Jesse Fagan (a.k.a. the Motmot or just "Mot") has been passionate about birds since his teens, when he had an encounter with a flying Pileated Woodpecker. He has birded extensively throughout North America and in 2016 published the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Northern Central America (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) with co-author Oliver Komar and illustrators Robert Dean and Peter Burke. In addition, Mot has experience in many other areas of Central and South America, Europe, and Africa. He likes to think he can bird anywhere at any time and still show you the birds, but most importantly, a good time.
Jesse holds a B.S. and an M.S. in mathematics from Texas Tech University. He is currently living in Lima, Peru with his wife, Rocio.
Scroll down to see Jesse's current schedule of tours.
Client comment
"Jesse is a top-notch birder; his spotting skills are incredible--and almost as importantly, he's excellent at getting people in the group on the birds he's spotted. He's also well-organized, good at handling group logistics, and has a flaming sense of humor, all of which combine to make the tour both rewarding and a lot of fun." S. G., MACHU PICCHU & ABRA MALAGA, PERU tour participant
"I'd travel with guide Jesse Fagan again in a heartbeat. He has it all when it comes to guiding. He has excellent birding skills and knowledge...Jesse is a leader and does a great job organizing the trip itinerary, getting us birders from place to place, and seeing to our accommodations. He works well with people at the lodgings, with local bird guides, and the trip participants. Your office service was excellent -- complete, thorough, polite, helpful." C.B., GUATEMALA: SHADE-GROWN BIRDING tour participant
"Jesse Fagan is a first-rate guide, combining a great ear and eyes with a congenial personality. He manages the group well while being fun to be with. His organization skills matched his birding skills. We are already signed up for another tour with Jesse. Field Guides is always the best." C.B., PERUVIAN RAINFORESTS OF THE TAMBOPATA tour participant
Video from Jesse's tours
Enjoy a video from our 2020 "Central Mexico & Baja: Birds, Butterflies & Whales" tour — great fun!
Jesse's Upcoming Tours
Nov 24 - Dec 1, 2025 ($4250) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 7
A short tour to a new Colombian hotspot with several must-see birds, local culture, and regional cuisine.
May be combined with Colombia's Cloudforests: The Western & Central Andes
Dec 1-11, 2025 ($5825) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Cloud forests of two Colombian cordilleras and their rich assortment of hummingbirds and tanagers are highlights of this escape across the Caribbean to tropical Colombia. Starting in Cali and exiting through Manizales and Bogota, we will use several good city hotels and one simple ecotourism lodge primarily to access Andean forests, but also dry woodland, marshes, and the paramo.
May be combined with Colombia's Inirida
Jan 5-13, 2026 ($4575) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A short tour to an endemic-filled region reached by a direct flight from Miami.
May be combined with Colombia's Eastern Cordillera
Jan 13-21, 2026 ($4995) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 7
An endemic-filled week-plus of exciting highland birding,
May be combined with Colombia's Santa Marta Mountains & Caribbean Coast or Colombia's Marvelous Magdalena Valley
Feb 11-20, 2026 ($5295) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 8
Birding tour for Resplendent Quetzal, a host of hummingbirds, and Azure-rumped Tanager set against a dramatic volcanic landscape and colorful Mayan culture.
(Tikal & Guacamayas Pre-tour Extension from Feb 6, 2026)
Mar 13-19, 2026 ($3495) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 7
A week of respite to a very birdy and beautiful Caribbean island, a mix of North American and local culture and cuisine; 17 endemic birds and a number of other Caribbean specialties.
May be combined with Bahamas
Mar 21-26, 2026 ($4575) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 6
Small-group tour for four Bahamian endemics, several Caribbean endemics, a few early migrants, Kirtland's Warbler, and a sampling of West Indian butterflies; fun, exciting birding at a relaxed pace.
May be combined with Puerto Rico
Apr 10-26, 2026 ($12675) with Jesse Fagan & Sam Wilson
Tour Limit: 8
Comprehensive tour searching for all the accessible endemics (many highly endangered) of the southern Caribbean on 10 attractive islands.
Jun 13-25, 2026 ($7375) with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 12
A 12-day taste of northern Peru's east-slope Andes, including six nights at Owlet Lodge.
May be combined with Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru
Jun 27 - Jul 8, 2026 ($6375) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Rich forests from the foothills to treeline are accessed from good country hotels and comfortable ecotourism lodges at some of Colombia's best private reserves. Many Colombian endemics expected, but the tour is primarily an opportunity to gorge on the birds of the Andes after a short flight across the Caribbean.
Jul 30 - Aug 10, 2026 (To be determined / 2025=$5875) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Our in-depth transect birding tour of the higher-elevation half of the Manu Biosphere Reserve.
Nov 23-30, 2026 (To be determined / 2025=$4250) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 6
A short tour to a new Colombian hotspot with several must-see birds, local culture, and regional cuisine.
May be combined with Colombia's Cloudforests: The Western & Central Andes
Nov 30 - Dec 10, 2026 (To be determined / 2025=$5825) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Cloud forests of two Colombian cordilleras and their rich assortment of hummingbirds and tanagers are highlights of this escape across the Caribbean to tropical Colombia. Starting in Cali and exiting through Manizales and Bogota, we will use several good city hotels and one simple ecotourism lodge primarily to access Andean forests, but also dry woodland, marshes, and the paramo.
May be combined with Colombia's Inirida
Jan 7-16, 2027 (To be determined / 2026=$5425) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
One-site tour to one of the most comfortable lodges in western Amazonia with some of the birdiest canopy platforms anywhere.
May be combined with Ecuador's Wildsumaco Lodge
Feb 26 - Mar 7, 2027 (To be determined) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A tour to two Panamanian destinations located in the Chiriqui highlands and Caribbean lowlands at Bocas del Toro.
Mar 26 - Apr 3, 2027 (To be determined) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 6
Short birding tour for many specialties and endemics including the unusual Palmchat.
May be combined with Jamaica or Puerto Rico
Apr 4-10, 2027 (To be determined / 2026=$3495) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 7
A week of respite to a very birdy and beautiful Caribbean island, a mix of North American and local culture and cuisine; 17 endemic birds and a number of other Caribbean specialties.
May be combined with Dominican Republic
Apr 24 - May 3, 2027 (To be determined / 2026=$4595) with Jesse Fagan & Chris Benesh
Tour Limit: 14
A tour for numerous specialties from Central Florida south to the Keys and Dry Tortugas.
Jun 12-24, 2027 (To be determined / 2026=$7375) with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 12
A 12-day taste of northern Peru's east-slope Andes, including six nights at Owlet Lodge.
May be combined with Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru
Sep 6-21, 2027 (To be determined) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 9
Endemic, rare, and specialty birds from coastal wetlands and towering cliffs to the Atlas Mountains and the northwest corner of the Sahara.
May be combined with France: Camargue & Pyrenees
Oct 2-12, 2027 (To be determined / 2025=$4325) with Jesse Fagan & Jorge Montejo-Diaz
Tour Limit: 10
The amazing spectacle of huge numbers of migrating raptors combined with some highland birding and cultural highlights.
Oct 23 - Nov 16, 2027 (To be determined / 2025=$17450) with Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 10
The ultimate seabird and wildlife cruise, including fabulous South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Variable fee depending on cabin choice.
Nov 22-29, 2027 (To be determined / 2025=$4250) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 6
A short tour to a new Colombian hotspot with several must-see birds, local culture, and regional cuisine.
May be combined with Colombia's Cloudforests: The Western & Central Andes
Nov 29 - Dec 9, 2027 (To be determined / 2025=$5825) with Jesse Fagan & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Cloud forests of two Colombian cordilleras and their rich assortment of hummingbirds and tanagers are highlights of this escape across the Caribbean to tropical Colombia. Starting in Cali and exiting through Manizales and Bogota, we will use several good city hotels and one simple ecotourism lodge primarily to access Andean forests, but also dry woodland, marshes, and the paramo.
May be combined with Colombia's Inirida