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Compared to states such as Oaxaca and Chiapas, Chihuahua isn't as diverse, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. Here, tucked away in the Sierra Madre Occidental are pockets of towering aspens and, nesting in them, oftentimes in the same exact trees, are two of Mexico's most coveted avian treasures: the Thick-billed Parrot and Eared Quetzal. The Thick-billed Parrot, one Mexico's most endangered psittacids, has a population of under 2,500 individuals, and of those there are only 170 nesting pairs. Like oversized crossbills, these parrots use their powerful bills to break open pinecones to access the seeds, and they cover great distances to find them. Eared Quetzals, on the other hand, feed on Madrone and Chokecherry fruit, but they will also catch caterpillars and lizards to feed their chicks. The summer monsoon season is the best time to see both of these mountain nomads as they seek out nest cavities, carved by Northern Flickers (historically they used cavities made by Imperial Woodpeckers). After the breeding season, they disperse south into Durango becoming essentially unfindable.

For this short summer escape, we'll start in Chihuahua City--those joining us from the Mexico's Eastern Sierras: Maroon-fronted Parrots & More tour (which can be taken back to back with this one) will fly directly from Monterrey to Chihuahua City. Upon our arrival, we'll be picked up by avian biologists from the Organizacion Vida Silvestre who have spent decades monitoring Thick-billed Parrots and Eared Quetzals in Chihuahua. Together we'll make our way west to the town of La Junta where we'll base for two full days, seeking out and studying the parrots and quetzals in Area de Proteccion de Flora y Fauna Papigochi. Other Sierra Madre specialties we might find include Pine Flycatcher, Mountain Trogon, Mexican Chickadee, American Goshawk, Montezuma Quail, and Russet Nightingale-Thrush. Even Aztec Thrush is a possibility! Continuing west, we'll visit the mighty Cascada de Basaseachi, Mexico's second highest waterfall with a drop of 800 feet. From the various overlooks we'll scan the skies for Black and Chestnut-collared swifts, and in the surrounding forests we'll seek the northernmost Striped Sparrows, Hooded Grosbeaks, Rufous-capped Brushfinches and White-striped Woodcreepers. And who's to say what other critters we might find in the pine-cloaked canyons… So, escape the heat of summer to join us in the high Sierras for a full-on immersion into the world of Thick-billed Parrots and Eared Quetzals!

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