[ARIZONA 
An Eastern Bluebird was in Cave Canyon, 
Santa Rita Mts. 1 Jun (ph. KK, JM), where 
rarely reported. A singing Brown-backed Soli- 
taire was discovered in Miller Canyon, 
Huachuca Mts. 16 Jul (R. Day, D. Jasper, ph. 
B. Van Doren, ph. B. Mangier) and moved to 
nearby Ramsey Canyon 18 Jul-1 Aug (S. 
Kunzer, R. Romea; ph. J. Woodley, M. Tara- 
chow, C. Melton, CVC, J. Oldenettel, GHR; 
v.r. CDB, DS). While there is no doubt of the 
identification of this bird, the A.B.C. will have 
to consider the provenance of this individual, 
given the high frequency with which this 
species is kept as a caged bird throughout 
Mexico; there was one previous well-docu- 
mented occurrence of this incredible songster 
in Arizona (fall 1996), which was not accept- 
ed by the A.B.C. because of the question of 
provenance. American Robins at Patagonia L. 
11 Jun (MMS) and in Phoenix 31 Jul OW) 
were both at odd locations for the summer 
season. Exciting was an Aztec Thrush at 
Ramsey Canyon 31 Jul+ (ph. M. & T. Bauer et 
al); this species is casual in the state, with 
most reports from late summer. Single Gray 
Catbirds were at Las Cienegas 13 Jun (ph. J. 
McKay) and in Cave Creek Canyon 20 Jun 
(C. Wolf, ph. A. Schmierer); this species is a 
rare but regular straggler in Arizona away 
from breeding areas in the White Mts. 
WARBLERS THROUGH ORIOLES 
A Golden-winged Warbler, casual in the state, 
was at Wellton 2 Jun (tPEL). An Orange- 
crowned Warbler, also at Wellton 2 Jun (PEL), 
was a very late migrant. Six Northern Parulas 
and 4 American Redstarts were about average 
for the season. A Black-and-white Warbler, ca- 
sual in Jun, was at Quigley W.A. near Yuma 2 
Jun (PEL). Unusual for summer, an Ovenbird 
was at Starr Pass in the Tucson Mts. 16 Jun 
(ph. J. Smith). Kentucky Warhler has proven 
1 Great Basin 
to be rare but regular in the state during early 
summer; this year, one was near Herb Martyr, 
Chiricahua Mts. 21 Jun (ph. J. Joseph), and 
another was at along Lynx Cr., Yavapai 29 Jun 
(CST, DM). Amazing were 15 Hooded War- 
blers reported this season; this species has 
been increasing in frequency in the state in re- 
cent years, but this high number of individu- 
als in one season was unexpected. The Ru- 
fous-capped Warhler pair in Florida Canyon 
continued through the summer (m.ob.). Else- 
where, another pair of Rufous-cappeds was 
discovered in the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek 
Preserve, with one there 4-10 Jun (ph., tA. & 
R. Outlaw), and 2 present 26 Jun+, with nest- 
building observed intermittently (MB; ph. RB, 
CC; R. Miller). This species is a casual north- 
ward disperser during spring and summer 
from Mexico. A pair of Yellow-breasted Chats 
nest-building in Patagonia 31 Jul (RB) was late 
for breeding in Arizona. 
The long-returning male Plame-colored Tan- 
ager at Madera Canyon was present through 30 
Jul (m.ob.). A nesting pair of Plame-colored 
Tanagers was discovered at Southwest Research 
Station in Cave Creek Canyon Jun 21+ (ph. RT; 
ph. REW, m.ob.); Arizona’s first accepted 
record for this species came from Cave Creek 
Canyon in 1985, and it remains a casual spring 
and summer visitor to canyons in se. Arizona. 
A late Green-tailed Towhee was at G.W.R. 5 Jun 
(T. Loomis). Rufous-winged Sparrow was again 
found in Guadalupe Canyon 28 Jun (ph. C. 
Wolf), where it was found in both 2003 and 
2007. One along the San Pedro R. (Garden 
Wash) 13 Jul (SH) was away from known 
breeding areas. Five-striped Sparrows were lo- 
cated at Montosa Canyon, Santa Rita Mts. 11 
Jun (S. Pipkin, RH), and at Florida Canyon, 
Pima, 15 Jun-3 Jul (MK, S. Pipkin; ph. A. 
Schmierer); both these locations are new for 
this species in Arizona. Scattered reports of ori- 
antha White-crowned Sparrows occurred in 
early Jun, but one singing at Sweetwater 23 Jun 
QM) was extremely late for s. Arizona. The sta- 
tus of Rose-breasted Grosbeak continues to 
change in Arizona during late spring and sum- 
mer, with no fewer than 20 reported this sum- 
mer statewide. Indigo Bunting was previously 
considered a rare but regular migrant and sum- 
mer breeder across s. and cen. Arizona; this 
summer, far more than usual were reported, of- 
ten in small groups, statewide. Fewer Painted 
Buntings than usual were reported in late Jul, 
with only three reports received. Small groups 
of Yellow-headed Blackbirds were reported 
from scattered locations across s. Arizona, 
where this species is rare in summer. Hooded 
Oriole is casual in n. Arizona, so 2 at Cameron 
11 Jun (CL et al.) and one there 21 Jul (CDB, 
JC) were noteworthy. 
Contributors; Moez Ali, Robin Baxter, Chris 
D. Benesh, Gavin Bieber, Matt Brown, Cliff 
Cathers, Christie van Cleve, John Coons, An- 
drew Core, Troy Corman, Tommy De- 
Bardeleben, Dee Dee DeLorenzo, Henry De- 
twiler, Pierre Deviche, Brian Gatlin, Stuart 
Healy Joe Hildreth, Eric Hough, Rich Hoyer, 
Rob Hunt, Doug Jenness, Keith Kamper, 
Chuck LaRue, Paul E. Lehman, Guy McCask- 
ie, Jake Mohlman, David Moll, Phil Norton, 
Molly Pollock, Gary H. Rosenberg, Rose Ann 
Rowlett, Will Russell, Dave Stejskal, Mark M. 
Stevenson, Rick Taylor, Carl S. Tomoff 
(Prescott), Richard E. Webster, Janet Witze- 
man (Maricopa), John Yerger (Tucson). © 
Mark M. Stevenson (Non-Passerines) 
4201 East Monte Vista Drive, #1207 
Tucson, Arizona 85712-5554, (clrbrclr@att.net) 
Gary H. Rosenberg (Passerines) 
P. 0. Box 91856, Tucson, Arizona 85752-1856 
(ghrosenberg@comcast.net) 
Rick Fridell 
T he summer started off with a mild June 
that featured below-average tempera- 
tures and above-average levels of pre- 
cipitation through most of the Region. How- 
ever, by July, weather was back to the typical 
hot and dry conditions characteristic of the 
Great Basin. Either it was a very slow sum- 
mer in Utah, or birders took the summer off: 
the vast majority of reports and of notewor- 
thy sightings originated from Nevada. Ne- 
vada summer highlights included Mississippi 
636 
Kite, Arctic Tern, Whip-poor-will, Yellow- 
throated Vireo, and Red-faced Warbler. Utah 
highlights included the third and fourth 
records of Neotropic Cormorant and an un- 
seasonable Mew Gull. Several contributors 
noted higher-than-normal numbers of terri- 
torial Indigo Buntings in southern Nevada 
and Utah this summer. 
Abbreviations: Antelope 1. (Antelope Island 
State Park and Causeway, Davis, UT); Ash 
Meadows (Ash Meadows N.W.R., Nye, NV); 
Bear River (Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
