Southeast Arizona’s Second Spring Birding: Sky Islands, Hummingbirds & the Magic of the Monsoon
Trip Overview
Many birders think of spring as the best season for birding because of the migration push, transition to breeding plumage, and the dawn chorus at full volume. In southeast Arizona, there is a second spring. When the summer monsoon arrives in late July, sweeping north from Mexico on warm, moisture-laden winds, it transforms the landscape almost overnight. Temperatures drop. The desert turns green. Wildflowers bloom across the grasslands. Insects emerge in abundance. And the birds respond as if the calendar has reset itself.
By late August, this corner of Arizona is alive with activity. Many resident species begin a second round of breeding, becoming vocal and visible in ways that make them easy to find and a joy to watch. Hummingbird diversity peaks with up to 15 species possible, drawn to the explosion of flowering plants that follow the rains. Buntings and sparrows sing from grassland edges. Early southbound migrants begin filtering through, adding new arrivals to an already extraordinary species list. Shorebirds appear at ponds and puddles where you’d least expect them. And in the sky islands — the remarkable mountain ranges that rise from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert floors like forested islands from a sea of grass — the birding reaches a density and diversity that rivals anywhere in North America.
Southeast Arizona sits at one of the great biological crossroads of the continent. Cool coniferous forests, oak and pine woodlands, desert scrub, riparian corridors, and open grasslands all converge within a half-day’s drive of Tucson, each harboring its own distinctive community of birds. The result is a region that supports more than 400 species throughout the year. And in the weeks following the monsoon, it feels like many of them are singing at once.
Join Reefs to Rockies for this small-group journey through the sky islands and canyons of southeast Arizona. A trip timed to catch this extraordinary region during second spring.
Itinerary
Day 1 | Tucson, Sweetwater Wetlands & Madera Canyon
Arizona welcomes us immediately. After meeting our guide and fellow travelers at Tucson International Airport, we make our first stop at Tucson Mountain Park where we’ll find a landscape of saguaro cactus, palo verde, and desert scrub punctuated by dramatic rocky outcrops and dry washes. Gambel’s quail, pyrrhuloxia, verdin, black-tailed gnatcatcher, and gilded flicker are all possible before we’ve even left the city limits.
From there, Sweetwater Wetlands offers a striking contrast with open-water ponds, cattail and bulrush marsh, cottonwoods, willows, and a flowing stream creating a desert oasis that draws an entirely different suite of species. Harris’s hawks are possible, and the wetland edges can hold pleasant surprises during early migration. By early afternoon, we head south toward the Santa Rita Mountains and the legendary Madera Canyon — one of the most celebrated birding sites in the entire country. Four species of tanagers, an array of hummingbirds, owls, flycatchers, sparrows, and warblers all await in the riparian woodland and oak forest that line the canyon’s intermittent stream. This evening, as the canyon settles into dusk, we venture out for owling with our local guide, a fitting introduction to the nights southeast Arizona has to offer.
Plan to arrive at Tucson International Airport (TUS) by 11 am on August 25.
Accommodations: Santa Rita Lodge
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2 | A Full Day in Madera Canyon
There are few better ways to begin a birding day than stepping off the porch of the Santa Rita Lodge directly into one of the most iconic birding spots in the United States. This morning, that’s exactly what we do. After breakfast, we work our way down into the lower areas around Florida Wash while the light is still low and the birds are most active, then make our way back up through the canyon trails and surrounding oak woodland as the morning progresses and temperatures begin to rise. Our local guide joins us for the full day, bringing deep knowledge of the canyon’s residents and a sharp eye for the species that make this place so special. Hummingbirds will be particularly spectacular at this time of year. The monsoon-driven bloom means feeders and flowers alike are busy with activity, and careful scanning can reveal multiple species in a single view.
Accommodations: Santa Rita Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3 | Tubac, Patagonia & the Road to Sierra Vista
This morning we check out of the lodge and head south, following the Santa Cruz River through some of the finest riparian birding in Arizona. Our first stop is Tubac, nestled between the Tumacacori and Santa Rita mountain ranges. A community where art, history, and extraordinary birdlife converge along the cottonwood-lined banks of the De Anza Trail. Unique raptors, flycatchers, and the possibility of a rose-throated becard make this a stop worth savoring, even briefly.
From Tubac we continue east to Patagonia, a small town in the Sonoita Creek valley that has earned an outsized reputation among birders worldwide. The Paton Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia Lake State Park, and the surrounding riparian and scrub habitats offer a rich variety of species. Our specific stops will be shaped by recent sightings and the group’s interests. By late afternoon we arrive at our beautiful bed and breakfast along the San Pedro River, where the surrounding cottonwoods and mesquite grasslands ensure the birding doesn’t stop just because the day’s driving has.
Accommodations: Casa de San Pedro B&B Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4 | The Huachuca Mountains: Ash Canyon, Miller Canyon & Ramsey Canyon
It may be difficult to leave the inn this morning. The feeders and pond at Casa de San Pedro, set against riparian cottonwoods with mesquite grasslands next door, are exceptional. But the Huachuca Mountains are calling, and they are worth every effort to reach. This range is home to some of the most celebrated birding in all of Arizona, and in late August the hummingbird diversity here is almost certainly unmatched anywhere else in the United States.
Our day moves through three remarkable sites. Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary is a private sanctuary renowned for its hummingbird feeders and the remarkable variety of species they attract. Beattie’s Guest Ranch at Miller Canyon offers a different canyon experience, with oak and pine woodland harboring a rich mix of breeding and migrant species. And Ramsey Canyon Preserve, managed by The Nature Conservancy, is one of the most famous hummingbird destinations in the country. If all goes well, today’s locations will offer one of the great wildlife spectacles of the American Southwest.
Accommodations: Casa de San Pedro B&B Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5 | Birding En Route & Return to Tucson
After a final breakfast at Casa de San Pedro, we check out and begin the journey back to Tucson. Stops along the way will be guided by recent reports and the group’s wish list before we arrive at Tucson International Airport in time for afternoon departures.
Plan to depart Tucson International Airport (TUS) after 3:00 p.m.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
About Your Expedition Leader
Carly Crow from Reefs to Rockies is thrilled to host this small-group wildlife expedition to Southeast Arizona. A passionate birder and field biologist, Carly has been immersed in avian research since 2017, specializing in bird banding and field studies. Her work has taken her across the U.S. and around the world, giving her a deep appreciation for the incredible diversity of birdlife and ecosystems. With experience leading research and educational projects in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Ecuador, Carly brings a spirit of curiosity, discovery, and enthusiasm to every trip she leads.
Details
Trip Price: $2795* per person based on two people sharing double occupancy accommodations. Add $530** if you prefer private, single occupancy accommodations.
Inclusions: accommodations; driver/guide; transportation from/to Tucson International Airport (TUS); daily guided birding with spotting scope available; local guide for owling session and full day in Madera Canyon (gratuities included); entrance fees and sugar funds; and all meals starting with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 5. A conservation donation will be made on behalf of all participants.
Exclusions: flights to/from Tucson International Airport (TUS-we’ll assist with flight recommendations); pre- or post- hotels; travel insurance; activities not listed; gratuities for lead guide and lodge staff; and personal expenses.
*Price is for payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable, will be assessed at time of payment based on card used.
** If you are a solo traveler that prefers to share a room, we’ll do our best to pair you. If we are unable to find a roommate for you, the private room supplement will apply.
Group Size: 5-8 + Guide. Reefs to Rockies is known for small group sizes, ensuring personalized attention and a better guest-to-guide ratio.
Level of Difficulty – Moderate: Much of our birding takes place at well-stocked feeding stations where shade, seating, and extraordinary close-up views of hummingbirds and other species make for an unhurried, accessible experience. Canyon birding at Madera, Miller, and Ramsey involves walking mostly well-maintained trails with some elevation gain and occasional uneven footing. Riparian birding along the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Rivers is largely flat and easy underfoot. Daily hiking totals are modest, generally no more than 3 to 4 miles, with individual birding stops rarely exceeding 1.5 miles round trip. Those who prefer to linger at the feeders rather than venture up the trails are always welcome to do so. We’ll make every effort to bird lower elevations in the cooler morning hours and move upslope as temperatures rise, though participants should be prepared for summer heat and humidity, particularly in the afternoon.