The Willcox Playa Wildlife Area is the focal point of the 35-mile Sulphur Springs Valley Loop. The numerous viewing spots over the Willcox Playa make it an ideal site for bird watching, with migratory species flocking to the area between October and March. When it fills with water, the 28,000-acre basin becomes a habitat for thousands of migratory waterfowl and cranes. The sight of thousands of sandhill cranes taking off from the playa in the early morning draws visitors from all over the world. During the winter, the area is home to between 12 and 15 species of birds of prey, including red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, and bald eagles. Summer wildlife viewing includes turkey vultures, greater roadrunners and Swainson’s hawks, as well as mammals such as javelina, coyotes, bobcats, and mule deer.

555 N. Greasewood Road A, Tucson, AZ 85745, Phone: 520-628-5376

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