Mexico 1997 Species List




This is a list of species observed during my visit to West Mexico over the period February 16 - February 23, 1997 on a 7 day birding tour with Field Guides, Inc. led by Chris Benesh. The trip covered several locations in the states of Colima and Jalisco.

Definitions of abbreviations used in the list are as follows:

*

Life species or family

(h)

Heard only

(p)

Seen poorly by me (but identified either by myself or others)

Bird names (and order) are per the seventh edition of the Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists' Union 1998) and supplements upto and including the Fifty-first Supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List of North American Birds (2010). Each common and scientific name is a link to a Google image search for that name. This provides a quick way to find images of each species (if Google's search can find them on the web).





Anatidae


Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Dendrocygna autumnalis




Blue-winged Teal

Anas discors




Northern Shoveler

Anas clypeata





Cracidae

*

West Mexican Chachalaca

Ortalis poliocephala


Endemic to West Mexico


Crested Guan

Penelope purpurascens

(p)




Odontophoridae


Long-tailed Wood-Partridge

Dendrortyx macroura

(h)

Endemic to Central Mexico



Podicipedidae


Least Grebe

Tachybaptus dominicus




Pied-billed Grebe

Podilymbus podiceps





Ciconiidae


Wood Stork

Mycteria americana





Fregatidae


Magnificent Frigatebird

Fregata magnificens





Sulidae


Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster





Phalacrocoracidae

*

Neotropic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax brasilianus




Double-crested Cormorant

Phalacrocorax auritus





Anhingidae


Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga





Pelecanidae


American White Pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos




Brown Pelican

Pelecanus occidentalis





Ardeidae


Great Blue Heron

Ardea herodias




Great Egret

Ardea alba




Snowy Egret

Egretta thula




Little Blue Heron

Egretta caerulea




Tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor




Cattle Egret

Bubulcus ibis




Green Heron

Butorides virescens




Black-crowned Night-Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax




Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Nyctanassa violacea





Threskiornithidae


White Ibis

Eudocimus albus




White-faced Ibis

Plegadis chihi



*

Roseate Spoonbill

Platalea ajaja





Cathartidae


Black Vulture

Coragyps atratus




Turkey Vulture

Cathartes aura





Pandionidae


Osprey

Pandion haliaetus





Accipitridae

*

Hook-billed Kite

Chondrohierax uncinatus




White-tailed Kite

Elanus leucurus




Sharp-shinned Hawk

Accipiter striatus




Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii




Crane Hawk

Geranospiza caerulescens

(p)



Common Black-Hawk

Buteogallus anthracinus




Roadside Hawk

Buteo magnirostris




Gray Hawk

Buteo nitidus



*

Short-tailed Hawk

Buteo brachyurus



*

Zone-tailed Hawk

Buteo albonotatus




Red-tailed Hawk

Buteo jamaicensis





Falconidae


Collared Forest-Falcon

Micrastur semitorquatus

(h)



Crested Caracara

Caracara cheriway




American Kestrel

Falco sparverius





Rallidae


Sora

Porzana carolina

(h)



Common Moorhen

Gallinula chloropus




American Coot

Fulica americana




*

Aramidae

*

Limpkin

Aramus guarauna





Charadriidae


Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus




Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus





Recurvirostridae


Black-necked Stilt

Himantopus mexicanus




American Avocet

Recurvirostra americana





Jacanidae


Northern Jacana

Jacana spinosa





Scolopacidae


Spotted Sandpiper

Actitis macularius




Greater Yellowlegs

Tringa melanoleuca




Lesser Yellowlegs

Tringa flavipes




Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus




Western Sandpiper

Calidris mauri




Least Sandpiper

Calidris minutilla




Long-billed Dowitcher

Limnodromus scolopaceus





Laridae


Laughing Gull

Leucophaeus atricilla




Caspian Tern

Hydroprogne caspia

(p)


*

Royal Tern

Thalasseus maximus





Columbidae


Rock Pigeon

Columba livia




Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris

(h)



Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata




White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica




Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

(p)



Inca Dove

Columbina inca




Ruddy Ground-Dove

Columbina talpacoti




White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi





Psittacidae


Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis

(h)


*

Lilac-crowned Parrot

Amazona finschi


Endemic to West Mexico



Cuculidae


Squirrel Cuckoo

Piaya cayana



*

Lesser Roadrunner

Geococcyx velox




Groove-billed Ani

Crotophaga sulcirostris





Strigidae

*

Balsas Screech-Owl

Megascops seductus


Endemic to Southwest Mexico

*

Colima Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium palmarum


Endemic to West Mexico


Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium brasilianum

(p)



Mottled Owl

Ciccaba virgata

(h)




Caprimulgidae


Lesser Nighthawk

Chordeiles acutipennis

(p)



Common Pauraque

Nyctidromus albicollis




Buff-collared Nightjar

Caprimulgus ridgwayi

(h)




Trochilidae


Green Violetear

Colibri thalassinus



*

Golden-crowned Emerald

Chlorostilbon auriceps


Endemic to West Mexico

*

Broad-billed Hummingbird

Cynanthus latirostris



*

White-eared Hummingbird

Hylocharis leucotis



*

Berylline Hummingbird

Amazilia beryllina




Cinnamon Hummingbird

Amazilia rutila



*

Amethyst-throated Hummingbird

Lampornis amethystinus




Magnificent Hummingbird

Eugenes fulgens




Calliope Hummingbird

Stellula calliope




Broad-tailed Hummingbird

Selasphorus platycercus





Trogonidae

*

Citreoline Trogon

Trogon citreolus


Endemic to West Mexico

*

Elegant Trogon

Trogon elegans



*

Mountain Trogon

Trogon mexicanus





Alcedinidae


Ringed Kingfisher

Megaceryle torquata




Belted Kingfisher

Megaceryle alcyon




Green Kingfisher

Chloroceryle americana





Picidae


Acorn Woodpecker

Melanerpes formicivorus



*

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

Melanerpes chrysogenys


Endemic to West Mexico


Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius



*

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Picoides scalaris



*

Arizona Woodpecker

Picoides arizonae




Smoky-brown Woodpecker

Veniliornis fumigatus



*

Gray-crowned Woodpecker

Colaptes auricularis


Endemic to West Mexico


Lineated Woodpecker

Dryocopus lineatus




Pale-billed Woodpecker

Campephilus guatemalensis





Furnariidae

*

Ivory-billed Woodcreeper

Xiphorhynchus flavigaster



*

White-striped Woodcreeper

Lepidocolaptes leucogaster


Endemic to Mexico



Tyrannidae


Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet

Camptostoma imberbe

(p)


*

Greenish Elaenia

Myiopagis viridicata




Tufted Flycatcher

Mitrephanes phaeocercus




Olive-sided Flycatcher

Contopus cooperi



*

Greater Pewee

Contopus pertinax




Willow Flycatcher

Empidonax traillii



*

White-throated Flycatcher

Empidonax albigularis




Least Flycatcher

Empidonax minimus




Hammond's Flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii




Dusky Flycatcher

Empidonax oberholseri



*

Pine Flycatcher

Empidonax affinis


Endemic to Mexico/Guatemala


Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Empidonax difficilis



*

Cordilleran Flycatcher

Empidonax occidentalis




Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus




Bright-rumped Attila

Attila spadiceus




Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Myiarchus tuberculifer




Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens




Nutting's Flycatcher

Myiarchus nuttingi




Brown-crested Flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus



*

Flammulated Flycatcher

Deltarhynchus flammulatus


Endemic to West Mexico


Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus




Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis




Tropical Kingbird

Tyrannus melancholicus



*

Cassin's Kingbird

Tyrannus vociferans



*

Thick-billed Kingbird

Tyrannus crassirostris




Western Kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis



*

Gray-collared Becard

Pachyramphus major




Rose-throated Becard

Pachyramphus aglaiae




Masked Tityra

Tityra semifasciata





Laniidae


Loggerhead Shrike

Lanius ludovicianus





Vireonidae

*

Black-capped Vireo

Vireo atricapilla



*

Dwarf Vireo

Vireo nelsoni


Endemic to Mexico


Plumbeous Vireo

Vireo plumbeus




Cassin's Vireo

Vireo cassinii




Hutton's Vireo

Vireo huttoni



*

Golden Vireo

Vireo hypochryseus


Endemic to West Mexico


Warbling Vireo

Vireo gilvus



*

Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo

Vireolanius melitophrys


Endemic to Mexico/Guatemala



Corvidae


White-throated Magpie-Jay

Calocitta formosa




Green Jay

Cyanocorax yncas



*

San Blas Jay

Cyanocorax sanblasianus


Endemic to West Mexico

*

Mexican Jay

Aphelocoma ultramarina





Hirundinidae


Gray-breasted Martin

Progne chalybea




Mangrove Swallow

Tachycineta albilinea




Violet-green Swallow

Tachycineta thalassina

(p)



Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennis




Bank Swallow

Riparia riparia




Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica





Paridae

*

Mexican Chickadee

Poecile sclateri



*

Bridled Titmouse

Baeolophus wollweberi





Aegithalidae


Bushtit

Psaltriparus minimus





Sittidae


White-breasted Nuthatch

Sitta carolinensis

(h)




Certhiidae


Brown Creeper

Certhia americana





Troglodytidae

*

Gray-barred Wren

Campylorhynchus megalopterus


Endemic to Central Mexico


Rufous-naped Wren

Campylorhynchus rufinucha



*

Spotted Wren

Campylorhynchus gularis


Endemic to Mexico

*

Sinaloa Wren

Thryothorus sinaloa


Endemic to West Mexico

*

Happy Wren

Thryothorus felix


Endemic to West Mexico


House Wren

Troglodytes aedon



*

White-bellied Wren

Uropsila leucogastra


Endemic to Mexico


Gray-breasted Wood-Wren

Henicorhina leucophrys





Polioptilidae


Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Polioptila caerulea



*

Black-capped Gnatcatcher

Polioptila nigriceps


Endemic to Northwest Mexico



Regulidae


Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Regulus calendula





Turdidae

*

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis



*

Brown-backed Solitaire

Myadestes occidentalis




Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus aurantiirostris



*

Russet Nightingale-Thrush

Catharus occidentalis


Endemic to Mexico


Swainson's Thrush

Catharus ustulatus




White-throated Thrush

Turdus assimilis



*

Rufous-backed Robin

Turdus rufopalliatus


Endemic to West Mexico



Mimidae


Northern Mockingbird

Mimus polyglottos



*

Blue Mockingbird

Melanotis caerulescens


Endemic to Mexico



Bombycillidae


Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum





Ptilogonatidae

*

Gray Silky-flycatcher

Ptilogonys cinereus


Endemic to Mexico/Guatemala


*

Peucedramidae

*

Olive Warbler

Peucedramus taeniatus





Parulidae


Orange-crowned Warbler

Oreothlypis celata




Nashville Warbler

Oreothlypis ruficapilla



*

Crescent-chested Warbler

Oreothlypis superciliosa




Tropical Parula

Parula pitiayumi




Yellow Warbler

Dendroica petechia




Cape May Warbler

Dendroica tigrina




Yellow-rumped Warbler

Dendroica coronata




Black-throated Gray Warbler

Dendroica nigrescens




Black-throated Green Warbler

Dendroica virens




Townsend's Warbler

Dendroica townsendi




Hermit Warbler

Dendroica occidentalis




Prairie Warbler

Dendroica discolor

(p)



Palm Warbler

Dendroica palmarum




Black-and-white Warbler

Mniotilta varia




American Redstart

Setophaga ruticilla




Northern Waterthrush

Parkesia noveboracensis



*

Louisiana Waterthrush

Parkesia motacilla




MacGillivray's Warbler

Oporornis tolmiei




Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas




Wilson's Warbler

Wilsonia pusilla



*

Red-faced Warbler

Cardellina rubrifrons



*

Red Warbler

Ergaticus ruber


Endemic to Mexico

*

Painted Redstart

Myioborus pictus




Slate-throated Redstart

Myioborus miniatus



*

Fan-tailed Warbler

Euthlypis lachrymosa




Rufous-capped Warbler

Basileuterus rufifrons



*

Golden-browed Warbler

Basileuterus belli




Yellow-breasted Chat

Icteria virens





Thraupidae

*

Rosy Thrush-Tanager

Rhodinocichla rosea





Genus Incertae Sedis (Saltator)


Grayish Saltator

Saltator coerulescens





Emberizidae

*

White-collared Seedeater

Sporophila torqueola



*

Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer

Diglossa baritula



*

Green-striped Brush-Finch

Arremon virenticeps


Endemic to Mexico

*

Rufous-capped Brush-Finch

Atlapetes pileatus


Endemic to Mexico

*

Collared Towhee

Pipilo ocai


Endemic to Central Mexico

*

Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow

Melozone kieneri


Endemic to West Mexico


Stripe-headed Sparrow

Peucaea ruficauda



*

Black-chested Sparrow

Peucaea humeralis


Endemic to Southwest Mexico


Lincoln's Sparrow

Melospiza lincolnii





Cardinalidae


Hepatic Tanager

Piranga flava




Summer Tanager

Piranga rubra




Western Tanager

Piranga ludoviciana




Flame-colored Tanager

Piranga bidentata



*

Red-headed Tanager

Piranga erythrocephala


Endemic to West Mexico


Red-crowned Ant-Tanager

Habia rubica




Yellow Grosbeak

Pheucticus chrysopeplus

(p)



Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pheucticus ludovicianus




Black-headed Grosbeak

Pheucticus melanocephalus



*

Red-breasted Chat

Granatellus venustus


Endemic to West Mexico

*

Blue Bunting

Cyanocompsa parellina




Blue Grosbeak

Passerina caerulea




Lazuli Bunting

Passerina amoena




Indigo Bunting

Passerina cyanea



*

Orange-breasted Bunting

Passerina leclancherii


Endemic to West Mexico

*

Varied Bunting

Passerina versicolor



*

Painted Bunting

Passerina ciris




Dickcissel

Spiza americana

(p)




Icteridae


Red-winged Blackbird

Agelaius phoeniceus




Eastern Meadowlark

Sturnella magna

(p)



Great-tailed Grackle

Quiscalus mexicanus




Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater



*

Black-vented Oriole

Icterus wagleri




Orchard Oriole

Icterus spurius




Hooded Oriole

Icterus cucullatus




Streak-backed Oriole

Icterus pustulatus




Bullock's Oriole

Icterus bullockii



*

Spot-breasted Oriole

Icterus pectoralis



*

Audubon's Oriole

Icterus graduacauda




Scott's Oriole

Icterus parisorum



*

Yellow-winged Cacique

Cacicus melanicterus


Endemic to Mexico/Guatemala



Fringillidae


Scrub Euphonia

Euphonia affinis

(h)


*

Elegant Euphonia

Euphonia elegantissima




House Finch

Carpodacus mexicanus

(h)


*

Black-headed Siskin

Spinus notatus




Lesser Goldfinch

Spinus psaltria





Passeridae


House Sparrow

Passer domesticus





263 species, 58 families, 83 life birds, 2 life families




Alan Wight
Sonoma County, California
Email:  shwand@sonic.net