Arizona Bird Watching is a Truly Memorable Experience

When first thinking about Arizona, it is easy to associate it with things like the desert and the Grand Canyon. Arizona has also long been depicted as a place where you can easily spot several varieties of lizards and scorpions. However, there are numerous opportunities for other sightseeing adventures, and one of those sightseeing adventures is Arizona bird watching.

Where to Find the Best Bird Watching Locations in Arizona

Although there are many different areas throughout Arizona in which to go bird watching (more than 350,000 people a year visit Arizona just to go bird watching), there is one part of Arizona that is by far the most popular. I am speaking specifically about Southeastern Arizona, and in places like Miller Canyon, bird watchers are able to gather in July and August to observe hummingbirds.

Arizona Bird Watching and the Hummingbird

Hummingbirds can only be found in the wild in the Americas and are one of the most popular birds to watch in Arizona (it is not billed as “hummingbird heaven” for nothing!). This is not just because of their tiny size and comically frenetic personality, but also because there are so many different types of hummingbirds to observe. Two of the more beautiful kinds of hummingbirds are the blue-throated hummingbird and the broad-billed hummingbird.

The blue-throated hummingbird is about 5 inches long. Males are easily identifiable by their striking blue throat (with the females having a gray throat), but both have a bright green shoulders and crown. The call of the hummingbird somewhat resembles the sound of a squeaky wheel. These hummingbirds can usually be found in the areas known as Cave Creek Canyon near the town of Portal and Ramsey Canyon, which is 90 miles south of Tucson.

Broad-billed hummingbirds are about 4 inches long and, as is the case in many species of bird, the male is the more striking physically of the species, with cobalt blue and emerald green colors. The female is mostly gray with some green on the crown and back. These hummingbirds are common to the drainages of the Santa Cruz River (specifically Patagonia, the Santa Rita Mountains, and Nogales).

One thing that people want to know about Arizona bird watching in regard to the hummingbird is how many species of hummingbirds can actually be found in Arizona. While over 320 species of hummingbirds exist throughout the world, at least 13 species of hummingbirds can be found at some point during the year in Southeastern Arizona.

If you would like to find out more information about Arizona bird watching and the many different species of hummingbirds in Arizona, search the internet, as there are several websites devoted exclusively to these topics. If you are a member of a bird watching club, they may also organize guided birding trips – if not, many companies such as Aimophela Adventures organize but half and full day excursions. Also, check your local bookstore or library for Arizona guidebooks. With the proper planning, you will no doubt see plenty of beautiful hummingbirds when you go bird watching in Arizona.