The Williamson's Sapsucker of the Santa Rita Mountains

Hiking on the west side of the Santa Ritas will get you away from the crowds. The best time to visit this dry side is in the winter months, since shade is sparse. But the views sure aren’t, and are well worth checking out. This rugged side is home to many birds of prey, so check the sky for hawks and falcons. The Dutch John Spring Trail is an easy walk deep in Madera Canyon. It is not highly used since for avid hikers it’s a bit too short, but worth a day checking it out and maybe hiking another trail if you have the energy. This easy trail begins at the Bogs Springs Campground. All of the facilities in Madera require a parking fee of $5, so make sure to bring exact change.View the list »
The Nature Trail in Madera Canyon is a popular hike, not only because the walking is fairly easy, but wildlife abounds on this trail. The interpretive signs are a little outdated, and unfortunately the Forest Service has not replaced or moved those that reference features no longer visible. The trail, however, is still well worth the walk.

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The Williamson’s Sapsucker is a resident of the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson and east of Green Valley. This is a medium sized woodpecker, with a bright red throat and yellow stomach on a mostly black body. The undersides are black and white speckled. There is a distinct white striping around the eyes. The tail is all black, as are the legs and feet. The name comes from a man by the name of Robert Stockton Williamson, a surveyor who collected the first specimen.

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For a long time, the female was thought to be a completely different species since she looks so different from the male. Ornithologist called her a Black-breasted Woodpecker until scientists figured out she was the same species as the Williamson’s.

Look for this woodpecker and many other species of birds along the many hiking trails in the Santa Ritas.

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

View the list
  • The Nature Trail in Madera Canyon is a popular hike, not only because the walking is fairly easy, but wildlife abounds on this trail. The interpretive signs are a little outdated, and unfortunately the Forest Service has not replaced or moved those that reference features no longer visible. The trail, however, is still well worth the walk.
  • The Dutch John Spring Trail is an easy walk deep in Madera Canyon. It is not highly used since for avid hikers it’s a bit too short, but worth a day checking it out and maybe hiking another trail if you have the energy. This easy trail begins at the Bogs Springs Campground. All of the facilities in Madera require a parking fee of $5, so make sure to bring exact change.
  • Hiking on the west side of the Santa Ritas will get you away from the crowds. The best time to visit this dry side is in the winter months, since shade is sparse. But the views sure aren’t, and are well worth checking out. This rugged side is home to many birds of prey, so check the sky for hawks and falcons. 
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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