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We alway find time
to explore and enjoy the sprawling Zapotec ruins of Monte
Alban, that is, after we've explored the surrounding shrubby
hillsides for birds like Slaty Vireo and Ocellated Thrasher!
(Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
There's nothing like thoughts of a week in the sun to bring out the snowbird in all of us -- and the possibility of adding a few dozen Mexican endemics to the life list to make the prospect even more appealing. From the cool, pine-scented highlands of the big mountains to the dusty switchbacks above Teotitlan del Valle, from the majestic columnar cactus forest around Yagul to the scruffy hillsides along the valley's highways and byways, there were plenty of feathered highlights.
A Oaxaca Sparrow peered at us from some nearby weeds, so close we could almost reach out and touch it. A spotty-breasted Ocellated Thrasher warbled from a small bush, pouring his varied phrases into the warm late-morning air. A pair of Golden Vireos searched for insects (and intruders) as they worked their way through the roadside vegetation. A tiny Northern Pygmy-Owl tooted its challenges to the world, surrounding by an angry mob of warblers, vireos and hummingbirds. Three Long-tailed Wood-Partridges scrambled through a fruiting tree, looking for goodies. A horde of Gray-barred Wrens rooted through bromeliads and mosses on an oak's shaggy branches. Two Strong-billed Woodcreepers flashed back and forth across a logging track and crawled up a host of nearby tree trunks. A tiny Beautiful Hummingbird returned again and again to the same two perches. Two Zone-tailed Hawks rocked over the forest, doing their best "Don't mind me, I'm just a Turkey Vulture" imitations. Boucard's Wrens and Bridled Sparrows both demonstrated their distinctive wing-waving territorial displays. Two Chestnut-capped Brush-Finches forgot themselves (and their typically skulking nature) and climbed up into a tree for a good look around. Aptly-named Red Warblers dazzled against the dark green background of the pine forest.
And, who will soon forget that magical half hour across from the visitor's center at La Cumbre: two Collared Towhees calling from a nearby tree, a mob of Black-headed Siskins nibbling grass seeds, Yellow-eyed Juncos bouncing along the roadside, swirling flocks of Gray Silky-Flycatchers and a male Red Crossbill atop a snag. Or our encounter with that wonderful mixed flock on Cerro San Felipe, when scurrying up the hill after calling Dwarf Jays led to us being surrounded by an ever-changing cast of characters: multiple Dwarf Jays (including one that rested for long minutes in the same spot), a showy male Rose-throated Becard, a surprise Black-backed Oriole, chattering Gray-barred Wrens, a bull-necked Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, raucous Steller's Jays and a shy Hairy Woodpecker.
Of course, it wasn't just the birds that contributed to the week's appeal. Guided tours of the sprawling ruins at Monte Alban, plus the more intimate sites at Yagul and Mitla, gave us a peek into the Zapotec civilization that once ruled the valley. An afternoon in the rug-weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle introduced us to the time-consuming (and labor intensive) process of turning sheep's wool into rugs. And the fine local cuisine -- featuring mescals and moles and squash blossom soup -- ensured that none of us went home hungry. Or thinner! It was good fun sharing the adventures with all of you. Chris and I hope to see you in the field again, somewhere, some day!
-- Megan
For more information about this tour, including future departures, visit our website at www.fieldguides.com. And to see this same triplist online, go to https://fieldguides.com/triplists/oax12LIST.pdf and you will find the list in its entirety.
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for
individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I =
introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b =
boreal migrant
BIRDS
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
Oaxaca Sparrow is
an aptly-named bird, and a must-find species on this trip,
as its entire range is restricted to the state of Oaxaca.
Though generally tough to come by, this bird was very
well-behaved, and gave us point-blank views! (Photo by
guide Chris Benesh)
AMERICAN WIGEON
(Anas americana) – Two waddled across the muddy edge of
Presa Piedra Azul, the reservoir above Teotitlan del Valle.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL
(Anas discors)
CINNAMON TEAL
(Anas cyanoptera) – Surprisingly common (for a bird that's
not regularly seen on this tour) on the reservoir above
Teotitlan del Valle, with most of the males already in their
snazzy breeding finery.
NORTHERN SHOVELER
(Anas clypeata) – A few floated among the masses of ducks
on Presa Piedra Azul.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
(Anas crecca)
RUDDY DUCK
(Oxyura jamaicensis)
Cracidae (Guans, Chachalacas, and
Curassows)
WEST MEXICAN CHACHALACA (Ortalis poliocephala) – We were just a LITTLE too close to a trio
in a roadside bush when we first spotted them, and they
scuttled off up the hill before we could all decant from the
bus. Fortunately, they eventually flapped their awkward way
one by one across the road, giving us reasonably good flight
views in the process. [E] Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
LONG-TAILED WOOD-PARTRIDGE (Dendrortyx macroura) – A trio searching for fruits in a tree
right near our picnic supper spot on Cerro San Felipe were a
surprise -- and a highlight of an otherwise quiet evening.
[E] MONTEZUMA QUAIL
(Cyrtonyx montezumae) – A covey of five scurried up a grassy
hillside away from us as we started our walk down the road
from the microwave tower. Sadly, they were amazingly quick
to disappear!
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LEAST GREBE (Tachybaptus dominicus) – A few dozen floated on Presa Piedra Azul,
vastly outnumbered by the various ducks. Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET
(Egretta thula)
CATTLE EGRET
(Bubulcus ibis)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
BLACK VULTURE (Coragyps atratus) TURKEY VULTURE
(Cathartes aura)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus) – We found two perched up on a distant
agave stalk on our first outing to Teotitlan del Valle, then
saw others in flight there and along the Pan American
highway later in the week. NORTHERN HARRIER
(AMERICAN) (Circus cyaneus
hudsonius)
Golden-browed
Warblers are denizens of humid montane forests from Mexico
south into Honduras; this was one of a small party that
delighted the group in an arroyo on Cerro San Felipe.
(Photo by tour participant John Catto)
COOPER'S HAWK
(Accipiter cooperii)
SHORT-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo brachyurus) – A dark morph bird circled over Mitla,
seen during our ruins tour there.
WHITE-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo albicaudatus) – A youngster, flapping past the cathedral
at Mitla, further interrupted our ruins tour there.
ZONE-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo albonotatus) – A pair soared back and forth over one of
the switchbacks on Cerro San Felipe, showing well their
Turkey Vulture-ish flight style, banded tails and bright
yellow ceres.
RED-TAILED HAWK
(Buteo jamaicensis) – Common throughout, including several
truly stunning dark morph birds.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
CRESTED CARACARA (Caracara cheriway) – Daily, often in surprising numbers,
including a few perched along the road into Teotitlan del
Valle. AMERICAN KESTREL
(Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON
(Falco peregrinus)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
SORA (Porzana
carolina) – One gave its
whinnying call from the wet field near the start of the
Yagul entrance road, heard by several of the group. [*] AMERICAN COOT
(Fulica americana)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
KILLDEER (Charadrius
vociferus) Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius) – A few teetered along the edges of Presa
Piedra Azul. LEAST SANDPIPER
(Calidris minutilla)
WILSON'S SNIPE
(Gallinago delicata) – Two flushed from the gravel bar edging
Presa Piedra Azul, seen by a handful of folks as they
zigzagged away.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I] BAND-TAILED PIGEON
(Patagioenas fasciata) [*]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE
(Zenaida asiatica) – Common and widespread all across the
Oaxaca Valley.
MOURNING DOVE
(Zenaida macroura)
INCA DOVE (Columbina inca) – Also common throughout -- and their soft
"no hope" calls were a regular part of the tour soundtrack.
COMMON GROUND-DOVE
(Columbina passerina) – A few seen in flight as we drove out of
the Yagul ruins site, flashing their reddish wing patches --
and distinguished from the preceding (slightly larger)
species by their short, squared tails.
WHITE-TIPPED DOVE
(Leptotila verreauxi) [*]
Strigidae (Owls)
When not singing,
the very local Ocellated Thrasher is a tough bird to find,
spending much of its time on the ground on densely
vegetated hillsides. Luckily for us, they are born to
sing, and they generally prefer to do this from an exposed
perch, as this one did above Teotitlan del Valle! (Photo
by guide Chris Benesh)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
GREEN VIOLETEAR (Colibri thalassinus) MAGNIFICENT
HUMMINGBIRD (Eugenes fulgens)
BEAUTIFUL
HUMMINGBIRD (Calothorax
pulcher) – After some
searching, we discovered two "favorite perches" of a female
(or young male) near the Yagul entrance gate. The bird
returned again and again to the same spots, allowing
leisurely scope studies. [E]
BROAD-TAILED
HUMMINGBIRD (Selasphorus
platycercus) – A young male
(or old female) with just a few colored gorget feathers
showing in the center of its throat perched for long minutes
on a little twig among a stand of purple flowers, allowing
us to get good long looks. It was sure tough to find without
the scope!
DUSKY HUMMINGBIRD
(Cynanthus sordidus) – Daily, with particularly good views of
several foraging in the red-flowered coral bean trees up the
road from Teotitlan del Valle. This is certainly a rather
drab hummingbird. [E]
BERYLLINE
HUMMINGBIRD (Amazilia
beryllina) – One nectaring at
a coral bean tree along the road near Presa Piedra Azul gave
us good comparisons with the previous species, especially
when it perched. The rufous in its secondaries was really
visible when the bird was in flight.
WHITE-EARED
HUMMINGBIRD (Hylocharis
leucotis) – Fine views on
most days in the mountains, with a delicate little nest
found near our picnic lunch spot on Cerro San Felipe.
[N]
Trogonidae (Trogons)
MOUNTAIN TROGON (Trogon mexicanus) – A lucky few saw one flash past when we
had our first close encounter with the Dwarf Jay flock on
Cerro San Felipe. The rest just heard it calling repeatedly.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
GRAY-BREASTED WOODPECKER (Melanerpes hypopolius) – Great views on several days, mostly in
the big columnar cacti around Teotitlan del Valle and Yagul,
including two not far from our Beautiful Hummingbird.
[E] YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus varius)
LADDER-BACKED
WOODPECKER (Picoides scalaris)
– One made repeated forays into a tree
near the Monte Alban parking lot, distracting us briefly
from our search for Slaty Vireo.
HAIRY WOODPECKER
(Picoides villosus) – One with the big mixed flock on Cerro San
Felipe proved to be a bit shy and retiring, sticking to the
more densely foliaged parts of the oaks.
NORTHERN FLICKER
(RED-SHAFTED) (Colaptes
auratus cafer) – We heard
single birds calling as we birded above Teotitlan del Valle
and on the Yuvila road. [*]
Furnariidae (Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers)
STRONG-BILLED WOODCREEPER (Xiphocolaptes promeropirhynchus) – Two of these big, long-billed woodpeckers
streaked in and proceeded to climb up a number of thick tree
trunks all around us on Cerro San Felipe. This species is
very uncommon in the humid highland forests east of the
Oaxaca Valley. WHITE-STRIPED
WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes
leucogaster) – One played
hide-and-seek in pines along the edges of the road high
above Teotitlan del Valle, flicking into view and then out
again as it moved through the trees. [E]
SPOT-CROWNED
WOODCREEPER (Lepidocolaptes
affinis affinis)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
NORTHERN BEARDLESS-TYRANNULET (Camptostoma imberbe) [*] GREENISH ELAENIA
(Myiopagis viridicata) [*]
PILEATED
FLYCATCHER (Xenotriccus
mexicanus) – One moved
through the dry growth around one of the tombs at Monte
Alban, eventually popping out onto the low branches of a
nearby tree and giving us all good views of its distinctive
spiky crest. [E]
TUFTED FLYCATCHER
(Mitrephanes phaeocercus) – A couple of these handsome
cinnamon-colored flycatchers made repeated forays from dead
branches in one of the arroyos along the road above
Teotitlan del Valle.
The Mendoza
sisters' rug-weaving demonstration is always a big hit
with our groups. Looks like we've had some influence on
their designs, too! (Photo by tour participant John Catto)
LEAST FLYCATCHER
(Empidonax minimus)
HAMMOND'S
FLYCATCHER (Empidonax
hammondii)
DUSKY FLYCATCHER
(Empidonax oberholseri)
BLACK PHOEBE
(Sayornis nigricans) – One hunted along a little stream up the
road from Teotitlan del Valle -- at least until that most
uncooperative cow and her calf (and the poor guy trying to
herd them) came into the picture!
SAY'S PHOEBE
(Sayornis saya)
VERMILION
FLYCATCHER (Pyrocephalus
rubinus) – There were plenty
of these handsome flycatchers seen during the week,
including numerous eye-catching males.
DUSKY-CAPPED
FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus
tuberculifer) – One spent
long minutes hunting along the edge of the road above
Teotitlan del Valle, regularly perching so we could see its
all-brown undertail. This is the smallest of the Myiarchus
flycatchers found in Oaxaca.
ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus
cinerascens)
NUTTING'S
FLYCATCHER (Myiarchus
nuttingi)
GREAT KISKADEE
(Pitangus sulphuratus) – Our best looks came near the start of the
Yagul entrance road, where we found a pair hunting from
small trees around the weedy fields.
TROPICAL KINGBIRD
(Tyrannus melancholicus)
CASSIN'S KINGBIRD
(Tyrannus vociferans)
THICK-BILLED
KINGBIRD (Tyrannus
crassirostris) – One hunted
from a leafless tree along Route 175 late one afternoon,
showing well its large beak -- and sounding rather like a
dog's squeak toy.
WESTERN KINGBIRD
(Tyrannus verticalis) – One at Monte Alban perched where we could
see its distinctive white outer tail feathers.
Tityridae (Tityras and Allies)
ROSE-THROATED BECARD (Pachyramphus aglaiae) – A handsome male with the big flock on
Cerro San Felipe flaunted his very rosy throat and called as
he worked his way through the trees, searching for tidbits.
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus) Vireonidae (Vireos)
SLATY VIREO (Vireo brevipennis) – Arg! A singing bird made several passes
back and forth near the parking lot at Monte Alban, but
always a layer or three back from the very edge; some folks
saw it quite well, while others only saw a shadow slipping
through the bushes -- and some didn't see it at all!
[E] CASSIN'S VIREO
(Vireo cassinii) – One in the scrubby gully we walked en
route to the mountains on our final morning gave us brief
hopes of a Dwarf Vireo -- until it moved into the open where
we could see it more clearly.
BLUE-HEADED VIREO
(Vireo solitarius)
HUTTON'S VIREO
(Vireo huttoni)
GOLDEN VIREO
(Vireo hypochryseus) – Certainly the most cooperative of the
endemic vireos, with especially lovely views of a calling
pair along the road above Teotitlan del Valle. [E]
The Gray-barred
Wren is a highly arboreal species; groups of them are
often seen moving through the canopy, checking clumps of
bromeliads for tasty bugs. Dwarf Jays often accompany
them, and we always hope to find one of these big mixed
jay/wren flocks during our time in the mountains. (Photo
by guide Chris Benesh)
CHESTNUT-SIDED
SHRIKE-VIREO (Vireolanius
melitophrys) – Our first pair
played hard to get, high above the road on Cerro San Felipe.
Fortunately, another bird in the Dwarf Jay flock proved a
bit more cooperative, giving most folks a good -- though
perhaps briefer than desired -- look.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
DWARF JAY (Cyanolyca
nana) – Yahoo! We definitely
had to work for this one -- making multiple trips to their
preferred habitat -- but the third time proved the charm,
with storming close studies of a whole group of them as they
swarmed through trees all around us on Cerro San Felipe,
part of a big mixed flock that spent almost 25 minutes with
us. [E] STELLER'S JAY
(Cyanocitta stelleri)
WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
(SUMICHRAST'S) (Aphelocoma
californica sumichrasti) –
Several big noisy mobs of these handsome birds, which are a
much darker blue on their back than their counterparts in
North America, seen along the road above Teotitlan del
Valle.
COMMON RAVEN
(Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) – Fairly common around Presa Piedra Azul,
particularly over the wide gravel beds at the north end.
VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOW (Tachycineta
thalassina) – Regular on the
first four days of the tour, including good numbers high
over the switchbacks above Teotitlan del Valle, but in
general far less common than most years.
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
MEXICAN CHICKADEE (Poecile sclateri) – Pairs seen on each of our visits to Cerro
San Felipe, including a few that came in close to check out
our "owl" whistles. This species has quite a hoarse call.
BRIDLED TITMOUSE
(Baeolophus wollweberi)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis) – A couple clung upside down to branches in
the arroyos above Teotitlan del Valle, while others did the
same in pines on Cerro San Felipe. Troglodytidae (Wrens)
GRAY-BARRED WREN (Campylorhynchus megalopterus) – Common in the highlands, with superb
leisurely studies of a big group probing quietly through the
mosses and bromeliads on some big trees along the Yuvila
road, and some wing-waving interactions among birds in the
big wren/jay flock on Cerro San Felipe. [E] BOUCARD'S WREN
(Campylorhynchus jocosus) – A trio along the road into Teotitlan del
Valle our first morning put on a great show, chortling from
nearby cactus, demonstrating their wing-waving territorial
display and searching the vegetation for tasty tidbits.
[E]
ROCK WREN (Salpinctes obsoletus) – A pair carefully inspected the cracks of
one of the pyramids at Monte Alban.
CANYON WREN
(Catherpes mexicanus) – One investigating the tiles on the roof
of the Mendoza's family compound gave us a loud send-off as
we left after our weaving demonstration. We heard the lovely
descending song of another echoing from the rocky hillsides
around Yagul.
HAPPY WREN
(Pheugopedius felix) – We heard a pair singing from a nearby
hillside while we birded around some farm fields along Route
175N. This species is very rare in Oaxaca's interior valley.
[*]
BEWICK'S WREN
(Thryomanes bewickii) – Though we heard this wren on most days of
the tour, we never actually laid eyes on one. [*]
HOUSE WREN
(NORTHERN) (Troglodytes aedon
aedon)
HOUSE WREN
(BROWN-THROATED) (Troglodytes
aedon brunneicollis) – One
sat on a dead branch in an arroyo above Teotitlan del Valle,
swiveling back and forth for long minutes and giving
everybody plenty of time to study it in the scopes.
MARSH WREN
(Cistothorus palustris) – Fabulous views of one singing from bushes
nearly at our feet, near the start of the Yagul entrance
road. This bird was well south of its normal wintering
range.
GRAY-BREASTED
WOOD-WREN (Henicorhina
leucophrys) [*]
Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (Polioptila caerulea) – Easily one of the most widespread
passerines in Oaxaca, seen every day in pretty much every
habitat. This species breeds in Oaxaca, though numbers are
probably supplemented in the winter by migrants from further
north. Regulidae (Kinglets)
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula) – Not particularly common this year, but
seen in small numbers on most days of the tour. Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
BROWN-BACKED SOLITAIRE (Myadestes occidentalis) – One skulking bird in a berry bush high on
Cerro San Felipe had us hoping for an Aztec Thrush -- until
it popped out into the open, and we saw another above
Teotitlan del Valle. The wonderfully complex song of this
species was a regular part of the highland soundtrack.
ORANGE-BILLED
NIGHTINGALE-THRUSH (Catharus
aurantiirostris) – One near
the friendly donkeys at Pollo Nino showed well for those who
happened to be standing next to Chris when it appeared. Some
of the group had brief glimpses of another when it flicked
into view -- then flew across the path -- on our afternoon's
outing along Route 175, and others caught a quick view of
one in the gully we walked on our last morning. This one's
often tough to get good views of.
A pair of endemic
Collared Towhees were part of a parade of birds that
brought a little magic to a morning at the visitor's
center at La Cumbre. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
SWAINSON'S THRUSH
(Catharus ustulatus) – One in the pine-oak zone above Teotitlan
del Valle was a surprise; the species isn't common in the
interior valley.
HERMIT THRUSH
(Catharus guttatus)
CLAY-COLORED
THRUSH (Turdus grayi) – A couple sitting atop coral bean trees
along Route 175 showed nicely one morning.
RUFOUS-BACKED
ROBIN (Turdus rufopalliatus)
– A handful seen on the hotel grounds
by some as we waited for the group to assemble one morning.
[E]
AMERICAN ROBIN
(Turdus migratorius) [*]
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos) OCELLATED THRASHER
(Toxostoma ocellatum) – Wow!! We certainly put our time in
looking for this one -- and were amply rewarded with superb
views of one singing for long minutes in a little shrub
right near the road above Teotitlan del Valle. We heard
another near the microwave towers, and saw a third as it
sang in a gully along Route 175. Spoiled you are! [E]
CURVE-BILLED
THRASHER (Toxostoma
curvirostre) – Seen
especially well near Yagul, where we found a pair relaxing
in an enormous prickly pear cactus.
BLUE MOCKINGBIRD
(Melanotis caerulescens) – As usual, we heard far more of these than
we saw, but we did catch up with one in a scrubby gully
along Route 175, when one popped up into a flowering tree
early one morning for a sing and a good look around.
[E]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens) Ptilogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
GRAY SILKY-FLYCATCHER (Ptilogonys cinereus) – Recorded daily, but best seen across the
highway from the visitor's center at La Cumbre, where dozens
sat sprinkled in some of the bigger trees. Peucedramidae (Olive Warbler)
OLIVE WARBLER (Peucedramus taeniatus) – After seeing a number of fairly drab
females/youngsters, we finally connected with a
pumpkin-headed male on our second visit to Cerro San Felipe.
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH (Parkesia motacilla) BLACK-AND-WHITE
WARBLER (Mniotilta varia)
CRESCENT-CHESTED
WARBLER (Oreothlypis
superciliosa) – Seen in small
numbers on each of our days in the high mountains, part of
big mixed flocks. The bold white eyebrow of this species is
real eye-catcher -- and its name proved to be quite the
tongue-twister!
Adding to the
magic at the La Cumbre visitor's center were several sleek
Gray Silky-Flycatchers that posed beautifully in the tree
tops. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
NASHVILLE WARBLER
(Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
VIRGINIA'S WARBLER
(Oreothlypis virginiae) – One showed very well as it made repeated
visits to the columnar cacti along Yagul's entrance road,
and some of the group saw another along the road above
Teotitlan del Valle.
MACGILLIVRAY'S
WARBLER (Geothlypis tolmiei)
– A male at Monte Alban proved far more
cooperative than the nearby Slaty Vireo, showing nicely as
it foraged in some nearby bushes.
COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis
trichas) – One in the marshy
field near the start of the Yagul entrance road was heard by
all and seen by a few about the same time as we found our
Marsh Wren.
YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER (MYRTLE) (Setophaga
coronata coronata)
YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga
coronata auduboni) – If we
had a penny for every one we saw...
BLACK-THROATED
GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga
nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER
(Setophaga townsendi)
HERMIT WARBLER
(Setophaga occidentalis)
RUFOUS-CAPPED
WARBLER (NORTH MEXICO) (Basileuterus
rufifrons rufifrons) – A pair
rummaging through some roadside bushes near Teotitlan del
Valle put on quite a show, approaching to within mere yards
of the group as they searched for morsels among the
vegetation.
GOLDEN-BROWED
WARBLER (Basileuterus belli)
– Superb studies of several in an
arroyo near our picnic lunch spot on Cerro San Felipe. What
stunners!
WILSON'S WARBLER
(Cardellina pusilla)
RED-FACED WARBLER
(Cardellina rubrifrons) – A couple in with a mixed flock high in
the pine-oak zone above Cerro San Felipe showed very well --
eventually.
RED WARBLER
(Cardellina rubra) – Wow -- talk about eye candy! Nobody
seemed to get tired of these, which we found on each of our
days in the high mountains. Not surprisingly (given how
visible its color makes it), the feathers of this species
contain a toxin which renders the bird unpalatable. [E]
PAINTED REDSTART
(Myioborus pictus)
SLATE-THROATED
REDSTART (Myioborus miniatus
miniatus) – Seen well on
three days, including several demonstrating their
distinctive spread-tailed foraging style.
Emberizidae (Buntings, Sparrows and
Allies)
WHITE-COLLARED SEEDEATER
(CINNAMON-RUMPED) (Sporophila
torqueola torqueola) – Great
looks at several of these little stunners -- certainly a far
more snazzy subspecies than the one that makes it to south
Texas -- in the weedy fields along the Yagul entrance road.
[E] CINNAMON-BELLIED
FLOWERPIERCER (Diglossa
baritula baritula) – A male
along the track near our picnic lunch spot on Cerro San
Felipe spent long minutes perched low in a tree, allowing us
all to get repeated scope studies of his distinctive
hook-tipped beak.
CHESTNUT-CAPPED
BRUSH-FINCH (CHESTNUT-CAPPED) (Arremon
brunneinucha suttoni) – A
trio along the Yuvila road gave us several minutes of
tantalizing glimpses as they crept through some low roadside
vegetation. Fortunately, two of them eventually worked their
way up into a more open tree for a look around.
COLLARED TOWHEE
(Pipilo ocai) – A pair foraging on the hillside right
across the highway from the visitor's center at La Cumbre
gave us some spectacular views in that wonderful early
morning sunshine. [E]
SPOTTED TOWHEE
(Pipilo maculatus)
RUFOUS-CROWNED
SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
– One scratching for seeds on the dusty
edge of the road above Teotitlan del Valle showed nicely --
and gave us the chance to compare it with the Oaxaca Sparrow
we'd seen earlier in the week.
OAXACA SPARROW
(Aimophila notosticta) – What a treat to get such great views of
this sometimes-skulking bird! As it was, we could nearly
have reached out and touched it, and we saw it from just
about every conceivable angle. [E]
WHITE-THROATED
TOWHEE (Melozone albicollis)
– Easily the most common -- and visible
-- endemic of the tour, seen on all but the last day.
Sometimes, as along the Yagul entrance road, their numbers
were pretty impressive! [E]
BRIDLED SPARROW
(Peucaea mystacalis) – Fine encounters with these handsome
sparrows (several of which demonstrated their distinctive
wing-waving territorial display) along the road above
Teotitlan del Valle. [E]
CHIPPING SPARROW
(Spizella passerina)
CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW (Spizella pallida)
LARK SPARROW
(Chondestes grammacus) – Including a mob looking rather like
ornaments in a Christmas tree along the Yagul entrance road.
GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW (Ammodramus
savannarum) – One perched up
on a dead weed along the road into Teotitlan del Valle our
first morning proved exceptionally cooperative, eventually
flying down to the roadside to search for seeds.
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
(Melospiza lincolnii)
YELLOW-EYED JUNCO
(Junco phaeonotus) – A few near our first parking spot on the
Yagul road showed well their staring yellow eyes. The range
of this highland species extends into southeastern Arizona
and southwestern New Mexico.
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
HEPATIC TANAGER (NORTHERN) (Piranga flava hepatica) – A male perched up in a leafless tree in
the scruffy arroyo we walked on our final morning, showing
well his grayish face and dark bill. SUMMER TANAGER
(Piranga rubra)
WESTERN TANAGER
(Piranga ludoviciana) – Small numbers on many days, including
several males showing faint traces of their colorful
breeding plumage.
BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK (Pheucticus
melanocephalus)
BLUE GROSBEAK
(Passerina caerulea)
INDIGO BUNTING
(Passerina cyanea) – A handful with the mixed flocks along the
Yagul entrance road, including one scruffy-looking male
already starting to molt into his breeding plumage.
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
EASTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella magna) – Two sang from small shrubs along the road
into Teotitlan del Valle, sounding like spring. GREAT-TAILED
GRACKLE (Quiscalus mexicanus)
– Particularly common in the city of
Oaxaca, where we saw big flocks heading out from their
roosts each morning.
BRONZED COWBIRD
(Molothrus aeneus)
BLACK-VENTED
ORIOLE (Icterus wagleri)
– Satisfyingly common this trip, with
great views on several days -- including mobs in the coral
bean trees along Route 175.
HOODED ORIOLE
(Icterus cucullatus) – Several in the flowering coral bean trees
we visited one morning en route to the mountains, including
a couple of handsome adult males.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
(Icterus bullockii)
AUDUBON'S ORIOLE
(DICKEY'S) (Icterus
graduacauda dickeyae) – Our
best views came high above Teotitlan del Valle, when we
found two birds working along the roadside, occasionally
singing softly. [E]
BALTIMORE ORIOLE
(Icterus galbula)
BLACK-BACKED
ORIOLE (Icterus abeillei)
– One with the big wren/jay flock on
Cerro San Felipe was an unexpected treat. It escaped without
most of the group seeing it on our first visit, but proved
more accommodating on our second attempt. This Mexican
endemic is a recent split from Bullock's Oriole. [E]
SCOTT'S ORIOLE
(Icterus parisorum)
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and
Allies)
ELEGANT EUPHONIA (Euphonia elegantissima) – A male nibbling mistletoe berries -- and
showing his snazzy plumage from just about every conceivable
angle -- provided a most satisfying encounter. HOUSE FINCH
(COMMON) (Carpodacus mexicanus
roseipectus) – Common and
widespread throughout. Many of the males were surprisingly
different from the ones we North Americans are used to
seeing, with the red restricted to small, very bright
patches on the face and on the rump.
RED CROSSBILL
(Loxia curvirostra) – A raspberry-sherbet male, perched atop a
pine snag near the visitor's center at La Cumbre, showed
well his distinctive crossed bill.
BLACK-HEADED
SISKIN (Spinus notatus)
– Fine studies of a group of these
handsome birds, feeding on weed seeds right across the road
from the visitor's center at La Cumbre.
LESSER GOLDFINCH
(Spinus psaltria)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I] MAMMALS
MEXICAN GRAY
SQUIRREL (Sciurus aureogaster)
HISPID COTTON RAT
(Sigmodon hispidus) – Several zipped past beside the Yagul
entrance road.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We had only a single reptile on this trip: a West Mexican Coral Snake (Micrurus distans) seen as it oozed back into the leaf litter around one of the tombs at Monte Alban.
Totals for the tour: 178 bird taxa and 2 mammal taxa