Some birds seen in the east Cochise Stronghold area of the Dragoon Mountains, AZ. This is not a complete list but contains all those species seen or heard in the Stronghold area by Grace McKernan, and compiled by her (1997-1999) and other local residents (1999-20014). You can HELP US TO UPDATE, by noting birds you are CERTAIN are here.

Symbols:

  • R– resident, resides and breeds in area
  • S – summer, returns to breed here
  • W – winters only, breeds elsewhere
  • M – migratory, passing through

Abundance:

  • a – large numbers
  • c – common
  • fc – fairly common
  • r – rare
  • x – casual or our of usual range
  • uc – uncommon

Harriers, Bird & Buzzard Hawks, Vultures and Eagles

  • Turkey Vulture – Sc
  • Northern Harrier – Wfc
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk – Muc
  • Cooper’s Hawk – Ruc
  • Swainson’s Hawk – Suc
  • Zone-tailed Hawk – Suc
  • Red-tailed Hawk – Rfc
  • Ferruginous Hawk – Wr
  • Common Black Hawk – Mr
  • Golden Eagle – Rr
  • Bald Eagle – Mr
  • American Kestral – Rfc
  • Peregrine Falcon – Rfc

Pigeons, Doves, Quail & Road Runner

  • Montezuma/Harlequin Quail – Ruc
  • Scaled Quail – Rc
  • Gambel’s Quail – Sfc
  • Band-tailed Pigeon – Sfc
  • White-winged Dove – Rc
  • Mouring Dove – Rc
  • Inca Dove – Rfc
  • Greater Road Runner – Rfc

Owls

  • Barn Owl – Rr
  • Western Screech Owl – Ruc
  • Great Horned Owl – Ruc
  • Elf Owl – Rc

Swifts & Swallows

  • White-Throated Swifts – Rfc
  • Northern Rough-Winged Swallow – Mfc
  • Violet-green Swallow – Sfc

Hummingbirds

  • Broad-billed – Sx
  • Anna’s – Mc
  • Costa’s – Mr
  • Broad-tailed – Mc
  • Black-chinned – Sc
  • Blue throated – Sfc
  • Rufous – Mc (in Fall)
  • Violet-crowned – Sx
  • Magnificent – Mr

Woodpeckers & Flickers

  • Acorn Woodpecker – Ra
  • Ladder-backed – Rfc
  • Gila Woodpecker – Rr
  • Northern Flicker – Rfc

Phoebe & Flycatchers

  • Say’s Phoebe – Rc
  • Vermillion Flycatcher – Suc
  • Ash-throated Flycatcher – Sfc
  • Dusky-capped Flycatcher – Sfc

Kingbirds

  • Western Kingbird – Sc
  • Cassin’s Kingbird – Sc

Jays & Ravens

  • Mexican Jay – Ra
  • Steller’s Jay – Mx
  • Chihuahuan Raven – Sc
  • Common Raven – Ruc

Titmouse, Verdin, Bushtits & Nuthatches

  • Bridled Titmouse – Rc
  • Juniper Titmouse
  • Verdin – Rfc
  • Bushtits – Rc
  • White-breasted Nuthatch – Ra

Wrens

  • Cactus Wren – Rfc
  • Rock Wren – Rfc
  • Canyon Wren – Rc
  • Bewick’s Wren – Rc
  • House Wren – Ruc

Kinglet, Gnatcatcher, Robin & Bluebird

  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet – Wc
  • Black-tailed Gnatcatcher – Rr
  • American Robin – Sfc
  • Western Bluebird – Mc

Mockingbird, Thrasher

  • Northern Mockingbird – Rfc
  • Curve-billed Thrasher – Rfc
  • Crissal Thrasher

Phainopepla

– Rfc

Shrike

  • Loggerhead Shrike – Rfc

Wood Warblers, Redstart, Tanagers

  • Yellow-rumped Warbler – Mfc
  • Lucy’s Warbler – Suc
  • Painted Redstart – Sfc
  • Hepatic Tanager – Sfc
  • Summer Tanager – Sr
  • Western Tanager – Mfc

Cardinals, Pyrrhuloxia, Grosbeak & Bunting

  • Northern Cardinal
  • Pyrrhuloxia – Rfc
  • Black-headed Grosbeak
  • Blue Grosbeak – Sfc
  • Lazuli Bunting – Muc

Towhees

  • Canyon Towhee – Rc
  • Spotted Towhee – Rc

Sparrows

  • Brewer’s Sparrow – Mc
  • Black-throated Sparrow – Rc
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Black chinned Sparrow
  • White crowned Sparrow

Junco & Cowbird

  • Yellow-eyed Junco – Rc
  • Dark-eyed Junco
  • Bronzed Cowbird – Sfc
  • Brown-headed Cowbird – Sc

Orioles

  • Hooded Oriole – Sfc
  • Northern Oriole – Sfc
  • Scott’s Oriole – Sfc

Meadowlarks

  • Eastern Meadowlark – Rfc
  • Western Meadowlark – Mx

Finch

  • Lesser Goldfinch – Rfc
  • House Finch

 

Southeastern Arizona is the #1 rated birding hotspot and favorite destination to see birds according to readers of Birder’s World, October 2002. For more Birding information in our area, contact the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory about their Birding and Natural History Programs.

Also of interest is the San Pedro Riparian Area. The Apache Station Wildlife Viewing Area and Whitewater Draw in Sulphur Springs Valley are fabulous places to view the many thousands of Sandhill Cranes during winter months, especially Dec., Jan & Feb. For a guide to Sandhill Crane viewing in the area check out the Wings Over Willcox site.

Southern Arizona also has more than 250 species of butterflies with 333 species in the state. For more information about public butterfly gardens and SE Arizona Butterfly Association activities such as regularly scheduled, guided field trips contact SEABA.