Birdwatching Trip in Yucatan Peninsula

                        Yucatan Peninsula with Elmer Canul.
The forests and wetlands of the Yucatan Peninsula are a birdwatchers paradise! Some 533 species have been registered here, more than the United States and Canada combined, and half the national total for Mexico.

It is also a transition zone between temperature climes and tropical America, meaning that you have double the variety. Wherever you look you are sure to see colorful birds and during this trip into the jungle in the Rio Lagartos area, you may be lucky enough to spot parrots, Yucatan and green jays and even the exotic looking turquoise-browed motmot, the areas own bird of paradise.
 
Winter brings a bonus for birdwatchers. Around 200 of the species on the Yucatan checklist are migrants and 150 million birds, ranging from warblers to waterfowl and hawks to hummingbirds, fly south from Canada and the United States every year to escape the cold, swelling local resident populations. They winter in the area or pause to rest and feed on the coast before continuing their journey further south.

With an experienced guide at your side you ll enjoy an early morning hike in a nature reserve and as you are on the look out for birds, you ll also learn about native plants and trees and the other wildlife that makes its home in the forest.

Yucatan’s Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve with Elmer Canul.

The Yucatan Peninsula has an amazing wealth of bird life. 533 species have been recorded here and Rio Lagartos Reserve is one of the best places on the peninsula to see some of them. So why not join Elmer on one of his excellent adventures to the Rio Lagartos Bio-Reserve on the eastern end of the Yucatan Peninsula.

As Elmer says whether you are an experienced birder, a novice or interested in a class for beginners, he can arrange an outing that matches your experience and knowledge level. He offers outings on land and by boat in order to see as many birds as possible in the rich variety of habitats included in the 150,000 acre wildlife refuge.

The following lists (by land and by boat) are a sampling of the 388 species that have been recorded here in the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. 488 species have been recorded in the state of Yucatan and 533 on the Yucatan Peninsula. Of course, the time of year and passage of migratory flocks and a bit of luck is always a part of birding but the amazing array of birds never ceases to amaze visitors.

The best way to enjoy and appreciate the natural beauty of the area is to spend a few days with us. Good lodging is available and we will make the arrangements for those booking tours.

Land outings: 
Yucatan Wren, Yucatan Bobwhite, Mexican Sheartail, Carnivet's Emerald, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Grove-billed Ani, Tropical kingbird, Tropical Mockingbird, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Vermilion Flycatcher, Mangrove Vireo, Rose-throated Becard, Plain Chachalaca, Mangrove Cuckoo, White-lored Gnatcatcher and many more.

By Boat: 
Mexican Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Roseate Spoonbill, Woodstork, Blue-winged Teal, Boat-billed Heron, Snowy and Great Egrets, Reddish Egrets, White Ibis,Tri-colored and Little Blue Herons, Pygmy Kingfisher, Brown and White Pelicans, Magnificent Frigatebird, Anhinga, Double -breasted Cormorant, Royal and Sandwich Terns, Herring, Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls, Green Heron.