The mixture of native scrub mixed with exotic plantings and some midden agriculture in the valley, provides ideal habitat for an impressively rich array of resident and migratory birds.
Over the years lucky birders have been treated to the sight of a few rarities here, as well—such as Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Red-breasted Chat and Orange-breasted Bunting, among many others!
Birds here are similar to those which can be found at the Vallarta Botanic Garden, but without the opening hour restrictions of the latter.
Some notable resident neotropical species here include: Thicket Tinamou (usually only heard); Gray, Short-tailed and Zone-tailed hawks; Common-Ground and White-winged doves; Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl; Berylline and Broad-billed hummingbirds; Vaux’s and White-collared swifts; Green Kingfisher; Elegant Trogon; Russet-crowned Motmot; Lineated, Pale-billed and Ladder-backed woodpeckers; Military Macaw (flyovers); Orange-fronted Parakeet; Ivory-billed Woodcreeper Northern Beardless Tyrannulet; Nutting’s, Dusky-capped, Boat-billed and Social flycatchers, Great Kiskadee; Tropical and Thick-billed kingbirds; Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush; Green Jay; Rosy Thrush-Tanager; Grayish Saltator; Yellow Grosbeak; Varied Bunting; Streak-backed Oriole and Yellow-winged Cacique; Scrub (Goldman’s) Euphonia and more….
Mexican Endemics to watch for include Golden-crowned Emerald; Colima Pygmy-Owl; Citreoline Trogon; Golden-cheeked and Gray-crowned woodpeckers; Lilac-crowned Parrot; Golden Vireo; Black-throated Magpie-Jay and San Blas Jay; Happy and Sinaloa wrens; Blue Mockingbird; Rufous-backed Robin; Red-breasted Chat (rare); Orange-breasted Bunting (rare); Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow; Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater, etc.
During winter, many migratory species add to the excitement, such as Ruby-throated Hummingbird; Least and Pacific-slope Flycatchers; Black-capped, Bell’s, Plumbeous, Cassin’s and Warbling vireos; Northern Rough-winged Swallow; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher; Swainson’s Thrush; Yellow-breasted Chat; Louisiana and Northern waterthrushes, Black-and-White, Nashville, MacGillivray’s warblers, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Yellow and Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) warblers, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Wilson’s Warbler; Summer and Western tanagers; Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli, Indigo and Painted buntings, etc.
In summer those birds are replaced by Brown-crested Flycatcher; Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher; Yellow-green Vireo, etc.
Miscellaneous species of interest: Military Macaw, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo (has been seen and photographed) and Common Raven.
For a full list of birding possibilities, please see the full VBG eBird list here