Arizona birder Richard Cachor Taylor not only penned Birding in Arizona — a must-have pocket guide for birders of all skill levels — he’s also the world’s leading expert on the Elegant Trogon, a tropical, migratory species. His evolution from childhood curious birdwatcher to a bird expert and professional guide is an interesting one.
Taylor’s book packs a punch with detailed descriptions and photographs of 500 species of birds found in Arizona — large or small, rare or common — and all are given equal prominence, from vultures and eagles to sparrows and warblers.
Here, Taylor shares his birding knowledge about birding in Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Birds Found in This Region
Harris’s Hawk, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Gila Woodpecker, Vermilion Flycatcher, Phainopepla, Northern Cardinal
Most Popular Birding Location
Sweetwater Wetlands Park, Tucson
Hidden Gem Birding Spot
Paton Center for Hummingbirds, Patagonia
Don’t-Miss Birding Events
- Southwest Wings, Sierra Vista
- Tucson Audubon Society’s festivals and events, various locations
- Wings Over Willcox, Willcox
Buy the Book
From Yuma to the Four Corners, Birds of Arizona (published by R.W. Morse, 2022) by Richard Cachor Taylor encompasses all the regularly occurring birds within Arizona and is available for sale on Amazon.
Iain Lundy
Iain Lundy spent 40 years as a newspaper and magazine journalist in his native Scotland. Now relocated to Arizona, he works as a content writer, editor and genealogist. He enjoys the great outdoors, family history and, like a true Scot, good beer and a fine malt whiskey. Read more of his bio and work at lundyink.com.
