Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County, Arizona
Page Contents:
About the book
Book Review
Updates to the book
Page samples
List of vendors Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of vendors.
The third edition of this definitive guide, published in 2017 by Janet Witzeman, Troy Corman, Tommy Debardeleben and Laurie Nessel, is 228 pages, spiral-bound 5-3/4" X 8-1/2" field guide format, 82 full color photos, 93 graphs, and 10 maps. The first edition was published in 1972 by Janet Witzeman, Elanor Radke and Bix Demaree and revised in 1997.
Proceeds from the sale of this publication supports the conservation efforts of Maricopa Audubon Society.
About the book
This guide is for visitors and residents alike.
Birding Spots -Descriptions and maps direct birders to 82 birding spots in and around Phoenix as well as to far-reaching areas of the county.
Species accounts and bar graphs - The species accounts and bar graphs aid birders in determining status, abundance, seasonal occurrence, and habitat preference for 459 species (see updates below) that have been recorded in the County.
Habitats - A 17-page chapter on habitats found in the county includes full-color photographs and two maps depicting elevation and habitat.
Changes - A chapter discusses changes in the status of birds and their habitats in the county since the second edition. Twenty-seven color photos document some of the 33 birds new to the county since 1997.
Book Review
This book received a glowing review in Western Birds vol. 52(3), the Quarterly Journal of Western Field Ornithologists.
"Maricopa Audubon is to be congratulated to have published such a fine book and guide that describes its area so well in terms of the birds, the landscape the birds live in, and how the avian life of the area has fared in the unparalleled urban/suburban growth that Maricopa County has become. This publication was an act of love for those who volunteered to work on it and their devotion shines through on every page." -Catherine Waters
See full review here.
Updates
Page 34
10. Veterans Oasis Park: the last line in this section directs you to Zanjero Park where Burrowing Owls had been relocated. It was reported in January 2021 that all the owls have been relocated to Wild At Heart wildlife rehabilitation due to pressures from development.
Page 37
16. Apache Trail (SR 88) Closures: due to damage from the Woodbury Fire (June-July 2019) and subsequent flooding from Tropical Storm Lorena (September 23, 2019), sections of State Route 88 (Apache Trail) are closed. As of January 2024, ADOT is investing $4 million for an interim project to restore limited access to 5 miles of SR 88.
This plan will restore the unpaved roadway for high clearance, four-wheel drive, and utility terrain vehicles. It calls for removing boulders on Fish Creek Hill, mitigating rockfall as needed between Fish Creek Hill Overlook and Fish Creek (mileposts 222-223.5), making repairs to retaining walls, installing new signage, cleaning and potentially replacing damaged drainage culverts and taking other steps to safely reopen the highway for high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles.
Apache Junction (milepost 194) to Tortilla Flat (milepost 212) - Open to traffic
Just east of Tortilla Flat (milepost 213) to Fish Creek Hill Overlook/Rest Area (milepost 220) - Closed to the public
Fish Creek Hill Overlook/Rest Area (milepost 220) to Apache Lake Marina (milepost 229) - Closed indefinitely
Apache Lake Marina (milepost 229) to Roosevelt (milepost 242) - Closed to traffic
For more information, please visit the ADOT website.
Page 65
9. “Thrasher Spot” at Baseline Road/Salome Highway: As of winter 2024, this rare habitat has been converted to a solar array construction site.
New species:
Since the third edition was published in late 2017, six species have been added:
#460 Arctic Tern, 10 July, 2074, Painted Rock Dam, photo by Bob Witzeman, originally misidentified as Forster’s Tern, corrected by Dave Stejskal and accepted in 2023.
#461 Pacific Golden Plover, 11 September 2011, Glendale Recharge Pond, Melanie Herring (record accepted after publication).
#462 White-rumped Sandpiper, 3 July 2018, Gilbert Water Ranch, photo Sean Fitzgerald.
#463 adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 12 July 2018, Hassayampa River Preserve, photo Robert Bowker.
#464 Mexican Duck, given full species status (again) by the American Ornithological Society in June 2020.
#465 Chimney Swift, 17 September 2020, Buckeye, photo Caleb Strand.
#466 Jacana, found by Marceline VanderWater 14 December 2021 on the Fort McDowell Indian Nation.
#467 Fan-tailed Warbler, 13 November 2022, Granite Reef Recreation Area, photo Torin Waters.
#468 Great-crested Flycatcher, found by Dale Clark 23 September 2023 at Riggs and Price Roads ponds in Chandler. Last seen 24 September 2023.
Other updates:
p. 162 Barn Swallow
Recent sightings of nesting Barn Swallows means that nesting is no longer rare in Maricopa County. They include numerous sightings of barn swallows flying under CAP bridges throughout the greater Phoenix area by Walter Thurber, Don Witter, and Tom Gatz in June and July 2020. Dale Clark reported three circling at Riggs and Price Roads ponds in Chandler on 18 July 2020, and Dave Pearson reported them on the Gila River Indian Community as well as southwest of Phoenix.
Page sample from Birding Areas
Page sample from Species Accounts and Bar Graphs
List of Vendors
The book is sold at a 10% discount for $25.00 (cash, credit card, or check made out to: Maricopa Audubon Society) for current members of the Maricopa Audubon Society chapter and only at the Maricopa Audubon Society Members meetings.
The guide is also available for $26.95 through the following outlets:
Audubon Arizona Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center
3131 S. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85040
(602) 468-6470
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
37615 E US Highway 60
Superior, AZ 85173
(520) 689-2723
Buteo Books and ABA Sales (Available Online)
(800) 728-2460
customerservice@buteobooks.com
Desert Caballeros Western Museum
21 N Frontier Street
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
(928) 684-2272
Desert Rivers Audubon Society
Available at:
DRAS Member Meetings
Southeast Regional Library
775 N. Greenfield Road
Gilbert, AZ
Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month September through April from 7pm to 9pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Changing Hands Bookstore Tempe
6428 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 730-0205
Changing Hands Bookstore Phoenix
300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 274-0067
Hassayampa River Preserve
49614 U.S. Hwy 60
Wickenburg, AZ 85390
(928) 684-2772
The Lookout (formerly Jay’s Bird Barn)
1046 Willow Creek Rd Suite 105
Prescott, AZ 86301
(928) 443-5900
Maricopa Audubon Society meetings
North Phoenix Mountain Park
10608 N 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85020
(602) 262-7901
Pueblo Grande Museum
4619 E Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
(602) 495-0901
Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve
27 E Ramsey Canyon Road
Hereford, AZ 85615
(520) 378-2785
South Mountain Environmental Education Center
10409 S Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85042
(623) 334-7880
Superstition Mountain Museum 4087 N Apache Trail Apache Junction, AZ 85119
(480) 983-4888
Tovrea Castle
5025 E Van Buren Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(602) 256-3221
Tucson Audubon Society (Shop Online) Nature Shop on University Boulevard
300 E. University Boulevard #120
Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 629-0510 x7015
White Tanks Regional Park
20304 W White Tank Mountain Road
Waddell, AZ 85355
(623) 935-2505
Wide World of Maps
2133 E Indian School Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 279-2323
Wild Birds Unlimited Scottsdale
7001 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85253
(480) 306-5153
Wild Birds Unlimited Mesa
2136 E Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 507-2473