If you’ve ever wondered where in the U.S. you can see the most variety of birds in August, the answer isn’t a coastal marsh or a famous national park; it’s high in the mountains of southeastern Arizona. Known as the Sky Islands, these isolated mountain ranges are a magnet for feathered visitors this time of year. 

What Are the Sky Islands?

Portal Peak in the Chiricahua Mountains. Credit: BAlvarius

Picture a series of mountain ranges rising out of the desert floor, each separated by wide valleys. These are Arizona’s Sky Islands, so called because they’re like lush “islands” of greenery in a “sea” of arid lowlands. They stretch from Mexico into the U.S., and their elevation creates a wide range of habitats, from cactus-filled foothills to pine-covered peaks.

That variety of landscapes means variety of food, shelter, and climate — the three things birds love most. But in August, something special happens here: the monsoons arrive.

Why August Is Peak Bird Season Here

Violet-crowned Hummingbird

Arizona’s summer monsoon rains are not your average drizzle. From July into September, afternoon storms roll in almost daily, soaking the mountains, turning dry creek beds into streams, and coating the hillsides with fresh green growth.

Insects hatch in abundance, flowers bloom, and fruiting plants ripen. This natural buffet brings in a rush of birds — from migrating species on their way south to resident birds taking advantage of the bounty.

This is the only time of year you can stand in one spot and potentially see:

• 10+ species of hummingbirds in a single day, including the jewel-like Violet-crowned Hummingbird.

• Trogons flashing their red chests in shady canyons.

• Swarms of warblers, tanagers, and grosbeaks feed in the canopy.

• Raptors riding thermals between mountain peaks.

Montezuma Quail

The Hummingbird Spectacle

If there’s a single “poster bird” for August in the Sky Islands, it’s the hummingbird. Southeastern Arizona is renowned for its Hummingbird Highway, a migration path that attracts dozens of hummingbird species.

Feeding stations in towns like Patagonia, Sierra Vista, and Portal turn into high-speed aerial arenas. You might see Broad-billed Hummingbirds zipping past Magnificent (now Rivoli’s) Hummingbirds, all while the tiny Calliope Hummingbird — the smallest bird in North America — hovers nearby.

Broad-billed Hummingbird by Vickie J Anderson

The activity is so intense that local festivals, such as the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival, are timed to coincide with this late-summer peak.

More Than Just Hummingbirds

While the hummingbirds steal the show, they’re far from the only stars. August also brings:

• Montezuma Quail, whose intricate feather patterns look like hand-painted art.

• Western Tanagers glowing like little drops of sunshine.

• Zone-tailed Hawks, masters of disguise that mimic vultures to sneak up on prey.

• Shorebirds stopping over in wetlands and stock ponds created by the rains.

Western Tanager

And because the Sky Islands connect tropical Mexico to the southwestern U.S., you have the rare chance to spot species that barely cross into the States, like the Rose-throated Becard or the Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher.

Best Places to Go

Some of the best-known birding hotspots in southeastern Arizona include:

• Madera Canyon – A mix of oak woodland and riparian habitat, perfect for both hummers and warblers.

• Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve – Lush greenery that draws in rarities.

• Ramsey Canyon Preserve – Legendary for hummingbird diversity.

• Cave Creek Canyon – Stunning scenery plus a wide mix of mountain and desert birds.

Most of these areas are accessible by car, with well-marked trails and, in many cases, dedicated hummingbird viewing areas.

For birdwatchers chasing “life list” species, August in southeastern Arizona offers one of the best chances to see a large number of species in just a few days, many of them rare elsewhere in the country. For casual nature lovers, it’s simply a breathtaking spectacle: mountains alive with color, sound, and motion.

Zone-tailed Hawk

Final Thoughts

August in Arizona’s Sky Islands isn’t just a good birding month; it’s a phenomenon. The combination of diverse habitats, tropical influences, and monsoon-driven abundance creates a one-month-only display you won’t find anywhere else in the U.S.

So, if you’ve ever dreamed of standing on a mountainside and seeing flashes of red, gold, and emerald darting through the air, with the scent of rain in the desert around you, pack your binoculars and head to southeastern Arizona. The birds will be waiting.