Cave Creek Canyon - South Fork
Arizona · Southwest
Challenging
October-May
Free
Open daily, dawn to dusk
About This Location
Cave Creek Canyon - South Fork is a productive birding destination in Arizona, with 235 species recorded on eBird. This canyon and river/riparian habitat attracts White-throated Swift, Acorn Woodpecker, and Hutton's Vireo among many others. The unique desert and riparian habitats support specialty species alongside wintering and migrating birds.
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
Thick-billed Kingbird
Tyrannus crassirostris
Curve-billed Thrasher (curvirostre Group)
Toxostoma curvirostre
Lucifer Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer
White-eared Hummingbird
Basilinna leucotis
Flame-colored Tanager
Piranga bidentata
Bendire's Thrasher
Toxostoma bendirei
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
Townsend's Solitaire
Myadestes townsendi
American Goshawk
Astur atricapillus
White-eyed Vireo
Vireo griseus
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Recent Observations
Species reported at this location in the last 14 days
Acorn Woodpecker
Plumbeous Vireo
Painted Redstart
Pyrrhuloxia
Coppery-tailed Trogon
Mexican Jay
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
White-throated Swift
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Turkey Vulture
Arizona Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Peregrine Falcon
Black Phoebe
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Hutton's Vireo
Common Raven
Birding Tips
- 1
Listen for echoing calls of Canyon Wren and other canyon specialties.
- 2
Check rocky ledges and cliff faces for nesting raptors.
- 3
Carry extra water and sun protection; mornings are the prime birding window.
- 4
Bird activity peaks at dawn in desert habitats; arrive at first light for the best sightings.
- 5
Hummingbird feeders at nature centers and lodges attract multiple species — visit during late summer for peak diversity.
Amenities
Nearby Attractions
- Chiricahua National Monument
- Portal AZ
- Southwestern Research Station
More in Arizona
Arizona Birding Guide
Complete guide to birding in Arizona →