There's more to it than just growing your life list - documentation of avian rarities plays a role in understanding the status and distribution of birds and their habitats across the state. From 2003-2023, AZFO solicited and organized a library of rare bird sightings, facilitated review by the Arizona Bird Committee, and invited the public to help enhance our understanding of the region's unique avifauna by submitting observations. Birds included in this library included ABC Review or Sketch Detail species, hybrid birds, birds in unusual plumage, out of season birds, rarities of regional or county interest, and unusual or rarely seen exotics. Bird enthusiasts and researchers were encouraged to use this library to expand their knowledge of exceptional birds and bird species observed in Arizona.

As platforms like eBird and others began to offer more efficient and accessible options for rarity documentation, AZFO ceased to maintain this library. While AZFO is no longer accepting submissions, rare bird sightings can be submitted directly to the Arizona Bird Committee here.

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Scroll down to learn from and enjoy some of the most recent records from the AZFO Photo Documentation Library.