Melody's Birding Adventures
CONTACT US: melodysbirding@cox.net
520-245-4085
We are headed into the season to look for thrashers!!! Can you ID these??
So Many Birds, So Little Time
So Many Birds, So Little Time!
In order to see birds, it is necessary to become part of the silence."
~Robert Lynd
Whether you are a birdwatcher or a bird nut like me, come have a Southern Arizona Adventure!
Each adventure is designed as a unique and personalized birding experience, with a schedule and pace tailored to your needs, No fifteen passenger van to crawl in and out of, plus lots of little extras a big tour company cannot offer, at about the same cost.
A bit of musing here, not meant to ruffle feathers, but perhaps a time to reflect. As we enter into migration, we birders can get in a bit of a hurry. . . this is when we use the tapes, toot a lot and pish to get the little ones to show their beauty. As a note of inquiry. . . I wonder if by using these methods when they are looking for a place to settle down and breed, if we are moving them off prime real-estate because they believe another virile male has already settled in. Let's face it those tapes sound pretty good even to those of the breeding species.
We cater to people unable or unwilling to do the rigorous schedule of a tour group. Lunch can be provided upon request.
We now accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
stay safe and stay healthy!! Hugs to all, Melody
Field Checklist of the Birds of Arizona
This checklist contains 556 species of birds that have been accepted by the Arizona Bird Committee as of July 2017.
An additional 64 subspecies that occur in Arizona and are identifiable have been included.
Identifiable forms and groups, and their common names are derived from eBird Taxonomy, available online at http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/ebird-taxonomy
The species list conforms to the American Ornithologists’ Society(AOU), checklist order and nomenclature as of the 58th supplement published July13, 2021.
Checklist annotations:
n = Has bred in Arizona (306 species). A species that has hatched young at least once, however, this does not include hybrid off spring.
[ ] = Species in brackets have not been physically documented in Arizona (2 species)
* = Arizona Bird Committee review species (159 taxa)
# = Sketch details species (69 taxa)
italics = Species in italics are identifiable subspecific forms (64)
(int) = Introduced (8 species)
(ex) = Extirpated (4 species) previously bred or presumed to have bred in Arizona, but no longer occur naturally. They may have been reintroduced but remain unestablished.
Species or subspecies marked with an asterisk or pound sign (*,#) should be documented with photographs and or written details. Reports of Arizona Bird Committee review species (*) may be submitted online to the Arizona Bird Committee at the Arizona Field Ornithologists Website at : www.azfo.org.layout and design by Kurt and Cindy Radamaker
Checklist last updated: July, 2019
Anatidae - Swans, Geese, Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, n
Fulvous Whistling-Duck *
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brant *
Cackling Goose #
Minima (minima) form
Taverner's (taverneri) form
Richardson's (hutchinsii) form
Canada Goose, n
Giant (maxima) form
Large (moffitti) form, n
Lesser (parvipes) form
Trumpeter Swan *
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck, n
Baikal Teal *
Garganey *
Blue-winged Teal, n
Cinnamon Teal, n
Northern Shoveler, n
Gadwall, n
Eurasian Wigeon #
American Wigeon, n
Mallard, n
Northern (platyrhynchos) form, n
Mexican Duck (diazi) form, n
Northern Pintail, n
Green-winged Teal, n
Eurasian (crecca) form *
American (carolinensis) form, n
Canvasback, n
Redhead, n
Ring-necked Duck, n
Tufted Duck *
Greater Scaup #
Lesser Scaup
Harlequin Duck *
Surf Scoter #
White-winged Scoter #
Black Scoter *
Long-tailed Duck #
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye #
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser, n
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck, n
Odontophoridae - Quail
Northern Bobwhite (Masked), n (ex)
Scaled Quail, n
California Quail, n (int)
Gambel's Quail, n
Montezuma Quail, n
Phasianidae - Partridges, Grouse,and Turkey
Wild Turkey, n
Dusky Grouse, n
Ring-necked Pheasant, n (int)
Chukar, n (int)
Podicipedidae - Grebes
Least Grebe *, n
Pied-billed Grebe, n
Horned Grebe #
Red-necked Grebe #
Eared Grebe, n
Western Grebe, n
Clark's Grebe, n
Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon, n (int)
Band-tailed Pigeon, n
Eurasian Collared-Dove, n (int)
Inca Dove, n
Common Ground Dove, n
Ruddy Ground Dove #, n
White-winged Dove, n
Mourning Dove, n
Cuculidae - Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis
Groove-billed Ani *
Greater Roadrunner, n
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, n
Black-billed Cuckoo *
Caprimulgidae - Nighthawks and Nightjars
Lesser Nighthawk, n
Common Nighthawk, n
Common Poorwill, n
Buff -collared Nightjar *, n
Eastern Whip-poor-will *
Mexican Whip-poor-will, n
Apodidae - Swifts
Black Swift *
Chimney Swift *
Vaux's Swift
White-throated Swift, n
Trochilidae - Hummingbirds
Rivoli's Hummingbird, n
Plain-capped Starthroat #
Blue-throated Mountain-gem, n
Lucifer Hummingbird #, n
Ruby-throated Hummingbird *
Black-chinned Hummingbird, n
Anna's Hummingbird, n
Costa's Hummingbird, n
Calliope Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird #
Broad-tailed Hummingbird, n
Bumblebee Hummingbird *
Broad-billed Hummingbird, n
White-eared Hummingbird #, n
Violet-crowned Hummingbird, n
Berylline Hummingbird #, n
Cinnamon Hummingbird *
Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
Ridgway's Rail, n
Virginia Rail, n
Sora, n
Common Gallinule, n
American Coot, n
Purple Gallinule *
Black Rail, n
Gruidae - Cranes
Sandhill Crane, n
Lesser (canadensis) form
Greater (tabida) form, n
Common Crane, *
Recurvirostridae - Stilts and Avocets
Black-necked Stilt, n
American Avocet, n
Charadriidae - Plovers
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover *
Pacific Golden-Plover *
Killdeer, n
Semipalmated Plover
Lesser Sand-Plover*
Mountain Plover,
Snowy Plover, n
Jacanidae - Jacanas
Northern Jacana *
Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies
Upland Sandpiper *
Whimbrel #
Long-billed Curlew, n
Hudsonian Godwit *
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone *
Black Turnstone *
Red Knot *
Ruff *
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper *
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper *
Buff -breasted Sandpiper *
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper #
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher #
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson’s Snipe, n
Spotted Sandpiper, n
Solitary Sandpiper
Wandering Tattler *
Lesser Yellowlegs
Willet
Greater Yellowlegs
Wilson's Phalarope, n
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope #
Stercorariidae - Jaegers
Pomarine Jaeger *
Parasitic Jaeger *
Long-tailed Jaeger *
Laridae - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Black-legged Kittiwake *
Ivory Gull *
Sabine's Gull #
Bonaparte's Gull
Little Gull *
Laughing Gull *
Franklin's Gull
Heermann's Gull #
Mew Gull *
Ring-billed Gull
Western Gull *
Yellow-footed Gull *
California Gull
Herring Gull #
Iceland Gull *
Lesser Black-backed Gull *
Glaucous-winged Gull *
Glaucous Gull *
Least Tern #, n
Gull-billed Tern *
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern *
Forster's Tern
Royal Tern *
Elegant Tern *
Black Skimmer *
Phaethontidae - Tropicbirds
White-tailed Tropicbird *
Red-billed Tropicbird *
Gaviidae - Loons
Red-throated Loon #
Pacific Loon #
Common Loon
Yellow-billed Loon *
Diomedeidae - Albatrosses
Laysan Albatross *
Hydrobatidae - Storm-Petrels
[Leach’s/Townsend’s/Ainley’s Storm-Petrel] *
Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel *
Black Storm-Petrel *
Least Storm-Petrel *
Procellariidae - Shearwaters
Juan Fernandez Petrel *
Hawaiian Petrel *
Wedge-tailed Shearwater *
Sooty Shearwater *
[Black-vented Shearwater] *
Ciconiidae - Storks
Wood Stork *
Fregatidae - Frigatebirds
Magnificent Frigatebird *
Sulidae - Boobies
Blue-footed Booby *
Brown Booby *
Anhingidae - Anhinga
Anhinga *
Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant, n
Neotropic Cormorant, n
Pelecanidae - Pelicans
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Ardeidae - Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets
American Bittern, n
Least Bittern, n
Great Blue Heron, n
Great Egret, n
Snowy Egret, n
Little Blue Heron #
Tricolored Heron #
Reddish Egret #
Cattle Egret, n
Green Heron, n
Black-crowned Night-Heron, n
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron *
Threskiornithidae - Ibises and Spoonbills
White Ibis *
Glossy Ibis *
White-faced Ibis, n
Roseate Spoonbill #
Cathartidae - New World Vultures
California Condor, n (ex)
Black Vulture, n
Turkey Vulture, n
Pandionidae - Osprey
Osprey, n
Accipitridae - Kites, Eagles, and Hawks
White-tailed Kite, n
Swallow-tailed Kite *
Golden Eagle, n
Northern Harrier, n
Sharp-shinned Hawk, n
Cooper's Hawk, n
Northern Goshawk, n
Bald Eagle, n
Mississippi Kite, n
Common Black Hawk, n
Harris's Hawk, n
White-tailed Hawk *
Gray Hawk, n
Red-shouldered Hawk #, n
Broad-winged Hawk #
Short-tailed Hawk *, n
Swainson's Hawk, n
Zone-tailed Hawk, n
Red-tailed Hawk, n
Western (calurus) form, n
Harlan’s (harlani) form #
Krider's (kriderii) form
Fuertes's (fuertesi) form, n
Rough-legged Hawk #
Ferruginous Hawk, n
Tytonidae - Barn Owls
Barn Owl, n
Strigidae - Typical Owls
Flammulated Owl, n
Whiskered Screech-Owl, n
Western Screech-Owl, n
Great Horned Owl, n
Northern Pygmy-Owl, n
Rocky Mts. (pinicola) form, n
Mountain (gnoma) form, n
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl #, n
Elf Owl, n
Burrowing Owl, n
Mexican Spotted Owl, n
Long-eared Owl, n
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl, n
Trogonidae - Trogons
Elegant Trogon, n
Eared Quetzal *, n
Alcedinidae - Kingfishers
Ringed Kingfisher, *
Belted Kingfisher, n
Green Kingfisher, n
Picidae - Woodpeckers
Lewis's Woodpecker, n
Red-headed Woodpecker *
Acorn Woodpecker, n
Gila Woodpecker, n
Williamson's Sapsucker, n
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker #
Red-naped Sapsucker, n
Red-breasted Sapsucker #
Southern (daggeti)
Northern (rube)
American Three-toed Woodpecker, n
Downy Woodpecker, n
Ladder-backed Woodpecker, n
Hairy Woodpecker, n
Arizona Woodpecker, n
Northern Flicker, n
Yellow-shafted (auratus) form #
Red-shafted (cafer) form, n
Gilded Flicker, n
Falconidae - Caracaras and Falcons
Crested Caracara, n
American Kestrel, n
Merlin
Taiga (columbarius) form
Prairie (richardsoni) form
Black (suckleyi) form
Aplomado Falcon *, n (ex)
Peregrine Falcon, n
Continental (anatum) form, n
Tundra (tundrius) form
Prairie Falcon, n
Psittacidae - Parrots
Thick-billed Parrot, n (ex) *
Psittaculidae - Lovebirds
Rosy-faced Lovebird, n (int)
Tityridae - Becards
Gray-collared Becard *
Rose-throated Becard *, n
Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, n
Dusky-capped Flycatcher, n
Ash-throated Flycatcher, n
Nutting's Flycatcher *, n
Great Crested Flycatcher *
Brown-crested Flycatcher, n
Great Kiskadee *
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, n
Tropical Kingbird, n
Couch's Kingbird *
Cassin's Kingbird, n
Thick-billed Kingbird, n
Western Kingbird, n
Eastern Kingbird #
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher #
Tufted Flycatcher, n *
Olive-sided Flycatcher, n
Greater Pewee, n
Western Wood-Pewee, n
Eastern Wood-Pewee *
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher *
Acadian Flycatcher *
Willow Flycatcher, n
Least Flycatcher *
Hammond's Flycatcher, n
Gray Flycatcher, n
Dusky Flycatcher, n
Pine Flycatcher *
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Cordilleran Flycatcher, n
Buff -breasted Flycatcher, n
Black Phoebe, n
Eastern Phoebe #
Say's Phoebe, n
Vermilion Flycatcher, n
Vireonidae - Vireos
Black-capped Vireo *
White-eyed Vireo #
Bell's Vireo, n
Gray Vireo, n
Hutton's Vireo, n
Yellow-throated Vireo #
Cassin’s Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo *
Plumbeous Vireo, n
Philadelphia Vireo *
Warbling Vireo, n
Red-eyed Vireo *
Yellow-green Vireo *
Laniidae - Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike, n
Northern Shrike #
Corvidae - Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens
Canada Jay, n
Pinyon Jay, n
Steller's Jay, n
Blue Jay *
California Scrub Jay *
Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay, n
Mexican Jay, n
Clark's Nutcracker, n
Black-billed Magpie, n
American Crow, n
Chihuahuan Raven, n
Common Raven, n
Remizidae - Verdins
Verdin, n
Paridae - Chickadees and Titmice
Black-capped Chickadee *
Mountain Chickadee, n
Mexican Chickadee, n
Bridled Titmouse, n
Juniper Titmouse, n
Alaudidae - Larks
Horned Lark, n
Hirundinidae - Swallows
Bank Swallow
Tree Swallow, n
Violet-green Swallow, n
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, n
Brown-chested Martin *
Purple Martin, n
Northern (arboricola) form, n
Desert (hesperia) form, n
Barn Swallow, n
Cliff Swallow, n
Northern (pyrrhonota) group, n
Southwestern (swainsoni) form, n
Cave Swallow *, n
Aegithalidae - Bushtits
Bushtit, n
Regulidae - Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, n
Golden-crowned Kinglet, n
Bombycillidae - Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing *
Cedar Waxwing
Ptiliogonatidae - Silky-flycatchers
Phainopepla, n
Sittidae - Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch, (nelsoni) n
White-breasted Nuthatch, n
Pygmy Nuthatch, n
Certhiidae - Creepers
Brown Creeper, n
Mexican Brown Creeper, (albescens)
Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, n
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, n
Black-capped Gnatcatcher #, n
Troglodytidae - Wrens
Rock Wren, n
Canyon Wren, n
House Wren, n
Northern (aedon) group, n
Brown-throated (brunneicollis) form, n
Pacific Wren #, n
Winter Wren #
Sedge Wren *
Marsh Wren, n
Carolina Wren *
Bewick's Wren, n
Cactus Wren, n
Sinaloa Wren *
Mimidae - Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers
Blue Mockingbird *
Gray Catbird #, n
Curve-billed Thrasher, n
Eastern (curvirostre) group, n
Western (palmeri) group, n
Brown Thrasher #
Bendire's Thrasher, n
LeConte's Thrasher, n
Crissal Thrasher, n
Sage Thrasher, n
Northern Mockingbird, n
Sturnidae - Starlings
European Starling, n (int)
Cinclidae - Dippers
American Dipper, n
Turdidae - Thrushes
Eastern Bluebird, n
Western Bluebird, n
Mountain Bluebird, n
Townsend's Solitaire, n
Brown-backed Solitaire *
Veery *, n
Gray-cheeked Thrush *
Swainson's Thrush, n
Russet-backed (ustulatus) group
Olive-backed (swainsoni) group, n
Hermit Thrush, n
Pacific(guttatus)
Interior West (auduboni) Taiga (faxoni)
Wood Thrush *
Clay-colored Thrush #
White-throatedThrush #
Rufous-backed Robin #
American Robin, n
Varied Thrush #
Aztec Thrush *
Muscicapidae - Old World Flycatchers
Northern Wheatear *
Passeridae - Old World Sparrows
House Sparrow, n
Peucedramidae - Olive Warbler
Olive Warbler, n
Motacillidae - Wagtails and Pipits
White Wagtail *
Red-throated Pipit *
American Pipit, n
Sprague's Pipit
Fringillidae - Finches and Goldfinches
Evening Grosbeak, n
Pine Grosbeak, n
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch *
Black Rosy-Finch *
House Finch, n
Purple Finch *
Cassin's Finch, n
Common Redpoll *
Red Crossbill, n
White-winged Crossbill *
Pine Siskin, n
Lesser Goldfinch, n
Lawrence's Goldfinch, n
American Goldfinch, n
Calcariidae -Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Lapland Longspur #
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Smith's Longspur *
McCown's Longspur #
Snow Bunting *
Emberizidae - Old World Sparrows
Little Bunting *
Passerellidae - New World Sparrows
Rufous-winged Sparrow, n
Botteri's Sparrow, n
Cassin's Sparrow, n
Grasshopper Sparrow, n
Western (perpallidus) form, n
Arizona (ammolegus) form, n
Five-striped Sparrow, n
Black-throated Sparrow, n
Lark Sparrow, n
Lark Bunting, n
Chipping Sparrow, n
Clay-colored Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow, n
Field Sparrow *
Brewer's Sparrow, n
Fox Sparrow
Red (iliaca) group #
Slate-colored (schistacea) group
Sooty (unalaschcensis) group *
Thick-billed (megarhyncha) group *
American Tree Sparrow *
Dark-eyed Junco, n
Oregon (oreganus) group
Pink-sided (mearnsi) form
White-winged (aikeni) form *
Slate-colored (hyemalis) group
Gray-headed (caniceps) form, n
Red-backed (dorsalis) form, n
Yellow-eyed Junco, n
White-crowned Sparrow, n
Gambel's (gambelii) form
Mountain (oriantha) form, n
Golden-crowned Sparrow #
Harris's Sparrow #
White-throated Sparrow
Sagebrush Sparrow, n
Bell's Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow, n
LeConte's Sparrow *
Nelson's Sparrow *
Baird's Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow, n
Western (nevadensis) group, n
Large-billed (rostratus) form *
Song Sparrow, n
Lincoln's Sparrow, n
Swamp Sparrow
Canyon Towhee, n
Abert's Towhee, n
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, n
Green-tailed Towhee, n
Spotted Towhee, n
Pacific (oregonus) group
Rocky Mts. (montanus) group, n
Eastern Towhee *
Icteriidae - Chats
Yellow-breasted Chat, n
Icteridae - Blackbirds and Allies
Yellow-headed Blackbird, n
Bobolink *, n
Eastern Meadowlark (Lilian's), n
Western Meadowlark, n
Black-vented Oriole *
Orchard Oriole #
Hooded Oriole, n
Eastern (cucullatus) group, *
Western (nelsoni) group, n
Streak-backed Oriole *, n
Bullock’s Oriole, n
Baltimore Oriole #
Scott's Oriole, n
Red-winged Blackbird, n
Bronzed Cowbird, n
Brown-headed Cowbird, n
Rusty Blackbird *
Brewer's Blackbird, n
Common Grackle *
Great-tailed Grackle, n
Parulidae - Wood Warblers
Ovenbird #
Worm-eating Warbler #
Louisiana Waterthrush #
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler *
Blue-winged Warbler *
Black-and-white Warbler, n
Prothonotary Warbler #
Swainson's Warbler *
Crescent-chested Warbler *, n
Tennessee Warbler #
Orange-crowned Warbler, n
Celata (celata) form *
Orestera (orestera) form, n
Lutescens (lutescens) form
Lucy's Warbler, n
Nashville Warbler
Virginia's Warbler, n
Connecticut Warbler *
MacGillivray's Warbler, n
Mourning Warbler *
Kentucky Warbler *
Common Yellowthroat, n
Hooded Warbler #
American Redstart, n
Cape May Warbler *
Cerulean Warbler *
Northern Parula, n
Tropical Parula *
Magnolia Warbler #
Bay-breasted Warbler *
Blackburnian Warbler *
Yellow Warbler, n
Northern (aestiva) group, n
Mangrove (erithachorides) form *
Chestnut-sided Warbler #
Blackpoll Warbler *
Black-throated Blue Warbler #
Palm Warbler #
Pine Warbler *
Yellow-rumped Warbler, n
Audubon's (auduboni) form, n
Myrtle (coronata) form
Yellow-throated Warbler *
Prairie Warbler *
Grace's Warbler, n
Black-throated Gray Warbler, n
Townsend's Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler *
Fan-tailed Warbler *
Rufous-capped Warbler *, n
Canada Warbler *
Wilson's Warbler
Mountain West (pileolata) form
Pacific Coast (chryseola) form
Red-faced Warbler, n
Painted Redstart, n
Slate-throated Redstart *
Cardinalidae - Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Buntings
Hepatic Tanager, n
Summer Tanager, n
Scarlet Tanager *
Western Tanager, n
Flame-colored Tanager *, n
Northern Cardinal, n
Pyrrhuloxia, n
Yellow Grosbeak *
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Black-headed Grosbeak, n
Blue Grosbeak, n
Lazuli Bunting, n
Indigo Bunting, n
Varied Bunting, n
Painted Bunting #
Dickcissel #
Passeridae - Old World Sparrows
House Sparrow, n (int)
Pending committee review
Common Crane
Lesser Sand-Plover
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Juan Fernandez Petrel
Wedge-rumped Storm-petrel
California Scrub-Jay
Clay-colored Thrush
Little Bunting