THE YUCATAN PENINSULA

Northern coast, Cozumel Is., Calakmul ruins

This trip starts/ends in Merida, where we will start birding along the coastal line and dry forest of the northern part of the peninsula. Will also cross the ocean by ferry to get to the Cozumel Is. where many endemics and Caribbean specialties occur. The southern part of the peninsula is also well known for its large forest and wide biodiversity, just like the Calakmul ruins and biosphere preserve that we will also include in the tour.

Northern coast: Progreso, and Ria Lagartos

Habitat: dry forest, mangroves.

Target species:

• Mexican Sheartail 

• Yucatan Wren 

• Yucatan Gnatcatcher 

• Orange Oriole 

• American Flamingo 

• American Pygmy Kingfisher

• Yucatan Nightjar

• Yucatan Jay

• Zenaida Dove 

• Black-throated Bobwhite 

• Turquoise-browed Motmot

Cozumel Island

Habitat: dry forest

Target species:

• Cozumel vireo 

• Yucatan Vireo

• Cozumel Emerald 

• White-crowned Pigeon 

• Caribbean Dove 

• Western Spindalis

• Black Catbird 

• Caribbean Elaenia

• Smooth-billed Ani

Felipe Carrillo Puerto 

Habitat: Selva media 

Target species:

• Yucatan Flycatcher 

• Yucatan Woodpecker 

• Gray-headed Kite

• Tawny-crowned Greenlet 

• Long-billed Gnatwren 

• Stub-tailed Spadebill

• Tawny-winged Woodcreeper

• Yucatan Poorwill

Calakmul ruins

Habitat: tropical forest

Target species:

• Ocellated Turkey

• Great Curassow 

• Lesson’s Motmot 

• Rudy Woodcreeper

• Northern-barred Woodcreeper 

• Mayan Anthrush 

• Northern Bentbill 

• Royal Flycatcher 

• Gray-throated Chat 

• Ornate Hawk-Eagle 

• King Vulture

• Smoky-brown Woodpecker 

A trip like this involves at least 7 days long, and the best time of the year would be from October through April, avoiding the warmer months of the year.

The endemic species that can be seen in this tour are restricted to the northern coast of Yucatan, and to Cozumel Island. Many of the other target species may be shared with northern Central America.

Arrival/departures: Merida, Yucatan (Crescencio Rejon International airport).