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. The post South East Arizona’s Madera Canyon appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

Arizona 145

Arizona Tucson Florida 2018 145

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2018

Now that we have “settled” in Tucson, Arizona, or at least this is where the 5th Wheel is for the time being, it has been nice to be able to spread out a bit. Now that we have been in sunny, dry Arizona, it has rained 5 of the last seven days. That is seven months of incredible weather. Here are a couple of photos from my “Back Yard”.

Tucson 113

Tucson Costa Rica Arizona Woodpeckers 113

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. Lewis’s Woodpecker, flycatcher or woodpecker?

Arizona 141

Arizona Woodpeckers Phoenix Birds 141

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. Perhaps because of the heat and the lack of insulation which the cactus can provide, Purple Martins do not nest in man-made houses in Arizona.

Arizona 165

Arizona Tucson Miami Shelters 165

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). On a state-by-state basis, that percentage increases dramatically as one moves from east to west.

Virgin Islands 225

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 225

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2019

One of the great things about living in southern Arizona is our proximity to Mexico. Golden Eagles soared over head, Ladder-back Woodpeckers, Costa’s Hummingbirds, Broad-billed Hummingbirds ( as seen at the top of this story) , Cactus Wrens could be seen almost anywhere in the canyon as well.

Arizona 113

Arizona Sparrows Mexico California 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2022

Dragan has caught up from his adventures in Colombia and the life list has reached 4103. Dragan has caught up from his adventures in Colombia and the life list has reached 4103.

Sparrows 246

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 246

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

Think Arizona meets Costa Rica with a Mexican twist. This is where Gila Woodpecker and Yellow-breasted Chat meet Squirrel Cuckoo , Bat Falcon , and Black-throated Magpie-Jay. I really wanted to see Gray-crowned Woodpecker and Military Macaw , and I managed to succeed on both counts.

Mexico 202

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 202

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2016

Alas, now that the Arizona Cardinals have fallen to the Carolina Panthers, we face the prospect of a Super Bowl without bird-themed football teams. So, do you prefer rambunctious horses or big cats better? Such a rare bird is always a good sighting!

2016 101

2016 ALA Arizona Horses 101

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2012

The attraction of Southeastern Arizona in summer stems from the presence of certain highly range-restricted species. Brown-capped Flycatcher and Gila Woodpecker are southeastern birds, but not that tough to find outside the area. Where else can you see something like that?! I believe there’s a life lesson to be learned here.

Tucson 154

Tucson Arizona North America Sparrows 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

bicolor ), like the Red-bellied Woodpecker and Turkey Vulture , has expanded its range dramatically to penetrate northern reaches. The Oak Titmouse resides on the Pacific Slope from southern Oregon to the Baja, while the Juniper is a bird of the Great Basin and desert riparian woods as far south as Arizona, Texas, and Mexico.

Arizona 266

Arizona Oklahoma Texas Mexico 266

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Along the highway journey, the habitat shifted radically from wet evergreen forest to dry pinelands reminiscent of parts of Arizona. We spent our last afternoon birding with Alex at Naciones Unidas El Picacho Park which allowed us to explore some of the Arizona-like pineland habitat we drove by the other day.

Honduras 226

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 226

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2022

I have friends who talk nostalgically of birding trips with the Lane’s Guides to Southeast Arizona, or Southern California (there were eight guides in all, some co-written or updated by other birders, notably Henry Holt). In the back were simple bar graphs showing species seasonality.

Los Angeles 211

Los Angeles Birds District of Columbia Parrots 211

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2018

According to eBird, the chronology of my life list includes White-Headed Woodpecker at No. ” Southern Arizona , including visits to Ramsey Canyon Preserve and Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve. I am a westerner who has lived in San Francisco and Portland my entire birding life. 10, Mountain Quail at No.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Portland United States Puerto Rico 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

One particular issue had a feature on the birds of Madera Canyon, Arizona. Acorn Woodpecker. Up to 256 bird species, deer, black bears, foxes, big cats, Gila Monsters, and 16 species of bats call this area of southeastern Arizona home. ( The post Birding Arizona–style appeared first on 10,000 Birds. Madera Canyon.

Arizona 152

Arizona Tucson Birds North America 152

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2018

Right in our camp, we found Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. We are now headed to Tucson, Arizona, where we will park the 5th wheel for an extended amount of time, possibly as long as March 1st. Finally, we also got to see the more common Curve-billed Thrashers. A couple of wrens were early morning visitors. Here is the Bewick’s Wren.

New Mexico 113

New Mexico Mexico Tucson Costa Rica 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2014

Or the ones in Arizona that make you feel prety dang satisfied with life? Canopy birds up close : Yep, some feeders attract euphonias, tropical woodpeckers, Scarlet-rumped Cacique , and crazy colorful tanagers. Oh, I also went back to the feeders and relished in the benefits: Hummingbirds : You know those hummingbird feeders at home?

Costa Rica 204

Costa Rica Birds Arizona Woodpeckers 204

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2022

birder, as in ‘who needs art?

Birds 264

Birds Sparrows Connecticut New York 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

2 Responses to “Thrashing XXX&# thainamu Mar 8th, 2011 at 1:27 pm I heard and saw one of these recently when I went on a bird-watching vacation in southeast Arizona. I saw it while visiting a small botanic garden somewhere in Tucson. I had no idea I should have been embarrassed. Jochen Mar 8th, 2011 at 6:53 pm Haaaaa!

2011 140

2011 Tucson Arizona Deer 140

10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2014

the same few states always come to mind first…Alaska, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Other specialties include Bobolink , Sandhill Crane , Black Tern , Pinyon Jay , Juniper Titmouse , Bohemian Waxwing (rare) , Northern Shrike , Black-backed Woodpecker and American Tree Sparrow. That’s where everyone goes, and for good reason.

California 208

California San Diego Birds Oakland 208

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.

Jamaica 183

Jamaica Puerto Rico 2013 Birds 183

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

Bearded Woodpecker – Chloropicus namaquus. Chestnut-colored Woodpecker – Celeus castaneus. Golden-tailed Woodpecker – Campethera abingoni. Golden-naped Woodpecker – Melanerpes chrysauchen. Lineated Woodpecker – Dryocopus lineatus. Marabou Stork – Leptoptilos crumenifer.

2019 120

2019 China Battery Jamaica 120

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Zingy Zeledon’s Antbirds sang from the undergrowth, along with Bay Wrens , Tufted Flycatchers (if you saw one in Arizona, it probably wasn’t the same species), tanagers, Tropical Parulas , Spotted Barbtail , and other birds including Thicket Antpitta , the first time I have heard that species at the site.

Costa Rica 132

Costa Rica Birds Falcons North Carolina 132

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

Black-cheeked Woodpecker – Melanerpes pucherani. Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus. Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus. Ladder-backed Woodpecker – Dryobates scalaris. Hairy Woodpecker – Dryobates villosus. Hoffmann’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes hoffmannii.

2019 122

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 122

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2013

Pileated Woodpecker, for example. In addition to Pileated Woodpecker, the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania documents increases in numbers of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hooded Warbler, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Alder Flycatcher, Common Raven, Wild Turkey, and, of course, Canada Goose.

Pennsylvania 240

Pennsylvania Breeding Birds Sparrows 240

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

12796 Tucson Avenue, Mount Lemmon, Arizona, US (32.442, -110.758) Private residence. 12796 Tucson Avenue, Mount Lemmon, Arizona, US (32.442, -110.758) Private residence. 12796 Tucson Avenue, Mount Lemmon, Arizona, US (32.442, -110.758) Private residence. East Mount Bigelow Road, Mount Lemmon, Arizona, US (32.419, -110.726).

2019 118

2019 Arizona Ghana Tucson 118

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2022

states — all but Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. Acorn Woodpeckers somehow manage to look presumptuous and ridiculous at the same time. But then, there is still not that much competition here. Still, 239 would currently put me at #1 in 46 of the U.S. Nor do I spend more than a half daybirding each week.

Mexico 200

Mexico Arizona Horses Texas 200

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

The text has to be read; details are not laid out in bold headed, brief paragraphs as they are in the Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America. Rick has also written the ABA Field Guide to Birds of Arizona and the ABA Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey and is a past beat writer for 10,000 Birds.

North America 158

North America Sparrows America United States 158

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

20 Cinnamon Woodpecker – Celeus loricatus. 30 Pale-billed Woodpecker – Campephilus guatemalensis. 72 Black-cheeked Woodpecker – Melanerpes pucherani. 100 Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus. 110 Golden-cheeked Woodpecker – Melanerpes chrysogenys. 316 Mew Gull – Larus canus.

2020 130

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

The warm, sunny climate beckons a wide variety of passerines, raptors, and shorebirds to spend the winter, inflating the species diversity to the extent that Miami-Dade can go toe-to-toe with counties in Texas and Arizona during this season. Red-headed Woodpecker: 1. Red-bellied Woodpecker: 160. Downy Woodpecker: 20.

Miami 169

Miami 2015 United States Birds 169

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2011

Apparently, nefarious forces are conspiring to bar birders from Arizona’s Ash Canyon. I haven’t seen these hummingbirds or Arizona Woodpecker yet, so I need your help. The poor proprietor of the Ash Canyon Bed and Breakfast , the single best place to see Lucifer Hummingbirds in the U.S., We ALL need your help!

Arizona 140

Arizona Woodpeckers 140

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2020

A young couple caring for an injured Common Nighthawk; a college professor insistently taking a class of New York State undergraduates to see a Lucifer’s Hummingbird in an isolated part of Arizona; an ornithologist venturing into a terribly dangerous part of Mexico to find the probably extinct Imperial Woodpecker; a volunteer steward tracking (..)

New York City 199

New York City Birds Owls Fox 199

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus. Downy Woodpecker – Dryobates pubescens. Hairy Woodpecker – Dryobates villosus. Hoffmann’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes hoffmannii. Pale-billed Woodpecker – Campephilus guatemalensis. Lineated Woodpecker – Dryocopus lineatus.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

The year list ends on a provisional (some beats will be birding ’til the final whistle to try and salvage a ravaged year) 1803 species from 1602 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries.

2020 230

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 230

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2019

White-headed Woodpecker – Dryobates albolarvatus. Golden-cheeked Woodpecker – Melanerpes chrysogenys. Mexican Whip-poor-will – Antrostomus arizonae. Arizona road. Eurasian Green Woodpecker – Picus viridis. 6900 South Jamie Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, US (32.19, -111.112). 28 May 2019.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

Lewis’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes lewis. Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus. Golden-naped Woodpecker – Melanerpes chrysauchen. Black-cheeked Woodpecker – Melanerpes pucherani. Downy Woodpecker – Dryobates pubescens.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2019

Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus. Golden-naped Woodpecker – Melanerpes chrysauchen. Black-cheeked Woodpecker – Melanerpes pucherani. Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus. Stephen Harris Park. 23 Feb 2019.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Jamaica 113