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Birds of Huatulco: what to see, where and when

Frigatebirds over the bays, magpie-jays at dawn and parakeets at sunset. A short guide to recognize them and know where to look.

Species recorded282+

Endemics in the guide13

With conservation status40

MigrantsOct. – Mar.

In short

Between forest and sea, 282 species

Huatulco isn't only the sea. The National Park holds Mexico's best-preserved tropical dry forest, with mangroves, dunes and wetlands, and shelters at least 282 bird species. Here are the ones you're most likely to see, and where to look.

Sea & estuaries

The ones you'll see from the beach

Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens

The scissor-tailed silhouette gliding high over the bays.

Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis

Flying in lines over the water or plunging straight down to fish.

Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

A seabird that fishes by diving into the sea.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor

At the La Bocana estuary, along with reddish egrets and the tiny green kingfisher.

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja

The spoon-billed one, in the riverside vegetation of the Copalita.

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

A fish-eating raptor, found near the water.

From the forest

The ones you hear before you see

White-throated Magpie-Jay

Calocitta formosa

Crested and loud: one of the first sounds at dawn.

Photo: Nick Pitman

West Mexican ChachalacaEndemic

Ortalis poliocephala

Its piercing call carries out of the forest in the morning.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis

They fly in flocks and make themselves heard at sunset.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Russet-crowned Motmot

Momotus mexicanus

The long tail with racket tips. It lives in the park's low dry forest.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Citreoline TrogonEndemic

Trogon citreolus

Yellow belly and pale eye. The park's guide names it as an example of its dry-forest endemics.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Orange-breasted BuntingEndemic

Passerina leclancherii

Small, blue and orange-yellow. Another park endemic.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Golden-cheeked WoodpeckerEndemic

Centurus chrysogenys

A woodpecker of the low dry forest, with golden cheeks.

Photo: Nick Pitman

Cinnamon Hummingbird

Amazilia rutila

A cinnamon-breasted hummingbird, one of those in the park's guide.

Photos by Nick Pitman

More birds, up close

**Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl***Glaucidium brasilianum*

**Red-breasted Chat***Granatellus venustus*

**Pale-billed Woodpecker***Campephilus guatemalensis*

**Yellow-winged Cacique***Cassiculus melanicterus*

**Boat-billed Heron***Cochlearius cochlearius*

**Yellow-crowned Night-Heron***Nyctanassa violacea*

**White-fronted Parrot***Amazona albifrons*

Photos by Nick Pitman, published with his permission. All rights remain his.

See the full aviary

Shot here

What we've seen in Huatulco

Photos taken in Huatulco by Oaxaca Swell.

Where to look

Four places to start

La Bocana estuary

Walk along La Bocana beach to the river: the estuary is packed with birds. Look for tricolored and reddish egrets, and the green kingfisher.

Copalita River

The riverside vegetation is home to several herons, four kinds of kingfisher and the roseate spoonbill. Hurricane Agatha (2022) damaged part of the area: ask about access before you go.

Huatulco National Park

Dry forest, mangroves, dunes and wetlands in one place: the best-preserved tropical dry forest in Mexico, according to the park's guide.

Rufino Tamayo Ecological Park

In La Crucecita: hillside trails for an early start. Listen for the ferruginous pygmy-owl.

When

Seasons and timing

October to March brings the northern migrants. April to July brings the ones migrating up from the south. The residents are here all year.

Go early. Cool mornings are best, and at sunset the parakeets get loud again. On a good full-day walk, a local guide estimates 100 to 120 species.

Bring: binoculars, water and the Merlin app with the "Mexico: Oaxaca and Chiapas" pack to identify calls. iNaturalist has a Bahías de Huatulco bird checklist.

FAQ

Frequently asked

How many bird species are there in Huatulco?

Huatulco National Park shelters at least 282 bird species, according to CONANP (Mexico's protected areas agency). Forty of them have some conservation status.

When is the best time for birding in Huatulco?

October to March, when the northern migrants arrive, and always early in the morning.

Where can I see birds near La Crucecita?

At Rufino Tamayo Ecological Park, right in La Crucecita, and at the La Bocana estuary, about 20 minutes away.

Are there endemic birds in Huatulco?

Yes. The park's bird guide illustrates 13 endemic species, including the Citreoline Trogon, the Orange-breasted Bunting and the Golden-cheeked Woodpecker.

Sources: CONANP, Ecological, social and cultural diagnosis of Huatulco National Park (2011); Defenders of Wildlife, Teyeliz A.C., Huatulco National Park and CONANP, quick guide to the birds of Huatulco National Park (common and scientific names); The Eye Huatulco, "Huatulco: A Paradise of Bird Habitats" and "A Birdwatching Guide for Huatulco" (2022: places, seasons and daily count); Wikipedia, Parque nacional Huatulco (endemic chachalaca).