WhenToBird

Birding spot · Santa Cruz County, Arizona

Birding at Smithsonian Institute Astrophysical Observatory Experimental Research Area: What You'll See Each Week

In November, the birds most often reported at Smithsonian Institute Astrophysical Observatory Experimental Research Area are Mexican Jay (93%), White-breasted Nuthatch (88%), and Acorn Woodpecker (72%). It is busiest in spring, when 60 species turn up on at least 1 in 20 checklists, and species counts peak in early May (62 species). 112 species have been reported here across 2,714 complete checklists from 1,753 birders.

Species by week

020406080Jan 1-7: low data (7 checklists)Jan 8-14: low data (3 checklists)Jan 15-21: 23 species on 5%+ of 11 checklistsJan 22-31: low data (5 checklists)Feb 1-7: low data (6 checklists)Feb 8-14: low data (6 checklists)Feb 15-21: 21 species on 5%+ of 13 checklistsFeb 22-28: 30 species on 5%+ of 12 checklistsMar 1-7: low data (7 checklists)Mar 8-14: 32 species on 5%+ of 23 checklistsMar 15-21: 25 species on 5%+ of 23 checklistsMar 22-31: 44 species on 5%+ of 37 checklistsApr 1-7: 50 species on 5%+ of 72 checklistsApr 8-14: 50 species on 5%+ of 163 checklistsApr 15-21: 49 species on 5%+ of 174 checklistsApr 22-30: 60 species on 5%+ of 286 checklistsMay 1-7: 62 species on 5%+ of 157 checklistsMay 8-14: 58 species on 5%+ of 108 checklistsMay 15-21: 58 species on 5%+ of 127 checklistsMay 22-31: 52 species on 5%+ of 172 checklistsJun 1-7: 53 species on 5%+ of 92 checklistsJun 8-14: 49 species on 5%+ of 82 checklistsJun 15-21: 55 species on 5%+ of 52 checklistsJun 22-30: 51 species on 5%+ of 79 checklistsJul 1-7: 44 species on 5%+ of 48 checklistsJul 8-14: 52 species on 5%+ of 42 checklistsJul 15-21: 51 species on 5%+ of 52 checklistsJul 22-31: 45 species on 5%+ of 92 checklistsAug 1-7: 46 species on 5%+ of 113 checklistsAug 8-14: 49 species on 5%+ of 135 checklistsAug 15-21: 52 species on 5%+ of 99 checklistsAug 22-31: 53 species on 5%+ of 99 checklistsSep 1-7: 56 species on 5%+ of 58 checklistsSep 8-14: 58 species on 5%+ of 32 checklistsSep 15-21: 53 species on 5%+ of 27 checklistsSep 22-30: 46 species on 5%+ of 29 checklistsOct 1-7: 51 species on 5%+ of 18 checklistsOct 8-14: 37 species on 5%+ of 32 checklistsOct 15-21: 36 species on 5%+ of 21 checklistsOct 22-31: 37 species on 5%+ of 31 checklistsNov 1-7: low data (9 checklists)Nov 8-14: low data (8 checklists)Nov 15-21: 36 species on 5%+ of 16 checklistsNov 22-30: 28 species on 5%+ of 10 checklistsDec 1-7: low data (5 checklists)Dec 8-14: low data (3 checklists)Dec 15-21: low data (5 checklists)Dec 22-31: 37 species on 5%+ of 13 checklistsJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Number of species reported on at least 5% of complete checklists, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.

In November: what to expect

  1. 1Mexican Jay93%
  2. 2White-breasted Nuthatch88%
  3. 3Acorn Woodpecker72%
  4. 4Bridled Titmouse70%
  5. 5Ruby-crowned Kinglet67%
  6. 6Northern Flicker63%
  7. 7Red-naped Sapsucker51%
  8. 8Hermit Thrush49%
  9. 9Brown Creeper44%
  10. 10Common Raven44%
  11. 11American Robin33%
  12. 12Dark-eyed Junco33%
  13. 13Hutton's Vireo33%
  14. 14Arizona Woodpecker30%
  15. 15Townsend's Warbler30%

Share of complete checklists at this spot that reported the bird in November. The sparkline is the whole year, with this month highlighted.

Season by season

Winter 29 species

  1. Mexican Jay94%
  2. Bridled Titmouse76%
  3. White-breasted Nuthatch73%
  4. Acorn Woodpecker67%
  5. Ruby-crowned Kinglet60%

Spring 60 species

  1. Mexican Jay88%
  2. Painted Redstart83%
  3. Bridled Titmouse73%
  4. White-breasted Nuthatch72%
  5. Acorn Woodpecker71%

Summer 51 species

  1. Mexican Jay90%
  2. Acorn Woodpecker81%
  3. Painted Redstart76%
  4. Bridled Titmouse74%
  5. White-breasted Nuthatch73%

Fall 53 species

  1. Mexican Jay92%
  2. White-breasted Nuthatch83%
  3. Acorn Woodpecker79%
  4. Bridled Titmouse79%
  5. Northern Flicker68%

Specialties

Birds reported far more often here than across Arizona.

Nearby spots

Frequency is the share of complete checklists at this location that listed the bird, 2016–2025. Busy places report more of everything, and the weekly chart counts species on at least 5% of checklists so a few stray reports do not inflate it. How to read it.