Chiricahua Mountains

Mountain & Alpine · United States

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Photo © dconvertini

Photo © dconvertini — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where volcanic rock formations rise sharply from the semi-arid basin country of southeastern Arizona, the Chiricahua Mountains create a striking transition zone between desert and montane forest. The range's distinctive spires, balanced rocks, and deep canyons—carved from rhyolite and andesite—form a labyrinth of elevational habitats that shift from Sonoran Desert scrubland in the foothills through chaparral and oak woodlands to cooler ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests on the higher slopes. This vertical stacking of ecosystems, compressed into just a few thousand vertical feet, concentrates an exceptional diversity of wildlife in a relatively compact area. The semi-arid BSk climate means summers are warm and winters mild at lower elevations, but the mountains create their own weather: afternoon thunderstorms sweep across the ridges during the monsoon season, providing critical pulses of moisture that sustain the woodland and forest communities. Resident birds of prey hunt across the open slopes, while woodland songbirds occupy the transitional zones and forest canopy, and small mammals dart through the rocky outcrops and pine understory.

For wildlife photographers and birdwatchers, the Chiricahua Mountains reward systematic exploration across multiple elevations. The dramatic morning light that rakes across the volcanic pinnacles and canyon walls creates exceptional photography opportunities, particularly during the golden hours before the heat builds. Spring and early autumn are prime seasons, when migratory species move through the range and resident populations are most active. The accessible network of trails—ranging from easy canyon walks to strenuous ridge traverses—allows visitors to sample multiple habitat types and maximize encounters with the range's full complement of fauna. The quality of light, the visual drama of the landscape, and the concentration of ecological zones make even modest effort rewarding, while dedicated naturalists willing to hike into the deeper canyons and remote ridges will discover the full biodiversity that these mountains hold.

Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Aquila chrysaetos

American Wigeon

Mareca americana

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Callipepla squamata

Callipepla gambelii

Montezuma Quail

Cyrtonyx montezumae

Meleagris gallopavo

Common Poorwill

Phalaenoptilus nuttallii

Mexican Whip-poor-will

Antrostomus arizonae

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rivoli's Hummingbird

Eugenes fulgens

Plain-capped Starthroat

Heliomaster constantii

Blue-throated Mountaingem

Lampornis clemenciae

Lucifer Sheartail

Calothorax lucifer

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Archilochus alexandri

Anna's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird

Calliope Hummingbird

Selasphorus calliope

Rufous Hummingbird

Selasphorus rufus

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris

White-eared Hummingbird

Basilinna leucotis

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Ramosomyia violiceps

Berylline Hummingbird

Saucerottia beryllina

Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata

Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Zenaida macroura

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Antigone canadensis

American Woodcock

Tringa semipalmata

Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla

Neotropic Cormorant

Nannopterum brasilianum

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus

Northern Harrier

Circus hudsonius

Common Black Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus

Swainson's Hawk

Buteo swainsoni

American Barn Owl

Micrathene whitneyi

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Aegolius acadicus

Mountain Pygmy Owl

Glaucidium gnoma

Great Horned Owl

Bubo virginianus

Flammulated Owl

Psiloscops flammeolus

Whiskered Screech Owl

Megascops trichopsis

Western Screech Owl

Megascops kennicottii

Strix occidentalis

Euptilotis neoxenus

Coppery-tailed Trogon

Trogon ambiguus

Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus

Gila Woodpecker

Melanerpes uropygialis

Williamson's Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus thyroideus

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius

Red-naped Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Dryobates scalaris

Arizona Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus arizonae

Hairy Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus villosus

Northern Flicker

Colaptes auratus

American Kestrel

Falco sparverius

Falco mexicanus

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet

Camptostoma imberbe

Sayornis nigricans

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Contopus pertinax

Western Wood Pewee

Contopus sordidulus

Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

American Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri

American Grey Flycatcher

Empidonax wrightii

Western Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis

Buff-breasted Flycatcher

Empidonax fulvifrons

Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventris

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans

Thick-billed Kingbird

Tyrannus crassirostris

Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Western Warbling Vireo

Vireo swainsoni

Plumbeous Vireo

Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

Cyanocitta stelleri

Aphelocoma wollweberi

Chihuahuan Raven

Corvus cryptoleucus

Bombycilla cedrorum

Phainopepla nitens

Bridled Titmouse

Baeolophus wollweberi

Juniper Titmouse

Baeolophus ridgwayi

Mexican Chickadee

Poecile sclateri

Auriparus flaviceps

Eremophila alpestris

Riparia riparia

Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

Hirundo rustica

American Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Regulus satrapa

Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus

Salpinctes obsoletus

Catherpes mexicanus

Thryomanes bewickii

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

Blue-grey Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Polioptila melanura

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta canadensis

Certhia americana

Dumetella carolinensis

Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos

Oreoscoptes montanus

Curve-billed Thrasher

Toxostoma curvirostre

Crissal Thrasher

Toxostoma crissale

Western Bluebird

Sialia mexicana

Eastern Bluebird

Townsend's Solitaire

Myadestes townsendi

Ixoreus naevius

Hylocichla mustelina

Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus

Catharus guttatus

Turdus migratorius

American Dipper

Cinclus mexicanus

Passer domesticus

Peucedramus taeniatus

Evening Grosbeak

Hesperiphona vespertina

Haemorhous cassinii

Haemorhous mexicanus

Loxia curvirostra

American Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria

Rufous-winged Sparrow

Peucaea carpalis

Botteri's Sparrow

Peucaea botterii

Cassin's Sparrow

Peucaea cassinii

Grasshopper Sparrow

Ammodramus savannarum

Black-throated Sparrow

Amphispiza bilineata

Chondestes grammacus

Calamospiza melanocorys

Chipping Sparrow

Spizella passerina

Clay-colored Sparrow

Spizella pallida

Black-chinned Sparrow

Spizella atrogularis

Brewer's Sparrow

Spizella breweri

Red Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

Dark-eyed Junco

Yellow-eyed Junco

Junco phaeonotus

White-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia leucophrys

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Zonotrichia atricapilla

Harris's Sparrow

Zonotrichia querula

White-throated Sparrow

Zonotrichia albicollis

Pooecetes gramineus

Savannah Sparrow

Passerculus sandwichensis

Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii

Melozone aberti

Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Aimophila ruficeps

Green-tailed Towhee

Pipilo chlorurus

Yellow-breasted Chat

Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta

Icterus parisorum

Icterus cucullatus

Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus

Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis

Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia

Prothonotary Warbler

Protonotaria citrea

Crescent-chested Warbler

Oreothlypis superciliosa

Leiothlypis luciae

Nashville Warbler

Leiothlypis ruficapilla

Virginia's Warbler

Leiothlypis virginiae

MacGillivray's Warbler

Geothlypis tolmiei

Kentucky Warbler

Geothlypis formosa

American Yellow Warbler

Setophaga aestiva

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Setophaga caerulescens

Setophaga coronata

Grace's Warbler

Setophaga graciae

Black-throated Grey Warbler

Setophaga nigrescens

Townsend's Warbler

Setophaga townsendi

Setophaga occidentalis

Rufous-capped Warbler

Basileuterus rufifrons

Wilson's Warbler

Cardellina pusilla

Red-faced Warbler

Cardellina rubrifrons

Painted Whitestart

Myioborus pictus

Slate-throated Whitestart

Myioborus miniatus

Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus

Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus

Northern Cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Cardinalis sinuatus

Passerina caerulea

Passerina cyanea

Passerina amoena

Passerina versicolor

Chihuahuan Meadowlark

Sturnella lilianae

Branta canadensis

Greater White-fronted Goose

Anser albifrons

Cygnus buccinator

Spatula cyanoptera

Blue-winged Teal

Spatula discors

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

Anas platyrhynchos

Northern Pintail

Aythya valisineria

Aythya americana

Bucephala albeola

Common Goldeneye

Bucephala clangula

Hooded Merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Common Merganser

Mergus merganser

Oxyura jamaicensis

Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

Common Nighthawk

Chordeiles minor

American Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

Allen's Hummingbird

Selasphorus sasin

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Coccyzus americanus

Rallus limicola

Porzana carolina

Common Gallinule

Gallinula galeata

Fulica americana

Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Charadrius vociferus

Long-billed Curlew

Numenius americanus

Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus

Short-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus griseus

Gallinago delicata

Wilson's Phalarope

Phalaropus tricolor

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius

Solitary Sandpiper

Tringa solitaria

Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes

Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca

Baird's Sandpiper

Calidris bairdii

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Western Sandpiper

Sternula antillarum

Sterna forsteri

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Double-crested Cormorant

Nannopterum auritum

White-faced Ibis

Roseate Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

Butorides virescens

Western Cattle Egret

Great Blue Heron

American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

Pelecanus occidentalis

Pandion haliaetus

White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus

Mississippi Kite

Ictinia mississippiensis

Parabuteo unicinctus

Broad-winged Hawk

Buteo platypterus

Rough-legged Buzzard

Ferruginous Hawk

Athene cunicularia

Short-eared Owl

Red-headed Woodpecker

Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

Crested Caracara

Caracara plancus

Falco columbarius

Sayornis phoebe

Eastern Wood Pewee

Contopus virens

Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Tyrannus forficatus

Eastern Kingbird

Tyrannus tyrannus

Vireo olivaceus

Philadelphia Vireo

Vireo philadelphicus

Yellow-throated Vireo

Vireo flavifrons

White-eyed Vireo

Cyanocitta cristata

Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus

Clark's Nutcracker

Nucifraga columbiana

Tachycineta bicolor

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis

American Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Cistothorus palustris

Troglodytes pacificus

Toxostoma rufum

Bendire's Thrasher

Toxostoma bendirei

Common Starling

Sturnus vulgaris

Mountain Bluebird

Sialia currucoides

Anthus rubescens

Sprague's Pipit

Anthus spragueii

Haemorhous purpureus

Lawrence's Goldfinch

Spinus lawrencei

Thick-billed Longspur

Rhynchophanes mccownii

Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Chestnut-collared Longspur

Calcarius ornatus

Spizella pusilla

Sagebrush Sparrow

Artemisiospiza nevadensis

Baird's Sparrow

Centronyx bairdii

Melospiza melodia

Melospiza georgiana

Yellow-headed Blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Baltimore Oriole

Icterus galbula

Icterus spurius

Rusty Blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

Brewer's Blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Quiscalus quiscula

Seiurus aurocapilla

Worm-eating Warbler

Helmitheros vermivorum

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla

Golden-winged Warbler

Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler

Vermivora cyanoptera

Tennessee Warbler

Leiothlypis peregrina

Orange-crowned Warbler

Leiothlypis celata

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

Setophaga citrina

American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla

Northern Parula

Setophaga americana

Bay-breasted Warbler

Setophaga castanea

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Setophaga pensylvanica

Setophaga palmarum

Setophaga pinus

Yellow-throated Warbler

Setophaga dominica

Black-throated Green Warbler

Setophaga virens

Flame-colored Tanager

Piranga bidentata

Yellow Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysopeplus

Spiza americana

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris

Anser caerulescens

Eastern Warbling Vireo

Mangrove Warbler

Setophaga petechia

Prairie Warbler

Setophaga discolor

Hepatic Tanager

Piranga hepatica

Scarlet Tanager

Piranga olivacea

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Desert Cottontail

Sylvilagus audubonii

Mexican Fox Squirrel

Sciurus nayaritensis

Harris's Antelope Squirrel

Ammospermophilus harrisii

Common Rock Squirrel

Otospermophilus variegatus

Spotted Ground Squirrel

Xerospermophilus spilosoma

Neotamias dorsalis

North American Beaver

Castor canadensis

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys merriami

White-throated Woodrat

Neotoma albigula

Brush Deermouse

Peromyscus boylii

Arizona Cotton Rat

Sigmodon arizonae

Yellow-nosed Cotton Rat

Sigmodon ochrognathus

Lesser Long-nosed Bat

Leptonycteris yerbabuenae

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Southwestern Myotis

Myotis auriculus

Western Small-footed Myotis

Myotis ciliolabrum

Myotis thysanodes

Common Pallid Bat

Antrozous pallidus

Parastrellus hesperus

Northern Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Western Yellow Bat

Lasiurus xanthinus

Eptesicus fuscus

Silver-haired Bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Townsend's Big-eared Bat

Corynorhinus townsendii

Allen's Big-eared Bat

Idionycteris phyllotis

Mephitis macroura

Bassariscus astutus

Northern Raccoon

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Northern Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Vulpes macrotis

Odocoileus hemionus

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys spectabilis

Mexican Long-tongued Bat

Choeronycteris mexicana

American Hog-nosed Skunk

Conepatus leuconotus

Antilocapra americana

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