The poorly named Olive Warbler is a bird that I enjoy seeing immensely and it bugs me that many views of this handsome warbler are often neck-straining jobs due to its preference for the top of conifers. The U.S. population is mostly confined to the mountains of southeast and central Arizona and west central New Mexico. This adult male was photographed in Carr Canyon, Huachuca Mountains, AZ on June 7, 2006.

In Arizona, Varied Bunting is mostly confined to the southern third and eastern two thirds of the state where it is locally common. Among the places to find this species in SE AZ are California Gulch, Kino Springs, Patagonia Lake SP and the western foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains. In terms of habitat, just look for stuff where you wouldn't want to go -- dense, scrubby and inhospitable. This well worn male was photographed at Patagonia Lake, AZ on September 1, 2005.