Arizona

Yellow-eyed Junco - Rose Canyon Lake, AZ There are several types of Dark-eyed Junco's but there are only a very small amount of the yellow-eyed flavor. The first of the yellow-eyes are found in Mexico mostly with birds as far north as Tucson and as far south as Guatemala. The Bairds Junco is found on the tip of the Baja California, and the Volcano Junco is in Costa Rica. This particular bird had four young in tow and was frantically looking for food to keep all of the birds fed as it raced around the rocks checking every crevice. The bird and the babies were found on the shoreline of Rose Canyon Lake in the foothills of Mount Lemmon, Arizona. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Yellow-eyed Junco - Rose Canyon Lake, AZ
Red-tailed Hawk - Mt Lemmon, AZ One of the most common and varied hawks in North America. This particular bird was as close as you can get to the top of Mount Lemmon just north east of Tucson. Sometimes I have issues putting a name to some hawks, but there is definitely no mistaking this adult with that rusty red tail. Juveniles don't see red tail feathers until their second year. The first member of this species was seen by westerners in 1781 Jamaica and now sport the country in their scientific name, Buteo Jamaicensis. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Red-tailed Hawk - Mt Lemmon, AZ
Grace's Warbler - Mt Lemmon, AZ A warbler of the pine forests of Southern North America right on down to the Nicaraguan northern mountains. Along Bear Creek Picnic area, there were several great species of song birds making their way through the pine forest. These birds included Painted Redstart, Hermit and Wilson's warblers, Yellow-eyed Junco, and several species of vireo. This world above the desert would shock most people to find the lush forests and mountain streams so close to one of the driest deserts in North America. Mt. Lemmon has so much to offer including a reprieve from the heat. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Grace's Warbler - Mt Lemmon, AZ
Painted Redstart - Mt Lemmon, AZ Tucson has several birds that breed in the summer which are found in only a handful of places in the US. The Painted Redstarts are found in the pine forests of the somewhat mountainous areas of Mexico and the extreme south of Arizona,. They are very easily told by the deep red chest and stomach as well as the bright white tail and one sided white eyeliner. This was at Middle Bear Campground on the way up the hill to the top of Mt Lemmon. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Painted Redstart - Mt Lemmon, AZ
Acorn Woodpecker - Mt. Lemmon, AZ On the way up Mt. Lemmon outside of Tucson, there are a couple of campgrounds that are great for birding. As you head up the mountain, you find different habitats with different birds at different elevations. At Middle Bear Picnic Area we found a family of Acorn Woodpeckers calling in their loud raspy calls as they do. In this particular spot they were spending time around an old stump with berries that had fallen into the cracks. These birds are known for storing their acorns in trees called granaries which look like they are poka-doted from the tops of the acorns seen here.
Acorn Woodpecker - Mt. Lemmon, AZ
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Black-tailed Gnatcatcher - Scottsdale
In pond #6 of the Riparian Reserve at Water Ranch, I came across two of the small cormorants fishing bobbing up and down in the shallow water. Finally the bird hauled out on the edge and fluttered their wings to dry up in the sun. Further into the park I came across a group of no less than 60 birds in one of the other ponds.
Neotropic Cormorant - Gilbert
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Anna's Hummingbird - Veteran's Oasis Park, AZ
Solitary Sandpiper - Sweetwater Wetlands, AZ Solitary sandpiper picking through the stream at the front entrance to Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson in Dec. This guy made the rare bird list while I was visiting as he was a little out of his range at the time. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Solitary Sandpiper - Sweetwater Wetlands, AZ
Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco - Santa Rita Lodge, AZ We have two flavors of Junco where I am from, the Slate-colored and Oregon. In Arizona there are a whole bunch more, including the other species called a Yellow-eyed Junco. This Gray-headed version of the Dark-eyed Junco is the closest you can come to the Yellow-eye species. It is almost identical in every way except, you guessed it, having yellow eyes. Here is a great article that talks about the different species and their ranges. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Gray-headed Dark-eyed Junco - Santa Rita Lodge, AZ
Mexican Jay - Santa Rita Lodge, AZ Mexican Jay's are communal like the Pinyon Jays of the mountains. They travel in large groups. This bird was part of one such group taking advantage of the generosity of the Santa Rita Lodge in Madera Canyon. This location is one of the premiere stops in North America with many birds that are found in the cloud mountains of southern Arizona and no where else in the United States. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mexican Jay - Santa Rita Lodge, AZ
Verdin - Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ Poking through the crevices of this mesquite tree I ran into this desert dweller called a Verdin. They are quite colorful and are fascinating to watch. He was found in the back section of the Gilbert Water Ranch. Michael W Klotz 2012 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Verdin - Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ
Pyrrhuloxia - De Anza Trail, AZ This fantastic little bird seemed to be comfortable enough with my presence while I took some shots. He was on the the Anza Trail in Tubac, Arizona. This particular fellow brought my life list to 289. Pyrrhuloxias are sometimes call Desert cardinals with good reason. One of the tell tale signs to look for is the beak looking all shrunken and bent. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Pyrrhuloxia - De Anza Trail, AZ
Inca Dove - Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ Found this dove in a group of 5 birds along the water at Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch in a suburb of Phoenix, AZ. They were relatively at ease even at a short distance. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Inca Dove - Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ