A Beginner’s Guide to Birding on the Mogollon Rim

You don’t need expensive binoculars or a degree in ornithology to enjoy birdwatching in Rim Country. You just need a quiet spot and a little patience. Our forests, meadows, and waterways host more than 200 species throughout the year.

Where to Start

Green Valley Park: The easiest spot in Payson. Great blue herons, ducks, and red-winged blackbirds are regulars at the lake. Benches make it comfortable for extended watching.

Tonto Creek: Walk along the creek in any accessible area and watch for belted kingfishers diving for fish, canyon wrens calling from the rocks, and the occasional bald eagle overhead.

Mogollon Rim overlooks: Stellar’s jays (the loud blue ones) are everywhere. Watch for red-tailed hawks soaring on thermals along the Rim edge. In summer, broad-tailed hummingbirds are common.

What You Need

Honestly? Just your eyes and ears. If you want to take it further, a pair of basic binoculars ($30-50) and the free Merlin Bird ID app from the Cornell Lab will identify birds by their song — just hold up your phone and it tells you what you’re hearing.

Spring Highlights

April through June is peak time. Migrating warblers and tanagers pass through. Western bluebirds are nesting. And if you’re lucky, you might spot a wild turkey leading a line of poults along a forest road.

Birding is free, quiet, and available every single day. Give it ten minutes on your next walk and see what you notice.