Birding at Villas Ecotucan

Bird watching for the Amateur or serious Birders

More than 200 species of birds have been identified at Villas Ecotucan. While sipping morning coffee under the palapa roof, our guests have seen Keel-billed Toucans, White-fronted Parrots, White-bellied Emerald and Cinnamon and Wedge-tailed Sabrewing hummingbirds, as well as Blue and Painted Buntings. Up to five species of Orioles have been seen together in the morning in the flowering Cecropia Tree beside the dining-room. Many guests report hearing the calls of the Mottled Owl and the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. And the raucous calls of Yucatan or Brown Jays or Chachalacas are heard most every morning by early-rising guests.

The Yucatan Peninsula region is unique for its number of endemic bird species (14). Villas Ecotucan is fortunate to have many of these species including Red-vented (Yucatan) Woodpecker, Yucatan Flycatcher, Yucatan Jay, Black Catbird, Rose-throated Tanager and Orange Oriole. The Black-throated Bobwhite is seen frequently in our orchard and can also be considered an endemic, except for a few disjunctive populations including one in Honduras.

Many other tropical species of interest to amateur and serious birders are regulars on the paths here at Villas Ecotucan. These include Thicket Tinamou, Slaty-breasted Tinamou, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Caribbean Dove, Olive-throated (Aztec) Parakeet, Yellow-lored (Yucatan) Parrot, Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Canivet’s Emerald, White-bellied Emerald, Blue-crowned Motmot, White-necked Puffbird, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Smokey-brown Woodpecker, five species of Woodcreepers, Yellow-bellied Elaenia, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Northern Bentbill, Yellow-olive Flycatcher, Stub-tailed Spadebill, Royal Flycatcher, Black-crowned Tityra, Red-capped Manakin, Long-billed Gnatwren, Mangrove Vireo, Lesser Greenlet, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Gray-throated Chat, Red-legged Honeycreeper, Blue-gray Tanager, Yellow-winged Tanager, Gray-headed Tanager, Green-backed Sparrow, Black-cowled Oriole, Yellow-backed Oriole, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Yellow-billed Cacique and Montezuma Oropendula.

Villas Ecotucan is only a short distance from other well-known, excellent birding locations (reference – Steve N. G. Howell: A Bird-Finding Guide to Mexico). Felipe Carrillo Puerto and the Vigia Chico Road are less than a two hour drive or bus ride. And the bird-rich archeological sites of Kohunlich, Dzibanche, Kinichnah, Oxtankah, Chacchoben are within an hours drive.

Bird information and pictures provided thanks to Bev and Murray who were 6 months at Villas Ecotucan.

You can print our handy checklist for your next visit or view our slide show of birds spotted at Villa Ecotucan. (these will open in a new window - closed the window to return here)

Slide show

Checklist