Arizona Raptor Tour
Arizona Raptor Tour
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When you have been standing on the Navajo Bridge watching for condors for a long time and then they just suddenly appear in the distance and get closer, it is just magical and so special. The accommodations were great as were the selections of Mexican restaurants! I recommend this trip to anyone who has a passion for raptors.”
Andrea Warner, USA. 2017 Edition.
Common Black Hawk Migration in Southeastern Arizona
Many Neotropical species reach the northern extent of their breeding range in southeastern Arizona, plus there are many widespread western raptors breeding, wintering, or migrating there. This tour has been designed to see most of these raptors, with much time devoted to watching raptor migration at the newly discovered Tubac count site south of Tucson, perhaps the best place to see Common Black Hawk (up to 68 in a day!), and where some 20 species of raptors have been recorded. Also seen there regularly are Zone-tailed and Gray Hawks.
We will go to the hawk count every morning until noon, as most of the visible flight is in the morning. But we will stay there on overcast or cloudy days, and return in late afternoon on some days to watch raptors settle in for their night roosts.
Afternoon Trips to See Other Raptors
We will make afternoon trips to several other areas where raptors are common, including the Sulphur Spring valley, the San Rafael grasslands, the Santa Cruz flats, and urban Tucson, the latter to see urban-breeding raptors. Further, we will go looking for a partial albino Red-tailed Hawk, and visit a few hummingbird feeding stations.
- SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY. (Could be an all-day trip.) Wintering raptors, including Ferruginous Hawk, Northern Harriers, Merlin, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, both Bald, and Golden Eagles, and others.
- SAN RAFAEL GRASSLANDS and HARSHAW CANYON. Raptors include White‑tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Gray and Zone‑tailed Hawks, and Prairie Falcon.
- SANTA CRUZ FLATS. Wintering raptors, including Harlan’s Hawk, dark- & rufous‑morph Red‑tailed Hawks, Crested Caracaras, Golden Eagles, and four species of falcons.
- TUCSON for nesting raptors, especially Harris’s and Cooper’s Hawks, and a partial‑albino Red‑tailed Hawk. Also wintering ones, such as Merlin.
A Relaxing Escape
The tour will be conducted at a leisurely pace, with lots of time to observe each raptor (and other birds, too), yet leaving some time to relax at our hotel. We should see as many as 25 diurnal raptors and 150+ total bird species.
Make a difference!
Raptours®, L.L.C. will make financial contributions to Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and to the Tubac raptor count for every member that signs up for this tour. Join us and make a lasting contribution to raptor conservation.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
11 MARCH
Arrive in Tucson International Airport (IATA code TUS), and transfer to the Baymont by Wydham Tucson Airport hotel (5 min). 5 PM, meet with tour leader at the lobby. Dinnner and overnight at the hotel.
Days 2
12 MARCH
Breakfast and check out. Then drive to the Tubac hawk‑watch for the rest of the morning. The most common raptor passing is Common Black Hawk. Other migrants include Turkey Vultures, Sharp‑shinned, Red‑tailed and Swainson’s Hawks, Golden Eagles, and Peregrine Falcons. Also around are local breeding raptors such as Zone‑tailed, Gray, and Cooper’s Hawks, Black Vultures, and American Kestrels. Lunch in Tubac. Target local raptors in the afternoon. Check in at the Best Western Sonora Inn & Suites in Nogales.
Days 3–8
13–18 MARCH
From our base in Nogales we will visit Tubac every morning to watch the migration. After eating lunch, we will make afternoon trips to other areas, except for overcast days, which will be spent at the hawk watch. Lunches will vary, from sit‑down to picnics. We will go out for dinner at local restaurants.
Day 9
19 MARCH
Mostly a driving day to reach Marble Canyon before sunset. Check out after breakfast and head north stopping at the Santa Cruz Flats along the way to target Harlan’s Hawk, dark- & rufous‑morph Red‑tailed Hawks, Crested Caracaras, Golden Eagles, and American Kestrel, Merlin,Prairie and Peregrine Falcons. Lunch en route. Arrive by mid-afternoon and check-in at the hotel. Visit Navajo Bridge before sunset to wait for California Condors to settle in for the night. Dinner and overnight in Marble Canyon.
Day 10
20 MARCH
All day in Marble Canyon area looking for California Condors. We will visit Navajo Bridge and drive the Honey Moon Trail along the Colorado River valley—an area of stunning beauty.
Day 11
21 MARCH
Breakfast and checkout. Stop at the Navajo Bridge for the last time to look at Condors, then start heading back to Tucson. Lunch en route. Optional drop off in Flagstaff Pulliman Airport (IATA code: FLG) at noon, or at Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl. Airport (IATA code: PHX), around 3:30 PM. Tour ends in Tucson at 6 PM.
Target Species
Common Name
- Turkey Vulture
- Black Vulture
- California Condor
- Osprey
- White-tailed Kite
- Golden Eagle
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Northern Harrier
- Bald Eagle
- Common Black Hawk
- Harris’s Hawk
- Gray Hawk
- Swainson’s Hawk
- Zone-tailed Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Ferruginous Hawk
- Crested Caracara
- American Kestrel
- Merlin
- Prairie Falcon
- Peregrine Falcon
Latin Name
- Cathartes aura
- Coragyps atratus
- Gymnogyps californianus
- Pandion haliaetus
- Elanus leucurus
- Aquila chrysaetos
- Accipiter striatus
- Astur cooperii
- Circus hudsonius
- Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Buteogallus anthracinus
- Parabuteo unicinctus
- Buteo plagiatus
- Buteo swainsoni
- Buteo albonotatus
- Buteo jamaicensis
- Buteo regalis
- Caracara plancus
- Falco sparverius
- Falco columbarius
- Falco mexicanus
- Falco peregrinus
Suggested Field Guides
Clark, W.S. and B.K. Wheeler. 2001. Field guide to Hawks of North America (2nd Edition). Peterson series no. 35. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
Wheeler, B.K. and W.S. Clark. 1995. A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors. Academic Press, London.
Need To Know
Tour Dates & Availability
11-21 March 2023 | 10 Places
Group Size Limits
2-12 Participants
Tour Price
Tour price is US$4,125 and includes hotels (double occupancy), breakfast, ground transportation, entry fees, and guide fees.
Flights to and from Tucson, entrance visas (if applicable to you), extra nights, meals other than breakfast, drinks, items of personal nature, tips, and insurance of any kind are not included. Estimate US$40-50 per person per day for meals and drinks.
A non-refundable Registration Fee of US$250 will be requested at the time of booking. This fee counts against the total tour price.
Single supplement is US$750.
Roommates will be assigned to those participants willing to share a room. If a roommate is not available, you will be required to pay the single supplement.
Booking & Payment
Use the ‘Book This Tour’ button above to fill out the online booking form at your earliest convenience. Participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. This online form is contractual.
Once your application information is reviewed, and your application approved, the non-refundable Registration Fee will be requested (credit cards via PayPal only).
Once we have reached the minimum number of participants (2) the remaining balance, plus any applicable Single Supplement fees will be requested. Wire transfer is the preferred method of payment. Credit card payments are also accepted but a $145 handling fee applies.
Trip Cancellations
All cancellation requests must be made in writing to Raptours, L.L.C.
Cancellations requested before 1 December 2022 will be subject to a full refund minus the non-refundable $250 Registration Fee.
No refunds will be made for cancelations requested on 1 December 2022 or after.
Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time with full refund (including the Registration Fee) to participants.
Travel cancellation insurance is recommended.
Difficulty
Easy. No strenuous walks are necessary. Some long drives involved.
Comfort
Good to Very Good | Guide-to-participant ratio 1:8 or better
We will stay in comfortable hotels (three stars). Free wi-fi, either in rooms or public areas, will be available. We will travel in a comfortable van to and from the birding areas.
Wheather & Clothing
The weather in Tucson will be nice, with a chance of thunder showers. Bring a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and sunglasses. Bring a camera, a refillable water bottle, and of course, binoculars. Zach will have a top-of-the-line Zeiss Conquest Gavia 85 telescope, but you may bring your own scope if you wish.
Tour Start & End Points
Tour starts at the Baymont by Wydham Tucson Airport hotel where your will meet the tour leader on Day 1. The hotel has a free shuttle service you can use upon arrival and before your departure. Tour ends at the Tucson International Airport (IATA code TUS). Alternatively, you may opt to be dropped off in Flagstaff (IATA code FLG) or Phoenix (IATA code PHX) airports, on the way back from Marble Canyon.
Tour Reports
Tour Map
Tour Leader
Since 2014 Zach also leads our Veracruz River of Raptors Tour in Mexico, where he has been an official counter.
Tour Co-Leader
Sue leads the Skagit Flats Raptor Tour (in WA State and British Columbia) every February, and starting in 2022 she co-leads the Veracruz River of Raptors Tour in Mexico.
Sue is eager to co-lead this Arizona Raptor Tour for the first time in 2023!
Sue is also the head of Raptor Studies Northwest, an NGO dedicated to education and the conservation of raptors in the Pacific Northwest.
Tour Showcase
© Sergio Seipke
© Sergio Seipke
© B. Clark
© B. Clark
© Sergio Seipke
© Sergio Seipke
Terms
Raptours, L.L.C. reserves the right to alter this itinerary as necessary, or to cancel the tour prior to departure, with full refund to participants.
Raptours, L.L.C. or its agents may decline to accept or retain any person as a member of this tour at any time.
No smoking will be permitted while with the group, either when indoors or in the field.
Travel medical insurance is strongly recommended.
All passengers will be required to sign a hard copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form upon meeting with the tour leader in Tucson.
No participants will be allowed in the group without a signed copy of the Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk form.
Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Form
(including Terms)