The Gray Flycatcher

All of the facilities in Madera Canyon require a use fee. You can either pay five dollars each time to visit, or opt for the yearly pass, which costs twenty dollars. This pass can be purchased at the Madera Kubo gift shop, or through the Forest Service office either in Tucson or Rio Rico. If you want to avoid a parking fee, the south, east and west side trails do not require a pass.The Nature Trail is fairly well traveled, and for good reason. The easy walk will take you across Madera Creek and up to where you can enjoy views of Mt. Wrightson and down into Madera Canyon itself. If you continue to the end, you will find yourself at the Wrightson Picnic Area. Either plan for someone to pick you up there, or take a leisurely walk down the road. View the list »
Hiking in Madera Canyon is an excellent way to view the wide varieties of bird species that visit or live there, and there are many trails to choose from with varying levels of difficulty. The Nature Trail and Proctor Trail are both considered easy. The Proctor Trail is also handicapped accessible, which not only serves those in wheelchairs, but allows parents with young children in strollers to enjoy the scenery as well. 

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The Gray Flycatcher has a very unassuming and boring name, but this small species caused a lot of confusion until early in the 20th century. A winter visitor to Arizona, including the woodland areas of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson, the Gray Flycatcher looks so much like other species, it took ornithologists a while to discover this one was unique.

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Although the name implies the Gray Flycatcher is gray, it really is more olive in color, and has a white eye ring. The upper beak is darker gray, while underneath it is a pale pink. The have dark wings with white bars, and a long dark tail with white on the edges. The Gray Flycatcher looks so much like the Dusky Flycatcher, it will take a lot of practice and a good eye to tell them apart.

Reference: The Nature of Madera Canyon by Douglas W. Moore, Friends of Madera, 1999; whatbird.com

View the list
  • Hiking in Madera Canyon is an excellent way to view the wide varieties of bird species that visit or live there, and there are many trails to choose from with varying levels of difficulty. The Nature Trail and Proctor Trail are both considered easy. The Proctor Trail is also handicapped accessible, which not only serves those in wheelchairs, but allows parents with young children in strollers to enjoy the scenery as well. 
  • The Nature Trail is fairly well traveled, and for good reason. The easy walk will take you across Madera Creek and up to where you can enjoy views of Mt. Wrightson and down into Madera Canyon itself. If you continue to the end, you will find yourself at the Wrightson Picnic Area. Either plan for someone to pick you up there, or take a leisurely walk down the road. 
  • All of the facilities in Madera Canyon require a use fee. You can either pay five dollars each time to visit, or opt for the yearly pass, which costs twenty dollars. This pass can be purchased at the Madera Kubo gift shop, or through the Forest Service office either in Tucson or Rio Rico. If you want to avoid a parking fee, the south, east and west side trails do not require a pass.
View the list

, Santa Rita Mountains Outdoor Recreation Examiner

Ms. Strader is 40-year resident of Southern Arizona. She began her Forest Service career as a fire fighter in the Santa Rita Mountains which was the beginning of her dedication to learning as much as she could about the mountains she used to protect. ...

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