Cave Creek Canyon
Arizona · Southwest
Moderate
April-September
$5 day-use fee per vehicle
Dawn to dusk daily
About This Location
Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains is the premier spot in the US for Mexican mountain species, including the Elegant Trogon and rare vagrants. The dramatic canyon with its towering rhyolite cliffs hosts an incredible diversity of breeding birds from April through September.
Location
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Notable Species
Live Bird Data
Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Notable Sightings
Rare or unusual species spotted nearby in the last 14 days
Lucifer Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer
Curve-billed Thrasher (curvirostre Group)
Toxostoma curvirostre
Berylline Hummingbird
Saucerottia beryllina
White-eared Hummingbird
Basilinna leucotis
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Peucaea carpalis
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Thick-billed Kingbird
Tyrannus crassirostris
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Turkey Vulture
Acorn Woodpecker
Mexican Jay
Common Raven
Northern House Wren
House Finch
Northern Yellow Warbler
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Birding Tips
- 1
Stay at the research station for immersive birding
- 2
South Fork is the most reliable area for Elegant Trogon
- 3
Visit during spring migration (April-May) for the greatest species diversity
- 4
Arrive at dawn for peak bird activity, especially during migration seasons
- 5
Listen for woodpecker drumming and warbler songs before scanning the canopy
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Chiricahua National Monument
More in Arizona
Madera Canyon
Santa Rita Mountains canyon famous for Elegant Trogons and diverse hummingbirds.
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
The Hummingbird Capital of the US with up to 15 species in the Huachuca Mountains.
Saguaro National Park
Iconic Sonoran Desert park with saguaro-nesting specialists and desert bird diversity.
Arizona Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Arizona →