Yucatan Peninsula and Cozumel Island

A selection of photos from our trip on the Yucatan Peninsula in December 2017 with Luis Ku Quiñones, a local birdwatching guide working with Motmot Birding, for day tours on Cozumel Island and at the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Both tours gave us an opportunity to see a variety of species, many of them endemic or cuasi-endemic to the area. The ferruginous pygmy-owl, the social flycatcher and the great kiskadee were seen at our resort on Riviera Maya.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Chevêchette brune) at Sandos Playacar Beach Resort.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Chevêchette brune) at Sandos Playacar Beach Resort.

Crested Caracara - Caracara huppé. Photo bu Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.


Crested Caracara - Caracara huppé. Photo bu Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Crested Caracara - Caracara huppé.

Great Black Hawk - Buse urubu. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Great Black Hawk - Buse urubu.

The Cozumel Vireo ( Viréo de Cozumel) is endemic to the Island of Cozumel in Mexico. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

The Cozumel Vireo ( Viréo de Cozumel) is endemic to the Island of Cozumel in Mexico.

Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.
American Oystercatcher (Huîtrier d'Amérique) in flight with a willet in the background. Photo taken in Rio Lagartos. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

American Oystercatcher (Huîtrier d'Amérique) in flight with a willet in the background. Photo taken in Rio Lagartos.

Marbled Godwit (Barge marbrée) in Rio Lagartos. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Marbled Godwit (Barge marbrée) in Rio Lagartos.

Wood Stork ( Tantale d'Amérique) in Rio Lagartos. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Wood Stork ( Tantale d'Amérique) in Rio Lagartos.

White Pelican (Pélican d'Amérique) in Rio Lagartos. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

White Pelican (Pélican d'Amérique) in Rio Lagartos.

Yellow-crowned Night-heron - Bihoreau violacé. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Yellow-crowned Night-heron - Bihoreau violacé.

Roseate spoonbill - Spatule rosée. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.
Roseate spoonbill - Spatule rosée. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Roseate spoonbill - Spatule rosée.

Cozumel Emerald (Émeraude de Cozumel). This species is endemic to the Island of Cozumel in Mexico, i.e. can only be found on this small island. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Cozumel Emerald (Émeraude de Cozumel). This species is endemic to the Island of Cozumel in Mexico, i.e. can only be found on this small island.


Green-breasted Mango (Mango de Prévost) on the Island of Cozumel.

Green-breasted Mango (Mango de Prévost) on the Island of Cozumel. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.
Vermilion Flycatcher - Cardinal vermillon. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Vermilion Flycatcher - Cardinal vermillon.

Social Flycatcher - Tyran sociable. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Social Flycatcher - Tyran sociable.

Couch's Kingbird (Tyran de Couch) on Cozumel.

Great Kiskadee - Tyran quiquivi. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Great Kiskadee - Tyran quiquivi.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Sourciroux mélodieux) in Cozumel, Mexico. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Rufous-browed Peppershrike (Sourciroux mélodieux) in Cozumel, Mexico.

Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Élénie à ventre jaune) on the Island of Cozumel. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Yellow-bellied Elaenia (Élénie à ventre jaune) on the Island of Cozumel.

Black catbird (Moqueur noir) in Cozumel, Mexico. This species is cuasi-endemic to the Island of Cozumel, i.e. can nearly be found only on this island.

Western Spindalis (Zéna à tête rayée) on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico. This specimen is a subspecies that lives on Cozumel (Spindalis zena benedicti). Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Western Spindalis (Zéna à tête rayée) on the Island of Cozumel, Mexico. This specimen is a subspecies that lives on Cozumel (Spindalis zena benedicti).

Yellow Warbler (Golden) - Paruline des mangroves [petechia] - on the Island of Cozumel. Photo by Canadian nature and wildlife photographer Denis Rivard.

Yellow Warbler (Golden) - Paruline des mangroves [petechia] - on the Island of Cozumel.