Birdwatching in Mexico

Birding contacts and birdwatching information

Local Birdingpal Contacts

Local Birdwatchers Using the Birdingpal resources you must agree to the following: If you contact a local Birdingpal and make arrangement to go birding, you should note it is common courtesy to make sure you show up for the appointment. If for any reason you are unable to do this, the least you must do is contacting the local Pal right away. Please note that most Birdingpals are serious birdwatchers. It is a privilege to contact them, and your message should reflect it. A local Pal does not get paid, but should he/she offer to take you out birding, using their own vehicle, it would be courteous to pay for the fuel. A lunch and/or a small gift would also be appropriate, something as simple as a souvenir of your country, or a pin from your local birding club. _____________________________________________________________ We want to hear about your experiences with Birdingpals. Please contact us with any comments or suggestions you have. CONTACT US _____________________________________________________________
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		T	Brown	La Paz, BCS, Mexico	Anytime	English, with some Spanish
		I have been actively birding for over 40 years, with a huge emphasis on photography. I have lived here on the Baja in Mexico for 7 years now, and have been writing for the birding site 10000birds.com for last year. I contribute photos and stories to several magazines and website. I find it has been a real joy to share the beautiful birds that we have here in Mexico. I do some professional guiding here in the local area, but would be happy to host people from this site. My wife and I will traveling after the first of February 2018 as I will be going thru several continents on my own personal mini big year.		Area: The southern Baja is an amazingly diverse area with Mangrove tidal flats, Desert arroyos, rocky coastal areas, and several fresh water ways that form amazing oasis's. We seen desert species, many warblers, sparrows, shorebirds, herons and egrets. We have a very strong group pf migrants that pass thru the area, on their way to South America and back. Area Birds: Xanthus's Hummingbirds, Gray Thrasher, shorebirds, waders, desert species,	Interests: Nature: birdwatching
		A	Gutierrez	Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur	Weekend	Spanish, English
		K	Kühne	San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas	Anytime	German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, /Chinese
		San Cristobal is in the mountains (at 2100 meters) with the according avifauna, but trips to the rainforest lowlands in Eastern Chiapas or other parts of the state can be planned from here.
		F	Albini	San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas	Anytime	Spanish, English, Italian
		I got interested in birds in 2005 when I went for a walk and accidentally glimpsed a Mountain Trogon, it was a moment that changed my life forever. Birds have now become the most important part of my life and I'm really passionate about them and eager to bird anytime. I'm also a bird illustrator and photographer and hope to make a living with my art in the future. I'd love to go birding with other people who share the same passion, I'm not a professional guide and won't charge you for birding around San Cristóbal but donations are welcome if you consider it appropriate."
		J	Martinez	Colima	Weekend	Spanish, some English
		The best time to come for birding is in the winter, but there are birds all year round.
		E	Lopez	Durango	Anytime	Spanish, English
		I'm a Mexican ornithologist and I'm close to some natural areas like Michilliav, Malaga and Mapimi Biosphera Reserve.
		B	Sharp	Durango	Weekend	Spanish, English
		Durango has much to offer in terms of birds, but remains off the beaten path, in part because of its fame for drug trafficking. I continue to explore new (safe) areas and see new species for the state and county (for me) regularly. Please do contact me if you will be in town. Durango tiene mucho que ofrecer para la observaciïn de aves, pero sigue fuera de la ruta turïstica mïs que nada por la inseguridad. Sigo descubriendo ïreas nuevas (y seguras) y agregando mïs especies nuevas (para mï a mis listas para el estado y municipio de Durango. Contactarme, por favor, si se encuentra en Durango.
		J	Martinez	Durango	Weekend	Spanish, some English
		I am an enthusiastic amateur birder, university professor, and make trips to see birds all weekend. In Durango we can see birds of dry temperate forest of the Sierra Madre Occidental, grassland, and migratory waterfowl.
		R	Padilla	Pachuca(Mexico City), Hidalgo	Weekend	Spanish, English
		Pachuca is 1 hour from the International Airport of Mexico City, with direct bus connections. An excellent choice for a day or a weekend, if you are traveling for business to Mexico City. In the mountains of Pahuca we see Red Warbler and many endemics and migratory warblers, in addition to the Nightingale-thrush Russet, Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Blue-Throated Hummingbird, etc. An hour and a half from Pachuca we have cloud forests with endemic and cuasiendemics species. Three hours we have evergreen forest.
		R	Guerra	Monterrey, Nuevo Leon	Weekend	Spanish, English
		J	Church	La Crucecita, Oaxaca	Anytime	English, Spanish, Swedish
		Huatulco, Oaxaca is noted for its bio diversity. The area is protected and the development theme is based on conservation. I amvsp&spvavid photographer and have been taking photos in the area for the past 4 years. I own a house which I rent when not there myself. It is very close to the park areas and has incredible bird watching from the back deck. The back of the house faces a protected area. The closest national park is Cruz del Monte which is a 20 minute walk from the house to the park entrance. I have been spending about 4 months each year for the past 5 years in Hautulco. For the past 3 years I have been keeping up a website at www.birdsofhuautlco.com
		G	Conti	Patzcuaro, Michoacán	Anytime	English, Spanish, Turkish
		Although I have birded the Morelia-Patzcuaro area for over 10 years, I moved February 2008 to Arocutin, a small village on the west side of Lake Patzcuaro. Before this permanent move, I lived in and seriously birded Seattle, WA and Anchorage, AK. My focus this next year will be to understand more about status and distribution of this area's birds. I'd be happy to answer any questions or show you some of my favorite spots.
		W	Glavind	Mazatlan, Sinaloa (Winter only)	Anytime	English, some Spanish
		There is very good access within 10 mins. of our Marina Condo ,as there are lots of estuaries and farmlands with a good variety of species. My wife and I are like to get out regularly but are not pros. We love travelling and just recently returned from the Yucatan . Our summer residence is in British Columbia, Vancouver area, Canada. Wally.
		M	Armenta	Mazatlan, Sinaloa	Anytime	Spanish, English
		G	Boz-Sepulveda	Cd. Victoria, Tamaulipas	Anytime	Spanish, English
		The Altas Cumbres area located high in the cloud forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental, N.E. Tamaulipas boasts of over 500 types of birds and butterfly some of which only occur in this region. I will be available to small groups of 3 to 5 persons. I am not a professional guide, nor will I charge for the tour. I will only ask you tell a friend and help us to continue to promote the neo-tropics in responsible and sustainable manner, donations always welcome. I have been going to the Cd.Victoria area for over 35 years and do have access to local bird, butterfly, and canopy tour guides. Thank you for your help to protect and preserve these fragile and endangered natural areas.
		A	Dzib	Celestun, Yucatan	Anytime	English, Spanish, French
		I am an avid birder in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas. I have been a birder for more than 15 years.
		A	Palos	Dzemul, Yucatan	Anytime	Spanish, English
		B	Scott	Progreso, Yucatan	Anytime	English, Spanish
		I started birding in my native country, Canada in 1988 and it has been a passion since then. My tropical birding experience started when we moved to the Yucatan in 2003. Since then we have taken 6 extensive birding trips in 7 of the southern states in Mexico. The best birding areas in our immediate vicinity are Dzibilchaltun, Xcambo, Chuburna, Dzilam de Bravo and Aquaparque in Merida. Further afield are Celestun, Chumbec, Uxmal and Rio Lagartos. I have recorded 292 species in the state and 367 species in the peninsula. Within an hour’s drive of my home, I can fairly reliably locate several regional endemics and quasi-endemics such as Yucatan Wren, Mexican Sheartail, Yucatan Bobwhite, Yucatan Jay, Yucatan Flycatcher, and Orange Oriole.
		A	Albright	Winter Haven	Anytime	English, basic Spanish
		On the central Florida flyway during fall migration. Many good habitats nearby.
Professional Guides If you contact a professional Birdingpal guide you must be prepared to pay a fee for guiding services.
		Initial	Last Name	Area	Available	Language
		JesperBay	Jacobsen	Zapopan, Jalisco	Anytime	Danish, English and Spanish
		Whether you only have a few hours to your disposal or are thinking about doing a longer trip I offer you my professional service as guide, driver or tour planner. From the coast to the high volcanoes the beautiful states of Colima and Jalisco have a lot to offer to both the casual and the target oriented birder. More than 600 species have been seen in the area and situated on the Central West Coast of Mexico the region is truly an endemic hotspot. Of all the about 100 endemic species that Mexico hosts, you can see up to 40 only in this restricted area. During a focused one week trip you are likely to see most or all of them, and a total species list around 300 or more can be expected, depending on the time of year. The number of endemics in the Yucatan peninsula is less, about 15, and you're likely to see fewer species in total compared to the Colima-Jalisco area, but what you don't get in species numbers you'll get in pure magic while birding under the Caribbean sky, in between cenotes and overgrown ruins in an endless ocean of jungle. In a week all endemics are almost guaranteed! Please visit my website www.naturewatch.dk to check out my prices and to find out more about all the great birds and places you'll experience when you decide to come. I love birding and have been doing it for almost 30 years. Most of them I have spent in Denmark and Europe, but I have been birding on several continents, and for the last 10 years I've been focusing entirely on Mexico. Identification, listing and photography are my main interests in combination with traveling, and it is always a pleasure to get the opportunity to share my knowledge and enthusiasm with like minded spirits. I'm based in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, and will often be able to do quick trips if you're in town and want to go birding with short notice. Otherwise longer time is normally needed to be able to prepare your trip well. One or the other, you are always welcome to contact me with any question, doubt or comment. Look forward to hear from you!		Area: Colima, Aguascalientes, Jalisco and the Yucatan peninsula Colima La Cumbre Volcanic slope from Ciudad de Colima to Laguna la María Manzanillo area Cuyutlán salt flats Jalisco The volcanos Volcán de Fuego and Nevado de Colima, including areas around Ciudad Guzmán and Laguna Zapotlán Lakes close to Guadalajara including Laguna Atotonilco Lago de Chapala Presa la Vega Presa Huaxtla Birding areas in and close to Guadalajara including Parque Los Colomos Barranca de Huentitán Yucatan peninsula Río Lagartos Cozumel Island Playa del Carmen area Vigía chica road Calakmul Interesting species of the regions: Colima/Jalisco highlights: Balsas Screech-Owl Colima Pygmy-Owl Banded Quail Long-legged Wood-Partridge Eared Poorwill West Mexican Chachalaca Golden-crowned Emerald Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird Flammulated Flycatcher Red-breasted Chat Slaty Vireo Dwarf Vireo Golden Vireo White-striped Woodcreeper Gray-barred Wren Happy Wren Sinaloa Wren Black-capped Gnatcatcher Aztec Thrush Red Warbler Black-chested Sparrow Green-striped Brushfinch Red-headed Tanager, Orange-breasted Bunting Yucatan peninsula highlights Black-throated Bobwhite Ocellated Turkey Yucatan Poorwill Yucatan Nightjar Yucatan Woodpecker Yellow-lored Parrot Yucatan Flycatcher Yucatan Vireo Yucatan Jay Yucatan Wren Black Catbird Green-backed Sparrow Rose-throated Tanager Orange Oriole	Interests: Nature: bird watching
		M	Muriel	Los Cabos, Baja California	Anytime	Spanish, English
		Prior to a pelagic trip Fritz Karger, Doug Koch and myself spent the day around Cabo birding for the Baja endemics with good success. We were guided by Maria Elena Muriel a local guide with a good knowledge of the natural history of the area. If you are going to Cabo E-mail her, the price is very reasonable and promoting the budding local ecotourism business is good for all especially the local birds. In a few hours she found us the three local endemics - Belding’s Yellowthroat, Gray Thrasher and of course the Xantus’s Hummingbird. Maria Elena also leads trips to the mountains for the other Baja endemics. Thanks Kirk Zufelt .- Nature photographer On behalf of the San Diego Audubon Society and the 2013 Bird Festival Committee, I wish to invite you to attend the 2013 San Diego Bird Festival as a workshop presenter. You will present a workshop on Birding Baja & Birding Bilingually. In addition, you are invited to serve as a birding guide on the post-festival Birding the Baja Peninsula trip, March 4 through 13. The trip is operated by Andiamo Tour Mexico and sponsored by the San Diego Audubon Society Sincerely Karen Straus.- Audubon-San Diego bird festival coordinator
		R	Valdes	Monterrey, Nuevo Leon	Anytime	Spanish, English
		Rene Valdes, your local Birdingpal guide Rene Valdes is a field Ornithologist who lives in Monterrey city. He was born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, and it was there, as a teenager that he became involved in bird watching. His first sightings were at an estuary in Mazatlan looking for the deciduous forest’s species. When he moved to Monterrey, he became a specialist on psittacines field research working at both Sierra Madre Oriental and Occidental conducting research on the endangered Thick-billed Parrots and Maroon-fronted Parrots. He is also expert on pine-oak forest bird diversity, and has acquired the knowledge of hot spot locations with many other endangered and endemic bird species over the past 8 years. Some of his rare or out of range bird findings had been published in journals in Mexico. Rene guides birding trips in Monterrey and adjacent areas in northeastern Mexico, and also in Mazatlan and the Durango highway. He also participated as one of the official guides of the 1st Mazatlan Bird Festival, and as well as giving a conference about bird identification. He has become a keen bird photographer.
		E	Eric Antonio Martinez	Oaxaca	Anytime	Spanish, English
		I was born in the village of Teotitlan de Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico. At the age of 8, because of my father's influence, I became interested in nature, birds, and tourism. Ever since then, I have devoted my life to ecology and the wonders of the natural world, especially birds. I have birded and researched birds in Mexico for 13 years. In 2006, I was certified as a federal guide by the Secretary of Tourism in Mexico City. I have also studied archaeology and anthropology. In 2008, I received a scholarship from the Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, Canada, to advance my birding skills. I worked as a field biologist focusing on the migration of passerines, and I honed my skills as a bird bander. In addition I study bird migration in Mexico, work for the Alamos wild lands alliance and the Navopatia Field station in southern Sonora but I also do private bird guiding, I lead bird-watching trips for passengers on cruise ships that dock at Huatulco, Mexico. I also organize and compile data for the Oaxaca Christmas Bird Count. I speak English and I am available for any trips all over Oaxaca and Chiapas.
		Jonathan	Vargas	San Blas, and La Paz, Nayarit, and Baja California Sur	Anytime	Spanish and English
		Hi I'm a biologist by profession specializing in the study and conservation of birds, with more than 8 years of experience monitoring and bird banding. I am from San Blas Nayarit, one of the best places for birding in Mexico, and I know very well this area and all the species around it like San Blas Jay and Purplish-backed Jay, Mexican Woodnymph, Mexican Hermit, Rosy-trush Tanager, Red-breasted Chat, Northern Pauraque, Tufted Jay and many other endemics and migrants. In recent years, I have become a specialized birding guide. I'm interested in birding as an alternative and sustainable use of natural resources, as well as a means of raising awareness and promoting ecological education of Mexico's avifauna. I am currently taking my Master's Degree in Sciences at the University of Baja California Sur, where I am conducting a research project on the effects of human and raptor disturbance on population density and behaviour of shorebirds. Now I'm also guiding in the La Paz area, which is a very good place where you will find the endemic Xanthus Hummingbird and Belding's Yellowthroat, Gray thrasher, Cape-pygmy Owl and the San Lucas Robin, with many other resident and migrants.		Area: San Blas area, La Paz area, Biosfera Reserve Marismas Nacionales Nayarit. Area Birds: San Blas Jay and Purplish-backed Jay, Mexican Woodnymph, Mexican Hermit, Rosy-trush Tanager, Red-breasted Chat, Northern Pauraque, Tufted Jay, Xanthus Hummingbird, Belding's Yellowthroat, Gray thrasher, Cape-pygmy Owl, San Lucas Robin	My main fields of interest are: Birding, of course, but also I'm interesting on shorebird ecosystem monitoring and banding, as well as the reproductive biology of shorebirds and waterfowl.
		L	Ku	Cancun, Riviera Maya in Q. Roo, Yucatan	Anytime	Spanish, English
		Luis was born in Yucatan and studied in the University of Yucatan. He worked for 17 years in the Botanical Garden, ”Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marin” of Puerto Morelos. Luis is a specialist birding guide and one of the most experienced and qualified specialist in the Yucatan Peninsula, Luis has been guiding biologists, bird lovers and other specialists in the field. As a birder he has spent the last 20 years searching for the best places to find birds around the Yucatan Peninsula.
		E	Canul	Rio Lagartos, Yucatan	Anytime	Spanish, English
		Elmer was born in the state of Yucatan in 1973, studied at a local school in the community of Rio Lagartos. He became interested in birds because of the enormous diversity of birdlife in the area. He began working with some local expert birders and in time became an expert, himself , in the bird life around Rio Lagartos. He has guided many international visitors to Rio Largartos Bisosphere Reserve and is always happy to show off his local patch to birders from around the world. He has guided a number of famous bird watchers from the States and elsewhere and is well known in the birding community.
		V	Prado	Sayulita, Nayarit	Anytime	Spanish, English
		Vidal Prado is a professional birder born in San Blas that lives in a village near Sayulita with his family. He is a young, enthusiastic and experienced specialist that can arrange and guide professional birding tours to nearby locations around Sayulita, including the world famous birding spot San Blas and the San Pancho estuary. Vidal founded Sayulita Bird Watching Tours to help bird lovers experience the real Sayulita and all that this beautiful region offers; including a spectacular hike to Cerro del Mono (Mounkey Mountain), where you’ll find stunning views of the Riviera Nayarit jungle countryside and the Pacific Ocean in all directions. The village of San Francisco (locally known as San Pancho) is located on the coast, just north of Sayulita. The estuary is a lovely, enchanting place, and any visitor to Sayulita should plan on at least taking one day trip up to San Pancho to enjoy the town streets, shops, restaurants, and bars, as well as the beach. Vidal offers a special package tour of La Tovara park, an extensive mangrove forest and federally protected nature preserve accessible by small boats, located in the best birdwatching area in Riviera Nayarit: San Blas. The port of San Blas is renowned as the most popular birdwatching destination in Mexico. Let Vidal Prado create your perfect Riviera Nayarit bird watching tour. Call him at (322) 173-4978 or (322) 159-8865, or email him at info@sayulitabirdwatching.com. For further information please visit Vidal’s website www.sayulitabirdwatching.com and his Facebook fan page www.facebook.com/sayulitabirdwatching.
		Miguel	Amar-Uribe	Tulum	Anytime	English, Spanish
		I have been guiding in archaeological sites and nature reserves in the Yucatan for the past 10 years. In the last six years I have guided many satisfied birders with the company I work with (MEXICO KAN TOURS) in Sian Ka´an around Muyil. I am very interested also in mesoamerican archaeology, nature and sustainable living. In my tours I like to give visitors interesting information about the area with birds as the main topic.		Area: Tulum Area Birds:	Interests: Birdwatching, hiking, gardening, sustainable living, biking, kayaking, canoeing, archaeology and music. MEXICO KAN TOURS AT´N MIGUEL AMAR CARR 307, AV. TULUM FRENTE A POLICIA FEDERAL 52 984 140 7870
Local Information
		Service			Information
		Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia			Mexico
		Local weather			Yahoo
		Sociedad Audubon de Mexico			Club
		Ornitológica de México			Latest Sights
		Lagunas Encantadas in Nayarit			Festival
		Komchén Bird Sanctuary Yucatan			Sites
		Bruce Walsh's			Butterflies
		Birding Hotspots around the world			Sites

Last update 28/03/2014