SIGNATURE BIRDS OF ARIZONA’S SKY ISLANDS
These species are top attractions to birders in our area.
By Peg Abbott & P. D. Hulce, Portal, AZ
Naturalist Journeys, LLC offering
Guide Services in the Portal & Rodeo area
www.naturalistjourneys.com info@naturalistjourneys.com
(866) 900-1146
Legend
*** Within the U.S., species generally limited in range to the Sky Islands of SE Arizona and for some, adjacent SW New Mexico. A few of these species are rare or local in West Texas.
** Within the U.S. these species may have a wider range than Signature designated species but still share a strong affinity with the Sky Islands or adjacent riparian or scrub habitats. Many are at the northern edge of their range.
+ TX - These species are also regular breeders in the Sky Islands of West Texas. |
Twenty-five SIGNATURE SPECIES
Main Occurrence is in Pine Oak Woodland & Sycamore Canyons
1) Whiskered Screech-Owl ***
2) Broad-billed Hummingbird ***
3) White-eared Hummingbird *** + TX, RARE
4) Berylline Hummingbird *** RARE
5) Magnificent Hummingbird *** + TX
6) Elegant Trogon *** Sycamore canyons
7) Arizona Woodpecker ***
8) Greater Pewee **
9) Buff-breasted Flycatcher *** Open pine/grass understory
10) Dusky-capped Flycatcher **
11) Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher *** Sycamore riparian
12) Mexican Jay *** +TX
13) Mexican Chickadee *** Chiricahuas, Animas, Peloncillos
14) Bridled Titmouse ***
15) Olive Warbler ***
16) Red-faced Warbler ***
17) Yellow-eyed Junco ***
Main Occurrence is in Drier and Lower Elevation Habitats
18) Buff-collared Nightjar *** LOCAL in SEAZ, scrub
19) Violet-crowned Hummingbird *** Scrub, riparian
20) Thick-billed Kingbird *** Sycamore riparian & scrub
21) Tropical Kingbird ** Riparian, often by ponds
22) Rose-throated Becard ** Sycamore Riparian
23) Black-capped Gnatcatcher *** LOCAL IN SEAZ, scrub
24) Five-striped Sparrow *** LOCAL in SEAZ, scrub
25) Rufous-winged Sparrow *** Scrub, grasslands
A Dozen Additional AFFINITY SPECIES
These species also attract birders to our region, but are not as limited within the US to SE Arizona & SW New Mexico. They are generally as common in Madrean Oak Woodland of the Sky Islands of West Texas and their associated habitats: riparian, grassland or scrub. |
Pine Oak Woodland
1) Montezuma Quail ** +TX
2) Blue-throated Hummingbird ** +TX
3) Painted Redstart ** +TX
Grasslands, Scrub, & Associated Riparian & Aquatic Habitats
4) Black-bellied Whistling Duck ** + TX, aquatic
5) Common Black-Hawk ** + TX, riparian
6) Gray Hawk ** + TX, riparian
7) Lucifer Hummingbird ** + TX, scrub
8) Northern Beardless Tyrannulet ** + So. TX, scrub
9) Rose-throated Becard ** + TX, riparian
10) Baird’s Sparrow ** winter only, grasslands
11) Botteri's Sparrow ** + TX, scrub, grasslands
12) Varied Bunting ** + TX, scrub
HIGHLY UNEXPECTED, BUT POSSIBLE
1) Eared (Trogon) Quetzal - VERY RARE
2) Thick-billed Parrot - VERY RARE
3) Crescent-chested Warbler - VERY RARE
4) Blue Mockingbird - VERY RARE
5) Yellow Grosbeak - VERY RARE
WATCH FOR THESE widely-recognized subspecies
(Mexican) Mallard
(Apache) Goshawk
(Mexican) Whip-poor-will
(Mexican) Brown Creeper
(Brown-throated) House Wren
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Portal, AZ & Rodeo, NM
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