Mayan Beach Garden / Mayan Del Playa Jardin

Activities > Bird watching > MORE BIRD WATCHING

Birds are one of the most common type of wildlife we see. In addition to the Sian Ka'an, there is a large lagoon and protected mangrove marsh that is to the West of Mayan Beach Garden.
Tucan
Keel-Billed Toucan

We often get asked if we see Toucans, and the answer is yes. We see the more familiar Keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) pictured at the left, as well as as the collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) pictured below. The Aracari is a common visitor to our compost pile and Papaya tree since its diet consists of fruit.

aricari
Collared Aracari (front and back)

The ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata) is very common around the ruins where they are protected from being hunted. They also can be seen along the access road that connects the paved road to our beach road.

 

 

The Great Curassow (Crax rubra) is similar in size to a turkey, but geneteically is closer to a pheasant. It has a curly head tuft of forward curling feathers on its head, females are brown and males are black with a yellow beak. The Great Currassow is on the list of Threatened Birds because of a loss of habitat. They live in the brush and mangroves on the Costa Maya and are not an uncommon sight

wild Turkey
Ocellated Turkey

great curassow
Great Curassow

White Egret
Egret
White egrets are probably the most common birds we see in the Lagoon and among the mangroves. There are several varieties. I believe this is a Cattle Egret which nests in Mangroves along the sides of the jungle road. During the months of December and January which follow the rainy season, these are quite plentiful, often seen in the hundreds nesting in the low flooded mangroves. There is a small one that hangs around Mayan Beach Garden kitchen. We are close to the mangroves in the back of the property and I think it wandered our way. It doesn't seem to be afraid as you can get pretty close.
You find Kiskadees everywhere. They seem to be rather brave, because you can get fairly close to them. There are many other birds with yellow and orange bellies such as Orioles and Tanagers, so they are easy to get confused.
Kiskadee
Kiskadee
pelican

Brown Pelicans are extremely prevalent. Every morning you see a large group of them flying along the shoreline headed toward Majahual. Young pelicans like these don't have the huge bags under their bills that are often associated with pelicans. Sit on the beach and watch them "dive bomb" into the water in their search for fish. Occasionally you will see a white pelican which is the largest bird in the western hemisphere.

 

This vulture was found standing on the step of one of the pyramids at Tikal, but you see them often along the jungle road looking for road kill.

Vulture

Chachalaca
Chachalaca

We refer to Chachalacas (cha-ka-la-ka) Ortalis vetula, as "those stupid birds" because they seem to have a tendency to want to run at cars. We've slowed way down to avoid hitting them, just to have them run under our tires at the last second. They are fairly large, about 18 inches with a 2 ft wing span, so you know when you have hit one. Chachalacas get their name from their distinctive call . You hear them every morning in the bushes, sometimes close enough to wake you up.

I found this baby eagle perched in the entrance to a tunnel at the Mayan ruin of Becan. I was hunting for the tunnel which I knew was hard to find. I had just found the entrance when a huge eagle flew out at me. It frightened me for a minute, but then I saw perched just above the opening this small single eagle. He was very curious. I quickly took the picture but decided not to enter the tunnel and leave the little bird in place.

 

Baby Eagle in Mayan Ruin of Becan
Eagle

yellow throated warbler
Photo by Jerry Britten, Guest at Mayan Beach Garden

Yellow throated warbler -- another bird hanging around the compost pile at Mayan Beach Garden.

 

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Updated 28-Jan-2020

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