Sierra La Laguna

Birds to Watch: 54

Location: Puerto Vallarta » Jalisco 

GPS: 23.566686,  / -110.0087548   ALT: 2611.5 ft

An Introduction to the Joys of Tropical Birding for Enthusiastic First Timers or Casual Birders within the Vallarta Region Join Birding in Mexico to partake in this incredibly enjoyable full day tour centering on the sinuous meanderings of the verdant Rio Ameca as we crisscross the border of Jalisco and Nayarit—so close but yet so far from the touristy crowds of Puerto Vallarta!

Cierra La Laguna

Encounter, close up views of birds from a multitude of tropical bird families—including possible Tinamous, Chachalacas, Guans, Whistling-Ducks, Jacanas, Elegant Quail, Cuckoos, Hummingbirds, Limpkin, Pelicans, Ibises and Spoonbill, Storks, Frigatebirds, Boobies, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Trogons, Caracaras, Parrots, Parakeets and Macaws, Motmots, Woodcreepers, Elaenias, Tyrannulets, Becards and Tityras, Martins, Caciques, Euphonias, etc. — in juxtaposition with some of your feathered friends from home, the Neotropical Migrants  Waterfowl, Shorebirds, Gulls and Terns, Herons and Egrets, Raptors (hawks and falcons), Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Tyrant Flycatchers, Pewees, Kingbirds, Vireos, Jays, Swallows, Gnatcatchers, Wrens, Yellow-breasted Chat, Orioles, Grackles, Wood-Warblers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings and more — on their wintering grounds here in the tropics!

Join us to discover the fun and birding magic as you are gently introduced to birding and the region’s rich biodiversity while at the same time being vicariously transported to another place and time in nearby “old

The mountains surrounding the edges of the valley are still richly cloaked in their original vegetation ranging from tropical deciduous forest on their lower to middle slopes to encinal (pine-oak-and juniper woodland) and even coniferous (pine and fir) forest at their highest extremes.

They, especially the Sierra Vallejo — now a government designated Biosphere Reserve — also form an interesting biological barrier for at least three bird species—the Sinaloa Crow (which doesn’t cross into the area) and Rufous-bellied Chachalaca (which does) on the north side of the river, and West Mexican Chachalaca to the south.

The entire area sits at a kind of biological crossroads where the Neotropical and Neartic regions mix, forming a rich paradise for birds and birders from both regions.

1-salida 9am

Vamos al hotel

Bird Watch List

** The number of birds per trip may change

To better prepare for the adventure that awaits you, please study the following lists:

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck; West Mexican Chachalaca; Least Grebe; Groove-billed Ani and Squirrel Cuckoo; Common Pauraque; Plain-capped Starthroat, Broad-billed, Berylline, Cinnamon and Violet-crowned hummingbirds; Northern Jacana; Wood Stork; Bare-throated Tiger-Heron; Gray Hawk; Colima and Ferruginous pygmy-owls, Mottled Owl; Citreoline & Elegant trogons; Russet-crowned Motmot; Ringed and Green kingfishers; Golden-cheeked, Pale-billed and Lineated woodpeckers; Collared Forest-Falcon; Lilac-crowned Parrot, Orange-fronted Parakeet and Military Macaw; Ivory-billed Woodcreeper; Pacific-slope and Nutting’s flycatchers; Tropical and Thick-billed kingbirds; Golden, Black-capped and Bell’s vireos; Black-throated and White-throated magpie-jays; San Blas Jay; Sinaloa Martin; Happy and Sinaloa wrens; Orange-billed Nightingale thrush and Rufous-backed Robin; Rosy Thrush-Tanager; Stripe-headed Sparrow; Yellow-winged Cacique, Black-vented and Streak-backed orioles; and Summer Tanager, etc.

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