Birding in Arizona

The top birding locations in Arizona include Madera Canyon, Cave Creek Canyon, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Saguaro National Park, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Agua Caliente Park, Agua Nueva Park (was Roger Road WRF), Ahakhav Tribal Preserve, Ajo Sewage Ponds, Amado WTP, Anza Trail - Carmen (Clark Crossing Rd), Anza Trail - Rio Rico (Guy Tobin Trailhead), Anza Trail - Tubac, Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch, Aravaipa Canyon Road - west, Arivaca Lake, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Arlington Wildlife Area, Arthur Pack Regional Park, Ash Canyon Bird Sanctuary (closed Thursday morning), Ashurst Lake, Avra Valley WTP, Base and Meridian WA, Becker Lake, Beeline Highway - Sunflower, Benson STP, Betty's Kitchen/Laguna Dam, Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge - Headquarters and Delta, Box Bar Recreation Site, Box Canyon, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Brown Canyon Ranch (opened 2011), Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Aguirre Lake, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Arivaca Cienega, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge - Arivaca Creek Trailhead, California Gulch, Canoa Ranch Conservation Park, CAP Recharge Basin - Mile Wide Rd, Catalina State Park, Cave Creek Canyon, Cave Creek Canyon - South Fork, Cave Creek Canyon - Southwestern Research Station, Chiricahua National Monument, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge - Cornfield Nature Trail, Dankworth Pond State Park, Danny Lopez Park, Dateland, Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Dudleyville, Duncan Birding Trail, East Whitetail Canyon, El Rio Preserve, Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Evergreen Turf Sod Farm - Tweedy/Pretzer (bird from perimeter roads only), Florida Canyon - lower, Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area, Fort Huachuca, Fort Lowell Park and Pantano Wash, Ganado Lake, Garden Canyon, Gila Bend Sewage Ponds, Gilbert and Chandler Heights Rds. pond, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Lee's Ferry, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area - Wahweap, Glendale Recharge Ponds, Grand Canyon National Park - Desert View, Granite Basin Lake, Green Valley WRF (park outside fence, walk in only), Guadalupe Canyon, Guevavi Ranch, Harshaw Creek Road, Hassayampa River Preserve (closed Mon/Tue), Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge - Pintail Slough/North Dike, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge - South Dike, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge - Topock Marsh, Higley and Ocotillo Rds. ponds, Holbrook - Hidden Cove Golf Course, Huachuca Canyon, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Jewel of the Creek Preserve, Kachina Wetlands, Kennedy Park, Kino Springs, Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu - North end viewpoint, Lake Havasu City - Rotary Park, Lake Pleasant, Lakeside Park, Las Cienegas NCA, Las Cienegas NCA - Cottonwood Tanks, Las Cienegas NCA - Empire Gulch, Las Lagunas de Anza wetlands (Drive-in Ponds), Leslie Canyon National Wildlife Refuge, Little Colorado River - South Fork, Lower Lake Mary, Lower River Road Ponds, Luna Lake, Lyman Lake State Park, Madera Canyon - Proctor Road, Mammoth Sewage Ponds, Many Farms Lake, Marana Pecan Grove, McCormick Ranch - Camelback Lake (Chart House), Meteor Crater RV Park (check in at office for permission/access), Miller Canyon - lower (below Beatty's), Miller Canyon Trail, Mittry Lake, Montezuma Castle National Monument - Montezuma Well, Montosa Canyon - km 1 (culvert area), Morgan City Wash, Mormon Lake, Needle Rock Recreation Area, Neely Ranch Riparian Preserve, Nogales WTP, Oak Flat, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - Quitobaquito Springs, Page Springs Fish Hatchery - Bubbling Ponds Preserve, Paloma Ranch, Parker Canyon Lake, Pasture Canyon, Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia Lake State Park - Birding Trail, Patagonia Roadside Rest Area, Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, Paton Center for Hummingbirds (Patons' Yard), Payson - Green Valley Park, Pena Blanca Lake, Petrified Forest National Park, Phoenix Zoo, Picacho Reservoir, Portal, Portal - Willow Tank, Portal-Paradise Road, Prescott - Goldwater Lakes, Prescott - Lynx Lake, Prescott - Willow Lake, Ramsey Canyon Preserve, Randolph GC/Hardesty Building, Red Rock State Park, Riggs and Price Rds. ponds, Rio de Flag - Picture Canyon, Rio de Flag - Willow Bend/Urban Trail, Rio Salado Project, Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch, Roosevelt Lake, Roosevelt Lake - Bermuda Flat, Roosevelt Lake - Orange Peel Day Use Area, Roosevelt Lake - Schoolhouse CG, Roper Lake State Park, Ruby (ghost town - closed June 2024), Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Sabino Dam and downstream riparian, Saguaro Lake, Saguaro Lake - Butcher Jones Beach, Sahuarita - North Santa Cruz Park, Saint David - Holy Trinity Monastery, Salt River - Coon Bluff Recreation Area, Salt River - Goldfield Recreation Area, Salt River - Granite Reef Recreation Area, Sam Lena Park and KERP, San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge, San Carlos Lake, San Carlos Lake, San Carlos Lake - Old San Carlos Monument, San Pedro River Inn, San Pedro RNCA - Charleston Bridge, San Pedro RNCA - Fairbank, San Pedro RNCA - generic, San Pedro RNCA - Hereford Bridge, San Pedro RNCA - San Pedro House and trails, San Rafael Grasslands, San Simon Cienega (Arizona), Santa Cruz Flats Travel Count, Santa Cruz River - Cortaro Road, Santa Cruz River - Ina Road, Santa Gertrudis Lane (foot access only), Sedona Wetlands Preserve, Seven Springs Recreation Area, Sierra Vista EOP, Sierra Vista Golf Center at Pueblo del Sol, Slaughter Ranch, Snowflake - Cottonwood Wash/Silver Creek confluence, Solar Power & Water Ponds, Spot Road Farm, Stateline Road, Sweetwater Wetlands, Sycamore Canyon (Pajarito Mountains), Tanque Verde Wash - Tanque Verde Loop Road, Tanque Verde Wash - Wentworth Road, Tempe Town Lake, The Lakes at Castle Rock, Upper Lake Mary, Veterans Oasis Park, Walnut Canyon Lakes, Watson Lake and Riparian Preserve, Wenima WA, Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, Wickenburg - Secret Ponds, Willcox - Lake Cochise and Twin Lakes Golf Course, Yuma East Wetlands, Yuma West Wetlands. Each offers unique habitats and species.

The best seasons for birding in Arizona are Spring and Summer and Fall and Winter. Spring migration brings diverse species through the area. Winter offers opportunities for cold-weather specialties and waterfowl.

Notable species in Arizona include Elegant Trogon, Rivoli's Hummingbird, Painted Redstart, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Arizona Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Verdin, Crissal Thrasher, and more. The state supports forest, mountain, desert, wetland, urban park, chaparral, canyon, lake, river/riparian, coastal, grassland habitats.