This quick guide contains
404 Species
Is a project created to help with your identification for the Puerto Vallarta Area.
Here are represented the most abundant, common, and uncommon birds that can be found in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Corrientes, San Sebastián del Oeste, from Jalisco State and Bahía de Banderas and Compostela from Nayarit State.
Antonio Robles
Published: Jan 29, 2023
Last Update: Jan 05, 2025

Thicket Tinamou
Tinamú Canelo
(Crypturellus cinnamomeus)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Pijije Alas Blancas
(Dendrocygna autumnalis)

Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Pijije Canelo
(Dendrocygna bicolor)

Muscovy Duck
Pato Real
(Cairina moschata)

Blue-winged Teal
Cerceta Alas Azules
(Spatula discors)

Cinnamon Teal
Cerceta Canela
(Spatula cyanoptera)

Northern Shoveler
Pato Cucharón Norteño
(Spatula clypeata)

Gadwall
Pato Friso
(Mareca strepera)

Crested Guan
Pava Cojolita
(Penelope purpurascens)

Long-tailed Wood-Partridge
Codorniz Coluda Transvolcánica
(Dendrortyx macroura)
Endemic to Mexico

Singing Quail
Codorniz Silbadora
(Dactylortyx thoracicus)

Rock Pigeon
Paloma Doméstica
(Columba livia)

Red-billed Pigeon
Paloma Morada
(Patagioenas flavirostris)

Band-tailed Pigeon
Paloma Encinera
(Patagioenas fasciata)

Eurasian Collared-Dove
Paloma de Collar Turca
(Streptopelia decaocto)

Inca Dove
Tortolita Cola Larga
(Columbina inca)

Common Ground-Dove
Tortolita Pico Rojo
(Columbina passerina)

Ruddy Ground-Dove
Tortolita Canela
(Columbina talpacoti)

Ruddy Quail-Dove
Paloma Canela
(Geotrygon montana)

White-tipped Dove
Paloma Arroyera
(Leptotila verreauxi)

White-winged Dove
Paloma Alas Blancas
(Zenaida asiatica)

Mourning Dove
Huilota Común
(Zenaida macroura)
Lucifer Hummingbird
Colibrí Lucifer
(Calothorax lucifer)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Colibrí Garganta Rubí
(Archilochus colubris)

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Colibrí Barba Negra
(Archilochus alexandri)

Costa's Hummingbird
Colibrí Cabeza Violeta
(Calypte costae)

Black-chinned Hummingbird
Colibrí Barba Negra
(Archilochus alexandri)

Calliope Hummingbird
Colibrí Garganta Rayada
(Selasphorus calliope)

Rufous Hummingbird
Zumbador Canelo
(Selasphorus rufus)

Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Zumbador Cola Ancha
(Selasphorus platycercus)

Broad-billed Hummingbird
Colibrí Pico Ancho Norteño
(Cynanthus latirostris)

White-eared Hummingbird
Colibrí Orejas Blancas
(Basilinna leucotis)

Purple Gallinule
Gallineta Morada
(Porphyrio martinica)

Limpkin
Carrao
(Aramus guarauna)

Black-necked Stilt
Monjita Americana
(Himantopus mexicanus)

American Avocet
Avoceta Americana
(Recurvirostra americana)
Short-billed Dowitcher
Costurero Pico Corto
(Limnodromus griseus)

Long-billed Dowitcher
Costurero Pico Largo
(Limnodromus scolopaceus)

Wilson's Phalarope
Falaropo Pico Largo
(Phalaropus tricolor)

Red Phalarope
Falaropo Pico Grueso
(Phalaropus fulicarius)

Red-necked Phalarope
Falaropo Cuello Rojo
(Phalaropus lobatus)

Spotted Sandpiper
Playero Alzacolita
(Actitis macularius)

Wandering Tattler
Playero Vagabundo
(Tringa incana)

Willet
Playero Pihuiuí
(Tringa semipalmata)

Solitary Sandpiper
Playero Solitario
(Tringa solitaria)

Greater Yellowlegs
Patamarilla Mayor
(Tringa melanoleuca)

Lesser Yellowlegs
Patamarilla Menor
(Tringa flavipes)

Ruddy Turnstone
Vuelvepiedras Rojizo
(Arenaria interpres)

Surfbird
Playero Brincaolas
(Calidris virgata)

Stilt Sandpiper
Playero Zancón
(Calidris himantopus)

Sanderling
Playero Blanco
(Calidris alba)

Dunlin
Playero Dorso Rojo
(Calidris alpina)

Least Sandpiper
Playero Dominuto
(Calidris minutilla)

Western Sandpiper
Playero Occidental
(Calidris mauri)

Parasitic Jaeger
Salteador Parásito
(Stercorarius parasiticus)

Craveri's Murrelet
Mérgulo de Craveri
(Synthliboramphus craveri)

Sabine's Gull
Gaviota Cola Hendida
(Xema sabini)

Bonaparte's Gull
Gaviota de Bonaparte
(Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

Laughing Gull
Gaviota Reidora
(Leucophaeus atricilla)

Franklin's Gull
Gaviota de Franklin
(Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Heermann's Gull
Gaviota Plomiza
(Larus heermanni)

Ring-billed Gull
Gaviota Pico Anillado
(Larus delawarensis)

American Herring Gull
Gaviota Plateada
(Larus smithsonianus)

California Gull
Gaviota Californiana
(Larus californicus)

Black Skimmer
Rayador Americano
(Rynchops niger)

Brown Noddy
Charrán Corona Blanca
(Anous stolidus)
Sooty Tern
Charrán Albinegro
(Onychoprion fuscatus)

Bridled Tern
Charrán Embridado
(Onychoprion anaethetus)

Least Tern
Charrán Mínimo
(Sternula antillarum)

Caspian Tern
Charrán del Caspio
(Hydroprogne caspia)

Black Tern
Charrán Negro
(Chlidonias niger)

Forster's Tern
Charrán de Forster
(Sterna forsteri)

Common Tern
Charrán Común
(Sterna hirundo)

Elegant Tern
Charrán Elegante
(Thalasseus elegans)

Royal Tern
Charrán Real
(Thalasseus maximus)

Least Grebe
Zambullidor Menor
(Tachybaptus dominicus)

Pied-billed Grebe
Zambullidor Pico Grueso
(Podilymbus podiceps)

Red-billed Tropicbird
Rabijunco Pico Rojo
(Phaethon aethereus)
Common Loon
Colimbo Común
(Gavia immer)

Black Storm-Petrel
Paíño Negro
(Hydrobates melania)

Least Storm-Petrel
Paíño Mínimo
(Hydrobates microsoma)

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Pardela Cola Cuña
(Ardenna pacifica)

Galapagos Shearwater
Petrel de Galápagos
(Puffinus subalaris)

Black-vented Shearwater
Pardela Mexicana
(Puffinus opisthomelas)

Wood Stork
Cigüeña Americana
(Mycteria americana)

Magnificent Frigatebird
Fragata Tijereta
(Fregata magnificens)

Red-footed Booby
Bobo Patas Rojas
(Sula sula)

Cocos Booby
Bobo Café de Cocos
(Sula brewsteri)

Blue-footed Booby
Bobo Patas Azules
(Sula nebouxii)

Anhinga
Anhinga Americana
(Anhinga anhinga)
Double-crested Cormorant
Cormorán Orejón
(Nannopterum auritum)

Neotropic Cormorant
Cormorán Neotropical
(Nannopterum brasilianum)

White Ibis
Ibis Blanco
(Eudocimus albus)

White-faced Ibis
Ibis Ojos Rojos
(Plegadis chihi)

Roseate Spoonbill
Espátula Rosada
(Platalea ajaja)

Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
Garza Tigre Mexicana
(Tigrisoma mexicanum)

Boat-billed Heron
Garza Cucharón
(Cochlearius cochlearius)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Garza Nocturna Corona Clara
(Nyctanassa violacea)

Black-crowned Night-Heron
Garza Nocturna Corona Negra
(Nycticorax nycticorax)

Little Blue Heron
Garceta Azul
(Egretta caerulea)

Tricolored Heron
Garceta Tricolor
(Egretta tricolor)

Reddish Egret
Garceta Rojiza
(Egretta rufescens)

Snowy Egret
Garza Dedos Dorados
(Egretta thula)

Green Heron
Garcita Verde
(Butorides virescens)

Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Carpintero Mexicano
(Dryobates scalaris)

Hairy Woodpecker
Carpintero Albinegro Mayor
(Dryobates villosus)
Smoky-brown Woodpecker
Carpintero Café
(Dryobates fumigatus)

Arizona Woodpecker
Carpintero de Arizona
(Dryobates arizonae)

White-striped Woodcreeper
Trepatroncos Mexicano
(Lepidocolaptes leucogaster)
Endemic to Mexico

Masked Tityra
Titira Puerquito
(Tityra semifasciata)

Gray-collared Becard
Cabezón Mexicano
(Pachyramphus major)

Rose-throated Becard
Cabezón Degollado
(Pachyramphus aglaiae)

Least Flycatcher
Papamoscas Chico
(Empidonax minimus)

Hammond's Flycatcher
Papamoscas de Hammond
(Empidonax hammondii)
Dusky Flycatcher
Papamoscas Matorralero
(Empidonax oberholseri)

Pine Flycatcher
Papamoscas Pinero
(Empidonax affinis)

Western Flycatcher
Papamoscas Amarillo Norteño
(Empidonax difficilis)

Buff-breasted Flycatcher
Papamoscas Pecho Canela
(Empidonax fulvifrons)

Black Phoebe
Papamoscas Negro
(Sayornis nigricans)

Say's Phoebe
Papamoscas Llanero
(Sayornis saya)

Bell's Vireo
Vireo de Bell
(Vireo bellii)

Hutton's Vireo
Vireo Reyezuelo
(Vireo huttoni)

Cassin's Vireo
Vireo de Cassin
(Vireo cassinii)

Plumbeous Vireo
Vireo Plomizo
(Vireo plumbeus)

Gray-breasted Martin
Golondrina Pecho Gris
(Progne chalybea)

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Golondrina Alas Aserradas
(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

Barn Swallow
Golondrina Tijereta
(Hirundo rustica)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Reyezuelo Matraquita
(Corthylio calendula)

American Robin
Mirlo Primavera
(Turdus migratorius)

Rufous-backed Robin
Mirlo Dorso Canela
(Turdus rufopalliatus)
Endemic to Mexico

Grayson's Robin
Mirlo Nayarita
(Turdus rufopalliatus graysoni)
Endemic to Mexico

Cedar Waxwing
Chinito
(Bombycilla cedrorum)

Gray Silky-flycatcher
Capulinero Gris
(Ptiliogonys cinereus)
Olive Warbler
Ocotero Enmascarado
(Peucedramus taeniatus)

House Sparrow
Gorrión Doméstico
(Passer domesticus)
American Pipit
Bisbita Norteamericana
(Anthus rubescens)

Red Crossbill
Picotuerto Rojo
(Loxia curvirostra)
Pine Siskin
Jilguerito Pinero
(Spinus pinus)

Black-headed Siskin
Jilguerito Encapuchado
(Spinus notatus)

Lesser Goldfinch
Jilguero Dominico
(Spinus psaltria)

Rosy Thrush-Tanager
Tangara Pecho Rosa
(Rhodinocichla rosea)
Rufous-winged Sparrow
Zacatonero Hombros Canela
(Peucaea carpalis)
