Birding Catalina State Park in Arizona
Park Near Tucson Offers Wide Range of Resident and Migratory Birds
Oct 29, 2009
Southeast Arizona is a favored destination for birders from across the U.S. and beyond. Warm year-round temperatures, proximity to Mexico and a broad range of elevations result in an un-matched abundance of bird species. Tucson is centered in this bird-rich environment, and a variety of birding sites are easily reached from the city. One of the best of these is Catalina State Park.
Catalina State Park near Tucson
In addition to the state's more famous national parks, like Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest, Arizona is home to 27 beautiful state parks. Some of these are relatively remote, but Catalina State Park is in the heart of Tucson's northwest metropolitan area, across the highway from a major shopping center.
The park consists of 5,500 acres of mixed desert and riparian habitat on the northwest slopes of Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Mountains. More than 5,000 Saguaro cactus cover the lower elevations of the park, which is also home to mesquite, ash, oak, sycamore and cottonwood trees. Eight trails cross the park, and campgrounds, picnic areas and an equestrian center are available. First-class birding is found throughout the park, and free professionally-guided bird walks are offered every Friday morning from late October through April.
The Special Birds of Catalina State Park
Catalina Park's bird list, available at the entrance station, shows nearly 200 resident and migratory birds that can be found in the park. Some unusual visitors, such as the Rufous-backed Robin (from Mexico), are not on the published list, but have been seen increasingly over the past few years.
The park's two most special birds are the Rufous-winged Sparrow and the Crissal Thrasher. Both of these birds have limited U.S. ranges, and outside of Catalina State Park are not easily found. For unexplained reasons, however, both of these birds are common to the park. The rarest of the two, the Rufous-winged Sparrow, is so commonly found in the park that birders are almost guaranteed a sighting. The Crissal Thrasher, on the other hand, is more elusive, and the best way to find this bird is to familiarize yourself with its call, and track the bird once you hear it.
Permanent Resident Birds in Catalina Park
In addition to the Crissal Thrasher and the Rufous-winged Sparrow, another 44 species are permanent residents. The less common of these include Gambel's Quail, Cooper's and Harris's Hawk, Great-horned and Western Screech Owls, Gilded and Northern Flickers, Ladder-backed and Gila Woodpeckers, Say's Phoebe, Northern Beardless-tyrannulet, Verdin, Cactus Wren, Black-throated and Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Northern Cardinal and Pyrrhuloxia.
Catalina Park Birds to Look for during Fall Migration
Ten warblers can be found during fall migration, including Townsend's, Yellow, Black-throated Gray, Virginia's, Nashville, MacGillivray's and Wilson's. Of the park's eight listed hummingbirds, four are migratory, with the Rufous Hummingbird the most likely to be seen. Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and Lazuli Bunting are also regular migrants.
Other birds that may be seen in the fall include Plumbeous and Warbling Vireo, Olive-sided and Hammond's Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing and Pine Siskin.
Where to Look for Birds in Catalina Park
Birds can be found anywhere in the park, but three of the best places to find them are the Canyon Loop Trail, the area between the main trailhead parking lot and the wash and the trail from the picnic area parking lot, which is the one used for the Friday morning bird walks.
The lower half of the Canyon Loop Trail follows a seasonal stream, and the upper half of the trail crosses a scrub and mesquite area. The area around the main parking lot includes Hackberry and other trees favored by many birds, and the trail that originates behind the picnic area is little-traveled and generally rich with birds.
Birding Catalina State Park
At about 2,700 feet elevation, Catalina Park offers a wide range of birding opportunities. From late summer into December, many migratory birds join the park's resident birds, making this a particularly productive time to visit.
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