Day 3: Madera Canyon. This morning we start with a visit to Madera Canyon, checking the mesquite/ocotillo grasslands for Varied Bunting and Cassin's and Botteri's Sparrows before moving into the canyon itself. Exploring the large sycamores and lush pine-oak woodland, we’ll seek Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and the rare Flame-colored Tanager. Madera Canyon is an excellent mid-elevation site for easy birding and hosts an impressive diversity of species. Later we’ll drive toward the Chiricahua Mountains, stopping en route to check Cochise Lake for shorebirds and waterfowlbefore settling in Portal for a little afternoon birding. Black-chinned Sparrow, Juniper Titmouse, and the elusive Montezuma Quail will be our targets before dusk brings out owls and nightjars right outside our hotel. Tonight is the first of two nights in Portal.

Day 4: Cave Creek. In famous Cave Creek Canyon and South Fork we’ll bird against the majestic backdrop of towering canyon walls and mammoth sycamores. This area supports a large population of Elegant Trogons and Spotted Owls can sometimes be seen roosting during the day. The oversized Blue-throated Hummingbird is common here. The nearby yucca-dominated Chihuahuan desert is home to a variety of species that includes Bendire's Thrasher, Scaled Quail, Scott's Oriole, and Harris's Hawk. Portal has a good feeder setup frequented by Crissal Thrasher and several hummingbirds.

Day 5: Chiricahua Highlands. The highland forest of Rustler and Barfoot Parks is home to a host of thrushes, warblers, flycatchers, vireos, tanagers, grosbeaks, and the localized Mexican Chickadee. This area has also become a fairly reliable site for Short-tailed Hawk, a rare breeder in recent years. As we listen for the diminutive “Mountain” Pygmy-Owl, we’ll take in the spectacular montane scenery and the wide open views over the high peaks. Driving down out of the Chiricahuas we’ll be greeted by the yucca grasslands, good for Zone-tailed Hawk, Prairie Falcon, and open country birds like Lark Bunting. We'll head for the San Pedro River, a fantastic riparian corridor of huge cottonwoods and willows forming a ribbon oasis in the surrounding desert. Here we look for a wide variety of birds including Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrrhuloxia, and Abert's Towhee, all reliable residents. With luck perhaps we’ll turn up a Green Kingfisher or Ruddy Ground-Dove, both sporadically encountered at this site. Barn Owls and nesting Tropical Kingbirds are easily seen. We’ll stay the next two nights in Sierra Vista.

Day 6: Hummingbird Heaven. The mountain canyons of the Huachuchas offer the best hummingbird viewing anywhere in North America, with 14 species likely in a good season. Birders flock to Miller, Ash, and Ramsey Canyons to witness the frenzied feeder activity of dozens of hummingbirds pinwheeling in nonstop motion. White-eared Hummingbirds are the most regular of the great rarities recently recorded at the feeders.

Day 7: Carr Canyon. Carr Canyon's foothill scrub is good for Virginia's Warbler and Rufous-crowned Sparrow, while the pine forest above is dominated by brightly colored Buff-breasted Flycatchers and crested Greater Pewees, whistling their clear "José-María" song. Hepatic Tanager, Olive Warbler, and Plumbeous Vireo can also be found in the forest while Band-tailed Pigeons, Violet-green Swallows, and White-throated Swifts crisscross the peaks and valleys. Next we'll bird towards Nogales on the Mexican border, making a stop at some private feeders in the little town of Patagonia for Violet-crowned hummingbird. Nearby Sonoita Creek hosts Thick-billed Kingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, and sometimes a nesting pair Rose-throated Becards. We'll look for marsh birds, summering waterfowl, and herons and egrets before a late afternoon arrival in Nogales, our base for the night.

Day 8: Patagonia Lake & California Gulch. Patagonia Lake State Park is a mega hotspot for rarities like Black-capped Gnatcatcher. The hackberry-willow forest and mesquite bosques surrounding the lake have nesting Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Bell's Vireo, Lucy's Warbler, Brown-crested Flycatcher, and Hooded Oriole. Neotropic Cormorants reside on the lake. In the afternoon we'll head to California Gulch in pursuit of the very localized Five-striped Sparrow. This dry rugged terrain is also home to the rare Buff-collared Nightjar, known for its rich, bubbling song. As we listen for the nightjar, Elf and Western Screech-Owls will begin to call at dusk. We return to Nogales for the night, and our headlights will reveal Common Poorwills resting on the road along the way.

Day 9: Sonoita Creek. We'll start at the lush Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve looking for riparian songbirds and then we’ll check local ponds for Black-bellied Whistling-Duck and shorebirds. Heading north toward Tucson, we’ll bird the riparian thickets along the Santa Cruz River and enjoy a drive through the Tucson Mountains, filled with tremendous saguaros. Dinner and a final run through the checklist at our Tucson hotel will round out the tour.

Day 10: Tucson. You'll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.