Chiricahua National Monument

10/03/2026

🌠Star Party-In Partnership with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association:
A Night of Cosmic Fun! 🔭

Join us for a night under the Chiricahua’s dark skies! On October 9 from 6:30-8:30 pm at Faraway Ranch, Rangers and Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association Volunteers will set up telescopes for views of planets, star clusters, and more. Bring a blanket or chairs and come early for a good spot. No registration needed-just bring your curiosity!

www.nps.gov/chir

NPS Photo

09/28/2026

The Chiricahua National Monument park store will be closed Tuesday, 9/29/2026 to allow our cooperative partners, Western National Parks, to conduct inventory. The visitor center exhibits and video will be available for visitors.

The park store is also available online 24/7 at wnp.org.
Learn more about Chiricahua National Monument at nps.gov/chir.

Experience American heritage and natural wonders with Western National Parks Association. Discover, explore, and belong.

09/02/2026

It’s Beak of the Week Wednesday, and this week’s beaked superstar is the Montezuma Quail!

Are you one of the many birders who come to Chiricahua National Monument hoping to spot this elusive quail? Have you been successful? If so, count your lucky stars. Despite its bold markings and unusual calls, this small quail is surprisingly hard to find.

Montezuma Quail inhabit grassy oak and pine‑oak woodlands of the Sky Islands. They move short distances throughout the day, feeding on the ground, eating insects like beetles and grasshoppers, as well as seeds and nuts. Late summer is an especially interesting season for them at Chiricahua: Arizona’s monsoon rains bring greener grasses, abundant food, and the start of the breeding season. Look and listen for them in grassy areas beneath the oaks.

When they perceive danger, they freeze — and if they suddenly flush, they might startle you before you even realize they were there. Once you catch your breath, you’ll be thrilled to know you’ve finally seen this "nemesis" bird. Their plumage includes black, white, cinnamon, bars, dots, and lines — a combination so striking it’s hard to describe.

Become familiar with their calls, which may alert you to their presence. Be stealthy, determined, and observant… and you just might be lucky enough to add the Montezuma Quail, once known as the “Harlequin Quail” for its striking plumage, to your Life List!

www.nps.gov/chir

Photos: NPS/K. Wright and NPS

08/26/2026

It’s Beak of the Week Wednesday, and this week’s dramatic star is the Bridled Titmouse!

This little songbird sports a snazzy “do” – a black and gray pointed crest. Together with its black eye and cheek lines and black bib, it’s quite the stylish sort. Usually seen in pairs or small groups, it moves quickly through trees looking for insects and may be seen upside down as it searches for a meal.

At Chiricahua National Monument, look for Bridled Titmice in oak and pine-oak woodlands, especially near water over 5000' elevation. In late summer, family groups may join other woodland birds in mixed-species flocks, flitting through the trees as they search leaves, branches and bark for insects.

They make a variety of rapid, buzzy sounds and short chirps that may sound similar to a chickadee. The Bridled Titmouse is sexually monomorphic, meaning the males and females look alike. You may not be able to tell who’s who, but seeing this snappy, year-round resident is always a treat for the senses.

Join us for a National Park Week wildlife viewing adventure today at 9 am, and we might just find some! https://www.nps.gov/chir/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Photos: NPS/Paula Betts

08/25/2026

One of Chiricahua’s most asked about animals might also be one of its cutest—ever met a coati?

Coatis (“ko‑ah‑tea” or Coatimundi) are part of the raccoon family. They live in Central and South America, and some also live in the mountain ranges of the Southwest. If you’ve visited Chiricahua recently, you may have seen “Coati Crossing” signs along the road. These signs are a reminder to slow down and watch for wildlife. These curious creatures do sometimes play in the road! They are a brown with long balancing tails and bright white around the nose so they are called White‑Nosed Coatis.

Coatis are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They spend their nights in caves or trees and they are good climbers, using those tails for balance. They are omnivores (eating everything) and their flexible snout allows them to root for grubs, flip over rocks for snakes or lizards, or climb those trees in search of bird eggs.

A few visitors have spotted moms with their babies out in the park this month! If you’re lucky enough to spot one while hiking or walking through Chiricahua, remember to respect their space and observe all wildlife from a safe distance. Seeing a coati in the wild is a reward in itself!

Want to learn even more? During National Park Week we’ll be offering a special ranger program all about coatis at 9 am on August 24 at the visitor center.

https://www.nps.gov/chir/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Photos: NPS/Paula Betts

08/19/2026

It’s Beak of the Week Wednesday, and this week’s beaked superstar is the Bewick’s Wren!

A busy, buzzy wren, the Bewick’s is often heard before it is seen. Only the males sing, and they have quite the repertoire – varying notes, buzzes and trills. When you spot this gray and brown bird, you’ll see a barred tail held high, a white eyebrow and a slender dark bill.

Bewick’s Wrens thrive in a variety of habitats, so Chiricahua National Monument is a great place for them. Brush, scrub, open woodlands and streams – the Bewick’s Wren is at home here. In late summer, look and listen for adults and young birds moving through brush and woodland edges as they forage.

They are insectivores, feeding mainly on insects and other small invertebrates, and they nest in cavities, crevices or on ledges. They may raise more than one brood per year! Bewick’s Wrens are sexually monomorphic, which means the males and females look alike.

Use your birding skills to hear and see this charming, year-round resident of Chiricahua!

Join us for a wildlife viewing adventure during National Park Week at 9 am on Wednesday, August 26, and see what other birds we can find! https://www.nps.gov/chir/planyourvisit/calendar.htm



Photos: NPS/P. Betts and K. Wright

08/15/2026

Celebrate National Park Week at Chiricahua National Monument!

Join us as we honor 250 years of America’s stories with special programs throughout the week. Whether you’re curious about wildlife, interested in exploring the Sky Islands, ready to capture the night sky, or looking for a fun day for young explorers—there’s something for everyone!

Monday, August 24 – 9 am, Visitor Center
Curious Coati Talk
Join Ranger Michelle to learn about coatis, one of Chiricahua’s most recognizable mammals.

Wednesday, August 26 – 9 am, Visitor Center
Silver Spur Meadow Walk
Walk a beautiful Juniper–Oak woodland with Ranger Kim. Watch for birds and wildlife and discover plant communities.

Friday, August 28 – 9 pm, Massai Point
Astrophotography Basics
Capture the night sky with Ranger Laren during this hands‑on introduction to astrophotography.

Sunday, August 30 – All Day, Visitor Center
Junior Ranger Day
Check out interactive pop up tables. Learn and earn your badge as you explore the park!

Come celebrate National Park Week with us at Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox Arizona!
https://www.nps.gov/chir/planyourvisit/calendar.htm

Photos 1-3, 5: NPS
Night Sky Photo: courtesy of WNP by Kate Dibildox

08/12/2026

Our Beak of the Week is probably a bird you do not expect to see when you come to Chiricahua National Monument—the Gould's Wild Turkey.

In fact, in the 1990s you may not have seen them here at all. They were hunted nearly to extirpation in Arizona by 1930, but thanks to reintroduction efforts, more than 1,000 were counted in Arizona and New Mexico in 2014.

Now this is a bird that's hard to miss. You may see them wandering through the forests, in a parking lot, or crossing a road (another reason to mind your speed and watch for wildlife). If you're an early riser, you may even spot them high in a tree.

What? Yes, they roost in trees at night, and seeing one fly down from its high perch can be quite the sight. In early summer, you may see little poults following along with a group of females.

Go ahead—plan a visit and add the largest of the wild turkey subspecies to your life list!

Learn more about Chiricahua National Monument at nps.gov/chir.

Photos: NPS/Paula Betts, NPS, NPS/Theresa Ferraro, NPS/Theresa Ferraro

08/05/2026

It's Beak of the Week Wednesday! This week's Beak of the Week is the sharply dressed, vocal hoarder of nuts: the Acorn Woodpecker.

Have you seen this black, white, and red bird in Chiricahua National Monument's oak woodlands? Their distinctive markings and raspy calls can make them easy to spot as they fly between taller trees or make their way up tree trunks. They live in large family groups, so if you see one, there are likely more nearby.

Acorn Woodpeckers are known to store thousands of acorns in trees, creating food caches that help support their family groups throughout the year. They will fiercely defend these caches from intruders such as other birds or squirrels.

Acorn Woodpeckers are here year-round, so watch and listen for them the next time you visit our oak woodlands. Learn more: www.nps.gov/chir

Photos: NPS/Paula Betts

07/30/2026

Beak of the Week: Showcasing the Birds of Chiricahua!

This week we’re starting with one of our most common year-round residents: the Mexican Jay (formerly known as the Gray-breasted Jay). This bright blue bird is a member of the Corvid family, and like all corvids, it is smart, resourceful, and bold.

They look similar to close relatives like the Scrub Jay, but they lack the deeper blue coloring and crest seen in some. Mexican Jays can be loud and rambunctious, and they have a habit of showing up whenever humans dare to have a snack — but please don’t feed them. When wildlife becomes used to people, it can create serious problems for wild creatures.

Watch for that flash of blue weaving through the trees, foraging on the ground, or gathering in small groups. Chiricahua National Monument is one of the few places in the United States — and in the National Park Service — where you can spot this charismatic jay.

Photos: NPS/Paula Betts