- Madera Canyon: The mountain canyons of southern Arizona attract an amazing variety of bird life, from species common in lowland desert to those that prefer thick forest settings. Madera Canyon is a good place to experience this variety.
- Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: Gray hawks and masked bobwhite quails are among the refuge's rarer birds, but a cienega (wetland), lake, and stream attract plenty of others.
- Patagonia: With a year-round stream and a Nature Conservancy preserve on the edge of town, Patagonia is one of the best spots in the state for sighting various flycatcher species.
- Ramsey Canyon Preserve: Nearly 200 species of birds, including 14 species of hummingbirds, frequent this canyon, one of the top birding spots in the country.
- San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area: Water is a scarce commodity in the desert, so it isn't surprising that the San Pedro River attracts a lot of animal life, including more than 300 bird species. This is a life-list bonanza spot.
- Cave Creek Canyon: Although other rare birds can be seen in this remote canyon, most people come in hopes of spotting the elegant trogon, which reaches the northernmost limit of its range here.
- Cochise Lakes (Willcox Ponds): Wading birds in the middle of the desert? You'll find them at the Willcox sewage-treatment ponds south of town. Avocets, sandhill cranes, and a variety of waterfowl all frequent these shallow bodies of water.
