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[edit] Overview

Desierto de los Leones is a ridgetop park just southwest of Mexico City.

[edit] Birds

[edit] Notable Species

The Desierto's pine forest is notable for its diversity of warblers. Mixed flocks in winter can contain Crescent-chested, Olive, Golden-browed and Red Warblers and Slate-throated Redstart as well as a variety of migrants from North America.

[edit] Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

Strickland's Woodpecker, White-eared Hummingbird, Magnificent Hummingbird, Greater Pewee, Cordilleran Flycatcher, Tufted Flycatcher, Gray Silky Flycatcher, Gray-barred Wren, Gray-breasted Wood Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-eared Bushtit, Steller's Jay, Mexican Jay, Mexican Chickadee, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Brown-backed Solitaire, White-throated Thrush, American Robin, Olive Warbler, Crescent-chested Warbler, Red Warbler, Golden-browed Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Slate-throated Redstart, Yellow-eyed Junco, Canyon Towhee, Spotted Towhee (olive-backed race), Green-striped Brush Finch, Rufous-capped Brush Finch, Red Crossbill

[edit] Rarities

"to do"

[edit] Other Wildlife

The "lions" in the park's title are Mountain Lions Puma concolor.

[edit] Site Information

[edit] History and Use

The site was chosen as a suitably isolated spot to found a nunnery of the Discalced Carmelites in 1606. The former convent is now open to the public as a historic site. Tours 10 pesos.

[edit] Areas of Interest

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[edit] Access and Facilities

The park's entrance is accessible from Route 15, the toll-free highway from Mexico City to Toluca. To reach this entrance by public transit, take a bus from Metro: Tacubaya marked with BOTH "Cuajimalpa" and "Marqueza." Ask the driver to let you off at the park entrance. The convent on the ridgetop is a 4-km walk up a gentle slope with numerous picnic areas and equally numerous birds. Alternatively, on weekends there is an hourly service direct to the convent. Take the bus marked "Desierto" from Metro: Viveros.

[edit] Contact Details

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[edit] External Links

• 10,000 Birds trip report