Part 1:

28 March 1998
 

By: Andres M. Sada

For those who may bird near Monterrey, Mexico, the following may be of interest.

Yesterday, Saturday, a group visited Parque La Estanzuela. It was a butterfly outing, not intended for birds, so we started about 9:00 AM and were only there till noon.

Parque La Estanzuela is just outside Monterrey, close to Valle Alto golf club. It is much closer than Cola de Caballo and much less crowded. Chipinque is perhaps as close but usually crowded and the trails are steep. La Estanzuela has an excellent main trail and the entrance fee is only two pesos.

A partial list of the birds seen follows. A good number of the species would be of interest to US birders.

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum)
Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)
Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons)
Bronze-winged Woodpecker (Piculus aeruginosus)
Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer)
Rose-throated Becard (Pachyramphus aglaiae)
Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas)
Mexican Jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina)
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus (Parus) bicolor)
Spot-breasted Wren (Thryothorus maculipectus)
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
Clay-colored Robin (Turdus grayi)
Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus)
Rufous-capped Warbler (Basileuterus rufifrons)
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
Crimson-collared Grosbeak (Rhodothraupis celaeno)
Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)
Audubon's Oriole (Icterus graduacauda)

Saludos

Andres M. Sada
asada@infosel.net.mx
Apartado 711
phone 52 8 368 0168/9
Garza Garcia, N.L. 66220
fax 52 8 368 0166
Mexico

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Part 2:

Amigos,

Just to use the opportunity to expand a little on the information Andres Sada just sent you about Parque Natural La Estanzuela near Monterrey. Here are some species I remember sighting there in the last few months on four separate visits and that I consider are likely year-round residents in the area. So as Andres states......this might be a good place to go on your next visit to Monterrey.

Blue-crowned Motmot
Rufous-capped Brush-Finch
Brown Jay
Chachalaca
Olive Sparrow
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Long-billed Thrasher
Gray-collared Becard
Band-tailed Pigeon
Elegant Trogon
Phainopepla (migrant but interesting in this habitat!!)
Kiskadee
Crescent Chested Warbler
Tropical Parula
Altamira Oriole
White-collared Seedeater

Saludos,

Ernesto C. Enkerlin Hoeflich"
enkerlin@CAMPUS.MTY.ITESM.MX
 

PS- Just at the entrance and to the left where the WCs are, there is a clump of different "exotic" plants, trees and bushes that are also liked by several of these species. Especially the edge ones. Weekdays are best because there will be just as many (or more) birds and little human traffic.