I was able to conduct my observations on 55 days between July 13 – September 22, 2023 with a total of 132 hours up from 112.25 hours in 2022. Average temperature was 73F with a high daytime temperature at 79F and lowest at 63F. Average wind speed was 4 mph with a max wind of 10 mph. Wind direction was predominately SSW (18 days).

This year’s max count was on August 11 with 249 individuals passing and the highest species diversity was on August 11 and August 13 with 16 species. 

My routine was to begin as soon after daylight as possible and to observe the north-northwest facing sky for at least two hours. My personal criteria for discriminating between migrant and non-migrant was fairly simple. If the bird was purposely flying in a southerly direction and at tree top level or higher, I considered it a migrant.

Report Format

The format for these results is the species name is listed first, number in (  ) is the number days out of the fifty-five days of the project that the species was seen. This is followed by the total number of individuals counted of that species. The number in [  ] is the max number for that species and the date. The date (  ) following this number in the date span of occurrence for this year. 

Species Accounts

White-winged Dove (53/55)  Total Number 2910  Max [162  8/7]  Date Span (7/13-9/22)       

Here in Green Valley, AZ, White-winged Dove is a common breeding bird. Therefore, trying to determine when migration begins is a bit tricky. Usually by mid-July morning flight numbers start to reach the mid thirties. The flight then peaks rapidly through early August and then tapers off through late September with a few birds seen in morning flight through mid-October. In some years, a few White-winged Doves will spend the winter in Green Valley.

White-winged Dove 8/4/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Lesser Nighthawk (9/55) Total Number 12  Max [2 7/13]  Date Span (7/13-8/20)          

A total of twelve birds were noted this migration. All these birds were recorded near daybreak or just afterward. This is probably not a true picture of Lesser Nighthawk migration as I have seen more than this number passing by in the evenings.

Lesser Nighthawk 7/13/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Vaux’s Swift  (2/55)   Total Number 8  Max [6  9/18]  Date Span (9/12-9/18) 

Eight of these transient swifts were recorded during mid September including six on September 18. Vaux’s Swifts are usually found within flocks of migrating swallows.

 

Vaux’s Swift 9/16/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Black-chinned Hummingbird (8/55) Total Number 8 Max [1] Date Span 8/18-9/18

Single birds were noted eight times August 18 through September 18.

Black-chinned Hummingbird 8/18/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Calliope Hummingbird (2/55 Total Number 2 Max [1] Date Span 8/18-8/20

Single birds were noted two times in a two day span.

Calliope Hummingbird 8/20/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Rufous Hummingbird (9/55) Total Number 9 Max [1] Date Span 8/16-9/9

Single birds were observed nine times from mid-August through early September.

Rufous Hummingbird 8/30/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Broad-tailed Hummingbird  (4/55)   Total Number 4 Max [1]  Date Span (8/19-8/23)      

Four Broad-tailed Hummingbirds were recorded as they whizzed past the count site during their migration from the higher elevations.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 8/20/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

White-faced Ibis (1/55) Total Number 30 Max [30] Date Span 8/29-8/29

A distant flock of thirty were observed heading southeast early in late August.

American Kestrel (1/55) Total Number 2 Max [2] Date Span 9/15-9/15

Two birds were seen moving south September 15.

Western Wood-Pewee (1/55) Total Number [1] Date Span 8/3-8/3

One was observed moving south and then landing in a nearby wash August 3.

Western Wood-Pewee 8/3/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Cassin’s Kingbird   (4/55)  Total Number 5   Max [2  9/12] Date Span 8/10-9/12

 The number of Cassin’s identified this year was down from previous years.

Western Kingbird  (38/55)  Total Number  224  Max [29  7/28] Date Span (7/13-8/29)    

The Western Kingbirds that occur during the Morning Flight typically are seen in small groups flying just above the trees and like most birds at that height, they suddenly appear out of nowhere and are gone quickly. This year’s total of 224 was a new high count.

Western Kingbird 8/17/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Western Kingbird 7/25/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Warbling Vireo  (2/55)  Total Number   3  Max [2  9/22] Date Span (7/18-9/22)    

Three were observed flying south mid-July to mid-September

Bank Swallow  (10/55)  Total Number 36  Max [9  8/28]  Date Span (7/27-9/22) 

Bank Swallows were noted within mixed swallow flocks from late July to late September. The season total of 36 was a new high count.

 

Bank Swallow 8/18/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Tree Swallow   (11/55)  Total Number  24  Max [8  7/30]  Date Span (7/18-8/24) 

This species was found in small groups during mid-July through August.

Tree Swallow 7/20/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Violet-green Swallow (3/55) Total Number 11 Max [8 7/22] Date Span 7/22-8/3

Violet-green Swallows were seen sporadically through the migration season with a max of eight July 22.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow  (5/55)  Total Number  11  Max [3  8/2]  Date Span (7/15-8/28)   

Eleven of these swallows were observed from mid-July through August.

Barn Swallow  (47/55)  Total Number  209  Max [15  8/8)  Date Span (7/13-9/22)     

Barn Swallow is the most numerous swallow species during the Morning Flight Project with their flight extending through the entire date span.

Barn Swallow 9/5/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Cliff Swallow  (28/55) Total Number 206  Max [35  8/9] Date Span 7/20-9/3)   

Usually found in small groups and usually associating with Barn Swallows. Their flight began in earnest in mid-July and then seen sporadically through early September.  

Cliff Swallow 8/9/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Northern Mockingbird  (24/55)  Total Number  53  Max [6  7/30] Date Span (7/14-8/26)    

These birds are easily noticed as they fly at treetop level. An early migrant, their peak was in late July but were recorded in small numbers through August.  

Northern Mockingbird 7/28/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Phainopepla   (23/55)  Total Number  68   Max [8  8/9] Date Span (7/18-9/22)  

The Phainopepla flight extended nearly the entire date span. The season total of 68 was down from last year’s count of 100. This species is usually seen in small groups of 2-4 birds and the majority are generally high flyovers. 

Phainopepla 9/5/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Chipping Sparrow (2/55) Total Number 2 Max [1] Date Span 8/10-9/15

Only two Chipping Sparrows were noted during the season and probably more would be found if the count extended through November

Brewer’s Sparrow (2/55) Total Number 2 Max [1] Date Span 9/9-9/22

Two Brewer’s Sparrows were observed during September and as with the previous species, the number may be higher if the migration count was extended beyond September.

Lark Sparrow  (22/55)  Total Number 135  Max [22  8/11]  Date Span (7/25-9/3)        

A record 135 Lark Sparrows were observed from late July through early September with a max of 22 on August 11.

Lark Sparrow 8/11/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Lark Bunting  (6/55)  Total Number 90   Max [40  8/16]  Date Span (8/12-8/29)   

Lark Bunting also set a new record with 90 being seen. A max of 40 was noted on August 16. They were reported to be in higher than normal numbers in southeast Arizona this Fall.

Lark Bunting 8/17/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Lark Bunting 8/16/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Yellow-headed Blackbird  (12/55)  Total Number  33 Max [9  8/8]  Date Span (8/4-9/5)   

Yellow-headed Blackbirds were seen more frequently than in other years. They are usually high flyovers and usually very vocal alerting me to their presence. Most are found within cowbird flocks. 

Yellow-headed Blackbird 8/4/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Hooded Oriole  (10/55) Total Number  14  Max [3   8/11] Date Span (8/1-9/22)   

It is difficult to determine summer residents from migrants so the total of 14 is probably not an accurate reflection of their migrant flight. By mid July, I started to notice more high flyovers, birds that I could see coming towards me at a distance and continuing past me but I think in general I was too conservative with my count.

Hooded Oriole 9/12/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Bullock’s Oriole  (26/55)  Total Number 73  Max [7 8/3]  Date Span (7/16-9/9)  

Another species that I have difficulty determining local breeders from migrants. Using my criteria for determining migrants (steady N-S flight direction at treetop level or higher), I feel ok calling the 73 birds seen from mid-July to mid-August as migrants. One late migrant was noted September 9.

Bullock’s Oriole 7/30/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Red-winged Blackbird  (3/55) Total Number  18 Max [8  8/9] Date Span (8/9-9/2)    

All were found within mixed cowbird and blackbird flocks.         

  Red-winged Blackbird 8/9/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ               

Bronzed Cowbird (2/55) Total Number 5  Max [4  7/30]  Date Span (7/30-8/1)    

Usually seen as singles or pairs within mixed cowbird flocks.

Bronzed Cowbird 7/16/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Brown-headed Cowbird (32/55) Total Number 348  Max [42  7/28]  Date Span (7/13-8/23)

Nearly all the birds counted were in small groups of 10-15 birds in steady flight at treetop level.

Brown-headed Cowbird 8/3/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Brown-headed Cowbird 8/4/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

MacGillivray’s Warbler (1/55) Total Number 1 Max [1] Date Span 9/12-9/12

One male flew into my yard September 12.

Yellow Warbler (5/55) Total Number  6  Max [2 8/10]  Date Span (8/10-8/29)  

Except for two birds on August 10, the remaining observations were of single flybys.

Wilson’s Warbler  (1/55) Total Number  1  Max [1]  Span (9/15-9/15)

One male was seen September 15.

Summer Tanager (1/55) Total Number 1  Max [1] Date Span (8/23)   

One flyby on August 23.

Western Tanager (15/55) Total Number 29  Max [6  8/3] Date Span (7/24-8/16)  

Mostly single flybys from late July through mid-August. Six were seen together August 3.  

Western Tanager 7/25/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Western Tanager 7/31/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Black-headed Grosbeak  (17/55) Total Number 27   Max [4  7/30] Date Span (7/25-8/31)  

Numbers were up from previous years. Most were flyovers but a few landed in the yard.

Black-headed Grosbeak 7/25/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Black-headed Grosbeak 7/26/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Lazuli Bunting (6/55) Total Number  15 Max [6  8/13] Date Span (7/27-8/22)   

There was a nice scattering of southbound birds late July through late August  with six passing August 13.  

Lazuli Bunting 7/27/2023 Green Valley, Pima Co., AZ

Passerine species     Total Number  101      

These were birds that were too distant, backlit or too quick to get positive identifications. Most seem to be sparrows, flycatchers, orioles or tanagers.