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Madera Canyon

Arizona · Southwest

ModerateOfficial Site
Habitat
ForestMountainDesert
Best Seasons
SpringSummer
Difficulty

Moderate

Best Months

April-August

Entrance Fee

$5 day-use fee per vehicle

Hours

Dawn to dusk daily

About This Location

Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson is one of Arizona's most beloved birding destinations. The canyon's riparian corridor attracts a stunning variety of Mexican species at their northern range limits, including Elegant Trogon and numerous hummingbird species.

Location

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Notable Species

Elegant TrogonRivoli's HummingbirdPainted RedstartSulphur-bellied FlycatcherArizona Woodpecker

Live Bird Data

Powered by eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Notable Sightings

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

3/4/2026NAU Campus1 observed

Snow Goose

Anser caerulescens

3/4/2026Arthur Pack Regional Park3 observed

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

3/4/2026Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ajo US-AZ 31.92990, -112.976881 observed

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

3/4/2026Ron Morriss Park1 observed

Mallard x Mexican Duck (hybrid)

Anas platyrhynchos x diazi

3/4/2026Walnut Canyon Lakes1 observed

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

Aphelocoma woodhouseii

3/4/2026Catalina Regional Park1 observed

American Goldfinch

Spinus tristis

3/4/2026My Home1 observed

Plumbeous Vireo

Vireo plumbeus

3/4/2026Cottonwood gallery restoration site2 observed

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

3/4/2026Cottonwood gallery restoration site1 observed

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

3/4/2026Pantano River Park--Glenn St/Sahuara Ave (opened 2018)1 observed

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

3/4/2026Ron Morriss Park1 observed

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

3/4/2026West Clear Creek--Bull Pen Rd26 observed

Hooded Oriole

Icterus cucullatus

3/4/2026Battiste's Bird Garden1 observed

Curve-billed Thrasher (curvirostre Group)

Toxostoma curvirostre

3/4/2026Chiricahua Mtns.--Whitetail Canyon1 observed

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

3/4/2026Chiricahua Mtns.--Whitetail Canyon3 observed

Fox Sparrow (Red)

Passerella iliaca

3/4/2026Chiricahua Mtns.--Whitetail Canyon1 observed

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

3/4/2026Madera Canyon--Santa Rita Lodge

Scott's Oriole

Icterus parisorum

3/4/2026Campground Perimeter Trail, Ajo US-AZ 31.94174, -112.812721 observed

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

3/4/2026Ron Morriss Park1 observed

Scott's Oriole

Icterus parisorum

3/4/2026Madera Canyon--Pima Co.1 observed

Recent Observations

Black-throated Sparrow

Las Cienegas NCA--Cottonwood Tanks

3/4/2026

1 birds

Mexican Jay

Ramsey Canyon Cabins & Bird Sanctuary (opened 2022)

3/4/2026

3 birds

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Ramsey Canyon Cabins & Bird Sanctuary (opened 2022)

3/4/2026

1 birds

Say's Phoebe

Santa Cruz River--Sunset Rd.

3/4/2026

1 birds

Mourning Dove

Santa Cruz River--Sunset Rd.

3/4/2026

2 birds

Rock Pigeon

Santa Cruz River--Sunset Rd.

3/4/2026

2 birds

American Coot

The Lakes at Castle Rock

3/4/2026

3 birds

Vermilion Flycatcher

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

1 birds

Gila Woodpecker

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

2 birds

Orange-crowned Warbler

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

1 birds

Ruddy Duck

The Lakes at Castle Rock

3/4/2026

2 birds

Verdin

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

1 birds

Bewick's Wren

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

1 birds

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

7 birds

Lesser Goldfinch

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

4 birds

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

1 birds

Greater Roadrunner

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

1 birds

Abert's Towhee

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

4 birds

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Patagonia Lake--Sonoita Creek

3/4/2026

4 birds

Ring-necked Duck

The Lakes at Castle Rock

3/4/2026

4 birds

Birding Tips

  1. 1

    Visit the Santa Rita Lodge feeders for hummingbirds

  2. 2

    Hike the Super Trail for Elegant Trogon and Painted Redstart

Amenities

Parking
Restrooms
Trails
Picnic Areas

Nearby Attractions

  • Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

More in Arizona

Cave Creek Canyon

Chiricahua Mountains canyon and top US site for rare Mexican mountain species.

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.