INCREDIBLE High-Altitude Hummingbird Search on Mount Lemmon (Arizona)

Mount Lemmon in Arizona is an amazing place to see wildlife, including some high-altitude hummingbirds such as Blue-throated Mountain-gems, Rivoli's Hummingbirds, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. See which ones we can find as we journey up the Catalina Highway to the top of Mount Lemmon.
Gear Links (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases)
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description
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Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod
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Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod
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Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera
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Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300
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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps
www.sdakotabirds.com/index.ht...
Rivoli's Hummingbird in cover image by Charles J. Sharp (CC by 4.0, edited)
creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Other Hummingbirds in cover image, photo of Blue-throated Mountain Gem, and Elf Owl Photo are all public domain and edited images.
All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann
#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[@user-kq1lq7ln8s]

I have traveled the Mount Lemmon road twice, once for birds and once for butterflies-both trips spectacularly successful. The scenery is amazing, too. Thanks for bring back happy memories.

[@OspreyFlyer]

My favorite backpack in the Rocky Mountains was red, fit the best. Hummingbirds would come up and buzz me checking it out. I especially remember the hummers on Blanca Peak in southern Colorado. One after another would come up and hover around me, lol.

[@rogerashley8616]

I spent 11 days in S.E Arizona the last two weeks in July. I visited several different spots including Mt Lemmon. I got pics of 84 new birds which included 13 different hummingbirds. It was a awesome trip, and planning to go back next year. It was a long drive from Tennessee, but worth it. Think I'll fly next time though lol

[@Chris.Bentley.Wildlife]

Nothings more fun then going to a new place and everythings a lifer

[@krisdiane]

You guys should go to Madera Canyon next time you're in Arizona! You can feed the hummingbirds right from your hand at the gift shop, and a lot of hikers see trogons. Bird watchers come from all over to sit at the gift shop and watch the feeders.

[@barbaracole709]

The Rivoli’s hummingbird is breathtaking! I could look at it all day! The blue-throated mountain gem is also a stunner. I would love to go there sometime!

[@allanrose2964]

I'm here in Tucson. I get Anna's and Broad-billed hummers year round. I need to get up there! Male Vermilion Flycatcher was in my backyard just yesterday. Glad you guys got to see some AZ specials!

[@am_cosmos]

I happen to be visiting family in Tucson next weekend and appreciate the heads up! Convinced my mother to come up there with us to see some big hummingbirds. :)

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Love it!

[@teetaloo]

So cool to see you with Chris Rohrer! He was one of our clients (we have a bamboo nursery in Tucson) and he knew all the birds we have on our property just from the sounds! Also, I use MerlinID and it heard a Mountain Gem the last time I was on Mt. Lemmon, but I never saw it - so it was fun to see them through your camera! And that Rivoli's!! Wow so beautiful! I usually mostly see Rufous Hummingbirds up there. I heard a Northern Pygmy Owl (ID'd with Merlin) up there too, almost at the top.

[@teetaloo]

Ha, I told my mom I saw Chris in this video, and she told me that Chris once told her that the bamboo he bought from us brought a bunch of birds to his house, which ended up inspiring him to become a serious birder! So in some weird cosmic roundabout way, our bamboo nursery is partially responsible for you guys meeting Chris, and now here I am watching this video! Crazy the way we're all connected on this earth 🌎

[@ABirdersParadise]

Wow, the Rivoli's Hummingbird and Blue-throated Mountain Gem really are large compared to the Broad-tailed Hummingbirds! Awesome video!

[@MsDee_777]

I've been all over Arizona but never there. What a really neat location with beautiful birds! Your videos are always a pleasure 😊

[@user-qw5pm6lr9d]

I've never been to Mount Lemmon, but I'd like to visit there or Madera Canyon.

[@reneessurf]

I may have to add this to my list of places to visit.

[@kenallison9119]

I was there in the first week of April in 2012. There was still a lot of snow in Summerhaven but we saw lots of great birds on the way up at various stops. Olive Warbler was a "heard only" so I have to go back. Also saw Madrean Alligator Lizard!

[@saleemahfareed4790]

Thanks for sharing, beautiful birds 🐦 9:12

[@YvonneWatson-ff5ex]

We haven’t had hummingbirds here in NE Texas since the very beginning of June because of the horrific heat (108-114 degrees)we’ve had. I saw my first one just yesterday when he came up to me interested in my bright pink iPhone case. They also show interest when I wear a bright pink t shirt. I’ve stopped feeding them because of my aggressive cats so I don’t see nearly as many as I used to.

[@thinkpurple]

Soooo Coool!!!!! Great Job guys! It was cool seeing this video after seeing video and hearing about the hummingbirds last night. Looking forward to more. Thanks for posting :) 👏Julie*💜

[@Revelationscreation]

Mountain birding is great, went to pyrenees on a trip to France- turned out to be vert successful.

[@kalebanderson2903]

Great video, I was in Arizona and saw the blue throated mountain Jen and Rivolis. If you want to see olive warblers there are a lot on mount lemmon, I found incinerator ridge to be a good spot. I love Madera canyon for hummingbirds, sometimes a berylline will show up there and you can often find trogons in that canyon

[@alisonthorn2573]

Loved this video and all the hummingbirds you captured. Thanks!

[@cpk4228]

Let me know if y’all ever come to the Truckee / Tahoe region! I would love to show you guys around and to find some Clark’s nutcrackers.

[@imir8atu321]

Excellent trip I'LL say . Thanks for the video, highly enjoyed

[@Beryllahawk]

I probably said this on your other Mount Lemmon video but my aunt lives not far from Tucson and gets hordes of hummingbirds every year - definitely sharing this with her, she will really enjoy it! And WHAT a bird that Rivoli's is!!! I can see why the former name was Magnificent, because it IS magnificent. That almost prismatic effect from the feathers - structural color in action, literally!!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Yeah! Apparently it used to be Rivoli’s and then was lumped, and then split again. Some people still refer to them as the Magnificent Hummingbird :)

[@mrpickles4pres]

Your videos are very inspiring.

[@hairiestwizard]

The population of Elf Owls is fascinating. I'll have to check them out next time I hike the area

[@William_Todd_DeerBirdsandBugs]

That’s a brilliant video.

[@ronaldnuiver5632]

Nice video again. Hope you also go to Madera Canyon. Lots of hummings and good chance for Elegant Trogan and Mexican Owl.

[@ronaldnuiver5632]

Visiting the Santa Rita Lodge is a must. We saw there 10 species of hummingbirds. Allen’s ,Calliope and lucifer. Also Elf owl and whiskered Screech-owl.

[@richardhendrix7894]

Thanks for your video's I would never see these birds unless you haven't brought them into my home, We do have a couple hummer feeders out, have seen two birds one green and the other one not sure my wife said it wasn't green,maybe a hint of purple on it .The pass couple years we haven't seen a lot of hummers in Cypress ,Texas

[@Jps3bs]

Awesome Blue-throated Mountain Gem Hummingbirds and Rivoli's. 😊 The Painted Redstarts and Acorn Woodpecker were also Awesome 🤗 Always love watching your great videos 😀

[@AlainSTO]

Were you there for the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival? Hope to see more Tucson videos!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Yes! We have a lot more AZ content coming up

[@MRIVERSSC]

So guys, what time of year was this filmed? I’m heading to that area next Spring so the reason I’m asking, thanks as always.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

It’s in the video! Check out 1:12

[@pauraque]

U guys ever nab OLWA?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

👀 let’s just say there will be another Mount Lemmon video from this trip to AZ

[@pauraque]

@@BadgerlandBirding Massive W. #ocotero

[@lizziebordello]

Enjoyed this one as I do all your videos. But y'all, it's 2023, we're not doing the "trash bird" thing anymore. 😕 Especially not about a Hairy Woodpecker. Jeez. And talking about any bird as a "trash bird" is elitist and gross. Not only is there plenty of joy and beauty to be found in common birds, what message is that sending to folks who may only have access to those birds, or whose spark bird is one of them? Really wish you would have edited that exchange out.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

It’s a joke…Nathaniel obviously doesn’t think a native Hairy Woodpecker is “trash”.

[@lizziebordello]

Yeah, sorry, but it doesn't come across as a joke or obvious.