18 June - 3 July 1999
by Ann Johnson and Bob Cecil
As planned, we left AJ's house near Des Moines at 4:00 PM on Friday and drove all night, arriving in Laredo Texas about 11:00 AM on Saturday. In Laredo, we got auto insurance, Pesos, and then headed for the usual quiet, no-hassle crossing at Columbia, about 20 miles north of Laredo. We reached the crossing about noon, feeling really good about the time we were making. Unfortunately, the quiet border station was a madhouse of activity - people milling about everywhere, and the dreaded lines. It seems that the computer in Nuevo Laredo had broken and everyone was being sent here. The tourist passes were no problem, but the vehicle permit... four and a half hours and a couple of near riots, and we were on our way. Obviously, Cd. Victoria was out of the question.
We made up some time on the magnificent but expensive autopista (toll road) to Monterrey, but sacrificed some of it at our favorite pollo asado (grilled chicken) place at Allende. It was starting to get dark, so we asked about nearby hotels. The one just up the road had rooms, but only singles. Since we needed two doubles plus a single, we went on. Montemorelos, had two hotels, both full. Linares had several hotels, also full. We had already driven more dark time than we wanted, so we pulled into a comfortable looking Pemex parking lot and made camp for the evening. 24 hours of continuous driving and we got to sleep in the vehicle (my wife's Ford Windstar van). Well, four of us did. AJ finally bailed and took her chances on the much cooler and quieter (no snoring) asphalt parking lot. The latter ultimately attracted the attention of the local cop who asked her what the problem was, so I was called in to translate. Anyway, he was friendly, polite, and assured us that there was no problem (he's probably used to this in Mexico). We shook hands, and he was on his way.
We all got back into the van, rolled the windows down to let out the noise and the fragrance of sweating bodies, and got two or three hours of sleep. Very early the next AM, we were on our way. I noticed that a couple of miles down the road was a nearly empty rural motel.
We passed Victoria and went on to Tampico. A short stop at a pleasant toll booth/convenience store just south of the city on the Autopista produced innumerable herons and a Ringed Kingfisher at a nest hole. Magnificent Frigatebirds floated overhead, and Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks were everywhere.
The fiascos of the previous day caught up with us, with the day ending about three hours short of our intended destination near the biological station at Catemaco. Trying to make up time, I managed to attract the attention of a Highway Patrol officer, who, with his partner, suddenly appeared as flashing lights in my rear view mirror. In a professional manner, he asked me for my tourist papers, proof of insurance, and asked the usual questions about where we were going, etc. Finally, he shook my hand, and said that we could go. In broken but polite Spanish, I asked him why he had stopped us. He explained that I was speeding, as I had anticipated. There were no bribes asked or given, and the officers were very professional. While I cannot vouch for all Mexican police, my experiences have been consistently OK - invariably, they have been more help than hindrance. I profusely apologized, and we went on our way, more slowly of course. More interesting drive-by birds on the way to the biological station included Northern Jacana, Least Grebe, Gray and Roadside Hawks, and an excellent look at a Great Black Hawk on the barrier dunes.
We reached the Biological Research Station near Catemaco about 11:00 AM, and found ourselves surrounded by a Blue-crowned Motmot family. A walk around the area produced Rose-throated Becard, Collared trogon, Red-crowned and Red-throated Ant-Tanager, and Spot- breasted Wren. Ann, our resident flycatcher expert, also keyed out our first new flycatcher, a Yellow-olive tending a nest near the path. Down the road a short distance from the biological stations is the road to Laguna Escondida, a beautiful lake nestled in the tropical forest. The not too distant roar of Howler Monkeys was in the air as we walked down the steep hill to the lake, seeing Band-backed Wren, Squirrel Cuckoo, Green Kingfisher, Violaceous Trogon, Black- cheeked Woodpecker, Spot-crowned Woodcreeper, Barred Woodcreeper, Blue Mockingbird, and the spectacular Crimson-collared Tanager. In addition, a Laughing Falcon sat cooperatively in a nearby tree.
Warm and dry, it was time for a Buffet moment at the beach in Monte Pio. Our meal of langostinos didn't fill us up so we walked on down to another restaurant, to use the term loosely, (down the hill from the church, second shack from the right) where we had fish grilled in garlic sauce - the best meal of the trip. Three orders of fish and a bunch of Coronas was only 90 pesos, so we left a big tip. Amazon Kingfisher was the only interesting bird of the evening.
The mother of all thunderstorms rolled in over the gulf that night, leaving the biological station wet and muddy, but we did find the following new birds: Red-legged Honeycreeper, Lesser Greenlet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Black-headed Saltator, Black-cowled Oriole, Yellow-throated Euphonia, Blue-gray and Yellow-winged Tanagers, Masked Tityra, Clay- colored and White-throated Robins, and Long-tailed Hermit. At the nearby Montezuma Oropendola colony, we found Giant Cowbirds lurking.
We stopped back at the Hotel Playa Azul in Catemaco, but the only new bird was Short-billed Pigeon. Adjacent to the hotel was a house with a sign welcoming birders. The name was William Schaldach, a well-known researcher. We would have visited, but the place looked a little overgrown. Discussing this a few days later at Taninul with Michael Delasantro, he said that Shaldach might have been there and that we should have stopped. Damn! Maybe he could have helped us find the highly elusive Lovely Cotinga.
We headed out of Catemaco early in the afternoon for Palenque, Chiapas. Aspirations of excellent time were thwarted by an uncompleted autopista (the Atlas de Carraeras was wrong), and a missed turn or two. We got to some nearby marshes along the La Libertad road in early evening and looked for Boat-billed Heron. No joy there, but did manage to pick up Bare- throated Tiger-Heron, Snail Kite, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Solitary Eagle, Aztec Parakeet, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird, Tropical Gnatcatcher, Tropical Mockingbird, and Grassland Yellow-Finch.
We headed to the Hotel Palenque ($25 single) for the evening, and bought our first curios from a cute little girl who snuck into the restaurant to sell her wares - little ski-masked dolls of Subcommandante Marcos, head of the Zapatistas. We went to bed with dreams of birding the famous ruins the next morning. The air conditioner and hot water worked, and life was good.
The ruins at Palenque opened at 8:00 AM, so we spent a few minutes birding the museum and entrance parking lot. The first find was Golden-hooded Tanager, followed by AJ's nemesis bird, Pale-billed Woodpecker; also Scarlet-rumped Tanager, Violaceous Trogon, and Green-backed Sparrow (a southern counterpart to Olive Sparrow) that was seen by me and heard by the others.
The trick to birding Palenque is to get there before the busloads of tourists. The ruins themselves are awesome, making it difficult to remember that you're there for birds. This Mayan city had aqueducts for carrying water and a sewage treatment septic system that modern Mexico seems unable to consistently replicate. At the ruins we found Bat Falcon, Laughing Falcon, Double-toothed Kite, Collared Aracari, Masked Tityra, Montezuma Oropendula, and others. John was our hummingbird expert, and helped us to spot key field marks with brief glances, such as on the Little Hermit that came to investigate us. Overall, however, the birding was quite slow, the first indication that late June is probably not the best time to bird southern Mexico. We even climbed a steep and treacherous trail behind one of the temples, only to enter silence in the deep forest.
We left about noon and stopped for lunch at a huge restaurant where we were the only customers. The proprietor noticed our interest in natural things and gave us a pre-meal tour of his property. He fed his aquaculture tilapia flock, and showed us a cacao tree in his yard and explained how he got the chocolate from the bean to make mole' sauce. There were even a few birds around.
Ann had learned from a Texan friend about the Usumacinta Marshes and grasslands north of Palenque that would be good for some of our targets like Black-collared Hawk, Double-striped Thick-knee and, hopefully, Jabiru. So, off we went towards Tabasco and Campeche. First road, no marshes. Second road, no marshes. The grasslands produced better looks at Grassland Yellow-finch, plus Fork-tailed Flycatcher and Plain-breasted Ground Dove, and Ann wowed us by identifying both a Gray-crowned Yellowthroat in flight and a baby Botteri's Sparrow on a wire.
Evidently, the rains had not come yet since the "wetlands" were dry, so we missed most of our target species. The best bird was Pinnated Bittern. Dick, the social director, headed us back to Palenque for tacos and Corona.
The following morning was pretty much a repeat. We guys decided to re-climb the mountain trail, while Ann stayed below. We went far higher than on the pervious day, and on trails that got progressively treacherous, even though now and then a local would come trotting past. Our effort was unrewarded, and virtually no birds were even heard besides wood-wrens. Ann, on the other hand, found Streaked Flycatcher, Brown-hooded Parrot and Keel-billed Toucan.
After a pretty disappointing morning at one of Mexico's most famous birding sports, we headed south towards San Cristobal de las Casas and the highlands of Chiapas. One stop mentioned in the Howell bird-finding guide was a big disappointment. This an overlook on the road to Ocosingo (Howell Site 13-2) where one could look into the canopy and perhaps find Lovely Cotinga. Slash and burn farming technology finished that plan, and chain saws buzzing in the distance were continuing their work.
Along the highway, local women were selling colorful embroidered clothing characteristic of their particular village. Just outside of San Cristobal, known for being the home base of the Zapatista rebellion, we were greeted by a military checkpoint that was more thorough than the previous ones had been. In fact, we were seldom even stopped for questions, and the checkpoints looked understaffed. We wondered if much of the military had been dispatched to Puebla for earthquake cleanup. At this one, though, we had to get out of the van, although, as always, we were treated politely. A couple of the guys looked under the driver's seat and inside the engine compartment. They had us open up the back of the van, but when they saw the volume of stuff, they just shrugged and had us close it. A young man on Ann's side of the car tried to make conversation with her, who told him in cryptic Spanish and a show of binoculars that we were birders. He loved the binoculars.
San Cristobal is a beautiful, cosmopolitan city with lots of Europeans and U.S. expatriates alongside natives of the various indigenous tribes who were selling their wares. Small mobs of Indian children surrounded tourists, trying to sell macrame', key chains, Marcos effigies, etc.
The morning was cool, and the first bird to greet us was a Rufous-collared Sparrow hopping around in the hotel's interior garden. Outside of town, we looked for the water tank that marked the Pink-headed Warbler/Black-throated Jay road described in Howell. After three passes, we couldn't find it, so headed up a likely looking road going into the mountains. We soon came to a pine forest and found the local version of Steller's Jay, different from the Rocky Mountain variety in being darker and nearly crestless. We also got Painted and Slate-throated Redstart, Yellowish Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Olive and Crescent-chested Warbler, and Yellow-eyed Junco. We went on up the road, where the local agricultural product was flowers for the markets in town. Along the way we got Cinnamon-bellied Flower-piercers, as well as White-eared and Amethyst-throated Hummingbird, Scrub Euphonia, Yellow-winged Tanager, Eastern Bluebird, and the Guatemalan subspecies of Northern Flicker.
We kept heading up, and I finally realized that the microwave towers at the peak were actually TV towers. Near the top, a Gray Silky sat atop a century plant and periodically shot high after an insect. The swallows were Black-capped, and a Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush posed nearby. Ann left the heavy climbing to us, and was rewarded by a Blue and White Mockingbird, which we all saw a little later. At the top of the hill we added Rufous-browed Wren, and on the way back down was the most spectacular hummingbird we had ever seen. The Garnet-throated was large with rufous wings, purple underparts, and a brilliant garnet gorget.
We headed towards the other side of the mountain where there was a reserve. On the way, we ran into the army guys again. The guy Ann had talked with ran over to say "hola" while some others took training photos of the back of a Gringo tourist van. As always, we made a special point to wave at the guy down the road in the machine gun emplacement. They always wave back.
We paid a modest entrance fee at the Cerro-Huitepec reserve, and entered. At mid-day, the birding was pretty slow. We heard a bunch of kids on a field trip and waited out the passing crowd at a shelter. A young man popped in, saying something about "muchas muchachas." He had been guiding a large group of girls on the trails. Soon he was showing us his ID indicating that he was a ProNatura park ranger. He leafed through the Howell and Webb, showing us the park's species as he did so. Roberto really knew his stuff, remarkable in that he had no binoculars and only a primitive local bird book.
We asked him if he could give us a guided walk, and soon we saw bushtits and an Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush at her nest. He pished up birds in a way that would have made Pete Dunne proud. Back by his house, all but Ann got a White-naped Brush-Finch - Ann made the unfortunate assumption that the bird we were looking for would logically be in the brush, not up in a tree.
In the car was a new printing of the Peterson's Mexican guide I had received as a gift (Thanks, Rick Hollis! I told you it might not be long before I passed it along) and John's old Nikon compacts we had along for a spare. On the way back down, we decided to leave them with Roberto for his guiding tip. We left him working through the Spanish names of birds he sees everyday. If you're ever down there, say "hola" to him for us.
Another morning of birding around San Cristobal and we still missed the Pink-headed Warbler, although the Rufous-collared Robins and Rufous-collared Sparrows we cool. Ann had an odd experience with some locals, illustrating the lingering edginess in the area. She heard bells, and saw a group of indigenous women and children tending goats. She waved but there was no response. She said "buenos dias" and they just froze in their tracks - her first experience with someone actually being afraid of her. I have had similar experiences, where locals leave the trail and cut through the woods just to avoid me. It's certainly unfortunate and frustrating. Anyway, Ann turned up Brown Creeper (always a surprise to see a nesting species in southern Mexico that we also get on Iowa Christmas Counts!).
We left for Tuxtla Guiterrez and El Sumidero Canyon where birding became decidedly more Pacific Slope in nature despite the fact that we were still on the Atlantic drainage. The canyon itself was either breath-taking or terrifying, depending upon one's feeling about heights. We began seeing birds like Russet-crowned Motmot, Varied Bunting, Band-tailed Pigeon, and Greater Pewee. An Emerald Toucanet wrapped up our Mexican toucans, and White-throated Magpie Jays soon became trash birds.
We headed back to El Sumadero early the next morning, but the birding was tough since the birds would flash across the road, never to be seen again. We did turn up Red-breasted Chat (!), Northern Bobwhite (the coyolocos subspecies with its black head and very rusty underparts), Lesser Roadrunners, Blue-crowned and Russet-crowned Motmots, White-tipped doves, and Banded Wrens. One of our main target species, the Belted Flycatcher, kept calling but never came close enough to the road to glimpse. Other interesting birds in the area included AJ's female Slaty Finch, a White-lored Gnatcatcher which offered a comparison to the Tropical of a few days earlier, family groups of Yellow-green Vireos, and Plumbeous Vireo.
We finally crossed the Continental Divide and were truly on the western slope. New birds appeared: Yellow-winged Cacique, Orange -breasted Bunting, Rusty and Stripe-headed Sparrow, and Tropical Mockingbird. We heard target bird Rosita's Bunting and even tried a tape, to which it responded by disappearing.
Unquestionably the best bird of the trip was spotted by the ever alert Francis, who pointed to 2 adult King Vultures soaring with other vultures over the open pine forest near kilometer marker 34 on Highway 190 near the Oaxaca/Chiapas state line
As we hit the coastal plain, there was an abundance of water, including a creek flowing across the Pan American Highway. Another foot in depth, and we would have had a 400 mile detour. We got numerous water birds like Black-necked Stilt and Roseate Spoonbill. We spent the evening at Salina Cruz (probably the best hotel in town - $26 for a single), then had seafood on the bay, and actually saw a seagull.
The morning began by spending some time in the west Mexican thorn forest at the edge of the coastal plain, inland from Santo DomingoTehuantepec. The first stop produced West Mexican Chachalaca and Sumichrast's (Cinnamon-tailed) Sparrow, a Oaxacan endemic with a very limited range. Russet-crowned Motmots were calling but difficult to find. A pair of Banded Wrens scolded noisly and finally popped into view. We were surprised to find Black- tailed Gnatcatchers. The next stop produced singing Orange-breasted Bunting, a small flock of Orange-fronted Parakeets, Plain-capped Starthroat, and many more Sumichrast's Sparrows. Trying to track down what sounded like a distant Rosita's Bunting, we came across a Lesser Ground Cuckoo. It amazed us that the bird could be only fifteen feet away and stay absolutely hidden from sight. Learning the call (like a softly-blown police whistle), we heard several invisible others. The Rosita's Bunting escaped up the cliff.
We had miles to go so we headed back north towards Oaxaca City. There had been considerable flooding in this area and consequently, water birds were abundant - but just normal stuff like egrets, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Northern Jacanas, and Roseate Spoonbills. Best bird at 60 MPH was a Citreoline Trogon. In the high pines we made a short stop to stretch, where Ann found birds familiar from her trips to Arizona - Hepatic Tanager, Bridled Titmouse, and Scrub Jay, plus Rusty Sparrow.
Ann had a list of good spots given to her by Jim Bangma, so we stopped at one of them. Here we picked up Dusky Hummingbird, White-throated Towhee, Boucard's Wren, and Bridled. Sparrow. Francis needed to do some gift shopping, so we stopped at Teotitlan del Valle, a little town, maybe 25 miles east of Oaxaca City, to check out the rugs for which the village is famous. There were dozens of little shops, each staffed with eager proprietors selling their beautiful textiles. Francis finally got a couple while I picked up a couple of pieces of black Oaxaca Pottery. On the way back to Oaxaca, a young Gringo couple was walking along the road, so we picked them up. Got to chatting and found out the guy was a grad student at the University of Wisconsin. They knew Dick's daughter, who is also a student there. Small world!
We found a great hotel just west of the junction of highway 190 and 175 ($39 for a single), which goes north to tomorrow's destination of Valle Nacional. The birds in cages were a bit grim, but the Black and White-collared Swifts flying overhead and the Rufous-backed Robin on the lawn were nice. Identifiable hummingbirds included Broad-billed, Magnificient, and a Dusky which I had missed earlier. Ann, Francis, and John took a taxi downtown for food and culture while Dick and I hung around the hotel.
The next morning began along a small stream a few miles north of the intersection that had been good to us last year. Its little paths made access easy, and we found Golden and Dwarf Vireos and White-throated Flycatcher. At La Cumbre ("the crest"), we found Red Warbler, White-eared Hummingbird, Slate-colored Solitaire, and Black-headed Siskin. The southeast road was birdier than the northwest road, at least in late June. Well up the mountain range, there are a couple of roadside restaurants nearby each other. The second also has a large private park offering both camping and cabanas. While we didn't go in, it appeared that the forest had been preserved and is probably a good birding stop. At the restaurant, we found Chestnut-capped Brushfinch as we had during our trip here last year. The proprietor took interest in our activity and brought out his new Mexican Peterson to show us what birds were in the area. It's kind of uplifting to see locals getting involved in their natural surroundings. A quick stop along the road near kilometer marker 161 produced a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, our fourth gnatcatcher of the trip.
The road across the Sierras ranges from not too bad to awful, the latter true especially near the top where loaded logging trucks batter the road into an unending series of huge potholes. While the logging thing is pretty depressing, the plus is that they appeared to be doing selective cutting rather than clear cutting. Evidently, they have not yet received technical assistance from the US forest industry. We finally reached the crest and started down into the cloud forest. There were birds, like Unicolored Jay and Common Bush-Tanager, but most of the cloud forest species would have to wait until morning. As we neared Valle Nacional, we stopped at our favorite spot to enjoy Crimson-collared Tanager, Buff-throated Saltator, Blue Ground Dove, Gray-breasted Wood Wren, and Red-legged Honeycreeper. Ann comments that this is her favorite birding spot in Mexico, and that she seen more life birds here than in any other spot in the world. She would add some more in the morning.
The area around Valle Nacional is some of the finest birding in Mexico. The highest areas are pine-oak forest; then you descend into dense cloud forest that extends for about twenty miles, followed by lowland tropical forest. We even enjoy the town, especially the proprietors of the small but kind of primitive (50 pesos for a single, 70 for a double) hotel, but also the various taco and pollo places the general good nature of the people.
We headed back to our favorite spot, which is a tiny shrine a little ways off the road. While mileage markers were missing along the particular stretch of highway, it is visible from the road by its exotic flowers and small banana grove. Along the road are barrrancas which bring the vegetation down to eye level. A small stream adds a water attraction. The activity was pretty intense for awhile, with Ruddy Quail Dove, Blue Ground Dove, and White-tipped Dove. A fruiting tree that hung over the road was very attractive, and mixed in with the Red-legged Honeycreepers was a pair of Green Honeycreepers. That's one of those birds that no plate in a field guide can adequately portray- John thought that they probably had batteries. A Black- throated Shrike-Tanager came through; also Black-faced Grosbeak, and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird and Long-billed Starthroat worked the flowers. Dick and Ann got a brief look at a mind-boggling hummer. The tail consisted of two long, fluttering streamers with white spots. Clements calls it Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, but we prefer Howell and Webb's Sparkling- tailed Woodstar.
The birding slowed a bit, so we hung the previously unused hummingbird feeder over the shrine and headed up the road. A quick stop produced Bananaquits along a side road near some houses. A hawk looked different enough to warrant a stop and it turned out to be a juvenile Hook-billed Kite. The logging road in the cloud forest we had looked forward to since the previous day was disappointing, producing only Gray-breasted Wood Wrens and Slate-colored Solitaire, although John and I got difficult views of Ruddy Foliage Gleaners.
Heading back down, birds were everywhere, including Rusty Sparrows, Yellow-faced and Blue-black Grassquits, more Black-throated Shrike-Tanagers, Rufous-capped, Golden-crowned, and Golden-browed Warblers, Unicolored Jays, and Blue Mockingbirds.
Back at the shrine, Ann and John added an out-of-range Happy Wren, plus Olive-backed Euphonia and Yellow-bellied Tyranulet. Unfortunately, the hummingbird feeder had attracted nothing, consistent with previous experiences with leaving one up only a few hours. Reluctantly, we headed north towards Tuxtupec, where we spent the evening at the Hotel Hacienda ($20 for a single).
Before dawn the next morning, the more intrepid (AJ, John, and Francis), took off to call in a Mottled Owl, only to find that they aren't calling in July. They came back to get me and Dick, and we checked some areas around Camelia Roja noted in Howell. Unfortunately, much of the forest had been cleared along the road, but the second growth was full of grassquits, seedeaters, and even a Blue-black Grosbeak. Blue-crowned Motmots called from the hills and the normal array of flycatchers flew around. Grayish and Black-headed Saltators made themselves known, and Ann identified the call of a Variable Screech-Owl that was up on the hill. Maybe they started owling too early? From a rocky limestone face came the call we had been waiting for - Sumichrast's Wren. Only Ann had the patience to wait for it to come show itself.
A bird at the base of the dam finally got Ann off the hook. I have taken Ann to Mexico several times, and she was about 4 for 4 for Yellow-billed Cacique, where I was about 0 for 6. This time, however, she was able to show me one, a great but brief look at a bird that is much more striking than you might think.
At several locations, we heard a bird that sounded lots like a Western Screech-Owl, but could never confirm it with a look. At the dam, we finally tracked one down, and it turned into a Barred Antshrike. I really enjoyed showing Dick this remarkable bird. I bet we all remember its call. We added Mangrove Swallow, learning that they aren't married to mangroves but also inhabit inland rivers and lakes.
We spent the night on the "Emerald Coast," along the Gulf Coast north of Veracruz. Since it wasn't tourist season, we had no problem finding a pleasant and inexpensive hotel where we could drink Corona on the beach and watch diving Brown Pelicans.
Our final destination was Hotel Taninul ($33 single), a beautiful hotel and spa within, at least by our definition, striking distance of Des Moines. We were well on our way when we came upon a long line of cars and heavy trucks waiting at a small town. A demonstration regarding the governor was going on, but we didn't find out what the specific issue was. There were military and federales on the scene, but, evidently, no one wanted things to escalate. After about an hour of sitting, the traffic began slowly moving.
We had hoped Taninul would give us some final shots at birds, but heavy rain pretty much prevented that. We did manage to get Francis his long awaited Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl and there were a few Green Parakeets around, but the lack of parrots and other birds was disappointing.
We left Taninul at 9:15 AM on Saturday and with very few stops or delays, arrived back at Ann's at 3:00 PM on Sunday, about 1500 miles straight through.
ETC.
SPECIES SEEN
From 6/19/1999 to 7/3/1999 ~ in Mexico ~ 301 seen
| Least Grebe | Tachybaptus dominicus |
| Magnificent Frigatebird | Fregata magnificens |
| Neotropic Cormorant | Phalacrocorax brasilianus |
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus |
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
| Brown Pelican | Pelecanus occidentalis |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck | Dendrocygna autumnalis |
| Mottled Duck | Anas fulvigula |
| Tricolored Heron | Egretta tricolor |
| Little Blue Heron | Egretta caerulea |
| Snowy Egret | Egretta thula |
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias |
| Great Egret | Ardea alba |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis |
| Green Heron | Butorides virescens |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Bare-throated Tiger-Heron | Tigrisoma mexicanum |
| Pinnated Bittern | Botaurus pinnatus |
| White Ibis | Eudocimus albus |
| White-faced Ibis | Plegadis chihi |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Ajaia ajaja |
| Wood Stork | Mycteria americana |
| Black Vulture | Coragyps atratus |
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura |
| Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture | Cathartes burrovianus |
| King Vulture | Sarcoramphus papa |
| Osprey | Pandion haliaetus |
| Hook-billed Kite | Chondrohierax uncinatus |
| White-tailed Kite | Elanus leucurus |
| Snail Kite | Rostrhamus sociabilis |
| Double-toothed Kite | Harpagus bidentatus |
| White Hawk | Leucopternis albicollis |
| Common Black-Hawk | Buteogallus anthracinus |
| Great Black-Hawk | Buteogallus urubitinga |
| Harris's Hawk | Parabuteo unicinctus |
| Solitary Eagle | Harpyhaliaetus solitarius |
| Gray Hawk | Asturina plagiata |
| Roadside Hawk | Buteo magnirostris |
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni |
| White-tailed Hawk | Buteo albicaudatus |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis |
| Crested Caracara | Caracara plancus |
| Laughing Falcon | Herpetotheres cachinnans |
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius |
| Aplomado Falcon | Falco femoralis |
| Bat Falcon | Falco rufigularis |
| Plain Chachalaca | Ortalis vetula |
| West Mexican Chachalaca | Ortalis poliocephala |
| Northern Bobwhite | Colinus virginianus |
| American Coot | Fulica americana |
| Limpkin | Aramus guarauna |
| Northern Jacana | Jacana spinosa |
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus |
| Black-necked Stilt | Himantopus mexicanus |
| Black-bellied Plover | Pluvialis squatarola |
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus |
| Laughing Gull | Larus atricilla |
| Caspian Tern | Sterna caspia |
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri |
| Least Tern | Sterna antillarum |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia |
| Band-tailed Pigeon | Columba fasciata |
| Pale-vented Pigeon | Columba cayennensis |
| Red-billed Pigeon | Columba flavirostris |
| Short-billed Pigeon | Columba nigrirostris |
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura |
| White-winged Dove | Zenaida asiatica |
| Inca Dove | Columbina inca |
| Common Ground-Dove | Columbina passerina |
| Plain-breasted Ground-Dove | Columbina minuta |
| Ruddy Ground-Dove | Columbina talpacoti |
| Blue Ground-Dove | Claravis pretiosa |
| White-tipped Dove | Leptotila verreauxi |
| Ruddy Quail-Dove | Geotrygon montana |
| Green Parakeet | Aratinga holochlora |
| Olive-throated Parakeet | Aratinga nana |
| Orange-fronted Parakeet | Aratinga canicularis |
| Brown-hooded Parrot | Pionopsitta haematotis |
| Squirrel Cuckoo | Piaya cayana |
| Groove-billed Ani | Crotophaga sulcirostris |
| Lesser Ground-Cuckoo | Morococcyx erythropygus |
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus |
| Lesser Roadrunner | Geococcyx velox |
| Variable Screech-Owl | Otus atricapillus |
| Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl | Glaucidium brasilianum |
| Lesser Nighthawk | Chordeiles acutipennis |
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor |
| Whip-poor-will | Caprimulgus vociferus |
| Black Swift | Cypseloides niger |
| White-collared Swift | Streptoprocne zonaris |
| Vaux's Swift | Chaetura vauxi |
| Long-tailed Hermit | Phaethornis superciliosus |
| Little Hermit | Phaethornis longuemareus |
| Wedge-tailed Sabrewing | Campylopterus curvipennis |
| Long-tailed Sabrewing | Campylopterus excellens |
| Green-breasted Mango | Anthracothorax prevostii |
| Dusky Hummingbird | Cynanthus sordidus |
| Broad-billed Hummingbird | Cynanthus latirostris |
| White-eared Hummingbird | Hylocharis leucotis |
| Azure-crowned Hummingbird | Amazilia cyanocephala |
| Berylline Hummingbird | Amazilia beryllina |
| Buff-bellied Hummingbird | Amazilia yucatanensis |
| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird | Amazilia tzacatl |
| Amethyst-throated Hummingbird | Lampornis amethystinus |
| Garnet-throated Hummingbird | Lamprolaima rhami |
| Magnificent Hummingbird | Eugenes fulgens |
| Plain-capped Starthroat | Heliomaster constantii |
| Long-billed Starthroat | Heliomaster longirostris |
| Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird | Tilmatura dupontii |
| Citreoline Trogon | Trogon citreolus |
| Mountain Trogon | Trogon mexicanus |
| Elegant Trogon | Trogon elegans |
| Collared Trogon | Trogon collaris |
| Violaceous Trogon | Trogon violaceus |
| Ringed Kingfisher | Ceryle torquata |
| Amazon Kingfisher | Chloroceryle amazona |
| Green Kingfisher | Chloroceryle americana |
| Russet-crowned Motmot | Momotus mexicanus |
| Blue-crowned Motmot | Momotus momota |
| Emerald Toucanet | Aulacorhynchus prasinus |
| Collared Aracari | Pteroglossus torquatus |
| Keel-billed Toucan | Ramphastos sulfuratus |
| Acorn Woodpecker | Melanerpes formicivorus |
| Black-cheeked Woodpecker | Melanerpes pucherani |
| Golden-fronted Woodpecker | Melanerpes aurifrons |
| Smoky-brown Woodpecker | Veniliornis fumigatus |
| Golden-olive Woodpecker | Piculus rubiginosus |
| Northern Flicker | Colaptes auratus |
| Pale-billed Woodpecker | Campephilus guatemalensis |
| Northern Barred-Woodcreeper | Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae |
| Ivory-billed Woodcreeper | Xiphorhynchus flavigaster |
| Spot-crowned Woodcreeper | Lepidocolaptes affinis |
| Ruddy Foliage-gleaner | Automolus rubiginosus |
| Barred Antshrike | Thamnophilus doliatus |
| Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet | Ornithion semiflavum |
| Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet | Camptostoma imberbe |
| Yellow-olive Flycatcher | Tolmomyias sulphurescens |
| Belted Flycatcher | Xenotriccus callizonus |
| Tufted Flycatcher | Mitrephanes phaeocercus |
| Greater Pewee | Contopus pertinax |
| Western Wood-Pewee | Contopus sordidulus |
| Tropical Pewee | Contopus cinereus |
| White-throated Flycatcher | Empidonax albigularis |
| Yellowish Flycatcher | Empidonax flavescens |
| Buff-breasted Flycatcher | Empidonax fulvifrons |
| Black Phoebe | Sayornis nigricans |
| Vermilion Flycatcher | Pyrocephalus rubinus |
| Dusky-capped Flycatcher | Myiarchus tuberculifer |
| Ash-throated Flycatcher | Myiarchus cinerascens |
| Tropical Kingbird | Tyrannus melancholicus |
| Couch's Kingbird | Tyrannus couchii |
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis |
| Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus forficatus |
| Fork-tailed Flycatcher | Tyrannus savana |
| Boat-billed Flycatcher | Megarynchus pitangua |
| Streaked Flycatcher | Myiodynastes maculatus |
| Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher | Myiodynastes luteiventris |
| Social Flycatcher | Myiozetetes similis |
| Great Kiskadee | Pitangus sulphuratus |
| Rose-throated Becard | Pachyramphus aglaiae |
| Masked Tityra | Tityra semifasciata |
| Black-crowned Tityra | Tityra inquisitor |
| Steller's Jay | Cyanocitta stelleri |
| Western Scrub-Jay | Aphelocoma californica |
| Unicolored Jay | Aphelocoma unicolor |
| Green Jay | Cyanocorax yncas |
| Brown Jay | Psilorhinus morio |
| White-throated Magpie-Jay | Calocitta formosa |
| Tamaulipas Crow | Corvus imparatus |
| Chihuahuan Raven | Corvus cryptoleucus |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax |
| Dwarf Vireo | Vireo nelsoni |
| Hutton's Vireo | Vireo huttoni |
| White-eyed Vireo | Vireo griseus |
| Golden Vireo | Vireo hypochryseus |
| Plumbeous Vireo | Vireo plumbeus |
| Yellow-green Vireo | Vireo flavoviridis |
| Lesser Greenlet | Hylophilus decurtatus |
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus |
| Gray Silky-flycatcher | Ptilogonys cinereus |
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis |
| Brown-backed Solitaire | Myadestes occidentalis |
| Slate-colored Solitaire | Myadestes unicolor |
| Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus aurantiirostris |
| Ruddy-capped Nightingale-Thrush | Catharus frantzii |
| Clay-colored Robin | Turdus grayi |
| White-throated Thrush | Turdus assimilis |
| Rufous-backed Robin | Turdus rufopalliatus |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius |
| Rufous-collared Robin | Turdus rufitorques |
| Blue Mockingbird | Melanotis caerulescens |
| Blue-and-white Mockingbird | Melanotis hypoleucus |
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos |
| Tropical Mockingbird | Mimus gilvus |
| Long-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma longirostre |
| Curve-billed Thrasher | Toxostoma curvirostre |
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana |
| Spotted Wren | Campylorhynchus gularis |
| Boucard's Wren | Campylorhynchus jocosus |
| Rufous-naped Wren | Campylorhynchus rufinucha |
| Band-backed Wren | Campylorhynchus zonatus |
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus |
| Sumichrast's Wren | Hylorchilus sumichrasti |
| Happy Wren | Thryothorus felix |
| Spot-breasted Wren | Thryothorus maculipectus |
| Banded Wren | Thryothorus pleurostictus |
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon |
| Rufous-browed Wren | Troglodytes rufociliatus |
| White-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucosticta |
| Gray-breasted Wood-Wren | Henicorhina leucophrys |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Polioptila caerulea |
| Black-tailed Gnatcatcher | Polioptila melanura |
| White-lored Gnatcatcher | Polioptila albiloris |
| Tropical Gnatcatcher | Polioptila plumbea |
| Bushtit | Psaltriparus minimus |
| Mangrove Swallow | Tachycineta albilinea |
| Gray-breasted Martin | Progne chalybea |
| Black-capped Swallow | Notiochelidon pileata |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis |
| Cliff Swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota |
| Cave Swallow | Petrochelidon fulva |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula |
| Bridled Titmouse | Baeolophus wollweberi |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Olive Warbler | Peucedramus taeniatus |
| Black-headed Siskin | Carduelis notata |
| Lesser Goldfinch | Carduelis psaltria |
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus |
| Crescent-chested Warbler | Parula superciliosa |
| Gray-crowned Yellowthroat | Geothlypis poliocephala |
| Red Warbler | Ergaticus ruber |
| Painted Redstart | Myioborus pictus |
| Slate-throated Redstart | Myioborus miniatus |
| Golden-crowned Warbler | Basileuterus culicivorus |
| Rufous-capped Warbler | Basileuterus rufifrons |
| Golden-browed Warbler | Basileuterus belli |
| Red-breasted Chat | Granatellus venustus |
| Rufous-collared Sparrow | Zonotrichia capensis |
| Yellow-eyed Junco | Junco phaeonotus |
| Bridled Sparrow | Aimophila mystacalis |
| Stripe-headed Sparrow | Aimophila ruficauda |
| Cinnamon-tailed Sparrow | Aimophila sumichrasti |
| Botteri's Sparrow | Aimophila botterii |
| Cassin's Sparrow | Aimophila cassinii |
| Rusty Sparrow | Aimophila rufescens |
| Spotted Towhee | Pipilo maculatus |
| White-throated Towhee | Pipilo albicollis |
| Olive Sparrow | Arremonops rufivirgatus |
| Green-backed Sparrow | Arremonops chloronotus |
| White-naped Brush-Finch | Atlapetes albinucha |
| Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch | Buarremon brunneinucha |
| Bananaquit | Coereba flaveola |
| Common Bush-Tanager | Chlorospingus ophthalmicus |
| Black-throated Shrike-Tanager | Lanio aurantius |
| Red-crowned Ant-Tanager | Habia rubica |
| Red-throated Ant-Tanager | Habia fuscicauda |
| Hepatic Tanager | Piranga flava |
| White-winged Tanager | Piranga leucoptera |
| Crimson-collared Tanager | Ramphocelus sanguinolentus |
| Passerini's Tanager | Ramphocelus passerinii |
| Blue-gray Tanager | Thraupis episcopus |
| Yellow-winged Tanager | Thraupis abbas |
| Scrub Euphonia | Euphonia affinis |
| Yellow-throated Euphonia | Euphonia hirundinacea |
| Olive-backed Euphonia | Euphonia gouldi |
| Golden-hooded Tanager | Tangara larvata |
| Green Honeycreeper | Chlorophanes spiza |
| Red-legged Honeycreeper | Cyanerpes cyaneus |
| Slaty Finch | Haplospiza rustica |
| Grassland Yellow-Finch | Sicalis luteola |
| Blue-black Grassquit | Volatinia jacarina |
| White-collared Seedeater | Sporophila torqueola |
| Yellow-faced Grassquit | Tiaris olivacea |
| Cinnamon-bellied Flower-piercer | Diglossa baritula |
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus |
| Northern Cardinal | Cardinalis cardinalis |
| Pyrrhuloxia | Cardinalis sinuatus |
| Black-headed Saltator | Saltator atriceps |
| Buff-throated Saltator | Saltator maximus |
| Grayish Saltator | Saltator coerulescens |
| Blue-black Grosbeak | Cyanocompsa cyanoides |
| Blue Bunting | Cyanocompsa parellina |
| Blue Grosbeak | Guiraca caerulea |
| Varied Bunting | Passerina versicolor |
| Rosita's Bunting | Passerina rositae |
| Orange-bellied Bunting | Passerina leclancherii |
| Chestnut-headed Oropendola | Psarocolius wagleri |
| Montezuma Oropendola | Gymnostinops montezuma |
| Yellow-winged Cacique | Cacicus melanicterus |
| Yellow-billed Cacique | Amblycercus holosericeus |
| Yellow-backed Oriole | Icterus chrysater |
| Altamira Oriole | Icterus gularis |
| Black-cowled Oriole | Icterus dominicensis |
| Bar-winged Oriole | Icterus maculialatus |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus |
| Eastern Meadowlark | Sturnella magna |
| Melodious Blackbird | Dives dives |
| Great-tailed Grackle | Quiscalus mexicanus |
| Bronzed Cowbird | Molothrus aeneus |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater |
| Giant Cowbird | Scaphidura oryzivora |
Ann Johnson
hologrambirds@worldnet.att.net