The White Mountains and surrounding areas offer a wide diversity of life zones, from juniper grassland to spruce-fir forest. Nesting species in the higher elevation mixed conifer and spruce-fir forests include Gray Jay, Blue Grouse and Three-toed Woodpecker. The lower areas near Eagar and Springerville often attract interesting migrants in the late summer and fall, as well as some sought after nesters like Gray Catbird, Pinyon Jay and Lewis's Woodpecker. The area's many lakes offer habitat to nesting, migratory and wintering populations of many species of waterfowl. Birding can be good year 'round in the
White Mountain area though the higher elevations are usually impassable due to snow until May.

The Map below is a zone map offering you information regarding birding in Arizona's White Mountains. Simply click on the zone of interest to navigate to narratives regarding the area in question. Click here for an area highway map.

• Zone 1 (Turquoise): Colorado Plateau north of National Forest and White Mountains. Includes: Lyman Lake, St. John's Wastewater Treatment Ponds, Concho Lake, Petrified Forest National Park, the confluence of the Little Colorado River and Silver Creek, and Cholla Lake
• Zone 2 (Salmon): Round Valley and Greer. Includes Wenima Wildlife Area, Becker Lake, South Fork, Greer, Green's Peak (117), Road 273 to Gabaldon Campground.
• Zone 3 (Pink): National Forest South of Eagar. Includes: Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, Nelson Reservoir, Road N2171, Nutrioso, Terry Flat, Luna Lake, Blue River
• Zone 4 (Blue): White Mountain Apache Tribal lands.
• Zone 5 (Yellow): National Forest from Pinetop to Heber. Includes: Fool Hollow, Pintail Lake, Big Springs, and Woodland Lake.