ID Guide

Here you will find a selection of the most emblematic and interesting birds that can be observed in Mexico, especially in the western region. Each bird is presented with a descriptive profile featuring its key characteristics, a distribution map, and illustrative photographs.

Endemic Birds of Mexico are shown in Green.

Anatidae – Ducks – Patos

Mexican Duck – Pato Mexicano (Anas diazi)

Masked Duck – Pato Enmascarado (Nomonyx dominicus)

Cracidae – Chachalacas

Rufous-bellied Chachalaca – Chachalaca Vientre Castaño (Ortalis wagleri)

West Mexican Chachalaca – Chachalaca Pálida (Ortalis poliocephala)

Odontophoridae – Quails – Codornices

Long-tailed Wood-Partridge – Codorniz Coluda Transvolcánica (Dendrortyx macroura)

Banded Quail – Codorniz Barrada (Philortyx fasciatus)

Elegant Quail – Codorniz Cresta Dorada (Callipepla douglasii)

Cuculidae – Cuckoos –  Cuclillos

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo – Cuclillo Terrestre (Morococcyx erythropygus)

Mexican Squirrel-Cuckoo – Cuclillo Canelo Mexicano (Piaya Mexicana)

Mangrove Cuckoo – Cuclillo Manglero (Coccyzus minor)

Caprimulgidae – Nighthawks – Tapacaminos

Eared Poorwill – Tapacamino Prío (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii)

Nyctibiidae – Potoo – Pájaros Estaca

Northern Potoo – Pájaro Estaca Norteño (Nyctibius jamaicensis)

Apodidae – Swifts – Vencejos

White-fronted Swift – Vencejo Cara Blanca (Cypseloides storeri)

White-naped Swift – Vencejo Nuca Blanca (Streptoprocne semicollaris)

Great Swallow-tailed Swift – Vencejo Tijereta Mayor (Panyptila sanctihieronymi)

Trochilidae – Hummingbirds – Colibríes

Mexican Hermit – Colibrí Ermitaño Mexicano (Phaethornis mexicanus)

Amethyst-throated Mountain-gem – Colibrí Garganta Amatista (Lampornis amethystinus)

Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird – Colibrí Cola Pinta (Tilmatura dupontii)

Bumblebee Hummingbird – Zumbador Mexicano (Selasphorus heloisa)

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird – Colibrí Pico Ancho Mexicano (Cynanthus doubledayi)

Tres Marias Hummingbird – Colibrí Pico Ancho de Islas Marías (Cynanthus lawrencei)

Golden-crowned Emerald – Esmeralda Occidental (Cynanthus auriceps)

White-eared Hummingbird – Colibrí Orejas Blancas (Basilinna leucotis)

Cozumel Emerald – Esmeralda de Isla Cozumel (Cynanthus forficatus)

Mexican Woodnymph – Ninfa Mexicana (Eupherusa ridgwayi)

Rallidae – Rails – Rascones

Ridgway’s Rail – Rascón Costero del Pacífico (Rallus obsoletus)

Aztec Rail – Rascón Azteca (Rallus tenuirostris)

Rufous-necked Wood-Rail – Rascón Cuello Canela (Aramides axillaris)

Yellow-breasted Crake – Polluela Pecho Amarillo (Laterallus flaviventer)

Haematopodidae – Oystercatchers – Ostreros

American Oystercatcher – Ostrero Americano (Haematopus palliatus)

Charadriidae – Plovers – Chorlitos

Collared Plover – Chorlo de Collar (Anarhynchus collaris)

Laridae – Gulls, Terns – Gaviotas, Charranes

Heermann’s Gull – Gaviota Plomiza (Larus heermanni)

Elegant Tern – Charrán Elegante (Thalasseus elegans)

Hydrobatidae – Storm-Petrels – Paíños

Black Storm-Petrel – Paíño Negro (Hydrobates melania)

Least Storm-Petrel – Paíño Mínimo (Hydrobates microsoma)

Cathartidae – New World Vultures – Zopilotes

Black VultureZopilote Común (Coragyps atratus)

Turkey Vulture – Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)

Accipitridae – Hawks, Eagles, Kites – Gavilanes, Águilas, Aguilillas

Hook-billed Kite – Gavilán Pico de Gancho (Chondrohierax uncinatus)

Black Hawk-Eagle – Águila Tirana (Spizaetus tyrannus)

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle – Águila Albinegra (Spizaetus melanoleucus)

Double-toothed Kite – Gavilán Bidentado (Harpagus bidentatus)

Crane Hawk – Gavilán Zancón (Geranospiza caerulescens)

Snail Kite – Gavilán Caracolero (Rostrhamus sociabilis)

Common Black Hawk – Aguililla Negra Menor (Buteogallus anthracinus)

Great Black Hawk – Aguililla Negra Mayor (Buteogallus urubitinga)

Short-tailed Hawk – Aguililla Cola Corta (Buteo brachyurus)

Strigidae – Owls – Búhos, Tecolotes

Whiskered Screech-Owl – Tecolote Rítmico (Megascops trichopsis)

Balsas Screech-Owl – Tecolote del Balsas (Megascops seductus)

Colima Pygmy-Owl – Tecolote Colimense (Glaucidium palmarum)

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Tecolote Bajeño (Glaucidium brasilianum)

Mottled Owl – Búho Café (Strix virgata)

Black-and-white Owl – Búho Barrado Albinegro (Strix nigrolineata)

Cinereous Owl – Búho Barrado Mexicano (Strix sartorii)

Stygian Owl – Búho Cara Oscura (Asio stygius)

Trogonidae – Trogons – Coas

Eared Quetzal – Quetzal Orejón (Euptilotis neoxenus)

Citreoline Trogon – Coa Citrina (Trogon citreolus)

Coppery-tailed Trogon (Trogon ambiguus)

Mountain Trogon – Coa Mexicana (Trogon mexicanus)

Momotidae – Motmots – Momotos

Russet-crowned Motmot – Momoto Corona Canela (Momotus mexicanus)

Alcedinidae – Kingfishers – Martín Pescadores

Green Kingfisher – Martín Pescador Verde (Chloroceryle americana)

Picidae – Woodpeckers – Carpinteros

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker – Carpintero Enmascarado (Melanerpes chrysogenys)

Gray-crowned Woodpecker – Carpintero Corona Gris (Colaptes auricularis)

Falconidae – Falcons – Halcones

Laughing Falcon – Halcón Guaco (Herpetotheres cachinnans)

Collared Forest-Falcon – Halcón Selvático de Collar (Micrastur semitorquatus)

Bat Falcon – Halcón Murcielaguero (Falco rufigularis)

Psittacidae – Parrots – Loros

Lilac-crowned Amazon – Loro Corona Lila (Amazona finschi)

Yellow-headed Amazon – Loro Cabeza Amarilla (Amazona oratrix)

White-fronted Amazon – Loro Frente Blanca (Amazona albifrons)

Mexican Parrotlet – Periquito Catarino (Forpus cyanopygius)

Military Macaw- Guacamaya Verde (Ara militaris)

Tityridae – Becards – Cabezones

Gray-collared Becard – Cabezón Mexicano (Pachyramphus major)

Tyrannidae – Flycatchers – Papamoscas

Flammulated Flycatcher – Papamoscas Mexicano (Ramphotrigon flammulatum)

Nutting’s Flycatcher – Papamoscas Huí (Myiarchus nuttingi)

Vireonidae – Vireos

Golden Vireo – Vireo Amarillo (Vireo hypochryseus)

Mangrove Vireo – Vireo Manglero (Vireo pallens)

Corvidae – Jays, Crows – Charas, Urracas, Cuervos

Black-throated Magpie-Jay – Urraca Cara Negra (Cyanocorax colliei)

Purplish-backed Jay – Chara Sinaloense (Cyanocorax beecheii)

San Blas Jay – Chara de San Blas (Cyanocorax sanblasianus)

Tufted Jay – Chara Pinta (Cyanocorax dickeyi)

Transvolcanic Jay – Chara Transvolcánica (Aphelocoma ultramarina)

Sinaloa Crow – Cuervo Sinaloense (Corvus sinaloae)

Hirundinidae – Swallows – Golondrinas

Sinaloa Martin – Golondrina Sinaloense (Progne sinaloae)

Gray-breasted Martin – Golondrina Pecho Gris (Progne chalybea)

Polioptilidae – Gnatcatchers – Perlitas

Black-capped Gnatcatcher – Perlita Sinaloense (Polioptila nigriceps)

Troglodytidae – Wrens – Matracas, Saltaparedes

Gray-barred Wren – Matraca Barrada (Campylorhynchus megalopterus)

Spotted Wren – Matraca Serrana (Campylorhynchus gularis)

Happy Wren – Saltapared Feliz (Pheugopedius felix)

Sinaloa Wren – Saltapared Sinaloense (Thryophilus sinaloa)

Mimidae – Mockingbirds – Mulatos

Blue Mockingbird – Mulato Azul (Melanotis caerulescens)

Turdidae – Thrushes – Zorzales

Russet Nightingale-Thrush – Zorzal Mexicano (Catharus occidentalis)

Aztec Thrush – Mirlo Azteca (Ridgwayia pinicola)

Frigillidae – Euphonias – Eufonias

West Mexican Euphonia – Eufonia Garganta Negra Mexicana (Euphonia godmani)

Passerellidae – New World Sparrows – Gorriones, Zacatoneros, Rascadores

Black-chested Sparrow – Zacatonero Pecho Negro (Peucaea humeralis)

Green-striped Brushfinch – Rascador Cejas Verdes (Arremon virenticeps)

Sierra Madre Sparrow – Gorrión Serrano (Xenospiza baileyi)

Striped Sparrow – Zacatonero Serrano (Oriturus superciliosus)

Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow – Rascador Nuca Canela (Melozone kieneri)

Collared Towhee – Rascador de Collar (Pipilo ocai)

Rufous-capped Brushfinch – Rascador Gorra Rufa (Atlapetes pileatus)

Parulidae – Warblers – Chipes, Mascaritas

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat – Mascarita Pico Grueso (Geothlypis poliocephala)

Red Warbler – Chipe Rojo (Cardellina rubra)

Cardinalidae – Buntings –  Colorines, Granatelos

Red-headed Tanager – Piranga Cabeza Roja (Piranga erythrocephala)

Red-breasted Chat – Granatelo Mexicano (Granatellus venustus)

Orange-breasted Bunting – Colorín Pecho Naranja (Passerina leclancherii)

Thraupidae – Seedeaters – Semilleros

Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater – Semillero Rabadilla Canela (Sporophila torqueola)

Anatidae – Ducks

Mexican Duck – Pato Mexicano (Anas diazi)

Masked Duck – Pato Enmascarado (Nomonyx dominicus)

Caprimulgidae – Chachalacas

Rufous-bellied Chachalaca – Chachalaca Vientre Castaño (Ortalis wagleri)

West Mexican Chachalaca – Chachalaca Pálida (Ortalis poliocephala)

Odontophoridae – Quails

Long-tailed Wood-Partridge – Codorniz Coluda Transvolcánica (Dendrortyx macroura)

Banded Quail – Codorniz Barrada (Philortyx fasciatus)

Elegant Quail – Codorniz Cresta Dorada (Callipepla douglasii)

Cuculidae – Cuckoos

Lesser Ground-Cuckoo – Cuclillo Terrestre (Morococcyx erythropygus)

Squirrel Cuckoo (West Mexico) – Cuclillo Canelo (Piaya cayana Mexicana)

Mangrove Cuckoo – Cuclillo Manglero (Coccyzus minor)

Caprimulgidae – 

Eared Poorwill – Tapacamino Prío (Nyctiphrynus mcleodii)

Nyctibiidae – Potoo

Northern Potoo – Pájaro Estaca Norteño (Nyctibius jamaicensis)

Apodidae – Swifts – Vencejos

White-fronted Swift – Vencejo Cara Blanca (Cypseloides storeri)

White-naped Swift – Vencejo Nuca Blanca (Streptoprocne semicollaris)

Great Swallow-tailed Swift – Vencejo Tijereta Mayor (Panyptila sanctihieronymi)

Trochilidae

Mexican Hermit – Colibrí Ermitaño Mexicano (Phaethornis mexicanus)

Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird – Colibrí Cola Pinta (Tilmatura dupontii)

Bumblebee Hummingbird – Zumbador Mexicano (Selasphorus heloisa)

Turquoise-crowned Hummingbird – Colibrí Pico Ancho Mexicano (Cynanthus doubledayi)

Tres Marias Hummingbird – Colibrí Pico Ancho de Islas Marías (Cynanthus lawrencei)

Golden-crowned Emerald – Esmeralda Occidental (Cynanthus auriceps)

White-eared Hummingbird – Colibrí Orejas Blancas (Basilinna leucotis)

Cozumel Emerald – Esmeralda de Isla Cozumel (Cynanthus forficatus)

Mexican Woodnymph – Ninfa Mexicana (Eupherusa ridgwayi)

Rallidae

Ridgway’s Rail – Rascón Costero del Pacífico (Rallus obsoletus)

Aztec Rail – Rascón Azteca (Rallus tenuirostris)

Rufous-necked Wood-Rail – Rascón Cuello Canela (Aramides axillaris)

Yellow-breasted Crake – Polluela Pecho Amarillo (Laterallus flaviventer)

Haematopodidae

American Oystercatcher – Ostrero Americano (Haematopus palliatus)

Charadriidae

Collared Plover – Chorlo de Collar (Anarhynchus collaris)

Laridae

Heermann’s Gull – Gaviota Plomiza (Larus heermanni)

Elegant Tern – Charrán Elegante (Thalasseus elegans)

Hydrobatidae

Black Storm-Petrel – Paíño Negro (Hydrobates melania)

Least Storm-Petrel – Paíño Mínimo (Hydrobates microsoma)

Cathartidae

Black VultureZopilote Común (Coragyps atratus)

Turkey Vulture – Zopilote Aura (Cathartes aura)

Accipitridae

Hook-billed Kite – Gavilán Pico de Gancho (Chondrohierax uncinatus)

Black Hawk-Eagle – Águila Tirana (Spizaetus tyrannus)

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle – Águila Albinegra (Spizaetus melanoleucus)

Double-toothed Kite – Gavilán Bidentado (Harpagus bidentatus)

Crane Hawk – Gavilán Zancón (Geranospiza caerulescens)

Snail Kite – Gavilán Caracolero (Rostrhamus sociabilis)

Common Black Hawk – Aguililla Negra Menor (Buteogallus anthracinus)

Great Black Hawk – Aguililla Negra Mayor (Buteogallus urubitinga)

Short-tailed Hawk – Aguililla Cola Corta (Buteo brachyurus)

Strigidae

Whiskered Screech-Owl – Tecolote Rítmico (Megascops trichopsis)

Balsas Screech-Owl – Tecolote del Balsas (Megascops seductus)

Colima Pygmy-Owl – Tecolote Colimense (Glaucidium palmarum)

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Tecolote Bajeño (Glaucidium brasilianum)

Mottled Owl – Búho Café (Strix virgata)

Black-and-white Owl – Búho Barrado Albinegro (Strix nigrolineata)

Cinereous Owl – Búho Barrado Mexicano (Strix sartorii)

Stygian Owl – Búho Cara Oscura (Asio stygius)

Trogonidae

Eared Quetzal – Quetzal Orejón (Euptilotis neoxenus)

Citreoline Trogon – Coa Citrina (Trogon citreolus)

Elegant Trogon – Coa Elegante (Trogon elegans)

Mountain Trogon – Coa Mexicana (Trogon mexicanus)

Momotidae

Russet-crowned Motmot – Momoto Corona Canela (Momotus mexicanus)

Alcedinidae 

Green Kingfisher – Martín Pescador Verde (Chloroceryle americana)

Picidae

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker – Carpintero Enmascarado (Melanerpes chrysogenys)

Gray-crowned Woodpecker – Carpintero Corona Gris (Colaptes auricularis)

Falconidae 

Laughing Falcon – Halcón Guaco (Herpetotheres cachinnans)

Collared Forest-Falcon – Halcón Selvático de Collar (Micrastur semitorquatus)

Bat Falcon – Halcón Murcielaguero (Falco rufigularis)

Psittacidae 

Lilac-crowned Amazon – Loro Corona Lila (Amazona finschi)

Yellow-headed Amazon – Loro Cabeza Amarilla (Amazona oratrix)

White-fronted Amazon – Loro Frente Blanca (Amazona albifrons)

Mexican Parrotlet – Periquito Catarino (Forpus cyanopygius)

Military Macaw- Guacamaya Verde (Ara militaris)

Tityridae

Gray-collared Becard – Cabezón Mexicano (Pachyramphus major)

Tyrannidae

White-throated Flycatcher – Papamoscas Garganta Blanca (Empidonax albigularis)

Flammulated Flycatcher – Papamoscas Mexicano (Ramphotrigon flammulatum)

Nutting’s Flycatcher – Papamoscas Huí (Myiarchus nuttingi)

Vireonidae

Golden Vireo – Vireo Amarillo (Vireo hypochryseus)

Mangrove Vireo – Vireo Manglero (Vireo pallens)

Vireonidae

Black-throated Magpie-Jay – Urraca Cara Negra (Calocitta colliei)

Purplish-backed Jay – Chara Sinaloense (Cyanocorax beecheii)

San Blas Jay – Chara de San Blas (Cyanocorax sanblasianus)

Tufted Jay – Chara Pinta (Cyanocorax dickeyi)

Transvolcanic Jay – Chara Transvolcánica (Aphelocoma ultramarina)

Sinaloa Crow – Cuervo Sinaloense (Corvus sinaloae)

Hirundinidae 

Sinaloa Martin – Golondrina Sinaloense (Progne sinaloae)

Gray-breasted Martin – Golondrina Pecho Gris (Progne chalybea)

Polioptilidae 

Black-capped Gnatcatcher – Perlita Sinaloense (Polioptila nigriceps)

Troglodytidae 

Gray-barred Wren – Matraca Barrada (Campylorhynchus megalopterus)

Spotted Wren – Matraca Serrana (Campylorhynchus gularis)

Happy Wren – Saltapared Feliz (Pheugopedius felix)

Sinaloa Wren – Saltapared Sinaloense (Thryophilus sinaloa)

Passeriformes: Mimidae

Blue Mockingbird – Mulato Azul (Melanotis caerulescens)

Passeriformes: Turdidae

Russet Nightingale-Thrush – Zorzal Mexicano (Catharus occidentalis)

Aztec Thrush – Mirlo Azteca (Ridgwayia pinicola)

Passeriformes: Frigillidae 

West Mexican Euphonia – Eufonia Garganta Negra Mexicana (Euphonia godmani)

Passeriformes: Passerellidae

Black-chested Sparrow – Zacatonero Pecho Negro (Peucaea humeralis)

Green-striped Brushfinch – Rascador Cejas Verdes (Arremon virenticeps)

Striped Sparrow – Zacatonero Serrano (Oriturus superciliosus)

Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow – Rascador Nuca Canela (Melozone kieneri)

Collared Towhee – Rascador de Collar (Pipilo ocai)

Rufous-capped Brushfinch – Rascador Gorra Rufa (Atlapetes pileatus)

Passeriformes: Parulidae 

Gray-crowned Yellowthroat – Mascarita Pico Grueso (Geothlypis poliocephala)

Red Warbler – Chipe Rojo (Cardellina rubra)

Passeriformes: Cardinalidae

Red-headed Tanager – Piranga Cabeza Roja (Piranga erythrocephala)

Red-breasted Chat – Granatelo Mexicano (Granatellus venustus)

Orange-breasted Bunting – Colorín Pecho Naranja (Passerina leclancherii)

Passeriformes: Thraupidae

Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater – Semillero Rabadilla Canela (Sporophila torqueola)