Birding in Central Mexico

28 June - 26 July 2002

Samuel Hansson

Travelers: Stefan Andersson, Samuel Hansson, Lars Petersson and Tommy Thorén, Sweden.

Introduction

When suggesting a birding trip to Mexico in June-July to some fellow birders, I was met by skepticism. Wasn't it too hot? Shouldn't birds be quiet and hard to find? An overwhelming majority of foreign birders go to Mexico in February-April, true, but I was convinced that it had to be good in summer too. Besides, as a teacher it's the only time of the year when you can get more than 2 weeks off. So, I stood on my feet and finally got Lars hooked on the idea. Later he got Stefan and Tommy interested, and all of a sudden we had a full car!

When planning the trip I mostly used Steve N. G. Howell's excellent “A Bird-Finding Guide to Mexico”, along with his field guide and some intuition. Even so, it was a bit hard to decide how long to stay at different sites and how to judge the time needed for certain transports. Our route proved to be feasible for a four week journey, though a few extra days would have been much appreciated and would probably also have filled some annoying gaps in our list.

How did we end up then? Quite good, I must say, and certainly good enough to make all skeptics become believers. In four weeks at the peak of summer, we managed to find 458+ species including most of the endemics possible along the route. In some parts of the country, particularly the western lowlands, it could be slow, but on the whole activity was good. Hummingbirds were very scarce in some areas but common in others (depending on the availability of flowers), resulting in some seasonally common hummers missed. Our raptor list is a bit embarrassing, but since we all had seen most or all possible species before, we didn't make any effort to find them.

Since summer is the rainy season in much of Mexico we encountered rain every single day except one. Usually it came as showers (a few times as heavy cloudbursts) in late afternoon, evening or at night, but it rarely interfered seriously with our birding. Photographing could be hard though, since it often was overcast. Temperatures in highlands were very pleasant, while in coastal lowlands of course hot and humid. Besides generally good birding and many times stunning nature there were lots of other things to study, particularly butterflies in huge numbers and flowering plants, including some cacti.

Mexico is a country in rapid development, and nature conservation will probably not be of highest priority in the future. Most birding sites we visited were still in good shape, despite most of them being more or less non-protected. In some parts of the country we drove through vast tracts of undisturbed habitat, much larger areas than I had imagined before our travel. This could change sooner than we might think, but I hope that I can return within a few years and still be able to enjoy Mexico's wonderful nature at its best.

Samuel Hansson
Prästgårdshöjden 10 C
59431 Gamleby, Sweden
samuelhansson at hotmail.com

E-mail addresses of the other participants:

Lars Petersson: lars.p at telia.com

Stefan Andersson: ludde.x at telia.com

Summary of the Journey

28/6 Gothenburg-Amsterdam-Mexico City. Night in Cuernavaca south of the capital.

29/6 La Cima in the morning. After a creepy accident and some waiting for a new car, roadside birding between Huitzilac-Santa Martha. Afternoon at Almoloya del Río marshes. Night in Temasaltepec.

30/6 Temasaltepec. Long drive to Chilpancingo in the Balsas drainage.

1/7 Sierra de Atoyac, N. slope, Milpillas to Cerro de los Bravos. Camping above town.

2/7 Sierra de Atoyac, N. slope. Drive to Acapulco, where staying the night.

3/7 Morning in Acapulco. Afternoon in Sierra de Atoyac, S. slope. Night in Paraíso.

4/7 Sierra de Atoyac, S. slope. Transport to Lazaro Cardenas farther north along the coast.

5/7 Continued transport due north, reaching Volcán de Fuego, Colima, in the afternoon and setting camp near the microondas at km 12.7.

6/7 Volcán de Fuego most of the day. Also an evening trip to La Cumbre. Night in Colima.

7/7 Morning along the road between Colima-La Maria. Afternoon birding along Playa del Oro Road. Night in Cihuatlán between Manzanillo and Barra de Navidad.

8/7 Morning at Barranca del Choncho. Transport to Tepic, where staying the night.

9/7 Morning at Cerro de San Juan, early afternoon at El Mirador del Aguila and evening near San Blas where staying for two nights.

10/7 Failed to find La Bajada, though rained all early morning. Lower Singayta in late morning and a very nice boat trip in the afternoon/evening.

11/7 Early morning spent near San Blas, then transport to lower parts of Durango Highway. First night of two at hotel Villa Blanca in La Capilla del Taxte.

12/7 Barranca Rancho Liebre, La Petaca Road, Panuco Road.

13/7 Morning at km 250-265. After that continued drive along Durango Highway with several stops between km 178 and km 45. In the evening we drive through Durango and end up at Guadalupe Victoria north of the city.

14/7 Improvised birding between Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé. From late morning on transport eastwards toward Presa el Tulillo. Night in Saltillo.

15/7 Morning at Tanque de Emergencia. After that we drive to Cola de Caballo via Monterrey, ending up at the Highrise where camping.

16/7 Morning around the Highrise and San José de las Boquillas. Long transport to El Naranjo, San Luis Potosí. First of two nights here.

17/7 El Naranjo.

18/7 Morning near El Naranjo. Transport to Tecolutla via Tampico/Tuxpan.

19/7 Morning at Tecolutla. Transport to Colonia Francisco Barrios where birding at midday. Afternoon birding at Las Barrancas east of Veracruz. Night in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca.

20/7 Valle Nacional. We stay the night in Valle Nacional town.

21/7 Valle Nacional. Birding mostly at upper elevations, continuing to Oaxaca with many stops on the way. First night of two in Oaxaca.

22/7 Monte Albán in the morning, Route 175 in late afternoon.

23/7 Morning at Teotitlán del Valle. Birding en route to Tehuantepec. Transport to Puerto Arista, Chiapas.

24/7 Morning at Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo. Late morning and midday in the Arriaga foothills. Afternoon transport to Piedra Blanca in the middle of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where we stay the night. Evening birding along the Uxpanapa Road.

25/7 Morning at Uxpanapa Road. Transport to Córdoba. Evening birding at Amatlán.

26/7 Morning at Amatlán. Transport to Mexico City, where birding briefly in Bosque de Tlalpan in the afternoon. Our flight home leaves at 21.30.

27/7 Five hours of waiting in Amsterdam, arriving in Gothenburg 21.20.

Site Notes

As I wrote in the introduction, Howell's “A Bird-Finding Guide to Mexico” is an excellent book, making life as a traveling birder in Mexico rather easy (certainly a lot easier than before its publication). Thus I'm not making any detailed site accounts since they're all in that book. You will find notes concerning apparent changes over the last few years, some clarifications of things written in the book, comments about summer conditions and much more. A few sites discovered en route between the major birding sites have also been added. I hope that anyone going to Mexico for birding will have use of the notes.

When using Howell's book, be prepared that the odometer figures can be slightly different compared between the book and your car, so don't stare yourself blind on exact hundreds of meters (which is easier said than done).

Tres Marias / Huitzilac – Santa Martha (Morelos / México)

This stretch of road is mentioned briefly for en route birding when going to the Almoloya del Río marshes (site 8-8) from La Cima (site 8-4). The fir forests and scenery along this road are beautiful. We stopped a few times and found nice species like Strickland's Woodpecker, Red Warbler and Green-striped Brush-Finch, none of them mentioned in the book. [JWW note: The Birds of Mexico City by Richard G. Wilson & Hector Ceballos-Lascurain (2d ed. 1993) is the essential reference for the Mexico City/Cuernavaca area.]

The Sierra de Atoyac, N. slope (Guerrero)

The junction at Milpillas (the Milpillas sign is visible only if you come from the north) is signed for Filo de Caballo, not Xochipala, as assumed in the book. In the species list I refer to Xochipala for most birds seen in the lower parts, which means between km 3-18.

The lumber camp at km 60.7 was inactive and served as an excellent camp site, one of very few suitable camp sites along the road. Besides, the surrounding forest is very good for birding. The road from Cerro de los Bravos and farther on was in good condition as far as we went. We found our White-throated Jays perhaps 5 kilometers from the camp site, along with Garnet-throated Hummingbirds and others.

This general area could be birded on public transport, since minibuses seemed frequent all the way up to the cloud forests. There are however probably no hotels, so it's a must to bring a tent.

The Sierra de Atoyac, S. Slope (Guerrero)

To find the right road going up into the Sierra ask for directions in Atoyac. There is a basic hotel by the zócalo in Paraíso (75 pesos for a small room with a double bed), 45 kilometers above Atoyac, which is good to use as a base for birding at higher elevations.

The road toward Nueva Delhi was in a bad but drivable condition, shaky and time consuming to drive if only for a few kilometers. It was impossible to get to Arroyo Grande (at least by car) since a bridge near the junction had collapsed, but it was under reconstruction. If you pass the “La Pintada 8” sign with perhaps 500 meters the main road bends sharply to the right and another road goes straight on. We drove a few hundred meters on this road and continued on foot through shade coffee plantations. Here we had a female Short-crested Coquette and 2-3 White-tailed Hummingbirds. A couple of kilometers farther ahead along the main road the birding was nice, with lots of hummers (especially White-tails). Both the Coquette (another female) and White-tailed Hummingbirds were also found on the way back towards Atoyac, between Paraíso and San Vicente.

Western Thorn Forests

The thorn forest sites from the book that we visited (7-2, 7-4) had rather slow birding, though the Playa del Oro road was visited only in the afternoon. Since we drove all the way from Acapulco to San Blas more or less close to the coast, we passed through large tracts of undisturbed thorn forest. These forests should hold the same species as the sites in the book (indeed we saw quite a few species at short stops, but didn't work on i.e. Red-breasted Chat and Rosy Thrush-Tanager, two of our most hurting dips). The only difference is that the birding must take place more or less from the highway, where traffic, however, often can be light in remoter areas.

Microondas La Cumbre (Colima)

This site (7-10) is easily reached from Colima City in 20-25 minutes. There is now no sign for “La Cumbre” at the junction. Instead there is a gate which at our visit was unlocked but guarded by three fairly noisy, yet “non-violent” dogs. We opened the gate and went all the way to the top of the hill (the microwave station was probably manned, so we left rather quickly to avoid [at least imagined] trouble). A Buff-collared Nightjar was seen very well on the road. No Balsas Screech-Owl could be heard, and we got no response when trying play-back. Probably it's a tough bird to get this time of the year.

Ciudad Colima to La Maria (Colima)

The entrance fee to the Laguna La Maria is now 8 pesos. The forest here is of limited access, and most or all species should be found also by the road. However, this is where we saw the only Mexican Parrotlets of the trip, and Sinaloa Martin is a possibility. Our Slaty Vireo (fabulous bird!) was found at km 15.5.

San Blas (Nayarit)

The highlight of our sweaty visit to San Blas was undoubtedly the boat ride on the Tovara river. Beautiful and relaxing, though we missed Mangrove Vireo. We started out at 17.15 and returned at 21.30. Our boatman, Oscar Partida (mentioned in the book), was very good and knowledgeable. His only misidentification was that of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl which he called Colima Pygmy-Owl – probably he got that from some misidentifying birder. Price: 600 pesos.

Both the lower and upper Singaytas felt boring and sweaty with far too many mosquitoes. Probably not a good time of the year, but we also lost much attention due to these obstacles.

We couldn't find La Bajada (site 6-2) at all, at least not the coffee plantations mentioned in the book. Follow the directions very thoroughly, and perhaps you will have better luck than we had – there is a maze of roads leading to all kinds of plantations. It didn't look especially good in the general area, so it's possible that farther habitat destruction has taken place in recent years.

Durango Highway (Sinaloa / Durango)

It seems like the Pacific slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental along the Durango Highway has undergone some rapid development over the last few years. New houses were under construction here and there, and there are now many hotels and restaurants to chose among. Recent habitat destruction is obvious in the lower parts, especially around km 260-245 and along side roads. The upper parts of the highway are still totally forested, and offers splendid scenery.

The description of the Barranca Rancho Liebre area in Howell need some clarification. First, the trailhead is at km 201.5, not at 200.5, and there is no restaurant in business (though two houses present). When you get to the overlook of the barranca, look for an obvious trail to your left. This trail is in excellent condition and wind down the side of the valley for a couple of kilometers before it turns into a small zig-zaging trail that probably continues far down into the valley. Tufted Jays can be found anywhere. We found a group more or less immediately right by the highway at the trailhead. We couldn't find any of the rare species, though we were a bit unlucky with foggy conditions most of the morning, at least in the barranca itself.

Military Macaws were found at the Barranca Rancho Liebre (1-2 birds heard), the Barranca Rancho Liebre trailhead (4 birds overflying), km 178 (4 birds at a large, obvious outcrop) and at km 185 (single bird in flight). Judging from our brief visit, the Military Macaw seems to be fairly common in the area during summer!

Just past El Salto there was a nice small pond surrounded by lush meadows on the south side of the road. Here we found an interesting mix of wetland birds, including surprises like Blue-winged Teal, Black Tern and Yellow-headed Blackbird.

At about kilometer 45 the highway crosses a beautiful small canyon. We parked just before the bridge (on the west side) and walked down a road to the left that paralleled the stream. This was one of the most idyllic places we visited in Mexico. It looked perfect for White-throated Flycatcher, but we could only find Buff-breasted Flycatchers. We also had Common Black-Hawk and Evening Grosbeak, the latter apparently a good species to see in Mexico.

Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé (Durango)

Since we had no described site anywhere near Durango we made some improvised birding along the old highway between Durango and Torreón. Stops along the roadside and walks on a few trails in various habitats gave i.e. Scaled Quail, Verdin, Cactus and Bewick's Wren, Phainopepla, Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak, Botteri's and Black-throated Sparrows, Western Meadowlark, Orchard Oriole and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Greater Roadrunners were seen just after we had entered the cuota highway near Cuencamé.

La Rosa (Coahuila)

A self-discovered site for Cave Swallow. La Rosa is a village between Saltillo and Presa El Tulillo (site 3-2) on the old highway toward Torreón, 12 kilometers from the junction with the cuota highway. At least 10-15 birds were seen over the village, where they probably breed.

Tanque de Emergencia / Hedionda Grande (Coahuila)

We couldn't bird this area (site 3-3) properly because of heavy rains that made the Tanque de Emergencia road very muddy. We made it almost as far as the water tank at km 8 (which by the way is on the south side of the road, not the north side), and walked the last few hundred meters. After an hour of walking in the fenced area north of the road at this point we found a pair of Worthen's Sparrows in the transition zone between open short grass and low scrub. Black-tailed Jack Rabbits and Eastern Cottontails were fairly common here.

We also drove a few kilometers on the road toward Hedionda Grande, stopping a few hundred meters beyond the railroad crossing to check a scrubby area to the north. Here we found Crissal Thrasher and many of the more common desert scrub species. There flora here was very nice with lots of flowers and cacti.

Cola de Caballo / Highrise / San José de las Boquillas (Nuevo León)

This area (site 3-1) was simply wonderful, with beautiful forests and very impressing mountain walls all over. Besides, we were very lucky with the birds.

We started our birding in the area 4.5 kilometers from the highway turn-off, El Refugio, where we walked through the little village on the left side of the stream. Here we took the first right turn, and then immediately to the left where the street ended up in a trail leading to a dry river bed. Along this walk we saw most species mentioned in the book for the lower parts of the area, including Crimson-collared Grosbeak.

At km 42, the primary site for Maroon-fronted Parrot in Howell, there is an excellent camp site. Other suitable camp sites seemed very scarce. From here we had some parrots and also heard Spotted Owl during the night.

Along the road toward Los Lirios/San José de las Boquillas, Colima Warblers are supposed to be common in summer. We thought they would be more common farther down, so we hardly stopped up here, but we did have excellent views of a pair of Montezuma Quails on the way down and a Greater Roadrunner coming back! Apparently Colima Warblers are quiet by mid-July but easy to see if imitating a Mountain Pygmy-Owl. We only saw one Colima Warbler just beyond San José village, but in that area we also found lots of Maroon-fronted Parrots, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Lucifer and Blue-throated Hummingbirds, Black-chinned Sparrow, Pine Flycatcher and many more.

Colonia Francisco Barrios (Veracruz)

Sadly the small remnant area of thorn forest described in the book (site 10-4) has been almost completely destroyed, and it looked as if the conversion into cropland/pasture was quite recent (perhaps only a few months). Only a tiny strip of “forest” remained 2-300 meters from the road, and some additional thorn scrub was found in the pasture mentioned for km 6-6.5. We entered this pasture, and to our delight we found 3 Mexican Sheartails (one male was actively displaying) after only a short walk. So, despite severe habitat destruction, some birds still hang around. But for how long? I recently learned that the Veracruz population is estimated at 2000-2500 birds and that the species now is legally protected in Mexico (Raúl Ortiz-Pulido, personal comment).

Las Barrancas (Veracruz)

An excellent site (10-5) for savanna birds. According to the book there is a railroad crossing two kilometers from the highway. This is not the case. There is no railway to find at all, but there is a road heading to the right at this point. After a few hundred meters along this road there is a small area of short grass where we found the Double-striped Thick-knees. If you continue straight from the junction you drive through good savanna and get to some nice wetlands after a couple of kilometers.

Valle Nacional

Valle Nacional is situated at km post 46 rather than 40, otherwise the kilometer markings in the book are accurate. The following species that we found are not noted on the already extensive list in the book: Green-breasted Mango, Mexican Antthrush and Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet.

Sites near Oaxaca City

We found most of the Oaxaca/Balsas endemics around Oaxaca, but felt that song activity among several species was poor. We couldn't locate any Dwarf Vireo (other than a skulker probably of this species that came in after playback), a species supposed to be rather conspicuous when singing. We didn't make much of an effort to see Beautiful Hummingbird, but probably it's absent in summer anyway. Conclusion: a bit late in the season, but most species should be found with moderate effort.

The Oaxaca side of Sierra de Juárez (site 11-7 - Valle Nacional is on the Atlantic slope) seemed full with birds. We did several stops mainly in brushy habitat to search for Hooded Yellowthroat. We couldn't locate any yellowthroats but found several goodies like Dwarf Jay, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Black Thrush and Red Warbler instead.

Oaxaca City to Tehuantepec (Oaxaca)

Birding along this highway (site 11-12) can be very productive. We birded in between showers and didn't have too much time as we wanted to get all the way to Puerto Arista before nightfall. The recommended sites at km 77 (Lesser Roadrunner, Gray-breasted Woodpecker and Bridled Sparrow) and 123 (Sumichrast's Sparrow) proved to be good, but it seemed to be the wrong season for hummers. Green-fronted Hummingbirds are supposed to be common parts of the year. We only saw two unidentified fly-by hummers during the whole day, despite specific searches for hummingbirds.

Arriaga foothills (Chiapas)

We only visited this site (12-2) for about two hours during midday. Much of the forest here was in a good condition, but the immediate presence of the road (with rather heavy traffic) was disturbing. The main target bird, Rose-bellied Bunting, was very easy to see. Several males were singing, and others responded strongly to the imitation of a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, as did Banded Wrens. Just make sure you get above 200 meters in undisturbed thorn forest, and you shouldn't have any problem finding the beauties.

Uxpanapa Road (Oaxaca / Veracruz)

This area (site 10-7), as predicted by Howell, has undergone some radical changes the last few years. The few forest patches that are left are severely fragmented. Just beyond the bridge at km 17.5, where Howell's map show an extensive forest patch, there is now a rather sizeable village! The main area around km 36-38 is still relatively good looking, though undoubtedly some habitat destruction has taken place here as well. Uxpanapa road thus has become a much less attractive birding site than it used to be. To make things worse we had rainy and gloomy weather…

The target bird of this site, the Nava's Wren, is luckily still present as we heard a singing bird on one of the limestone outcroppings just by the road. The road condition is good as far as the bridge, after that it becomes coarse gravel (muddy in places). A road toll of 5 pesos has to be paid at about km 30. It's easy to miss the crossroad in Boca del Monte. Look for a yellow sign that foretells a crossroad. At the junction, look for a rusty arch (100 m away) that, with some imagination, tells about Uxpanapa.

Cuota Highways

The new toll highways connecting many of the major cities in Mexico are generally in a very good condition and allow you to travel a lot faster than on the truck-and-topes-infected free highways. The only drawback is that you have to pay quite a lot of money to drive on the toll roads, especially when driving around like we did. The Guia Roji road atlas has detailed information about the cuota highways, including more or less accurate prices on tolls. These were the prices on the major toll roads used on our trip:

México-Acapulco: c. 470 pesos (6 toll stations)

Manzanillo-Ciudad Guzmán: 134 pesos (2 stations)

Durango-Monterrey: 340 pesos (6 stations)

Acayucan (east of Veracruz)-México: 500 pesos (8 stations)

Accommodation and food

Hotels are readily found in any town, even in many small ones. You pay by the room, which typically has one or two not-too-wide double beds. A normal price for a double at a cheap hotel is 150-200 pesos. We usually took two double rooms, since the beds are small and it gets quite tight with four people and all the luggage in a small room. Sometimes there were 4-bed rooms for 300-350 pesos. In many cities it was hard to get two doubles for less than 400. There was often a considerable jump in prices at middle-class hotels.

Restaurants were more expensive than expected. A standard meal (often the cheapest meals of the menu: Pollo asado con papas, Bistec a la Mexicana etc.) usually cost 30-40 pesos, and seafood 45-70 pesos. Pizzas were very good but expensive. A good idea is to share a grande, which is c. 40-45 pesos per person. To these prices you have to add beverage. The food was often served with fresh salad and tomatoes. In some countries those ingredients are better avoided, but it should be generally rather safe to eat fresh vegetables in Mexico. I got a bad stomach after two weeks of the trip, but it could have been caused by almost anything.

Diary

28/6 We met at Landvetter Airport near Gothenburg in the morning for our first flight to Amsterdam. In Amsterdam we had to wait for more than 5 hours, so we got better acquainted, talked about birds and our expectations, waited, walked around, waited… Finally we got on the plane to Mexico City, a flight that lasted for 11 hours. We took a surprisingly northerly route, passing over arctic Canada and the Great Lakes. Since I had a bad knee (which would hold on through the trip), I had an aisle seat, but to my delight I could still get glimpses of icebergs and a perfect view of Whitefish Point, Michigan, where I worked as a volunteer bander in the fall of 1994. We arrived in Mexico City at about 19.00. Everything went smooth after landing. We got our luggage, found a cooperating ATM-machine, bought a road atlas and got our rental car, a Chrysler Malibu, from Alamo. By 20.30 we were on our way toward Cuernavaca south of the capital. We managed to find our way through the bustling metropolis and onto the highway without any problems and arrived in Cuernavaca at 22.30. We soon found a reasonably priced hotel, and after a short food-shopping walk it was definitely bed time.

29/6 I woke up rather early to the sound of rain dashing to the roof. Not the most pleasant music I could imagine at the moment… It still drizzled when the alarm clock went on, but it was just a bit foggy when we left the city to go to our first birding site La Cima. We arrived at the break of dawn and had breakfast to the sounds of unknown birds. When it got a little bit lighter I got my first glimpse of a Striped Sparrow, a species that would prove to be very common here. It was followed by a Yellow-eyed Junco jumping on the ground. We drove a bit farther down the dirt road and parked safely. A Brown-backed Solitaire sang at a nearby slope while we started to walk out into the rock-strewn, wet bunch grass with single or groups of pines here and there. Striped Sparrows were everywhere, Violet-green Swallows flew back and forth and we found a few other species like Pygmy Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Eastern Meadowlark and Black-headed Grosbeak. We climbed over a small hill, and from here I heard a suspect song. A bit of scanning, and there it was – a Sierra Madre Sparrow! We could all watch it well in Luddes (Stefans) scope. Great start! Apparently we had entered prime Sierra Madre habitat, and we found at least four more birds. I even got photos of one individual. Western Bluebird, Greater Pewee and White-eared Hummingbird were some of the other species seen before heading toward the next site, Almoloya del Río. In the village of Huitzilac we took a wrong turn and drove down a steep slope to the Cuernavaca road. Shortly after we'd turned to go back a really creepy thing happened. A van in front of us pulled the brake, and so of course did we – except that there suddenly were no brakes! BANG! We bumped into the rear of the van, and bang! – hit it once more before our car stopped. Pretty shaken, we stepped out to inspect the damage. Not that bad. The van had some small buckles, but our car looked a bit worse. The driver of the van spoke perfect English, but since he couldn't get much out of us at once and since the damage to his car was minor, he just left! We got back into the car and crept carefully uphill back to Huitzilac. There were still NO brakes except for the parking brake. Had this happened just a few minutes before, we would probably have been delivered to Sweden in coffins! In Huitzilac we called Alamo, and it took a long time of explaining before they understood/believed (?) what had happened, but they promised to send us a new car. We waited for 3 hours. During that time we got some food and watched the few birds just nearby (including Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer). The new car arrived, this time a Volkswagen Jetta, and off we went. We made a few stops in the cool pine/fir forests along the road, and were rewarded with stunning Red Warblers, 1 Crescent-chested Warbler, 1 Strickland's Woodpecker, 1 Green-striped and 5 Rufous-capped Brush-Finches and 1 Peters's Squirrel. At Almoloya del Río our target species was the very local Black-polled Yellowthroat. After a couple of hours we had finally seen one male well and seen/heard a few others briefly. Wetland birds were few, but Song Sparrows were on the other hand abundant. Via Toluca we continued our journey (Lars feeling sick on the way and ultimately puked) and ended up in Temascaltepec at dusk, where we searched for a hotel in vain in the town. The only hotel to find was just before town, and here we got 4 beds in three rooms for 300 pesos. Eating spicy tacos ended this in many ways eventful day.

30/6 We started our second birding day at the beginning of the El Polvorín loop, and found some of the more common species that nevertheless were new to (at least some of) us, i.e. Blue Mockingbird, Canyon and Happy Wrens, Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush (common) and Flame-colored Tanager. After a while we headed back to watch for swifts, and got nice views of 1 Black and 3 White-naped as well as more numerous Chestnut-collared and Vaux's Swifts. We also had our first Rusty Sparrow. Returning to El Polvorín loop we continued to bird the drier lower parts, adding species like Thick-billed Kingbird and Ladder-backed Woodpecker. Soon the road became a rather bad but mostly dry gravel road. When entering pine-oak forest we encountered Cordilleran Flycatcher, Spotted and Gray-barred Wrens, Blue-hooded Euphonia and Grace's Warbler, and at the highest part along the loop we heard a White-striped Woodcreeper and had a nice view of 2 Black-headed Siskins. The time was already 13.30 when we fulfilled the loop, so we headed straight for Toluca. Just south of the city we had tasty but expensive pizzas, before continuing to Cuernavaca and on to the cuota highway toward Acapulco. The scenery soon changed into rolling hills and mountains covered with thorn forest and columnar cacti, and the temperature rose considerably the farther down we got. We took a well needed brake at the mirador where the highway cross the Río Balsas, with the sun making a beautiful setting in between clouds and canyon slopes. At nightfall we arrived to our final destination for the day, Chilpancingo. We found a suitable hotel after some driving around the city center, but finding bread, fruit etc. was more difficult. I took a walk on my own by the zócalo and watched a performance with a local dance group for a while, before returning to the hotel and some sleep.

1/7 We started out early to have a chance on Balsas Screech-Owl at Milpillas. Driving was a bit hazardous, because fallen rocks were plentiful on the road. We missed our junction since I didn't recognize the name signed, and when we finally got it right the dawn was well under way. Instead of the Screech-Owl, a Great Horned Owl called nearby. When it got lighter we saw our first handsome Black-chested Sparrows, Streak-backed Orioles and a Varied Bunting in the scrub-and-cacti-clad landscape. At our next stop we discovered that we had a flat tyre. Great... While changing the tyre both a White-lored Gnatcatcher and a Boucard's Wren made quick appearances. Then we discovered that another tyre had too little air in it. Splendid!… A man in a passing car assured us that there was a vulcanizadora in Xochipala 8 km away. Good enough! We didn't want to spoil all morning, so we birded our way to Xochipala seeing Orange-fronted Parakeets, Russet-crowned Motmot, Orange-breasted Bunting (stunning!), Banded Wrens (mostly heard) and more Black-chested Buntings. In Xochipala we couldn't get much help, so we went back to the highway and another vulcanizadora. Our spare tyre was fixed, the leaking one seemed rather OK. We had lunch before heading for the Sierra de Atoyac again, not stopping until we had passed Xochipala with a few kilometers. It was quite hot, but we made some stops and managed to find Northern Yellow Grosbeak and Black-vented Oriole as well as lots of butterflies for me to try to photograph. We drove through most of the pine-oak belt without stopping and drove all the way to Cerro de los Bravos (km 59). Here it was nice and cool and lots of birds, including Russet Nightingale-Thrushes, 1 Chestnut-sided Shrike Vireo, c. 10 Olive Warblers and a female Amethyst-throated Hummingbird. A lumber camp nearby was abandoned and served as an excellent camp site. We put up the tents and birded in the clearing before trying our luck a bit farther along the road. The evening was fairly quiet but we found i.e. 2 Mountain Trogons, 2 Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercers, 1 Collared Towhee, lots of Chestnut-capped Brush-Finches and 6 Golden-browed Warblers. Singing Quails were heard. A Mottled Owl called just before bedtime.

2/7 In the middle of the night it started raining. Moderately at first but after a while heavily, hammering loudly on our tents. We could only hope it wouldn't get too nasty. After the rain had stopped I went out to pee. Our tent was standing in a shallow puddle! Anyway, we did fine the rest of the night and woke up to the songs of Solitaires and Nightingale-Thrushes. We got up, and drove a bit along the road. Bird activity was much better than last evening, and it didn't take long before I heard something suspicious. Lars confirmed my suspicions when soon spotting 2 White-throated Jays, our primary target here. Wonderful birds indeed! The morning also gave us 4 Garnet-throated Hummingbirds, Long-tailed Wood-Partridge and White-throated Quail-Dove heard, Emerald Toucanet and Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush. We packed our wet tents rather early and headed down to the pine-oak forests where we found relatively few new species, Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow being the most interesting. We didn't stop in the lower parts, but continued to Chilpancingo and the Acapulco highway. We wanted to change the car in Acapulco, since the Jetta is a smaller car than the Malibu we had from the beginning. It turned out that we had paid for a car of Jetta-size, but had gotten the larger Malibu instead... However, we would have had to go to Acapulco anyway, because suddenly we lost the left rear view mirror! This was the result of insufficient attention and a very fast car that came from behind. The other driver just hurried on, but luckily the only damaged part of our car was the mirror. Two accidents and a flat tyre in four days was just too much. Just unbelievable! Shaken once more, we drove to the airport in Acapulco. After long discussions here we were sent to the main office in downtown Acapulco. As I've already written they couldn't give us another car, but a new mirror would come overnight from Mexico City. The staff was helpful and found us a very reasonably priced hotel (150 p/p). To stay the night in Acapulco was not an original plan, but it turned out rather nice. We went to McDonald's for hamburgers, found a real supermarket and at least I visited an internet café. We even had an air-conditioned room to keep the humid heat away…

3/7 Before going to Alamo I went down to the beach to take some photos. A man tried to sell me silver necklaces and bracelets for 250 pesos at the beginning, and ultimately for a hundred (or was it even less?). I had to leave him disappointed. We arrived at Alamo around 9 o'clock. The mirror had arrived, and an hour later we could continue our journey. Mysterious signing delayed us maybe half an hour, but at least we got to see more of Acapulco in that way. We arrived in Atoyac at noon, and found a nice restaurant. A very popular restaurant too, we soon realised - it took an hour before we got any food. After lunch we started the climb (a minibus driver showed us the right way) up the Sierra de Atoyac once again, but this time in more humid forest. We did a few stops at lower elevations (seeing relatively few birds) before heading for the more important upper parts of the sierra. The road was badly pot-holed at places but nevertheless paved. Just before reaching San Vicente it started to rain. A lot. We stood still during the worst cloudbursts, and then continued on to Paraíso, where we asked our way to the only hotel in town. The stairway up to our rooms was so narrow that we almost had problems getting up our luggage. Just when we had installed ourselves the rain stopped, so we went out for an evening excursion in the direction of Nueva Delhi. The road was terrible. We started with a colorful trio, namely Red-legged Honey-creeper, Dickey's Oriole and Golden Vireo. The rest of the evening we walked on a side road which produced both of our main target species – a female Short-crested Coquette and 2-3 White-tailed Hummingbirds! Wow! I had been really skeptic about the Coquette, but there it was! Was our luck finally going to change? Well, not entirely, of course, the tyre that seemed OK was leaking air after all…

4/7 I had planned the initial birding today around Arroyo Grande, but we quickly had to abandon those plans because of a collapsed bridge. Instead we birded the road toward Nueva Delhi. We had a nice morning, seeing i.e. 1 Hook-billed Kite, 1 Mexican Hermit, 2 Golden-crowned Emeralds, lots of White-tailed Hummingbirds, 3 Gray-crowned Woodpeckers, 2 Pale-billed Woodpeckers, 1 Bright-rumped Attila, 2 Eye-ringed Flatbills and several Golden Vireos. We would have liked to find a few more species here, but since our time had run out and we had the chance to see them all in other places, we drove down the sierra with some stops on the way. We had another female Coquette, a Collared Trogon, a singing Fan-tailed Warbler, a Grace's Warbler in a lonely pine and lots of nice butterflies including Mexican Eighty-eight, Red Cracker, Red Rim, Erato Heliconian and Bordered Patch. Dark clouds followed us and for a while we couldn't get out of the car before it started raining again. We gave up, and started our long drive toward Colima. We did some sea watching on the way, but only common species turned up (except two probable Storm-Petrels). At one stop we had both Lilac-crowned Amazons and a male Doubleday's Hummingbird. We ended up at a motel in the outskirts of Lazaro Cardenas.

5/7 We continued our transport toward Colima and made short stops along the way. During the morning we passed vast tracts of rolling, low mountains with undisturbed thorn forest. Traffic was light but the road was winding its way on mountain sides and through narrow valleys, making our speed very moderate. We also had to zig-zag now and then to avoid crushing the plentiful large crabs that crossed the road (even at 100-200 meters above sea level!). We did relatively little birding but saw West Mexican Chachalacas, Orange-breasted Buntings, Northern Cardinals and our first male Blue Bunting. A male Golden-crowned Emerald posed very nicely in front of my camera. At one stop by the coast we watched several species of terns and a few waders as a welcome change. We reached Colima in the early afternoon. After a well needed lunch and some shopping at Wal-Mart we headed for Volcán de Fuego, where we arrived at 16.00 or so. We had three target species for the lowest part of the road, and we managed to find two of them: Lesser Roadrunner (very briefly, seen by Stefan and I only) and Banded Quail (a flock of c. 15 birds). Unfortunately we couldn't locate any Sinaloa Martins. When we reached the camp site at km 12.7 we were all pretty tired, so after we'd put up the tents we had a relaxed evening. At nightfall we listened for night birds in the vicinity of the camp site. A Mottled Owl called a few times, otherwise it was quiet. The night passed in silence without a drop of rain.

6/7 We got up early to make a try for owls and nightjars, so we went down to km 7 where we soon were rewarded with Eared Poorwill, Whiskered Screech-Owl and Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (all heard only). As dawn broke through we returned to the campsite and birded on foot along the road for a couple of hours. We didn't find any new species here, but had beautiful views of the volcano and nice observations of species like Happy Wren, Collared Towhee and Cordilleran Flycatcher. Above km 14 the road was in a pretty bad shape, and quite steep as well. We made it to km 18, where we parked the car and continued on foot. The forest up here was beautiful, tall and draped with mosses and epiphytes. During our four hour walk we recorded 4 Crested Guans, 6 Mountain Trogons, 1 White-striped Woodcreeper (many heard), 1 Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, lots of Gray-barred Wrens and Golden-browed Warblers, 7 Green-striped Brush-Finches, 3 Red Warblers and many more. Long-tailed Wood-Partridge, a species we'd been hoping to see, was only heard at a distance, and the elusive Aztec Thrush was nowhere to be found. It was a very nice walk anyway. On the way down, our own “Glaucidium-man”, Stefan, found a Mountain Pygmy-Owl perched and only partly visible in a fairly distant pine. Good job! Back at the camp site we decided to leave our original plan to camp on the volcano another night. Instead we would try some birding around Colima, starting with an evening excursion to La Cumbre. Raindrops made us pack up in a hurry, and soon we were on our way. Six Banded Quails on the road was a nice ending of our visit to Volcán de Fuego. Back in Colima we checked in at a hotel, had some pizza and went to La Cumbre, where we at first couldn't find the junction. We soon found out that there was no sign and that a gate guarded by three dogs had been placed there instead. Lars didn't hesitate to open the gate. The dogs protested a bit, but didn't go to attack… We had a perfect view of a Buff-collared Nightjar on the road. Two Pauraques called at a distance, but no Balsas Screech-Owl could be heard. We tried play-back (rarely used on the trip) but got no response, so we went back to Colima to get some sleep.

7/7 Before the brake of dawn, we were on our way to La Maria. Km 15.5 was a good spot, with lots of birds singing and moving around. I found the real dazzler of the morning, a male Slaty Vireo. An amazing bird! We also had 5 Golden Vireos, 3 Ivory-billed Woodcreepers, 10 Lilac-crowned Amazons, 2 Greenish Elaenias, 4 Flame-colored Tanagers and Sinaloa Wrens. At the Laguna La Maria we birded among Mexican campers (some still asleep by 10.30) and fishers. Two Mexican Parrotlets were the best birds, and we also saw several Elegant Trogons. Otherwise we mostly had “the usual stuff”. Before leaving the laguna we watched a local football match for a while. On our way back to Colima we made a short walk on a track where we found several Ring-tailed Ground Squirrels but few birds. I desperately scanned for Great Swallow-tailed Swifts, but in vain. In Colima we found a Soriana supermarket where we had lunch, bought food and sent e-mails. After this well-needed brake, we left Colima and drove down to the coast and the Playa de Oro road near Manzanillo. It was partly overcast, hot and sweaty at a beginning, but dark clouds soon obscured the sun and made the evening light darker than usual. The birds were not very active, but we did find some nice ones including White-bellied Wrens, Blue Buntings and a Crane Hawk. There were also many crabs. At the beach we had a fly-by Osprey and an impressive estimated 10 000 Brown Boobies at the nearby (but yet too distant) Piedra Blanca. We spent the night in Cihuatlán south of Barra de Navidad. The rooms were hot...

8/7 Having missed several thorn forest goodies last evening, we set out before dawn with high expectations on the Barranca del Choncho near Barra de Navidad. It was a gloomy morning, with rain in the air and moderate bird activity, save the Yellow-green Vireos that were everywhere. The birds of the morning were 4 San Blas Jays and 1 Fan-tailed Warbler (not seen by all). No Chats or Thrush-Tanagers. Slightly disappointed we left at 09.30 to continue northwards. The rest of the day we were mostly driving. In Puerto Vallarta we had dinner, and a bit north of the city we found our first Black-throated Magpie-Jays and Sinaloa Crows. Halfway between Puerto Vallarta and Tepic it started raining. A lot. In Xalisco just south of Tepic, the streets were small rivers! To find a cheaper hotel in Tepic we had to go to the city centre and circle around on narrow one way streets. We finally chose a hotel for 430 pesos/2 double rooms. Not the cheapest or most pleasant hotel, but good enough for a night's sleep. Tepic was quite a lively town, and the first place where we saw traditionally dressed Indians. Leather seemed to be a speciality. I was tired so I didn't take a very long walk, but it was interesting to see a bit more of Mexican culture.

9/7 We rose well before dawn just in case there would be problems to find the right way out of Tepic. It proved to be a good move. We reached the lower slopes of Cerro de San Juan shortly after dawn. The main target species here was Mexican Woodnymph, but we started in an area of fields to try to find Elegant Quail and Lesser Roadrunner. After some work we saw the former (not that close, but a relief!) and heard the latter. Birds (thrushes, sparrows etc.) were everywhere. When we entered the pine-oak forest it became rather quiet, but as we got to the coastal slope we things picked up with Red-headed Tanagers (finally all got to see it!), a close-up male Sharp-shinned Hawk, an Arizona Woodpecker and our first Green Jays. But the only hummers we could find were Beryllines. We left Cerro de San Juan at noon and had lunch at a roadside restaurant at the outskirts of Tepic. Here we could enjoy the company of nice waitresses as well as a Military Macaw. The latter was our second target species of the day! To see wild ones at El Mirador del Aguila proved to be tougher. We spent maybe 2½ hot afternoon hours looking for the Macaws, but a Lesser Ground-Cuckoo stole the show when it responded to play-back and sat nicely in the open for a while. Black-throated Magpie-Jays, Citreoline and Elegant Trogons and Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (for some) were also around. It took more than an hour before we heard any Macaws, and Stefan was the only one to finally see one disappearing into a tree top. From the Mirador it was only an half hour drive to San Blas, where we would stay the next two nights. We did some nice wetland birding in the evening for a change. Roseate Spoonbills, Yellow-crowned Night-Herons and Anhingas were some of the species that could be studied well. A thunderstorm ended the day's birding, but we didn't care that much. We found a rather nice hotel in town. It felt good to get an evening of rest (well, I washed some of my clothes), though it was still hot and humid.

10/7 The plan for this morning was to give the Mexican Woodnymph a last try at La Bajada, but our plans were ruined by heavy rain and a maze of roads which certainly didn't bring us to any coffee plantations. We gave up and did some beach birding instead (nice flocks of White Ibis, a few waders), before continuing to the Lower Singayta forest. The raining had now stopped completely and it was already hot and steamy. Besides, mosquitoes were plentiful…

The birding here was painful. None of us could concentrate enough, constantly sweating and trying to get rid of the mosquitoes. We didn't find any of our main target species, but a Fan-tailed Warbler and a Rufous-bellied Chachalaca were nice to see. Defeated, we left the Singayta at about eleven to get a well needed siesta. We didn't go out again until 16.30. Yesterday evening Lars had booked a mangrove boat trip with Oscar Partida, and we were supposed to meet him at 17.00. We found each other, and by 17.15 we departed on what would become a very pleasant boat ride. Oscar was a nice fellow, knowledgeable and used to birders. We went up the Río Tovara, first through dense mangrove which gave our first two Northern Potoos (excellent observations) and a Mangrove Cuckoo, and later through beautiful freshwater marshes. Here we found lots of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and herons including 2 Boat-bills, 5 White-faced Ibises, 1 Common Black-Hawk, 2 Rufous-bellied Chachalacas, 10 Purple Gallinules, 2 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls, 4 Cinnamon Hummingbirds and many more. We had a beautiful and unusual sunset with clouds being lit up differently. At dusk we returned spot-lighting. We had another two potoos and a few crocodiles, but nothing else. Very satisfied (except for that missed Mangrove Vireo…) we returned safely at 21.30 and thanked Oscar for a nice boat ride. What felt like a miserable day at the beginning ended up pretty well in the end.

11/7 Our last morning in San Blas we decided to make just a few roadside stops, and then go straight toward Durango Highway. We didn't find anything new near San Blas, so we soon continued our journey. After an hour or so of driving on the highway the landscape changed into more arid thorn scrub. I told the guys to keep an eye open for Purplish-backed Jay, and sure enough, a minute later we had pulled over and were watching a beautiful Purplish-backed Jay found by Stefan in a roadside tree! Extensive marshes covered the coastal plain farther north, but they seemed almost empty of birds. At noon we reached Villa Union, where we had chicken for lunch. After that we started our inland journey on the Durango Highway. We still had problems with one tyre, so we decided to fix it once and for all. It was very hot outside, so we wouldn't miss any precious birding time anyway. We found a skilled young man at a vulcanizadora in Concordia, who only charged 40 pesos to fix the tyre. Our first birding stop along the highway was at km 266. We walked very slowly, sat down at the river bottom for a while and then walked a bit more. The air didn't make a slightest move, and the temperature might well have been nearly 40 degrees! Some birds were seen, but nothing remarkable. We were out walking perhaps for only half an hour, but we felt exhausted when getting back to the car. We decided to drive up to the Panuco Road to get away from the heat. A couple of kilometers before the turn-off we had a very nice encounter with a pair of Elegant Quails by the roadside. By now dark clouds were rolling in. It didn't take long before it started to rain, so we went on to La Capilla de Taxte and Hotel Villa Blanca where we would stay for two nights. In the evening we took a walk in a nearby pine forest, seeing 2 Black-headed Siskins, 1 White-striped Woodcreeper, 5 Grace's Warblers and a male Black-vented Oriole. I had a quiet evening while the others had sour cabbage at the hotel's restaurant.

12/7 We had an early start of the day to try to get some owls and nightjars near Barranca Rancho Liebre. Unfortunately the weather turned out to be both foggy and rainy at higher altitudes, so when we arrived at the pull-over near the barranca there was nothing to do but wait for the rain to stop. We didn't have to wait for that long, but of course our chances of nightbirds had gone down the drain. A very nice compensation came with the group of c. 8 Tufted Jays that showed up before we'd even started to walk the trail! Fabulous birds indeed! Our spirits rose considerably after this, and we walked rather fast up the trail to get to the barranca as early as possible. The temperature up here was perfect, a most welcome contrast to the hot and steamy lowlands we had left behind us. At the edge of the barranca we were met by a wonderful view, with steep cliffs and beautiful forest. Few birds were seen, though, and nothing really interesting was heard either beside the beautiful songs of Brown-backed Solitaires and Russet Nightingale-Thrushes. After a while we found a trail leading down into the barranca and started to walk down. The birding here could have been excellent if it had not been for the clouds that started to fill the valley and turn the forest into milky mist. Before that happened and during a few times when the mist cleared we found Blue-throated Hummingbirds, Red-headed Tanagers, Green-striped Brush-Finches, White-striped Woodcreepers, a few more Tufted Jays, Crescent-chested Warblers, Brown Creepers, Mountain Trogons and Arizona Woodpeckers. Two Military Macaws and a Crested Guan were heard sporadically. On the way back to the car we feasted on blackberries together with Rufous-capped Brush-Finches, Spotted Towhees, White-throated Thrushes and a skulking Empidonax that turned out to be a Pine Flycatcher (just as I suspected). Slightly disappointed (no Eared Quetzal, Thick-billed Parrot or Aztec Thrush…) but still rather satisfied with the morning's exercise we walked the last stretch from the old orchard to the car and was rewarded with more Tufted Jays and 4 Military Macaws flying overhead. Cool! We had lunch in nearby El Palmito, where I also taught some teenagers a few Swedish words. On our way back toward the hotel we made several stops. The most interesting bird we found was a very early migrant Black-and-white Warbler, but we also found a Painted Whitestart, Bridled Titmice, Plumbeous Vireos, Canyon Wrens, Gray-crowned Woodpeckers and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Back at the hotel we had a short siesta before heading down for a second try at the Panuco Road. We didn't manage to find any of our most needed species, but we had a few nice birds like a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Mangrove Cuckoos (heard), a Gila Woodpecker, Yellow-Grosbeaks and a nice pair of Blue Buntings. Oh, and I got a taste of Montezuma's revenge… After an unavoidable visit to some nearby bushes, I felt like boiled spaghetti and just sat down on the road, refusing to go any farther. Back at the hotel I was totally exhausted and fell asleep almost at once.

13/7 I felt good in the morning, but of course I still had diarrhea. This our last morning at Durango Highway we went down to the thorn forest for a last try on several badly needed species. We managed to hear 2 Colima Pygmy-Owls and a Flammulated Flycatcher and at least I saw a Violet-crowned Hummingbird. A Mangrove Cuckoo and a Sinaloa Wren were seen very nicely, but no Chats, Thrush-Tanagers or Black-capped Gnatcatchers. We left the lower parts of Durango Highway around 9 o'clock and drove straight on. Though it was a bit cloudy, the scenery was absolutely spectacular beyond km 200. We made several birding/photo stops and found 4+1 Military Macaws, 2+2 Tufted Jays, 1 White-naped and 12 White-throated Swifts and 2-3 Blue-throated Hummingbirds. At about km 140 it started raining, so we unfortunately didn't try the Chavaria Road (at km 130, holding nesting Red-faced Warblers). Instead we drove on to El Salto where we were met by a heavy cloudburst and an almost total lack of open restaurants of some decency. Ultimately we found one, but I had to do with yogurt. Beyond El Salto the landscape was more or less flat, dominated by pine forests and pastures. Large numbers of flowers decorated the roadsides and pastures, many of them resembling our own summer flowers in Sweden! By the roadside we also found 2 Durango Chipmunks. At about km 90 we stopped by a pond that held a surprising number of waterbirds, some totally unexpected: c. 20 Mexican Ducks, 1 male Cinnamon Teal, 2 Blue-winged Teals, 2 ad. Black Terns, at least 3 Yellow-headed Blackbirds and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. We also had our first White-tailed Hawks and Black Phoebes. Striped Sparrows seemed rather common. Farther ahead we tried to find Red-faced Warbler, but the pine-oak forests by the road were small and very fragmented. An odd bird, though, was a male Western Bluebird with a whitish head! At about km 45 we made a longer break and walked down into a beautiful canyon carved out by a clear little river edged by fresh grass, flowers and stands of low Salix. Here we found 3 Evening Grosbeaks, 2 Buff-breasted Flycatchers (White-throated Flycatcher should be here as well), 1 Common Black-Hawk and a few Mexican Fox Squirrels. Very nice! We left the canyon in the early evening and went on to Durango. Here we paid a visit to Wal-Mart and got a bit lost when the signs for Torreón suddenly disappeared (Gomez Palacio instead). Well, if we hadn't got lost we wouldn't have been able to witness a young (?) hoodlums amazing drive through town, leaving many a driver astounded. (I leave it to the reader to imagine what it looked like). When we finally got to the beginning of the cuota we were stopped by a police patrol. They definitely seemed to be half-corrupt-cops-candidates, but they didn't try any ugly tricks on us. They searched the car rather thoroughly, though, including our bags, and let us go after we'd assured them that we weren't acquainted to Bin Laden or Al Quaida. “Hay no terroristas en Suecia”, I declared. We entered the almost empty highway at the time of sunset and later took the take-off for Guadalupe Victoria. A Coyote walking over the road was a nice sight. We found a good hotel in Guadalupe Victoria, and ended a long but very eventful day.

14/7 This morning was characterised by improvised roadside birding between Guadalupe Victoria and Cuencamé on the High Plateau of Mexico. We stopped wherever it looked promising and were fairly successful. Some of the species recorded were Scaled Quail (very nice observations!), Chihuahuan Raven (common), Verdin, Phainopepla, Cactus and Bewick's Wrens, Yellow-breasted Chat, Botteri's and Black-throated Sparrows, Yellow-headed Blackbird and Orchard Oriole. Lars was very eager to see Greater Roadrunner, a species he'd missed in California 10 years ago. Just a few minutes after we'd entered the couta highway again to continue our journey I spotted one. Fortunately the highway was as empty as yesterday evening, so we were able to reverse 150 meters and all have nice views of not only one but a pair of roadrunners! We passed Gomez Palacio/Torreón and drove through a desert landscape in a very unusual condition – heavy rain had created smaller lakes here and there! The site of the afternoon was Presa El Tulillo, a reservoir in the middle of the desert. When we arrived we scanned the surface for waterbirds but scored zero, so we investigated some riparian forest instead. Here we added 3 Lucifer Hummingbirds (excellent!), 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher, 3 Bell's Vireos and 1 Pyrrhuloxia to the day's list. When trying to drive to the opposite side of the reservoir, Tommy found a flowering cactus. I quickly got out of the car to get a photo, and then discovered that there were flowering cacti everywhere! Wow! Completely lyrical, I walked around photographing Mamillaria with big pink flowers and a few other species. Wonderful! The road wouldn't take us very far, we realised, so we headed for Saltillo instead. On the way we found Cave Swallows flying over the village La Rosa. I had suggested to camp out near Tanque de Emergencia this evening, but no one was that interested when our daily rain started falling. Instead we drove in to central Saltillo and found a hotel right away. Then we went to eat pizza (I had to eat something now, having been feeding myself mostly with yogurt for two days), and afterwards went to find an internet café. There was a cue at the café, so I decided to go to see a movie at a nearby theatre instead if anything interesting was playing. It turned out that Spiderman was the only movie showing this evening. Since I'd already seen it twice, I was just on my way to leave when three girls stepped forward and asked if I wanted a free ticket for the show starting within a few minutes. I couldn't turn down such an offer, so I joined them. The three girls, Sara, Ana and Denisa, were college/high school students. We had a short but nice conversation (in English) before the film started. For some reason they had to go home in the middle of the movie, they said, but I could stay for as long as I wanted. The movie was dubbed into Spanish with no subtitles, but since I'd already seen it I had no problems following it. My three benefactors said goodbye in the middle of the movie, and I decided to go as well when there suddenly was an intermission. There would be another early start next morning and the hours had rushed by…

15/7 We felt lucky that we didn't spend the night camping, because it started raining just outside Saltillo. After a while the rain fell so heavy that we had to stop by the roadside to wait for a while. When it got a bit lighter we continued, and when we reached the Tanque de Emergencia junction it had almost stopped raining. The road was in a pretty bad shape. When we reached km 7 it got very muddy, and soon we could not go any farther without risking to get stuck. At least we made it almost to the water tank at km 8, a traditional site for Worthen's Sparrow. There was still some rain in the air and a bit windy when we started to walk along the road. We heard something suspicious already from the car, and went into the scrubby pasture to the north. Here we found several Black-throated Sparrows, Canyon Towhees and Western Meadowlarks as well as Eastern Cottontails and as Black-tailed Jack Rabbits. We spread out and concentrated on a more open grassy area and its transition into scrub. I was the one who finally found the exclusive sparrows, a pair, in the transition zone. They showed up pretty well to all of us. Other nice species we encountered were Horned Lark and Mexican Prairie Dog (only one seen, the others probably didn't enjoy the wet conditions). Satisfied we returned to the car and tried not to bring half of the road into it. Since we couldn't get past the muddy section of the road we turned back, just stopping at a few places listening for Cassin's Sparrow without any luck. We drove a few kilometers on the road toward Hedionda Grande and took a walk in the desert scrub. By now the skies had cleared a bit. The best birds found were a Crissal Thrasher and 2 Scott's Orioles. I photographed many nice cacti and flowers in perfect light. At this point we decided to go back to Saltillo and reach Cola de Caballo/Highrise via Monterrey. In Saltillo a road block made by some demonstrators created traffic chaos, but we just followed other cars and got past on a side road. In Monterrey we had lunch at McDonald's for a change. We reached the Cola de Caballo area by 15.30 or so. A walk in the area turned out very successfully, with Crimson-collared Grosbeaks, Long-billed Thrashers, Olive Sparrows, Audubon's Orioles, Black-crested Titmice and singing Spot-breasted Wren and White-eyed Vireos. We only made a few stops on our way to the Highrise, but what we saw from both inside and outside of the car was amazing. Beautiful forests and evermore impressing mountain walls! When we reached the Highrise it was already evening. The camp site mentioned in the book was excellent, so we put up our tents and spent the rest of the evening here. It didn't take long before the first Maroon-fronted Parrots were heard, but it was harder to see them. At least five individuals flew around against the cliff face. At dusk we heard a Whiskered Screech-Owl and 2 Whip-poor-wills, and Tommy and I who walked a bit farther along the road heard a distant Spotted Owl. The other guys also got to hear it, but then it was really faint.

16/7 During the night we had some rain, but luckily not as much as in the Sierra de Atoyac. We woke up to a morning filled with bird songs and clear skies. The primary goals of the morning were to find Colima Warbler and get better looks of the parrots, so we headed due west toward San José de las Boquillas. A steep, muddy section of the road made us a bit nervous since we would go back the same way, but it turned out fine. We made few stops before San José. A really pleasant surprise, though, was the pair of Montezuma Quails that I found by the roadside. Quite unexpected, and what beautiful birds they were! One of the trip highlights! We did most of the morning's birding at the far end of San José de las Boquillas, recording about 65 Maroon-fronted Parrots (I only heard a flock of 54…), 1 male Lucifer and 3 Blue-throated Hummingbirds, 1 Pine Flycatcher, 3 Say's Phoebes, 2 Rock Wrens, 1 Black-chinned and 6 Rufous-crowned Sparrows and, ultimately, 1 tailless Colima Warbler. On our way back we met two American birders from Texas. We almost had to pinch ourselves to believe it. Definitely an addition to our Mexico list! Anyway, one of them seemed very experienced, having come to Mexico for birding for 30 years. He was here specifically to record the song of Pine Flycatcher! We didn't talk for very long. They wanted to go farther ahead and we had to pack our tents and continue our journey. [When I came home I happened to find a trip report by these guys on the neoorn mailing list, and it turned out that they succeeded recording the Pine Flycatcher but failed to find Worthen's Sparrow or Montezuma Quail.] We had soon dried our tents and packed the car, and it was with a feeling of satisfaction we headed southwards. We were mostly driving the rest of the day, making longer stops only for dinner and shopping/e-mailing at Soriana in Ciudad Victoria. Heavy rains had caused flooding in places. At one point we were even stopped and informed by a policeman. (In Mexico the police have resources beyond comparison with our minimized Swedish squad - you rarely see any on the roads nowadays). We reached our destination, El Naranjo, at nightfall and were lucky to get rooms at the cheaper of two possible hotels in town.

17/7 This our first morning around El Naranjo was a bit rainy and didn't start quite as good as we would have liked it to. Yellow-winged Tanagers and Melodious Blackbirds were new species to all but Lars, but we had no parrots or real quality birds. The road to El Maguey looked promising in the book, so here we spent most of the rest of the morning. The rain had stopped when we reached the junction. We parked the car and walked away down the road, recording Thicket Tinamous (heard), many Spot-breasted Wrens, Long-billed Thrashers, Rufous-browed Peppershrikes, White-winged Tanagers and Yellow-faced Grassquits. No Tamaulipas Pygmy-Owl, Hooded Grosbeak or other target species could be found. We went a little farther on the main road, but the sun was now gazing and birds were quiet. Besides, the traffic was irritating, so we returned to El Naranjo for a siesta. We had a tasty dinner by three o'clock, and while we were eating we could witness a really powerful cloudburst. The main street in El Naranjo soon was turned into a river! We had to wait a bit for the rain to stop, but we were in no hurry. The afternoon and evening was spent along the road to El Salto, starting with the area near the dam. The last few days of raining apparently had created a big pressure on the dam, so they had let the water lose into an impressing waterfall. Local families and groups of youngsters were all around to witness the unusual event. This, in combination with the roaring of the fall, made our visit here rather brief. Instead we birded along the road, specifically looking for parrots. During the course of the evening we found a good selection of species including a Bronze-winged Woodpecker, a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, 2 Tamaulipas Crows, several Audubon's, Altamira and Hooded Orioles, 7 Green Parakeets, 1 White-capped Parrot, c. 10 Yellow-headed Amazons (at a distance) and 12 Red-lored Amazons. The only species missing was the most important - Red-crowned Amazon…

18/7 Our target species this our second and last morning at El Naranjo were Red-crowned Amazon, Tamaulipas Pygmy-Owl, Hooded Grosbeak and several hummers (which were genuinely scarce). We birded the road toward San Luis Potosí once again, but activity this morning wasn't very good. Lars and I had a female Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, otherwise there were few species of note: a Bat Falcon, a Mountain Trogon seen well, 4 White-winged Tanagers and 1 Black-crested Titmouse are worth to be mentioned. Slightly disappointed we left rather early, but we also had a very long drive before us. We had lunch in Tampico, where we also saw some roadside birds including 1 Osprey and 29 Caspian Terns. The road south from Tampico was the worst highway in Mexico we'd seen so far. It was bumpy and badly pot-holed at places, and the many trucks didn't make us any happier. To avoid pot holes and numerous topes we took the longer way past Tuxpan. My plans to visit El Tajín had to be abandoned, since it was already evening. We didn't get to Tecolutla until 19.30 or so. After a quick check-in at a hotel we took a walk to the nearby river mouth. Here we could watch Gull-billed, Sandwich, Royal and Common Terns, and a pair of Aplomado Falcons was seen nicely as well. A lone fisherman impressed us with his skills in net throwing. We watched two attempts, and he was successful both times! On our way back to the hotel we ran into Mexicans that had been living in Gothenburg and could speak Swedish. Wasn't that odd or what? A pair of musicians played nice Caribbean rhythms while we walked around as normal tourists to look at souvenirs. I bought an extra t-shirt for 35 pesos, while Tommy bought an array of owl souvenirs, apparently a speciality for Tecolutlá for some unknown reason.

19/7 Our fling of tourism was cured over night, and we of course were out birding shortly after dawn. It didn't take long to find our main targets Altamira Yellowthroat (4) and Ochre Oriole (2), and we also recorded 1 Least Bittern (at least I did), 5 Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, 2 Ruddy Crakes (heard), 2 Aplomado Falcons, 2 Gray-crowned Yellowthroats and 5 Tamaulipas Crows. We had expected to see more wetland birds, but as long as we found our target species we weren't complaining too much. We left Tecolutla already by 9-9.15, and headed straight for Veracruz. Well, not really straight. We decided to give Mexican Sheartail a chance despite noon was fast approaching. Colonia Francisco Barrios was only a short bit away. On site we were met by almost total deforestation. With minimal hope for success we entered a pasture with some stands of thorn scrub left. I still had some stomach problems, so the others went ahead of me. When I was fit for fight again I walked maybe 50 meters into the pasture and there it was - a male Mexican Sheartail. Wow! Soon we could all witness the spectacular display of this charismatic hummer. Before we left we'd seen a female and a rival male as well. I got some photos of both male and female - not very close but not that bad either. Satisfied we went into Veracruz City, where we found the huge shopping mall Plaza de Americas. Here we fixed some cash, went to McDonald's and bought food. Our birding site for the afternoon was Las Barrancas south-east of Veracruz, an isolated area of grass savanna. It was a bit hot, but birds and butterflies were plentiful. Worth to mention are 1 Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, 6 Snail Kites, 2-3 Aplomado Falcons, 1 Northern Bobwhite, 5 Fork-tailed Flycatchers, 5 Grassland Yellow-Finches and, ultimately, 3+1 Double-striped Thick-knees (yes!). I got some fairly nice photos of the last two species. Our goal for this evening was Valle Nacional 2½-3 hours away. Near Tuxtepec we were held up by a line of cars waiting at a bridge. We soon learned that the bridge had been partly destroyed on purpose by protesting workers! There was nothing to do but turn around. We got help by another driver to find our way to Tuxtepec, and when we finally arrived it was already dark. Thus we stayed the night in Tuxtepec and saved an hour of driving for the next morning.

20/7 Our first bird this day was a calling Central American Pygmy-Owl just before the town of Valle Nacional. We passed the town and did much of the morning's birding in the nearby foothills. Here we recorded many new species for the trip, i.e. Green-breasted Mango, White-bellied Emerald, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Rainbow-billed Toucan, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Barred Antshrike, Lesser Greenlet, Crimson-collared Tanager and Chestnut-headed Oropendola. Most of the interesting species were to be found higher up, though, so we drove non-stop to km 70, where we surprisingly met another two American birders. We talked for a while and learned that hummers were common also at high elevations. They soon headed for the highest parts of the road, while we continued stopping rather frequently. It paid off rather well with nice observations of 1 superb male Bumblebee and 2 female Emerald-chinned Hummingbirds, 3 Unicolored Jays, 3 Slate-colored Solitaires (many heard), 2 Black-headed Nightingale-Thrushes and 6 White-striped Brush-Finches. We heard a Mexican Antthrush. On our way down we also got some nice birds, including 1 Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, 2 Black-cowled Orioles and 1 Yellow-billed Cacique. In the evening we came back to Valle Nacional, where we stayed at the only hotel in town (only 70 pesos/room). We had pizza for dinner. While waiting for the food we watched the town's kids play basketball, volleyball and just having fun (it was a Saturday). In Sweden you might very well have watched kids of the same age getting drunk instead. I sure prefer the Mexican style of having fun... We also spoke with a young female student and tried to get rid of a drunk man who obstinately tried to get beer money from us. And more - apparently he was gay… Fortunately we could eat our pizzas in peace and quiet, just before a heavy shower ended our evening.

21/7 Though yesterday's birding had been good we had still many species to find at Valle Nacional. We made a few brief stops at lower elevations and then went straight for the cloud forest. The lower parts gave i.e. Spotted Wood-Quails (heard), 1 Collared Araçari, 1 Plain Xenops, the only two safely identified Couch's Kingbirds of the trip (puh!), 2 Green Shrike-Vireos and 1 Blue Ground-Dove, while the upper parts had 2 Emerald Toucanets, 4 Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaners, 1 Spotted Woodcreeper, 2 Black Thrushes and tons of Common Bush-Tanagers. We left the cloud forest with a few hard misses, including Blue-crowned Chlorophonia and Azure-hooded Jay. In the pine-oak forest near El Mirador we were a bit compensated with a mixed flock of 5 Dwarf Jays, 5 Unicolored Jays and lots of Gray-barred Wrens. Two female Bumblebee Hummingbirds showed themselves terrifically well feeding in tiny roadside flowers. The day had started in perfectly clear weather, but at El Mirador it had unfortunately changed into misty clouds, wind and rain. At the very top we were stopped at a military check point. The soldiers were very polite. They did a brief searching of the car and let us go with only a glance of the fully packed trunk. It rained for quite a while after we'd crossed the pass, so we figured we might as well eat a bit when we found a small, simple restaurant. Both of our drivers were pretty worn. While they were resting a bit Tommy and I birded in between showers. We had lots of Gray Silky-Flycatchers, 2 Chestnut-capped Brush-Finches and 1 male Black Thrush during a short walk. The main target species for the afternoon otherwise was Hooded Yellowthroat. We stopped at many places that felt promising for the species but we couldn't locate any nelsoni:s. Instead we found 2 Dwarf Jays, 3 Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireos, 3 Red and 6 Crescent-chested Warblers, 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 1 Boucard's Wren and many more. We crossed Cerro de San Felipe without stopping and made our last birding efforts of the day just north of Oaxaca City. Two White-throated Towhees and a singing Oaxaca Sparrow were the only Oaxaca specialities we could find, but we also recorded c. 120 Black Swift and a very surprising pair of Red Crossbills sitting on a telephone wire. In Oaxaca it was crowded with people celebrating a local fiesta, so it took a while to find a hotel with vacancy. Ultimately we got a small room with 3 beds and a precious parking space on the street. Hungry we went out on the town, but since it was a rather late Sunday evening almost everything was closed. Nevertheless, we ended up finding both bread and Charlie's Pizza where we had fried chicken. It was almost midnight when we finally got some sleep.

22/7 This morning was spent at Monte Albán combining culture and birding. There were many birds around, but the Oaxaca species (with the exception of White-throated Towhee) felt a bit hard to find. We ended up seeing 2 Pileated Flycatchers and 6 Dusky Hummingbirds before entering the ruin complex. It was a welcome break from the birding to walk around at an historic site. Monte Albán perhaps isn't the most spectacular of Mexico's main historic sites, but it's well worth seeing. At noon we were back at the hotel for a siesta. The city seemed totally changed from yesterday evening. Suddenly you could find all sorts of stores and restaurants. The fiesta was still celebrated, and the commerce was thriving. Well, not for everyone. It felt sad to see all persons that impossibly could get much sold. We spent the afternoon in the scrub forests north of the city, where we first had some rain (I had forgotten my umbrella…). It was kind of slow, but we ended up seeing 1 Ocellated Thrasher (Stefan and I only), 2 Oaxaca Sparrows and 2 absolutely beautiful Bridled Sparrows. At least I ended the day quietly at the hotel.

23/7 We left Oaxaca early with rain in the air. The last drops fell when we arrived to our first birding destination Teotitlan del Valle, where we essentially needed Dwarf Vireo, Gray-breasted Woodpecker and Ocellated Thrasher. Play-back was used sparsely during the trip, but today Dwarf Vireo felt desperately needed. It probably did pay off in the end, but we couldn't get a grip of the small brownish skulker that came in while playing the tape. Birds we saw for sure were 2 Ocellated Thrashers, 1 Gray-breasted Woodpecker, 4 Boucard's Wrens, 4 West Mexican Chachalacas, 2 Bridled Sparrows and a male Black-vented Oriole. We continued southwards on the Oaxaca-Tehuantepec road, for some strange reason missing the turn-off to Yugal. As we probably had a very long drive ahead of us we didn't turn back. If we sacrified Beautiful Hummingbird or not we will never know – it's very possible that they're absent during the summer. We hadn't gone very far before Lars had a scary sight in the rear window. The car behind us suddenly drove into the ditch! We of course stopped immediately to do whatever could be done. The driver was female and not using a belt. She was barely concious at first, but didn't seem to have any obvious injuries. It was very hard to try to speak to her and calm her as our Spanish wasn't fit for a situation like this. Perhaps we did the wrong thing when we helped her to get out of the car, because it was obviously painful for her (probably broken ribs or so). We stopped the next car that passed. The man driving it had a mobile phone, so he called for help. Other cars with helpful people soon stopped, taking the command for natural reasons. Since there was nothing more we could do, we left the place and could just hope that she would be alright. It took a while to recover from this scene, but we started to make birding stops from km 70 on. The weather was constantly changing between sun, overcast and rain. At km 77 we had a good stop with 1 Lesser Roadrunner, 2 Gray-breasted Woodpeckers, 5 White-lored Gnatcatchers and 2 Bridled Sparrows. Farther ahead we once more saw a pair of the absolutely stunning Orange-breasted Bunting. We made quite an effort to see Green-fronted Hummingbird (and Plain-capped Starthroat for me), but the only hummers we saw along the road to Tehuantepec were two fly-bys. Apparently the wrong time of the year. On the other hand we were very lucky with Sumichrast's Sparrow that we heard singing at our first try and saw well after play-back around km 123. Since we had already seen the sparrow we could turn east at Tehuantepec and go straight to Puerto Arista just across the border to Chiapas. We arrived there at nightfall. Puerto Arista felt like a sleepy tourist town at low season so there was no problem getting rooms.

24/7 During the night Lars got sick a third time, so he felt kind of exhausted most of the day. He didn't miss anything important, though. We started with nice observations of Giant Wrens, a species I had been babbling about the whole trip. Great to finally see it! Lots of cormorants and herons were on the move. When it came to White-bellied Chachalaca, though, it proved to be a tough one. We couldn't even hear any. We birded the road to Boca del Cielo and saw several White-tailed Kites, Northern Bobwhites and Ruddy-breasted Seedeaters but no Chachalacas. At Boca del Cielo we had a most welcome and nice selection of waterbirds including 4 Roseate Spoonbills, 6 Wilson's and 25 Semipalmated Plovers, 14 Marbled Godwits, 2 Semipalmated and 3 Least Sandpipers, 6 Willets, 9 Black Skimmers and 135 Elegant Terns. Another welcome species was Spot-breasted Oriole. We left the Puerto Arista area around ten to go to the nearby Arriaga foothills. Just a little more than an hour later we were watching a superb singing male Rose-bellied Bunting! We spent about two hours birding in roadside forest. Imitations of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl gave us splendid looks of several more Rose-bellied Buntings and 2 Banded Wrens. Unfortunately we couldn't find any Long-tailed Manakins, but our effort was highly moderate and the midday sun hot. We would have needed at least another day in the Puerto Arista/Arriaga area, but our time was running out. We thus headed for the Uxpanapa area in the middle of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where we arrived in late afternoon. We checked in at the nice Hotel Liessa in Piedra Blanca. Lars stayed at the hotel while Stefan, Tommy and I went to scout a bit of the Uxpanapa Road. The junction in Boca del Monte was not well signed (see Site notes), but soon we were on the right way driving through almost completely deforested land. Between km 14 and the bridge at km 17.5 there were some forest patches, and here we spent most of the evening. We found several new species for the trip like Mealy Amazon, Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift, Lineated Wodpecker, Rufous Piha,Yellow-bellied Elaenia and Passerini's Tanager. On the way back to Boca del Monte we picked up a hitch-hiking old man. We could only drive him as far as Boca del Monte as we had to buy food supplies and have dinner, but I hope he was happy anyway. I had a nice 10 minute chat with a taxi driver, Eliazar, at one of the small shops. He was very curious about Sweden, and a taught him a few words in Swedish. I asked how long his working days were. 12-15 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, he answered. No union here… Nevertheless, he seemed very content and relaxed. A nice fellow. After dinner we went straight back to the hotel for an air conditioned good night's sleep.

25/7 Since the best forest was supposed to be almost 40 kilometers from Boca del Monte we set out at an early hour. After a while it started raining, and halfway the pavement became coarse gravel. At the Oaxaca/Veracruz border there was a police station. We were stopped and questioned about what (the heck) we were doing out here. It didn't take that long to convince them that we were only going to watch birds just nearby. The skies were very dark, and the rain kept falling for quite a while. Nevertheless, we got out of the car and started to walk along the road with our umbrellas held high. There was forest left, but certainly not much and in a fragmented state. The birding felt kind of slow but we found a reasonable amount of species in the end, most importantly a singing Nava's Wren. I climbed up a nearly vertical limestone slope to try to see it, but in vain. The best birds otherwise were 1 Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, 1 White Hawk (cool!), 2 White-bellied Emeralds, 1 Black-headed Trogon, 2+3 heard Rufous-breasted Spinetails, 2 Long-billed Gnatwrens heard, c. 20 Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallows, 1 White-bellied Wren, 4 Red-throated Ant-Tanagers and 2 Black-faced Grosbeaks. Uxpanapa Road might once have been a good birding area, but it clearly felt like most of the more exclusive birds should be long gone. We called it a day by eleven or so and went back to Boca del Monte to have one of the best lunches of the trip. Then we started the long drive to Córdoba west of Veracruz. To save some 130 pesos we took the libre from Sayula, turned north toward Las Tuxtlas and took the cuota the rest of the way. A surprising bird seen from the highway was an American White Pelican. We arrived to Córdoba early enough to make a try for Sumichrast's Wren at the nearby town Amatlán. We walked up the classical trail through shade coffee plantations on a limestone hill just outside town. It was quiet and dark clouds were rolling in. A few Rusty Sparrows were seen nicely, otherwise we didn't find much. Well, we would just have to return tomorrow. We found a nice hotel in Córdoba (there was no hotel in Amatlán). After dinner I had a long conversation with one of the receptionists of the hotel, Enrique, who spoke good English. We talked for at least an hour, and I learned a lot of interesting stuff about Mexico. He learned a bit about both Sweden and Mexico. A nice guy, this Enrique! I didn't go to sleep until midnight.

26/7 This our last morning in Mexico was cool and clear. Mexico's highest mountain, Pico de Orizaba, or Citlaltepetl (5610 m), could be seen through the morning in all its glory. Wonderful! Today we had no problem hearing the Sumichrast's Wren, but seeing it was a completely different story. We put in all our efforts in this mission, which unfortunately meant that we had to use playback. We succeeded at last and got excellent observations of a male singing from the tops of limestones. The only species worth to mention beside the wren is a Stripe-throated Hermit. Very satisfied we returned to the hotel to pack our bags and take a shower, a most atypical procedure for the trip. Then we drove straight to Puebla, where we had pizza for lunch. We reached Ciudad de México by 14.00. Our flight wasn't leaving until 21.30 so we drove through the city to get an hour or so of birding in Bosque de Tlalpan. Everything went smooth until we took the wrong turn-off to Avenida Insurgentes. Instead of going south we had to drive to the north for a quite a while. At least we got to see the Olympic stadium from 1968. We managed to switch direction, but then failed again within armshot of the forest. Forty-five minutes late we finally arrived, and that was also the exact amount of time we could spend here. We kind of rushed through the forest in search of our two target species Abeille's Oriole and Hooded Yellowthroat. It didn't take long before we saw a female Oriole, but the Yellowthroat was harder. We spread out to maximize our chances to find it, resulting in a female for Lars only. Ironically the only two birds of the trip that I missed would have been new for me: Godman's Euphonia and Hooded Yellowthroat. We were back at the airport to return the car at 18.30. We knew that we probably would have to pay for our first accident, because Alamo claimed that nothing had been wrong with the car's breaks. The price tag ended at c. 5300 pesos, but then we didn't have to pay for our extra driver or gas for the first car which was a comfort. We then entered the airport. Our flight left more or less on schedule. Bye, Mexico…

27/7 During the flight we could watch two exciting movies; A beautiful mind and Johnny Q. As usual I didn't sleep anything. Back in Amsterdam we had to wait for five hours once again, which was pretty boring. We touched Swedish ground again at 21.20. Lars's mother picked us up and by midnight we arrived in Värnamo. The next morning I took the train home to Tranås, and this ended my successful “pioneer” summer birding trip to Central Mexico.

Species list

This species list is based on my personal observations. Additional observations have been included at least for the more interesting species, but the list is not complete.

Thicket Tinamou Crypturellus cinnamomeus 4/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 17/7 7 heard, 18/7 4 heard El Naranjo.

Least Grebe  Tachybaptus dominicus 3/7 4 Acapulco-Atoyac, 7/7 2 Laguna La Maria, 9/7 1, 10/7 2 San Blas, 23/7 7 Teotitlán del Valle.

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps 29/6 9 Almoloya del Río, 3/7 1 Acapulco-Atoyac, 19/7 1 Las Barrancas.

American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 25/7 1 Cosamaloapan-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 3/7 c.20 Acapulco, 4/7 c. 20 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c.30 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 c. 10 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 18/7 1 Tampico, c. 30 Tecolutla, 19/7 4 Veracruz, 24/7 c.10 Boca del Cielo.

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster 4/7 c. 25 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 7/7 c. 10 000 (!) Piedra Blanca, Playa de Oro, 10/7 2 San Blas.

Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus 5/7 c. 15 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 c. 100 Tecoman-Manzanillo, c. 50 Playa de Oro, 9/7 c. 250, 10/7 c. 300 San Blas, 17/7 1 El Naranjo, 18/7 c. 20 Tampico, 24/7 c. 300 Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo, 25/7 1 Sayula-Cosamaloapan, Veracruz.

Anhinga Anhinga anhinga 9/7 c. 30, 10/7 c. 30 San Blas, 24/7 2 Puerto Arista.

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens 3/7 3 Acapulco, 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c. 15 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 c. 20 Tecoman-Manzanillo, c. 20 Playa de Oro, 10/7 c. 20 San Blas, 18/7 3 Tampico, 1 Tecolutla, 19/7 c. 30 Las Barrancas, 24/7 c. 10 Boca del Cielo.

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 7/7 1 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 9/7 1, 10/7 2 San Blas.

Great Egret Egretta alba 3/7 c. 100 Acapulco-Atoyac, 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 a few Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 a few Tecoman-Manzanillo, 9/7 c. 500, 10/7 c. 600 San Blas, 18/7 c. 5 Tampico, c. 5 Tecolutla, 19/7 c. 50 Las Barrancas, 23/7 1 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec, c. 20 Tehuantepec-Arriaga, 24/7 c. 10 Boca del Cielo, 25/7 c. 10 Sayula-La Tinaja.

Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor 7/7 1 ad. Tecoman-Manzanillo, 9/7 c. 15, 10/7 c. 15, 11/7 a few San Blas, 11/7 1 ad. San Blas-Villa Union, 24/7 3 ad. Boca del Cielo.  

Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea 4/7 1 ad. Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 10/7 c. 15 (1 subad.) San Blas, 19/7 4 ad. Tecolutla, 19/7 3 ad. Las Barrancas.

Snowy Egret Egretta thula 29/6 2 Almoloya del Río, 3/7 1 Acapulco-Atoyac, 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c. 40 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 a few Tecoman-Manzanillo, 9/7 c. 75, 10/7 c. 100 San Blas, 18/7 1 Tampico, 19/7 c. 50 Las Barrancas, 23/7 c. 10 Tehuantepec-Arriaga, 24/7 c. 10 Boca del Cielo, 25/7 a few Sayula-La Tinaja.

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 4/7 2 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c. 8 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 9/7 c. 20, 10/7 c. 250 San Blas, 16/7 8 Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante, 18/7 1 Tampico, 24/7 c. 100 Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo.

Green Heron Butorides striatus 29/6 1 juv. Almoloya del Río, 3/7 2 Acapulco-Atoyac, 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 9/7 c. 15, 10/7 c. 40 San Blas, 19/7 1 ad. Tecolutla, 23/7 4 Tehuantepec-Arriaga, 24/7 c. 5 Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax violaceus 4/7 1 ad. Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 7/7 1 ad. Playa de Oro, 9/7 4 ad., 10/7 7, 11/7 3 San Blas, 19/7 5 Tecolutla.

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 29/6 1 ad. Almoloya del Río, 2 ad. Almoloya-Toluca.

Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius 10/7 2 ad. San Blas.  

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma mexicanum 25/7 1 ad. Uxpanapa Road.

Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis 19/7 1 female Tecolutla.

Wood Stork Mycteria americana 4/7 7 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 7/7 1 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 10/7 25 San Blas, 24/7 2 Puerto Arista.

American White Ibis Eudocimus albus 5/7 3 ad. Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 1 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 9/7 23 ad., 1 subad., 10/7 115, 11/7 6 San Blas, 18/7 1 Tampico, 19/7 22 Tecolutla, 24/7 1 ad. Arriaga- La Ventosa.

White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi 10/7 5 San Blas.

Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja 9/7 9, 10/7 2 San Blas, 23/7 1 Tehuantepec-Arriaga, 24/7 4 Boca del Cielo.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis Widespread and common. Highest numbers were as follows: 3/7 c. 50 Atoyac-Acapulco, 5/7 c. 90 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 9/7 c. 150 ex., 10/7 c. 250 ex. San Blas.

Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata 8/7 2 N. Puerto Vallarta, 10/7 2-3 San Blas, 16/7 1 Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante, 17/7 1 El Naranjo.

Mexican Duck Anas (platyrhynchos) diazi 13/7 1 female with 6 juv+11 ad. Durango Highway (km 90), 14/7 2 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé.

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors 13/7 1 pair Durango Highway (km 90). Rare in summer in Mexico?

Cinamon Teal Anas cyanoptera 13/7 1 male Durango Highway (km 90).

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Common.

Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus 19/7 1 Las Barrancas.

Black Vulture Coragyps atratus Common.

Osprey Haliaetus albicilla 8/7 1 Playa de Oro, 18/7 1 Tampico.

Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus 4/7 1 ad. Sierra de Atoyac (S)

White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus 16/7 2 ad. Monterrey-Ciudad Victoria, 1 ad. Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante, 19/7 1 S. Veracruz, 24/7 8 ad. Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo, 25/7 2 ad. Sayula-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis 19/7 6 Las Barrancas, 24/7 3 ad. Arriaga-La Ventosa, 25/7 1 ad. Cosamaloa-pan-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 5/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 1 male Cerro de San Juan.

Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens 7/7 1-2 ad. Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 1 ad. Barra de Navidad-Puerto Vallarta, 11/7 1 ad. San Blas.

White Hawk Leucopternis albicollis 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Common Black-Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus 10/7 1 ad. San Blas, 13/7 1 ad. Durango Highway (km 45), 25/7 1 ad. Uxpanapa Road.

Mangrove Black-Hawk Buteogallus subtilis 24/7 1 ad. Boca del Cielo. The status of this form of Black-Hawk is not well known in Mexico. We have decided to call it a Mangrove Black-Hawk because of the habitat we found it in.

Gray Hawk Buteo nitidus 4/7 1 ad. Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 5 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 9/7 1 ad. El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 1 ad. San Blas, 11/7 5 San Blas-Villa Union, 17/7 3 ad. El Naranjo.

Roadside Hawk Buteo magnirostris 19/7 1 Tecolutla, 1 juv. Las Barrancas, 20/7 3 Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road, 1 Cosamaloapan-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 9/7 1 Cerro de San Juan, 20/7 1 Valle Nacional. All birds were of light morph.

White-tailed Hawk Buteo albicaudatus 13/7 2 ad. Durango Highway (km 90).

Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus 2/7 1 ad. Sierra de Atoyac (N).

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 1/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 3, 13/7 c. 5 Durango Highway.

Northern Caracara Caracara cheriway 2/7 2 Xochipala, 5/7 2 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 11/7 1 San Blas-Villa Union, 15/7 1 Saltillo-Monterrey, 19/7 3 Las Barrancas, 22/7 1 Monte Albán, 23/7 2 Teotitlan del Valle, 24/7 3 Puerto Arista, 25/7 3 Sayula-Cosamaloapan, Veracruz.

Collared Forest-Falcon Micrastur semitorquatus 9/7 1 heard Cerro de San Juan, 10/7 1 heard San Blas.

American Kestrel Falco sparverius 29/6 1 La Cima, 14/7 2 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 2 Tanque de Emergencia.

Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis 18/7 2, 19/7 2 Tecolutla, 19/7 1 Tecolutla-Cardel, 2-3 Las Barrancas.

Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis 18/7 1 ad. El Naranjo, 24/7 1 ad., 25/7 2 ad. Uxpanapa Road.

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 15/7 1 Cola de Caball-Highrise.

Plain Chachalaca Ortalis vetula 15/7 4 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 2 heard El Placer, 20/7 2 Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Rufous-bellied Chachalaca Ortalis wagleri 10/7 2 El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 3, 11/7 2 San Blas, 11/7 2 heard San Blas-Villa Union, 11/7 1+2 heard, 13/7 2 heard Durango Highway.

West Mexican Chachalaca Ortalis poliocephala 1/7 8 heard Xochipala, 3/7 2 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 4 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 3+2 heard Colima-La Maria, 22/7 1 Monte Albán, 23/7 4+4 heard Teotitlan del Valle.

Crested Guan Penelope purpurascens 6/7 4 Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 1 heard Barranca Rancho Liebre.

Long-tailed Tree-Quail Dendrortyx macroura 2/7 2 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 2 heard Volcán de Fuego.

Scaled Quail Callipepla squamata 14/7 4+1 heard Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 1 male Hedionda Road.

Elegant Quail Callipepla douglasii 9/7 1 male+2 heard Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 1 pair Durango Highway (km 248). Very nice quail!

Barred Quail Philortyx fasciatus 5/7 c. 15, 6/7 6 Volcán del Fuego.

Northern Bobwhite  Colinus virginianus 19/7 1 heard San Francisco Barrios, 1 male+2 heard Las Barrancas, 24/7 3 males+6 heard Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo.

Spotted Wood-Quail Odontophorus guttatus 21/7 2 heard Valle Nacional.  

Singing Quail Dactylortyx thoracicus 1/7 4 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N).

Montezuma Quail Cyrtonyx montezumae 16/7 1 pair San José de las Boquillas. One of the trip highlights!

Limpkin Aramus guarauna 19/7 1 Las Barrancas, 23/7 2 Tehuantepec-Arriaga.

Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber 19/7 2 heard Tecolutla, 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional.

Virginia Rail Rallus limicola 29/6 1 heard Almoloya del Río.

Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica 10/7 at least 10 San Blas.

Common Gallinule Gallinula chloropus 29/6 c. 30 Almoloya del Río, 9/7 1, 10/7 1 San Blas.

American Coot Fulica americana 29/6 2 Almoloya del Río.

Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa 3/7 c.5 Acapulco-Atoyac, 4/7 c. 5 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 10/7 1 San Blas, 19/7 2 Tecolutla, c. 5 Las Barrancas, 23/7 a few Tehuantepec-Arriaga.

American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus 10/7 3 San Blas.

Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus 7/7 c. 5 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 9/7 1 San Blas, 18/7 1 Tampico, 25/7 1 Cosamaloapan-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Double-striped Thick-knee Burhinus bistriatus  19/7 4 Las Barrancas. Cool birds!

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus 24/7 c. 25 Boca del Cielo.

Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia 24/7 6 Boca del Cielo.

Killdeer  Charadrius vociferus 29/6 2 Almoloya del Río, 5/7 2 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 14/7 3 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamá.

Collared Plover Charadrius collaris 10/7 1 female San Blas.

Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa 24/7 14 Boca del Cielo.

Hudsonian Curlew Numenius (phaeopus) hudsonicus 9/7 1 San Blas, 24/7 8 Boca del Cielo.

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca 10/7 4, 11/7 2 San Blas.

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes 13/7 1 Durango Highway (km 90).

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia 5/7 1 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 24/7 2 Boca del Cielo.

Willet  Catoptrophorus semipalmatus 9/7 2, 10/7 3 San Blas, 24/7 6 Boca del Cielo.

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla 24/7 2 ad. Boca del Cielo.

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla 24/7 3 Boca del Cielo.

Laughing Gull Larus atricilla 7/7 c. 50 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 10/7 4 ad. San Blas, 18/7 c.50 Tampico, c. 40 Tecolutla, 19/7 1 Veracruz, 24/7 c. 15 Boca del Cielo.

Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 18/7 3 Tecolutla, 24/7 5 Boca del Cielo.

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 9/7 1 ad. San Blas, 18/7 29 Tampico.

Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans* 24/7 c. 135 Boca del Cielo.

Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 18/7 c.30 Tecolutla.

Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus 5/7 2 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 5-10 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 2 Playa de Oro, 18/7 1 Tampico, c. 5 Tecolutla.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo 5/7 2 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 18/7 1 Tecolutla.

Least Tern Sterna antillarum 5/7 5 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 9/7 c. 5, 10/7 1 ex. San Blas.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger 13/7 2 ad. Durango Highway (km 90). They were in full breeding plumage.

Black Skimmer Rynchops niger 24/7 9 Boca del Cielo.

Rock Dove Columba livia domest. Common in towns and cities.

Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 16/7 c. 20 San José de las Boquillas, 21/7 1 El Mirador (Valle Nacional).

Red-billed Pigeon Columba flavirostris 10/7 c. 30+2 heard, 11/7 c. 10 San Blas, 17/7 c. 10 El Naranjo, 19/7 c. 15 Tecolutla, 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional.

Short-billed Pigeon Columba nigrirostris 25/7 1+1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 13/7 1 Durango, 14/7 c. 10 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 16/7 common Monterrey-Ciudad Mante, 22/7 1+1 heard Monte Albán, 23/7 1 Tehuantepec-Arriaga.

White-winged Pigeon Zenaida asiatica 1/7 1 Xochipala, 5/7 2 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 9/7 c. 15, 10/7 c. 20 San Blas, 14/7 c. 10 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, a few Presa El Tulillo, 15/7 a few Tanque de Emergencia, 17/7 c. 15 El Naranjo, 22/7 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 5 Teotitlan del Valle.

Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina 1/7 c. 10 Milpillas/Xochipala, 3/7 1 Acapulco-Atoyac, 5/7 1 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 11/7 2 Durango Highway, 23/7 2 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec, 24/7 c. 5 Puerto Arista.

Ruddy Ground-Dove Columbina talpacoti 4/7 4 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c. 50 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 10/7 2 San Blas, 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional, 26/7 4 Amatlán.

Blue Ground-Dove Claravis pretiosa 21/7 1 male Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Inca Dove Scardafella inca Fairly common-common.

White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi Fairly common. Often detected by voice only.

White-faced Quail-Dove Geotrygon albifacies 2/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 20/7 3 heard Valle Nacional.  

Ruddy Quail-Dove Geotrygon montana 3/7 1 heard, 4/7 1+1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Military Macaw Ara militaris** 9/7 1+1 heard El Mirador del Aguila, 12/7 4 (km 201.5), 13/7 4 at km 187, 1 at km 180, Durango Highway. Seems to be readily found at Durango Highway in summer!

Maroon-fronted Parrot Rhynchopsitta terrisi** 15/7 c. 5 Highrise, 16/7 67+more heard Highrise/San José de las Boquillas. Easily heard and seen, but harder to get a close look at.

Green Parakeet Aratinga holochlora 17/7 7 El Naranjo, 18/7 4 Tampico-Tecolutla, 19/7 4 Tecolutla, 25/7 c. 20 Uxpanapa Road.

Orange-fronted Parakeet Aratinga canicularis 1/7 c. 40 Xochipala, 3/7 2, 4/7 c. 30 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 4/7 c. 30 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 10/7 6, 11/7 c. 40 San Blas, 11/7 4, 12/7 c. 20 Durango Highway, 23/7 c.15 Tehuantepec-Arriaga.

Mexican Parrotlet Forpus cyanopygius 7/7 1 pair Laguna La Maria.

White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis 17/7 1 El Naranjo.

White-fronted Amazon Amazona albifrons 24/7 4 Puerto Arista.

Lilac-crowned Amazon Amazona finschi 4/7 6 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 7/7 10 Colima-La Maria.

Red-lored Amazon Amazona autumnalis 17/7 12 El Naranjo, 20/7 c. 20 Valle Nacional.

Yellow-headed Amazon Amazona oratrix** 17/7 c. 10 El Naranjo. Seen at a distance when flying in to their night roost tree.

Mealy Amazon Amazona farinosa 24/7 2, 25/7 c. 10 Uxpanapa Road, 26/7 c. 20 Amatlán.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus 12/7 1 Panuco Road, Durango Highway, 19/7 1 Colonia Francisco Barrios.

Mangrove Cuckoo Coccyzus minor 9/7 1 heard, 10/7 1 San Blas, 12/7 2 heard, 13/7 1 male+4 heard Durango Highway.

Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 3/7 1, 4/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 2 Colima-La Maria, 2 Playa de Oro Road, 9/7 1 El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 1 San Blas, 17/7 1 El Naranjo, 21/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Groove-billed Ani Crotophaga sulcirostris Fairly common in the lowlands.

Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia 24/7 1 heard Arriaga Foothills.

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo Morococcyx erythropygus 9/7 1 male El Mirador del Aguila. Cool bird!

Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus 14/7 1 pair N. Cuencamé, Durango, 16/7 1 San José de las Boquillas.

Lesser Roadrunner Geococcyx velox 5/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 1 heard Cerro de San Juan, 23/7 1 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec (km 77). Great looks at both species of Roadrunner!

Whiskered Screech-Owl Otus trichopsis 6/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego, 15-16/7 1-2 heard Highrise.

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 1/7 1 heard Milpillas.

Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis* 15-16/7 1 heard Highrise. Nice!

Mottled Owl Strix virgata 1/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego.

Mountain Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium gnoma 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 16/7 1 heard Highrise.

Colima Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium palmarum 13/7 2 heard Durango Highway.

Central American Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium griseiceps 20/7 1 heard Valle Nacional.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium brasilianum 7/7 1 heard Playa de Oro Road, 10/7 2 San Blas, 17/7 1 El Naranjo, 24/7 2 heard Puerto Arista.

Northern Potoo  Nyctibius jamaicensis 10/7 4 San Blas.

Lesser Nighthawk Chordeiles acutipennis 4/7 c. 10 Lazaro Cardenas, 10/7 1 San Blas, 23/7 1 Tonalá-Puerto Arista, 24/7 1 Puerto Arista.

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 11-13/7 1 Durango Highway (km 134).

Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis 7/7 2 heard La Cumbre, Colima.

Eared Poorwill Nyctiphrynus mcleodii 6/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego.

Buff-collared Nightjar Caprimulgus ridgwayi 7/7 1-2 La Cumbre, Colima.

Mexican Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus (vociferus) arizonae  15/7 2 heard Highrise.

Chestnut-collared Swift Cypseloides rutilus 30/6 c. 20 Temascaltepec, 2/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 c. 70 Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Black Swift Cypseloides niger 30/6 1 male Temascaltepec, 19/7 6 Tecolutla, 21/7 c. 120 N. Oaxaca City, 22/7 3 Oaxaca. A few Black/White-fronted Swifts were seen in the Sierra de Atoyac (N).

White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris 3/7 2, 4/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 19/7 c. 20 Tecolutla-Cardel, 20/7 c. 25, 21/7 c. 20 Valle Nacional, 26/7 2 Amatlán.

White-naped Swift Streptoprocne semicollaris 30/6 3 Temascaltepec, 1/7 1 Xochipala, 13/7 1 Durango Highway. A very impressive swift – huge!

Vaux's Swift Chaetura vauxi 10-15 Temascaltepec, 2/7 c. 5 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 3/7 c. 8, 4/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 23/7 6 Teotitlan del Valle, 24/7 5 Uxpanapa Road.

White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis 13/7 12 Durango Highway, 16/7 c. 15 San José de las Boquillas.

Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis 24/7 2 Uxpanapa Road.

Mexican Hermit Phaethornis (longirostris) mexicanus 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Stripe-throated Hermit Phaethornis striigularis 20/7 1 Valle Nacional, 26/7 1 Amatlán.

Wedge-tailed Sabrewing Campylopterus curvipennis 18/7 1 female El Naranjo, 20/7 1 female, 21/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Green-breasted Mango Anthracothorax prevostii 20/7 1 female Valle Nacional.

Emerald-chinned Hummingbird Abeillia abeillei 20/7 2 female Valle Nacional.

Short-crested Coquette Lophornis brachylophus** 3/7 1 female, 4/7 1 female Sierra de Atoyac (S). The Coquettes evidently is there to see also during the summer months!

Golden-crowned Emerald Chlorostilbon (mellisugus) auriceps  4/7 1 male, 1 female Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 1 male Lazaro Cardenas-Tacoman, 13/7 2 females Durango Highway.

White-tailed Hummingbird Eupherusa poliocerca** 3/7 2-3, 4/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Dusky Hummingbird Cynanthus sordidus 22/7 c. 6 Monte Albán.

Doubleday's Hummingbird Cynanthus (latirostris) doubledayi  4/7 1 male Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas.

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl 20/7 c. 5 Valle Nacional, 24/7 1, 25/7 c. 5 Uxpanapa Road.

Cinnamon-bellied Hummingbird Amazilia yucatanensis 15/7 1 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 1, 18/7 1 El Naranjo, 19/7 1 Tecolutla.

Cinnamon Hummingbird Amazilia rutila 2/7 1 Acapulco, 5/7 1 Lazaro Cardenas-Tacoman, 10/7 4 San Blas.

White-bellied Emerald Agyrtria candida 20/7 2-3, 21/7 1 Valle Nacional, 25/7 2 Uxpanapa Road.

Azure-crowned Hummingbird Agyrtria cyanocephala 20/7 4 Valle Nacional.

Violet-crowned Hummingbird Agyrtria violiceps 13/7 1 Durango Highway (km 260).

Berylline Hummingbird Saucerottia beryllina 30/6 3 Temascaltepec, 2/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 3/7 1, 4/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 1 male Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 5 Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 1 male, 12/7 1-2 Durango Highway, 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 c. 7 Monte Albán, c. 8 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 1 male Teotitlan del Valle, 26/7 2 Bosque de Tlalpan.

Blue-throated Hummingbird Lampornis clemenciae 12/7 1 male, 1 female Barranca Rancho Liebre, 13/7 2 Durango Highway, 16/7 1 male+2 San José de las Boquillas.

Amethyst-throated Hummingbird Lampornis amethystinus  1/7 1 female, 2/7 1 male, 2 females Sierra de Atoyac (N; margaritae), 6/7 1 female Volcán de Fuego.

White-eared Hummingbird Basilinna leucotis 29/6 1 male La Cima, 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 1 female Temascaltepec, 1/7 3 males, 1 female Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 1 male Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 2, 13/7 7 Durango Highway, 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Garnet-throated Hummingbird Lamprolaima rhami 2/7 3 males, 1 female Sierra de Atoyac (N).

Magnificent Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens 13/7 1 male Durango Highway, 22/7 1 male Monte Albán.

Long-billed Starthroat Heliomaster longirostris 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Mexican Sheartail Doricha eliza 19/7 2 males, 1 female San Francisco Barrios. Excellent observations!

Lucifer Hummingbird Calothorax lucifer 14/7 2 males, 1 female Presa El Tulillo, 16/7 1 male San José de las Boquillas.

Bumblebee Hummingbird Atthis heloisa 20/7 1 male, 1 female, 21/7 3 females Valle Nacional. Amazing birds!

Citreoline Trogon Trogon citreolus 5/7 2 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 2+c. 10 heard Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 2-3 heard Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 1 male+1 heard El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 6+2 heard, 11/7 2+2 heard San Blas, 11/7 1 San Blas-Villa Union, 12/7 1 male, 13/7 1 male Durango Highway, 24/7 1 Arriaga Foothills.

Black-headed Trogon Trogon melanocephalus 25/7 1 female Uxpanapa Road.

Northern Violaceous Trogon Trogon (violaceus) caligatus 25/7 3 heard Uxpanapa Road, 26/7 1 heard Amatlán.

Mountain Trogon Trogon mexicanus 1/7 1 pair+1 heard, 2/7 1+2 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 6+1 heard Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 1 female+6 heard, 13/7 1 heard Durango Highway, 17/7 2 heard, 18/7 1 male+1 heard El Naranjo.

Elegant Trogon Trogon elegans 7/7 c. 5+c. 10 heard Colima-La Maria, 8/7 2 heard Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 c. 5 heard Cerro de San Juan, 1 male+1 heard El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 2 heard, 11/7 1 male+2 heard San Blas, 12/7 1 pair+3 heard, 13/7 4 heard Durango Highway, 15/7 1 heard Cola de Caballo, 16/7 2 heard San José de las Boquillas, 17/7 c. 5 heard El Naranjo.

Collared Trogon Trogon collaris 4/7 1 female+1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 10/7 7 San Blas.

Amazon Kingfisher Chloroceryle amazona 3/7 1 Acapulco-Atoyac.

Ringed Kingfisher Megaceryle torquata 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 24/7 1 Boca del Cielo, 25/7 2 Sayula-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Russet-crowned Motmot Momotus mexicanus 1/7 1+2 heard Xochipala, 4/7 5+2 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 11/7 2 heard San Blas, 12/7 4 heard Durango Highway, 23/7 1+1 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota 20/7 2 heard, 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional, 25/7 1, 26/7 2 heard Amatlán.

Emerald Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 21/7 2 Valle Nacional.

Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus 21/7 1 Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Rainbow-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus 20/7 4 Valle Nacional, 24/7 1, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road, 25/7 1 heard Amatlán.

Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 1/7 4, 2/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 2, 6/7 c. 10 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 1 Cerro de San Juan, 13/7 c. 5 Durango Highway, 16/7 4 San José de las Boquillas.

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes chrysogenys 1/7 1 Acapulco, 3/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 2 Colima-La Maria, 2 Tecoman-Manzanillo, 8/7 1 Barranca del Choncho, 10/7 c. 10, 11/7 c. 5 San Blas, 11/7 1 San Blas-Villa Union, 1 Durango Highway.

Gray-breasted Woodpecker Melanerpes hypopolius 23/7 1 female Teotitlán del Valle, 1 pair Oaxaca-Tehuantepec (km 77).

Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis 11/7 1, 12/7 1, 13/7 1 female Durango Highway.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons 7/7 2 Laguna La Maria, 14/7 3 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 1 Presa El Tulillo, 16/7 1 Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante, 17/7 4 El Naranjo, 18/7 a few Tampico-Tecolutla, 1 Teco-lutla, 20/7 3 Valle Nacional, 24/7 c. 5 Puerto Arista, 24/7 c. 5, 25/7 3 Uxpanapa Road, 26/7 3 Amatlán.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker Picoides scalaris 30/6 1 male Temascaltepec, 5/7 1 male Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 1 male Colima-La Maria, 13/7 1 pair Durango Highway, 14/7 2 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 21/7 1 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 23/7 1 Teotitlan del Valle.

Strickland's Woodpecker Picoides stricklandi 29/6 1 male Huitzilac-Santa Martha.

Arizona Woodpecker Picoides (stricklandi) arizonae 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 3 males Durango Highway. Split by both AOU and Clements, but not by HBW.

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Gray-crowned Woodpecker Piculus auricularis 4/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 2 Laguna La Maria, 12/7 2 Durango Highway.

Bronze-winged Woodpecker Piculus (rubiginosus) aeruginosus  17/7 1 female El Naranjo.

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 29/6 c. 5 La Cima, 1/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 12/7 1, 13/7 3 Durango Highway, 14/7 2 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 2 Tanque de Emergencia, 1 Cola de Caballo, 16/7 4 San José de las Boquillas, 2 Monterrey-Ciudad Victoria, 17/7 3 El Naranjo, 19/7 3 Tecolutla.

Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 24/7 1 male Uxpanapa Road.

Pale-billed Woodpecker Campephilus guatemalensis 4/7 1 pair Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 1 heard drumming Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 1 pair Puerto Vallarta-Tepic, 9/7 1 male Cerro de San Juan.

Rufous-breasted Spinetail Synallaxis erythrothorax 20/7 2 Valle Nacional, 25/7 2+3 sj. Uxpanapa Road.

Plain Xenops Xenops minutus 21/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Scaly-throated Foliage-gleaner Anabacerthia variegaticeps  21/7 4 Valle Nacional.

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus flavigaster 4/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 3 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 10/7 4 heard San Blas, 12/7 2 heard, 13/7 1 heard Durango Highway, 17/7 1 heard El Naranjo, 20/7 1 Valle Nacional, 23/7 1 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec, 24/7 1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygis 21/7 1 Valle Nacional.

White-striped Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes leucogaster  30/6 1 heard Temascaltepec, 5/7 1 heard, 6/7 1+7 heard Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 1 heard Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 1, 12/7 4+6 heard, 13/7 1 heard Durango Highway.

Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis 1/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 20/7 1, 21/7 2 Valle Nacional

Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 20/7 1 male+2 heard, 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional, 25/7 2 males+2 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Mexican Antthrush Formicarius (analis) monileger 20/7 1 heard Valle Nacional.

Rufous Piha Lipaugus unirufus 24/7 2 Uxpanapa Road.

Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 24/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Greenish Elaenia Myiopagis viridicata 7/7 4 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 1 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 1 Durango Highway, 21/7 3 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 1 heard Monte Albán, 25/7 1 heard Amatlán.

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet Camptostoma imberbe 30/6 2 heard Temascaltepec, 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 10/7 1 San Blas, 13/7 2 Durango Highway, 24/7 1 Arriaga Foothills.

Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet Ornithion semiflavum 20/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Yellow-olive Flatbill Tolmomyias sulphurescens 24/7 1 Uxpanapa Road, 26/7 1 Amatlán.

Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 4/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Northern Tufted-Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus 29/6 3 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 2 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 3 Durango Highway.

Pileated Flycatcher Xenotriccus mexicanus* 22/7 2 males+1 heard Monte Albán, 1 heard N. Oaxaca City.

Pine Flycatcher Empidonax affinis 12/7 1 Barranca Rancho Liebre, 16/7 1 San José de las Boquillas.

Cordilleran Flycatcher Empidonax occidentalis 30/6 2 males Temascaltepec, 6/7 6 Volcán de Fuego.

Buff-breasted Flycatcher Empidonax fulvifrons 29/6 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 13/7 2 Durango Highway (km 45).

Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus 1/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 21/7 3 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 2 Monte Albán, 3 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 c. 6 Teotitlán del Valle.

Tropical Pewee Contopus cinereus 24/7 2, 25/7 1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Greater Pewee Contopus pertinax 29/6 2 La Cima, 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 1/7 1, 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 1-2, 13/7 2-3 Durango Highway, 17/7 3, 18/7 2 El Naranjo, 21/7 4 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 26/7 1 Bosque de Tlalpan.

Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 13/7 4 Durango Highway, 17/7 1 El Naranjo.

Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya 16/7 3 San José de las Boquillas.

Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus 30/6 1 female Temascaltepec, 5/7 4 males, 6/7 3 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 7 Colima-La Maria, 14/7 4 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 21/7 1 male, 1 juv. El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 1 male Monte Albán, 23/7 1 male Teotitlan del Valle, 25/7 3 Sayula-Cosamaloapan, Veracruz.

Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus 29/6 1 heard Temascaltepec, 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego, 13/7 1 heard Durango Highway.

Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrannulus 7/7 1 Playa de Oro Road, 18/7 2 Ciudad Mante-Tampico.

Nutting's Flycatcher Myiarchus nuttingi ?? Most likely seen several times, but no vocalizations were heard.

Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens 14/7 1 Presa El Tulillo, 15/7 1 Hedionda Road.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 1+2 heard, 6/7 c. 7+c. 5 heard Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 c. 5 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 c. 5 Durango Highway, 17/7 1 heard El Naranjo, 24/7 2, 25/7 1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Flammulated Flycatcher Deltarhynchus flammulatus 13/7 1 heard Durango Highway (km 265).

Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 24/7 2, 25/7 4 Uxpanapa Road.

Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus Fairly common-common in the lowlands.

Social Flycather Myiozetetes similis Fairly common in the lowlands.

Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus 20/7 1 Valle Nacional, 24/7 1, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Myiodynastes luteiventris  1/7 6 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 3/7 2, 4/7 c. 7 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 c. 10 Colima-La Maria, 8/7 6 Barranca del Choncho, 11/7 2, 12/7 2 Durango Highway, 17/7 3 El Naranjo, 24/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Piratic Flycatcher Legatus leucophaius 20/7 2 Valle Nacional, 24/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans 30/6 2 Santa Martha, 13/7 5 Durango Highway, 14/7 c. 10 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 1 Tanque de Emergencia, 22/7 c. 5 Monte Albán.

Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus Fairly common-common in the lowlands.

Couch's Kingbird Tyrannus couchii 21/7 2 Valle Nacional. More birds were probably seen.

Thick-billed Kingbird Tyrannus crassirostris 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 9/7 3 Cerro de San Juan.

Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana 19/7 6 Las Barrancas.

Rose-throated Becard Platypsaris aglaiae 30/6 1 male Temascaltepec, 5/7 1 female Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 6 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 3 Cerro de San Juan, 25/7 2 males Uxpanapa Road.

Masked Tityra Tityra semifasciata 4/7 4 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 9/7 3 El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 1 San Blas, 12/7 1, 13/7 1 Durango Highway, 17/7 3+2 heard El Naranjo, 20/7 1 male Valle Nacional, 24/7 2, 25/7 c. 5 Uxpanapa Road.

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris 15/7 4+c. 5 heard Tanque de Emergencia.

Gray-breasted Martin Progne modesta 3/7 c. 20 ex. Acapulco, 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c. 5 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 18/7 c. 40, 19/7 c. 20 Tecolutla, 24/7 c. 20 Arriaga-La Ventosa, c. 12 Uxpanapa Road.

Mangrove Swallow Tachycineta albilinea 9/7 1, 10/7 3 San Blas, 11/7 1 S.B.-V. Union, 24/7 8 Boca del Cielo.

Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina  29/6 c. 20 La Cima, a few Toluca-Temascaltepec, 13/7 5-10 Durango Highway, 16/7 c. 85 San José de las Boquillas.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis  29/6 1 Almoloya del Río, 30/6 c. 15 Temascaltepec, 1/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 7/7 2 Laguna La Maria, 13/7 2 Durango Highway.

Ridgway's Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx (serripennis) ridgwayi 25/7 12 Uxpanapa Road. Only treated as a species by some authors. Why? It seems distinct enough to be a good species, especially considering that Northern and Southern Rough-winged Swallows at least superficially are much more similar.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Fairly common-common, though sparse in the east and south.

Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 5/7 3 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 6/7 c. 30 Atenquique-Colima.

Cave Swallow Petrochelidon fulva 14/7 10-15 La Rosa, W. Saltillo.

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa 29/6 1 heard Huitzilac-Santa Martha.

Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens 14/7 4 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 1 Hedionda Road.

Gray Silky-Flycatcher Ptilogonys cinereus 29/6 5 Huitzilac, 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 2/7 c. 25 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 2, 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 1 Colima-La Maria, 21/7 c. 25 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 1 Monte Albán, 23/7 3 Teotitlan del Valle.

Band-backed Wren Campylorhynchus zonatus 20/7 2 heard Valle Nacional, 25/7 2+2 heard Uxpanapa Road, 26/7 2 heard Amatlán.

Gray-barred Wren Campylorhynchus megalopterus 30/6 3 Temascaltepec, 6/7 c. 20 Volcán de Fuego, 21/7 c. 10 Valle Nacional, c. 5 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Giant Wren Campylorhynchus chiapensis 24/7 1 pair+6 heard Puerto Arista/Boca del Cielo. Cool!

Rufous-naped Wren Campylorhynchus rufinucha 3/7 c. 5 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 19/7 2 heard Colonia Francisco Barrios, 23/7 1+4 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

Spotted Wren Campylorhynchus gularis 30/6 2 ad. (nest-building), 1 juv. Temascaltepec, 5/7 6, 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 6 Laguna La Maria, 9/7 3 Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 2-3, 12/7 2, 13/7 1 Durango Highway.

Boucard's Wren Campylorhynchus jocosus 1/7 1 Xochipala, 21/7 1 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 23/7 4 Teotitlan del Valle.

Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus 14/7 5+3 heard Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 c. 6+ a few heard Tanque de Emergencia/Hedionda Road.

Rock Wren  Salpinctes obsoletus 16/7 2 San José de las Boquillas, 22/7 1 heard Monte Albán.

Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus 30/6 2 males+2 heard Temascaltepec, 5/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 2 Durango Highway, 22/7 1 heard Monte Albán, 23/7 1 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

Sumichrast's Wren Hylorchilus sumichrasti* 26/7 1 male+2 heard Amatlán. Splendid observation!

Nava's Wren Hylorchilus navai** 25/7 1 heard Uxpanapa road.

Happy Wren Thryothorus felix 30/6 1 male+1 heard Temascaltepec, 1/7 2 heard Xochipala, 3/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 4/7 c. 5 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 1 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 6/7 2+3 heard Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 c. 5 heard Colima-La Maria, 3 heard Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 2 heard Barranca del Choncho, 10/7 2 heard, 11/7 1 heard San Blas, 12/7 2 heard, 13/7 2+3 heard Durango Highway, 21/7 1 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 23/7 2 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

Spot-breasted Wren Thryothorus maculipectus 15/7 1 heard Cola de Caballo, 17/7 5+c. 10 heard, 18/7 c. 5 heard El Naranjo, 20/7 5+c. 10 heard, 21/7 2+3 heard Valle Nacional, 24/7 c. 6 heard, 25/7 c. 10 Uxpanapa Road, 26/7 c. 5 heard Amatlán.

Banded Wren Thryothorus pleurostictus 1/7 1+ c. 5 heard Xochipala, 23/7 c. 5 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec, 24/7 2+3 heard Arriaga Foothills.

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus 15/7 2+1 heard Cola de Caballo.

Sinaloa Wren Thryothorus sinaloa 4/7 c. 5 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 c. 5 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 1+c. 5 heard Colima-La Maria, 1+c. 10 heard Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 4+c. 10 heard Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 1+c. 10 heard Cerro de San Juan, 2 heard El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 2+c. 7 heard, 11/7 1+c. 5 heard San Blas, 11/7 1+a few heard, 12/7 1 heard, 13/7 1 Durango Highway.

Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii 14/7 3+young heard from a nest hole Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 1 Hedionda Road, 16/7 1 San José de las Boquillas, 26/7 4 Bosque de Tlalpan.

Brown-throated Wren Troglodytes (aedon) brunneicollis  29/6 2+1 heard La Cima, 3 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 2+2 heard Temascaltepec, 1/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 c. 5 Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 c. 10, 13/7 3 Durango Highway.

Southern House-Wren Troglodytes (aedon) musculus 26/7 1 heard Amatlán.

White-bellied Wren Uropsila leucogastra 7/7 4+4 heard Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 1 heard Barranca del Choncho, 25/7 1 male+1 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys 1/7 2 heard, 2/7 2-3 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 3-4 heard Volcán de Fuego, 20/7 c. 15 heard, 21/7 1+c. 15 heard Valle Nacional.

Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottus 14/7 c. 20 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 1 La Rosa, W Saltillo, 15/7 c. 10 Tanque de Emergencia/Hedionda Road.

Long-billed Thrasher Toxostoma longirostre 15/7 4 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 2, 18/7 1 El Naranjo.

Ocellated Thrasher Toxostoma ocellatum 22/7 1 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 2 Teotitlan del Valle.

Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre 29/6 3 La Cima, 30/6 2 Temascaltepec-Toluca, 5/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 14/7 5 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 5 Tanque de Emergencia/Hedionda Road, 16/7 6 San José de las Boquillas.

Crissal Thrasher Toxostoma crissale 15/7 1 Hedionda Road.

Blue Mockingbird Melanotis caerulescens 30/6 c. 12 Temascaltepec, 1/7 4, 2/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 1, 6/7 c. 5 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 c. 10 Colima-La Maria, c. 15 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 3 Durango Highway, 22/7 2 Monte Albán, 23/7 4 Teotitlan del Valle.

Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana 29/6 c. 5 La Cima, 13/7 1 ad. (partially albino with a white head!), 4 juv. Durango Highway, 16/7 1 female San José de las Boquillas.

Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis 1/7 1 pair, 2/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 6, 6/7 1 female Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 3 Colima-La Maria, 11/7 5 Durango Highway, 21/7 1 male El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Brown-backed Solitaire Myadestes occidentalis 29/6 1 heard La Cima, 30/6 3+4 heard Temascaltepec, 1/7 c. 10 +c. 5 heard, 2/7 c. 5+c. 10 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 3/7 3 heard, 4/7 2+a few heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 2 heard, 6/7 several heard Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 10-15 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 c. 5+2 heard Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 3+4 heard Durango Highway, 15/7 3 heard Highrise, 16/7 1+1 heard San José de las Boquillas, 17/7 3+3 heard, 18/7 1 heard El Naranjo, 21/7 1+1 heard Valle Nacional, 1 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Slate-colored Solitaire Myadestes unicolor 20/7 3+c. 15 heard , 21/7 1+c. 7 heard Valle Nacional. Extraordinary song!

Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus aurantiirostris 29/6 1 Huitzilac, 30/6 5+c. 15 heard Temascalte-pec, 2/7 2 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 c. 5 heard, 6/7 1+c. 5 heard Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 c. 10 heard Colima-La Maria, 9/7 c. 5 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 2 heard Durango Highway, 17/7 1 heard El Naranjo, 20/7 2 heard Valle Nacional, 21/7 c. 10 heard El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 2 heard Monte Albán, c. 5 heard N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 1+2 heard Teotitlan del Valle.

Russet Nightingale-Thrush Catharus occidentalis 30/6 1 heard Temascaltepec, 1/7 3+c. 15 heard, 2/7 5-10+c. 5 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 3+a few heard Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 c. 6 heard Durango Highway.

Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush Catharus frantzii 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego, 21/7 4 heard Valle Nacional. Probably more birds both heard and seen.

Black-headed Nightingale-Thrush Catharus mexicanus 20/7 2+5 heard, 21/7 4 Valle Nacional.

Black Thrush Turdus infuscatus 21/7 1 pair Valle Nacional, 1 male El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi 15/7 c. 5+3 heard Cola de Caballo, 17/7 c. 30 +c. 5 heard, 18/7 c. 5 El Naranjo, 20/7 c. 35+heard, 21/7 c. 10 Valle Nacional, 24/7 c. 8, 25/7 c. 5 Uxpanapa Road.

White-throated Thrush Turdus assimilis 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 1/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 3/7 2, 4/7 2+c. 5 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 2+1 heard Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 c. 15 Colima-La Maria, 8/7 a few Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 c. 60 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 c. 10+2 heard, 13/7 a few Durango Highway, 20/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Rufous-backed Thrush Turdus rufopalliatus 30/6 3+1 heard Temascaltepec, 3/7 1+1 at nest Acapulco, 3/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 4/7 1 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 3 Volcán de Fuego, 8/7 7 Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 c. 5 Cerro de San Juan, 13/7 2 Durango Highway, 23/7 2 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

American Robin Turdus migratorius 29/6 c. 5 La Cima, 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 9/7 1 Cerro de San Juan, 21/7 1 juv. El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 c. 20 Monte Albán, 26/7 4 Bosque de Tlalpan.

Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus  25/7 2 heard Uxpanapa Road.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea 9/7 1 ex. Cerro de San Juan, 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 1 heard N. Oaxaca City.

White-lored Gnatcatcher Polioptila albiloris 1/7 1+1 heard Xochipala, 23/7 6 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 29/6 3 Huitzilac, 2 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 1/7 c. 25 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 16/7 4 San José de las Boquillas, 21/7 c. 10 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 26/7 c. 15 Bosque de Tlalpan.

Mexican Chickadee Poecile sclateri 29/6 1+2 heard Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 12/7 2, 13/7 1 Durango Highway.

Bridled Titmouse Baeolophus wollweberi 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 12/7 2, 13/7 1+1 heard Durango Highway.

Black-crested Titmouse Baeolophus (bicolor) atricristatus  15/7 4+1 heard Cola de Caballo, 17/7 1+1 heard, 18/7 1 El Naranjo.

Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea 29/6 3 La Cima, 2-3 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 2 heard Temascaltepec, 12/7 1 heard Durango Highway.

White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis 29/6 1 La Cima, 2/7 2 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 1 heard Volcán de Fuego.

Brown Creeper Certhia americana 29/6 2 La Cima, 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 3 Temascaltepec, 12/7 5+1 heard, 13/7 3 Durango Highway.

Verdin Auriparus flaviceps 14/7 1 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 1 Presa El Tulillo.

Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus 5/7 2, 6/7 3 Volcán de Fuego, 14/7 2 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé. A few more seen, but not by me.

Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 29/6 2 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 1/7 4, 2/7 2-4 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 12/7 1, 13/7 2 Durango Highway, 21/7 1 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 26/7 7 Córdoba-Puebla.

Black-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta colliei 8/7 6 Puerto Vallarta-Tepic, 9/7 7 El Mirador del Aguila, 11/7 3 San Blas-Villa Union, 11/7 3, 13/7 2 Durango Highway. Nice bird!

White-throated Magpie-Jay Calocitta formosa 1/7 1 Xochipala, 3/7 1 Acapulco-Atoyac, 3/7 c. 15, 4/7 a few Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 5 Playa de Oro Road, 23/7 2 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec, 7 Tehuantepec-Arriaga, 24/7 c. 5 Puerto Arista, 2 Arriaga Foothills.

Tufted Jay Cyanocorax dickeyi* 12/7 10+3 heard Barranca Rancho Liebre, 13/7 4 Durango Highway. Incredible bird!

Green Jay Cyanocorax luxuosus 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 15/7 4 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 c. 10 El Naranjo, 25/7 1 heard Amatlán.

Brown Jay Cyanocorax morio 17/7 2, 18/7 5 El Naranjo, 18/7 1 Tampico-Tecolutla, 19/7 2 Tecolutla-Cardel, 20/7 c. 10, 21/7 2 Valle Nacional, 25/7 c. 5 Uxpanapa Road, 7 Sayula-Cosamaloapan.

San Blas Jay Cyanocorax sanblasianus 8/7 4 Barranca del Choncho.

Purplish-backed Jay Cyanocorax beecheii 11/7 3 San Blas-Villa Union.

Dwarf Jay Cyanolyca nana** 21/7 c. 5 Valle Nacional (km 104), 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

White-throated Jay Cyanolyca mirabilis** 2/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N). Beautiful bird!

Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica 1/7 2, 2/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (N),

Gray-breasted Jay Aphelocoma ultramarina 6/7 c. 10 Volcán de Fuego, 13/7 c. 10 Durango Highway, 15/7 1 Highrise, 16/7 c. 20 Highrise/San José de las Boquillas, 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 26/7 1Córdoba-Puebla.

Unicolored Jay Aphelocoma unicolor 20/7 3, 21/7 12 Valle Nacional.

Tamaulipas Crow Corvus imparatus 17/7 2, 18/7 c. 5 El Naranjo, 19/7 c. 5 Tecolutla.

Sinaloa Crow Corvus sinaloae 8/7 3 Puerto Vallarta-Tepic, 9/7 c. 15 Tepic-San Blas, 10/7 c. 30 San Blas, 11/7 c. 150 San Blas-Villa Union.

Chihuahuan Raven Corvus cryptoleucus 14/7 c. 20 Guadalupe Vistoria-Cuencamé, c. 10 Cuencamé-Saltillo, c. 5 Presa El Tulillo, 15/7 c. 5 Tanque de Emergencia, c. 5 Saltillo-Monterrey, 16/7 c. 20 Monterrey-Ciudad Victoria.

Northern Raven Corvus corax 11/7 2 San Blas-Villa Union, 13/7 c. 10 Durango Highway, 16/7 several San José de las Boquillas.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus Common in and near towns and cities.

Slaty Vireo Vireo brevipennis 7/7 1 male Colima-La Maria. Fabulous bird!

White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 15/7 2 heard Cola de Caballo.

Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii 14/7 2 ad., 1 juv. Presa El Tulillo.

Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 12/7 3 Durango Highway, 21/7 1 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni 29/6 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 1/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego, 16/7 1 ex. San José de las Boquillas.

Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 7/7 1 Laguna La Maria, 9/7 1 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 1 Durango Highway.

Yellow-green Vireo Vireo flavoviridis 1/7 2 heard Xochipala, 2/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 c. 15+a few heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 1+2 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 3 Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 c. 30 Barranca del Choncho, a few heard Puerto Vallarta-Tepic, 9/7 a few Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 c. 15, 12/7 c. 5, 13/7 c. 15 Durango Highway, 15/7 5 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 c. 5, 18/7 c. 5 El Naranjo, 24/7 3 Arriaga Foothills, 25/7 a few Uxpanapa Road.

Golden Vireo Vireo hypochryseus 3/7 1, 4/7 4+c. 10 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 7/7 3+2 heard Colima-La Maria, 8/7 1+2 heard Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 5 heard Cerro de San Juan, 23/7 2 heard Teotitlan del Valle.

Lesser Greenlet Hylophilus decurtatus 20/7 1, 21/7 2 Valle Nacional.

Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius melitophrys 1/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca. Not seen really close, unfortunately.

Green Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus 20/7 2 heard, 21/7 1 subad., 1 juv. Valle Nacional.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 17/7 2 El Naranjo.

Pine Siskin Carduelis pinus 30/6 1 Santa Martha.

Black-hooded Siskin Carduelis notata 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 2/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 11/7 1, 12/7 2 ad., 1 juv. Durango Highway, 17/7 2 El Naranjo.

Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria 30/6 2 males Temascaltepec, 1/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 9/7 2 males Cerro de San Juan, 14/7 8 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 16/7 c. 10 San José de las Boquillas, 17/7 c. 5 El Naranjo, 21/7 1 male El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 c. 25 Monte Albán, c. 15 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 c. 5 Teotitlan del Valle, a few Oaxaca-Tehuantepec.

Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 21/7 1 pair N. Oaxaca City (km 206). A most odd location! They were sitting on a telephone wire in an area of scrub.

House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus 29/6 5 La Cima, 3 Huitzilac, 14/7 1 male Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 1 pair Hedionda Road, 21/7 2 males El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 1 male Monte Albán.

Evening Grosbeak Hesperiphona vespertinus 13/7 1 male+2 Durango Highway (km 45). A bit difficult in Mexico.

Olive Warbler Peucedramus taeniatus 1/7 c. 10 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 1 female Volcán de Fuego

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia 12/7 1 juv. Durango Highway. Very early migrant.

Colima Warbler Vermivora crissalis* 16/7 1 San José de las Boquillas.

Crescent-chested Warbler Parula superciliosa 29/6 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 6/7 8+4 heard Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 3 Durango Highway, 21/7 6 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi 8/7 2 heard Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 1 heard Cerro de San Juan, 15/7 1+2 heard Cola de Caballo, 17/7 3+c. 15 heard, 18/7 1+4 heard El Naranjo, 26/7 2 heard Amatlán.

Mangrove Warbler Dendroica petechia 5/7 2 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman.

Grace's Warbler Dendroica graciae 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 1/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 11/7 5, 12/7 5 Durango Highway.

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata 12/7 1 female/juv. Durango Highway.

Hooded Yellowthroat Geothlypis nelsoni 26/7 1 female Bosque de Tlalpan. Seen by Lars only.

Altamira Yellowthroat Geothlypis flavovelata** 19/7 3 males, 1 female Tecolutla. Seen rather easily.

Black-polled Yellowthroat Geothlypis speciosa** 29/6 2 males+2 heard Almoloya del Río. Skulking.

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat Geothlypis poliocephala 19/7 1 male, 1 female Tecolutla.

Red Warbler Ergaticus ruber 29/6 c. 10+a few heard Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 6/7 2 ad., 1 juv. Volcán de Fuego, 21/7 3 El Mirador-Oaxaca. A beautiful bird!

Painted Whitestart Myioborus pictus 12/7 1, 13/7 2 Durango Highway.

Slate-throated Whitestart Myioborus miniatus 29/6 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 3 Temascaltepec, 1/7 c. 10, 2/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 3-4 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 3 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 c. 10 Durango Highway, 21/7 4 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Fan-tailed Warbler Euthlypis lachrymosa 4/7 1 heard Sierra de Atoyac (S), 8/7 1+3 heard Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 1 heard El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 1+1 heard San Blas.

Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 4/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 17/7 4, 18/7 1 El Naranjo, 20/7 8 Valle Nacional.

Rufous-capped Warbler  Basileuterus rufifrons 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 1/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 1, 12/7 2 Durango Highway, 15/7 7 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 4, 18/7 2 El Naranjo, 20/7 c. 10, 21/7 a few Valle Nacional, 21/7 6 El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 5 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 5 Teotitlan del Valle, 25/7 1, 26/7 2 Amatlán, 26/7 1 Bosque de Tlalpan.

Golden-browed Warbler Basileuterus belli 1/7 6 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 c. 35 Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 3 Durango Highway, 21/7 3 Valle Nacional, 3 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens 14/7 1 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé.

Bananaquit Coereba flaveola 21/7 1 Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus 3/7 1 pair, 4/7 2 males, 1 female Sierra de Atoyac (S), 20/7 c. 10, 21/7 c. 15 Valle Nacional, 24/7 c. 10, 25/7 c. 15 Uxpanapa Road.

Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer Diglossa baritula 29/6 1 female Huitzilac, 1/7 1 pair, 2/7 2 males, 1 female Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 4 females Sierra de Atoyac (S), 21/7 1 female El Mirador-Oaxaca, 26/7 1 female Bosque de Tlalpan.

Golden-hooded Tanager Tangara larvata 25/7 2 Uxpanapa Road.

Yellow-throated Euphonia Euphonia hirundinacea 17/7 4 males, 3 females, 18/7 1 juv. male El Naranjo, 24/7 2 males, 1 female, 25/7 3 males, 1 female Uxpanapa Road.

Elegant Euphonia Euphonia elegantissima 30/6 1 pair Temascaltepec. Seen a few more times, but not by me!

Olive-backed Euphonia Euphonia gouldi 21/7 1 male Valle Nacional.

Scrub Euphonia Euphonia affinis 20/7 2 males, 1 female Valle Nacional, 24/7 1 male Puerto Arista, 1 male Arriaga Foothills.

Godman's Euphonia Euphonia (affinis) goldmani 7/7 1 pair Playa de Oro Road. Not seen well enough by me to count.

Common Bush-Tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus 1/7 7, 2/7 c. 5 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 20/7 c. 20, 21/7 c. 30 Valle Nacional, 26/7 c. 5 Amatlán.

Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas 17/7 c. 15 El Naranjo, 19/7 1 Tecolutla, 20/7 c. 10, 21/7 2 Valle Nacional, 24/7 8, 25/7 c. 15 Uxpanapa Road.

Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus 19/7 3 Tecolutla, 20/7 2 Valle Nacional.

Crimson-collared Tanager Phlogothraupis sanguinolenta  20/7 5+1 at nest with 1 chick, 21/7 2 Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Passerini's Tanager Ramphocelus passerinii 24/7 1, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Northern Hepatic-Tanager Piranga (flava) hepatica 30/6 1 female Temascaltepec, 1/7 1 male Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 1 male Sierra de Atoyac (S), 5/7 1 female, 6/7 1 pair+1 female Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 5 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 1 pair Cerro de San Juan, 11/7 1 male, 2 females, 12/7 2 males, 1 female, 13/7 1 pair+1 juv. Durango Highway, 15/7 1 Cola de Caballo, 21/7 1 male El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata 30/6 1 male, 2 femalesTemascaltepec, 7/7 6 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 3 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 1 female Durango Highway, 17/7 1 male El Naranjo.

White-winged Tanager Piranga leucoptera 17/7 2 juv. males, 1 female 18/7 2 juv. males, 2 females El Naranjo. The plumage of the young males was a surprise.

Red-headed Tanager Piranga erythrocephala 30/6 1 male Temascaltepec, 9/7 1 male, 2 females Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 3 males, 2 females Durango Highway.

Red-crowned Ant-Tanager Habia rubica 30/6 2 Temascaltepec, 7/7 2 Colima-La Maria.

Red-throated Ant-Tanager Habia fuscicauda 25/7 4 Uxpanapa Road.

Variable Seedeater Sporophila corvina 25/7 2 males Uxpanapa Road.

Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater Sporophila torqueola 30/6 1 male, 1 female Temascaltepec, 1/7 1 male Sierra de Atoyac (N), 4/7 1 male Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 1 male Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 1 male Colima-La Maria, 10/7 1 male San Blas, 22/7 2 males, 1 female Monte Albán.

White-collared Seedeater Sporophila (torqueola) morelleti  16/7 1 male Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante, 17/7 males El Naranjo, 19/7 c. 10 Tecolutla, a few Tecolutla-Cardel, 20/7 c. 30, 21/7 c. 15 Valle Nacional, 24/7 c. 10, 25/7 c. 15 Uxpanapa Road.

Ruddy-breasted Seedeater Sporophila minuta 24/7 3 ad. males, 2 juv. males, 1 female Puerto Arista/Boca de Cielo.

Blue-black Grassquit Volatiania jacarina 3/7 1 male, 4/7 2 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 4/7 c. 10 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 c. 20 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, c. 5Volcán de Fuego, 11/7 1 male San Blas-Villa Union, 20/7 c. 5 Valle Nacional, 24/7 c. 10 Puerto Arista, 25/7 c. 10 Uxpanapa Road.

Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivacea 17/7 2, 18/7 1 ad., 1 juv. El Naranjo, 19/7 2 Tecolutla.

White-naped Brush-Finch Atlapetes albinucha 20/7 6, 21/7 2 Valle Nacional.

Rufous-capped Brush-Finch Atlapetes pileatus 29/6 5 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 1/7 1, 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 12/7 4 Durango Highway.

Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch Buarremon brunneinuchus 1/7 6, 2/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 21/7 2 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Green-striped Brush-Finch Buarremon virenticeps 29/6 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 1 Temascaltepec, 6/7 7 Volcán de Fuego, 12/7 3 Barranca Rancho Liebre.

Olive Sparrow Arremonops rufivirgatus 15/7 2 Cola de Caballo, 17/7 4+2 heard, 18/7 4+2 heard El Naranjo, 20/7 6+c. 5 heard, 21/7 1 heard Valle Nacional, 24/7 2, 25/7 1+2 heard Uxpanapa Road, 25/7 1, 26/7 1 heard Amatlán.

Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow Melozone kieneri 1/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 5/7 3, 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 4 Colima-La Maria, 9/7 2 Cerro de San Juan, 12/7 4, 13/7 2 Durango Highway.

Collared Towhee Pipilo ocai 1/7 1 male, 2/7 3 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 6/7 c. 10+2 heard Volcán de Fuego.

Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 29/6 1 La Cima, 30/6 7 Temascaltepec, 12/7 2 ad., 1 juv., 13/7 1 Durango Highway, 16/7 2 San José de las Boquillas.

Canyon Towhee Pipilo fuscus 30/6 1 Temascaltepec-Toluca, 13/7 1 Durango Highway, 14/7 c. 10 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 c. 5 Tanque de Emergencia, 26/7 1 Puebla-México, 4 Bosque de Tlalpan.

White-throated Towhee Pipilo albicollis 21/7 2, 22 /7 1 N. Oaxaca City, 22/7 c. 10 Monte Albán, 23/7 c. 10 Teotitlan del Valle.

Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata 14/7 4 ad., 4 juv. Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 1 ad. Presa El Tulillo, 15/7 8 Tanque de Emergencia/Hedionda Road.

Bridled Sparrow Aimophila mystacalis 22/7 2 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 2 Teotitlan del Valle, 3 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec. Lovely bird!

Black-chested Sparrow Aimophila humeralis 1/7 c. 15+c. 20 heard Milpillas-Xochipala. A very handsome sparrow!

Stripe-headed Sparrow Aimophila ruficauda 4/7 2 Atoyac-Lazaro Cardenas, 5/7 2 Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 5/7 4, 6/7 5 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 6 Playa de Oro, 11/7 2 Concordia, 24/7 1 Puerto Arista.

Sumichrast's Sparrow Aimophila sumichrasti* 23/7 1+1 heard Oaxaca-Tehuantepec (km 123). Found with minimal effort!

Botteri's Sparrow Aimophila botterii 14/7 7 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow Aimophila ruficeps 16/7 6 San José de las Boquillas, 22/7 1 male, 1 juv. Monte Albán.

Oaxaca Sparrow Aimophila notosticta* 21/7 1 heard, 22/7 2 Oaxaca City.

Rusty Sparrow Aimophila rufescens 30/6 c. 10 Temascaltepec, 9/7 1+1 heard Cerro de San Juan, 21/7 1 Valle Nacional, 25/7 3 Amatlán.

Striped Sparrow Oriturus superciliosus 29/6 c. 35 La Cima, 2 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 1 Metepec, S. Toluca, 13/7 c. 10 Durango Highway.

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 1/7 5, 2/7 4+4 heard Sierra de Atoyac (N), 9/7 c. 10 Cerro de San Juan, 13/7 1 Durango Highway, 14/7 1 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 21/7 3 El Mirador-Oaxaca.

Worthen's Sparrow Spizella wortheni** 15/7 2 Tanque de Emergencia. Probably the rarest bird seen on the trip. This general area south of Saltillo might hold the only population left, which is estimated at only 100-120 individuals in “Threatened birds of the World”.

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 29/6 2 Almoloya del Río.

Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola 19/7 5 Las Barrancas.

Sierra Madre Sparrow Xenospiza baileyi** 29/6 5 La Cima. Found in the tallest grass. La Cima is not protected as a reserve, but it still has some kind of protection. It's more or less the same with the other (few) known sites.

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 29/6 c. 30 Almoloya del Río.

Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus 29/6 c. 10 La Cima, c. 5 Huitzilac-Santa Martha, 30/6 c. 10 Temascaltepec, 2/7 c. 5 Sierra de Atoyac (N), 13/7 c. 15 Durango Highway, 16/7 3 San José de las Boquillas, 21/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Grayish Saltator Saltator coerulescens 7/7 2 Colima-La Maria, 1 Playa de Oro Road, 10/7 1 San Blas, 11/7 4, 12/7 5, 13/7 2 Durango Highway, 24/7 2 Uxpanapa Road.

Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus  20/7 c. 15 Valle Nacional, 24/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Black-headed Saltator Saltator atriceps 4/7 6 Sierra de Atoyac (S), 17/7 1, 18/7 1 El Naranjo, 25/7 1 Amatlán.

Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes poliogaster 21/7 1 Valle Nacional, 25/7 2 Uxpanapa Road.

Crimson-collared Grosbeak Rhodothraupis celaeno 15/7 1-2 pairs Cola de Caballo. Beautiful bird!

Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis 5/7 3 males Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 16/7 1 male Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante.

Pyrrhuloxia  Cardinalis sinuatus 14/7 1 male Presa El Tulillo.

Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus 29/6 c. 5 La Cima, 1 male Huitzilac, 13/7 2 Durango Highway, 16/7 1 male San José de las Boquillas, 22/7 1 male, 1 female Monte Albán, 1 N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 1 Teotitlán del Valle, 26/7 1 male, 2 females Bosque de Tlalpan.

Northern Yellow Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysopeplus 1/7 1 male Xochipala, 5/7 1 S. Tecoman, Colima, 11/7 1 male, 12/7 5, 13/7 1 female Durango Highway.

Blue Bunting Cyanosompsa parellina 5/7 1 male Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 1 female Laguna La Maria, 2 males, 2 females Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 1 male Barra de Navidad-Puerto Vllarta, 12/7 1 pair Panuco Road, Durango Highway.

Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea 1/7 1 male Xochipala, 12/7 1 male Durango Highway, 14/7 c. 10 Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 1 pair Presa El Tulillo, 15/7 2 males Cola de Caballo, 21/7 2 females El Mirador-Oaxaca, 22/7 1 juv. male Monte Albán.

Varied Bunting Passerina versicolor 1/7 3 males+1 heard Xochipala.

Rose-bellied Bunting Passerina rositae* 24/7 4 males, 1 female+2 heard Arriaga Foothills. Excellent!

Orange-breasted Bunting Passerina leclancherii 1/7 1 male Xochipala, 5/7 2 males, 1 female+1-2 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 7/7 1 male+1 heard Tecoman-Manzanillo, 23/7 1 pair Oaxaca-Tehuantepec. Beautiful bird!

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta 14/7 3+4 heard Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé, 15/7 c. 5+c. 5 heard Tanque de Emergencia.

Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna 29/6 2+1 heard La Cima, 6/7 1 Atenquique-Colima, 13/7 c. 10 Durango Highway, 16/7 c. 5 Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante, 17/7 2+1 heard, 18/7 1 El Naranjo, 18/7 1 Ciudad Mante-Tampico, 19/7 a few Tecolutla, c. 7+3 heard Las Barrancas, 25/7 1 Sayula-Cosamaloapan, Veracruz.

Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus  13/7 3 males Durango Highway (km 90), 14/7 3 males, 1 female Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamá. Quite surprising, but apparently it's normal that some birds start to appear in Mexico in July.

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 10/7 3 males San Blas, 19/7 c. 15 Tecolutla, 25/7 1 male Cosamaloapan-La Tinaja, Veracruz.

Bicolored Blackbird Agelaius (phoeniceus) gubernator  29/6 c. 40 Almoloya del Río, 13/7 c. 20 Durango Highway (km 90).

Melodious Blackbird Dives dives 17/7 c. 20 El Naranjo, 19/7 2 Tecolutla, 20/7 4 Valle Nacional, 24/7 3, 25/7 c. 10 Uxpanapa Road.

Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus Fairly common. Locally common in the east with i.e. 300 birds between Ciudad Victoria-Ciudad Mante 18/7.

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 30/6 1 male Temascaltepec. More?

Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Common to abundant.

Spot-breasted Oriole Icterus pectoralis 24/7 1 Boca del Cielo, 1 Puerto Arista.

Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis 17/7 4 El Naranjo, 19/7 1 Tecolutla. Like many other species of oriole, Altamira Orioles frequently build their nests hanging down from a power line!

Streak-backed Oriole Icterus pustulatus 1/7 4+2 heard Xochipala, 5/7 7+1 heard Lazaro Cardenas-Tecoman, 1 Volcán de Fuego, 7/7 c. 10 Playa de Oro Road, 8/7 1 Barranca del Choncho, 9/7 c. 5 Cerro de San Juan, 1 El Mirador del Aguila, 11/7 några San Blas, c. 10 San Blas-Villa Union, 11-13/7 c. 10 daily Durango Highway, 23/7 c. 5 Oaxaca-Tehuantepec, 3 Tehuantepec-Arriaga, 24/7 c. 5 Puerto Arista, 3 Arriaga Foothills.

Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus 16/7 1 male Monterrey-Ciudad Victoria, 17/7 4 males, 4 females, 18/7 1 male, 1 female El Naranjo.

Abeille's Oriole Icterus abeillei 26/7 1 female Bosque de Tlalpan.

Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius 14/7 1 ad. male, 2 females Guadalupe Victoria-Cuencamé.

Ochre Oriole Icterus (spurius) fuertesi 19/7 1 juv. male, 1 female Tecolutla. Second-year males and females of course must be hard to separate from true Orchard Orioles, but at this season all birds here should belong to fuertesi.

Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas 20/7 1 pair Valle Nacional, 24/7 1 male, 25/7 1 male Uxpanapa Road.

Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri 1/7 1 pair Xochipala, 11/7 1 male Durango Highway (km 134), 22/7 2 females Monte Albán, 23/7 1 male Teotitlan del Valle.

Audubon's Oriole Icterus graduacauda 15/7 1 male Cola de Caballo, 17/7 2 males, 18/7 2 El Naranjo.

Dickey's Oriole Icterus (graduacauda) dickeyae 3/7 1 female, 4/7 1 male Sierra de Atoyac (S), 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 21/7 1 female N. Oaxaca City, 23/7 1 Teotitlan del Valle.

Scott's Oriole Icterus parisorum 15/7 2 females/juv. Hedionda Road.

Yellow-billed Cacique Amblycercus holosericeus 20/7 1 Valle Nacional.

Yellow-winged Cacique Cacicus melanicterus Common in the west and the south.

Chestnut-headed Oropendola Zarhynchus wagleri 20/7 c. 10 Valle Nacional.

Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezumae 19/7 c. 30 La Tinaja-Tuxtepec, 20/7 5 Valle Nacional, 25/7 3 heard Amatlán.

458 species

** = threatened

* = near-threatened

Mammals

Mammals (with the exception of Squirrels) felt very few and far between during the trip. Except for numerous dogs even road kills were few – only a couple of Opossums, a Fox, a Skunk and some others. Are mammals that scarce in Mexico, or did we just have a bit of bad luck?

Spider Monkey Ateles geoffroyi 25/7 4 Uxpanapa Road.  

Coyote Canis latrans 13/7 1 Durango-Guadalupe Victoria.

White-nosed Coati Nasua narica 6/7 1 Volcán de Fuego, 9/7 2 El Mirador del Aguila, 10/7 1 San Blas, 20/7 3 Valle Nacional, 25/7 1 Uxpanapa Road.

Ring-tailed Ground Squirrel Spermophilus annulatus 7/7 c. 5 Colima-La Maria.

Durango Chipmunk Eutamias durangae 13/7 2 Durango Highway.

Mexican Fox Squirrel Sciurus nayaritensis 13/7 several Durango Highway.

Red-bellied Squirrel Sciurus aureogaster 30/6 3 Temascaltepec, 3/7 1 Sierra de Atoyac (S).

Peters's Squirrel Sciurus oculatus 29/6 1 Huitzilac-Santa Martha.

Deppe's Squirrel Sciurus deppei 17-18/7 several around El Naranjo.

Sciurus sp. Many unidentified squirrels were seen. We didn't have any literature that covered Mexican squirrels on the trip, and I didn't take any detailed notes; it's very possible that we saw both Collie's (S. colliaei) and Allen's (S. alleni) Squirrels as well.

Mexican Prairie Dog Cynomys mexicanus 15/7 1 Tanque de Emergencia. Most prairie dogs probably were hiding from the rain – many holes were seen.

Black-tailed Jack Rabbit Lepus californicus 13/7 1 N. Durango, 14/7 2 Guadalupe Victoria, 15/7 6 Tanque de Emergencia.

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus 15/7 4 Tanque de Emergencia.

Mexican Cottontail Sylvilagus cunicularis 6/7 2 Volcán de Fuego.  

Brazilian Rabbit Sylvilagus brasiliensis 24/7 1 S. Boca del Monte, Isthmus de Tehuantepec.

Butterflies

As a novice on butterflies I don't yet have the best identification or finding skills, but I did manage to identify 30 species with the limited literature available (National Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Butterflies, a photo guide) and some searching on the internet at home. If I'd had a book covering more Mexican species the list here would have been much longer, beacuse there were LOTS of butterflies around. Sometimes it felt like an endless stream of whites and yellows were flying along the roadsides during our long drives. Sadly, hundreds of thousands of butterflies must get road killed every day in Mexico during the high season. Anyway, watching butterflies in Mexico was a great experience. Next time I'll be better prepared!

Polydamas Swallowtail Battus polydamas

Thoas Swallowtail Heraclides thoas

Giant Swallowtail Heraclides cresphontes

White Morpho Morpho polyphemus

Cloudless Giant Sulphur Phoebis sennae

Little Yellow Eurema lisa

Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole

American Snout Libytheana carienenta

Julia Heliconian Dryas iulia

Zebra Heliconian Heliconius charitonius

Erato Heliconian Heliconius erato

Bordered Patch Chlosyne lacinia

Crimson Patch Chlosyne janais

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa

Buckeye  Junonia coenia

Tropical Buckeye Junonia genoveva

White Peacock Anartia jatrophae

Banded Peacock Anartia fatima  

Malachite  Siproeta stelenes

Rusty-tipped Page Metamorpha epaphus

Band-celled Sister Adelpha fessonia

Mexican Bluewing Myscelia ethusa

Mexican Eighty-eight Diaethria asteria

Red Rim Biblis hyperia

Ruddy Daggerwing Marpesia petreus

Queen Danaus gilippus  

Soldier Danaus eresimus

Red Cracker Hamadryas amphinome

White-striped Longtail Chioides catillus

Golden-banded Skipper Autochton cellus

WorldTwitch Mexico Bird Reports