Seasonal Opportunities

Anna's Hummingbird

January

Mountain Plovers, Mountain Bluebirds, Sandhill Cranes, wintering ducks and raptors, including Ferruginous Hawks, White-tailed Kites, and Crested Caracaras.
Some years Fremont thornbush may be in bloom in low desert areas.

February

Same as above. Also Bendire’s and Crissal Thrashers may be singing, and wintering Sage Thrashers may still be around.
Good time to check out a wide variety of sparrows, including Sage, Lincoln’s, Rufous-winged, Black-chinned, Brewer’s, etc.

March

First desert wildflowers towards the end of the month, including both yellow and white evening primrose, desert globe-mallow, brittlebush, lupine, desert marigolds, and Mexican poppy.
First spring arrivals—Elf Owl, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet, among others.

April

Migration is in full swing—warblers, tanagers, orioles, vireos, and flycatchers.
A good time to catch MacGillivray’s, Virginia, Townsend’s, and Hermit Warblers, as well as Lazuli Buntings.
The Vermilion Flycatcher population expands.
Gray Hawks and Zone-tailed Hawks arrive and migrating Northern Goshawks may be seen.
Some kinds of cholla and prickly pear cactus are in bloom, as well as owl clover and desert zinnia,

May

Many summer warblers are back—Red-faced, Grace’s, Black-throated, Gray, Olive, and Painted Redstart.
Good time to check out southeastern Arizona favorites, such as Thick-billed Kingbird, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Common Black-Hawk, Elegant Trogon, and sometimes Flame-colored Tanager.
In the desert, saguaro cactus, palo verde, and ironwood are at their best. Many mountain wildflowers are in bloom, including New Mexico locust, Canada violet, penstemon, yellow columbine, and monkey flower

June

The hottest, driest month but early morning birding in riparian areas might bring Willow Flycatcher or Yellow-billed Cuckoo as well as nesting Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, and Hooded and Bullock’s Orioles, and higher up Scott’s Orioles.
Escaping to higher elevations will reward you with Mountain Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red Crossbill, and in some sycamore canyons, Sulphur-bellied and Buff-breasted Flycatchers.

July

The monsoon season, which brings heavy rains, also brings singing Varied Buntings and Cassin’s, Rufous-winged, and Botteri’s Sparrows.
You may also hear the wailing of Couch’s Spadefoot, related to toads and frogs.
The first shorebirds heading south begin arriving later in the month.
The rains bring an entirely new flower show with desert senna, Arizona poppy, devil’s claw, among many others.

August

Hummingbird migration is in full swing, and it may be possible to find nesting Berylline’s Hummingbirds in a couple of places.
Some years wandering juvenile Brown Pelicans can be seen in small lakes and ponds.
More monsoon flowers including four-o’clock, morning glory (at least three kinds),

September

Fall warbler migration, mixed with lingering residents, can make for a good birding day.
Highpoint of Swainson’s Hawk migration, which is best observed in agricultural areas.
Turpentine bush, fairy duster, and barrel cactus bring rich colors to desert and upland areas.

October

Weather cooler but still lots of kinds of butterflies around.
The first wintering raptors arrive, and a good time to try to find wandering warblers from the East.
Often, big groups of White-faced Ibis and Long-billed Curlews are a treat. Look for Green-backed Towhees, some of which will stay for the winter.
Asters and other flowers still in bloom

November

Many years Lawrence’s Goldfinches and Lewis’s Woodpeckers are possible winter visitors. Sometimes also Rufous-backed Robin and Varied Thrush.
Still a lot of butterflies can be seen and desert broom is at its peak.
And, of course, all the year-round residents, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Verdin, Abert’s Towhee, etc.

December

Some mountain birds come down to lower elevations, especially if there is a lot of snowfall —American Robins, Hermit Thrushes, Western Bluebirds, possible jays, woodpeckers, tits, and chickadees.
Golden Eagles may be seen easier at lower elevations.

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