
Visiting Southeast Arizona
Your first birding visit
Be sure to check out the guidebooks in our Online Nature Shop— a great way to gear up for birding in Arizona! And definitely pick up a copy of Finding Birds in Southeastern Arizona (2015, Revised 8th Edition), the ultimate birding guide to southeast Arizona.
If you are coming to southeast Arizona for the first time, it is helpful to become acquainted with the common birds and habitats. You could begin in the Tucson area palo verde/saguaro desertscrub where the typical species include Gambel’s Quail, Greater Roadrunner, Gila Woodpecker, Gilded Flicker, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Curve-billed Thrasher, Pyrrhuloxia, Canyon Towhee and in summer, White-winged Dove and Black-chinned Hummingbird, or in winter White-crowned Sparrow and Anna’s Hummingbird. Agua Caliente Park, Catalina State Park, Tucson Mountain Park, the two units of Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon are good examples of desertscrub near Tucson. To see water birds and shorebirds, the ponds at Sweetwater Wetlands and Arthur Pack Park are good from fall through spring.
Local Birding Guides for Hire
If you are looking to hire a local birding guide, you have come to the right place! As a service to the birding community, Tucson Audubon refers local guides who we know to be knowledgeable and reputable. These local guides and guide companies support Tucson Audubon as partners in our efforts to serve the community through environmental conservation, education, and recreational programs.
If you’re looking for accommodations or other services, please visit our Birds Benefit Business Alliance Members list.
Adventure Birding Company | adventurebirding.com info@adventurebirding.com 520-495-0229 |
Specializing in flexible, personalized guiding in SE Arizona |
Gavin Bieber, WINGS | Kingbird77@hotmail.com | Southeast Arizona and beyond |
Ken Blankenship, East West Birding Tours |
kenblankenshipbirding@gmail.com eastwestbirdingtours.com |
Bird Guiding and Tours in SE Arizona, LRGV Texas, and the Southeastern U.S. |
Richard Fray, Fun Birding Tours | richard@funbirdingtours.com 888-855-6446 https://arizonabirder.com/ |
Professional guide based in Rio Rico, covering all SE AZ |
Felipe Guerrero, Arizona Birding Tours | felipe@arizonabirdingtours.com arizonabirdingtours.com 571-215-7948 |
Felipe specializes in covering the entire state – Southeastern, Central, and Northern Arizona |
Laurens Halsey, Desert Harrier Birding and Nature Guide Services | desert-harrier@cox.net 520-237-1284 desertharrier.com |
Personal and custom Birdwatching Guide Services throughout Southeast Arizona |
Melody Kehl, Melody’s Birding | melodysbirding.com melodysbirding@cox.net |
Individualized tours designed to meet your specific needs and wish list, covering all Southeast Arizona |
Jake Mohlmann, WINGS and Adventure Birding Company | jake@adventurebirding.com | |
Vincent Pinto, Ravens Way Wild Journeys | ravensnatureschool.org ravensnatureschool@gmail.com |
Birder, Naturalist, Ethnobotanist, Wildlife Biologist, and Wilderness Survival Instructor. Personalized birding experiences. |
Brad Sulentic, AZ Spark Birding | azsparkbirding.com | Specializes in Upper San Pedro River Valley, including the east side of the Huachuca Mountains. |
John Yerger, Adventure Birding Company | john@adventurebirding.com | Based in Portal, AZ. Tours throughout southwestern Arizona |
Scott Wilbor, Nature InSight |
natureinsight-explore.com |
All levels of experience. Half and full-day birding and nature adventures within 2 hours of Tucson. |
WINGS Birding Tours | wings@wingsbirds.com 520-320-9868 www.wingsbirds.com |
Small group and private tours for birders of all levels. |
These referrals are not vetted by Tucson Audubon with regard to permitting or insurance. Tucson Audubon takes no responsibility for the guided trip that is chosen. When hiring a local birding guide, check that they have the required materials in place to operate on public lands managed by the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, or other agencies (permits, liability insurance, etc.). You may also want to ask the guide to provide you with references. Some guides may use recorded bird calls; please check with your guide in advance if this is a concern to you.
Important resources to help you plan a trip to southeast Arizona:
- Check out our online Tucson Birding Trail Map. Find info on 45 birding locations in and around Tucson, separated by habitat type! Pick up a FREE printed copy at our Nature Shops.
- Look for an upcoming free Tucson Audubon field trip
- Check the Southeast Arizona Rare Bird Alert
- Accessible Tucson birding locations
- Explore Tucson area birding month by month
- Learn tips for safe desert birding
Tucson Audubon's Paton Center for Hummingbirds
The Paton Center for Hummingbirds is a place to explore and experience the special birds of southeast Arizona. It is dedicated to the celebration and conservation of hummingbirds—and all of southeast Arizona’s astounding biodiversity—through recreation, education, and sustainable living.
Sweetwater Wetlands
Sweetwater Wetlands is a gem of urban bird and wildlife activity right in urban Tucson. 306 bird species have been documented here. Join our weekly bird walks on Wednesdays and see what you can find!
Tucson Audubon Society
300 E University Blvd. #120 Tucson, AZ 85705
Mason Center
3835 W Hardy Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85742
Paton Center for Hummingbirds
477 Pennsylvania Ave.
Patagonia, AZ 85624
520 415-6447
RARE BIRD ALERT
FIELD TRIPS
JOIN
DONATE
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520 629-0510
CONTACT US
Tucson Audubon Society
300 E University Blvd. #120
Tucson, AZ 85705
Mason Center
3835 W Hardy Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85742
Paton Center for Hummingbirds
477 Pennsylvania Ave.
Patagonia, AZ 85624
520 415-6447
RARE BIRD ALERT
FIELD TRIPS
JOIN
DONATE
e-News sign up
520 629-0510
CONTACT US
Tucson Audubon Society
300 E University Blvd. #120
Tucson, AZ 85705
Mason Center
3835 W Hardy Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85742
Paton Center for Hummingbirds
477 Pennsylvania Ave.
Patagonia, AZ 85624
520 415-6447
RARE BIRD ALERT
FIELD TRIPS
JOIN
DONATE
e-News sign up
520 629-0510
CONTACT US