acre wetland area within the city where migratory birds make a pitstop here on their journey south.Enjoy the new, two-hour-long Desert Rivers Audubon Society Guided Tours, designed to help participants see and identify the various birds along the seven interconnected ponds, including curve-billed thrashers and the state bird – the cactus wren. On the tour, learn about the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to discover how this cutting-edge technology monitors and provides data on birds’ migration routes to the preserve, such as roseate spoonbill and little bittern.

 

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Named an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior offers exceptional bird sightings of around 275 species, 62 of which have special conservation status in Arizona. Home to more than 10,000 desert plants, explore the arboretum’s diverse landscapes, including a riparian habitat where visitors can spot hunched Costa hummingbirds and a woodland area where sparrows perch. With binoculars in hand, newbies can learn tips on bird watching by joining the guided bird walks offered October through May. Visit in the spring or fall to catch sight of diverse migratory birds.

 

Lower Salt River

Kayaking the Lower Salt River in Mesa is a thrilling bird-watching adventure to embark on during the summer, from May to August. Paddling down the river, keep an eye out for great blue herons, snowy egrets, and the lucky ones might spot a bald eagle. Be sure to hit the river in the early morning as the sun rises to beat the crowds and heat. Enjoy spotting various birds and get a glimpse of the famous wild Salt River mustangs and sea otters that live alongside the river.

 

Northern Arizona

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Watching the rare California condor take flight is the one-of-a-kind experience that bird enthusiasts crave. With wingspans of nearly 10 feet, they are the largest and rarest bird in North America. Watch as they soar freely in the wild around the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, near Page and the Grand Canyon, a huge feat for the endangered species. With only several hundred left in existence, Northern Arizona is one of the few places they were re-introduced into the wild. Watch them fly over the Colorado River while also spotting Southwestern willow flycatchers and Mexican spotted owls.

 

Flagstaff

Just like travellers, birds enjoy the ideal temperatures of Flagstaff’s spring and summer, making the city a hot spot for birdwatching. Soak in views of the San Francisco Peaks and rare birds at Kachina Wetlands Preserve where 247 species have been spotted including least bittern and short-billed dowitcher. Riding the gondola at Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort in the summer is a relaxing way to see red-faced warblers, woodpeckers and robins. Unwind at Buffalo Park to see grassland birds during the day before stargazing at dusk.

 

Watson Woods Riparian Preserve

A short drive from downtown Prescott, this 126-acre riparian is home to towering cottonwoods, willows and wildlife. At Watson Woods Riparian Preserve, watch migrant shorebirds in the winter such as stately bald eagles and osprey and return in the summer to observe breeding birds like yellow warblers and wood duck. Thanks to the City of Prescott protecting and restoring the preserve for the past few decades, it is now a thriving habitat for acorn woodpeckers, pygmy nuthatches and green-backed heron.

 

Arizona offers several events that celebrate its local avifauna.

 

Events

  • Verde Canyon Railroad Raptors and Reptiles at the Depot – Before riding off into the Verde Canyon in Clarkdale, meet and learn about raptors at the train’s pavilion on special dates throughout the year.

  • Southwest Wings Birding Festival – The oldest birding festival in the state, consistently voted one of the top five birding festivals in the country. Held in Sierra Vista, there are two events, the Spring Fling, held in May, and the Summer Festival, held in August, for birders to enjoy.

  • Sedona Hummingbird Festival – Held annually in July, visitors can participate in this free three-day festival that has hummingbird viewings and a hummingbird marketplace to explore. Buy tickets to join hummingbird tours, banding demonstrations and speaker presentations.

  • Southeast Arizona Birding Festival – Held every August in Tucson, embark on expert-guided birding field trips, attend presentations and join bird ID workshops.

  • Verde Valley Nature & Birding Festival – Held in April in Cottonwood, it offers special activities for children in addition to the field trips, guided tours, workshops & seminars, exhibits, vendors and entertainment.

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