TRAVEL: Madera Canyon: The Elegant Trogon Search Concludes

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Mt. Wrightson, over 9500 feet, is the tallest peak in the Santa Rita Mountains, 25 miles south of Tucson. The Santa Ritas are a must-visit for any naturalist, because so many unusual species are found here.

At the end of the road are 3 attractive lodgings, all with extensive feeders in their yards, making for lazy and exciting bird watching.

Magnificent Hummingbird (web photo)

We sighted many wonderful species here, some with our guide, Matt Brown, and others with aid from helpful birders.  This area has many different hummingbirds, always an amazing creature to me. So small, such elegance, speed and power, its tiny heart and wings marvels of possibility.

But the bird we sought is the Elegant Trogon.  Only a few nesting pair are found each year, and only in this part of the U.S. Its northernmost range extends to Costa Rica. It's large, noisy and colorful, 12" with a perching habit, red breast, and long extended tail. The call sounds like a small dog barking, and announces its presence far in advance.

We hiked uphill on the Carrie Nation Trail, the most likely area, according to Matt. He'd been hearing them all morning. Other birders had been sighting trogons every day, and today our luck held.

A man clad in the brightest yellow T-shirt, speaking Texan, called us to a spot of few yards away and flying towards us came our trogon.

distant trogon view - my brother Lanny's photo

(Lanny's photo)

(Lanny's photo)

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Our species list is long. I have at least 25 new birds to add to my life list.  My favorite sightings were the Blue Grosbeak, Hooded Oriole, Hepatic Tanager, Painted Redstart, Northern Cardinal and Bridled Titmouse. 

We were able to return the sighting favor by sharing an unusual sighting of a Mexican whip-poor-will nest setting right next to the trail.

LS brother photo

The camouflage was so impressive I would never have seen it.  The face is somewhat owl-like.

Madera Canyon is a great location because one can drive up and down the road and find varying elevations with their distinctive ecology and wildlife within a few miles.