Altar Valley
With a wide-open landscape and a continued legacy of Arizona’s ranching, the Altar Valley is a rugged and beautiful destination for birding.
Southern Border
Altar Valley
With a wide-open landscape and a continued legacy of Arizona’s ranching, the Altar Valley is a rugged and beautiful destination for birding.
Arivaca Cienega
Part of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and is listed as an Important Bird Area for its rich diversity of bird life.
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Many different habitats are found throughout the 117,000-acre refuge, including grasslands, desert scrub, wetlands, and riparian. Pronghorn frequent the refuge's sprawling grasslands.
California Gulch
Ready access to two target species, Buff-collared Nightjar and Five-striped Sparrow. While each can now be found at other sites, some more accessible, no where else will you have a better chance of visually seeing the nightjar. It's still the only place in the US where a nest has been found.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
More than 500-square miles to explore, with sprawling deserts, rugged canyons, and a few small bodies of water. And of course, the monument's namesake cactus towers over it all.
Peña Blanca Canyon
Provides birders with the quintessential Sky Island experience but without the crowds associated with Madera Canyon. Easy walking without significant elevation gain, one can find most of the target birds associated with this habitat, including Montezuma Quail, Elegant Trogon, Hepatic Tanager, Arizona Woodpecker, and Painted Redstart.
Peña Blanca Lake
The 49-acre lake is one of many exceptional birding opportunities in the area that comprise the Atascosa Highlands Important Bird Area.
Sycamore Canyon
An Important Bird Area, this site is a must-see for birders in southern Arizona. The canyon is a remote and sometimes rugged site and perhaps should be reserved for the more adventurous birders.
List of Sites
Arivaca Cienega
Part of the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and is listed as an Important Bird Area for its rich diversity of bird life.
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Many different habitats are found throughout the 117,000-acre refuge, including grasslands, desert scrub, wetlands, and riparian. Pronghorn frequent the refuge’s sprawling grasslands.
California Gulch
Ready access to two target species, Buff-collared Nightjar and Five-striped Sparrow. While each can now be found at other sites, some more accessible, no where else will you have a better chance of visually seeing the nightjar. It’s still the only place in the US where a nest has been found.
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
More than 500-square miles to explore, with sprawling deserts, rugged canyons, and a few small bodies of water. And of course, the monument’s namesake cactus towers over it all.
Peña Blanca Canyon
Provides birders with the quintessential Sky Island experience but without the crowds associated with Madera Canyon. Easy walking without significant elevation gain, one can find most of the target birds associated with this habitat, including Montezuma Quail, Elegant Trogon, Hepatic Tanager, Arizona Woodpecker, and Painted Redstart.
Peña Blanca Lake
The 49-acre lake is one of many exceptional birding opportunities in the area that comprise the Atascosa Highlands Important Bird Area.
Sycamore Canyon
An Important Bird Area, this site is a must-see for birders in southern Arizona. The canyon is a remote and sometimes rugged site and perhaps should be reserved for the more adventurous birders.