10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2020

North America is home to many amazing bird species, including several which require a special effort to see and appreciate. Southeast Arizona Sky Island Spring Sampler. So let’s look at this sampler, shall we? Want to see an Elegant Trogon on a Naturalist Journeys tour?:

America 264

America Arizona North America Texas 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2019

When we first landed here in Tucson, Arizona, fate worked her magic, and one of the first people I met was Luke Safford. Luke is a coordinator with the Tucson Audubon Society, and was incredibly helpful with getting my feet on the ground, as far as South East Arizona Birding. Open to the public seven days a week, with about 1.75

Tucson 115

Tucson Arizona Sanctuary Virginia 115

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

I know humans as a whole are a powerful species, but really, we do not have that much control over hummingbird migration ( Trumpeter Swans , maybe, but not hummingbirds). Some of the unusual species we’ve documented here in Minnesota in the fall include Magnificent Hummingbird (above), Costa’s Hummingbird and Green Violetear.

Arizona 252

Arizona Minnesota Compassion Welfare 252

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2019

Of course, the California Condor is listed as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and it has been famously subject to some of the most ambitious conservation efforts (including litigation ) ever undertaken for a bird. One management tool used by FWS is reintroduction of an endangered species into its former range.

California Condor 246

California Condor California Endangered Species Oregon 246

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

It’s a well-known fact that southeast Arizona in summer is awesome. My first birding trip ever was to Arizona. This was a wonderful re-introduction to the desert species I was seeking. It was time to drive south and up, to the Sky Islands of southeast Arizona. At least for birders.

Arizona 107

Arizona Lovebirds Phoenix New Jersey 107

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2021

As of mid-November 2021, the Collaborative had submitted more than 4,200 checklists (up from 1,700 in 2018) and has observed 691 species in the United States (up from 618). Thus, there are now seven states with 200+ observed species. The state with the largest increase was Arizona , with 139 species added.

West Virginia 238

West Virginia United States Puerto Rico Minnesota 238

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2013

I had the pleasure of paying this national park a visit on a trip to Arizona in late May, and I was immediately struck by how important this species of plant is to this ecosystem. Thriving in a hostile, rocky, arid environment, these cacti are oases for nearly all vertebrate species that have evolved to live in the Sonoran Desert.

Arizona 169

Arizona Tucson Miami Shelters 169

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2020

Yes, it’s the same species that so many North American birders have looked for around the San Pedro River (myself included) and like those Arizona birds, our urban Gray Hawks likewise use riparian zones. In Costa Rica, the urban raptor can take more than one form but usually, the local avian top predator is a Gray Hawk.

Costa Rica 332

Costa Rica Mice Arizona Squirrels 332

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Many Nearctic species and families reach their southern terminus in the Northern Central American Highlands, such as Common Raven , Red Crossbill , Steller’s Jay , and even Brown Creeper. Alex also masterfully worked another tricky species into view for us during that first afternoon, Ruddy Crake (a close relative of the Black Rail ).

Honduras 244

Honduras El Salvador Costa Rica Arizona 244

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2021

In Costa Rica, with around 50 hummingbird species on the list, we have our fair share of minute feathered stars. I feel fortunate to see one or more of this species on a daily basis. Being smaller than the other species, it seems to sneak in and out of their territories. Cinnamon Hummingbird. Plain-capped Starthroat.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica South America Arizona Species 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2019

Now that Jeanne and I have finally settled on Tucson, Arizona at least for a while, I will pick up where I left off at the end of 2018. Arizona, specifically the South East portion of the state, will be my “beat” for the rest of this year. This area has no less than 17 eBird hotspots recorded, many of which boast nearly 200 species.

Arizona 162

Arizona Tucson Florida 2018 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2014

There’s a new proposal before the American Ornithologists’ Union’s North American Classification Committee to split Painted Bunting into two species (yay! — maybe, more later) and to name the new species “Eastern Painted Bunting” and “Western Painted Bunting” (no!).

Mississippi 277

Mississippi Mexico Alabama North Carolina 277

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2022

So here are some numbers: As I write this, on March 24th, my 2022 list includes 239 species, all from within the state of Michoacán. The latest species I picked up is the Spotted Wren , a rather common endemic here that I had somehow managed to not see, until three turned up in my garden this morning.

Mexico 225

Mexico Arizona Horses Texas 225

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

These arid hills, cloaked in a mosaic of deciduous scrub and desert vegetation, form a northern outpost for several Neotropical species while also harboring several key endemics and southwestern Nearctic species. Think Arizona meets Costa Rica with a Mexican twist.

Mexico 221

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Bats 221

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Most birders that have spent any amount of time chasing down our fine feathered friends have learned that most cities waste treatment facilities are incredible magnets for many species of birds. One of the small cities south of Tucson Arizona, Amado, has a very small pond, right along highway 19, also known as the Nogales Highway.

Pelicans 175

Pelicans Tucson Arizona Groups 175

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2012

Common species like Lesser Goldinch , White-winged Dove , and Verdin quickly gave way to more rarified fare. The attraction of Southeastern Arizona in summer stems from the presence of certain highly range-restricted species. Where else can you see something like that?!

Tucson 154

Tucson Arizona North America Zebras 154

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

It’s not like when a birder is visiting Arizona and hoping for “the trogon” (aka Elegant Trogon ) because when a birder walks in Costa Rica, there are nine of these eye-catching beauties to look for. Like several other species, this fancy one evolved to live in the humid forests of southern Costa Rica and adjacent Panama.

Costa Rica 248

Costa Rica Panama Arizona Protection 248

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2013

After nearly a week of traveling through Arizona’s very dry southeastern corner, I decided to make a detour to Flagstaff for a change of pace, a change of scenery, and a chance at seeing an assortment of birds more typical of the Great Basin than the Sierra Madre of Mexico. Truly, a must see species in North America.

Arizona 141

Arizona Woodpeckers Phoenix Birds 141

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

We might have limited space but we make up for it with a massive amount of biodiversity including well over 900 bird species on the official Costa Rica bird list. It was something that truly caught me by surprise, a bird usually heard or seen in Mexico or certain, out of the way gulches in Arizona.

Costa Rica 243

Costa Rica Latvia Albatross Netherlands 243

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

When you think of Southeast Arizona Birding, and the unique birds that can be found there, it conjures thoughts of roadrunners, hummingbirds, trogons, and the many other desert residents. We are right in the middle of the fall migration, so new and unusual species is not without some expectations. Here is our Purple Gallinule!

Tucson 160

Tucson Arizona Florida Rights 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2013

Hybrids between separate species are rare. But they do spark an interesting and somewhat controversial debate that inevitably leads back to the same old question of what constitutes a species. Suspected hybrids between heron species, whilst extremely rare, have been documented for some time.

Arizona 189

Arizona Florida Cattle California 189

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

In fact, the overwhelming majority of federal land is in just 11 western states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming). BLM land is particularly important for conservation of the Greater Sage-Grouse and other sageland species.

Virgin Islands 249

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Nevada 249

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2019

In a check of the eBird hotspot list for Santa Rita Lodge, it shows a life list there of 170 species, and approaching 13,000 check lists submitted. Most days you will get a good look at the Arizona Woodpecker. There is a variety of seed feeders, suet and peanut butter blocks, and most importantly, over a dozen hummingbird feeders.

Arizona 163

Arizona Turkey Woodpeckers Sparrows 163

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2018

Just about anywhere a birder ventures, the miniscule members of the latter family can be seen, and in most tropical locales, it’s not just one species. Unlike much of the eastern United States, a dozen or even two dozen species of hummingbirds can be present in habitats south of of the Tropic of Cancer. The female.

Costa Rica 233

Costa Rica Nicaragua Panama Honduras 233

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

In all of North America, only one avian species serves as both the beloved mascot of seven states as well as the totem to two professional sports teams (and an infinity of amateur ones!) The Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League, on the other hand, are not nearly as successful. The Perfectos.

St. Louis 200

St. Louis United States Belize Guatemala 200

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2013

“Out West” to most Floridians might mean California or Arizona or might even refer to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Nearly every species of heron and egret in North America forage only feet away, some of them in their dazzling breeding displays. And this is where magic happens from time to time.

Factory 246

Factory North America Alligators Trafficking 246

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2018

This is a water reclamation plant, so the water is not quite as sweet as the name might suggest, but it certainly is a magnet for a lot of bird species. Deborah and I had a wonderful morning, and found 39 species. I spent quite a bit more time in the area this time and was able to see a total of 55 species. Stay tuned!

Tucson 139

Tucson Arizona Blackbirds Texas 139

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

For most avian migrants heading south towards Mexico, Central and South America, crossing thru the Arizona desert areas can provide very few water, food and resting areas. This 90 acre lake, managed by Arizona Fish and Wildlife is about a 45 mile drive from Tucson, and 9 miles from Mexico, as the Chihuahuan Raven flies.

Mexico 144

Mexico Tucson Arizona Ducks 144

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2021

Honesty requires that I confess to having seen none of these species. These species are visually very similar, with subtle differences in their tail patterns. These species are visually very similar, with subtle differences in their tail patterns. Females of both species are mostly coppery-brown, with red bellies.

Mexico 218

Mexico Indonesia Arizona North America 218

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2012

And while I was in Arizona, touring the Huachucas with Swarovski (along with 10KB notables Mike Bergin and Birdchick Sharon Stiteler among others), I had in the back of my mind that I might be able to pick up that last hummingbird. For starters, Costa’s is a desert species and we were primarily up in the mountains.

Arizona 160

Arizona Wounded North America 2012 160

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

Or the ones in Arizona that make you feel prety dang satisfied with life? No muddy trails : Muddy trails can’t be helped and you might have to walk on a few to see forest interior species but it’s nice to watch a well-stocked feeder when you get tired of the sticky, tropical mud.

Costa Rica 222

Costa Rica Birds Arizona Woodpeckers 222

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2019

Now that Jeanne and I have settled here in Tucson, Arizona, we have been questioned by our friends dozens of times….Why 10 countries, over 1300 bird species, and now I have limited my various twitches to just one county, Pima, which pretty much surrounds the greater Tucson Arizona. Why Tucson? I want to establish a base here.

Tucson 113

Tucson Arizona Sparrows Florida 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2013

Upon my arrival, at shortly before the 6 AM summer opening time, I ran into a fellow birder, a biology professor from Arizona name Robert Borker. Later in the season more species show up. Black-necked Stilt is one of those species that needs no explanation for their common name.

Las Vegas 233

Las Vegas Nevada Birds Blackbirds 233

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2012

Now free flying in California, Arizona, Utah, and Baja, condors are slowly making a comeback thanks to those, like the Center, who’ve committed to captive breeding and releasing these amazing birds. When they finally lift off, I’ve heard it said to hear the rush of wind through their wings is something you never forget.

California Condor 237

California Condor California Idaho Utah 237

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2013

One of the perks about living in Miami is that plane tickets to the bird-rich Caribbean, Central, and South America are often cheaper than going to places like Arizona, Colorado, or California. I made my way to the coast to Hotel Jamaican Colors just north of Manchioneal for the night having seen 23 of my target species already.

Jamaica 192

Jamaica Puerto Rico 2013 Cuba 192

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2014

Nearly every country or region has an area on its periphery that regularly attracts a tantalizing assortment of vagrants or a set of species that just barely make it over an international border. Every year, birders in both of these states find species more typical of Mexico (and sometimes within plain sight of Mexico!)

Thailand 168

Thailand China 2013 Birds 168

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. In any case, our hang-ups with vultures clearly stem from our own issues rather than any inherently bizarre trait of the species themselves. Vultures famously feed on carrion. Dead things. New World Vultures.

California Condor 209

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 209