From orange orioles and emerald green hummingbirds busy among the flowers to stately herons in the wetlands and the aerial displays of pelicans and ospreys diving for fish, the Yucatan Peninsula is a birder’s paradise. With 548 species recorded here in the jungles and wetlands you don’t have to go far to start notching up your own impressive tally of sightings.
Now available for a minimum of two people, an early morning Puerto Morelos birding trip takes you to a jungle reserve to hear the dawn chorus, a clamor of birdsong and the raucous rattle-like calls of chachalacas, parrots and green jays. Look out for flocks of bright blue Yucatan jays, solitary keel-billed toucans, tanagers, trogons and the Yucatán’s own bird of paradise, the turquoise-browed motmot that makes its nest in the limestone walls of cenotes.
Your guides for the Puerto Morelos trip, Luis Ku or Hernan Esquivel are two of the area’s most knowledgeable birders. Departure is at 5 a.m. from your resort and you’ll be back at around 12 noon; snacks are included.
Elsewhere in the area, when visiting archaeological sites keep a look out for birds; as national parks they are a haven for a wealth of species and other wildlife. Eco trips are also available to biosphere reserves such as Sian Ka’an, Rio Lagartos, Contoy, Celestun and Calakmul.
While you can spot colorful birds year-round, the winter brings added attractions for nature lovers. More than 150 million birds migrate south from the United States and Canada to escape the bitter cold. They spend the season in the area’s coastal wetlands and jungles or pause to rest and feed before continuing south. The list of 226 winter migratory species includes wood storks and waders, ducks, hawks and the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird that makes an incredible 30-hour journey across the Gulf of Mexico non-stop!
Contact Thomas More Travel to book your Puerto Morelos birding trip or visits to Sian Ka’an, Rio Lagartos, Contoy and other reserves in the area. Email: tourdesk@royalresorts.com
