Valle de Banderas is the largest sea level valley in western Mexico, is a fluvial valley carved out by the main river in the region, the Ameca river

The areas covering most of the valley are ranchlands, agricultural and wooded areas, although by the foothills of the mountain ranges the dominant vegetation is tropical deciduous woodlands, fingers of tropical semi deciduous forests extend through river beds and ravines as they enter the valley itself.

This lush habitats provide sanctuary for many species native from north western Mexico, and many endemics species to Mexico, and some specifific to western Mexico.

Some notable species found at the area are:

• Elegant Quails (endemic to north western mexico)
• Red billed pigeons (tropical forests and edges)
• White tailed kite ( has nested in the area)
• Crane hawk (coastal lagoons, and forest edges)
• Zone-tailed Hawk (transient, migratory, coastal and inland habits)
• Grey Hawk (most common raptor at the area)
• Masked Duck (local and rarely seen, mostly during wet seasons)
• Rofous-bellied chachalaca (endemic to north western mexico)
• Ruddy-ground Doves (edges of the valley, and plantations)
• Orange-fronted parakeets (tropical forests, nests on termite structures)
• Military Macaws  (global endangered species, widely extirpated, nomadic and uncommon)
• Mexican parrotlets (small birds, loose flocks, endemic to western mexico)
• Lilac-crowned parrots ( endemic to western mexico, threatened species)
• Cinammon hummingbirds (woodlands, thorn forests, plantations, nests locally.)
• Violet-crowned Hummingbird (endemic to western mexico, more likely to see in winter and spring)
• Broad-billed Hummingbird (semi-open forested areas, plantations, gardens, nests locally)
• Citreoline trogon (endemic to western mexico, tropical woodlands, scrubs, nests at the area.)
• Elegant Trogon (tropical deciduous forests, foothills.)
• Golden-crowned emerald (endemic to western mexico, scrubs, flower banks at river beds)

• Russet-crowned Motmot ( west Mexican endemic, seasonal, elusive at times)
• Ferruginous-Pygmy Owl (diurnal raptor, forest edges, plantations, thorn forests)
• Nuttings Flycatcher ( semi-arid woodlands, thorn forests, scrubby areas)
• Bright-rumped Atilla  (hard to detect when quite, tropical woodlands)
• Boat-billed Flycatcher  (tropical woodlands, forests edges, perches mid to high)
• Thick-billed kingbird (semi endemic to W. Mexico, woodlands, and edges)
• Flammulated Flycatcher  (endemic to W. Mexico, thorn forests, scrubs, uncommon.)
• Rose-throated Becard  (Forest edges, semi-open thorn forests, tropical woodlands)
• San Blas Jays  ( endemic to W. Mexico, loose flocks, conspicuous)
• Black- throated Magpie Jays (endemic to W. Mexico, gregarious)
• Sinaloa Crows (endemic to north W. Mexico, Sierra Vallejo is their southern range of distribution)
• Sinaloa Wrens (endemic to western Mexico, thorn forests, edges)
• Happy wrens  (endemic to W. Mexico, scrubs, tropical woodlands)
• Lucy´s Warbler
• Grayish Saltator. (
• Blue-black Grassquits   (mostly late spring and summer)
• Blue Bunting (male striking, female dull, woodland, semi dry forests, dirt roads)
• Orange-breasted Bunting (winter individuals, or pairs show up occasionally at this site)
• Yellow-winged Caciques (western mexico endemics)

This are only some examples of species among many others to be found at the area, the diverse and wonderful habitats provide by Sierra Vallejo proves to be a great birding destination, with tropical deciduous forests, canyons, foothills, river beds, and lush tropical deciduous forests.

We are happy to learn that recently that some of Sierra Vallejo areas have been designated as natural protected areas, with your participation you will be helping to preserve this amazing site.