Comitán

One of the most underrated birding sites in Chiapas, Comitán offers endemic species alongside archaeological ruins, wetland birding and a genuinely off-the-beaten-track day.

An early start at the Tenam Puente Maya ruins, a beautiful site for birding at the transition between pine-oak and tropical deciduous forest. Chances at quasi-endemics such as Slender Sheartail and Belted Flycatcher, plus Rock Wren, Botteri's Sparrow, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Blue-and-white Mockingbird and Lesser Roadrunner.

We continue to lower elevations at the picturesque town of Tzimol, where ancient cypress trees host Green Jay, Russet-crowned Motmot, Yellow Grosbeak, Canivet's Emerald and Bar-winged Oriole.

We finish at the wetlands of Comitán, with good chances at White-tailed Kite, White-tailed Hawk, Sora, Grass Wren, Pie-billed Grebe, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Tricolored Heron and Lesser Nighthawk.

Target birds

Slender SheartailBelted FlycatcherRock WrenBotteri's SparrowAzure-crowned HummingbirdBlue-and-white MockingbirdLesser RoadrunnerGreen JayRusset-crowned MotmotYellow GrosbeakCanivet's EmeraldBar-winged OrioleWhite-tailed KiteWhite-tailed HawkSoraGrass WrenPie-billed GrebeBlack-bellied Whistling-DuckTricolored HeronLesser Nighthawk

From the field

A selection of birds from this route. Tap to enlarge.