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.

Plan your visit now

Local Birding Guides for Hire

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.