BIRDING

Rancho Primavera is a bird-watcher’s paradise!

The 200 acres of our ranch supports over 256  species of birds, including parrots, trogans, cuckoos and 16 types of hummingbirds!  And depending upon the time of year, you may also see many neotropical migrants like sparrows and warblers.Birding tour groups regularly visit and cherish Rancho Primavera for its birdlife and solitude.

Within an hour’s drive you can search for over 300 bird species that can be found in the greater Jalisco region which supports a wide array of habitats from the mountainous pine and oak forests, tropical deciduous rainforests and coastal thorn scrub, beaches, islands and  mangrove estuaries.

Day birders are welcome to visit Rancho Primavera without charge though we do welcome donations!

Download the  Rancho Primavera Bird List

BIRD LIST FOR RANCHO PRIMAVERA

COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Ducks, Geese & Swans	Anatidae
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna autumnalis	P
Fulvous Whistling-Duck	Dendrocygna bicolor
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	P
Gadwall	Anas strepera
American Wigeon	Anas americana
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	P
Cinnamon Teal	Anas cyanoptera	P
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	P
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	P
Redhead	Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	P
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	P
Guans, Chachalacas & Allies	Cracidae
West Mexican Chachalaca (E)	Ortalis poliocephala	P
Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens
New World Quail	Odontophoridae
Elegant Quail	Callipepla douglasii
Singing Quail	Dactylortyx thoracicus
Loons	Gaviidae
Common loon	Gavia immer
Grebes	Podicipedidae
Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominicus	P
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps
Eared Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis
Gannets & Boobies	Sulidae
Blue-footed Booby	Sula nebouxii
Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster
Pelicans	Pelecanidae
American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	P
Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
Cormorants	Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus	P
Anhingas	Anhingidae
Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga
Frigatebirds	Fregatidae
Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregata magnificens	P
Herons, Egrets & Bitterns	Ardeidae
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	P
Least Bittern	Ixobrychus exilis	P
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron	Tigrisoma mexicanum	P
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	P
Great Egret	Ardea alba	P
Snowy Egret	Egretta thula	P
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea	P
Tricolored Heron	Egretta tricolor	P
Reddish Egret	Egretta rufescens
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	P
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	P
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea
Boat-billed Heron	Cochlearius cochlearius
Ibises & Spoonbills	Threskiornithidae
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus	P
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	P
Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja	P
Storks	Ciconiidae
Wood Stork	Mycteria americana	P
New World Vultures	Cathartidae
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	P
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	P
Hawks, Eagles & Kites	Accipitridae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	P
Hook-billed Kite	Chondrohierax uncinatus
White-tailed Kite	Elanus leucurus	P
Snail Kite	Rostrhamus sociabilis
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	P
Cooper’s Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	P
Crane Hawk	Geranospiza caerulescens	P
Common Black-Hawk	Buteogallus anthracinus	P
Great Black-Hawk	Buteogallus urubitinga
Harris’s Hawk	Parabuteo unicinctus
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus
Gray Hawk	Buteo nitidus	P
Short-tailed Hawk	Buteo brachyurus	P
Zone-tailed Hawk	Buteo albonotatus	P
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	P
Swainson’s Hawk	Falconidae
Collared Forest-Falcon	Micrastur semitorquatus	P
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway	P
Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans	P
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	P
Merlin	Falco columbarius
Bat Falcon	Falco rufigularis	P
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	P
Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae
Virginia Rail	Rallus limicola	P
Rufous-necked Wood-Rail	Aramides axillaris
Sora	Porzana carolina	P
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinica	P
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	P
American Coot	Fulica americana	P
Limpkin	Aramidae
Limpkin	Aramus guarauna	P
COMMON NAMESCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura
Inca Dove	Columbina inca	P
Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina	P
Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti	P
White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verreauxi	P
Parrots, Macaws & Allies	Psittacidae
Orange-fronted Parakeet	Aratinga canicularis	P
Military Macaw	Ara militaris	P
Mexican Parrotlet (E)	Forpus cyanopygius
Lilac-crowned Parrot (E)	Amazona finschi	P
Cuckoos	Cuculidae
Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya cayana	P
Lesser Ground-Cuckoo	Morococcyx erythropygus	P
Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris	P
Barn Owl	Tyto alba	P
Owls	Strigidae
Whiskered Screech-Owl	Megascops trichopsis
Vermiculated Screech-Owl	Megascops guatemalae
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus
Colima Pygmy-Owl (E)	Glaucidium palmarum	P
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium brasilianum	P
Burrowing Owl	Athene cunicularia
Mottled Owl	Ciccaba virgata	P
Barred Owl	Strix varia
Nightjars & Allies	Caprimulgidae
Lesser Nighthawk	Chordeiles acutipennis	P
Common Pauraque	Nyctidromus albicollis	P
Eared Poorwill (E)	Nyctiphrynus mcleodii
Buff-collared Nightjar (RE)	Caprimulgus ridgwayi
Whip-poor-will	Caprimulgus vociferus
Potoos	Nyctibiidae
Northern Potoo	Nyctibius jamaicensis
Swifts	Apodidae
White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
Vaux’s Swift	Chaetura vauxi	P
Hummingbirds	Trochilidae
Long-billed Hermit	Phaethornis longirostris	P
Golden-crowned Emerald (E)	Chlorostilbon auriceps	P
Broad-billed Hummingbird	Cynanthus latirostris	P
Mexican Woodnymph (E)	Thalurania ridgwayi	P
Berylline Hummingbird (RE)	Amazilia beryllina	P
Cinnamon Hummingbird	Amazilia rutila	P
Violet-crowned Hummingbird (RE)	Amazilia violiceps	P
Plain-capped Starthroat	Heliomaster constantii	P
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird (RE)	Tilmatura dupontii	P
Lucifer Hummingbird (RE)	Calothorax lucifer	P
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	P
Black-chinned Hummingbird	Archilochus alexandri	P
Costa’s Hummingbird	Calypte costae
Broad-tailed Hummingbird	Selasphorus platycercus
COMMON NAMESCIENTIFIC NAMESEEN*
Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarynchus pitangua	P
Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis	P
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher	Myiodynastes luteiventris	P
Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus	P
Cassin’s Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans	P
Thick-billed Kingbird	Tyrannus crassirostris	P
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher	Tyrannus forficatus
Genera Incertae Sedis
Gray-collared Becard	Pachyramphus major
Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae	P
Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata	P
Shrikes	Laniidae
Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus
Vireos & Allies	Vireonidae
Mangrove Vireo	Vireo pallens
Bell’s Vireo	Vireo bellii
Black-capped Vireo	Vireo atricapilla	P
Plumbeous Vireo	Vireo plumbeus	P
Cassin’s Vireo	Vireo cassinii
Hutton’s Vireo	Vireo huttoni
Golden Vireo (E)	Vireo hypochryseus	P
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	P
Yellow-green Vireo	Vireo flavoviridis	P
Crows, Jays & Magpies	Corvidae
Black-throated Magpie-Jay (E)	Calocitta colliei	P
White-throated Magpie-Jay	Calocitta formosa
Green Jay	Cyanocorax yncas
San Blas Jay (E)	Cyanocorax sanblasianus	P
Common Raven	Corvus corax	P
Swallows	Hirundinidae
Sinaloa Martin	Progne sinaloae	P
Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea	P
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	P
Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea	P
Violet-green Swallow	Tachycineta thalassina	P
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	P
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	P
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	P
Chickadees & Tits	Paridae
Bridled Titmouse	Baeolophus wollweberi
Long-tailed Tits	Aegithalidae
Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
Wrens	Troglodytidae
Spotted Wren (E)	Campylorhynchus gularis
Canyon Wren	Catherpes mexicanus
Sinaloa Wren (E)	Thryothorus sinaloa	P
Happy Wren (E)	Thryothorus felix	P
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	P
Marsh Wren	Cistothorus palustris	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
MacGillivray’s Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei	P
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	P
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat	Geothlypis poliocephala	P
Hooded Warbler	Wilsonia citrina	P
Wilson’s Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	P
Painted Redstart	Myioborus pictus
Slate-throated Redstart	Myioborus miniatus
Fan-tailed Warbler (RE)	Euthlypis lachrymosa	P
Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
Rufous-capped Warbler (RE)	Basileuterus rufifrons
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens	P
Tanagers & Allies	Thraupidae
Rosy Thrush-Tanager	Rhodinocichla rosea	P
Genus Incertae Sedis
Buntings, Sparrows & Allies	Emberizidae
Blue-black Grassquit	Volatinia jacarina	P
White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila torqueola	P
Ruddy-breasted Seedeater	Sporophila minuta
Green-striped Brush-Finch	Arremon virenticeps
Olive Sparrow	Arremonops rufivirgatus	P
Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow (E)	Melozone kieneri	P
Stripe-headed Sparrow	Aimophila ruficauda	P
Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	P
Black-throated Sparrow	Amphispiza bilineata
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis
Grasshopper Sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum
Lincoln’s Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	P
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys
Cardinals & Allies	Cardinalidae
Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	P
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana	P
Flame-colored Tanager	Piranga bidentata
Red-headed Tanager (E)	Piranga erythrocephala
Grayish Saltator	Saltator coerulescens	P
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager	Habia rubica	P
Red-breasted Chat (E)	Granatellus venustus
Yellow Grosbeak	Pheucticus chrysopeplus	P
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	P
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus
Blue Bunting (RE)	Cyanocompsa parellina	P
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea	P
Lazuli Bunting	Passerina amoena
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	P
Orange-breasted Bunting (E)	Passerina leclancherii
Varied Bunting	Passerina versicolor	P
Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris	P
Dickcissel	Spiza americana	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	P
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	P
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea
Boat-billed Heron	Cochlearius cochlearius
Ibises & Spoonbills	Threskiornithidae
White Ibis	Eudocimus albus	P
White-faced Ibis	Plegadis chihi	P
Roseate Spoonbill	Platalea ajaja	P
Storks	Ciconiidae
Wood Stork	Mycteria americana	P
New World Vultures	Cathartidae
Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus	P
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	P
Hawks, Eagles & Kites	Accipitridae
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	P
Hook-billed Kite	Chondrohierax uncinatus
White-tailed Kite	Elanus leucurus	P
Snail Kite	Rostrhamus sociabilis
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	P
Cooper’s Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	P
Crane Hawk	Geranospiza caerulescens	P
Common Black-Hawk	Buteogallus anthracinus	P
Great Black-Hawk	Buteogallus urubitinga
Harris’s Hawk	Parabuteo unicinctus
Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus
Gray Hawk	Buteo nitidus	P
Short-tailed Hawk	Buteo brachyurus	P
Zone-tailed Hawk	Buteo albonotatus	P
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	P
Swainson’s Hawk	Falconidae
Collared Forest-Falcon	Micrastur semitorquatus	P
Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway	P
Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans	P
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	P
Merlin	Falco columbarius
Bat Falcon	Falco rufigularis	P
Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus	P
Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae
Virginia Rail	Rallus limicola	P
Rufous-necked Wood-Rail	Aramides axillaris
Sora	Porzana carolina	P
Purple Gallinule	Porphyrio martinica	P
Common Moorhen	Gallinula chloropus	P
American Coot	Fulica americana	P
Limpkin	Aramidae
Limpkin	Aramus guarauna	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Plovers & LapwingsCharadriidae
Black-bellied Plover	Pluvialis squatarola
Collared Plover	Charadrius collaris
Snowy Plover	Charadrius alexandrinus
Wilson’s Plover	Charadrius wilsonia
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	P
Oystercatchers	Haematopodidae
American Oystercatcher	Haematopus palliatus
Avocets & Stilts	Recurvirostridae
Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus	P
American Avocet	Recurvirostra americana
Jacanas	Jacanidae
Northern Jacana	Jacana spinosa	P
Sandpipers & Allies	Scolopacidae
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	P
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	P
Wandering Tattler	Tringa incana
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	P
Willet	Tringa semipalmatus
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew	Numenius americanus
Marbled Godwit	Limosa fedoa
Sanderling	Calidris alba
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	P
Stilt Sandpiper	Calidris himantopus
Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus
Long-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus scolopaceus
Wilson’s Snipe	Gallinago delicata	P
Gulls & Terns	Laridae
Bonaparte’s Gull	Chroicocephalus philadelphia
Laughing Gull	Leucophaeus atricilla
Franklin’s Gull	Leucophaeus pipixcan
Heermann’s Gull	Larus heermanni
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis
California Gull	Larus californicus
Herring Gull	Larus argentatus
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia
Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
Forster’s Tern	Sterna forsteri
Royal Tern	Thalasseus maxima
Elegant Tern	Thalasseus elegans
Black Skimmer	Rynchops niger
Doves & Pigeons	Columbidae
Rock Pigeon ( I )	Columba livia	P
Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris	P
Eurasian Collared-Dove ( I )	Streptopelia decaocto
White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Calliope Hummingbird	Stellula calliope	P
Rufous Hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus	P
Allen’s Hummingbird	Selasphorus sasin	P
Trogons	Trogonidae
Citreoline Trogon (E)	Trogon citreolus	P
Elegant Trogon	Trogon elegans	P
Motmots	Motmotidae
Russet-crowned Motmot (RE)	Momotus mexicanus	P
Kingfishers	Alcedinidae
Ringed Kingfisher	Megaceryle torquatus	P
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	P
Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana	P
Woodpeckers & Allies	Picidae
Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus	P
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker (E)	Melanerpes chrysogenys	P
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	P
Red-naped Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Picoides scalaris	P
Arizona Woodpecker	Picoides arizonae
Gray-crowned Woodpecker (E)	Colaptes auricularis	P
Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus	P
Pale-billed Woodpecker	Campephilus guatemalensis	P
Ovenbirds & Woodcreepers	Furnariidae
Ivory-billed Woodcreeper	Xiphorhynchus flavigaster	P
White-striped Woodcreeper (E)	Lepidocolaptes leucogaster
Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet	Camptostoma imberbe	P
Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata	P
Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi
Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax	P
Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii
White-throated Flycatcher	Empidonax albigularis	P
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	P
Hammond’s Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii
Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri
Pine Flycatcher	Empidonax affinis
Pacific-slope Flycatcher	Empidonax difficilis	P
Cordilleran Flycatcher	Empidonax occidentalis
Buff-breasted Flycatcher	Empidonax fulvifrons
Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	P
Bright-rumped Attila	Attila spadiceus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer	P
Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens	P
Nutting’s Flycatcher	Myiarchus nuttingi	P
Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus	P
Flammulated Flycatcher (E)	Deltarhynchus flammulatus
Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
White-bellied Wren	Uropsila leucogastra
Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
Kinglets	Regulidae
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
Old World Warblers	Sylviidae
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	P
Black-capped Gnatcatcher (RE)	Polioptila nigriceps
Thrushes & Allies	Turdidae
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis
Brown-backed Solitaire (RE)	Myadestes occidentalis
Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush	Catharus aurantiirostris	P
Swainson’s Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	P
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus
White-throated Thrush	Turdus assimilis	P
Rufous-backed Robin (E)	Turdus rufopalliatus	P
Mockingbirds & Thrashers	Mimidae
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
Blue Mockingbird (E)	Melanotis caerulescens	P
Wagtails & Pipits	Motacillidae
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens
Waxwings	Bombycillidae
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	P
Silky-Flycatchers	Ptilogonatidae
Gray Silky-flycatcher	Ptilogonys cinereus
Olive Warbler	Peucedramidae
Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus
New World Warblers	Parulidae
Golden-winged Warbler	Vermivora chrysoptera	P
Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina	P
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata	P
Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla	P
Lucy’s Warbler	Vermivora luciae
Tropical Parula	Parula pitiayumi	P
Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia	P
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Dendroica pensylvanica	P
Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia	P
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronata	P
Black-throated Gray Warbler	Dendroica nigrescens	P
Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
Townsend’s Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis
Yellow-throated Warbler	Dendroica dominica
Grace’s Warbler	Dendroica graciae
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	P
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	P
Worm-eating Warbler	Helmitheros vermivorum	P
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	P
Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
Louisiana Waterthrush	Seiurus motacilla	P
COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME	SEEN*
Troupials & Allies	Icteridae
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna
Western Meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta
Brewer’s Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus
Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus	P
Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus	P
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	P
Black-vented Oriole (RE)	Icterus wagleri	P
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius	P
Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus	P
Streak-backed Oriole	Icterus pustulatus	P
Bullock’s Oriole	Icterus bullockii	P
Audubon’s Oriole	Icterus graduacauda
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	P
Yellow-winged Cacique (RE)	Cacicus melanicterus	P
Siskins, Crossbills & Allies	Fringillidae
Scrub Euphonia	Euphonia affinis	P
Elegant Euphonia	Euphonia elegantissima
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra
Pine Siskin	Spinus (Carduelis) pinus
Black-headed Siskin (RE)	Spinus (Carduelis) notata
Lesser Goldfinch	Spinus (Carduelis) psaltria	P
Old World Sparrows	Passeridae
House Sparrow ( I )	Passer domesticus

* P indicates birds seen on the property, other are birds seen nearby.

Yellow-winged Cacique

San Blas Jay

Rosy Thrush-Tanager

Russet-crowned Motmot

Military Macaw

Black-throated Magpie Jay

Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Lineated Woodpecker

Lilac-crowned parrot

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

Golden Vireo

Stripe-headed Sparrow

Military Macaws

Grayish Saltator

Greater Pewee

Regional Endemic Bird Species

Many of the region’s endemic birds can be seen at Rancho Primavera including:

• West Mexican Chachalaca: these birds can be very noisy as the call back and forth from one flock to another. They are skittish, but can be seen hopping from tree to tree.
• Colima Pygmy Owl: This little guy produces quavering rolls preceding his hoots.
• Mexican Hermit: This large hummer can be seen briefly as he flies from heliconia to papaya blossom to banana blossom.
• Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird: The male is a sight to see with his long tail that is deeply forked. We see the female occasionally  feeding on the blue flowers of the golden-dew drop just outside the house
• Golden-crowned Emerald: This hummingbird is a feast to the eyes with its bright green beauty.
• Mexican Woodnymph: This hummingbird can be found in humid semi-deciduous woods.
• Citreoline Trogan: Males have a mantle of golden green to blue, both sexes have distinctive yellow eyes. It builds nests in termitaries.
• Russet-crowned Motmot: This guy can be hard to spot until breeding season comes in spring, then you see them easily sitting in the tree going tick-tock with his tail, that is why they call him “pajaro reloj” in Spanish.
• Golden-cheeked Woodpecker: Is a daily regular at the bird feeders when fruit is out. He also like helping himself to the many papayas on the trees around the house.
• Gray-crowned Woodpecker: You can find him by listening for his sharp explosive KEEah
• Lilac-crowned Parrot: Noisy like all parrots and can be heard and seen flying by.
• Golden Vireo: Will trick you by joining mixed flocks. He has a loud song made of a series of repeated “chu-chu-chu-chu” notes.
• Black-throated Magpie Jay: Is the symbol of our ranch. There is a family that lives here full time and love to come to the feeders for tortillas (well, they are Mexican birds)
• San Blas Jay: Is seen daily, seems black in the dim light but his wings are bright, bright blue in the sunlight.
• Sinaloa Martin: Is a mystery bird, can be seen dipping in pond for a drink mid-morning or late afternoon.
• Happy Wren: Is a happy bird as he sings songs rich in bright phrases. Can be seen foraging in vegetable garden by the house, feeding mainly on insects.
• Sinaloa Wren: He forages on the ground and in the understory helping to keep our insect population under control. He lacks the boldly striped face of his cousin the Happy Wren and his underparts are mainly whitish.
• Rufous-backed Thrush: Also called Rufous-backed Robin or Grayson’s Thrush, is seen on the ground and low in trees and bushes.
• Blue Mockingbird: The books say he is very shy, but our local guys have gotten use to us and can be easily seen around main house and rental houses.
• Fan-tailed Warbler. Can be found near the ground either in pairs or just one at a time.
• Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow: is a ground foraging species and stays relatively well hidden in shrubbery. We had a student come and study them here for his Ph.D thesis.
• Black-vented Oriole: We have a regular pair that call out if the syrup in the feeders is getting low.
• Yellow-winged Cacique: If we put bananas out, watch out, he becomes king of the feeders. Very common bird.
• The sub-species of the Striped-headed Sparrow known as acuminata is usually  found around the house in small chattery groups that are a delight to hear.
• Rufous-bellied Chachalacas:  just as noisy as their cousins….

Other endemics you can seek out within an hour’s drive

• Elegant Quail
• Flammulated Flycatcher
• Orange-breasted Bunting
• Black-capped Gnatcatcher
• Mexican Parrotlet

BIRDING RESOURCES

Download the  Rancho Primavera Bird List

Recommended Guide Books

A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America
by Steve Howell and Sophie Webb
A Field Guide to Mexican Birds: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador
by Roger Tory Peterson and Edward Chalif

Birding Guides for Hire

Alex Martinez    www.birdinginmexico.com  Alejandro Martinez is a bilingual guide certified by Sectur and an active member of Cipamex. He published, along with Dennis W. Boddy in 1999 “The Birds from Paradise” a guide for the birds of the Puerto Vallarta area. In 2004 an improved and updated second edition was published.  He is also willing to share his knowledge on Mexican ancient cultures.

Fransisco Garcia at Safaris San Blas  cell phone  323-282-8835  safarisanblas@gmail.com               Facebook SafarisSanBlas

Jesper Bay Jacobsen www.jesperbayjacobsen.com

Eduardo Lugo   www.wildlifeconnection.com  |  www.vallartabirdwatching.com

Fernando          www.ecotoursvallarta.com

Luis Morales    www.birdingsanpancho.com  Marine Biologist Luis Morales has guided birding and nature tours in the Jalisco and Nayarit region for the over the last 10 years. Luis is the Director of the San Pancho Birding Network that is dedicated to advance bird and habitat conservation in the region through education, sustainable community development and science.

Carlos Bonilla    www.macawforever.org

Stephen Shunk (US Guide)    www.paradisebirding.com

Local Birding Events

Vallarta Bird Festival – held annually in March

Bird-watchers

Praise for bird-watching at Rancho Primavera

“This is a true paradise!  The moment I stepped out of the van, I felt like I could live here forever and the birding here is incredible!”
–Diana and Dom from Washington

“Thank- you for the wonderful hospitality, great food, camaraderie, and spectacular birds!”
 – Karen from Minnesota

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