OUR Reviews
What Our clients say about US
Here are all of our clients’ Google reviews – no omissions. We always look forward to reading reviews and we’re grateful to our clients for their thoughtful comments. If you’re here to leave a review – thank you!
Karen Roll
1714502463
Four of us from the Seattle area had a fabulous day birding with Alex Patia of Arizona Birding Tours. Alex took us to four different sites and four different habitats to look for birds. He explained how each of the habitats supported the birds we saw. We were able to see birds that we would not have seen on our own because Alex was aware of what was going on around us. For example, he noticed Painted Red Starts flying around excitedly and then pointed out a Northern Pygmy Owl on a nearby branch. He seemed as excited as we were to see it. We all ended the day with many new Life Birds and great memories. We would all go birding with Alex again when we’re back in Arizona.
Cerissa Tanner
1714489566
Excellent. Thoroughly enjoy the experience. Excellent birder with an amazing ear.
Victoria Danby
1714455687
I spent a delightful two days with Kadynn, birding in various locations throughout SE Arizona. Kadynn has an amazing ear and could easily decipher 6 calls at once. He knew details about behavior, habitat, and species variation. He also shared information about the local vegetation, and conservation efforts. Kadynn accommodated my interests and we visited several hotspots, and hiked a few miles each day. We crossed paths with a few people he knew, and it was obvious that Kadynn was respected as an expert, and friend. I enjoyed his stories of chasing lifers across the country, and how his love for birding began at an early age. Despite the windy conditions, we added 43 new birds to my life list! I absolutely recommend Kadynn and Arizona Birding Guides!
Jason Cole
1714424747
Mike knew the exact locations for the species I was looking for! His ear birding skills were top notch! Definitely recommend Arizona Birding Tours!
geoff cowper
1714420612
David designed our trip with our needs and appetites and it was just what we wanted. Great breadth and depth of knowledge.
HBSG Commercial
1714408641
Levi was punctual, personable and extremely knowledgable. He communicated well to create a day that exceeded all of our goals for the trip.
David Gilman
1714402117
Terry Cerisoles
1713897786
We spent a wonderful day with our birding guide, Kadynn. He knew just where to take us and recognized all the birds by ear. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Guides and Kadynn. We will definitely return and will spend more than one day with Kadynn!
Julia Kretschmar
1713799759
We had an amazing day. We are novices to birding. It was amazing to see all the different species in the Tacoma landscape. Nate was so knowledgeable and professional. Thanks for the memories.
Sue Simons
1713568061
Wonderful day with an amazing guide who understood that were novice birdwatchers and gave us a great birdwatching experience at several locations. A listing of all birds seen and where was provided later the same day. Highly recommend the company (and ask for Alex)!
Lisa C.
1713567779
Alex Patia was our guide. We had requested to see lots of birds and did we ever! He is constantly listening for bird sounds, knows all of their calls which helps to attract them, and is a wealth of knowledge about each bird species. On top of all that he is fun, friendly, and courteous. If we ever want to go on another bird tour we will ask for him!
Tyler Henderson
1713493130
Michael was incredibly knowledgeable and willing to answer any question. He’ll make sure to fill the time with seeing as many birds as possible. I definitely highly recommend these folks no matter your level of birding.
Leah Turner
1713491572
My mom and I booked two full day tours with Arizona Birding-- one in Phoenix with Levi and one in Patagonia with David.Levi is incredibly kind, accommodating, and professional. His bird ID knowledge and photography skills are absolutely unmatched. He was extremely helpful at finding the birds we requested and gave us photography tips in real time so that all our photos turned out amazing. We had a fabulous time and would highly recommend him to anyone and everyone!David is friendly, flexible and fun, and his knowledge of all things nature is absolutely astounding! He was very patient with us and worked hard to create a customized itinerary with multiple options to get us to the species we wanted to see. He exceeded our expectations and we can't imagine how we could've had a better day with him. Highly recommend!
Dan
1713453204
Michael was a fantastic guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable particularly when it came to bird calls and songs. Highly recommend!
Steven Kessler
1713316956
What a remarkable experience! My wife and I spent the better part of two and a half days touring with Jake, including an evening of owling. In addition to being a remarkable guide and a wealth of knowledge -- birds, botany, mammals -- Jake is a great person, whose company and calm personality made our time with him simply extraordinary. His passion for birds and for what he does comes through every minute. He made sure we saw our target birds (60 lifers with him!) and found the best places for me to get "the shot" of the bird instead of just being satisfied with hearing its beautiful song. He was so visibly disappointed when we only heard the Western Screech-Owls and Whiskered Screech-Owls that my wife had to let him know that we were more than satisfied with the evening adventure. And, in addition to birds, he knows first aid, which came in handy when a rock unexpectedly interfered with our first hike on Mt. Lemmon. I hope we are able to join Jake for some trips during monsoon madness at the end of the summer. Thank you, Jake! Thank you, ABT.
Leanne Ogasawara
1713202811
We recently had a fantastic experience birding with Michael Sadat in Portal Arizona. Mike was outstanding and this was one of the best birding experiences we have had. Extremely accommodating, he wanted to ensure we really enjoyed our time so asked us a lot of questions about how we wanted the morning to go. He is a talented birder who birds by ear and he was very generous teaching us about the ecology, about bird song, and all about the birds, including some avian anatomy! We had a problem with our schedule due to an issue back home, and Felipe was SO NICE making sure we got to bird, changing the date and the guide at the very last minute. The original guide was also worried and offered advice. This is a fantastic company and I plan to bird with them whenever I am in the area. Thank you Felipe for everything!!!
Trudy O'Connell
1713196987
We spent two half days with Jake Thompson. Jake’s enthusiasm is contagious and his knowledge of birds is fantastic. He is excellent not only at finding the birds, but also is knowledgeable about their habits and quirks. His familiarity with plants and trees was unexpected but much appreciated. We would wholeheartedly recommend Jake to anyone who wants a friendly and skilled guide for exploring the rich birding areas of SE Arizona. As soon as we left, we wanted to go back! Thanks to Felipe for setting us up with such a wonderful guide!
Sylvia Gieseke
1713052043
What a great experience we had with Arizona Birding Guides. We were coming from Iowa and birding on our own so wanted a couple days with a guide when I contacted them they were able to advise me as to areas to bird for the birds we were hoping to see. Levi and David were our guides. They not only could identify the songs but did an amazing job of locating them. Not only were they amazing guides but great company. We just had an amazing time birding and were able to get 12 lifers. More than we expected for the whole week. We will definitely be using their services again.
Andrew Lucy
1713050702
We’re from MN and went birdwatching around Tucson AZ with Caleb as our guide. We were very excited to see many many birds that were native to the southwest and a great number were new to us. Great experience
Michelle Arguelles
1712978258
My husband and I had an excellent time birding with Kadynn over a couple half days and one night of owling. He was very professional, knowledgeable, and infectiously enthusiastic about the birds in Arizona! We got great lists of birds, including a fantastic night of owls. Booking was easy and quick, and it was very easy to communicate with the company while booking and subsequently when Kadynn picked locations for us to meet. This is my second time birding with Arizona Birding Guides and Kadynn, and I would book again and recommend them wholeheartedly.
Christian Matson
1712874709
Had a wonderful experience with ABT in January. It exceeded our expectations. My wife and I were relatively new to birding but studied ecology in school. Kaydnn was super knowledgeable, smart and a great guy to spend the day with. He was able to answer all of our questions as academically as we were willing to discuss. We learned a ton about birds and the ecology of the area. And we had plenty of laughs talking with him about a variety of topics! I would highly recommend this company and Kaydnn. You’ll see and ID more birds than you thought was possible and have a great time!
jean philips
1712603794
I booked a tour for my parents, who are 80 and 86. Kadynn did a great job finding routes that were manageable for them and was both knowledgeable and courteous. We all learned a ton and it was a joyful experience. Thanks!
Holly Kleman
1712240319
We had a great day birding with Jake. He was excellent at identifying birds by sight and sound, and he taught us a lot about bird identification, local trees, and plants. We spent over eight hours with him and visited approximately six sites. He also prepared the eBird checklists to share with us. We are novice birders, and this was our first trip to Arizona, so he got us over forty new life birds! Felipe was also extremely quick in replying to my inquiries even with very short notice for our visit. Highly recommend their birding services!
Bryan Gieszl
1712202780
I booked a custom birding tour with several specific and difficult targets in the Tucson area. Booking was easy. David was my guide and came up with a loop birding itinerary to find my targets. He was a great guide and a lot of fun to spend the day with. I'm an intense birder but David would have been just as good with a less intense trip as he knows far more than just birds. Despite being late for wintering birds, we doing Baird's Sparrow and Chestnut collared Longspur among five lifers for the day. I highly recommend Arizona birding tours
Laurie Danforth
1712154811
Look no further than Jake Thompson from Arizona Birding. Jake was a stellar guide who has a deep passion for all of nature. He not only knew his birds, but also the flora and where to go to find whatever we were searching out. He’s also just a congenial person, fun, and flexible. We had to change our destinations due to snow, our time due to a late night before, and Jake just rolled with it. He genuinely loves the natural world and his enthusiasm is contagious. We really enjoyed our 7 hours with Jake. He also knew a good lunch spot!
Zoltan P
1712096255
We enjoyed our 2 half days of birding with John in the Oak Canyon and Flagstaff areas. Despite a wild mix of wintery weather, we managed to get good looks and some lifers. A laid back style and pace enabled us to linger on the birds that were most interesting to us. Great banter on birds, plants, wildlife and photography made it an educational experience for us as well.
Michael Murphy
1712096190
Had a wonderful experience with AZ Birding Tours. My guide, Kadynn was an expert birder with in-depth knowledge of all the hotspots and bird species, resulting in 17 lifers! Everyone I had contact with was helpful and professional. I highly recommend!
Mark Porizky
1710457460
Felipe was very helpful and supportive giving us guidance and ideas. Our, guide, David, was wonderful. His passion for birding was evident as we were always ready to call it a day before he was. My wife has birding, and naturalist, interests. He was constantly engaging her interest. I am a rank amateur, yet David was amazingly patient and funny. We couldn't have been more pleased.
Scott Seier
1710109234
What a wonderful birding experience courtesy of Arizona Birding Tours! I had a full day tour with Levi as my guide. Levi was fully prepared for the day, putting together an itinerary that would meet my goal - seeing as many birds as possible. And, because of Levi’s preparation and excellent skills as a guide, we met this goal, with 29 lifers! Levi is a great guide, demonstrating great knowledge of birds as well as patience, making it easy for me to not only see birds but also learn along the way. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours to any and all!
Kathleen Harner
1709748085
My brother & I had 2 1/2 day tours in the Sierra Vista area with JakeWe are not experienced birders but we were quite keen & Jake was a good guideHe was good with birds but also good with botany & mammals too. Very personable & helpful.I hope to do this again with my husband next time, and I will definitely use Arizona birding tours again
Rick Hartwig
1709689079
Had a great time with David with a night of Owling and a 1/2 day of birding. He was very patient with us, and he sought after our target birds. He was very informative about all things Arizona too. I would definitely recommend Arizona birding tours and of course our favorite is David.As you’re planning your trip, book a time with a bird guide, and then they will give you hints and tips of where you can go on your own afterwards.
Bill Eisele
1709521018
I had a wondeful experience with Arizona Birding Tours! Felipe was prompt in getting me scheduled and Caleb provided exceptional guiding services! Caleb was knowledgeable, professional and a real joy to spend a few days with. We had a really great time, and we saw some great birds! I've hired guides all around the world and this team is amongst the best of them. Thanks for a great time Felipe and Caleb!
Maureen Winkler
1709228189
My experience with ABT was superb! I am a bird lover, but a novice at bird photography. I had two half day tours, first with Jake and second with Kadynn. They were so knowledgeable, as well as patient. They helped with my rented 100-400mm lens and camera and I learned how to draw the birds out. I highly recommend ABT--too many lifers to list for me!
L Fitzpatrick
1709059263
Really happy with Arizona Birding Tours. Jake did a great job of introducing the different local habitats and species over the two days we were out. He picked locations convenient to where I was staying and to provide a good overview of what's around. He's excellent at birding by ear, and helped me to learn a few species by reinforcing what we were hearing and giving me a chance to guess before calling it out. I enjoyed my time, learned a ton, and was well set up for the rest of my time birding in the area. Thanks!
Maria Elena Montero
1709009253
I had a wonderful two days of birding with John Wilson. John is super knowledgeable about habitat and range, and our outings were well-organized and fun. With his expert ears and eyes, we were able to get more birds than we'd expected. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours without any reservations, and will definitely team up with them again on my next visit to Arizona.
Joseph Trezza
1708974876
I highly recommend this tour company. Felipe, the owner, made coordination and setup very easy and paired me with an excellent guide, Kadynn, who was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and suited to the particular needs of my trip. That we dipped on a few species had nothing to do with Kadynn’s expertise or perseverance, and I was able to get those birds the next day because of the local knowledge he imparted on me. We’ve stayed in touch helping put each other on other birds, too. I think he’s a very impressive young birder and my time with him was invaluable. I'd like to bird with him again one day soon, and will definitely be asking Arizona Birding Tours for help with my next trip to the region.
Deanna Tremblay
1708743218
My experience with Arizona Birding Tours was excellent! I heard back within 24 hours of submitting my request and sorting out a schedule with Jake was easy peasy. Felipe also checked in to make sure scheduling was running smoothly. I booked two tours and went on the first this past weekend with Kadynn. It was a fantastic experience and I am looking forward to our next excursion in May. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours, especially for those hard to get birds!
Cal Walters
1708710392
Birded for 3+ days with AZ Birding Tours in SEAZ in mid-Feb. In all, 104 species including some hard to get birds. Our guide was Kadynn. My friend and I had a wide array of species which required a wide territory to be covered and Kadynn did a great job of organizing our path across the lower state. Kadynn has an amazing ear and can hear a whisper in a hurricane - which on one day we had (Can't control the weather), and yet we still got onto many of the targets we wanted.
Lakshminarayanan Sundaresan
1708643572
Hired AZ Birding tour guides on non-consecutive days at Tuscon and Sierra Vista areas for 4 days. Tuscon guide David Griffin is a Biologist and Naturalist with immense knowledge of bio diversity and habitats for different species. It was a lot of fun and learning experience with David. Sierra Vista guide Jake Thomson had similar knowledge of habitats and was fun to bird with. We got a lot of birds in my target list. Very happy to have chosen AZ tours.
Eliana Drier
1708628141
I had a great experience birding with Eric from Arizona Birding Tours at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. We saw 66 species of birds which by far exceeded my expectations. I am relatively new to birding and was happy to learn from Eric how to identify various birds by sound, behavior and through the habitats they lived in. I will definitely be applying all I learned in my future birding excursions!
John Karpovich
1707534659
Did 3 full days of birding in SE AZ with Jake Thompson in January ‘24 along with my cousin.Jake is amazingly knowledgeable about birds and their habitats and behaviors and not only helped us find and identify many lifers, but also took the time to teach us along the way.It was clear from the beginning that Jake really listened to what we were looking for - seeing different habitats, finding some local / regional birds and taking enough time to learn and photograph when opportunity presented itself.We covered a ton of ground - and a ton of species! - in 3 days, but it never felt rushed when we wanted to dig deeper or look for a better photo op.Jake also has a really nice, easy going personality that just made the outings fun. We had a blast and I’m looking forward to the next opportunity to go back during a different season and keep exploring AZ birds.
Ben Zerante
1706029260
I had a wonderful day birding with Gary R. He provided me with support before and after the trip and developed a detailed plan to see as many of my targets as possible. Gary is extremely knowledgeable and I learned so much from him! It was an all around perfect birding day in Arizona.
Nelson Mostow
1705463189
I had a phenomenal half day birding trip with Jake Thompson of Arizona Birding Tours on January 13, 2024. Jake is amazing! He has great skills at both seeing and hearing birds which enabled us to see lots of different birds, including several life birds for me. He also recognizes different trees and plants and knows which microclimates are likely to hold which birds. His skill is uncanny! He is very warm and personable and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We met at 7 am birded the lower portion of Florida Canyon and then went up to Santa Rita Lodge to see some birds there. My half day birding with Jake was exceptional! I Highly recommend him!
Chien Wang
1705164389
We highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours! Felipe was super responsive, and our guide Kadynn was the best. My sister and I took our mother for her 80th birthday for a saguaro national park bucket list trip. Our mother is an amateur birder, so we were not sure a guide was necessary or if the outing would be too strenuous for her. But, it was the best decision we ever made, and the highlight of our trip! Kadynn led us at the perfect pace and trails (she was so excited we hiked for 4.5 hours) to see so many lifer birds for our mom! He taught us digibinning so we got great shots too! Road runner, phainopepla, gambel’s quail, rock wren, vermilion flycatcher, to name just a few of the over 80 species we saw. My sister and I started our birding fascination that day!
David Blass
1704927054
This was a fantastic experience! Kadynn is a great birding guide; he can hear the difference between hummingbird species, often knowing they were there before he saw them! He's very patient and made sure we saw the birds that he saw. We (3 in our group) would go birding with him any time.
Chris Overington
1703979537
Gary not only an exceptionally talented birder, but also extremely knowledgeable both about local and international birds and birding, making for a highly satisfactory and enjoyable day. I can recommend him (and therefore Arizona Birding Tours) without hesitation - highest recommendation! 🙂
Eric Dyck
1703138560
Jake was a great guide. Good communication, knowledgeable, worked hard to find the birds. Five stars.
Dawn Reece
1703125748
Hiring our two guides, David and Levi, from Arizona Birding Tours was the best decision ever! Being from the eastern side of the US we weren’t as familiar with the birds found in AZ. Our first evening David took us out owling and we had the best time. He was incredibly knowledgeable and we love to learn so it was a perfect match! And we found owls too!! The next day we hired Levi for a full day tour. He found us so many birds that we would have never discovered on our own. We hiked 7 miles over 3 different locations and had the best time! As wonderful as that all was, both of our guides went above and beyond both before and after our tours. They answered all our questions, gave us lots of extra tips and hints, and sent numerous map pin drops of other locations to visit on our own. Because of all their help we were able to find 52 new species of birds during our visit! I can’t recommend ABT enough!!
Aks v
1700970362
I did one day of birding and photography with Kadynn. It was the most memorable time spent at Tucson. We saw about 25+ species of birds. Birds were playing hide and seek, it was not easy to track them through lens when they were hopping around and having fun. Kadynn was extremely supportive, he helped me track and identify the birds quickly. I got many amazing shots. I do alot of solo trips just to avoid the noise and movements. This trip made me appreciate the like minded company. I got to hear epic stories on these birds. I am amazed with the variety and loved the mob party of these birds. I love birds and was very happy to hear the team works on the conservation too. So happy that I chose to do the tour with them. I am going to do one for the owls next.
Kalpesh Krishna
1700938287
We did a day tour with Louie D. in southeastern Arizona, covering Madera Canyon, Patagonia and Green Valley. We booked the tour kind of last minute, but Felipe was very prompt and accommodating and luckily there was guide availability!Overall, we had a wonderful time birding with Louie. The conditions were a bit tough with harsh winds. But Louie made sure we still managed to get 15 lifers! We managed to cover a number of hotspots over the course of the day, and the places were well thought out and tailored to our target list. Louie also gave us numerous suggestions on how best to spend our time on the first and last day when he was not guiding.Overall, I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours and Louie as a guide!
Charles Eliot
1700501901
Upon a recommendation, we used Arizona Birding Tours for 2 days to help us complete our 600 birds for the year. We initially spoke with Jake Thompson who was professional and prompt with his communication. Kadynn Hatfield was our guide and he was amazing. He was also extremely knowledgeable and professional, yet friendly and down to earth. He went above and beyond to help us find our target birds. We will definitely call them again and we hope to have Kadynn as our guide; however, we imagine any of the guides with ABT would be wonderful.
Stewart Mayhew
1700358645
What a great experience! Jake is a terrific guide, providing guidance and insights far beyond just finding and identifying birds. He clearly has deep knowledge of how species interact over time with geography, weather patterns, and food sources. Super friendly and very dedicated. Highly recommend. As a visitor from the US east coast and relatively new birder, I saw and photographed many new species in Madera Canyon, Las Cienegas, Patagonia, and other sites in Southern Arizona. Green Kingfisher, Baird's Sparrow, Ruddy Ground Dove, Sprague's Pipet, Hepatic Tanager, Violet-capped hummingbird, and many others.
John Amoroso
1699505468
Arizona Birding Tours guides are a class act! I had an amazing two days with Caleb recently who is somewhat of a birding savant - He can id passerine flight song at 100+ ft! And the rest of the ABT crew are all generous with their time and talents and add vibrancy and camaraderie to the Arizona birding community. I give them my highest recommendation.
Thomas Skelton
1698246957
Spent the day with Nolan in the greater Patagonia area. Had a wonderful day with lots of new Lifers! His ability to hear and find birds is incredible and would highly recommend.
Sarah Kilgore
1697585665
Had an incredible time birding with Jake! He helped me check off so many birds on my life list and was extremely knowledgeable and fun. Got to see a burrowing owl — which was awesome (pictured below). Highly recommend!
Jennifer Zellmer
1697323394
It was a great birding experience!
steven fuller
1697287787
Went on a private tour with Nolan on Oct 6-8, 2023. I had not been birding in the southwest except southern CA, and told my guide I would like to see as many southwest species as possible. I got photos of 106 species, half of which were new birds for me. I highly recommend Nolan. He has amazing ability to identify birds from a long distance as well as by calls. And of course, nothing beats local knowledge.
Peter Darcy
1696786508
I booked a half day visit with Arizona birding tours. Several things impressed me. First a response within a few minutes of booking to connect with some information. Second providing a target list of birds to see, made me feel i was more in control of birds i wanted to see. I was partnered up with Jake who absolutely knows his stuff. Not only the songs, but calls and chips which are very hard to identify. Not only was Jake professional, knowledgeable and insightful, but he was personable and friendly. We hit all my target birds save a handful. Thank you Jake and Arizona bird tours. Will book again when in town. Excellent ValuePeter
Nancy Baudendistel
1696071521
I did a full day bird watching with Arizona Birding Tours, with David Griffin as our birding guide. It was such an amazing day! We went to 5 different locations and saw so many birds, 91 to be exact! David was excellent at identifying by sight and sound and could locate the birds so quickly. He also kept track of all the sitings on ebird for me, that was a treat. He used a pointer for me when I couldn’t locate the birds, super helpful. And he is such an expert on everything nature and has a great personality too. I highly recommend Arizona birding tours!
Ben
1695862017
I used Arizona Birding Tours during my trip to Tucson in September 2023 and Kadynn was my guide. This was my first time birding and photographing the Tucson area so I wanted a guide to help get me in the right areas to photograph my target species. Not only did Kadynn get me in front of every target species I requested, he was able to get me in front of a ton of additional species that weren’t on my list. In 1.5 days with Kadynn I was able to get good photos of 47 new lifers! Kadynn’s knowledge and ability to ID by sound were very impressive…it was like hanging out with an encyclopedia for 1.5 days. If you’re looking for a birding guide, I strongly recommend Kadynn. I had such a good experience that I’ll definitely use Arizona Birding Tours next time I’m in Arizona.
Karl Biesemier
1695861237
We booked two full days of guided birding and an evening owling for our trip to SE AZ while staying at Casa de San Pedro. Jake Thompson was our fabulous guide. He was very familiar with all the area birding hotspots, could identify all the birds by call, even faint and short segments, and shared complete ebird checklists.
Thane Dinsdale
1694564936
This was my first major bird trip out of state. I did a 6 day private tour including 2 night sessions, because I knew there would be plenty of life birds in central and northern AZ also. I went with Caleb who is extremely knowledgeable about not only birds, but other fauna, habitats, plants, etc... He's awesome at birding by ear, great at getting people on the bird, and knows how to set people up for decent photos. There was also good communication ahead of time from Felipe and Caleb. I didn't give a big list of targets, just general guidelines that I wanted to see cool birds and cool habitats, and hopefully get some good photo ops. I wasn't trying to get a maximum list total but ended up getting 102 life birds on the 6 day tour, and I was really happy with the birds, habitats, and photo ops.We spent the first 3 days in SE AZ, covering a different area each day. We got pretty much all the southeastern specialties except rufous-capped warbler, which wasn't seen that day. Highlights included good looks at elegant trogon, spotted owl, tons of hummingbirds (Lucifer was my favorite), a pair of becards building a nest, plus some really cool looking birds like yellow-eyed junco and bronzed cowbird.After SE AZ, we had an extra day scheduled to cover any misses, but we had seen almost all the targets, so we took a side trip to the Sea of Cortez in Mexico where we got yellow-footed gull and some other nice sea birds. Then we spent one day around Phoenix area. I really enjoyed the Phoenix birds other than the heat. We got several nice birds like LeConte's thrasher, Ridgway's rail, and Common black hawk. We spent the last day in Northern AZ. We got to watch a family of 4 condors which was maybe the highlight of the trip. We ended in Kaibab NF, which was difficult birding but we saw a few nice birds there like Williamson's sapsucker.There were a few misses and a few missed photo targets but that will happen on any trip. I've attached a few photos but I'm only partway through the editing process.
Glenn Summers
1694475327
Arizona Birding Tours lined me up with Jake T. for two bird photography sessions at various lakes and trails near Prescott, Az., September 10 and 11. Jake is extremely knowledgable and enthusiastic, born and bred in the area. I learned a lot, saw some beautiful areas, and took got some great shots of blue heron, cormorants, ducks, ibis, blue birds, warbler, acorn woodpeckers and others. I had a wonderful time, thanks to Jake. Highly recommended.
Craig Huish
1694356728
An end of August birding tour with Arizona Birding Tours was all I had hoped for. I had a list of birds I had hoped to photograph, and got almost all of them.The weather was fine except for heavy rain on a couple of nocturnal outings. My guide, Kadynn, was patient and persistent. We waited out the deluge and got our target bird. Kadynn was very flexible, and planned the day-long outings thoughtfully, with us spending cooler mornings in desert habitat to see the species there, then moving into the mountains in the afternoons for higher-level birds.Kadynn has a great ear for birds, and is up-to-date on locations of birds moving through at certain times of the year.I plan to use Arizona Birding Tours next spring with a new list of species for that time of the year.
Joshua Symons
1694306136
Was an amazing experience. Our guide Jake was fun, knowledgeable and tailored our birding day to our requests. Would absolutely recommend to any birder travelling through Arizona in search of any species.
Gene Ellison (Gino)
1692462762
Felipe - my thanks to you and everyone at Arizona Birding Guides for coordinating my 5 day birding adventure with your top guide Kadyn Hatfield.We reported 186 species (9 life birds) in 5 days.My compliments to Kadyn for his:1 professionalism as a guide2 early arrival each day3 an efficient, well thought out set of logistics4 outstanding birding ID skills5 fun personality6 drive to get me the target birds I wanted to see here in ArizonaIt is my intention to contact you again in the future to book additional trips. I would strongly recommend other birders contact you for bird guiding.You have built a wonderful birding business ! Congratulations ! Please be well and pass along my thanks to Kadyn.Gino Ellison
Edward Z
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Ann Martinez
1692044725
I was in Arizona for a birding convention and did multiple private birding tours. I went on a tour with Nolan and a separate tour with Kadynn both are really young but have the most amazing talent at being able to identify all the birds by call and hearing and identifying the birds before we even saw them. They also both know a lot about other wildlife and plants. Kadynn knows alot about reptiles also.I also went on a tour with David and he was excellent also. David is older and has experienced more of the area in terms of how things have changed over time and how populations have changed.I would highly recommend any of these three guides.
Isaac Phillips
1691805368
We have used Arizona Birding Tours for two years now and have had a great experience with all three of the tour guides we have used (David, Caleb, and Kadynn). Everyone is really knowledgeable about the area, extremely talented birders and guides, and go out of their way to help us find what we are looking for. When we are out in the birding areas even people from other birding groups are often coming over to try to get information from our knowledgeable guides. Felipe is super responsive and quickly gets everything organized.
Greg C
1691622965
My family and I birded with Nolan in the Sierra Vista area in July 2023. This was a great experience I'd recommend Nolan and Arizona Birding Tours to birders at any level! To start, Felipe was very helpful in finding the right member of their team for us, given our targets, location, and schedule.When the day arrived Nolan was prompt and we had a great time! We opted for both a day of (daytime) birding focused on photography, then a nighttime owling session. Both were worth it. He had a great sense from his local birding experience on just where to look for the species we wanted. He also was very knowledgeable in the area of birds and ornithology. Most importantly though, he was great with our teenage daughter, who was along for the tours and doing a 2023 "big year". She told us after how much she enjoying birding and chatting with him.He even provided valuable advice for us for the next day (when we didn't have time for guiding) on wrapping up with a few additional species, before our flight back east and home. Fantastic experience both from management and the tour guide!! Good birding!
Lisa Nasta
1691334508
Nolan Walker was my birding guide in Southeast Arizona for 3 half days and 1 evening. He planned an Itinerary based on my wants and needs. Right away I was confident with his knowledge and abilities. He was very sharp and had a great eye and ear. Nolan didn’t miss a bird whether it was flying by, singing or a low chip note. He would always make sure I heard the bird and described its vocalizations so I could recognize it on my own which I can appreciate. I can also appreciate how well he described the location of where a bird was when he spotted it so I could get on it quickly. Nolan answered all my questions and was very knowledgeable on identifying and locating birds in the area. He is also knowledgeable about snakes and other reptiles and amphibians. He was always focused on getting me on the target birds I needed. I had a really great experience and got lots of new birds for my life list. If you are thinking of hiring a guide do not hesitate to book with Arizona Birding tours. (I will be adding some of my favorite photos here.)
Ellen Miller
1690827162
I spent 2 days with Caleb Strand doing some target birding. I had excellent views of all the birds I needed. Caleb was prepared, focused, patient, and personable. Very good experience. I highly recommend.
John Hannan
1690412255
Nolan, my guide was fantastic! He provided me with a list of possible birds, which I was able to pick the ones I would like to see most. Based on that information, Nolan planned the day and places to provide the greatest success.He understood I was a bird photographer and not a true birder, and he worked hard to get the best shot and to explain the difference in species.Anyone wanting an friendly guide in the Tucson area with fantastic knowledge, should engage Nolan, you will not regret it.
Suresh Subramanian
1688837264
Went on a half day birding tour with Arizona birding and Caleb Strand near the Phoenix area. Caleb was extremely knowledgeable and both i and my daughter enjoyed ourselves. My highlights included Burrowing owls, barn owls, several thrushes. Highly recommended
Angelo A.
1688756974
Arizona Birding Tours and our guide, Caleb Strand, helped us plan a three day tour in late June for a list of target birds in S.E. Arizona. The tour was excellent in every way, including timing, variety, pace and quality of observations. Caleb found all of our target birds along with a few bonus birds we were not expecting. We also had the opportunity to observe many other birds we had seen before, but with better looks on this trip. At the end of the tour the total bird count exceeded 120 species. Caleb was a wonderful companion throughout the tour and we benefited significantly from his ornithological experience and expertise and from the information he passed on about the areas we were birding. My wife and highly recommend Caleb Strand and Arizona Birding Tours.Angelo and Inara Angelis
Michael Pazzani
1688049423
Great tour of Patagonia Lake area. Arizona Bird Tours was easy to work with— quick to reply, and find a guide who knew the specific areas. Nolan was great, on time and knew the specific area the bird we were looking (varied bunting) for might be found. We found it and more.
Vernie Aikins (pedalpics)
1687914061
Wow, what an experience in San Pedro de la Cueva with Felipe Guerrero and Jake Thompson from Arizona Birding Tours! I don't think I have ever said, "that was so dope" so many times on a birding trip before. It was one of those reaffirming trips where you really realize why you spend all of your free time doing something. Adventuring into seldom-seen canyons, or exploring new towns you have never been to before, with fun knowledgeable people is just priceless. Sitting on top of a hill with macaws flying below makes the 3am rollcall, and 115-degree temps, that much more bearable. Discovering bird species where they were never thought to have ranged before is exhilarating! It's one of those trips where you are completely exhausted, overheated, and miss your wife, but you would drop anything to turn around and go right back and do it again.
Francis Bullett
1687372686
I booked two half-days birding south of Tucson with Caleb. Awesome guide, encyclopedic knowledge of bird songs and calls. Caleb helped me find all my target birds and then some. Felipe was a great help with organizing the tour and putting the trip together. I would definitely recommend Arizona Birding Tours to anyone planning a birding vacation in Arizona.
David Davis
1686691915
Our group of 6 spent 3 wonderful days birding with David Griffin in mid-May in and around the Madera Canyon area. Prior to the trip, I first worked with Felipe to sketch out the details. He then assigned David to lead our group and he was also extremely prompt and helpful in setting up the itinerary.David is also very flexible, patient and understanding because in the days leading up to the trip we kept throwing him curveballs due to some health issues one of our group was having, but he was unfazed.David is an excellent birder, knowing where to find the birds, knowing their calls and being a keen spotter. He also has a delightful sense of humor and is very friendly. His knowledge of wildlife biology is most impressive as is his love of nature.Would highly recommend him.
Jonah Eckels
1686532147
Awesome group who deliver fantastic birds along with an amazing experience. Special thanks to Kadynn for getting me my lifer Elegant Trogon plus many other special birds!
Mike O'Malley
1686511593
I had an outstanding experience with Arizona Birding Tours! I spent two days birding southeast Arizona hotspots with my guide, David Griffin.David is a great guy and is a terrific birder with a keen ear. We saw all the birds I had hoped to see and more!I also appreciated his knowledge of the natural world in general-the plants, trees and geography in the region.We got along great and I’d highly recommend David to anyone wanting to bird SE Arizona!
Joe Wing
1686442237
I had the pleasure of working with Caleb to help me find some birds. I found our time together quite enjoyable!He is an excellent guide! He has all the knowledge and skills needed on where to find the birds, to get you to see them, all with excellent interpersonal skills. We found all of the birds I was seeking that were around at this time of year.
Julie Dale
1686151866
I recently had the pleasure of working with Kadynn. I wanted to locate 7-8 owl species. We went out during the day and also did some night birding. Kadynn was very personable, and he also really knew his stuff. Kadynn worked hard to locate the birds I was interested in and was successful in doing so. Moreover, Kadynn was an absolute pleasure to hang out with. He was friendly and easy to talk to throughout the entire trip. I also learned a bit about herping, which Kadynn is really into!Overall, I had a great experience with Kadynn as my guide and highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and personable guide. I will definitely be back for more birding adventures with Kadynn!
Regina McNulty
1685994180
My group of 10 from Kane County Audubon had two great outings with Jake Thompson with Arizona Birding Tours. Jake took us owling in Miller Canyon and then we spent the entire day at a variety of places including Ramsay and Ash Canyons. Jake readily adjusted his pace to the varying levels of fitness in our group. He was great at not just finding the birds but id'ing plants, pointing out various insects and answering any questions our group had. He was personable, never in a hurry and he gave our group a great experience. I would not hesitate to use him again. Thanks Jake!
Sam Krueger
1685829149
We engage the services of Eric Hough for two days of guided birding around the Tucson area.We had a wonderful time with Eric. Eric’s knowledge of birds, plants, geography, and the history of the area was truly exceptional. While this is the first time I’ve hired a private birding guide, I have been on many walks with Audobon leaders, and I’ve also been on many botanic outings with experts in the field, and Eric’s knowledge of all of these subjects was outstanding. And we enjoyed not just seeing the birds, but learning about their behavior, biology, and so on. In addition, Eric is an easy-going guy, and very enjoyable to hang out with. We honestly don’t feel we could’ve had a better guide.
Trista Nealon
1685447090
I am so glad we used Arizona Birding Tours for our trip to SE Arizona earlier this month! Caleb is an absolute rock star birding guide! We saw an incredible number of new species! Caleb planned our itinerary with diverse locations and habitats which maximized the number of species we saw. We booked three full days and one night of owling, and it was so worth it! We also learned so much about bird behavior, habitat, vocalizations, and flora and fauna of the area. For example, I had no idea that scorpions glowed in the dark! Caleb knows all the birds, their calls, and where to find them. It was so cool to see gray hawks come when he called them. It was like they knew him! He is truly the Bird Whisperer! I am so thankful to Caleb and Arizona Birding Tours for making our trip such a memorable and incredible experience!
Annie
1685329151
Two half days at Patagonia Lake Birding Trail, Montosa Canyon, and Santa Rita Lodge. Jake Thompson was our guide. He found almost all of my target birds! He is an expert on bird calls/vocalizations, habitat, and bird behavior. We had a great time and appreciate Jake's professionalism and willingness to help us get our birds. i would definitely choose jake and AZ Birding Tours for future adventures.
Diane Goldfarb
1685313387
I had a day with Jake Thompson up Miller Canyon. It was one of the most enjoyable hikes that I have had in the many years I have been there. Jake was a marvelous guide in that he is incredibly informed on many areas of nature. Even more, his love of nature is contagious in that he is totally at home in it, the scenery, the smells, and of course the birds. He know so much about the bird habitats and how they have adapted to a certain area, and a yearning to be constantly learning more. I certainly look forward to seeing him in the future. Thank you Jake for a wonderful day. Debbie Goldfarb,Santa Monica
Casey Baldwin
1685226734
Levi was an outstanding guide for our birding tour. He did a great job of educating us about the many species that we encountered. The whole birding trip was a blast! Definitely recommend booking a tour with Levi:)
Barry Marsh
1684961219
Wanting to get a few target lifers (and, of course, again see some of the other amazing AZ birds already on my life list) I booked a full day and two half-days with Jake Thompson. Jake did an excellent job - he got me on three of my targets and tried very hard for the rest. He shared his broad knowledge of habitats, flora, and fauna. After the last trip he gave me advice on where I could look for some of the target species we missed. A really wonderful experience!
bobo link
1684821332
My wife and I just finished two full-day birding trip with guide Levi Plummer of Arizona birding tours. The experience is simply amazing. Levi is such a talented young guide who's able to pick up every single bird call and detect any movement around us. His scouting and trip itineraries were perfect, which enabled us to pick up nearly all of the 30+ target species. He's also very courteous and considerate of us. My wife and I both thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip.
John Good
1684269349
I hired Nolan through ABT and all I can say is WOW! Nolan = WOW! There are so many superlatives that apply (amazing knowledge, eyes and ears 100 times better than AI, hardworking, helpful, courteous, etc., etc.), But WOW just sums it up nicely! Months before we even met, he was texting me about my goals so that we could come up with an appropriate plan. We birded together for two half days plus a full day, and Nolan even texted me about the locations of several ABA rarities when we weren’t birding together, so that I could go for them on my own. He kindly took into consideration my physical limitations with uphill hiking, so I was never worried about not being able to complete any of the short treks. I took thousands of pics (20 frames per second is both a blessing and a curse!) and after reviewing most of them upon returning home, there were some birds I just couldn’t identify. No worries – a quick text to Nolan got me the answers that I needed! If you are lucky enough to go birding with Nolan, I’m sure that it will be a remarkable and memorable experience, no matter what your individual goals are! I would definitely bird with him again!
Lisa T
1684159835
Nolan is a great guide, extremely knowledgeable and his ability to hear and spot birds was amazing. Had a wonderful birding experience. Highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours.
Barbara T
1684147120
We had Kadynn for a full day and owling and we couldn't have been more pleased! It was rough in the beginning because of the high winds. We had a specific list of birds we wanted to see and we got some of them. Kadynn was professional, friendly, smart, enthousiastic and very knowledgeable.
Claire Cordon
1684100850
Great experience with birding tour by Caleb and Arizona Birding Tours. You will learn alot about birds, their habitats, calls and favorite haunts. Scheduling with Felipe was very smooth.
Iris Kilpatrick
1684005442
Nolan is kind, professional, has super powers for hearing and recognizing birds, sees everything. He’s like a Clark Kent that turns in Superman out in the field. Best guide I’ve ever had and that includes other countries too. He’s also quick witted, personable and very handsome. Loved him.Iris Kilpatrick
T.J. Lehman
1683604011
Nolan was skilled, thoughtful, and just a fantastic person to spend the day with. My 15-year-old son and I were both very, very impressed with Nolan and pleased with our day. We highly recommend Nolan and Arizona Birding Tours.
Bodie
1683574812
David was a great guide - extremely knowledgeable, personable, and patient - made for a memorable bird outing. Thanks so much, David!
John McDonnell
1683415108
This company could not be more perfect. Booking and follow up was super friendly and efficient. Our guide, Kadynn, was by far the most skilled guide we have had in 10 years of hiring bird guides. He is genuine sound savant and is a lot of fun to bird with. We will only use ABT and Kadynn when birding in AZ from this point on.
Jack McC
1683383685
My wife and I were absolutely delighted with the guides ABT provided for us on two separate days, Louie and Jake. Their knowledge of birds, skill spotting them, and friendly personalities were all you could ever hope for in guides. On our first Western birding trip, we added 76 species to our life list, and learned so much about so many of them. Louie's spot of a super hard to locate Pygmy Owl, and Jake's spot of the Rufous-capped Warbler were highlights of our trip. Highest recommendation, and we are looking forward to our next trip with ABT!
Cindy Fischer
1683329938
Such a rewarding day of birding with Jake T. He was super knowledgeable about many nature topics. The best day birding in a very long time.
Lynn DeFilippo
1682437062
I had a great birding trip with Arizona Birding Tours. I did a sort of SE Arizona birding sampler with guide Kadynn, who put together an excellent itinerary that hit many different habitat types for 5 full days and a night of owling. I'm new to Arizona, so this trip was a great intro. Kadynn has an amazing ear for bird song and will get you on the birds quickly. We got so many birds, many lifers for me, lots of species endemic to this part of Arizona, numerous vagrants from Mexico, he really knew exactly where to go. Lots of beautiful hiking, with the trip tailored to my needs. Kadynn was professional, upbeat, enthusiastic, and taught me a lot. I continued to bird on my own after our trip and was able to put lots of my new song ID skills to good use. Booking and arranging was easy and straightforward. Highly recommend. Can't wait to come to back to this corner of Arizona!
Karen Hefler
1682376815
The guiding services provided by Nolan Walker were fantastic and worth every cent! My birding friend Noelle Houben, and I, both got about 30 new birds between two half day trips which was great for us as we have already seen a fair amount of AZ birds. Nolan really impressed us with his birding knowledge/skills and his professionalism. He was good about keeping in touch with me before we left Maine, he accommodated our requests, he was at our meeting spots on time, and after the trips he got the ebird list to us promptly. We really enjoyed our time with him. Five Stars for sure!
Dennis Friedman
1682182993
I did five half-day birding sessions with Nolan Walker, and every aspect of the experience was terrific. Nolan is tremendously knowledgeable, planned an excellent itinerary, did a great job of getting me views of many birds I wanted to photograph, and was a pleasure to spend time with.
Heidi Moore Trasatti
1682083301
Booked a half-day trip in early April and was quickly matched with Caleb. He was able to select two great locations based on target birds and accessibility. Caleb was extremely knowledgeable and was a great guide for our group (beginners and intermediate level birders). He was especially skilled with identifying birds by ear which is exceptionally helpful for those tricky flycatchers. Highly recommend this company and would definitely use them again when visiting the area.
Julie Wills
1682042465
I hired Arizona Birding Tours to show my out-of-town birding guest the birds of southern AZ. We were with a guide for 2 days & it was a great experience. The guide, Kadynn, was friendly & very knowledgeable. He created a plan to cover the best places to bird within our limited time. He really helped us learn the calls & songs we weren't familiar with. My guest wasn't used to the heat & altitude so Kadynn was very flexible in changing the locations around to accommodate my guest. Both Kadynn & the tour company kept in continual contact as our itinerary was being planned. I would recommend this company to anyone who hasn't birded in southern AZ before or, who has, but needs help finding certain species. I have birded southern AZ before but Kadynn helped me get 3 lifers!
Susan Ringoen
1682040725
My daughter and I are new to birding this year and planned a birding trip to Madera Canyon to see some new birds. I was happy to connect with Felipe at Arizona Birding tours. He quickly returned my request for a tour and connected us with our guide, Levi. Levi inquired about our goals and target species, and then proceeded to put together a nice itinerary for a very generous 1/2 day (6 hours) of birding + a night time owling experience. Levi had goals for the species we would see in each area and was extremely gifted in hearing and spotting the birds for us. We were able to see many species that we otherwise would most likely have missed on our own. I am very happy to have connected with AZ Birding Tours and Levi as they greatly enriched our experience birding in this area and helped us to spot many new birds.
Kelly marquardt
1681733661
Colin (Colin Urmson)
1681675508
We spent four days birding with Nolan Walker and found nearly every bird we looked for. He was knowledgeable and friendly. It was an amazing experience.
Emily Birchman
1681331679
For my first trip to AZ I scheduled a half day of diurnal birding and an evening of owling with ABT with 2 guides: Louie and Kadynn. Both were extremely knowledgeable and kind and patient! I was so impressed with both of them and so happy with my experience birding in Madera Canyon with them. I would love to plan another trip with ABT in the future!
Jed Ross
1681263749
Phenomenal experience!! Kaleb was so knowledgeable and professional. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a great day birding in Tucson!
Ryan W
1681151472
Wow! I did a half day and owling tour at Patagonia lake. I expected to only see a few new species and to be able to identify a lot of the birds we saw. NOPE! Caleb was on a really high level of birding! He called in 2 Gray Hawks by mimicking their call! I suck at mimicking so the fact he fooled two hawks was really cool for me! He could tell various birds by their flight call and tink call! Instead of seeing 20 lifers for me like I thought we would, we saw a whopping 46! Owling was also outstanding! We saw 3 species of owls, and Caleb was able to bring 2 close enough to see! He was also able to hear a Common Poorwill several hundred feet away! High recommend. It’s a must-have for birding in Arizona!!!
Vicki Piaskowski
1681071673
Caleb was incredibly knowledgeable about birds by sight and sound and also plants. He was very patient, taking time to be sure we saw each bird.We both learned a lot and had a wonderful morning. He also shared his eBird checklist with me so later we could study the birds we saw and heard. I was so impressed with his knowledge of songs and calls. He was able to identify the many songs that a Northern mockingbird was singing and where it could have learned them. We will definitely hire him on our next trip to AZ.
Robert Epstein
1680979970
My wife and I had Nolan Walker as a guide. A very nice young man, who has great birding skills. He knows where to look for the birds, and if the birds are there, he WILL find them.
S. Dye
1680971909
We had a an amazing day birding in Madera Canyon with Caleb ,5 stars!Caleb was attentive, smart ,knowledgeable and so personable!Caleb had extensive knowledge of area birds, and where to locate them. He was also very accomplished with identifying bird calls and songs. Thanks for a terrific day!
Josh Ketry
1680874001
Did some night time owling with Kadynn. He was knowledgeable and on time and we got all four target night time species
Haocong Ren
1680836955
Great birding with Nolan! He is very professional and super knowledgeable about birds, with good eyes and ears to locate and ID birds, and obviously loves what he does, excellent communications before and after our full-day tour (with eBird lists). Also excellent communications with Filipe to set up the tour. Highly recommend the company for any serious birders visiting Arizona.
Steve K
1680814681
Outstanding company. Communications with Felipe to set up our Madera Canyon bird photography day were quick, clear and professional. Caleb Strand is an outstanding guide. Knowledgeable, chill personality but intent on finding you the shots you want. He was very aware of our photography needs for setting up shots, both in the grasslands and on the mountain. (And we found one of the first Elegant Trojans of the season). Highly recommended.
Stacy Bermingham
1680751499
My son and I spent four days and one night of adventure and birding with Jake. His knowledge of birds, ecology, and the local sites was superlative! Jake was able to recognize the songs of birds instantly and where to find them. He was patient, personable, and a lot of fun. Thank you for a memorable time!
Stephen Norton
1680659568
My wife and I spent three great days birding with Caleb Strand of Arizona Birding Tours in Southern Arizona. Caleb developed a great itinerary with diverse habitats and locations as we made our first visit to the area. Caleb has an amazing ear and would anticipate what species were about to appear from the quietest call. And he is adept at mimicking the calls and songs of many species. Our primary goal was to have great views of new species, not to accumulate numbers, but with Caleb’s guidance, we still ended up with 70+ species each day. By the end of three days under Caleb’s tutelage, we had built some confidence in our own identification of some of the more challenging birds, such as Epidonax flycatchers. Caleb is tremendously curious about the whole natural world and that fit perfectly with our broad interests in the local flora and fauna.
Debbie Listernick
1680651400
Our two days birding with Kadynn in Portal AZ were incredible. Kadynn’s birding identification skills are extraordinary - both sight & song. He is extremely knowledgeable about bird behavior, migration & habitat. Kadynn is very personable and quickly cued into our birding abilities and was patient getting us on the birds. We got definitive views of many birds we were hoping to see. We will use Kadynn again on future birding trips and highly recommend him & ABT to other birders.
Robert Kettenmann
1680628677
We had a great day. Jake was very knowledgeable and fun to be with. We learned a lot and hope to have the opportunity to come back in the future.
galen hasler
1680618855
My experience was just as Michelle described below. We were guided by Kadynn for a full day south of Tucson on areas he knows intimately. I am amazed by his energy, knowledge and abilities. I can't imagine better guiding and highly recommend AZ Birding Tours.
saima abbasi
1680368252
A big shoutout to the Arizona Birding Tours for an amazing birding tour in Tuscon!!!! Thank you!!! Kaydnn Hatfield was super knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic!!
Chris Williams
1680234646
I reserved Kadynn Hatfield as my guide for a full day in Prescott. The first time we got out of the car he immediately heard an Anna’s Hummingbird and located it. I was blown away because I hadn’t heard anything. He instantly knew birds nearby by their call and then located. I am a professional photographer and even though I had a 600 mm lens I still needed to be rather close for great shots of small birds. I included a few photos of a Vermilion Flycatcher and a Bridled Titmouse (Plus Kadynn looking for more) both of which don’t sit still very long but he placed us where I could get them. I have hundreds of other photos but haven’t had time to go through them all. I highly recommend Kadynn for your guide. You will be rewarded.
Drew Kelly
1680149171
My partner found this company while perusing the different options for tours while we were on our trip down here from Oregon. She chatted with the Arizona Birding Company and quickly was convinced they were the group to go with. She set up a night owling trip with Nolan as our guide. In the days preceding the trip they chatted via text about what we were looking for and the area we would be staying in. On the night of our trip Nolan met up with us right on time and had a convenient, nearby location for us to head off to. As soon as we were out of the cars Nolan was identifying what birds we were hearing just by ear. He was able to point out birds flying overhead and tell us what they were and described the different flight patterns and sounds to us. We were able to find the Elf Owls and got some great looks at them. We heard, and looked for, several other species that decided to stay hidden for the evening. Nolan shared some tips about where to find other birds in the coming days and was excited about what we'd been finding. His overall knowledge and enthusiasm were infectious. We couldn't have been more happy with the owls we heard and saw or with Nolan guiding us from start to finish. I would highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours and Nolan as well for anyone who is coming to the area!
sharon stern
1680021713
My husband and I enjoyed our third experience with Arizona Birding Tours. This year, we opted for something different. After two years in Southern Arizona, we wanted to bird in the Southern Rio Grande Valley in Texas. Felipe connected us with Nolan Walker who set up an amazing five day itinerary from Rio Grande City to South Padre Island and everywhere in between. We appreciated not only Nolan's excellent and young eyes and ears, but his wealth of knowledge about the birds in the area. He was great to be with over the five days and we saw so many birds. It was a very special experience. Now I am thinking about what to plan with ABT next year! Thank you, Nolan!
David Lei
1679933774
Arranged a last-minute, one-day tour in Maricopa County through Felipe. Our guide was Levi who reached out in advance to inquire about what we were interested in seeing and then setup an itinerary. Levi was an excellent spotter and helped us see a good many lifers!
Brian Eaton
1679878964
We had a great day of birdwatching with Jake! Felipe with Arizona Birding Tours was quick to respond to my inquiries, easy to work with and helped us put together a day of birdwatching that encompassed two areas - the Santa Cruz River/Tubac and Madera Canyon. We saw a good variety of birds in these locations. Jake was knowledgeable, amiable and patient with all of our questions.
K DG
1679629284
We spent an evening owling and a full day of birding the next day with Eric Hough. Eric was fantastic and really went above and beyond to make it a great experience for us. We are extremely grateful to him! He was incredibly knowledgeable about the geography, flora and fauna of the state, and where different bird species could be found. His birding skills by sight and sound were phenomenal. Eric was super friendly and so generous with his time. We could not recommend him enough and would use Arizona Birding Tours again in a heartbeat. Thank you!
Tim Ryan
1679535062
Jake did a tour for me on March 12 at Jewel of the Creek. He picked the location, and it was Fabulous, with varied habitat - sparrows, hummingbirds, phoebes, etc. He brought a scope for us to use, and that was very useful. Then we went to the Community College to see burrowing owls, great-tailed grackles, swallows, and a harrier. A few highlights were those owls, a black-throat sparrow, and several Lucy's warblers.
David Perlmutter
1679528818
We did a half day birding with Jake and had a great time. He went at our pace but still helped us see more birds than we ever could’ve on our own. Not only was he super knowledgeable in bird calls/identification but also local flora and geology too. Also Felipe was extremely responsive and accommodating in coordinating the day. Would definitely use Arizona Birding Tours next time I’m in town.
Brandon Sullivan
1679457266
We worked with Nolan for two tours over spring break. The first day was a dusk tour at an owling hotspot. In about an hour, Nolan had us on four lifers: Elf Owl, Western and Whiskered Screech Owls, and a Common Poorwill. The next day we toured a huge chunk of land north of Patagonia. We saw many birds and learned a lot about them in the process. Nolan was on time, courteous, knowledgeable, and fun. It was an amazing experience and we hope to come back during a different season soon.
Bonnie Ott
1679442844
Had a fantastic day with Jake Thompson! I've been birding for forty years and have had many birding experiences. He was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and a joy to bird with. I would happily go back to Arizona and recommend him very highly.
Viktor Björkert
1679087699
Visiting Arizona for the first time, we booked a birding guide for 4 days with Felipe at Arizona Birding Tours. Felipe was extremely helpful in putting together a package for us. Caleb, our guide for the whole period, answered all our requests and initial queries and planned the four days beautifully. Caleb was extremely knowledgeable with exceptional identification skills, not only of the birds but also of the general flora and fauna of the region. This, together with his friendly and accommodating attitude as well as his expert knowledge of the area, made for an absolutely outstanding experience. We wholeheartedly recommend Arizona Birding Tours for any birder visiting the area!
Michelle Harlow
1678573061
We were novices and learned so much from Caleb who was patient, very knowledgeable, and a pleasure to spend the day with. We went to 3 sites near Sierra Vista - all full of beautiful birds!
Lucine Reinbold
1678469825
I had an absolutely unforgettable experience with Kadynn this past weekend! I enjoyed every single moment of my full day tour and racked up 45 new species for my life list! He knew all the right places to go, all the "usual" places certain species like to hang out, and gave me so many facts and information about the birds that it further enhanced this amazing day. Kadynn was prompt, courteous, and had an infectious passion for the birds of his region. I will absolutely book with this company again when I come back to Tucson (which will hopefully be soon!)
Alec Crawford
1678113777
Had a full day of birding in southeast Arizona with Caleb, including an owl prowl in the evening, and can't speak highly enough of his skills, professionalism, and good nature. We were mainly focusing on Montosa and Madera Canyons and the Tubac area, and the variety of species found was incredible - without even touching upon any wetland areas. Would highly recommend ABT for those visiting the area - you will not be disappointed.
Brian Marino
1677981881
Went out with Caleb for the day. His skills are supernatural. We started by going to canoa ranch and then Montosa canyon. After that he reviewed my lifelist on eBird and we went to find ones I needed. Caleb can really find the birds and was genuinely enjoyable to be with for the day. Would highly recommend
Joan Seidman
1677607814
This was the third time we've used ABT to bird in Arizona - once with Felipe and twice with David. We were impressed with their bird expertise and overall knowledge of the flora and fauna of the area. You can't go wrong booking a trip with ABT.
Martin Hall
1677540891
We had a great experience with ABT! Easy to register, schedule, quick to respond and good follow up. Jake Thompson our guide was very knowledgeable, willing to share his passion for birding, information and birding tips. He and Susie had a great day testing and learning bird calls and all things birds. We recommend ABT wholeheartedly!Martin & Susie HallNewaygo, MI.
Kim Habel
1677098122
Birded the Tucson area, specifically Mt. Lemmon and a beautiful place with diverse habitat La Posta Quemada with Nolan Walker.He is incredibly smart talented birder who is also knowledgeable about plants, trees and other mammals which is a very nice addition to Bird ID if your interested.Even though I am a mildly experienced birder, it is always helpful when in an unfamiliar are to have someone who really knows bird id and where to locate them. Thank you!
carol wilson
1676684414
ABT guide, David Griffin, met me for half a day of birding in the Tucson area in early February. David was very accommodating, considerate, friendly, fun, and eager to share his knowledge about the birds and conservation issues of SE Arizona. He was expert at finding and identifying (by sight and sound) all the birds in the well-chosen places we visited, and due to his pointers and explanations, I learned a lot in those few hours, which helped me tremendously during the rest of my trip. And, he got me to see several new species right away! He was very knowledgeable about the ecosystems of Arizona and able to answer a myriad of questions. He was flexible and quickly came up with alternative plans when I wasn’t able to go to the original places he had planned for us to visit. David put me at ease, which made me feel like I was birding with an old friend. I’d definitely ask for his guiding again!
Don Simborg
1676578110
Yesterday my wife and I had a private birding guide to Patagonia Lake State Park with Kadynn Hatfield. We’ve hired birding guides all over the US and the world. Kadynn definitely ranks as one of our best. His auditory ID skills are exceptional. He provided us with much desired information regarding many species and was always attentive to our desires and needs. We would love to go out with him again.
PH
1676408457
I had a very enjoyable day of birding with Caleb Strand. He is incredibly skilled and knowledgeable and also just a fun guy to bird with. He put us onto a number of birds that I would certainly have missed on my own. I have also birded in the past with Felipe Guerrero, who was equally excellent. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours.
Carol Rivchun
1676400984
Attention older birders! Our guide, Nolan Walker, took into account that we're seniors and couldn't do a lot of stairs or rocky land. He took great care of us, and was wicked smart about all aspects of birding. He heard so many birds at once, I couldn't believe it. We saw all the birds we expected, plus a few lifers! Nolan took a picture of a vermillion flycatcher for me, so I have a beautiful souvenir from our trip.
Suzanne Picard
1676387714
I spent an incredibly enjoyable half day with Nolan, a perfect birding guide, who was also extremely knowledgeable about reptiles & desert wildlife. I added many birds to my life list, and saw many Western, desert birds that I rarely get to see. Nolan was expert at identifying them through sound & distant sight! I also took my 94-year-old mother along on this trip. Even though she has listened to me rave about birds for many years now, it wasn't until after this half day with Nolan that she told me she was going to buy a good pair of binoculars and put out a bird feeder! This trip was in mid-February -- I can't wait to go out with AZ Birding Tours again during more peak birding season!
C P
1676061366
Jake is an absolute beast at birding! He is extremely knowledgeable and a great person to be around. I'm a relatively new birder, and he was able to teach me so much about habitats, field marks, bird calls, migration patterns, species ranges, food sources, etc and answered all my questions thoroughly. He even helped me ID some pictures I took during some solo birding. Jake knew exactly where to look for specific birds, could pinpoint them by vocalizations, and either call them to us and/or get us to a spot where we could get some awesome views.I did 5 full days + 2 nights of owling in the winter, as well as a few extra stops on my own that Jake recommended... And we hit 188!!! species, including 87 lifers. We did a lot of hiking, and the locations and views were *almost* as good as the birds!Awesome time, and I will certainly be looking to do another trip with ABT sometime, hopefully in the spring (gotta get that Greater Pewee!)
Keith Barrington
1675885131
Spent 2 days with Nolan, it was a great experience, he is pleasant, knowledgeable and very good a finding the target species! He also knows a huge amount about bird behaviour, and was very good at identifying calls. Exceeded all my expectations.
Santa Fe Crafts
1675787769
I thoroughly enjoyed a day and a half of birding with Caleb Strand. He has a seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of birds and their calls as well as where to find them. His personable, easy going and patient demeanor made our time together a pleasure. I was also extremely pleased with my communication with the company’s owner, Felipe Guerrero. From my initial inquiry until after the conclusion of my tour, Felipe answered all of my questions and stayed in touch. Since all of our dealings were through texting & phone it was reassuring to know that Felipe was available. I wholeheartedly recommend Felipe, Caleb and Arizona Birding Tours to any level of birder.
James Bailey
1675565435
Just spent two days with Nolan Walker in Tucson . . . Couldn’t have had a better experience. Was stunned by his knowledge of the local birding hotspots and his thoughtful tour. Not only did we pick up the endemic species, but picked up the rare migrants too. Good tour, great company, ask for Nolan.
E. Cunningham
1675191532
This was my first time birding in Southeast Arizona and I spent a half day guided by Jake in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Jake is knowledgeable and fun to be with. I definitely saw, heard and identified birds that I otherwise would have missed - including a gray hawk and a gilded flicker. I highly recommend using Arizona Birding Tours and I will definitely use their guide services again when I'm back in Southeast Arizona.
Tim P
1674501901
I'm a real novice at birding and was glad I reached out to Felipe and picked Arizona Birding Tours to explore the birding habitats of southeast Arizona. Nolan was my guide, and while I know some very accomplished birders in my home state of Colorado, no one could match Nolan's passion nor his expertise. He could spot birds in the sky that I couldn't even see, let alone identify them. I learned so much about just observing, listening, and watching him. He put up with all my rookie mistakes like kicking a tripod leg after he'd carefully lined up a bird in the scope. I think we logged some 85 species on the three days we spent together birding in Madera Canyon, Las Cienegas NCA, and the de Anza trail. Nolan and ABT provided a great experience. I have so much to learn, and so much appreciation for birders like Nolan, and felt lucky to have time with him.
Kenneth Trease
1674185498
I did three days with Caleb Strand as my guide. I had asked to see a general cross section of winter birds in SE Arizona. He came through with much more than I expected. He has superb hearing and eyesight and a great easygoing attitude . He knows the area extremely well. Highly recommended.
D Norton
1673501952
Booked two mornings of birding with Caleb around Phoenix. He took us to areas we would never have found. His ability to spot birds was amazing, and his calling technique really enhanced our sightings. Caleb was courteous, professional and accommodating for our specific "wanted" birds. Highly recommended!
Bob Dodge
1673488070
I spent three half-day sessions with Nolan. One west of Phoenix; one in the mountains north of Tucson; and one around Patagonia. The experience was phenomenal. Nolan was knowledgeable, patient, and friendly. We saw far more birds -- and more rare birds -- than I expected. I had a great time and came back with a ton of pictures.
vincent michel
1672618750
I went birding with Louie as a guide. He was really great showing me around Patagonia. He has amazing knowledge about all the different species & their habitat. He was very attentive to details. I especially appreciated the fact that Louie was going at my pace which allowed me to take a lot of pictures.I learned a lot and would highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours.I really enjoyed my day with Louie. Thanks so much!
Sienna Art
1672366073
This was my first time hiring a birding guide, and it was well worth it! I spotted and learned more about birds in one half day tour than I have in the past several months. (We spotted 55 species, including several on my list!) Jake was the perfect guide, with a well rounded education in birding, geology and ecology. I plan on returning in the spring.
Aaric Eisenstein
1671824547
Caleb took us to an absolutely beautiful place, and his ability to call in birds was really magical. Even the non-bird people in our group were thrilled. I'd definitely recommend them to anyone in the area!
Jennifer Follis
1671820570
We met Jake well before dawn east of Mesa to look for owls. He was great at hearing and tracking them. The five shooting stars were a bonus!
Haley Harris
1671809289
We did two full days of birding and a night of owling with Jake Thompson in Tuscon. We had a wonderful experience! Jake was so knowledgeable, patient, and friendly. He recognized virtually every bird call we heard, and helped us get so many lifers! We highly recommend Jake and Arizona Birding Tours.
Karla Salyer
1671676976
I had the opportunity to bird 2 half days with Jake last week that were incredible. Jake made sure to know what my expectations were and chose places that I had not been before. Jake is very knowledgeable not only about bird identification, bird sounds but also bird habitat. We saw so many birds, much more than I would have if I was on my own. It felt like I was birding with a friend. I will definitely be using his expertise again in the future.
Marah Brubaker
1671167065
My tour with Nolan at Mt. Lemmon was wonderful! He was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, and I'm so glad that I booked a tour with him!
Kathleen McCoy
1670020722
Amazing place. With the expertise and assistance of Felipe, I saw more birds in this trip than all other birding experiences! In addition, Felipe is a find because he is totally conversant with the trees of the area. I hope to take more trips with Felipe!
Murali Subramanian
1669684923
Despite going in November, definitely not during peak season, our guides were still very good and helpful. Although we did not go during the best time of the year to see birds, Caleb and Nolan still helped us photograph many lifers, and see many more. Both Nolan and Caleb are great birders, who have a lot of skill and can spot birds and identify them with great precision.We will definitely be coming back in spring, for the peak season.Overall a great experience and highly recommended.
Leif Milliron
1669670698
We booked a morning tour to Madera Canyon. Our guide was Nolan. We had an outstanding time and are very thankful for Nolan sharing his knowledge of not only birds but also trees, flowers and other wildlife. We would recommend to everyone what a great value for a professional guide.
Tom Owen
1669656494
Even with a group of people, Nolan made every effort to talk to everyone about the birds and habitat. He pointed out the birds, with descriptions and names to assist us in the identification of the birds we saw.
Pete Dumont
1668876500
We did a birding tour with David in the Tucson area in early November 22. Great day! He was very knowledgeable and a cool guy to hang out with for the day. Highly recommended!
Narmeen Makhani
1668051922
We did a night owling hike with Arizona birding near Marana with my 8 year old. Our guide, Caleb was professional, courteous and very friendly. He patiently tried for a couple different owls and was always happy to answer by inquisitive child’s many questions. Highly recommend and will definitely call them again next time I am in the area.
rariscn
1667678731
My wife and I went with Arizona Birding Tours for 2 and 1/2 days, both in the Phoenix area as well as in Madera and Sabino Canyons and finally in Patagonia, AZ. Our guide was Eric Hough. We very much enjoyed our time with Eric. He gave 200% to help us find and capture photographs of the birds in the area, meeting us very early and staying out late to look for owls. He is extremely knowledgable about the birds, plants and butterflies in the area. He was patient with our constant forgetting of bird names and calls. With his invaluable help, we were able to see and photograph numerous bird species that we had not previously seen as well as a white-nosed coati and javelina. We highly recommend ABT.
Clarice Bird
1665878608
David guided us on our birding tour to Desert Meadows Park, Canoa Ranch, and Madera Canyon. We had a wonderful day! David is very knowledgeable. Not only about birds, but also about other wildlife, which was perfect for our eight-year-old granddaughter who has questions about everything! David was so patient with her. She was thrilled with the experience. As were the rest of us. David taught us a lot and gave us tips on how to look for birds when we go birding on our own. We are very happy that we took this tour.
Carol Peterson
1665665062
My sisters and I went birding yesterday with Jake in the San Pedro River area and had a great time! Jake is very knowledgeable, friendly, professional, a great guide! His ability to recognize bird calls is very impressive. It was a fun experience and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great birding experience.
L Anderson
1665090514
We had an excellent, full day of birding with Jake T. Jake chose the locations based on our bird list needs for AZ & where we were staying. We saw great birds including some lifers. Jake is an excellent birding guide. He knew what each bird was that he was hearing. We intend to do more birding in AZ & will definitely use Arizona Birding Tours. 😊
Byron Swift
1665079782
Had a great 2 1/2 day trip with Jake going from Phoenix area down to Santa Rita and Patagonia. Arrangements were easy, Jake was super prompt and easy to work with, and we piled up over 130 species going at a fairly moderate pace. Jake knew where to go, and we were lucky to find a few rarities such as eastern warblers and a Greater Pewee; I enjoyed seeing the Southwest endemics. Overall between Jake and I we had a dozen sightings listed in eBirds "rare birds" alert for Arizona!
Liz Timmer
1664484209
I had made arrangements for a trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with the specific goal of finding birds that can be found there. I did a lot of research and as I got closer to the date, realized, I could easily miss birds without someone who knew the area and had a much better ability to identify a bird by ear. Thus, my quest began for a guide. Most of the guiding in AZ is for the SE corner or at the very least, for south of Flagstaff. I stumbled on this site, it said they did northern AZ, so I sent an email. The response was swift and positive, yes, they could get me a guide, but for the travel distance it would be a minimum of 2 days, perfect! I was able to pay via Zelle, which made it much easier for me as far as budgeting for my trip. Within minutes of the payment, I had the name and number for my guide. The guide sent me a text the next day, to ask what birds I was hoping to see. Felipe confirmed the information and made sure that we had been in contact with each other. Nolan dealt with the extended email I sent him about the birds I hoped to see and some of the research I had done about areas to look for them. Two days before I was to meet him, he sent me a text telling me he would meet me at my Inn’s parking lot, in the morning.Nolan Walker met me in the parking lot of the Jacob Lake Inn, in Jacob Lake, AZ. We proceeded to spend the next 2 days with him hearing birds and my spotting them. His ability to discern a bird from a chip note handed me Hammond’s Flycatcher and Brewer’s Sparrow. His ability to identify a bird on the wing got me Violet-green Swallows and Sagebrush Sparrow. His knowledge of habitat and the birds therein produced the Pinyon Jay and the Williamson’s Sapsucker. He was very conscientious about getting me on a bird when I just wasn’t seeing it (the Sage Thrasher blended a little too well). He was very good about going back to places to try for different birds at different times of the day. His abilities are proof that he is a well-informed guide as he doesn’t live in that area and yet knew where to look for particular birds based on vegetation and altitude.He was always right on time, to start each day. He was politely patient with this middle-aged, woman with a dodgy knee while we did some small walks around certain areas. Even saying that the air at 8000 feet can be a little difficult, if you aren’t used to it, just to make me feel better! He helped me add 9 birds to my life list and see some of the southwest’s most majestic scenery, while finding birds.
Alison H
1664073989
What a terrific time we have had with Jake, Eric and Caleb! We have been on several customized birding adventures around SE AZ with AZ Birding Tours now and can't say enough great things about them. Not only did we see and hear lots of birds - including all the ones we were aiming for and some we hadn't expected - we learned so much. The guides were not only helpful in teaching us about bird calls, bird behavior and birding in AZ, but they also had so much information about the topography, plants, animals, herps and insects. All facets of the natural world are interesting to us so it was great our guides had such a depth of knowledge. We have already scheduled four more day trips and an owling adventure!
Leanne Rodgers
1663118445
My friend and I came in from out of town. We spent a half day birding with Jake. I can't emphasize enough what a good time we had! Jake was very knowledgeable and engaging. You can tell he really enjoys what he does. He listened to our requests, and even made a few changes when we had some last minute requests. Can't say enough, we will definitely use them again!
Nikki Delude Roy
1660660277
Being from the east coast, we decided we wanted to be more knowledgeable about the birds we were seeing while in the Tuscon area. ABT was amazing in accommodating a last minute schedule request for an incredible morning birding on Mt. Lemmon. Jake Thompson was our guide and he is the best! We found some incredible birds and he just made the whole experience easy and comfortable and even suggested some locations to check out on our own to keep working on our list during the rest of the trip. Will be back to ABT the next time we are here, without question!
Ryan Lesniewicz
1660542765
What a great time! Caleb, my tour guide was great. Knew each bird he heard. Knew where the birds were at. Very friendly. Great first time hiring a tour guide.
Francis Toldi
1659812746
Felipe was an absolute godsend on our recent trip to Arizona! We had a prior arrangement with another guide for a day of guided birding. After that guide disappeared on us, Felipe swooped in to the rescue. That he took the time to communicate promptly and clearly with us even while he was racing home to attend the birth of his son is nothing short of spectacular. For obvious reasons he couldn't guide us that day (the day after his son's birth), but he stayed in close touch on his own initiative to make sure we found the key species we were looking for. Later he checked in to see how it turned out for us. What a magnificent human being he is! He managed to transform the negative into the positive--a rare and much needed talent. Should I ever need a birding guide in SE Arizona, or be asked to recommend one, my first choice will be Felipe.
Tomas Stafström
1659806258
I had been in SE Arizona on a ten day birding trip with a group and had a few days left in Tucson. Since there were a few species we didn't see on the trip, I contacted Felipe and Arizona Birding Tours to book a one-day trip. Felipe booked me in and we had a truly amazing day, which exceeded all my expectations. Felipe found all four target species I wanted to see including a singing Montezuma Quail sitting on a rock. An experience I will remember for the rest of my life. Felipe was incredibly determined and didn't give up until we saw all target species, which in addition to the quail were: Nutting's Flycatcher, Ruddy Ground Dove and Common Black Hawk. This day was truly amazing and I highly recommend Felipe and Arizona Birding Tours. Next time I come here I will book several excursions with Felipe. I highly recommend going with Arizona Birding Tours if you are planning to go birding in Arizona. Truly a memorable day and some bird sightings that will stay with me forever.
Mark R.
1659459222
We were first-time birders in Arizona, and wanted to see a lot of these special birds that are all new to us. I had scoured eBird for a long list of “possible” birds within a half-hour driving radius of our hotel. With our expert guide Caleb leading the way, we got far more of those birds than I dreamed was likely! He also selected ideal sites that fulfilled my request for a less strenuous hiking half-day for my whole family, followed by a second no-holds-barred heavy birding day for myself. All in all, a wonderfully successful birding vacation…highly recommended.
Bob Sandfort
1659371722
My wife and I had a Great trip. Our guide Nolan was excellent. We saw almost all of our target birds and ones we didn't we heard. Highly recommend.
Eric Patdu
1658121244
My wife and I had a terrific two half day birding with Jake. He was so knowledgeable and knows exactly where to find our target birds. We got rained on our first day but he already had a backup plan and the location we went to did not disappoint. Since I mainly went for photography, my only disappointment was I should have probably did two whole days because there were so many birds and so little time. Will definitely go with Arizona Birding Tours again when I go back to AZ.
Wade Baker
1658072281
I recently had 3 different days of birding with ABT. 2 half days and a night of owling. My guide each time was Nolan Walker and I was completely blown away by his knowledge and desire to help me achieve as many species as I could in the area. One day, my targets did not cooperate and Nolan said “while we’re looking for them, we should go ahead and get some other difficult species out of the way.” The owling was a major success as was the second half day. He could identify birds by ear that I couldn’t even hear until we got closer. I would 1000% book with this company, and this guide, again. Well done!!
Devin Banning
1657819975
My experience was excellent! I did one night of owling followed by a half day of birding. Our guide was Jake Thompson, and he was professional, punctual, and personable. He was also extremely knowledgeable about birds, being able to pick out species just by a chip note or call alone, but also about the area in general and all manner of plants and animals. For our owling, I specifically wanted to target Flammulated Owl and Mexican Whip-poor-will. He scouted out spots ahead of time and knew exactly where the birds were! We got multiple Mexican Whip-poor-wills right after sundown, but the Flammulated Owls were not cooperating. Jake knew several locations where they were likely and we methodically checked each one. It took a while, but we DID get a Flammulated Owl! Jake could have gotten frustrated, but instead he kept us in good spirits the whole time and was a very effective guide. The next morning, we met at 6am and headed to the same spots for the rest of my targets. We got everything on my target list and more! Jake’s knowledge and skill at hearing bird calls and songs was also impressive, and I recommend him as guide for anyone coming to AZ. He also gave me tips on where to see California Condor’s at Grand Canyon as well as other targets up there like Pinyon Jay, Juniper Titmouse, and Dusky Grouse! I will be booking with AZ birding tours on my next trip to AZ! Thank you to Jake for being an amazing guide, and to Filipe for setting me up with Jake and being so responsive to all my questions.
Patty Marshall
1656710525
I am the 80 year old mom to which Angie was referring. I absolutely agree with her. It was just remarkable. In spite of foliage and heights, it was a wonderful experience. And she is right I am still playing with my pictures, thanks to the incredible knowledge and sensitivity of Felipe. He was extremely helpful, yet I was able to do most of the bird and animal pictures myself. I highly recommend this adventure. Don't let age stop you.
Angie Marshall
1656474588
Wow! What more can I say?! We wanted to do something special for my mother's 80th birthday. As an avid bird-lover and photographer, I searched the entire country for ideas. After searching extensively, I came across Arizona Birding Tours in AZ. This was the perfect choice! My husband and I flew, with my mom, all the way from PA, and it was so worth it! Felipe was so patient and caring with my mom, and made sure he took us to birding spots that would not be difficult for her. He really cares about the agility of his clients, making birding available to everyone! All that aside, Felipe is AMAZING! It's unbelievable how he can recognize the calls of numerous birds all at once! He can mimmick their calls perfectly, as well. We did two half days, and on the first day, saw 42 different bord species! There were many more the next day, including a hard to find quail. We were in two areas around Patagonia and they were beautiful. Felipe would bring birds closer for better photo ops, too. It was incredible! He was so, so incredibly knowledgeable about the habitats of each species and taught us so much! He also helped her with her camera and helped her with settings, etc. A week later, and my mom is still enjoying going through her photos. I will be forever grateful to Felipe for helping to ensure this was a trip of a lifetime for my mom! I 100% recommend Arizona Birding Tours!! THANK YOU, FELIPE!!
Adam Hollander
1656180904
We had Jake as our guide for five days and he was superb! Over 125 total species in Late June and hits on almost ALL of our targets. Excellent work. Great planning and communication by he and Felipe.
Julie Herr
1655154934
My young son and I had a terrific experience with David and this company. We planned our trip last minute and were paired with a guide that helped us develop the “just right” trip to learn a ton and find our target birds. I give this organization my highest praise!
Pierre Allaire
1655126792
Nolan was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and helpful. Would ask for him again.
Nathan Langwald
1654971612
One word sums it up: excellent! Caleb did a great job finding as many of our target birds as time allowed, and he was very knowledgeable. We also learned about the local butterfly and reptile life. He was very easy to get along with too. We had a great time! Also, Felipe did a great job in communicating with us and getting us scheduled for custom tours based on our target bird needs!
Elana Lebolt
1654438031
Our family spent a day with Nolan in April. He did an amazing job taking us to great spots and never tiring, despite the high heat! We saw tons of new birds and he had so many interesting facts about the area and wildlife. We can't wait to come back and go birding with him again!
Carlton Cook
1653998782
I had never been birding in AZ and contacted Felipe. He put me in touch with David, who called to interview me, and asked several questions about what my goals/targets were. I had 7 days, no targets, but wanted to see as much of southeastern AZ as possible and experience as many habitats as possible. David put together a thoughtful and amazing itinerary. We ended up with 30 hot spots in the 7 days. It seemed like the days would never end. We would be on our way back and David would see or hear something then pull over to show me more! I started planning my next trip on the flight home.
Boni Edwards
1653853351
Just returned from a two day - one evening birding adventure with Caleb Strand as our guide. First time in AZ and first time with a guide. Caleb was amazing. So knowledgeable about birds and finding them. He helped us get into great positions to photograph what we saw. He was so kind and considerate to the two of us old enough to be his grandma! Definitely recommend Caleb and Arizona Birding Tours.
Colleen Childers
1653843878
AMAZING 2 days with Caleb Strand as our guide. Caleb is amazing - not only as a bird guide but as a young man. His ears and eyes are the best I know. His knowledge of the birds and where to find them are out of this world. His patience with two 60 year old ladies from Nebraska was wonderful. A most enjoyable.2 days with sooooo many birds. Caleb knew we would want to take photos and did a great job of getting us in the proper lighting and position for them. I highly, highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours and Caleb Strand. Definitely 5 stars PLUS.
E.J.
1653688670
I had an excellent two day birding tour led by Caleb Strand of AZ Birding Tours adding adding 35 lifers to my list. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of birds and knows where to find them. He also has an amazing ability to bird by ear with obvious benefits. This was my first birding trip with a guide. I could have spent a lot more time (and money) on my own and not seen half the birds.
John Wilson
1653324324
Pick the right tour guide and company and they will find the birds for you! I just spent four wonderful days birding southeast Arizona with Caleb Strand from Arizona Birding Tours. It was an extraordinary experience. I began planning my trip by sending Caleb a list of over eighty target birds that I wanted to see during my tour. I thought I was being unreasonable, but Caleb rose to the challenge. He selected different birding destinations that maximized the diversity of birds and habitats we would explore and offered the opportunity to visit much of southern and southeastern Arizona. We began our trip by visiting the famous Thrasher spot near Phoenix (where we picked up the three thrashers I needed), then headed down to the Huachucas (Miller Canyon), over to the Chiricahuas (Portal, Cave Creek Canyon) on day three, and ended near Tucson. We also went owling one evening in the Chiricahuas.Amazingly, by the end of my time with Caleb, we had found over 190 species, including over 50 lifers. I was thrilled. Caleb has a deep knowledge of the avifauna of Arizona and the region. His ability to bird by ear and then pick out and show me the bird was phenomenal. He always has an eye to the sky, detecting and pointing out Lesser Nighthawks migrating by as we were driving to our next destination. Darkness was not an issue – he found and showed me three different owls and a Mexican Whip-poor-will during our evening of owling.In sum, I had a truly wonderful time birding with Caleb. If you want a tremendous birding experience, I highly recommend Caleb Strand and Arizona Birding Tours. I assure you that you will be more than satisfied!
Vinayak Hebbagil
1653066151
We had an amazing birding experience with Caleb Strand of Arizona Birding Tours. It was our first visit to Southeast Arizona and Caleb helped us get onto a bunch of lifers during our tour. Caleb made sure to cater our day based on our target birds, communicated before the tour and used his keen birding-by-ear skills to locate them. We really enjoyed our conversations during the tour wherein Caleb had a wealth of information about the birds, their behavior and habitat. We would love to come back and tour with Caleb again and will definitely recommend him to anyone looking to bird in SE Arizona.
Richard Thomas
1653060145
My wife and I had heard so much about the bird diversity in SE Arizona that we had to go. We stayed in Sierra Vista, Portal, and Vail. In Sierra Vista we met up with Caleb Strand from Arizona Birding Tours. We toured Ramsay Canyon, Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon and the San Pedro River area with him over two days. Caleb was the most pleasant, knowledgeable, and aware guide we ever could have imagined. We expected that we might see 25 new species while we were there, but instead we saw 54 new birds Caleb was absolutely amazing. When we went to Portal, we hired another guide, Jake Thompson who was equally persistent and great He took us up to 8,500 feet in Portal and persisted in showing us even more bird species. Then lastly, we met Caleb in Patagonia and toured that area before returning home. Every time we were out with guides from ABT, we saw more and more birds and it was a wonderful trip. Hire these guys if you get a chance - they were fantastic!
mark kulstad
1652980389
I contacted Felipe after finding the Arizona Birding Tours' excellent website, and he very professionally answered all my questions and set up a two-day birding tour with David in Southeastern Arizona. Felipe did better at responding promptly than all the other internet bird guide websites I contacted. The tour with David was excellent. He easily found all our target birds (real rarities!). We got good to outstanding views, and photos! After that, David got us onto many other special Arizona birds, in good part owing to his expert knowledge of bird songs and calls and his strong biology background. Throughout the tour he was friendly, interesting and really concerned about adapting to our situation (some mobility problems). All in all, a great birding experience with Arizona Birding Tours!
Barbara Hostetler
1652919814
I recently returned from my first tour with Arizona Birding Tours as a birding and photography enthusiast I would like to offer my review-My guide, Caleb Strand who I was with for 2 days birding and one night owling, was very professional, knowledgeable and patient in his approach to birding. His eyes and ears are amazingly attuned to birds and could detect the slightest movement in the brush or canopy as well as discern calls and songs many from a distance. ( important to me as I do have some hearing loss in the higher range) . He is very skilled in describing the birds habitat, range and behaviors which helped me immensely as although I was there to add to my life list, I was also there to learn!I appreciated the many habitats we visited as well as the challenge hiking one of the sky islands .Caleb is an amazing individual who I would highly recommend and would hope to bird with again on My next trip to Arizona. I know my expectations were far exceeded on this trip!
Doris Zahner
1652916211
My husband and I hired Felipe in November 2021 and immediately rebooked him for January 2022. We had a great time and saw many target species. At the beginning of May, we came back for a third time and David was our guide. They were both excellent and were able to find almost all of our target birds. We can’t wait to return and would hire either of them again! 🦉
Matthew Pennington
1652760316
We hired Felipe to give us a birding overview of central and southern Arizona over 2 days. We saw a huge number of birds (>100 species) and learned a tremendous amount about the local habitats and ecological niches. Felipe was laid back, entertaining, and generally fun to be around. He worked around our limitations (we were exhausted from work), and always just seemed happy to share his knowledge of Arizona birding.2022 edit: We've been back for a second tour, now of southeast Arizona. Our guide was Caleb, and he was great. His local knowledge was incredible. This time I brought my 10 year old son, and we all had a great time seeing daytime life listers, and nighttime specialties. These guys are the best.
Joshua Platt
1652752591
I was a bit hesitant to book my tour, as I’m not as passionate a birder as I am an amateur photographer who enjoys the challenge of capturing bird images. My investment proved well worth it! Caleb was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. He took time to help educate me about the species I was hearing and seeing, and knew spots to find all of my ideal photos. I had a blast! Thanks to Caleb for a wonderful tour, and to Felipe for helping out together the day. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours.
Krishna Prasad Kotti
1652626527
Eric is excellent. He helped us with most of the target species. Really knows where the birds are present. Extremely Helpful, Knowledgeable and delivered all the bird for us. We found 10-12 new species which my wife was looking for. He even gave directions for other species as well.
Brian Christensen
1652558293
Felipe filled in at the last moment for my wife and I when we had a cancellation with another guide service. He was awesome! Very fortunate to have him on our half day at Patagonia Lake State Park. He's an incredible birder but more importantly took the time to teach us to make us better birders as well. I learned more in that half day than any other guided trip I've been on. He had an incredible amount of patience with us as well since we are fairly new to it and we were bringing along our 1 year old as well - but he just took it all in stride and seemed to enjoy the day as much as we were. Can't wait to make it back to SE Arizona - will definitely be coming back for more with Arizona Birding Tours one day!
Matthew Eisenson
1652530612
I had a spectacular three days of birding with Nolan in Madera Canyon, Miller Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Montosa Canyon, Patagonia Lake State Park, and other places in between. We had multiple daytime encounters with Northern Pygmy-Owls and incredible nighttime looks at Elf Owl, Whiskered Screech-Owl, and Western Screech-Owl. We even managed to see a Mexican Whip-poor-will singing on an exposed branch, usually a “heard only” bird. Nolan has a keen ear and helped me get comfortable with a few IDs that would have been very challenging on my own (e.g. Cordilleran vs. Pacific Slope Flycatcher and Hammond’s vs. Dusky Flycatcher). Filled in a lot of gaps in my ABA list.
Mike Oliver
1651889287
Me and a buddy came down from Michigan to get as many birds as possible our guide David got us more than we would of got had we not hired a guide thank you Felipe and thank you David great experience
Jan Bonnivier
1651711232
We had a half day with Jake. He met us in Tubac on the DeAnza trail and other sites according to what we were hoping to find.We were so happy to have Jake as our guide! He has an amazing ear to bird calls and a great depth of explaining the ID of each bird. We found many lifers that are migrating thru southern Arizona!! Having an experienced guide is so valuable. Time is spent on learning about the birds from not just I.D. but habitat, migratory patterns and diet. We look forward to having him as our guide again!
Leah Sabrina
1651686814
Eric was very, very knowledgeable about birds, their behavior, and their habitat. He answered all of my many questions. He also tailored the whole tour based on which birds I wanted to see. I saw many lifers. Overall, it was a successful trip and I would hire Eric again!
Margaret Watson
1651595234
Nolan spent several hours with us near the San Pedro river and we saw more than seventy species of birds. He was a great guide, making sure both my husband and I saw all the birds he found. He was a wonderful guide with an encyclopecic knowledge of birds. I would recommend him for anyone who wants to get a deeper understanding of the birds of southern Arizona. If we go back for another birding trip, we'll definitely hire Nolan again.And as a bonus, he also told us where we could get a good look at California Condors. He was right - we saw six of them at the Navaho bridge.
Erik Kroll
1651291261
My wife and I did a half day of birding with David and owling with Nolan. Both of them are superb birders. Not only can they identify the birds by sound alone, but they can describe it in a way that helps you understand what you're hearing. Also incredible at spotting the birds, and describing where they are located so you can quickly find them before they fly away. My wife and I had no idea what to expect coming into this, and this went way above our expectations. We were completely delighted!
Rebecca Hart
1651281332
We had a beautiful night hike with our guide, Caleb, who was extremely nice & very knowledgeable. The night sky in Madera Canyon was spectacular!Unfortunately, the owls were not very cooperative, plus it was pretty breezy, which made it difficult to hear low frequency bird calls. We were able to see & hear the Whiskered Screech Owl (lifer for both of us) and the Mexican Whippoorwill. I was able to hear the Common Poorwill calling (another lifer) but it was too windy for my bf to hear it.Birds are never predictable(as much as we wish they were) and we understand that it's part of the game. It was still a great experience & we highly recommend it 🦉🌛
Marc Brawer
1651159226
Me and three friends just returned from a 10 day birding trip to southern Arizona. Our guide for 2 mornings was Louie Dombroski. Louie was great. He was easy to communicate with and great company. He reached out to us prior to our trip to get a sense of what we were hoping to do/see. As east-coast birders, we provided Louie with a long list of target birds for the areas we would be in and Louie provided us with detailed information on the likelihood off seeing them and our best strategy. He also provided great suggestions for the time that we were not with him. I cannot recommend Arizona Birding Tours highly enough, specifically Louie.
Shobana Ranganathan
1650998619
David Griffin from Arizona Birding Tours was our guide for 2 mornings and a night of Owl Watching in the Madera Canyon area. David reached out to us well ahead of time to find out what our birding wish list was. He came up with a plan to cover the lower desert elevations as well as the mountain side. He is phenomenal in identifying birds by their calls and knows all the right spots to be in to find the birds. He was very patient in answering all our questions and provided a lot of useful tips for us to bird in Patagonia and Tucson too. He made sure we are comfortable with the pace and was very friendly. Highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours to anyone wishing to bird in the Tucson area. David is one of the best birding guides we have ever been with.
Chris Hinckley
1650980322
I was fortunate enough to have 2 days of guiding. One with Caleb and the other with Nolan. I enjoy all wildlife but photography was my real goal. Just as there are no guarantees in birding, the added element of getting close enough for photos is again not guaranteed. However, both Caleb and Nolan were aware of my goals and collaborated to set up itineraries to meet my needs. I had 2 awesome days and was able to make some nice photos of birds I never see at home. Filipe was easy to work with and both Caleb and Nolan were great to work with. Their birding skills and knowledge were beyond impressive. As was their character and personable nature. Both Caleb and Nolan were fun to be with...it was refreshing to spend time with 2 young men who were so engaging and passionate about their birding pursuits. I sincerely hope to have the opportunity to work with them and Filipe again. A very enthusiastic thumbs up for Arizona Birding Tours!
Michael Boswell
1650813064
I spent an excellent day and evening with Caleb looking for some target birds in the Chiricahuas, Wilcox area and Madera Canyon. Caleb had our itinerary well planned out to maximize our time in the field and I ended up seeing 10 new life birds including Botteri's Sparrow, Mexican Chickadee, Greater Pewee, Bendire's Thrasher, Elf Owl and Scaled Quail. Caleb's enthusiasm and knowledge of the birds is outstanding and I would definitely go birding with him again when I'm in the area.
Yong Hahn
1650660711
Steve Emmett-Mattox
1650383369
My mom and I spent a fantastic morning with David last week at three locations in the Tubac area and saw around sixty species, many of which were new for us. As a wildlife biologist, David is incredibly knowledgeable and informative. He could identify most species by their song and call. In advance of the trip, he reached out to learn what our goals for the birding trip were, then planned a trip to meet our goals. David is well connected with the local birding community and was familiar with where to look for certain species. We highly recommend him and Arizona Birding Tours and look forward to next time!
Karen Kratz
1650300448
We were led on a hike up Madera Canyon by David, in search of the elegant trogan among others. After double-checking with us about our wish-list of birds to see (and hopefully photograph), we headed up the Carrie Nation Mine trail. David was amazing - he could identify most of the birds we heard along the hike by their calls. He set a comfortable pace for us and we paused often to look for the birds we heard. We did manage to spy our quarry, and added several new birds to our life list. David also took us out in the evening to look for owls. Once again we were not disappointed. Kuddos to Arizona Birding Tours!
Jayme Holcomb
1650291324
We spent the morning with David at Madera Canyon. Being a wildlife biologist, David has a very comprehensive approach to guiding and was able to answer all of our questions in a helpful manner. We were able to get a significant number of lifers on our trip, largely because of David's knowledge of bird songs, bird habitat, and bird behavior. We had a fantastic day. Definitely a five star experience for us.
Julia Hanauer
1650223444
We spent the morning with Nolan in Miller Canyon. He really knows his birds and helped us see so many lifers. He was patient, persistent, and very knowledgeable. From warblers to fly catchers to raptors and everything in between, it was an amazing day.
Jeff and Kim Hamberg
1650151752
We spent 2 days with Nolan as our guide birding in Madera Canyon, Montosa Canyon, and Juan Bautista de Anza NHP. Nolan was enthusiastic, very knowledgeable, persistent, flexible, had a great ear, and found life list birds for us like the Five-stripped Sparrow and the Red-faced Warbler. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him!
KALEENA SMITH
1650042433
We had an amazing three days birding with Arizona Birding Tours last week. Felipe took us to Patagonia Lake State Park, which is beautiful. We stayed as his suite, which is really nice, and beautifully decorated. The feeders at the suite are great for seeing hummingbirds and getting photos of Orioles and Cardinals among others. Nolan took us owling, and it was amazing how quickly he was able to find three different owl species. Jake took us to the San Rafael Grasslands to find the Baird's Sparrow among others, and helped us get pictures of the Violet Crowned Hummingbird and some other species I wanted to photograph. David took us out on our last day, and even though there was a wild windstorm that prevented us from finding the Trogon, we had the best time and still saw so many new species including the Red-Faced Warbler. He was great about finding a location better protected from the wind, and taught us so much and showed us so many great things that it ended up being my husband's favorite day despite the crazy wind. We will definitely be back to try to see the Trogon again and to explore the mountainous regions. Overall we saw 55 new species during our short stay!
Carol Russo
1649972511
Had a great morning birding with Caleb at Madera Canyon. Got some great photos of birds that are new to me. Caleb really knows his bird songs and got us in the right spots to see them. Very knowledgeable and personable. I was after good photos and he really delivered. Will definitely do this again.
Liling Warren
1649804163
My husband and I had a great birding trip to Lake Padogonia guided by Caleb, who is like a birding prodigy. I had so many lifers with help from Caleb! We stayed at Felipe's peaceful and comfortable cottage and saw so many beautiful hummingbirds right in the back yard. I was able to take great photos standing right by the feeders. We would love to go back for sure!
Nancy Hubly
1649790843
We went owling with Nolan Walker and it was a great experience! He took us to Harshaw Canyon out of Patagonia, and located two of our targets, Elf Owl and Western Screech Owl, immediately. We saw both birds well, right next to the road! We were surprised they were so close based on their calls, but he explained how soft their hooting can be.Whiskered Screech and Great Horned Owls were heard and identified, but not seen. Nolan tried really hard to get the Whiskered Screech to show as this was also a target, but it did not cooperate. He was knowledgeable and friendly and a good guide.
Heather Larronde
1649700424
Well first of all, Portal is amazing. It would be hard not to have a great time. But when you have an amazing guide who knows habitats & bird calls it’s so much better & easier! Nolan was very knowledgeable & even tho it was early season we saw MANY bird species & beautiful country. Thanks for the great tour.
Wally Taylor
1649560878
My one day field trip with guide Jake Thompsen took us to four birding hot spots in the Patagonia Lake, Tubac and Madeira Canyon. We counted 94 species including 23 new Life Listers for me. Jake has great eyes and ears and was a pleasure to bird with. I’ll be back!
Dan and Sylvia
1649433230
We recently spent a great two days in Patagonia with Caleb. His knowledge of birds and bird songs is truly amazing. He is going to send us a list of birds we all saw. We stayed at Filipe’s suite right in Patagonia. It is fully self contained and suitable for long stays. There are many birds available right in his backyard. We were there to see the Tongan but were not successful so guess we will be back.
Maureen Baird
1649387070
Terrific half day birding with David Griffin at Madera Canyon. He did a great job accommodating our group of 5 - including some novice birders, and all of us new to AZ birds. David is tremendously personable and knowledgeable about the birds, habitat, and plants. Everyone had fun, learned a lot, and shared rave reviews.
Deborah Chag
1649355971
We are new to birding and the Arizona Birding Tours was a great launch. Filipe was responsive, a great communicator and kept us on his radar leading up to our tour time. Caleb was our guide in Patagonia State Park and he was great! We saw over 50 species of birds and he kept it on our level. He was knowledgeable, patient and really loves what he is doing. We only scratched the surface of what he had to offer. Get on a tour with these guys soon as Arizona BirdingTours is going to get very popular.
Linda L
1649302811
We had a fabulous time in Madera Canyon with David. Saw some great birds and had a lovely day. David is extremely knowledgeable about all the animal and plant life in the area.
Paul D'Andrea
1649263230
My wife and I recently booked 2 half day outings and we agree with the other positive reviews. Our guide Eric Hough was wonderful. Thorough knowledge of the native fauna and flora and a keen birding ear! Reservations and communications for the guided adventure were handled professionally. We have been birding in SE AZ for decades but always self guided. The experience have having a professional guide like Eric is not to be missed. One gets so much more from the locations you visit. We are looking forward to our next outings! Paul & LIsa
Judy Withee
1649021262
We had a very nice morning with Nolan. He is incredibly knowledgeable for an 18 year old. We saw lots of birds! He is a very nice young man who is clearly passionate about birds. He will no doubt evolve into a highly skilled guide.
cliff utech
1648925176
I’ve been an avid birder for a few years now and never really was guided on any of my trips. When I went out with Nolan Walker, a guide for Arizona birding tours, I was exposed to a new level of birding! Nolan was a terrific guide and was able to identify birds easily by sounds and quick glances. He was super helpful when pointing new species out and always very excited when he got me a lifer! I told him what birds i needed to get still on my trip to AZ and he knew exactly where to go. Nolan is a very kind young man and it seems like he really enjoys what he does. We had a lot of fun together. If you are birding in Arizona, I highly recommend using this guide service, they are kind and extremely helpful!
Northern Flicker
1648743567
My daughter and I spent a very enjoyable half day with David. We had sent him some ideas of what we’d like to see a few days before and from that he created an itinerary that was spot on. We ended up seeing much more than we’d expected. I would highly recommend David as a bird guide.
John Monterisi
1648587297
My wife and I were fortunate enough to spend three half-days in southern Arizona birding with Felipe just recently. We had an excellent experience. Felipe is super-organized, very knowledgeable and informative not only as to birds, but also plant life, geography, geology and natural history. He answers questions directly and knows the hotspots. Tell him what you want from your birding adventure and let him shape the itinerary; you will not be disappointed! Many thanks, Felipe.
David Paul
1647731871
Our full day tour with Caleb Strand was super awesome! We had our biggest bird count day ever and saw some really cool birds thanks to Caleb, who is a genius recognizing them (both audibly and visually) and enticing them into view with his calls!Caleb is also a really nice guy to spend the day with, and we really enjoyed our time together. We appreciated all his patience with our questions, requests and flexibility to give us a perfect day!We will definitely recommend him to all our birder friends or those who are interested in trying something new! Thanks so much for enriching our birding knowledge and life list!—David & Larry
Jesse Berlin
1647616703
We were able to book an afternoon tour with Nolan, through Felipe, at the last minute (the evening before). We were late getting started and tired, so we had a bit of a short tour, at our request but we enjoyed every minute of it. Nolan is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating. He answered questions from other birders without making us feel neglected. Despite it being early in the season, we were able to see a wide variety of birds.
Matt Schuler
1647201471
Felipe was very easy to communicate with, and offered a wide range of options. He helped me book my trip with Nolan, who was very well informed and and professional. I even ran into Nolan a bit early, and he gave me a tip to find a rufous-backed robin that I was looking for. I've been birding for over 20 years and I've been a registered bander for nearly 20 years, I know from experience that the ABT crew are all experts. I would absolutely recommend birding with ABT, whether you're an experienced birder or new to birding. If you have limited time or limited information about birding in Arizona, booking with them can help you find trails and great birding spots. Plus, they know bird calls and different plumages that can be seen in different seasons, which can help you see and hear all of the birds that you want to see in a relatively short period of time. When I go back to Arizona, I will definitely be calling them to book another birding tour.
Christina German
1645400201
Caleb took myself and husband owling. Dark of night. Cold. Silent. He called in a Wiskered Screech Owl. He also adusted this amateur's camera, used his flash light for a source of lighting (no flash on the camera) I have once in a lifetime series of perfectly focused pictures. Well done Caleb.
Mary Borge
1645337825
WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE!! Caleb was an outstanding guide for our half-day tour. We had amateur and advanced amateur🤔 birders in our group, and Caleb not only kept us interested, educated and intrigued with his amazing depth/breadth of knowledge and excitement about the birds and other wildlife in the preserve, but, when other birders approached Caleb with questions or tips, the consummate professional was able to interact with them while keeping us and our interests front and center. We will try to book tours with Caleb in the future, and highly recommend him👏👏👏
Susan Kane
1644963654
We are very pleased with Arizona Birding Tours. Eric our guide met us at the Apache Wash Trailhead in Cave Creek, a beautiful Sonoran Desert Preserve that he knew was a short , convenient drive from our hotel. Eric is very knowledgeable about birds, plants and trees, locating birds we never would have seen without him and keeping a list for us to look over later. Whether you are a casual birder like me and my husband or an avid devotee I highly recommend Eric .
Kristi Keller
1644774058
Felipe is a top-notch guide. We agree with the recent positive reviews and can add as follows. We planned a trip to Tucson and decided to use the opportunity to bird locally for 3 days. We are normally very proactive in planning our itinerary and logistics, but SE Arizona is very rich in birding sites with opportunities galore! Felipe used our eBird list as well as a target bird list for the time of year and took us to three completely different habitats. He was very focused on his guiding resulting in a substantial addition to our Lifer list!
Richard Bills
1644332812
Excellent, remarkable birding tour for 5 of us in SE AZ. Felipe's expertise was the essential ingredient - he would call out the birds and bring them to us. His skill at both vocalizing and recognizing bird songs/chirps was amazing. The ongoing narrative about their habits enthralled all of us, and his gracious, patient manner made the day a delight. Best birding guide we've ever experienced.
Dan R Walbrun
1643760779
Filepe is a top notch guide who we used three times while wintering in the Sierra Vista area in January. He led us to three completely different habitats while assisting in nocking off numerous birds on my target list. His knowledge of the area, and his ear for birds are almost super-human! His assistant Nolan joined us on one outing and led us on another and was a real eye opener for us. Another set of eyes were a real blessing to us. They are both tireless in their efforts to find what you’re looking for. You won’t go wrong hiring these guides!
Fred Haggerson
1643727210
Felipe was my birding guide on a trip to Álamos, Sonora Mexico in January 2022. He put his experience in the local habitats and expertise in birds and finding birds to good effect during the trip. We saw most of the iconic species of the region along with innumerable North American species. Also, Felipe was keen to target species to add to my life list. The trip was marvelous thanks to Felipe. In my opinion Felipe is a top notch birding guide.
Amy Rice
1642442042
Truly amazing experience! My 16-year-old son and I spent two mornings in mid-December birding with Felipe in Patagonia, and I can’t say enough good things. Hands-down the best birding experience we could have hoped for! Felipe is the real deal – a genuinely delightful person with incredible knowledge, skill, and patience. My son has been an avid birder for 8 years and was able to add 20+ species to his life list on our trip 3-day trip to southeast Arizona. Many of those were species we would have never been able to find on our own (i.e. Sprague's pipit, Baird's sparrow). Felipe’s expertise and guidance made that possible.Felipe was very organized and responsive with regards to scheduling, and suggested two ½ day outings, which ended up being ideal. We split our days between Patagonia Lake State Park and the San Rafael Grasslands. This allowed for a great diversity of species and different habitats. Filipe has incredible birding instincts with regards to calls, chip notes, behavior, and an extensive knowledge of the ecosystems of southeast Arizona. My son was having the time of his life, birding with a master birder who was eager to connect with him and share his knowledge. A truly memorable experience for us both!Felipe was also able to make suggestions of local birding hotspots so we could maximize our time in the area. We will absolutely be reaching out to Felipe for our next Arizona birding experience!
Debra Rectenwald
1641763696
My sister, her husband and I spent a fantastic morning with Felipe in the Patagonia area in early January 2022. Felipe was extremely well versed on the local environment and wildlife. He was able to put into national context why the Arizona birding scene is so extraordinary. He is clearly a natural born (and trained) educator. Even in the heart of winter we had several interesting sightings such as the Rufous-backed robin and Green-tailed towhee. Felipe is an accomplished photographer to boot and helped to position us in favorable ways for lighting and eye level. He was patient and friendly as he answered all of our many questions. We all enjoyed the morning immensely and highly recommend Felipe as a guide for all - experts to novices. Thank you Felipe!
Jessica Rapone
1637705247
My husband and I were traveling to the southwest for the first time and wanted to maximize the time we had to visit. We booked Felipe for a bird tour through Seguaro National Park, and it was well worth it! He had extensive knowledge of the area and was able to point out a number of life birds for us. Later in the morning when it was harder to spot birds (no fault of his obviously), he kept our time interesting by pointing out various plants and insects and giving us some history of the area. There is no doubt in my mind that our day in the park was thoroughly more enjoyable than it would have been if we had ventured in on our own. If we are ever back on the area I would absolutely book him again, and highly recommend his services.
Judith White
1636592932
Felipe Guerrero is a delightful and outstanding guide. He's organized, and carefully listened to my priority bird list. In the field he not only has a phenomenal ear, comprehensive knowledge and lightning-fast photography reflexes, but enjoys being with birds in their natural habitats. So rather than staking out a small pond known to attract grassland birds, we walked the grasslands and found them doing what they do in their natural setting. He enjoyed explaining their microhabitats and behavior, and I appreciated the help in identification and getting nice long looks at the birds as they lived their daily lives. It was simply amazing.
Ken Sternberg
1636170831
I’m not a dyed in the wool birder, but my wife is. Not being familiar with birds of southeast Arizona, I booked Felipe for a half day trip. It’s my first guided field trip and my wife and I couldn’t have been happier. Felipe’s thorough knowledge of and skill in finding birds is first rate. Without him we would have never seen most of what we observed.Felipe was extremely personable and patient. And he was definitely set on providing the best birding experience possible. No need to hesitate or have any worries about hiring Felipe. He’s certainly the best we’ve encountered.
peter jones
1635649165
Felipe is a master of his craft.We targeted Baird’s Sparrow and Sprague’s Pipit which Felipe found right away.Without his help we would not have been able to find those birds in the vast grassland in a hundred years.How he does what he does I have no idea but he does it very very well.
Wayne Narr
1634947471
-We spent two half days birding under Felipe's wing. We are not zealous birders but actively enjoy outings to challenge ourselves finding and identifying birds.- We provided Felipe with a list of target birds, especially endemic to Southeastern Arizona. From that he put together our field agenda. His ability to find birds and track them down using his knowledge of bird calls, and bird songs, as well as his ability to see and identify birds that to me seem barely a fleeting shadow, is remarkable.- He's a very good teacher and extremely patient as we struggled to find the birds that were obviously in plain sight to him. He is a font of knowledge about birds and many other aspects of the ecosystems of Arizona.- If we come through Arizona for birding again I wouldn't hesitate to hire Felipe to be our guide. I highly recommend him.
Doug Corbett
1634608862
In the beginning of October I hired Felipe as a birding photographer guide. for 2 days. I was worried that birding would be slow. He convinced me that it would not be. So I sent him a target list of birds and he altered it to a manageable set. Those 2 days I saw and photographed birds I would never have found on my own. He was dead on bird calls and finding them. He then directed me how to get the best shot. Amazing! I got within 10 feet of species I never thought … See More
William Schrader
1630769212
We are new to the world of birding and Felipe was very supportive getting us started. That included the correct method to use binoculars in the field. He started us in an area that contained different birds and topography. We did have a couple of special bird requests and he was able to make them happen.We found Felipe to be very professional and and can recommend him.Bill & Peggy SchraderCrozet, Virginia
Bruce Neill
1630251970
Felipe is a great bird guide. I am a professional biologist with years of birding experience. Not only did Felipe put us on local birds, but he has a broad biological knowledge base and the ability to teach and converse about ecology and natural history. Highly recommend.
David & Tammy McQuade
1630030114
As Big Year Birders we periodically run into birds that become our nemesis for that particular year. In 2021, the nemesis was a rufous-capped warbler. Needless to say after dipping on the bird earlier in the year, we were excited to hear a pair had been found in Ramanote Canyon.As we looked in the logistics of Ramanote, it became clear that it would be very difficult for us to find it on our own. Researching a little further, we found Felipe was the birder that had found the pair and had made multiple trips back to see them.I inboxed Felipe and scheduled a date to go look for the rufous-capped. In retrospect with out Felipe guiding us I don’t think we would have ever found the warbler. When we got to the area, the warblers were very quiet only given a soft chip note. Felipe was able to distinguish the chips of all of the birds and hone in on exactly where the warblers were. Over the next hour as the warblers moved over a wide range in the canyon, he was able to keep us on them for better looks and pictures.His knowledge of the area and the birds in the area was fantastic. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him again in the future. It was a great trip
Fernando Corrada
1629601264
Last week, August 16 & 17, 2021 I drove to Patagonia to meet Felipe to look for some particular bird species that I was interested in seeing and photographing. Felipe was very helpful with suggestions and advice about where to go to efficiently find the target birds. Felipe knows the locations very well and with his incredible bird vocalization knowledge we quickly found the birds. He accurately calculated the right photographic spot for me to setup my camera for the best angle, lighting and perspective to take great images.Felipe is witty, respectful and professional. He listens intently to figure out how to maximize your experience to find the birds of your dreams.With his assistance I was able to photograph a Montezuma Quail from about 12-20 feet for about 20 minutes. It was simply awesome!Felipe is one of the best bird guides I have worked with anywhere, so I am 100% certain that he will make your birding outing an unforgettable experience.
Cole Lundquist
1628285326
I just spent five days birding with Superman!! Felipe has eyes that can find birds with amazing accuracy. His hearing is that of an owl or a dog. He can hear birds and find them like no one I have ever met. Felipe WILL put you on life list birds. I will guarantee it! He is a true naturalist-he knows not only the birds, he knows plants, animals and the topography. You will learn all about the birds that you are seeking. Felipe knows where the rare birds live and play. He is a Professional guide! You do not go to the common places for you birds. There were no crowds where we were birding. In fact it was just the two of us. In my five days, I got 45 life birds. This was made up of many rare birds such as Elegant Trogon, Green Kingfisher, Rufous-capped Warbler and Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. This adventure was outstanding! I recommend Felipe without reservation. I look forward to birding again later this year. Cole
Bob Cowan
1628119094
Carolina birder goes west for the first time and hits a home run. Why? Because luck led me to Felipe who patiently guided me for five days over the highways and byways of SE Arizona. It was like being back in college and Felipe was my professor sharing all his knowledge not only about birds but also the plants, animals and geography that makes up Arizona. I will not ramble on about the record number of specialty birds we saw but simply conclude with this final statement. I’m booking a repeat visit in February to see Arizona’s winter birds and Felipe will be showing me the way! I love ❤️ Arizona!!
Andrew Hood
1624830881
I had a wonderful time with Felipe birding around SE Arizona. He was a very knowledgeable guide and I was able to find a bunch of new species. I would highly recommend him if you need a bird guide for AZ.
Pat Bazany
1623784134
If you are an experienced birder wanting to grow your life list or, an equally experienced photographer wanting to improve your skills photographing birds, you should definitely consider Arizona Birding Tours. Felipe Guerrero is amazing. He is knowledgeable about the ecology of the southwest, experienced with the habitats and micro habitats of every area we visited, and blessed with (no exaggeration) bionic eyesight and hearing, Felipe knows where to go and when to be there! He’s fun to be with and his communication skills are fantastic. I highly, highly recommend him.
Michelle Zoby-Payne
1621971682
My daughter and I recently enjoyed two days birding with Felipe in the Prescott area. He took us to places where we could get good looks at most of the birds we wanted to see. He has an unbelievable ear when it comes to birding and knows how to make sure you get good looks at the birds. He is also very knowledgeable about the area. We felt comfortable with him and enjoyed his company.
Donna Allen
1620686386
We used Felipe for two half days in the Prescott, AZ area looking for target birds. Felipe certainly knew where our targets could be found, and using his bird hearing radar we were able to see most of our target birds plus a couple not expected! We enjoyed his company and would hire him again.
Peter Van Etten
1620015699
My wife and I birded with Felipe for two half days in May and had a fabulous time. He is very knowledgeable, very personable and delightful company. Each day we saw 50-60 species. I would highly recommend Felipe. He has a wealth of experience and a very keen sense of when and where birds will be. Our 2 days with Felipe made our visit to the San Pedro area. We will definitely be back to bird with him again.
Dale Smith
1619888358
Felipe guided us around the Patagonia area. His ear is amazing and helped us immensely find target species. Very professional and knowledgeable. I’d would love to bird with Felipe the next time I’m in SE AZ.
Mark Klimek
1619621146
My wife and I spent three days with Filipe birding in SE Arizona this last week of April. We are sixth year birders in our sixties, so we are novices but we have been on at least ten private tours with different guides in Maine, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Minnesota, and Ohio.All that to say where we are coming from with this review.Filipe without a doubt has the best ear in the business. His skill at identifying location and species of bird by song/call is astounding. He heard a sound I could barely hear and promptly pointed out a rock wren on a canyon wall 300 yards away!We found dozens of new species for us each day.Our life list went from 397 to over 455 !! This is because he pays attention to your list and is intentional. He is very serious about his work. You can be as chatty as you wish but we were all about seeing and photographing birds and he kept us on task thoughtfully.We were able to see every one of our top targets except the one that is not even in Arizona this time of year. This tour was in the top two tours we have been on ..... and the other one was a five day .. so Filipe was more efficient.Speaking as a businessman, he really needs to increase his fees... he is way under pricing the value of what you get with his tour. We would pay double what we paid to tour with him again!!
Lavanya Sunder
1619550952
Felipe is an AMAZING, warm down to earth guide that is incredibly knowledgeable and really knows his stuff. My mother and I planned our Arizona road trip around his bird tour and availability and he did not disappoint.We had a 5 hour tour where we saw 65 unique species of birds, and received an amazing education on birds, botany, natural habitation, and more.I couldn’t recommend this tour more!
Barbara Bryson
1619124750
We had a delightful and informative morning of birding along the San Pedro river with Felipe. He has studied and is knowledgeable about the ecology of the area so we got much more out of it than bird ID. With Mesquite and dry grasses on one side, the riparian area with huge beautiful cottonwoods on the other it was a rich environment. Felippe has a very easy manner and a great sense of humor. We highly recommend him.
Robert Norton
1619123392
I had a long target list of species, more like a fantasy list, of SE Arizona specialties. Notwithstanding a dreadfully dry winter and shifting climate influences, Felipe said we had a good shot at half the list based on the timing of migration and weather. Our first day was a lesson in birding by ear (which I failed terribly). Forty minutes into our hike looking for Rose-throated Becard, Felipe had already had 20+ species and yes, his ability to echo-locate a bird, as I called it, was incredibly successful- he found the Becard. Not to be outdone by the Becard, the next bird on our search was Rufous-back Robin but we thought we were a little too late that morning to hear or see it. We returned much earlier the next morning and Felipe’s astoundingly accurate echo-location found it and we managed to photograph it! Well, I can’t say enough about his knowledge of the unique habitats, the life histories of the birds in SE Arizona and his ability to share what he does so well. Felipe is patient, very competent and very personable. Most highly recommend him whether it’s one bird or a fantasy list you’re after. Kudos.
Michelle Karpovich
1618506045
My husband booked a private bird-watching tour for our family of 4 with Felipe at the end of our Spring Break adventure to Arizona. We met up with Felipe at Patagonia Lake State Park for a delightful late afternoon walking tour on a path around the lake. This location provided us with 49 different bird species. Felipe was able to quickly identify birds both by sight and sound. He had specific species that we were looking for during our walk, making sure to help my husband add to his "life list" of positive bird identifications. My teenage boys were fully engaged during the walk, also catching on to the birds Felipe was pointing out. We also got to see a couple of mule deer, as well as a large number of cows, bulls, and calves. My favorite birds from this section of our tour included the Vermillion Flycatcher and the Hermit Warbler. About an hour before sundown, we traveled back into the small city of Patagonia and visited the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, where we got to see 4 different types of hummingbirds as well as some beautiful Lazuli buntings. My sons and I were also entertained with a "wild kingdom" episode that went down between the resident cat and a burrowing gopher. Just up the road, Felipe was also able to set up a spotting scope to give us a beautiful view of a nesting Western Screech Owl while feral javelina grazed in the background behind us. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Felipe, and my husband is already trying to plan a return trip to AZ to use him as a guide in the future. Thank you, Felipe, for a wonderful evening in beautiful Southern Arizona!
Amy Davis
1618195006
Felipe is your guy for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl! He's very knowledgeable about the local avifauna and offered us helpful tips to find our other target species as well. Make sure you visit the feeders at Arizona Birding Tours! We would be happy to hire Felipe again when we return to Arizona.
Mike Patterson
1617927526
My wife and I worked with Felipe on a half day tour and a night time owling tour. Both were superb guided experiences. Within minutes of our night tour we were looking at elf owls, Western screech, and whiskered screech. It was brilliant.Overall, it's clear Felipe knows the birds, knows the calls, but most impressively and importantly he knows the areas. Getting a tour with Felipe won't just get you amazing looks at hard to find species, but you'll learn more about the natural history, the ecology, and the biogeography of the region. His understanding of the status and distribution of species across Arizona greatly enhanced the birding. It's clear that Felipe knows his stuff and cares about showing off the best the area has to offer, you won't go wrong working with him!
Juan Martinez
1617584622
I birded two half days with Felipe in Patagonia and Carr Canyon. Felipe is very knowledgeable on the wild life and ecosystems. Amazing ear! He tracked all the lifers I was searching. Felipe goes the extra mile for his clients. I would use his services again without any doubt.
Jeff Young
1617551997
Felipe is an amazing guide. We have gone out with multiple other guides in the past and he is the BEST one ever. Has such a welcoming attitude, a wealth of knowledge about birds in addition to the ecology, history and plants if you wish to take advantage of deep learning on those topics. Really great experience and wonderful day. We got some life birds but just learned so much and had a great time.
Kraig Cawley
1616934812
We birded the Phoenix and Prescott areas with Felipe and his knowledge of the habitats and the birds is immense. His ear for birds is remarkable even on breezy days. Highly recommended.
Janet Theilen
1616906344
My husband and I booked a half day private tour in the Prescott area with Filipe during the 4th week of Mar. We usually have about 200 birds on our yearly list. This was our first visit to Arizona and we wanted an overview to see birds that would be new for us. In addition we were interested in the different avian habitats of the area. Filipe was such a treasure!! He sent us bird lists in advance and used our responses to tailor a perfect tour. He quickly ascertained our level of interest and expertise during our friendly conversations and shared wonderful and knowledgeable information not just on birds, but also the flora and fauna, and climate of the 4 different habitats we visited. We enjoyed every minute. Despite it being unseasonably cold and windy, with snow the day before, he knew where to find many birds...several that were new to my life list. Our favorite of the day was the Common Black Hawk pair, perching in plain sight within 35 feet for at least 5 minutes, then calling to each other and flying through the trees in their distinctive way. Delightful!!! It was the highlight of a great day. Filipe is a fantastic guide! He posted 4 ebird lists for us, and took photos for us of some of our new birds. Whether you're new to birding or seeking an elusive addition to your life list you won't be disappointed!
Dani
1616386184
Whether you're a beginner or a pro-birder, hiring Felipe as your guide will be the best decision you ever make. He is the benchmark by which all other guides should be measured. I spent a day with him in the Patagonia area and he put me on birds I would have never dreamt I'd find, and then some. Do yourself a favor and book him as your guide, as it was EASILY the best money I've ever spent for the amount of incredible birds we saw and the knowledge he provided me with. Not only that, but I made a friend in the process. Had the best birding day I've had all year and I'll be a lifelong customer.
Jim Kettelkamp
1616023884
I’m a lister and hired Felipe to help me find specific target birds. Despite a prolonged drought and unseasonably cold temperatures we were quite successful in finding well over 50% of my targets. Felipe has a great knowledge of the local ecosystems including the plant life and avifauna. He is also a skilled bird finder, in particular he proved that persistence pays as we successfully located the Juniper Titmouse and Olive Warbler. I will hire him again as I search for more SE Arizona specialties in the future!
DEE ANNE CROUCHER
1614375535
We met Felipe early just outside Tucson. Then we went up Lemon mountain and then down to the desert He is very professional and patient. And we saw so many species from Arizona jays, to towhees, Says Phoebe, rock wren, canyon wren, vermillion flycatcher , Phainpepla, ruby crowned kinglet,It was one of the best bird tours I have ever experienced. I can’t wait til the next tour with him.
SOMNATH DATTA
1614102957
I will try to keep this review short and sweet. Just got back from a 5 day private birding tour of central and south Arizona with Felipe. We covered hundreds of miles, walked on trails, through grassland and desert, stayed in a variety of night accommodations arranged by Felipe – the entire experience was memorable. Together, we saw and photographed 43 lifers/target birds. That’s an impressive number given that it is a low bird count year and that I had already photographed most of the common birds on a previous trip by myself. Felipe certainly knows his birds. In most cases, he was able to perch a bird very close so that I could take excellent photographs. Also, his night birding (owling) skill was equally impressive. Overall, he has conducted the entire tour in a very efficient manner by balancing the time and effort for each bird. Throughout he had maintained consistent communication with me via emails and text messaging. He let me reschedule my trip three times due to the pandemic and personal reasons without any hesitation. If you are looking for a birding guide in Arizona, look no further and hire Felipe. You will not regret it.
Marie Fusaro
1613508215
Had an absolutely amazing day with Felipe. Was able to get excellent shots of my target bird, the ferruginous pygmy owl. Having a bird guide who's knowledgeable with photography made it a lot easier for me since Felipe has a sense of what I'm looking for in a shot, whereas in the past, often times with bird guides I've used, the photographs were less than ideal. Not only did Felipe find me the bird, he also found my phone/wallet which I lost in the desert! Thanks again!
Scott Sneed
1612382651
Felipe is an excellent guide, very pleasant, and extremely knowledgeable in regards to the birds of Arizona. I had 5 target birds including Northern Jacana, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Rufous-backed Robin, and Ruddy Ground Dove, and he organized our day exceptionally well so we ended up seeing all 5 birds. He had our travel arranged so we smoothly transitioned to each target with no wasted time. When we arrived at each spot, he knew where to look for the birds. He is excellent at birding by ear as well as sight. I was photographing during the trip and he was very patient, making sure we took the needed time before moving on. He was helpful in suggesting camera settings when asked. You will be pleased with Felipe should you choose to utilize his guiding services.
sylvia colquitt
1609784041
My husband, Mike and I spent all day Monday, December 28th, birding with Felipe in Prescott, Arizona. Even though it was very cold and windy Felipe made sure I saw my target birds plus some. He even called a couple of birds so we could get a better view. I saw all the birds on my target list with the exception of one, maybe because it was so darn cold. The place we stopped for lunch was fantastic !! We finished our day with a wonderful view of a "flicker" and then it began to snow. Since we are new to this beautiful hobby "birding" we truly appreciated 101 education of birding. Your knowledge of not only birds but their environment is exceptional. We look forward to have you as a guide on future birding tripos. Thank you again for a wonderful day. Mike and Sylvia Verlander
Jill Tierney
1609733370
I hired Felipe to take me out and show me a Pygmy owl, Prairie falcon and Ferruginous hawk. We went to a few spots and finally I was able to photograph the owl. Felipe has amazing knowledge of the flora and Fauna in the area he takes you. After the photo session with the very cooperative owl we made our way to the grasslands, where he immediately located a Prairie falcon and right after a Ferruginous hawk. I highly recommend a birding trip with Felipe, he will definitely find your target birds and he is very personable, which is a huge plus. I felt like I was out birding with a friend.
Seth Yarkony
1609639592
Felipe is the man! We went out searching for Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls and he knew exactly where to go—we saw an absolute beauty. Felipe has a ton of knowledge about birds and birding in Arizona and is definitely someone I hope to go out with again next time I’m in Arizona.
Wayne Stahnke
1606878469
I spent 5 days with Felipe during November, 2020. My passion is wildlife photography, specializing in birds. For me, it takes more than hearing or seeing a bird, I have to get a recognizable photograph of it. Felipe, being a photographer as well as a very knowledgeable birder, really knows how to position you to get the best shots. He really knows the birds and where to find them. We drove on paved roads, dirt roads, and some that seemed like trails, but at the end of each, I was able to photograph the birds we set out for. I will be meeting up with Felipe in a couple of months to get more bird shots. I highly recommend him.
John Jonas
1604887239
I had a specific target bird (Northern Pygmy Owl) that I tried for a couple days on my own and could not get visuals on them. This would be a life bird for me and I do not count heard only birds until I have at least seen them once. And I was desperate to get this bird as it would complete my U.S. Owl species and having seen them all in 2020. So it was extremely important to me that I get this bird. I will preface by also saying that I'm aware that no guide service can guarantee any sightings and that's just the risk you take when hiring a guide. But guides know the habitats & the behaviors etc.. of the birds in their patch. So by me hiring a guide I have upped my chance greatly. Arizona Birding Tours was fantastically accommodating on extremely short notice (less than 4 hours) They just happen to have a cancellation that afternoon and was able to get me in. I had to drive 3 hours to get there so they stated they would wait and to contact them when I was 10min out. Felipe is knowledgeable about the birds in his areas and other areas of Arizona and other states/countries as well. He was kind, professional, and accommodating. They are Covid aware and practice social distancing and other protocols. At last light we were able to get eyes on my target bird. If I hadn't seen the target bird my review wouldn't have changed and I would still give 5 stars. He really did go out of his way to do everything possible and to do his best to get me on my target. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours for anyone looking for a bird guide in Arizona! I look forward to my next bird trip in AZ and will definitely book a day with them!
Ed Schroeder
1604618531
I spent Sunday November 1st with Felipe in the Pima county area and it was a fantastic experience! I am a new birder and a novice photographer that's never been out of auto mode on my DSLR and he offered to start with a quick tutorial on camera settings, etc. This increased my knowledge of the camera tremendously and lead to better pictures, I am sure!. We then spent the day in several spots seeing dozens of amazing species and he was able to provide information about the ecology, habitats, and bird behaviors along the way. His knowledge of birds is incredible and he was able to recognize unusual birds by their calls and know it was something we wanted to see and was able to get us on those birds in almost every case. 110% worth it - a Great day!
Christie Andry
1603338500
My husband and I were on a 2 week trip to Arizona and New Mexico to visit several national parks, etc. I am also a beginner “birder”. My husband came across Arizona Birding Tours while researching our trip. Having never done anything like this before, we decided to hire Felipe for a day. He was wonderful! He is personable, knowledgeable and patient. Living in Louisiana he was indeed able to show us several new species. That night he took us to the middle of the forest where we waited patiently and were able to find and photograph a Western Screech Owl. A first owl for me! We are considering coming back in the spring just to do another birding tour with him. I highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours.
Joseph Tuvell
1603003588
Felipe was a fantastic guide! I can not reccomend his services enough to anyone looking to do a birding adventure in AZ! We spent our time in the Green Valley and Patagonia areas, but I am 10000% confident that you will have an amazing experience anywhere else in the state with him as your guide. He showed my partner and I tons of new species that we had never seen before, and several we would have never been able to find without his experience and guiding skills including Black-Capped Gnatcatchers, Rose-Throated Becards, Ruddy Ground Dove, Bronzed Cowbirds, Rufous-Crowned Sparrows, Rufous-Winged Sparrows, Painted Bunting, Painted Redstart, Thick-Billed Kingbird, and Dusky-Capped Flycather!The Becards he managed to spot out of the canopy, with no vocalizations at all, which was absolutely astounding I must admit. Not to mention the fact that even being in the off season, he was able to put us on almost every lifer for the trip, with only two heard only birds.Felipe's ability to mimic calls and sounds to get birds to respond to them is an incredible skill, and very handy. Even in the off season, he managed to get several birds that we otherwise would not have seen with this.Beyond even the birding, Felipe's knowledge about the ecosystems of Arizona was fascinating to listen to, and we learned alot about how birds and other creatures live their lives in the Sonoran, and why it is so much different than the deserts we are used to in Nevada. He's also just a cool guy who's happy to be out there looking at and looking for birds, which makes the experience so much more rewarding than just going with some person who's just counting their hours.Both my partner and I would highly reccomend Felipe to anybody planning on birding anywhere in AZ, and will definitely be contacting him again if we ever find ourselves on a trip to AZ again in the future.
Fiona Reid
1602087271
A wonderful morning at a couple of very different stops in Prescott. I used my binoculars far less than usual because there was so much background info on birding to learn from Felipe, PLUS I love to bird by ear and Felipe is also very skilled at that. In 4 hours we saw/heard 56 species, which was amazing to me. Felipe is sensitive to people’s’ needs and will share as much or as little info as you want, but I would suggest you go on a tour ready to soak up as much learning as you can - Felipe is extremely knowledgeable and beautifully enthusiastic.
Michelle Schrade
1600917019
My husband and I spent a morning with Felipe birding the Mingus Mountain/Cottonwood Area. It was easily the most amazing birding experience of my life. I’ll never forget seeing a flock of 35+ Band-tailed Pigeons and several other life birds. Felipe’s identification skills are excellent and he knows the state like his own backyard. We had never hired a guide before and were pleased with how easy Felipe made the entire process. My husband is a non-birder but was impressed by Felipe’s knowledge of the natural history of the area. We highly recommend Arizona Birding Tours and look forward to booking with Felipe again.
Valerie Sheaff
1600357903
We spent two days birding with Felipe last week in Southeastern Arizona. If you had to rate his expertise, birding know-how, personality, charm, professionalism and perseverance....it would be 20 out of 10! We had a target list and he delivered! Felipe is a top notch guide and we feel very fortunate to have found him. We will go birding with him again. His love of birds and the natural world shine through in his style as a guide. If you are planning a trip to this area and would like to see some "lifers" and much, much more.... Felipe is your guide! Valerie and Tom
Robert S.
1598896293
Felipe Guerrero is an excellent private birding guide whom we hired for a four day tour in southeastern Arizona. He was able to find most of the target species of photographic interest including some of the less common warblers and sparrows. On the second day, we had to spend time to make alternative plans when we were unable to go to canyons in Fort Huachuca as a result of Covid-19 restrictions. It was also a hot day, but we were able to obtain nice views of a varied bunting, gray hawk, and yellow-billed cuckoo. The plan for the next day was smooth and very species productive, making up for the down time we experienced earlier. Felipe also educated us about native flora and some of the shore birds present at Wilcox Playa. Overall, our trip was image-filled, enjoyable, and educational.
Frankie
1590249407
Felipe took us to several spots and showed us tons of different birds. We not only got to see lots of birds, but Felipe educated us on the topography of Arizona as well. We will definitely be hitting a different area of Arizona with Felipe soon.
Barb Dongas
1582721986
My husband and I just had a terrific three-day trip with Felipe, a happy, enthusiastic birder, naturalist and photographer. He is accommodating, knowledgeable and patient. We saw rose-throated becard, black-capped gnatcatcher, rufous-capped warbler, rufous-winged sparrow, Mexican chickadee, black-chinned sparrow, ferruginous hawk, Bendire’s thrasher, Abert’s towhee, Arizona woodpecker, juniper titmouse, rufous-backed robin, yellow-eyed junco and hummingbirds (violet-crowned, Rivoli’s, blue-throated mountaingem, broad-billed) among more than 80 species. Had fun, and planning to travel again with him in June to seek the summer birds.
