Trip to southeast Arizona (February 21-March 2)

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 22, 2026

 

Orange crowned Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 22, 2026

 

Yellow rumped Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 22, 2026

After a flight on Saturday the 21st from Texas into Tucson I picked up my rental car, got supplies and headed south to Amado where we rented an Airbnb. I arrived too late in the day to get much birding in so that would wait until Sunday. On Sunday I woke up early (as always) and headed north to begin my day at Sweetwater Wetlands. I needed to pick up Sherri midday in Tucson so wanted to bird locations up that way. I spent over two hours at the wetlands and during that time found four species of warblers with the following in descending order of abundance (Yellow rumped Warbler, Orange crowned Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Black throated Gray Warbler). All the Yellow rumped Warblers were Audubon’s subspecies and all the Orange crowned Warblers were the more nearly solid diffuse yellow of the west. I made another stop before picking up Sherri without finding any new warbler species. I had no luck finding any other warblers species the rest of the day during multiple walks. Although it started cool it warmed nicely to near 80 with abundant sun....weather we would enjoy for the entire trip.

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 23, 2026

Townsend's Warbler, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 23, 2026

On Monday, after a brief pre dawn visit to Montosa Canyon, we spent the morning in Madera Canyon arriving there around 7:45. It was a bit cool to start the day and a few areas that are normally hopping with birds were strangely quiet. Eventually it warmed up nicely and the birds responded somewhat but overall it seemed much quieter than when we were here last February. I really wanted to find a Painted Redstart for the year and I certainly looked and listened for one however it was not to be. All was not lost as I did find one new warbler for the year with some Townsend’s Warblers. Just two warbler species for the day with the second being Yellow rumped Warblers. 

Rufous capped Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Rufous capped Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Rufous capped Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Rufous capped Warbler habitat, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Painted Redstart, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Painted Redstart, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

Canyon view, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

 Black throated Gray Warbler, Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

 Yellow rumped Warblers 'Audubon's', Sycamore Canyon, Nogales, AZ, Feb 24, 2026

I made a long overdue trip down to Sycamore Canyon in the Pajarito Mountains west of Nogales, down near the Mexican border. The main goal for the long trip was to catch up with a pair of Rufous capped Warblers (the only ones currently known to be in the US). Although the species is fairly common south of the border they barely reach into the US in southern Arizona. I have seen the species one other time in the US and that was in Florida Canyon (near Madera Canyon) in 2010. I tried for one last year multiple times in Florida Canyon without any luck. I started the drive down at five and arrived there a little after 6:30 as it was getting light enough to see. The last several miles were over washboard roads with lots of curves and dips. I wanted to get there early before the heat of the day made it too hot and it certainly was not hot when I arrived with temps in the upper 30’s. The trail down the wash was tough to follow at times but not too bad. The scenery was absolutely spectacular and with each twist of the canyon more amazing views awaited. I eventually got down to the area where the Rufous capped Warblers had been reported. Not long after arriving I heard a Painted Redstart and eventually found two. I had hoped to see the species the previous day in Madera Canyon and missed them so picking them up for the day was nice and added a new warbler species for the year in the US. I then heard a chip note and then a couple songs from a Rufous capped Warbler and tried without success to see it. The bird then went quiet and I spent hours walking back and forth looking and listening. I had almost given up as it was getting to be late morning and the heat was rising and I still had to hike out when I once again heard some chipping and saw one and then two Rufous crowned Warblers working through the dense thickets along the stream. I got some decent photos and a recording so I was very happy. The sighting added another new warbler species for the year for me in the US, bringing that total to 28. In addition to the two previously mentioned warbler species I also had multiple Yellow rumped Warblers (all Audubon’s), an Orange crowned Warbler and a Black throated Gray Warbler. With the addition of a Common Yellowthroat during an afternoon walk at Canoa Ranch Conservation Park I totaled half a dozen species of warblers for the day. This would be my highest daily total of warblers for my time in Arizona. 

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Patagonia Lake SP, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 25, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Paton's Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 25, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Paton's Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia, AZ, Feb 25, 2026

Wednesday we decided to do a full loop of the Santa Rita Mountains heading south to start with the first destination being Patagonia Lake State Park. I was up well before dawn and made some minor cold symptoms so stayed close to the house. Around 7:15 we started our trip and once we arrived at Patagonia Lake State Park we stayed for three hours. There were a number of Yellow rumped Warblers and Orange crowned Warblers around as well as a single Common Yellowthroat. That would be all the species of warbler I would get for the day. After the lake it was on to Paton’s Center for Hummingbirds, then ice cream, cider and a brief stop to try for some unusual woodpeckers. We made it back to the house mid afternoon and enjoyed the cider while we sat outside and took in the warmth.

Black and White Warbler with leg band, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Black and White Warbler with leg band, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Black and White Warbler with leg band, Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Madera Canyon, AZ, Feb 26, 2026

A good nights sleep and some cold meds had me feeling better on Thursday so I tried again to find some unusual woodpeckers at a pecan grove about thirty minutes to the north. I found one of the unusual species there (a lifer Lewis’s Woodpecker) and had just a single species of warbler with a few Yellow rumped Warblers. I returned to pick up Sherri a little after eight and then we headed up to Madera Canyon again. We arrived a little later than our previous trip up there a few days ago and the temps were much more tolerable to start. We took our first walk a little lower in the canyon and this proved to be a great choice as it produced a new warbler for this trip to Arizona with a banded Black and White Warbler seen in a small mixed flock. This was my second Black and White Warbler in Arizona (saw one in April of 2012 in the Tucson area). The species is fairly unusual in winter so glad to catch up with it in February. Further walking and some time spent at the feeders at Santa Rita Lodge produced a Painted Redstart and gave me my third warbler species for the day. I tried to find more without any luck.

Black throated Gray Warbler, Anza Trail, Tubac, AZ, Feb 27, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Anza Trail, Tubac, AZ, Feb 27, 2026

I was up early on Friday and went to Montosa Canyon for nocturnal species and then down south to Tubac before returning to pick up Sherri and heading back to Tubac to walk at the Anza Trail along the Santa Cruz River. The trail was mainly in the shade from the large cottonwoods along the river. Yellow rumped Warblers were the main feature of the day with singles of Orange crowned Warbler and Black throated Gray Warbler. It was the first day in the low 90’s for the trip and it got tough to be out in the sun by midday.

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Black throated Gray Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Orange crowned Warbler, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, AZ, Feb 28, 2026

After a productive morning run up to Madera Canyon for owls I came back and picked up Sherri and we headed north to Sweetwater Wetlands. The initial plan was Madera Canyon for the morning but that was changed. The wetlands were productive as always and there were certainly warblers around with a total of five species with the most numerous being Yellow rumped and Orange crowned Warblers. I did manage to add a new one for the year in Arizona with a single Northern Yellow Warbler, which became the 9th warbler species for this trip. The rest of the day after the wetlands involved a drive up part of Mt Lemmon, some scouting for rentals for next year and enjoying the sun and warmth. 

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Mar 1, 2026

Townsend's Warbler, Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Mar 1, 2026

Yellow rumped Warbler 'Audubon's', Santa Rita Lodge, Madera Canyon, AZ, Mar 1, 2026

The last full day in Arizona was yet again sunny and eventually hot. After a brief check on Montosa Canyon before dawn we went up to Madera Canyon where we stayed until early afternoon and made a variety of walks as well as extended stationary time at Santa Rita Lodge. The trails were fairly quiet overall with the vast majority of warblers seen at Santa Rita Lodge with a total of three species including Painted Redstart, Townsend’s Warbler and Yellow rumped Warblers. The only warblers I saw away from the lodge were all Yellow rumped Warblers. 

With just a little time free in the morning before catching a midday flight out of Tucson I made a few stops with the first down in Tubac looking in vain for a Rufous backed Robin. After packing up we took a walk at Canoa Ranch again. Just a couple species of warblers for my limited time outside for the day. I then took a flight home to the snow and cold (and Wilson). 

Overall for the trip I had a total of nine species of warblers with three of those being new for the year (Townsend’s Warbler, Painted Redstart and Rufous capped Warbler). I didn’t add any new warbler species for Arizona on this trip (that total remains at 18 species). I now stand at 28 species of warbler in the US for the year.