Hummingbirds Arizona (1 Viewer)

[julieannsheridan]

I’ve just been looking into Hummingbirds and found this site which had some useful tips. I know the UK well but USA not so much. I’m planning a trip to Arizona to see the birds (especially Hummingbirds) sometime this year if all goes to plan. I’m a bit worried about the temperatures but as Hummers are best seen in August/Sept how do you cope? Is it different in the hills? Do you just watch in the early mornings etc? Any tips gratefully recieved, thanks all.

 

[Lisa W]

Hi Julieann, welcome to the forum. Water, lots of water and find a shady spot to sit/stand in. It would be cooler in say the mountains of SE AZ than in Phoenix or Tucson. When I lived there in the mountains of the southeast we were usually about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix.

 

[Ruff-Leg]

Post-monsoon season - Aug-Sep - is the best time for hummingbirds in the Sky Islands. Any of the lodges / centers with feeders out will be at higher elevation, 4000-5000 ft.

• Santa Rita Lodge et al in Madera Canyon;
• Paton Center in Patagonia;
• Ramsey Canyon, Beattie's in Miller Canyon, and Ash Canyon B&B all near Sierra Vista in the Huachuca Mts.
• Portal area in the Chiricahua Mts

Palisades Visitor Center and Summerhaven in the Santa Catalina Mts outside Tucson are at about 8000 ft.

All will be cooler than Tucson, which is cooler than Phoenix. As Lisa said, let shade, elevation, and hydration be your friend!

R-L
Tucson