OAXACA

Mexico's Legendary Birds and Temples
12-25 January 2008

Tour leader: Michael Retter

photo at left: Orange-breasted Bunting

This is our most popular Mexican tour, and for good reason. Oaxaca (wah-HAH-kah) has the biggest bird list of any Mexican state (around 700).  The group recorded 320 species, including 36 endemic to Mexico and 60 endemic to northern Middle America.  With impressive ruins, a bustling capital city rich in commerce and architecture, a vibrant native culture, and some of the world's most beautiful beaches, Oaxaca offers even the non-birder much to write home about. If you're looking for a trip that's also good for a non-birding partner, we highly recommend this one. On many of the days, afternoon birding was optional, so those who wished went shopping, indulged in the local cuisine, and even simply took a siesta.

Day 1: Oaxaca City
Most of our participants arrived a day or more early, so what to do today other than bird?  While enjoying drinks, we picked through mixed flocks that passed through the courtyard of our hotel.  Nashville and Audubon’s Warblers made up the core of these flocks, but we also found Tennessee Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Wilson’s Warbler.  We followed some muffled whistles and discovered that a Rufous-backed Robin had set up a territory in the hotel!  The local and vibrantly crimson race of House Finch also paraded around for all to see. Some of us took a walk across the beautiful Paseo de Juárez, which yielded views of Summer Tanager and the ubiquitous Tropical Kingbird. We even saw our first local endemic, Dusky Hummingbird, feeding on the poker plants on the terrace.  Not a bad start!

Day 2: Teotitlán del Valle
The day began birding the scrubby hillsides above town, and the first bird of the day was a great omen. Not far out of the van we heard a bird messing around in the leaves on the side of the road.  It was elusive at first, but eventually everyone had excellent looks at a Oaxaca Sparrow mere feet away as it fed on the open ground.  This bird is usually quite hard to see in the winter, so we were quite lucky to see one first thing on the first day! We also saw White-throated Towhees in the undergrowth, but our attention was pulled away from them by large overflying flocks of clucking birds. Gray Silkies!  We saw literally hundreds, including amazing scope views.  About the same time, someone asked what the odd green bird with the blue and orange head was.  Buried in a mistletoe clump was a small flock of Elegant Euphonias.  Though deep inside at first, over the next ten minutes we enjoyed their brilliant azures, metallic indigos, mossy greens, and rustic oranges in the scope as they scoured branches for berries. Nearby, a loud squawking sound started from within a dense stand of pipe cactus: it was a Boucard’s Wren.  A little tape brought him and his mate to the top of the cactus for amazing views.  While we were enjoying the wren, a small hummingbird appeared, feeding on the cactus blossoms.  It was a female Beautiful Hummingbird!  Downslope, we caught view of another pipe cactus specialist as a male Gray-breasted Woodpecker obligingly perched at the top of one.  We all had views in the scope of its neat facial pattern, including the red cheeks.  Wow--the birds were dripping off the trees . . . or cacti, this morning!

A bit further up the road we came across our first mixed flock, which included Virginia’s Warbler, Rose-throated Becard, Painted Whitestart, Bridled Titmouse, Crescent-chested Warbler, Western Tanager, Slate-throated Whitestart, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and Rufous-capped Warbler.  While we were scouring the flock, a family of scrub-jays came by, and we admired this uniquely-plumaged southernmost subspecies of Western Scrub-Jay at length.  Across the road, we heard the odd jangling sound of a pair of duetting Bridled Sparrows.  We called them in without any difficulty and agreed that this is one exceptionally beautiful sparrow!

Later in the day, the flycatchers really picked up.  Most of the morning, we were treated to comparisons of Cassin’s and Thick-billed Kingbirds, but at our lakeside lunch stop we were joined by very cooperative Tufted Flycatchers, Black Phoebes, and Vermilion Flycatchers.  The skies were filled with hundreds of swallows, Violet-greens and Northern Rough-wingeds.  There was a nice variety of waterbirds on the lake:  Least Grebe, Ruddy and Ring-necked Ducks, Blue- and Green-winged Teal.  The Ring-necks were quite a surprise, as there are few prior records in the Oaxaca Valley.

Black-vented Oriole	Gray Silky

After lunch we’d planned to go straight into town to shop at the rug market, but the birding was just too good!  So, we went back up the road a ways to view some blooming coral bean trees where we had views of Dusky and Berylline Hummingbirds.  During this vigil, we were also witnesses to a somewhat exhibitionist pair of gorgeous writhing yellow snakes.  A bit further up the road, we were shocked to see a flock of literally hundreds of passerines congregating around a stream.  Just some of the more noteworthy birds included Grasshopper Sparrow, Black-vented Oriole, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Lark Sparrow, and Bullock’s Oriole.  Finally, we had to pull our selves away to make it to the rug market in time to get back to Oaxaca for dinner, so we headed back down into town, but not before stopping for a roving band of adorable little “black-eared” Bushtits.


Once at the market in Teotitlán, we split up.  Some went shopping; others were more interested in the rug-making process.  Those who went to the women’s cooperative were treated to a very interesting demonstration, including how a simple acid-base reaction can yield many different colors in the cochineal dye:  it’s naturally red, but adding lime juice turns it orange, while adding ash makes it purple!  We then watched one of the weavers at work on a loom.

We ended the day having seen six of the seven local endemics.  Add this to an enjoyable afternoon at the local tapete market, and the day (only the first full one) was a smashing success!

Day 3: Monte Albán and Teotitlán del Valle
This morning started out with good fortune, as we quickly heard an Ocellated Thrasher singing along the entrance road.  The last local endemic!  Unfortunately, only about half the group got to see this uncooperative bird, though some did see it extremely well.  In the parking lot, another frustrating mimid, a Blue Mockingbird, offered only fleeting glimpses.  A Gray-breasted Woodpecker flew in, giving us even better looks than the day before, while a Nutting’s Flycatcher called from the hillside above.


We strolled around inside the ruins, taking in this incredible site (and stopping to chuckle at the Rock Wrens that set up house in the decaying pyramids), and in the process we had great views of Western Kingbird, Cassin’s Vireo, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Vaux’s Swift, and Scott’s Oriole.

It was back to Oaxaca for lunch, and an optional afternoon of birding.  Some chose to siesta or shop in Oaxaca, but the rest of us returned to the road above Teotitlán del Valle.  We were hoping that we’d be able to locate the immense flock of passerines from the day before.  We did find a large flock, but Audubon’s Warblers comprised the entire group.  We did however have good looks at Canyon Wren, Louisiana Waterthrush, and a flock of Gray Silkies along the creek.

Day 4: Cerro San Felipe/La Cumbre
It was chilly this morning at dawn, but it was no wonder since we started out at 10,000 feet in fir-pine-oak forest!  This was the location where we were all able to get acquainted with one of the most incredible birdsongs in the world, that of Brown-backed Solitaire.  The species is widespread all over northern Middle America, and its song is the characteristic sound of the region’s highlands.  We also were surprised to hear a Black Robin singing out-of-season.  Most people got nice looks at a singing Gray-breasted Wood-Wren, a sure sign that we were in tropical highlands.  A small group of Band-tailed Pigeons perched up in a dead snag.  A White-tailed Hawk was quite a surprise at this altitude.  We quickly learned the sounds of the locally ubiquitous White-eared Hummingbirds, and were treated to many views of breathtaking males as they fed in the roadside Salvia. Magnificent Hummingbirds were also present, including one on a massive, stories-tall blooming Agave.  That particular Mag wasn’t around long though, as it was scared off by a very large White-nosed Coati with a sweet tooth!  Meanwhile, a Russet Nightingale-Thrush flushed from the side of the road and sat motionless for a few minutes, long enough for us to study it in the scope and observe the diagnostic dusky tip to its mandible! We were starting to get worried that we’d not yet seen a Red Warbler, but shortly before lunch we ran into a mixed flock of warblers, one of which was a very responsive male “White-eared” Red Warbler.  Hermit Warbler, Hutton’s Vireo, Mexican Chickadee, and Olive Warbler were also in the flock.  During lunch we watched some “Mexican” Yellow-eyed Juncos as they fed on the road but were soon distracted the loud, high-pitched whistles of a Spot-crowned Woodcreeper.  We finally found a flock of Gray-barred Wrens and Steller’s Jays but were unable to pick out any Dwarf Jays.

White-nosed Coati	Magnificent Hummingbird

After dinner, some people opted to return for night birding.  We were very successful right away in calling in a Mexican Whip-poor-will.  It flew overhead in the lamp a few times, and we were able to compare and contrast the song of the form here with tape of the Northern Whip-poor-will found in the eastern U.S.  We located a Mountain Pygmy-Owl singing down a hillside, but it never showed itself.  While alternating between Northern Saw-whet, Whiskered Screech-, and Flammulated Owls an owl swooped literally inches over our heads, scaring us just slightly!   We were unable to see or hear the culprit and determine its identity, though.

Day 5: Cerro San Felipe/La Cumbre
We hadn’t even entered the reserve before a flock of Steller’s Jays flew over the road.  We piled out of the van and ran back down the road, sifting through the birds for Dwarf Jays.  This particular flock turned out to be only Steller’s, but we were determined to continue the search.  A good-sized flock of American Robins was a small consolation. Multiple Pine Flycatchers were seen today, including nice scope views which allowed us a textbook view of its field marks—always welcome with empids!  Eventually, our persistence was rewarded: we found some Dwarf Jays associating with the flocks of Steller’s Jays and Gray-barred Wrens. The looks could have been better, though.  Shortly after lunch we found a flock of small passerines, which contained Red and Crescent-chested Warblers and an eventually cooperative Golden-browed Warbler.  A male Collared Towhee gave us quite a show as he sang from an exposed perch just above eye level in a fir.  We’d just about called it a day when someone heard a Gray-barred Wren from inside the van.  As we got out, a flock of jays and wrens materialized, including more Dwarf Jays.  Most people got better looks at this group.  After the wren-jay flock quieted down, we noticed a small flight of Scott’s Orioles (about 40 birds) overhead.  A pair of inquisitive Common Ravens came to say goodbye as we loaded back up for our short drive back to Oaxaca.

Day 6: Oaxaca to Tuxtepec
A trip to the north was in store today.  It’s only 200 km, but we took it very slowly, birding along the way.  We hadn’t made it much past La Cumbre when we noticed a bright red trogon perched directly over the highway.  We got out of the van at the first safe location and walked back to find a beautiful male Mountain Trogon.  At the same location, we had better looks at Brown-backed Solitaire than we had the two prior days.  At one point, three separate males surrounded us with birdsong.

Our next stop was the dry valley just below Gueletao de Juárez.  A small flock of Cinnamon-rumped Seedeaters flushed off the side of the trail and included a couple nicely-plumaged males.  Flycatchers were quite obvious in this arid habitat, and we spent a good deal of time admiring the cracking male Vermilion Flycatchers and more subtly beautiful Thick-billed Kingbirds.  A Gray Flycatcher put in a brief but diagnostic appearance as well.  In the scrub, we had glimpses of another Oaxaca Sparrow while a beautiful male Spotted Towhee sang nearby.  A few people had a look at a bright orange male Hepatic Tanager.  On the way back to the van, we flushed a different group of small finch-like birds, including Blue-black and Yellow-faced Grassquits.  A quick stop at the river yielded Green Kingfisher and Black Phoebe.

A stop at the continental divide gave us an amazing view of the Gulf-slope lowlands and the clouds we were about to drive through.  Before our decent, a Hooded Yellowthroat sang from the stunted bushes just below the summit, but he wouldn’t come out.

We had lunch in the humid pine-oak belt above the cloudforest.  If was pretty quiet here, but a large flock of White-collared Swifts circled overhead, and we heard a Northern Emerald-Toucanet.  Other stops in this habitat produced “White-eared” Red Warblers, a poorly-seen Garnet-throated Hummingbird, the first of many “Hidalgo” Common Bush-Tanagers, and a very angry male Bumblebee Hummingbird.

Bumblebee Hummingbird	Bumblebee Hummingbird

As we descended into the fog, a beautiful, haunting song left no doubt that we’d arrived in high quality cloudforest. Slate-colored Solitaires were serenading us, and we took a couple minutes to appreciate what may be Mexico’s most beautiful bird song.  We also heard Crested Guan and Barred Forest-Falcon from deep within the mist.  A small flock of Unicolored Jays flew over the road and landed in a tree, but only a few people were able to get on them before they took off.

The cloudforest was pretty socked in, so we decided to head on down to the subtropical and tropical rainforest in the foothills below.  Our last stop of the day was incredibly birdy.  A large band of passerines came into our whistling and included Spot-breasted Wren, Tropical Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, Red-throated Ant-Tanager, White-winged Tanager, Yellow-winged Tanager, and Yellow-billed Cacique.  At one point, a group of Spotted Wood-Quail started singing upslope. After a few minutes, a Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl flew in, seemingly to approve of our imitation of its song.  While all this was going on, a Ruddy Crake started calling from the tall grass alongside the road. We left the speakers on the road and walked back 40 meters or so, hoping that the bird would walk out onto the road, but it was not to be.

Day 7:  Tuxtepec
It was overcast and just the tiniest bit misty, which proved perfect conditions for birding, as the birds were incredibly active until after 1 p.m.!  A Green-breasted Mango shot over the group upon our arrival, but most were unable to get on it.  Instead, we all had good looks at Rufous-tailed Hummingbird while a Laughing Falcon called in the distance.  An odd sneezing sound from the tangle across the road led us to a singing Rufous-breasted Spinetail.  With a little persistence we were able to get very nice views of the bird.  Orioles proved to be the most obvious birds of the day, with roving flocks of them scouring the vine-covered hillsides for flowers to suck dry.  Species seen include Black-cowled, Orchard, Yellow-tailed, and Altamira.  Many other species joined the oriole flocks, including Melodious Blackbird, Clay-colored Robin, Groove-billed Ani, Rose-throated Becard, Violaceous Trogon, Band-backed Wren, and the breathtaking Crimson-collared Tanager. They had to work quickly though, because Black-headed, Grayish, and Buff-throated Saltators were working hard to eat the flowers just as quickly!

The hillside treetops above us made nice perches for a Crane Hawk, a Collared Forest-Falcon, and a pair of White-crowned Parrots.  Even the weedy grainfields were full of birds.  We combed through flocks of Indigo Buntings and Variable Seedeaters to find the scarcer Painted Buntings and White-collared Seedeaters.  There were even warblers like Northern Parula and Yellow-breasted Chat feeding on the ground.  Loud screaming drew our attention to a flock of about 40 Aztec Parakeets destroying a farmer’s corn crop.  We also noticed a small group of Couch’s Kingbirds feeding in the stubble field across the road.  It was noon by now, and this seemed to be cue needed for the loud and showy birds to come out.  First, a flock of Brown Jays flew over.  Then a Keel-billed Toucan started calling from up the hillside.  Eventually, some judicious tap-played brought a pair down into view and we enjoyed the crazy bills patterns of these birds through the telescope.  The same happened with flocks of Montezuma Oropendola and Collared Araçari.  The oropendolas were especially nice, as they displayed for us, singing while simultaneously falling upside down on their perches!

White-crowned Parrot	Keel-billed Toucan

After a late lunch back at the hotel restaurant, a few of us set out again, this time back up into the foothills.  From the bridge just north of town we had amazing looks at both Ridgway’s Rough-winged and Mangrove Swallows.  Our unique position allowed us to see things one might not normally, like the dark-tipped undertail coverts of the former and the white tertial edges of the latter.  Driving into the foothills, we noticed that it was pouring almost everywhere except where we were headed.  We kept our fingers crossed, and it seemed to have worked.  At a large bend in the road, we found a flowerbank abuzz with hummers. White-bellied and Canivet’s Emeralds were new, as were Stripe-throated and Long-billed Hermits.  Even a Bananaquit came by to sip from the flowers.  Just up the road, a small fruiting bush attracted a pair of the unique-looking Olive-backed Euphonia.  As we watched the euphonies, a small green bird with bright orange legs darted through.  It was a female White-collared Manakin!  Eventually, we had amazing looks at both sexes.  We had nice studied of a flock on Brown Jays, including one light morph bird.  The last bird of the day was a dull-colored but relatively rare one, Slate-headed Tody-Tyrant.  The rain began later that night—we were being hit by a norte.

Day 8:  Tuxtepec to Oaxaca
It was back over the mountains today.  We’d originally planned to concentrate on the cloudforest, but the norte forced us abandon that plan and rendered the entire Gulf-slope miserably wet.  Nevertheless, we started at the previous day’s manakin spot, and were rewarded with a repeat performance by the White-collared Manakins.  A flashy male Violet Sabrewing put in a spectacular yet brief appearance.  Next we witnessed one of the most memorable moments of the trip: a Stripe-throated Hermit flew up to an adult male Summer Tanager and proceeded to hover in front of and even follow the bright red tanager!

We were pretty much rained out for the rest of the Gulf-slope portion of our journey.  A brief stop in the windy valley below Gueletao produced two new trip birds:  a Lincoln’s Sparrow and a Violet-crowned Hummingbird, the latter at the very southern extent of its range.

Finally, we stopped in the dry scrub just above Oaxaca to try for Dwarf and Slaty Vireos.  We did find one Dwarf Vireo singing up the hillside, but it was quite windy, and the bird wouldn’t show.  We were determined to come back and try again for this bird in the morning.

Day 9:  Oaxaca and Yagul
We started the morning looking for the Dwarf Vireo we’d located by voice the evening before.  It was still singing but again refused to show itself.  We did get brief views of another Oaxaca Sparrow, though. A very showy little Slate-throated Whitestart (of the unique red-bellied Mexican subspecies) made its way up a wash.  Though it couldn’t really compete with the whitestart, we called in and had very nice looks at a Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet.  Back at the van, a pair of Bridled Sparrows was singing away, and we enjoyed them in the scope at close range, even snapping a few photos.

Bridled Sparrow	Gray-breasted Woodpecker

Up the road, we stopped along the creek, where we found a “Russet-backed” Swainson’s Thrush feeding on the ground under a tree that held a gorgeous male Painted Whitestart.

On the way back to Oaxaca, we stopped at a grove of blooming coral beans to look for orioles.  We were not disappointed, as we watched a flock of nearly 40 orioles for the next half hour.  Hooded, Bullock’s, and Black-vented Orioles were joined by a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Berylline and Dusky Hummingbirds.  As the orioles were moving on, we noticed a mimid singing across a clearing.  With just a little encouragement, we got to see a beautiful Blue Mockingbird singing on an exposed branch in the full sunlight!

After a leisurely lunch, some of us made the trip to the ruins of Yagul.  Known for its cactus forest, we accordingly had wonderful views of Gray-breasted Woodpecker. White-throated Towhees seemed to be even more common than usual. A loud metallic call drew our attention to a Virginia’s Warbler in the scrub, and a Curve-billed Thrasher kept vigil over its territory from atop a cactus.  We decided to wait a few minutes next to a blooming pipe cactus and were rewarded with close views of a Beautiful Hummingbird.  Finally, we noticed what looked like beautiful orange and red jewels glistening in the sun; closer inspection revealed dozens of sap globules and reminded us why Mexico is famous for its amber.

Day 10:  Sierra de Miahuatlán
Part of the Sierra Madre del Sur, this coastal mountain range runs along the Pacific (southern) coast of Oaxaca; it is very isolated and thus is an intriguing center of highland endemism.  Our first stop was just over the pass on the Pacific side in high-elevation pine forest.  The first thing we noticed was a large flock Western Tanagers flycatching in the tops of the pines.  We saw over 50 of them in the next half hour. A handful of Tufted Flycatchers joined the tanager.  A passing mixed flock contained Olive Warbler, Crescent-chested Warbler, Hutton’s Vireo, and Townsend’s Warbler.  Hummingbirds were feeding on a flower-covered hillside above our heads.  We found Green Violet-ear and Bumblebee, Rufous, and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds.

We stopped next in a moister and more temperate forest that was dominated by broad-leafed trees.  We again found Tufted Flycatchers, and they were the most obvious birds at the location, as they made continuous sallies out over the trail.  A Rufous-capped Brush-finch popped up in a bush, giving us good looks at this Mexican endemic.  Hummingbirds were as numerous at this location as the last, but here we picked our first of the sierra’s endemics, the “Violet-throated” subspecies of Amethyst-throated Hummingbird.  A displaying male Bumblebee Hummingbird was also fun to watch.  A small group of Black-headed Siskins teased us as they jumped, singing, from tree to tree, but our persistence paid off.  A very flitty Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer led us back to the van.

Lunch was enjoyed in the odd pine savannah/cloud-forest mosaic near La Soledad.  A beautiful eighty-eight butterfly kept landing on the road while we ate, but it had to compete with a pair of Rufous-capped Warblers for our attention.  A couple of us were lucky enough to see a female Red-headed Tanager, but she didn’t stick around.  As we descended into a tongue of the denser cloudforest, we immediately located an Olivaceous Woodcreeper.  While that was going on, one of us saw a Blue-capped Hummingbird feeding on a huge pink morning glory, but it disappeared before the rest could get on it.  We then noticed a lot of activity at a bend in the trail.  There were dozens of birds:  White-throated Robins, Golden-crowned Warblers, Western Tanagers.  We’d had the amazing luck of happening into a giant army ant swarm!   Over the next hour we watched intently and had extremely close views of 22 different bird species, including Red-headed Tanager (gorgeous males), Greenish Elaenia, Ochre-breasted Flycatcher, Green Jay, Brown-backed Solitaire, “Russet-backed” Swainson’s Thrush, Nashville Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Fan-tailed Warbler, Golden-browed Warbler, Slate-throated Whitestart, “Guerrero” Common Bush-Tanager, “Northern” Hepatic Tanager, and Chestnut-capped Brush-finch.  Eventually, the ants (and the birds) moved on, so we resumed the search for Blue-capped Hummingbird.  We decided to wait at the large flower it had been seen at before, but we couldn’t find it.  Then the culprit spoke up, as a Black-headed Saltator poked its head out from behind the morning glory vine, pink flower in beak.  Still, we were confident the bird would return, and we were rewarded with incredible views of an adult male Blue-capped Hummingbird and his white tail, both perched and feeding.  This is certainly the most-sought-after of the sierra’s endemics, so we continued downslope feeing very satisfied.

Blue-capped Hummingbird	Blue-capped Hummingbird

The plan was to continue on to the hotel, since we’d be birding the Pacific lowland thornforest habitat the next couple days, but a flock of White-throated Magpie-Jays ended that idea when they flew over the van.  A brief stretch at this location also produced Plain-capped Starthroat, Orange-fronted Parakeet, and Yellow-winged Cacique.

We arrived at the hotel in Puerto Ángel at sunset and watched as Magnificent Frigatebirds and Gray-breasted Martins flew into roost against a gorgeous red sky over the Pacific.

Day 11:  The Pacific Ocean and Zipolite
This was the morning slated for our big pelagic trip.  The boat left the bay just after sunrise, and right away we started seeing the distinctive Pacific subspecies of Brown Booby as well as Wedge-tailed Shearwater and Black Tern.  These were by far the most common birds of the day.  The boat went around the white stack off of Zipolite, and there we found three beautiful Red-billed Tropicbirds among the thousands of boobies.  We headed straight out to deep water, where we put out an oil slick. Before long, a Black Storm-Petrel flew in, offering close studies of its subtle plumage, structural, and behavioral field marks.  A flock of Sterna terns wasn’t too surprising, but its make-up was.  It consisted of both Common and Arctic Terns, the latter being far from their supposéd wintering grounds.  An adult Pomarine Jaeger with full tail streamers flew behind, waiting for the terns to find it some food.  Sea-turtles were common, showing what a success the Mexican government has had by protecting the nearby Mazunte nesting population.  We then returned to inshore waters to look for more shearwaters.  Our persistence was rewarded with 6 Townsend’s Shearwaters (a Mexican endemic) and 12 Galápagos Shearwaters.  They all allowed close approach, and we tarried as long as we could, admiring their subtle beauty and comparing them to the Wedge-tails they were mixed in with.  Finally, on the way back to shore, we were greeted by a friendly pod of a couple hundred common dolphins.

adult male brewsteri Brown Booby	Wedge-tailed & Townsend's (back right) Shearwaters
Wedge-tailed & Galápagos (4 at middle distance) Shearwaters	common dolphins

Back on land, those who opted not to take the pelagic trip were treated to close views of orioles at the hotel, including Altamira Oriole, as well as the dawn exodus of swallows, which included both Gray-breasted Martins and Mangrove Swallows.

After a mid-afternoon siesta, we traveled into the thornforest near Zipolite for some evening birding.  Highlights included Lineated Woodpecker, Rufous-naped Wren, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Painted Bunting, and Doubleday’s Hummingbird.  A flock of West Mexican Chachalacas created quite a racket across the valley, but they wouldn’t show.  The most exciting bird of this venture was certainly a singing Lesser Ground-Cuckoo.  It popped up in the top of a bush eventually, but only for a split-second.  Better views were certainly desired.

Day 12:  Zipolite and La Ventanilla
 We returned to our ground-cuckoo location to give it another try. We found it difficult to tear ourselves away from the highway, as a flock of Yellow-winged Caciques played in the treetops.  We also found Happy Wren, Streak-backed Oriole, Bell’s Vireo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Banded Wren, and Golden-cheeked Woodpecker.  Inside the thornforest, we were soon harassed by a troop of White-lored Gnatcatchers and later a family group of White-throated Magpie-Jays.  Providing a stark contrast to the dry brown that surrounded us, a cracking adult male Orange-breasted Bunting fed on one of the paths.  We scoped the white stack from a high bluff, so even those who didn’t come on the pelagic were able to see Red-billed Tropicbirds and Brown Boobies.  Nearby, a male Citreoline Trogon was sitting quietly, but keen eyes picked him out.  The ground-cuckoo wasn’t interested in playing this morning, but we were rewarded with an even more impressive bird.  At the same location, we heard a muted whistling from within the tangles.  After only seconds of playback, we were being treated to point-blank views of a singing male Red-breasted Chat—what luck to have one singing on its own!  Though not as impressive, we were happy to find a pair of Olive Sparrows feeding next to the van as we returned to carry on to the next location.

Red-breasted Chat	White-throated Magpie-Jay

The crashing surf at San Augustanillo beckoned, and we stopped to scope the beach and rocks.  We found Elegant Tern, Brown Pelican, Laughing Gulls, Royal Tern, and Wandering Tattler.

We enjoyed lunch at La Ventanilla, which proved to be a great idea, as he restaurant is adjacent to a dripping pipe set in some bushes.  For most of the meal, we were joined by a Rufous-backed Robin feeding in the mud.  Other lunchtime visitors included Cinnamon Hummingbird, Yellow-winged Cacique, and Rufous-naped Wren.

With lunch over, we embarked on a leisurely canoe ride through the mangroves.  Our knowledgeable captain knew the locations of the local roosting birds, and we were treated to very close views of Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy Egret, Anhinga, White Ibis, and Boat-billed Heron.  The mangroves are also home to a variety of smaller birds.  We noted Yellow Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Great Kiskadee, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Willow Flycatcher, Green Kingfisher, and Northern Jaçana.  At one point a very large crocodile swam frighteningly close to the canoe!  A pair of squabbling green iguanas captured our interest for a moment.  The last stop on the canoe ride was a coastal estuary.  It was full of birds, including Tricolored Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Semipalmated Plover, Neotropic Cormorant, Green Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, and Blue-winged Teal.  Right before we got back to the landing, a Common Black-Hawk screamed and soared overhead.

A quick trip into the foothills this evening produced stunning scope views of a Russet-crowned Motmot, as well as some flyover Scrub Euphonias.  At dinner we were serenaded by a Colima Pygmy-Owl calling upslope from the hotel, but everyone wanted to rest for the travel day tomorrow.

Day 13:  Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca
This morning we returned to Oaxaca, but via Puerto Escondido and Sola de Vega.  In the lowlands, we had good looks at Ruddy Ground-Dove during a restroom break, and were continually entertained by flock-after-flock of White-throated Magpie-Jays.  Once above Puerto Escondido, we started to get into some nice humid tropical forest.  Our main target here was Cinnamon-sided Hummingbird, but it was not to be found.  Still, the stop was very productive.  We had another amazing view of Russet-crowned Motmot for starters!  A fruiting tree provided food for Masked Tityra, Black-headed Saltator, Rufous-backed Robin, Red-billed Pigeon, Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Yellow-winged Cacique, and Streak-backed Oriole.  A little whisting brought in some small birds.  Highlights included Painted Bunting, Warbling Vireo, Cinnamon Hummingbird, and Scrub Euphonia.

Russet-crowned Motmot	Wagler's Emerald-Toucanet

As we ascended the coastal range, we entered a large chunk of beautiful subtropical broadleafed forest.  Our target was Wagler’s Emerald-Toucanet, and we heard one right away, but it didn’t come in to playback.  We did find a pair of comical Acorn Woodpeckers, though.  Then came what for many was the bird of a trip; we looked up to see a spectacular adult Black Hawk-Eagle circling literally feet over the treetops!  It provided splendid views for a good minute before disappearing over the next ridge.  A final stop on the coastal slope in some subtropical pine forest finally produced unobstructed scope views of Wagler’s Emerald-Toucanet, our last of the sierra’s endemics.

We pushed on to Oaxaca City, where we heartily enjoyed a final meal of delicious Oaxacan food tallied the list.  Thus ended a very successful, not to mention fun, tour.

 

	TINAMOUS: Tinamidae
H	Little Tinamou	Crypturellus soui
	WATERFOWL: Anatidae
	Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors
	Green-winged Teal	Anas [crecca] carolinensis
	Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris
	Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis
	CRACIDS: Cracidae
	Plain Chachalaca	Ortalis vetula
H	West Mexican Chachalaca* (W)	Ortalis poliocephala
H	Crested Guan	Penelope purpurascens
	NEW WORLD QUAIL: Odontophoridae
H	Spotted Wood-Quail	Odontophorus guttatus
	GREBES: Podicipedidae
	Least Grebe	Tachybaptus dominucus
	SHEARWATERS and PETRELS: Procellariidae
	Wedge-tailed Shearwater	Puffinus pacificus
	Townsend's Shearwater*	Puffinus auricularis
	Galápagos [Audubon's] Shearwater	Puffinis [lherminieri] subalaris
	STORM-PETRELS: Hydrobatidae
	Black Storm-Petrel	Oceanodroma melania
	TROPICBIRDS:  Phaethonidae
	Red-billed Tropicbird	Phaethon aethereus
	GANNETS and BOOBIES: Sulidae
	"Brewster's" Brown Booby	Sula leucogaster brewsteri
	PELICANS: Pelecanidae
	Brown Pelican	Pelecanus occidentalis
	CORMORANTS: Phalacrocoracidae
	Neotropic Cormorant	Phalacrocorax brasilianus
	Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritis
	DARTERS: Anhingidae
	Anhinga	Anhinga anhinga
	FRIGATEBIRDS: Fregatidae
	Magnificent Frigatebird	Fregeta magnificens
	HERONS: Ardeidae
	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
	Yellow-crowned Night-Heron	Nyctanassa violacea
	Boat-billed Heron	Cochlearius cochlearius
	IBISES and SPOONBILLS: Threskiornithidae
	White Ibis	Eudocimus albus
	NEW WORLD VULTURES: Cathartidae
	Black Vulture	Coragyps atratus
	HAWKS, EAGLES, and KITES: Accipitridae
	White-tailed Kite	Elanus leucurus
	Double-toothed Kite	Harpagus bidentatus
	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus
	Crane Hawk	Geranospiza caerulescens
	Common Black-Hawk	Buteogallus anthracinus
	Roadside Hawk	Buteo magnirostris
	Gray Hawk	Buteo nitidus
	White-tailed Hawk	Buteo albicaudatus
	Zone-tailed Hawk	Buteo albonotatus
	Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis
	Black Hawk-Eagle	Spizaetus tyrannus
	FALCONS and CARACARAS: Falconidae
H	Barred Forest-Falcon	Micrastur ruficollis
	Collared Forest-Falcon	Micrastur semitorquatus
	Crested Caracara	Caracara cheriway
H	Laughing Falcon	Herpetotheres cachinnans
	American Kestrel	Falco sparverius
	Peregrine Falcon	Falco perigrinus
	RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS: Rallidae
	Ruddy Crake	Laterallus ruber
	American Coot	Fulica americana
	PLOVERS: Charadriidae
	Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus
	AVOCETS and STILTS: Recurvirostridae
	Black-necked Stilt	Himantopus mexicanus
	JAÇANAS: Jacanidae
	Northern Jaçana	Jacana spinosa
	SANDPIPERS: Scolopacidae
	Spotted Sandpiper	Acititis macularius
	Wandering Tattler	Tringa incana
	Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla
	Short-billed Dowitcher	Limnodromus griseus
	GULLS: Laridae
	Laughing Gull	Larus atricilla
	TERNS: Sternidae
	Black Tern	Chlidonias niger
	Common Tern	Sterna hirundo
	Arctic Tern	Sterna paradisaea
	Royal Tern	Thalasseus maximus
	Elegant Tern	Thalasseus elegans
	Sooty/Bridled Tern	Onychoprion sp.
	JAEGARS and SKUAS: Stercorariidae
	Pomarine Jaeger	Stercorarius pomarinus
	PIGEONS and DOVES: Columbidae
	Rock Pigeon	Columba livia
	Red-billed Pigeon	Patagioenas flavirostris
	Band-tailed Pigeon	Patagioenas fasciata
	White-winged Dove	Zenaida asiatica
	Inca Dove	Columbina inca
	Common Ground-Dove	Columbina passerina
	Ruddy Ground-Dove	Columbina talpacoti
	White-tipped Dove	Leptotila verrauxi
	PARROTS: Psittacidae
	Orange-fronted Parakeet (W)	Aratinga canicularis
	Aztec [Olive-throated] Parakeet	Aratinga [nana] astec
	White-crowned Parrot	Pionus senilis
	Amazon species	Amazona sp.
	CUCKOOS: Cuculidae
H	"Common" Squirrel Cuckoo	Piaya c. cayana group
H	"Mexican" Squirrel Cuckoo* (W)	Piaya cayana mexicana
	Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (W)	Morococcyx erythropygus
	Groove-billed Ani	Crotophaga sulcirostris
	BARN OWLS: Tytonidae
	Barn Owl	Tyto alba
	TYPICAL OWLS: Strigidae
H	Mountain [Northern] Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium gnoma gnoma
H	Colima Pygmy-Owl* (W)	Glaucidium palmarum
	Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl	Glaucidium brasilianum
	NIGHTJARS: Caprimulgidae
	"Mexican" Whip-poor-will	Caprimulgus vociferus arizonae
	SWIFTS: Apodidae
	White-collared Swift	Streptoprocne zonaris
	Vaux's Swift	Chaetura vauxi
	HUMMINGBIRDS: Trochilidae
	Long-billed [Long-tailed] Hermit	Phaethornis [superciliosis]  longirosris
	Stripe-throated [Little] Hermit	Pygmornis [longuemareus] striigularis
	Violet Sabrewing	Campylopterus hemileucurus
	Green Violet-ear	Colibri thalassinus
	Green-breasted Mango	Anthrocothorax prevostii
	Canivet's Emerald^	Chlorostilbon canivetii
	Dusky Hummingbird* (SW)	Cynanthus sordidus
	Doubleday's [Broad-billed] Hummingbird* (W)	Cyanthus [latirostris] doubledayi
	White-eared Hummingbird^	Hylocharis leucotis
	White-bellied Emerald^	Amazilia candida
	Berylline Hummingbird*	Amazilia beryllina
	Rufous-tailed Hummingbird	Amazilia tzacatl
	Cinnamon Hummingbird (W)	Amazilia rutila
	Violet-crowned Hummingbird* (W)	Amazilia violiceps
	Blue-capped Hummingbird* (SMS)	Eupherusa cyanophrys
	Amethyst-throated Hummingbird^	Lampornis amethystinus amethystinus
	"Violet-throated" Hummingbird* (SMS)	Lampaornis amethystinus margaritae
	Garnet-throated Hummingbird^	Lamprolaima rhami
	Magnificent Hummingbird	Eugenes fulgens
	Plain-capped Starthroat	Heliomaster constantii
	Beautiful Hummingbird* (SW)	Calothorax pulcher
	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris
	Bumblebee Hummingbird*	Atthis heliosa
	Broad-tailed Hummingbird	Selasphorus platycercus
	Rufous Hummingbird	Selasphorus rufus
	TROGONS and QUETZALS: Trogonidae
	Citreoline Trogon* (W)	Trogon citreolus
	"Northern" Violaceous Trogon	Trogon violaceus
	Mountain Trogon^	Trogon mexicanus
	MOTMOTS: Momotidae
	Russet-crowned Motmot (W)	Momotus mexicanus
	KINGFISHERS: Alcedinidae
	Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon
	Green Kingfisher	Chloroceryle americana
	TOUCANS and NEW WORLD BARBETS: Ramphastidae
H	Northern Emerald-Toucanet^	Aulacorhynchus prasinus
	Wagler's Emerald-Toucanet* (SMS)	Aulacorhynchus [p.] wagleri
	Collared Araçari	Pteroglossus torquatus
	Keel-billed Toucan	Ramphastos sulfuratus
	WOODPECKERS: Picidae
	Acorn Woodpecker	Melanerpes formicivorus
	Golden-cheeked Woodpecker* (W)	Centurus chrysogenys
	Gray-breasted Woodpecker* (SW)	Centurus hypopolius
	Golden-fronted Woodpecker	Centurus aurifrons
	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius
	Ladder-backed Woodpecker	Picoides scalaris
	Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus
H	"Red-shafted" Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus cafer
	Lineated Woodpecker	Dryocopus lineatus
	FURNARIIDS (incl. WOODCREEPERS): Furnariidae
	Rufous-breasted Spinetail^	Synallaxis erythrothorax
H	Spectacled (Scaly-throated) Foliage-gleaner	Anabacerthia variegaticeps
	Olivaceous Woodcreeper	Sittasomus griseicapillus
	Spot-crowned Woodcreeper	Lepidocolaptes affinis
	TYRANT FLYCATCHERS: Tyrannidae
	Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet	Campostoma imberbe
	Greenish Elaenia	Myiopagis viridicata
	Ochre-bellied Flycatcher	Mionectes oleagineus
	Slate-headed Tody-Tyrant	Poecilotriccus sylvia
	Tufted Flycatcher	Mitrephanes phaeocercus
	Greater Pewee	Contopus pertinax
H	Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris
	Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii
	Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus
	Hammond's Flycatcher	Empidonax hammondii
	Gray Flycatcher	Empidonax wrightii
	Dusky Flycatcher	Empidonax oberholseri
	Pine Flycatcher^	Empidonax affinis
	"Western" Flycatcher	Empidonax difficilis/occidentalis
	Black Phoebe	Sayornis nigricans
	Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus
H	Bright-rumped Atilla	Atilla spadiceus
	Dusky-capped Flycatcher	Myiarchus tuberculifer
	Ash-throated Flycatcher	Myiarchus cinerascens
H	Nutting's Flycatcher	Myiarchus nuttingi
	Brown-crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus tyrannulus
	Great Kiskadee	Pitangus sulphuratus
	Boat-billed Flycatcher	Megarhynchus pitangula
	Social Flycatcher	Myiozetetes similis
	Tropical Kingbird	Tyrannus melancholicus
	Couch's Kingbird	Tyrannus couchii
	Cassin's Kingbird	Tyrannus vociferans
	Thick-billed Kingbird	Tyrannus crassirostris
	Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis
	genera INCERTAE SEDIS
	Rose-throated Becard	Pachyramphus aglaiae
	Masked Tityra	Tityra semifasciata
	MANAKINS: Pipridae
	White-collared Manakin	Manacus candei
	SHRIKES: Laniidae
	Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus
	VIREOS: Vireonidae
	Bell's Vireo	Vireo bellii
H	Dwarf Vireo* (SW)	Vireo nelsoni
	Cassin's Vireo	Vireo cassinii
	Hutton's Vireo	Vireo huttoni
	Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus
	CORVIDS: Corvidae
	Steller's Jay	Cyanocitta stelleri
	White-throated Magpie-Jay (W)	Calocitta formosa
	Green Jay	Cyanocorax [yncas] luxuosus
	Brown Jay	Cyanocorax morio
	Dwarf Jay* (E)	Cyanolyca nana
	Western Scrub-Jay	Aphelocoma californica
	Unicolored Jay^	Aphelocoma unicolor
	Common Raven	Corvus corax
	SWALLOWS: Hirundinidae
	Gray-breasted Martin	Progne chalybea
	Mangrove Swallow	Tachycineta albilinea
	Violet-green Swallow	Tachycineta thalassina
	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis
	Ridgway's [Northern] Rough-winged Swallow^	Stelgidopteryx [s.] ridgwayi
	TITS: Paridae
	Mexican Chickadee	Poecile sclateri
	Bridled Titmouse	Baeolophus wollweberi
	PENDULINE TITS: Remizidae
	Bushtit	Psaltriparus minimus
	CREEPERS: Certhiidae
	Brown Creeper	Certhia americana
	WRENS: Troglodytidae
	Band-backed Wren	Campylorhynchus zonatus
	Gray-barred Wren*	Campylorhynchus megalopterus
	Rufous-naped Wren	Campylorhynchus rufinucha
	Boucard's Wren* (SW)	Campylorhynchus jocosus
	Rock Wren	Salpinctes obsoletus
	Canyon Wren	Catherpes mexicanus
H	Spot-breasted Wren	Thryothorus maculipectus
	Banded Wren	Thryothorus pleurostictus
	Happy Wren* (W)	Thryothorus felix
	Bewick's Wren	Thyromanes bewickii
	Southern House-Wren	Troglodytes [aedon] musculus
H	White-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucosticta
	Gray-breasted Wood-Wren	Henicorhina leucophrys
	KINGLETS: Regulidae
	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
	GNATCATCHERS & GNATWRENS: Polioptilidae
	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea
	White-lored Gnatcatcher	Polioptila albiloris
	THRUSHES: Turdidae
	Brown-backed Solitaire^	Myadestes occidentalis
H	Slate-colored Solitaire (E)	Myadestes unicolor
	Russet Nightingale-Thrush*	Catharus occidentalis
	"Russet-backed" Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus ustulatus group
	Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus
H	Black Robin^	Turdus infuscatus
	Clay-colored Robin	Turdus grayi
	White-throated Robin	Turdus assimilis
	Rufous-backed Robin* (W)	Turdus rufopalliatus
	American Robin	Turdus migratorius
	MIMIDS: Mimidae
	Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polyglottos
	Ocellated Thrasher* (SW)	Toxostoma ocellatum
	Curve-billed Thrasher	Toxostoma curvirostre
	Blue Mockingbird*	Melanotis caerulescens
	PIPITS and WAGTAILS: Motacillidae
	American Pipit	Anthus rubescens
	SILKY-FLYCATCHERS: Ptilogonatidae
	Gray Silky (-flycatcher)^	Ptilogonys caudatus
	OLIVE WARBLER: Peucidramidae
	Olive Warbler	Peucedramus taeniatus
	NEW WORLD WARBLERS: Parulidae
	Tennessee Warbler	Vermivora peregrina
	Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata
	Nashville Warbler	Vermivora ruficapilla
	Virginia's Warbler	Vermivora virginiae
	Crescent-chested Warbler	Parula superciliosa
	Northern Parula	Parula americana
	Tropical Parula	Parula pitayumi
	"Northern" Yellow Warbler	Dendroica petechia aestiva
	Magnolia Warbler	Dendroica magnolia
	Audubon's [Yellow-rumped] Warbler	Dendroica coronata auduboni
	Black-throated Gray Warbler	Dendroica nigrescens
	Black-throated Green Warbler	Dendroica virens
	Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
	Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis
	Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia
	American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla
H	Northern Waterthrush	Seiurus noveboracensis
	Louisiana Waterthrush	Seiurus motacilla
	MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei
	Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
H	Hooded Yellowthroat* (E)	Geothlypis nelsoni
	Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
	"White-eared" Red Warbler*	Ergaticus ruber ruber group
	Painted Whitestart	Myioborus pictus
	Slate-throated Whitestart	Myioborus miniatus miniatus
	Fan-tailed Warbler^	Basileuterus lachrymosa
	Golden-crowned Warbler	Basileuterus culicivorus
	Rufous-capped Warbler^	Basileuterus rufifrons
	Golden-browed Warbler	Basileuterus belli
	Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens
	Red-breasted Chat* (W)	Granatellus venustus
	genus INCERTAE SEDIS
	Bananaquit	Coereba flaveola
	TANAGERS: Thraupidae
	"Hidalgo" Common Bush-Tanager* (E)	Chlorospingus o. ophthalmicus
	"Guerrero" Common Bush-Tanager* (SMS)	Chlorospingus o. albifrons
	Red-throated Ant-Tanager	Habia fuscicauda
	"Northern" Hepatic Tanager	Piranga flava
	Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra
	Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana
	White-winged Tanager	Spermagra leucoptera
	Red-headed Tanager	Spermagra erythrocephala
	Crimson-collared Tanager	Ramphocelus sanguinolentus
	Blue-gray Tanager	Thraupis episcopus
	Yellow-winged Tanager (E)	Thraupis abbas
	EMBERIZIDS: Emberizidae
	Blue-black Grassquit	Volatina jacarina
	Variable Seedeater	Sporophila americana
	Cinnamon-rumped [White-collared] Seedeater* (W)	Sporophila t. torqueola
	White-collared Seedeater	Sporophila [t.] morelleti group
	Yellow-faced Grassquit	Tiaris olivaceus
	Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer^	Diglossa baritula
	Rufous-capped Brush-Finch*	Alapetes pileatus
	Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch	Burarremon brunneinucha
	Olive Sparrow	Arremonops rufivirgatus
	Collared Towhee*	Piplio ocai
	Spotted Towhee	Piplio m. maculatus group
	"Olive backed" Towhee	Piplio maculatus macronyx group
	White-throated Towhee* (SW)	Piplio albicollis
	Bridled Sparrow* (SW)	Aimophila mystacalis
	Rusty Sparrow	Aimophila rufescens
	Oaxaca Sparrow* (SW)	Aimophila notosticta
	Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina
	Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus
	Grasshopper Sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum
	Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii
	Yellow-eyed Junco	Junco phaenotus
	CARDINALIDS: Cardinalidae
	"Eastern" Grayish Saltator	Saltator coerulescens grandis group
	Buff-throated Saltator	Saltator maximus
	Black-headed Saltator	Saltator atriceps
H	"Long-crested" Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis
	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus
	Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus
H	Blue-black Grosbeak	Cyanocompsa cyanoides
	"Eastern" Blue Bunting (E)	Cyanocompsa p. parellina
	"Western" Blue Bunting (W)	Cyanocompsa p. indigotica
	Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea
	Orange-breasted Bunting* (W)	Passerina leclancherii
	Painted Bunting	Passerina ciris
	ICTERIDS: Icteridae
	Melodious Blackbird	Dives dives
	Great-tailed Grackle	Quiscalus mexicanus
	Bronzed Cowbird	Molothrus aeneus
	Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater
	Black-cowled Oriole	Icterus prosthemelas
	Black-vented Oriole^	Icterus wagleri
	Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius spurius
	Hooded Oriole	Icterus cucullatus
	Yellow-tailed Oriole	Icterus mesomelas
	Streak-backed Oriole	Icterus pustulatus
	Bullock's Oriole	Icterus bullockii
	Scott's Oriole	Icterus parisorum
	Altamira Oriole	Icterus gularis
	Yellow-billed Cacique	Amblycercus holosericeus
	Yellow-winged Cacique (W)	Cacicus melanicterus
	Montezuma Oropendola	Psarocolius guatimozinus
	FINCHES: Fringillidae
	Scrub Euphonia	Euphonia affinis affinis group
	Elegant [Blue-hooded] Euphonia^	Euphonia elagantissima
	Olive-backed Euphonia	Euphonia gouldi
	House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
	Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra
	Black-headed Siskin^	Carduelis notata
	Lesser Goldfinch	Carduelis psaltria
	OLD WORLD SPARROWS: Passeridae
	House Sparrow	Passer domesticus