Birding Oaxaca

A few days holidaying around Oaxaca at the beginning of January presented a few birding opportunities.  Below are some of the pics I took and species I saw.

Oaxaca was a haven for wood-warblers, many allowing excellent views:

Black-and-White Warbler

MacGillivray'sWarbler

Red Warbler

Rufous-capped Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

As well as the above lot, there were plenty of Nasville and Audubon's Warblers, as well as Hermit, Wilson's, Crescent-chested, Olive, Wilson's and Black-throated Grey Warblers.  In abundance also were other migrants such as Tanagers (Summer and Western) and Orioles (Bullock's, Baltimore, Orchard).

More specialist birds came in the form of endemic species Grey-breasted Woodpecker, White-throated Towhee, Dusky Hummingbird and Bridled Sparrow (all found in the area around La Villada hostel), and Grey-barred Wren and Ocellated Thrasher, which were staked out with the help of Eric Antonio Martinez in the La Cumbre area, where we also saw Hairy Woodpecker, Mexican Chickadee, Hutton's Vireo and caught glimpses of the elusive Dward Jay among others.

Grey-breasted Woodpecker

Ocellated Thasher

Oaxaca is good for a trip combining birding with other activities, such as visiting the beautiful Monte Alban ruins.  As well as seeing unbelievable views...you can keep your eyes open for birds such as Rock Wren, Hermit Thrushand Canyon Wren as well as mixed flocks of Warblers, Vireos, Tanagers and Orioles, and hummingbirds such as Dusky, Rufous,  Ruby-throated and Berryline (as well as others in season).

Monte Alban ruins

Hermit Thursh

Turkey Vulture

Rock Wren

Full list and site details to follow.