As a birdwatcher visiting the Yucatan, getting lost in the immense wildlife can often happen. To avoid this and to help you stay focused on finding the birds you want to watch, I have compiled a list of the top four bird species to keep your eyes open for while navigating the dense forests and jungles of the Yucatan. To keep it challenging for you, some of these birds are common and some are not, so don’t sit around, get into the Yucatan wildlife and find what you came to see! One of the strangest birds among the Yucatan wildlife is the Ocellated Turkey. The Yucatan Ocellated Turkey has a bluish-purple head with a dark purple beak. Its body is covered in the same turquoise feathers, but they seem to dance with the light f the day almost as if they were metallic. It’s roughly the same size as the wild American Turkey. It is capable of flight because of its lightweight, wild Turkeys can fly unlike the popular belief that they cannot. The Ocellated Turkey will usually be found in the open plains or hiding among the other wildlife in the thick brush of the Yucatan.

Yucatan Birds

Yucatan Nightjar

The Yucatan wildlife offers the birdwatcher all types of opportunities, big and small. This bird is called the Yucatan Nightjar. It’s the Guatemalan version of the sparrow. It’s dark brown color spotted with bits of light brown and white hide it perfectly in the forest canopies. The small bird is common in Guatemala but still small and can be difficult to locate. When you do locate one, don’t make any noise or sudden movements, just like the sparrow, they startle easily and are very quick. 

Red Vented Woodpecker

Another bird that is on the fly among the Yucatan wildlife is the Red Vented Woodpecker. Contrary to its name the Red Vented Woodpecker is actually all white with only a red cap covering the top and back of its head. It’s only 6.5 inches tall and can be easily spooked away if given enough clatter. The best location to find this species of Yucatan wildlife is to look on the edges of forests, in thick shrubs, and open areas that have small clumps of trees. Like every woodpecker, it sports the classic long beak to reach deep inside trees and fruit for squirming insects and worms. 

Cozumel Thrasher and the Cozumel Emerald

The Yucatan wild life has a bird that is so rare that it must be mentioned. This bird has been on the “to-watch” list of every bird watcher that has tried his or her bird watching skills against the Yucatan wildlife. They are the Cozumel Thrasher and the Cozumel Emerald. The Cozumel Thrasher is the most endangered avian in the Yucatan. The most recent credible sighting was during a field study in 2006.

Long-Billed Thrasher

The Long-Billed Thrasher is also endangered. They both have deep red to deep brown back feathers with white and black spotted breasts. Their distinctive long tail feathers are a dead give away. While bird watching amongst the Yucatan wildlife, if you see either the Long-Bill Cozumel Thrasher or the standard Cozumel Thrasher, please tell the appropriate authorities. It is the crown jewel of Yucatan birding.

If you're looking to go birding in the Yucatan Onejungle has some great Birding Tours.

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