Birds of Maricopa County

Arizona Birding References

If you're new in Arizona, planning a birding trip here, or just curious about birding in the state, this page is for you. We list books on Arizona birds and birding, arranged by region, followed by a list of magazine articles related to Arizona birds. Regional on-line guides also can be found on the Geographical birding guide section of this site. Books on Arizona, its history, geography, and biology, can be found on the University of Arizona Press site.

The reference lists are followed by a list of stores specializing in birding books, including several in the state.

Quick Directory

Books on Arizona Birds and Birding

Arizona - General

  • Brown, David E., Arizona Game Birds. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1989).
  • Brown, David E., Arizona Wetlands and Waterfowl. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1985).
  • Carr, John N., Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide. Falcon Press, Helena, MT (1992). Capsule information on 90 sites (including many good birding sites) all over Arizona.
  • Glinski, Richard L., editor, The Raptors of Arizona. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1998). Detailed reference on hawks, vultures, and owls found in Arizona.
  • Guterson, Ben, Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year - Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, CO (1994). Covers many seasonal birding opportunities in the Four-Corners states.
  • Howell, Steve, and Sophie Webb, A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England (1995). Comprehensive guide to birds of Mexico, useful in ID'ing those rarities in Southeast Arizona.....
  • Monson, Gale, and Allan R. Phillips, Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona. Second edition, revised and expanded. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1981). Good pocket reference, with information on habitat, frequency of occurrence, etc.
  • Russell, Stephen M., and Gale Monson, The Birds of Sonora. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1998). New reference on the region south of Arizona, covering 525 species.
  • Rosenberg, Gary H., and Dave Stejskal, Field Checklist of the Birds of Arizona, Arizona Bird Committee, Phoenix, AZ (1995)
  • Arizona Atlas and Gazetteer. DeLorme Mapping, Freeport, ME (1993). An indispensable aid to getting around Arizona, with info on wildlife viewing as well.

Northeast Arizona

  • Jacobs, Brad, Birding on the Navajo and Hopi Reservations. Jacobs Publishing Co., Sycamore, MO (1986). Out of print. Los Angeles Audubon has some copies available.
  • LaRue, Charles T., Birds of Northern Black Mesa, Navajo County, Arizona. Reprinted from The Great Basin Naturalist 54:1-63 (1994)

Northwest Arizona

Central Arizona (incl. Phoenix)

  • Burns, Jim and Rupp, Michael, Beginner’s Field Guide to Birds of Phoenix.   Bilingual pocket guide features 56 bird species commonly found in the Phoenix area.  Suitable for K-6th grade, although useful to all beginning birders.  Published by Maricopa Audubon Society.
  • Gilmore, Virginia, Birding Sedona and the Verde Valley, Northern Arizona Audubon Society (1999). Available through the NAAS website.
  • Rea, Amadeo M., Once a River: Bird Life and Habitat Changes on the Middle Gila. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1983). Good reference on historical and recent (through 1980) birdlife on the Gila and Salt Rivers near Phoenix.
  • Wingert, Kathy, Birding In and Around Prescott and the Verde Valley. Guide to 25 sites around Prescott and the Verde Valley. Left Hand Press, 1030 Quiet Pines Lane, Prescott, AZ 86303 (1996)
  • Witzeman, J., S. Demaree, and E. Radke, Birds of Phoenix and Maricopa County, Arizona. Maricopa Audubon's guide to birding the greater Phoenix area, published May 1997.
  • Rupp, Michael, The Birds-Eye Guide To 101 Birding Sites in and around Phoenix, out of print

Southwest Arizona

  • Rosenberg, Kenneth V., R.D. Ohmart, W.C. Hunter, and B.W. Anderson, Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, Arizona (1991). Hardbound, good reference on habitat, locations, species occurrence for the Colorado River along the Arizona border.

Southeast Arizona

  • American Birding Association, Birdfinding in Forty National Forests and Grasslands, Supplement to Birding, Vol. 26, no. 2, April 1994 (American Birding Association, Colorado Springs, CO) - Section on the Coronado Nat'l Forest.
  • Taylor, Richard C., A Birder's Guide to Southeastern Arizona, American Birding Association, P.O. Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 80934 (1995). Both this guide and the Tucson Audubon guide ("Davis and Russell", below) are excellent; available through American Birding Association Sales, (800) 634-7736.
  • Taylor, Richard C.,
    • Location Checklist to the Birds of the Chiricahua Mountains.
    • Location Checklist to the Birds of the Huachuca Mountains and the Upper San Pedro River.

Borderland Productions, 2550 W. Calle Padilla, Tucson, AZ (1993).

  • Tucson Audubon Society, Davis and Russell's Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, Tucson Audubon Society, 300 E. University #120, Tucson, AZ 85705 (1999). An excellent guide, available through Tucson Audubon, (520) 629-0510. New!Just updated!

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Magazine Articles

The following articles are all from Birding, published by the American Birding Association.

  • Cassin's and Botteri's Sparrows, Kenn Kaufman, Vol. 21, No. 6, Dec. 1989
  • Arizona Birding Pitfalls, Part 1: Species We Take for Granted, Gary H. Rosenberg, Vol. 22, No. 3, June 1990
  • Identification of Ruddy and Common Ground-Doves, Jon L. Dunn and Kimball L. Garrett, Vol. 22, No. 3, June 1990
  • Arizona Birding Pitfalls, Part 2: The Mexican Connection, Gary H. Rosenberg, Vol. 22, No. 4, Aug. 1990
  • On Separating Female and Immature Oporornis Warblers in the Fall, Peter Pyle and Phil Henderson, Vol. 22, No. 5, Oct. 1990
  • Notes on Plumage Variation in Adult Red-naped and Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Paul Lehman, Vol. 23, No. 1, Feb. 1991
  • Identification of Female Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks, Joseph Morlan, Vol. 23, No. 4, Aug. 1991
  • A Closer Look: Rare, Local, Little-Known, and Declining North American Breeders: Common Black-Hawk, Jay H. Schnell, Vol. 23, No. 5, Oct. 1991
  • The Aztec Thrush in the United States, Dale A. Zimmerman, Vol. 23, No. 6, Dec. 1991
  • Rare, Local, Little-Known, and Declining North American Breeders: A Closer Look: Lucifer Hummingbird, Peter E. Scott, Vol. 25, No. 4, Aug. 1993
  • Identification of Western and Clark's Grebes: The Minnesota Experience, Kim Eckert, Vol. 25, No. 5, Oct. 1993
  • Notes on Immature Double-crested and Neotropic Cormorants, Michael A. Patten, Vol. 25, No. 5, Oct. 1993
  • Field Identification of Common and Great Black-Hawks, William S. Clark and Brian K. Wheeler, Vol. 27, No. 1, Feb. 1995
  • A Closer Look: Varied Bunting, Mark W. Lockwood, Vol. 27, No. 2, Apr. 1995
  • White-crowned Sparrow Subspecies: Identification and Distribution, Jon Dunn, Kimball Garrett, and Jonathan Alderfer, Vol. 27, No. 3, June 1995
  • Spizella Sparrows: Intraspecific Variation and Identification, Peter Pyle and Steve N.G. Howell, Vol. 28, No. 5, Oct. 1996
  • Rare, Local, Little-Known, and Declining North American Breeders: A Closer Look: Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Rick Bowers, Nora Bowers, and John B. Dunning, Jr., Vol. 28, No. 5, Oct. 1996
  • Field Identification of the Solitary Vireo Complex, Matt. T. Heindel, Vol. 28, No. 6, Dec. 1996
  • PhotoNote: Intraspecific Variation in Adult Male Flame-colored Tanagers, Chris D. Benesh, Vol. 29, No. 5, Oct. 1997
  • Rare, Local, Little-Known, and Declining North American Breeders: A Closer Look: Baird's Sparrow, Stephanie L. Jones, Michael T. Green, and Geoffrey R. Geupel, Vol. 30, No. 2, Apr. 1998
  • Rare, Local, Little-Known, and Declining North American Breeders: A Closer Look: Montezuma Quail, Julie C. Hagelin, Vol. 30, No. 5, Oct. 1998
  • The Next New ABA Birds: Southern Arizona and Southwestern New Mexico, Roy Jones, Vol. 30, No. 6, Dec. 1998
  • The Forgotten Grasslands: Reflections on Southwestern Bird Life, David S. Wilcove, Vol. 31, No. 3, June 1999

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Bookstores

In the Phoenix area:

  • Wild Birds Unlimited
    6432 S. McClintock Dr.
    Tempe, AZ 85283
    (602) 777-7991

  • Pond & Pet Center
    10701 N. Scottsdale Rd.
    Scottsdale, AZ 85260
    (602) 922-4910

Other stores in Arizona:

  • Hassayampa River Preserve
    Box 3290
    Wickenburg, AZ 85358
    (520) 684-2772
  • Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum
    Superior, AZ
    (520) 689-2811
  • Tucson Audubon Society carries a wide selection of books at their store:
    300 E. University #120
    Tucson, AZ 85705
    (520) 629-0510

Outside Arizona:

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