Arizona in Winter

• Winter birding in a North American hotspot for a diverse array of migrants, residents, and rarities.
• Diverse and stunning landscapes from saguaro cactus desert to high mountains.

Tour Overview

Winter in Arizona is full of delightful birding opportunities! Many species of waterfowl, raptors, sparrows and flycatchers migrate into southeastern Arizona, including birds like Sandhill Cranes, Ferruginous Hawks, Mountain Plovers and Lark Buntings.

Huge flocks of wintering White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and juncos contain multitudes of rarer species like Rufous-winged Sparrow, Sagebrush Sparrow and Baird’s Sparrow. Depending on berry crops, some years mixed flocks of all three Bluebirds, Townsend’s Solitaires and Phainopelas roam the oak-coated hills.

Also present are year round species that are Arizona specialties like Olive Warbler, Bridled Titmouse, Crissal Thrashers, Montezuma Quail and living jewels like Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Blue-throated Mountain-Gem, Painted Redstarts and Vermilion Flycatchers. And in most winters, a few Elegant Trogons will overwinter in the lower reaches of canyons.

A cohort of Mexican vagrants are more easily found in the winter than summer months like Rufous-backed Robin and Ruddy Ground-Dove. Black-capped Gnatcatchers and Rose-throated Becard have morphed into low density year round residents and exciting strays to the area in the last few winters include Northern Jacana and Streak-backed Oriole.

Day-time temperatures are very pleasant and dry. Occasional cold snaps do occur and the evening temperatures can dip below freezing but heat up by mid-morning. The tour is a relaxed pace with some light to moderate elevation walking through some incredibly scenic mountain canyons.