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  Veracruz
See
Itinerary and Bird List links at the bottom of the page
Central
Veracruz boasts the largest migration of birds in the world and is well known for
its bird diversity (over 500 species, see Veracruz
checklist), particularly the abundance of migrating raptors (~30 spp.),
warblers (~50 spp.), and local endemics (~17 spp.). Cardel, a town just north of the city of Veracruz and the
location of Pronatura’s main raptor count site on the roof of Hotel Bienvenido
(photo below), is an excellent birding location.
From Cardel, you can make day trips in the mornings and afternoons to
nearby locations such as Chichicaxtle, Pronatura's second count site further
inland from Cardel on the coastal plain.
Another location is the nearby San Julian Lagoon, which harbors species such as ALTAMIRA ORIOLE,
ROSE-THROATED BECARD, and GROOVE-BILLED ANI.
At
Playa Juan Angel APLOMADO FALCONs can be seen cruisng the shore above foraging
COLLARED PLOVER, while DOUBLE-STRIPED THICK-KNEE hide in pastures amidst sand
dunes. The well-preserved La Mancha
Ecological Reserve harbors species including BLACK-HEADED TROGON, AZTEC
PARAKEET, BUFF-BELLIED HUMMINGBIRD, and BAT and LAUGHING FALCONS in coastal dunes, ponds, and dense deciduous forest.
Visit other nearby locations such as the coastal scrub forest of La Catalina with RUFOUS-NAPED WREN and
CANIVET'S EMERALD and Rio Escondido's riparian corridor with BLUE-BLACK
GRASSQUIT, MASKED TITYRA, and SCRUB EUPHONIA.
Take a boat excursion from La Antigua to see water birds such as
ROSEATE SPOONBILL, BLACK SKIMMER, SANDWICH TERN, and BELTED, RINGED,
AMAZON, and GREEN KINGFISHERS, plus numerous shorebirds such as WILSON'S
and PIPING PLOVERS and Calidris sandpipers.
You can observe migrating raptors with Pronatura’s count team in
the afternoons in
Cardel and Chichicaxtle (right photo) to see the migration of incredible numbers of species including
vultures, falcons, HOOK-BILLED and MISSISSIPPI KITES, BROAD-WINGED and
SWAINSON'S HAWKS, plus ZONE-TAILED HAWK, COMMON BLACK-HAWK, GRAY HAWK,
WHITE-TAILED HAWK and SHORT-TAILED HAWK. On some days there can be
more than one million raptors passing over either of the count sites in
one day. The migration seen from these sites also includes numerous
non-raptors such as SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, WOOD STORK, and ANHINGA.
 The
next part of the tour is based much higher in the mountains in the city of
Xalapa. You
can make excursions
into the pine-oak forest and deep canyons around Las Minas (left photo) harboring species such as
RED WARBLER, STRIPED SPARROW, and BEARDED WOOD-PARTRIDGE; and La Joya, with
CRESCENT-CHESTED WARBLER, BUMBLEBEE HUMINGBIRD, and MOUNTAIN TROGON.
You can
also bird the coffee plantations and tropical forest near the
spectacular Texolo Waterfall where RUFOUS-CAPPED WARBLER, MONTEZUMA OROPENDOLA,
BAT FALCON and numerous other species may be seen.
Finally, visit Macuiltépetl Ecological Park,
located in Xalapa, where good numbers of migrant warblers as well as residents
such as BLUE MOCKINGBIRD, FAN-TAILED WARBLER, SQUIRREL CUCKOO, and GREEN JAY can
be found.
After
your stay in the mountains, descend back down from the mountains and
travel south of Veracruz City to Alvarado wetlands, Sierra de los Tuxtlas and
the grasslands of Las Barancas. This area offers fantastic
birding with species such as PINNATED BITTERN, over-wintering GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, resident LESSER YELLOW-HEADED
VULTURE, and numerous migrating SCISSOR-TAILED, and resident FORK-TAILED
FLYCATCHERS. Spend your last night will be spent in Veracruz City for a taste of Mexican nightlife.
download
Veracruz checklist
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