Mexico: Oaxaca and Western Chiapas

Southern Mexico, spanning the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, is a land of complex biodiversity. From brilliant Red Warblers in cool highlands...
Southern Mexico, spanning the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, is a land of complex biodiversity. From brilliant Red Warblers in cool highlands...
... To stately Reddish Egrets in hot coastal lowlands,
... To stately Reddish Egrets in hot coastal lowlands,
And from the well-named Giant Wren, as big as...
And from the well-named Giant Wren, as big as...
... the elegant and equally well-named Dwarf Jay, this tour samples a remarkable range of birds and habitats. (LS)
... the elegant and equally well-named Dwarf Jay, this tour samples a remarkable range of birds and habitats. (LS)
East of the Isthmus things often look different. If you like primary colors, well, the ‘red warblers’ have pink heads and are treated as a separate species, Pink-headed Warbler!
East of the Isthmus things often look different. If you like primary colors, well, the ‘red warblers’ have pink heads and are treated as a separate species, Pink-headed Warbler!
And the ‘blue mockingbirds’ are white below, also considered a different species, Blue-and-white Mockingbird.
And the ‘blue mockingbirds’ are white below, also considered a different species, Blue-and-white Mockingbird.
While the Yellow Grosbeaks are golden, but not (yet?) considered a different species.
While the Yellow Grosbeaks are golden, but not (yet?) considered a different species.
Or things really sound different—such as this ‘Salvadoran Flycatcher,’ a cryptic species in the Nutting’s Flycatcher complex, first recognized as such on our 2000 tour!
Or things really sound different—such as this ‘Salvadoran Flycatcher,’ a cryptic species in the Nutting’s Flycatcher complex, first recognized as such on our 2000 tour!
‘Familiar’ northern species at the southern edge of their range can also look different, like this Northern House Wren...
‘Familiar’ northern species at the southern edge of their range can also look different, like this Northern House Wren...
Or this male House Finch (aka ‘Mexican Blood-rump,’ as its scientific name more poetically translates into)
Or this male House Finch (aka ‘Mexican Blood-rump,’ as its scientific name more poetically translates into)
Habitats range from stunted cloud forest at the impressive Sumidero Canyon
Habitats range from stunted cloud forest at the impressive Sumidero Canyon
Home to the endearing—but often elusive—Belted Flycatcher...
Home to the endearing—but often elusive—Belted Flycatcher...
To montane rain forest,
To montane rain forest,
Home to this usually canopy-haunting Green Shrike-Vireo
Home to this usually canopy-haunting Green Shrike-Vireo
And arid cactus scrub
And arid cactus scrub
Home to the handsome Bridled Sparrow.
Home to the handsome Bridled Sparrow.
The region is a crucible of endemism, from the stunning Rosita’s (aka Rose-bellied) Bunting...
The region is a crucible of endemism, from the stunning Rosita’s (aka Rose-bellied) Bunting...
And the eponymous Oaxaca Sparrow...
And the eponymous Oaxaca Sparrow...
To the poorly known Nava’s Wren, formally recognized as a species only in the 1990s and one of twenty (!) or so species of wrens possible along our route.
To the poorly known Nava’s Wren, formally recognized as a species only in the 1990s and one of twenty (!) or so species of wrens possible along our route.
And of course, there could always be surprises, such as this stealthy male Highland Guan...
And of course, there could always be surprises, such as this stealthy male Highland Guan...
... Or even this—dare we say cute?—roosting Bearded Screech Owl.
... Or even this—dare we say cute?—roosting Bearded Screech Owl.
Photo credit: Images by Steve Howell and Luke Seitz (LS)
Mar 10-21, 2026
Tour Price to be Determined
2026
(2024 Tour Price $4,090)
Maximum group size seven participants with one leader; 10 participants with two leaders.
Tour balances paid by check/bank transfer may carry a 4% discount

This exciting tour focuses on one of the richest areas of bird endemism in Mexico: the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Beyond the endemics, the region’s unique blend of species reflects its location at the point where the Nearctic faunal realm meets the Neotropics. South of the isthmus, for example, there are no more chickadees or nuthatches, two bird families very much part of the temperate northern avifauna, but diversity shoots up in terms of antbirds and tyrant flycatchers, two families centered in the Neotropics.

We’ll start in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, a modern city and the state capital of Chiapas, which lies within driving distance of habitats ranging from arid scrub to rain forest and humid pine-oak highlands. We’ll head next to Arriaga, on the Pacific side of the isthmus, and then move west and north to end in Oaxaca City, a time-honored favorite of birders and travelers. Within a short distance of Oaxaca City, we’ll explore habitats ranging from cool montane forest to arid scrub, and we’ll experience some of the cultural diversity for which Oaxaca is famous. Birds along the route run the gamut from the elusive Lesser Ground-Cuckoo and Giant Wren (as big as a Dwarf Jay!) to the electrically colored Rosita’s Bunting and the little-known Nava’s Wren.

Tour Team
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Tour Notes

Maximum group size seven participants with one leader; 10 participants with two leaders.

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