Tucson Birding Trail

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

 2021 N. Kinney Rd, Tucson AZ 85743   Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website 

Located inside Tucson Mountain Park, a sprawling desert area with low volcanic peaks, broad desert basins, and well-preserved upland desert, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a fusion experience: part zoo, part botanical garden, part natural history museum, and part aquarium that has two aviaries (Birds of the Sonoran Desert and Hummingbird) and fine birding on the museum grounds. Birds range from  Curve-billed Thrashers  to  Rock  and  Cactus Wrens ,  Elf Owls ,  Gilded Flickers ,  Black-throated Sparrows , and multiple raptors.

Arthur Pack Regional Park

 9101 N. Thornydale Rd., Tucson AZ 85742   Arthur Pack Regional Park website   Hiking Trails Map 

This park has a golf course, recreation amenities, and hiking trails in the  Maeveen Behan Desert Sanctuary  with large areas of native ironwood-saguaro vegetation. Look for birds like  Cactus Wrens ,  Verdins ,  Gilded Flickers , and in summer  Purple Martins . Many people visit in the cool months to check the large golf course pond for waterfowl.

Case Natural Resource Park

 9815 E. Kenyon Dr., Tucson AZ 85748   Case Natural Resource Park website 

Mostly undeveloped, this 53-acre park has a large natural area with trails. The native desert vegetation is home to many of our resident desert birds. In addition to common birds, birders have seen migrant vireos, orioles, and warblers here.

Catalina Highway/General Hitchcock Highway

 Catalina Highway Scenic Drive website   Coronado National Forest website 

This picturesque highway, locally known as the Mt. Lemmon Highway, has fantastic birding with over 230 species seen. The highway passes through desert scrub, semi-desert grassland, juniper woodland, oak woodland, and ponderosa pine to reach patches of spruce-fir forest near the top. Many birders visit the area to see southeast Arizona specialty species like  Yellow-eyed Junco  and  Arizona Woodpecker . At hummingbird feeders at the Palisades Visitor Center and Iron Door Restaurant you may see  Rivoli's  or  Broad-tailed Hummingbirds . There are many stops along the highway (e.g. pullouts, picnic areas, trailheads, and campgrounds). Some areas have free parking but specific day-use sites require a pass.

Catalina State Park

 11570 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson AZ 85737   Catalina State Park website 

This park on the high desert slopes of the Santa Catalina mountains is one of the premier high desert birding sites near Tucson. The park features dense thickets along washes with beautiful, saguaro-studded vistas. Near the picnic area, walk the paths through mesquites looking for birds such as  Rufous-winged Sparrows ,  Ladder-backed Woodpeckers , and  Crissal Thrashers . At the main trailhead you can walk the Canyon Loop trail and the Birding and Nature trails where you will find an abundance of desert birds.

Christopher Columbus Park

 4300 N. Silverbell Rd., Tucson AZ 85745   Christopher Columbus Park website   Santa Cruz River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

Check the two lakes for waterfowl and in spring watch for migrants. At the larger lake, Silverbell Lake, check the north end vegetation patch and the small Great Blue Heron rookery in the large eucalyptus trees on the island. Silverbell Lake is also a good place to look for both  Double-crested  and  Neotropic Cormorants . The Loop is adjacent on the east side of the park and affords views of the Santa Cruz river. Along The Loop, just south of the park, are four recharge basins where you may see waterfowl and waders.

Chuck Ford Lakeside Park

 8201 E. Stella Rd., Tucson AZ 85730   Chuck Ford Lakeside Park website 

This is a 50-acre park with an artificial lake. It's worth a trip at any time of year to check the lake for unusual birds. During the warm season, several species of swallows may be catching insects over the water. Look in the trees for migrant songbirds in the spring and fall. Like any lake in the desert, this lake has pulled in its share of unusual species like  Bonaparte's Gull ,  Brown  and  American White Pelicans , and  Forster's Tern .

The Chuck Huckleberry Loop (The Loop)

 The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website   Canada del Oro River Park website   Harrison Greenway website   Julian Wash Greenway website   Pantano River Park website   Rillito River Park website   Santa Cruz River Park website 

The Loop is not a single location but rather as system of paved shared-use paths that welcomes non-motorized users for recreation and alternative transportation. The Loop encircles Tucson with trails along the major water courses and connections to surrounding communities. Many birding sites on this map have direct connections to The Loop.

Columbus Weed Patch and the Rillito River at Swan Wetlands Ecosystem Restoration Project

 Rillito River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

These sites are in the Rillito River floodplain adjacent to the Rillito River Park/The Chuck Huckleberry Loop. From the small parking area at the north end of Columbus Boulevard, walk The Loop paths west along the weed patch or north and east along the ecosystem restoration area -- both areas are great for native desert birds. The weed patch has seen its share of rarities such as  Dickcissel ,  Sage Thrasher , and  Indigo Bunting . Limited parking. Additional parking, restrooms, and water are available at the west end of the weed patch at the  Riverhaven Trailhead  located east of Alvernon Way on Paradise Falls Drive.

Dell Urich Golf Course/Patrick K. Hardesty Building

 1100 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson AZ 85713   Randolph Park website 

The paved multi-use path around Randolph Park runs between one of the Randolph Golf Complex Dell Urich Golf Course ponds and the Patrick K. Hardesty building. Along the trail there are dense trees where migrant songbirds and sometimes rarities appear; nearly 175 species have been seen overall. Spring nesters like  Bell's Vireo  and  Yellow Warbler  can be found. Enter the Hardesty building parking lot from Alvernon Way north of 22nd Street. Walk the path along Alvernon to the north side of the building and then west to walk between the building and the golf course pond.

El Rio Preserve

 10190 N. Coachline Blvd., Marana AZ 85743   El Rio Preserve website   Santa Cruz River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

El Rio Preserve is a 104-acre site that features an old gravel pit that fills with stormwater. The preserve features paths, ramadas with picnic tables, benches, and pollinator gardens. In fall and winter look for flycatchers, waterfowl, and shorebirds. In spring the adjacent Santa Cruz River corridor brings in migrants. Go early to beat the heat in summer and remember trails may be muddy. Watch for raptors catching updrafts along the volcanic ridge to the west.

Evergreen Cemetery

 3015 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson AZ 85705   Evergreen Cemetery website 

This large historic cemetery has lawns and mature trees known for attracting migrants in spring and fall and vagrant birds in winter. Some winters there are irruptions of mountain birds such as  Western Bluebirds ,  White-breasted Nuthatches ,  Pine Siskin ,  Brown Creepers , and  Red Crossbills . Check the ditch on the north side of the cemetery for sparrows and finches. Avoid disturbing services, be respectful, and do not sit on headstones. Private property. Open sunrise to sunset.

Fort Lowell Park and Pantano Wash

 2900 N. Craycroft Rd., Tucson AZ 85712   Fort Lowell Park website   Pantano River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

Over 175 species have been seen at Fort Lowell Park and the adjacent Pantano Wash making it one of the best city parks in Tucson for birding. Many rarities have shown up in the park's mature trees and pond. Along the northeast side of the park there is a thicket of mesquites and other trees which provide habitat for many native species. In late March and early April, migrating  Turkey Vultures , and sometimes hawks, rise from roosts to the east and circle on thermals.

Freedom Park

 5000 E. 29th St., Tucson AZ 85711   Freedom Park website 

This 39-acre city park has a recreation center, ball fields, a pool and splash pad, and a covered basketball court. Look for winter sparrows on the lawns or migrating birds in the spring or fall. Species like  Western Bluebird  and  American Kestrel  have been seen here in winter. Two of our four locally breeding hummingbirds,  Anna's  and  Black-chinned , have been seen here. Close checking might also result in sightings of the other two ( Costa's  and  Broad-billed ).

Gene C. Reid Park

 900 S. Randolph Way, Tucson AZ 85716   Gene C. Reid Park website 

Gene C. Reid Park is the premier city park in central Tucson. Reid Park has extensive turf, a dog park, a pool, a rose garden, ponds, Hi Corbett Field, and the Reid Park Zoo. Over 200 bird species have been sighted in this park. This is one of the best places to look for over-wintering raptors such as  Merlin  and  Sharp-shinned Hawk . Winter irruptions of higher-elevation species may bring in  Western Bluebird ,  White-breasted Nuthatch , and  Brown Creeper  some years and, in recent years, there is sometimes a  Lewis's Woodpecker  around. Regular winter waterfowl include  Ruddy Ducks ,  Ring-necked Ducks ,  American Wigeons , and a few  Redheads  and  Canvasbacks .

Greasewood Park

 1075 N. Greasewood Rd., Tucson AZ 85745   Greasewood Park website 

If you want to see Sonoran Desert vegetation and birds without driving far, try Greasewood Park. Located west of downtown Tucson, this park is closer to town than Tucson Mountain Park or the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Common desert birds include  Gambel's Quails ,  Gila Woodpeckers ,  Cactus Wrens , and  Curve-billed Thrashers . In summer you may see the Sonoran Desert subspecies of  Purple Martins  which nests in small colonies in one of more large saguaro cacti with multiple woodpecker holes.

Himmel Park

 1000 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716   Himmel Park website 

Himmel Park is located in midtown Tucson making it a convenient stop for residents and visitors. While nearby Gene C. Reid Park has more birds, Himmel Park still has an amazing 75 species sighted. Walk the perimeter of the park looking for  Cooper's Hawks ,  Gila Woodpeckers , and  Vermillion Flycatchers  year-round. Expect to see many other city birds, wintering species, and migratory species.

Honey Bee Canyon Park

 13880 N. Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Oro Valley, AZ 85755   Honey Bee Canyon Park website 

Located on the southeast slope of the Tortolita Mountains, this picturesque is easily accessed and has had nearly 100 species recorded. The park encompasses a large desert wash (a canyon in some places) with diverse native desert vegetation south of Rancho Vistoso Boulevard. Look for  Cactus  and  Canyon Wrens ,  Verdins ,  Greater Roadrunners ,  Gambel's Quail ,  Rufous-winged Sparrows ,  Northern Cardinals ,  Pyrrhuloxias , and many others. From the parking lot you can walk in the bottom of the wash up or down stream. Walking in sand can be strenuous so take water and do not overexert.

John F. Kennedy Park

 3700 S. Mission Rd., Tucson AZ 85713   John F. Kennedy Park website 

This park sports a list of nearly 180 species due to its lake, trees, and desert vegetation. The lake attracts herons, egrets, shorebirds, and migrants. Look for  Great Blue Herons ,  Black-crowned Night Herons ,  Spotted Sandpiper , and  Killdeer  on the water's edge. In winter find  Northern Shovelers ,  Redheads ,  Ring-necked Ducks ,  American Wigeons , and sometimes rarer migrants. Common park birds such as  Western Kingbird  and  Vermillion Flycatcher  are also found here in season.

Lincoln Regional Park and Atterbury Wash

 8330 E. Escalante Rd., Tucson AZ 85730   Lincoln Regional Park website 

Lincoln Regional Park has large areas of natural vegetation including the intact floodplain of ephemeral Atterbury Wash. Designated as the Atterbury-Lyman Bird and Animal Sanctuary, the floodplain has resident birds like  Phainopepla ,  Gambel's Quail ,  Greater Roadrunner , and  Northern Cardinal . In spring look for migrant warblers, grosbeaks, orioles, tanagers, and lingering over-wintering birds like  Green-tailed Towhees ,  Lincoln's Sparrows , and  Northern Flickers . Nesting birds include  Vermilion Flycatcher ,  Lucy's Warbler ,  Bewick's Wren , and  Black-tailed Gnatcatcher .

McCormick Park

 2950 N. Columbus Blvd., Tucson AZ 85712   McCormick Park website 

This city park has picnic areas, a basketball court, and ornamental trees. It seems unremarkable but has hosted some unusual birds. In winter there are usually  Red-naped Sapsuckers ,  Ruby-crowned Kinglets ,  White-crowned Sparrows , and  Yellow-rumped Warblers . Some years there may also be  Western Bluebirds ,  White-breasted Nuthatches , and  Cedar Waxwings . Rarer sightings include  Common Ground Dove  and  Williamson's  and  Red-breasted Sapsuckers . Over 125 species have been seen here.

Michael Perry Park

 2755 S. Pantano Pkwy., Tucson AZ 85710   Michael Perry Park website   Pantano River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

This park is another place to familiarize yourself with the most common birds in Tucson. Due to its location along the Pantano Wash, you might also see a variety of raptors such as  American Kestrel ,  Prairie  and  Peregrine Falcons ,  Red-tailed ,  Harris's , and  Cooper's Hawks , and  Northern Harrier  (winter). Look for other aerial experts such as  White-throated Swift  and several swallow species. This park, like most parks, can be good in winter for sparrows,  Brewer's Blackbird , and maybe a  Western Meadowlark .

Morris K. Udall Park

 7290 E. Tanque Verde Rd., Tucson AZ 85715   Morris K. Udall Park website 

Morris K. Udall Park has about equal parts undeveloped desert and developed park amenities. It is birded less than other parks but a wide variety of birds are seen here. Your best bet is to walk through the mature vegetation on the west side of the park, skirting the recreation center buildings. Desert scrub vegetation to the south may yield birds as well.

Pima Canyon Trail

 1598 E. Magee Rd., Tucson AZ 85718   Iris Dewhirst Pima Canyon Trailhead website   Pima Canyon Trail website 

One of several canyons in the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Pima Canyon has one of the best combinations of birding and dramatic scenery available. The first three miles of the trail gain approximately 800 feet of elevation and provides good birding opportunities. Look for desert birds such as  Gambel's Quails ,  Gilded Flickers , and  Black-tailed Gnatcatchers  at lower elevations. At about 1.7 miles you cross a riparian area and enter a scattered oak forest where a wide range of birds can be seen. This is a strenuous hike so carry and drink plenty of water or liquids providing electrolytes. No dogs allowed.

Rio Vista Natural Resource Park

 3974 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson AZ 85716   Rio Vista Natural Resource Park website 

Plenty of native vegetation results in a good mix of bird species making Rio Vista Natural Resource Park a great place to become acquainted with Tucson's birds. This city park also has a playground, a small turf area, and access to The Loop. Walking around the park and then out to The Loop path along the Rillito River, you should see a combination of resident desert birds (e.g.,  Cactus Wrens ,  Curve-billed Thrashers ), wintering birds (e.g., various sparrows,  Green-tailed Towhees ), and some of the many raptors (e.g.,  American Kestrel ,  Peregrine Falcon ) which prowl the Rillito especially in winter.

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Rd., Tucson AZ 85750   Sabino Canyon Recreation Area website   Sabino Canyon Crawler website 

Of the Santa Catalina mountains front range canyons, Sabino Canyon reaches the farthest into the mountains, has the biggest watershed, and has the longest perennial stream. Sabino Canyon also offers a diverse set of hiking trails including a 3.8-mile paved road up the main canyon. About 200 species have been seen here making Sabino Canyon one of the area's premier birding sites. All desert birds are here plus canyon birds and riparian species. Plenty of migrants pass through the canyon and many vagrants have been found. The trail to the dam affords good birding and has the broadest, most diverse riparian area upstream of the dam. The canyon is very popular so arrive early to beat the crowds. Electric shuttles, the Sabino Canyon Crawler, operate 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. There is an entrance fee.

Saguaro National Park, Rincon Mountain District (East)

 3639 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson AZ 85730   Saguaro National Park website 

Saguaro National Park offers the quintessential Sonoran Desert experience with scenic, saguaro-filled terrain. Just past the Visitor Center, the Cactus Forest Drive is an 8-mile loop road that provides many opportunities to stop and see birds and other wildlife. Over 100 bird species have been seen on the loop road so you'll have plenty of opportunities to see desert birds such as  Canyon Towhees ,  Rufous-winged Sparrows , and  Black-throated Sparrows . If you're lucky, a  Harris's Hawk  or a  Golden Eagle  may fly over. Access trails from Cactus Forest Drive or the trailheads on Broadway and Speedway Boulevards.

Saguaro National Park, Tucson Mountain District (West)

 2700 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson AZ 85743   Saguaro National Park website 

The Rincon Mountain District of Saguaro National Park is in a sprawling desert area with diverse desert vegetation. Birds range from  Curve-billed Thrashers  to  Rock  and  Cactus Wrens ,  Elf Owls ,  Gilded Flickers ,  Black-throated Sparrows , and multiple raptors.

Sam Lena Park and Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP)

 3400 S. Country Club Rd., Tucson AZ 85713   Kino Sports Complex website   Kino Sports Complex: North Complex Map 

Sam Lena Park, a part of the Kino Sports Complex, provides convenient access to the Kino Environmental Restoration Project (KERP). The KERP is a 141-acre flood control area with features open water, riparian, grassland, mesquite bosque, marsh, and upland Arizona Upland habitats. Over 175 species have been seen here since the vegetation began to mature in 2004. Walk around the KERP on the 2.2-mile loop path.

Santa Cruz River, Cortaro Road and Crossroads at Silverbell District Park

 7548 N. Silverbell Rd., Tucson AZ 85743   Crossroads at Silverbell District Park website   Santa Cruz River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

For a view of the Santa Cruz River, walk The Loop trail on the west side of the river south of Cortaro Road. This part of the river has flowing water and riparian vegetation and a wide variety of riparian birds can be seen. Look for wintering species, spring migrants, and many nesting birds like the  Yellow Warbler . In late spring,  Cliff Swallows  nest under the Cortaro Road bridge. Watch the strip of native desert plants between the trail and the park for sparrows and quail.

Santa Cruz River, Ina Road

 View point on west bank on north side of Ina Road   Santa Cruz River Park website   The Chuck Huckleberry Loop website 

Ina Road crosses the Santa Cruz River at a good place for bird habitat. A grade control structure creates ponding upstream resulting in dense vegetation. The view from the berm along the river on the northeast bank is good for swallows and nighthawks. That vantage point also give you a view of a small, artificial waterfall under the bridge. You can walk or bicycle The Loop trail north along the west side of the river towards Crossroads at Silverbell District Park and Cortaro Road. No amenities. No parking at the site. Watch for traffic.

Sentinel Peak Park

 1001 S. Sentinel Peak Rd., Tucson AZ 85745   Sentinel Peak Park website 

Sentinel Peak Park, also known as "A" Mountain, has great views of Tucson. It is also a good place to see raptors like  Red-tailed Hawks ,  American Kestrels ,  Peregrine Falcons , and, in winter,  Sharp-shinned Hawks . Watch for other airborne birds such as swallows and  White-throated Swifts . Birds of our rocky hillsides and upland deserts such as  Rock Wren ,  Ash-throated Flycatchers , and  Greater Roadrunners  may also be found here.

Silverlake Park

 2420 S. Kino Pkwy., Tucson AZ 85713   Silverlake Park website 

This park has mature trees and hosts many birds that prefer park habitat. This is a good place to see  Vermilion Flycatcher  and  Say's Phoebe . In winter watch for  Northern Flickers ,  American Kestrels , and blackbirds on the turf, especially  Brewer's Blackbird . Concentrate your birding along the tree-lined natural area at the north end of the park.

Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP)

 E. Drexel Rd. (west of S. Houghton Rd.), Tucson AZ 85747   SHARP website 

The Southeast Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP) is much more than just a water recharge facility. Visitors will enjoy its 40 acres of desert landscape to walk, cycle, take photos, walk a dog, relax under a ramada, and enjoy seeing water in the basins (seasonally). It's an active water recharge facility constructed to be in harmony with surrounding desert that offers recreation and education about water resources, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Amenities include three ramadas with picnic tables, bike racks, benches beside basins, restrooms, and a water station at the main entrance. Over 1500 low water use desert plants, including 500 trees, are irrigated with reclaimed water and rainwater.

Sweetwater Wetlands

 2511 W. Sweetwater Dr., Tucson AZ 85745   Sweetwater Wetlands website 

The Sweetwater Wetlands is the best wetland birding site in Tucson. Nearly 300 species have been seen at the Wetlands since it was constructed in 1996. Ducks are numerous in winter, particularly  Northern Shovelers  and  American Wigeons .  Green Herons ,  Snowy Egrets ,  Common Gallinules , and  Soras  may be found along the edges of reeds.  Common Yellowthroats  breed among the reeds and  Marsh Wrens  winter there.  Abert's Towhees  forage on the trails and in the saltbush hedges. On the south side of the Wetlands, look through the fence at the infiltration basins (a scope is useful). Park amenities include restrooms, information kiosk, checklists, and a "recent sightings" notebook.

Tanque Verde Creek at Tanque Verde Loop Road

 Tanque Verde Creek at Tanque Verde Loop Road 

Tanque Verde Loop Road is not a loop at all, but goes straight north and south between Broadway Boulevard and Tanque Verde Road. Where it crosses the Tanque Verde wash the birding can be very good, either from the roadside or walking up and down the wash. Spring and fall migration can be good in the dense plantings along the road north of the wash. A variety of raptors nest in the large cottonwoods along the wash include  Gray Hawks  in recent years. Riparian birds such as  Song Sparrow ,  Abert's Towhee , and  Yellow Warbler  nest in the area. This is one of the few remaining places to find  Inca Dove . No amenities. Park carefully off the side of the road north or south of the wash and be careful walking along the narrow roadside. Do not block driveways or gates and respect private property. Do not cross the wash when water is flowing.

Tanque Verde Creek at Wentworth Road

 Tanque Verde Creek at Wentworth Road 

This site is similar to Tanque Verde Loop Road but is located 2 miles further east. There is good birding walking along Wentworth Road and walking up and down the wash. Some pastures north of the wash provide opportunity to see grassland sparrows,  Say's Phoebe , or  Vermilion Flycatcher .  Broad-billed Hummingbird ,  Bell's Vireo , and  Brown-crested Flycatcher  are among the many riparian birds seen along the wash. A pair of  Gray Hawks  has been present in recent years. No amenities. Park carefully off the road either north or south of the wash and do not block driveways or gates. Respect private property. No not cross the wash when water is flowing.

Tohono Chul

 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tucson AZ 85704   Tohono Chul website   Tohono Chul Birding resources 

This privately run, 49-acre botanical garden on Tucson's northwest side not only has lush desert habitat but also lovely gardens, ethnobotanical exhibits, and an artificial riparian area. This is a good place to see common desert birds. Look for multiple hummingbird species at the many attracting flowers in the Hummingbird Garden. Combine birding with visits to the  Desert Corner Nursery ,  art galleries , and the  Garden Bistro . Entrance fee.

Tucson Audubon's Mason Center

 3835 W. Hardy Rd., Tucson AZ 85742   Tucson Audubon's Mason Center   Tucson Audubon website 

The Mason Center is a 20-acre nature preserve with saguaro-ironwood habitat and a demonstration site of sustainable desert life. Watch feeders and flowers for  Costa's Hummingbird  in winter and spring. At the seed feeder watch for  Northern Cardinal ,  Pyrrhuloxia ,  Abert's Towhee , and sometimes  Gilded Flicker . Half-mile and quarter-mile loop trails go through the preserve. The best birding is in fall, winter, and spring.

Tucson Botanical Gardens

 2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson AZ 85712   Tucson Botanical Gardens website 

This 5.5-acre site has a lot of dense, mature vegetation that harbors many species of birds. Over 50 species have been seen here making the Botanical Gardens a great local resource in midtown Tucson. Besides typical desert and park birds, the mature vegetation has drawn in migrants like  Willow Flycatcher ,  Cassin's Vireo , and "Western" Flycatchers. On warm days this is a shady place for birders and plant lovers alike to cool off and see what birds might be lurking. Entrance fee.

Tucson Mountain Park

 W. Gates Pass Rd., Tucson AZ 85745   Tucson Mountain Park website 

This desert area west of Tucson has low volcanic peaks, broad desert basins, and well-preserved upland desert. Use caution driving narrow and winding Gates Pass Road (trailers and RVs are restricted and must use the southern alternate access route via Ajo Highway/Kinney Road). Stop at the Gates Pass Overlook to take in the view before driving over the pass. There are many pullouts through the park along Gates Pass Road and Kinney Road where you can enjoy birds, desert views, and access to trails.

The University of Arizona Campus Agricultural Center

 4101 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson AZ 85719   Campus Agricultural Center website 

This 80-acre agricultural center contains experimental crops and pastures and provides a kind of open space found nowhere else in Tucson. It is one of the best places in Tucson for birds attracted to open, well-watered farm fields. Breeding season sees  Western  and Cassin's Kingbird,  Northern Rough-winged Swallow , and  Lesser Nighthawk . In winter,  Killdeer ,  American Pipit ,  Western Meadowlark , and  Savannah Sparrow  are examples of birds not easily found elsewhere within city limits and blackbird flocks are worth scanning for  Bronzed Cowbirds . The concentrations of birds attract many raptors.  Prairie  and  Peregrine Falcons  are regularly sighted.  Cooper's Hawk  and  Red-tailed Hawk  are frequent sightings with a pair of the latter often breeding in the complex. Drive the south, west, and north perimeter of the farm on Roger Road, Mountain Avenue, and Limberlost Drive. There are places where you can pull off on the side of the road but heed parking restrictions signs.

Ventana Canyon Trail

 6601 N Resort Dr., Tucson AZ 85750   Ventana Canyon Trailhead website   Ventana Canyon Trail website 

Like Pima and Sabino canyons, Ventana Canyon is a picturesque canyon on the front range of the Santa Catalina Mountains. It is a bit less diverse in birds than Pima Canyon, but rivals it for desert vistas. At 6.4 steep miles in, there is The Window, a 15-by-25-foot opening in solid rock that is a goal for many hikers. Eight hummingbird species have been seen along the trail, the most likely being  Costa's ,  Black-chinned  (spring and summer),  Anna's , and  Broad-billed . Parking is on the grounds of  Loews Ventana Canyon Resort . No dogs allowed.