Nearly 200 birds have been recorded in Catalina State Park near Tucson, Arizona, making it one of the best metropolitan birding sites in Arizona, a state that draws bird watchers from around the world.
Arizona's Catalina State Park
One of 27 state parks in a state known for parkland diversity, Catalina State Park offers more than what might be expected, particularly in a park so close to the state's second-largest city. Just 25 miles northwest of downtown Tucson, and directly across from a major suburban shopping center, Catalina Park covers 5,500 acres of Saguaros adjacent to the Coronado National Forest. The park entrance lies at 2,700 feet above sea level, and a variety of habitat within the park includes Sonoran Desert mesquite bosques, grassland, washes, canyons and mountain foothills.
The park borders the slopes of 9,157-foot high Mt. Lemmon, and several of the park's trails continue beyond the park boundary, connecting with other trails, and leading ultimately to the mountain's peak. The contiguous national forest expands the park's range of habitat and elevation, and contributes substantially to the diversity of wildlife found within the park's boundaries.
Catalina Park is rich with wildlife, including foxes, White-nosed cuati, rattlesnakes, bobcats and coyotes. Of all of the park's wildlife, however, the most obvious and easily observed are the birds.
The Birds of Catalina State Park
The park is well-focused on birds, with a published birdlist and a seasonal weekly bird walk led by professional birding guide, Denis Wright. The park's checklist of birds names 177 species, 46 of which are permanent residents, including the Greater Roadrunner, Say's Phoebe, Curve-billed and Crissal Thrasher, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, Black-throated Sparrow, Pyrrhuloxia, Northern Cardinal and the state's official bird, the Cactus Wren. The park's resident signature bird, the Rufous-winged Sparrow, is found in the U.S. only in a small section of southern Arizona.
Breeding summer visitors include, among others, White-winged Dove,Vermilion, Brown-crested, and Ash-throated Flycatchers, Western and Cassin's Kingbirds, Hooded Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Bell's Vireo and a wood warbler with a limited U.S. range, Lucy's Warbler.
Spring and fall migrants add opportunity for park birders, as do a number of birds found in the park primarily in the winter. Hummingbirds fall into all categories, with Anna's being a winter visitor, Broad-tailed and Rufous in spring and fall, Broad-billed and Black-chinned in summer and Costa's often a year-round resident.
Where to Find Spring and Summer Birds in Catalina Park
Birds are found throughout the park at any time of the year, but some locations seem more likely than others, depending upon the season or the species targeted. The main trailhead parking lot area is always one of the most productive, and a good place to spot Lucy's Warbler. The trail favored by the Friday morning guide begins behind the primary picnic area, and leads through the group picnic area into more open scrub. This trail often produces sightings of Rufous-winged and Black-throated Sparrow, Crissal Thrasher, Lucy's Warbler, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher and Gila and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.
The park has 8 designated trails, several of which offer opportunities for specific species. The Canyon Loop trail both parallels the Sutherland Wash and crosses open scrub brush, offering good chances to see late summer migratory warblers along the wash, and Black-throated Sparrows and flycatchers in the scrub. Spurs from the Birding trail that lead to Saguaro stands are worth checking for the park's largest owl, the Great Horned, as well as North America's smallest, the Elf Owl, who nests in woodpecker-created Saguaro holes.
The Sutherland trail and an undesignated connecting trail that leads to Hidden Falls generally are less-traveled, often increasing sighting opportunities. This is especially true for the unsigned trail to the canyon and falls area. In spring, the more overgrown areas around both the canyon and falls creeks are ideal places to find Bell's Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Broad-billed Hummingbird. Following decent winter rainfall, these trails offer the added attraction of spectacular wildflower displays. Rainbow fields of Mexican gold poppies, purple lupine, white Desert-chicory, pink Fairy duster, magenta Owl Clover and blue heliotrope will distract even the most serious bird watcher.
Suburban Birding near Tucson, Arizona
Tucson lies in the heart of southeast Arizona's famous birding territory. Although many of the area's birding sites are an hour or more from the city, Catalina State Park is just 30 minutes from downtown. Birders choosing spring to visit the park also enjoy one of the best wildflower displays in the state.
For more information about the park and related nearby attractions, see the following articles:
- How to Find Hidden Falls in Catalina State Park
- Where to Find Desert Wildflowers near Tucson
- Sutherland Trail Wildflowers in Catalina State Park
- Friday Morning Bird Walks in Catalina State Park
- Hike Catalina State Park's Birding Trail
- Hike Catalina State Park's Canyon Loop Trail
- Where to Picnic on Mt. Lemmon near Tucson
- Birding Oro Valley's Honeybee Canyon Park
- Birding Peppersauce Canyon near Tucson
- Birding Catalina State Park
- Hike Oracle Park's Granite Overlook Trail
Bob Bowers - A lifelong naturalist and amateur ornithologist, Bob's avocation is studying, photographing and writing about birds.
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