Where to go

During the spring and fall months, as the neotropical species migrate, (April, May and late August to mid-October), the birds of the ponderosa pass through and many remain to nest in the secluded deeply wooded canyons.

In the winter months the juncos and sparrows, Marsh Wrens and waterfowl, escaping the frozen higher elevations to the north, stay and forage lower in the Verde Valley. Raptors ... Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Harrier, Merlin ... hunt for prey in the grasslands and riparian areas. Overlap occurs with resident populations of Red-tailed Hawk and Kestrel, the Song Sparrow, Bewick's Wren and Spotted Towhee.

The Verde Valley checklist is approximately 240 species.

The accessible riparian areas west of Sedona include Red Rock State Park (fee area), Page Springs Fish Hatchery and environs, Dead Horse State park in Cottonwood (fee area), Tavasci Marsh near Tuzigoot National Monument.
Travel the forest road north from Peck's Lake towards Sycamore Canyon, the Verde River offers great birding in the cottonwood stands at TAPCO, and the Common Black-hawk nests there.



Page Springs Fish Hatchery anchors the southern edge of Lower Oak Creek IBA.
The property is owned and managed by Arizona Game and Fish Dept, and is roughly divided by Oak Creek into two portions. The 'old' - warm water - hatchery consists of a series of small open ponds just west of Oak Cr. bordering Page Spgs Road, and is open to the public on a walk in basis. The 'new' - cold water - hatchery is just east of the same road and while primarily netted and fenced trout rearing bins, has excellent birding areas adjacent that are open to the public after 8AM daily.

The open ponds of the warm water side attract a dozen duck species during migration and winter (Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, Common Merganser), and some ponds are semi-defunct and shallow; supporting good marsh habitat; Sora, Virginia Rail and Common Yellowthroat breed; Lazuli Buntings, goldfinches and siskins are common migrants; Wilson's Snipe, Marsh Wren and many sparrows winter.

Good cottonwood dominated riparian zone is adjacent - supporting many breeding neo-tropical migrants. Common Black-Hawk is usually seen here from march to September. Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, Hooded and Bullock's Orioles, Cassin's and Western Kingbirds are all hard to miss. This is also one of very few breeding locations for Belted Kingfisher in Arizona.

Mesquite dominated shrub is another productive habitat present on the Page Springs property. Bell's Vireo, Abert's Towhee, Verdin, Lucy's Warbler are common breeders here, and many sparrows winter in this habitat.

Many warblers, tanagers and flycatchers stop over in the riparian corridor or gorge themselves in the mulberry trees here during migration. Page Springs checklist.

Mingus Mountain, particularly during spring, summer and fall months is productive of warblers - Olive, Grace's, Black-throated Gray, Virginia's are common breeders. Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown creeper, Red Crossbill, Flammulated Owl and House Wren are also to be looked for here.
Travel through the towns of Cottonwood and Jerome; at the summit of Mingus Mountain turn either right into Potato Patch, a camping area, or turn left and proceed 6 miles on a dirt road to the Mingus Mountain Camping and recreation area; accessible after the snow has melted usually mid-April.

Oak Creek Canyon supports a population of American Dipper, often nesting under the low-water crossing to Garland's Lodge. The Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart and Cordilleran Flycatcher nest in the canyon. Uncommon Magnificent Hummingbird and Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher have nested near the mouth of West Fork. The Broad-tailed Hummer breeds at its lowest elevation here and a very few Winter Wrens maintain a persistent residence here.

Montezuma Well NM, on Wet Beaver Creek, has harbored Eurasian Wigeon on rare occasions with the wintering American Wigeon. Sora, Virginia Rail are resident in the well: patience required. The residential area of Lake Montezuma is productive; the Vermilion Flycatcher can be seen on the golf course.

South of the Well, Wet Beaver Creek, Bull Pen Ranch Campground and the West Clear Creek campground (fee area) are good places to see Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Lucy's warbler, the orioles and Summer Tanager.

Route 260 toward Payson is productive of the Brown-crested Flycatcher. South from the town of Camp Verde the Salt Mine Road leads along the Verde River to Beasley Flats. Expect birds of the desert scrub; Crissal Thrasher, Verdin. Sparrows migrate through here and southern Bald Eagle nests farther south at Chasm Creek. Canada Geese, a rare Trumpeter Swan, Spotted Sandpiper may be seen on the river in winter. Look for a Zone-tailed Hawk using Turkey Vultures in flight for cover in summer.

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