Monterrey, N.L. birding tours
Monterrey is a big and industrious city in the northeast part of Mexico. What makes Monterrey a very special place for people who love nature is its magnificent mountainous formations surrounding the city. Located next to the Sierra Madre Oriental, which is the largest and highest Sierra of Mexico, Monterrey offers different birding spots representing the four main ecosystems of the area. From the arid rocky canyon of La Huasteca to the tall and magnificent forest in Santiago, passing through the natural oasis of Zuazua, this place has it all.
Choose your single-day birding experience based on your targets, your scenery, or your adventure preferences. Read carefully your options and send us an email or fill out the form for more information.
Santiago
Santiago is a great option for those who prefer diversity in a single day. Just a few minutes from the city, there is an amazing birding spot of grasslands. If we start early enough, we could find the endemic Tawny-collared Nightjar on this spot. Later, will start driving up to the low mountain area to find species like the Crimson-collared Grosbeak and the Blue-capped Motmot. There are many other interesting species to see here too, like the Long-billed Thrasher, the Blue Bunting, the Buff-bellied Hummingbird, the Audubon´s Oriole, the Varied Bunting, and the Gray-crowned Yellowthroat. On a good morning, we can expect to see around 40 different species.
As we go up the vegetation starts to change from an oak-pine forest to a taller and denser pine forest. Making different stops along the way, we can see the Mexican Jay, the Painted Redstart, the Brown-backed Solitaire, the Rufus-capped Brushfinch, and many more.
Pick up time: 40 minutes before sunrise
Drop off time: Around noon
Number of birds we can see in the morning: 60 - 70 species
Vegetation types visited: Grasslands, Oak-pine forest, and pine forest.
Tour style: Ideal for birders and photographers. Short walks near the car. Consider altitude changes throughout the day.
Extended day:
Over the same route to this trip in Santiago, going higher and deeper into the Sierra, there´s a well-known spot to find the Marron-fronted Parrot, near Laguna de Sanchez. In this case, driving for around an hour will be necessary to get there. The return of this full-day birding option would be at night.
Second-day option:
You may even consider a second day of birding and spend de night in a cabin on Mesa del Oso, which is located in a highland pine forest with exceptional chances to see the Blue-throated Mountain Gem, the Elegant Trogon, and many more species of swallows, swifts and wrens. Spending the night in this place sets the perfect opportunity to look for nocturnal species like the Whiskered Screech Owl and the Spotted Owl.
Eather your preference of the extended option of a full day or two days of birding, you can send us an email or fill out the form to check details and set up the itinerary with you.
Estanzuela
La Estanzuela is a Natural Park near the city with chances of many birds, making it an ideal spot for those eager for the best representation of birds of the area, like the Spot-breasted Wren, the Hepatic Tanager, Blue Bunting, Golden-crowned Warbler, Elegant Trogon, Streaked Flycatcher, Tropical Parula, Flame Colored Tanager, and the Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet.
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Since it is a protected natural area, it is common to find other representative fauna species of the Sierra Madre Oriental forests, such as squirrels, coatis, migratory butterflies like the monarch butterfly, lizards, snakes, and even the emblematic black bear.
This park serves as a natural reserve, and is characterized by its stone road that takes you up 700 meters above sea level in a path that is 1.5 km long, into the forest of this part of the Sierra; making it suitable to walk and find many other species like the Brown and Mexican Jay, Acorn and Golden-olive Woodpecker, Black-crested Titmouse, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, and the Grey-collared Becard among many others.
Pick-up time: 40 minutes before sunrise
Drop-off time: Around noon
Number of birds we can see in the morning: 30-40 species
Vegetation types visited: Pine-oak forest and submontane shrub.
Tour style: uphill walks at birding pace, with frequent stops. The trails involve a steady elevation gain of around 400 meters
If we get to arrive early in the morning, around sunrise, there would be chances to find nocturnal species like the Mexican Whip-poor-will and some species of owls. As soon as the sun rises, you´ll be amazed of the viarity of species in a short time.
Zuazua
There's an area of wetlands so called the Oasis of the desert, and rightly so. Located just north of Monterrey, Zuazua is a key birding destination in northeastern Mexico. This area is part of an ecological transition zone between arid scrublands, wetlands, and grasslands, making it especially rich in bird diversity. It also serves as a critical stopover and wintering ground for migratory species, attracting large numbers of birds during spring and fall migration.
Our birding route will explore areas with mixed vegetation, including the wetlands and seasonal ponds of Puerta de Hierro, as well as surrounding grasslands and agricultural fields. This mosaic of habitats creates excellent conditions for observing a wide variety of birds, both resident and migratory.
In the wetter areas, we’ll search for elusive species like the Virginia Rail, Sora, Swamp Sparrow, Least Bittern, Marsh Wren, and even the Eastern Screech-Owl, which roosts nearby. These marsh habitats are teeming with life, and early mornings often bring surprises as rails and sparrows emerge from the reeds.
Moving into drier zones and open country, we can expect to see striking species such as the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Groove-billed Ani, White-tailed Hawk, Crested Caracara, and the unmistakable Greater Roadrunner. The Long-billed Thrasher, Sage Thrasher, and Pyrrhuloxia also make appearances, providing excellent opportunities for photography and close observation.
In wooded areas and patches of thorn forest, we’ll look for Brown Jay, Green Jay, Red-billed Pigeon, and, with luck, the tiny and nocturnal Elf Owl, one of the smallest owls in the world.
Make it a full day: La Juventud
For those who want to extend the day, the surrounding municipalities offer excellent add-ons. La Laguna and the La Juventud Reservoir are nearby sites where we can search for shorebirds, waterfowl, and other aquatic species. These spots often hold sandpipers, plovers, herons, and more, especially during migration seasons.
