Mexico City May 8 to 15, 2016 (1 Viewer)

[Oregonian]

My wife and I had occasion to spend eight days in the heart of Mexico City earlier this month. We were not there to go birding, but we did some, and folks here might be interested in our experiences.
Uber worked quite well in Mexico City. Local people insisted that it is safer and less expensive than regular taxis, and so it seemed to be. We can't vouch for safety, since nothing bad happened to us either when we used regular taxis or Uber, but Uber was cheaper, and way more convenient.
We stayed the whole time at the Hotel Hildago, a block away from Alameda Central, by the Palacio Belles Artes. The hotel was cheap for it's location, at $480 pesos per night for a room with two double beds. While it was clean and nice, there was no air conditioning, so the room was uncomfortable much of the time. The restaurant only opened at 8:30 AM for breakfast, a bit late for us.
Here's a bird list for the trip:
Location S/P Date
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Great Egret - Ardea alba Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Green Heron - Butorides virescens Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus MX-Morelos-Tepoztlán-4 Camino a Meztitla - 18.993x-99.086 MX-MOR 12-May-16
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura Orquideas Rio Verde MX-MEX 11-May-16
Harris's Hawk - Parabuteo unicinctus MX-Federal District-Mexico City-780A Sierra Nevada - 19.422x-99.219 MX-DFE 9-May-16
Aztec Rail - Rallus tenuirostris Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Virginia Rail - Rallus limicola Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
American Coot - Fulica americana Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Baird's Sandpiper - Calidris bairdii Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Rock Pigeon - Columba livia Alameda Central MX-DFE 7-May-16
Inca Dove - Columbina inca Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Blue-throated Hummingbird - Lampornis clemenciae MX-Federal District-Mexico City - 19.319x-99.195 - May 15, 2016 10:57 AM MX-DFE 15-May-16
Broad-billed Hummingbird - Cynanthus latirostris Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Berylline Hummingbird - Amazilia beryllina Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivorus MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Golden-cheeked Woodpecker - Melanerpes chrysogenys MX-Morelos-Tepoztlán-4 Camino a Meztitla - 18.993x-99.086 MX-MOR 12-May-16
Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Picoides scalaris Alameda Central MX-DFE 10-May-16
Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Monk Parakeet - Myiopsitta monachus Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Greenish Elaenia - Myiopagis viridicata Orquideas Rio Verde MX-MEX 11-May-16
Tufted Flycatcher - Mitrephanes phaeocercus MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Olive-sided Flycatcher - Contopus cooperi Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Greater Pewee - Contopus pertinax MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Western Wood-Pewee - Contopus sordidulus MX-Federal District-Mexico City - 19.319x-99.195 - May 15, 2016 10:57 AM MX-DFE 15-May-16
Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya Zona Arqueológica Teotihuacán MX-MEX 13-May-16
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus Orquideas Rio Verde MX-MEX 11-May-16
Brown-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus tyrannulus MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Social Flycatcher - Myiozetetes similis MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus MX-Morelos-Cuernavaca-8 Morelos - 18.918x-99.227 MX-MOR 12-May-16
Cassin's Kingbird - Tyrannus vociferans Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus Zona Arqueológica Teotihuacán MX-MEX 13-May-16
Warbling Vireo - Vireo gilvus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Cliff Swallow - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota MX-Federal District-Mexico City-9 Allende - 19.485x-99.117 MX-DFE 10-May-16
Mexican Chickadee - Poecile sclateri MX-Federal District-Mexico City-780A Sierra Nevada - 19.422x-99.219 MX-DFE 9-May-16
Bushtit - Psaltriparus minimus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Canyon Wren - Catherpes mexicanus MX-Morelos-Tepoztlán-4 Camino a Meztitla - 18.993x-99.086 MX-MOR 12-May-16
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Sedge Wren - Cistothorus platensis Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Bewick's Wren - Thryomanes bewickii Zona Arqueológica Teotihuacán MX-MEX 13-May-16
Gray-barred Wren - Campylorhynchus megalopterus MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis MX-State of Mexico-Valle de Bravo-19 T. C. (Toluca - Ciudad Altamirano) - Valle de Bravo - 19.148x-100.071 MX-MEX 11-May-16
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Rufous-backed Robin - Turdus rufopalliatus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
American Robin - Turdus migratorius Alameda Central MX-DFE 7-May-16
Curve-billed Thrasher - Toxostoma curvirostre Alameda Central MX-DFE 10-May-16
Gray Silky-flycatcher - Ptiliogonys cinereus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Orange-crowned Warbler - Oreothlypis celata Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata Alameda Central MX-DFE 9-May-16
Townsend's Warbler - Setophaga townsendi Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Slate-throated Redstart - Myioborus miniatus MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.043x-100.006 - May 11, 2016 8:41 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer - Diglossa baritula MX-Federal District-Mexico City-780A Sierra Nevada - 19.422x-99.219 MX-DFE 9-May-16
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina Zona Arqueológica Teotihuacán MX-MEX 13-May-16
Striped Sparrow - Oriturus superciliosus MX-State of Mexico-Valle de Bravo-19 T. C. (Toluca - Ciudad Altamirano) - Valle de Bravo - 19.148x-100.071 MX-MEX 11-May-16
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Canyon Towhee - Melozone fusca Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana Alameda Central MX-DFE 9-May-16
Black-headed Grosbeak - Pheucticus melanocephalus Orquideas Rio Verde MX-MEX 11-May-16
Blue Grosbeak - Passerina caerulea Zona Arqueológica Teotihuacán MX-MEX 13-May-16
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco MX-DFE 14-May-16
Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus Alameda Central MX-DFE 7-May-16
Bronzed Cowbird - Molothrus aeneus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Hooded Oriole - Icterus cucullatus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Streak-backed Oriole - Icterus pustulatus MX-Morelos-Tepoztlán-4 Camino a Meztitla - 18.993x-99.086 MX-MOR 12-May-16
Bullock's Oriole - Icterus bullockii Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula Zona Arqueológica Teotihuacán MX-MEX 13-May-16
Black-backed Oriole - Icterus abeillei MX-Federal District-Mexico City-780A Sierra Nevada - 19.422x-99.219 MX-DFE 9-May-16
Elegant Euphonia - Euphonia elegantissima Orquideas Rio Verde MX-MEX 11-May-16
House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
Black-headed Siskin - Spinus notatus MX-State of Mexico-Unnamed Rd - 19.056x-99.983 - May 11, 2016 8:52 PM MX-MEX 11-May-16
Lesser Goldfinch - Spinus psaltria Bosque de Chapultepec--Primero Sección MX-DFE 8-May-16
House Sparrow - Passer domesticus Alameda Central MX-DFE 7-May-16

 

[KenM]

A useful report for anyone visiting the area Jeff, the "hummers" sounded interesting.....perhaps one day!

Cheers

 

[Oregonian]

Chapultepec Park

On Sunday, May 8th we caught an Uber at 7:00am to Bosque Chapultepec. We spent the first hours walking in the woods, then walked up to the castle. We spent the afternoon in the anthropology museum. Birds were active in the morning, and the walk up to the castle was productive, since the canopy is easily viewable on the way up. It might have been better to spend earlier hours there, but it was all good. Rufous-backed Robins were conspicuous and easy to photograph.
Here's a checklist:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29488192